Investigation of complications of paranasal sinusitis in children - abstract

The on-going study in patients requiring hospitalization for paranasal sinusitis investigates the extent and spread of the infection on admission. Children with paranasal sinusitis are admitted to hospital if they develop fever, proptosis, ophthal moplegia, eyelids swollen shunt, or decrease in consciousness level. They undergo CT scanning on admission, to determine the involvement of other craniofacial compartments. Complications of paranasal sinusitis arise with breach of the sinus walls and spread to the orbit or intracranial space. Orbital sinusitis or abscess formation may follow, while intracraniallym empyema and brain abscess may arise. These complications are readily recognised by CT examination. The use of computerised tomography in the early investigation of spread of paranasal sinusitis affords effective decision-making for appropriate medical and surgical management of this potentially dangerous infection (AU)

Fibroxanthomatous pseudotumour of the lung

The clinical, radiological and pathological features of fibroxanthomatous pseudotumour of the lung in a 17-year-old Jamaican female Negro are described. The patient was symptom-free 4 years after treatment by conservative surgery. The condition is extremely rare. Its aetiology and pathogenesis are discussed. (Summary)

Radiological presentation of bronchogenic carcinoma in Jamaica

Bronchogenic carcinoma is not an uncommon disease in Jamaica and usually presents radiologically as a hilar mass, collapse and/or consolidation, a peripheral shadow opacity of one hemi-thorax. Comparison of the radiological appearances with those of other series shows that the main difference is the presence of those cases with complete opacity of one hemi-thorax. This radiological appearance indicates an advanced stage of the disease due to the fact that patients seek medical advice at a late stage. The relative frequency of peripheral and central cases in the Jamaican series is similar to that found in the United States of America and the United Kingdom and France, suggesting that on the basis of the radiological appearance, bronchogenic carcinoma in Jamaica is similar to the disease in other parts of the world (AU)

Endobronchial teratoma associated with bronchiectasis and bronchiolectasis

A teratoma in a young West Indian of Negro race is reported. The teratoma presented radiologically in the left upper lobe as an ill-defined shadow which contained a cresent-shaped translucent area and simulated a mycetoma. In addition, the left lung showed widespread nodular shadows. The left lung was resected and the teratoma was found to be endobronchial in position. This is a very rare site for a teratoma as only one of the 15 previously reported intrapulmonary teratomata may have been endobronchial. The remainder of the left lung remote from the tumour showed generalized bronchiectasis both radiologically and pathologically. The bronchiectasis was of follicular type and in addition there was widespread bronchiolectasis. The inflammatory reaction associated with the latter was responsible for the nodular shadows. The significance of these changes in relation to the teratoma is discussed. (AU)