Management of a Primary Cardiac Neoplasm with Tumor Blush by a Stent Graft.

UNLABELLED: Primary cardiac tumors are rare. When they do occur, their symptoms and signs depend on the location and size of the tumor. Imaging multimodalities play an important role in evaluating cardiac tumors. "Tumor blush" is a specific character of certain cardiac tumors on coronary angiography. The current treatment of these tumors is associated with observed clinical symptoms, and the main treatment option is surgical resection. Coronary stent grafts have been used for treatment of coronary artery perforation, coronary pseudoaneurysm, and coronary artery fistula. In this article, we presented a 53-year-old woman who had a cardiac tumor with tumor blush complicated by pericardial effusion which was medically managed by use of a stent graft. KEY WORDS: Cardiac neoplasm; Stent graft; Tumor blush.

Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: unusual sonographic appearance.

Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis is a rare and aggressive neoplasm. It is similar to malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum, usually associated with asbestos exposure. We present an unusual case in which the tumor was a mix of a hypoechoic solid nodule and a cystic component with low-level internal echoes.

Transcatheter arterial embolization for hemorrhage caused by injury of the hepatic artery.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to compare (i) the effects of transcatheter arterial embolization on initial hemostasis and the control of rebleeding in the treatment of hemorrhage due to hepatic artery injury; and (ii) the outcomes of embolization by different locations. METHODS: Subjects were 32 patients with suspected hepatic artery injury who were transferred to Chi-Mei Foundation Medical Center for hepatic angiography and embolization. The causes of arterial injury included liver trauma (n = 15) and iatrogenic injury (n = 17). The sites of embolization were classified into four groups: group 1 (n = 8) was classified as 'combined outlet, target and inlet control' with embolization of the vascular lesion (target) and hepatic artery distal (outlet) and proximal (inlet) to the vascular lesion simultaneously; group 2 (n = 11) as 'combined target and inlet control'; group 3 (n = 8) as 'combined outlet and inlet control'; group 4 (n = 5) as 'inlet control' only. RESULTS: Successful initial hemostasis was achieved in 30 of the 32 patients (93.8%), with two failures, both of which were caused by liver injury and occurred in subjects in group 4. Rebleeding was seen in three patients who had successful initial hemostasis: two of them in group 4 (66.7%) and one in group 1 (12.5%). All rebleedings were successfully managed by repeat embolization. Abscess formation was found in two group 1 patients, and both were successfully managed by percutaneous drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective method for hemostasis in hepatic artery hemorrhage for both patients with liver trauma and patients with iatrogenic injuries to the hepatic artery. Based on this experience, embolization of the vascular lesion and/or the arterial lumen distal to the vascular lesion combined with inlet control is recommended for preventing recurrent hemorrhage, but studies with larger sample sizes will be required to validate this conclusion.

Large diverticulum and volvulus of the small bowel in adults.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of large diverticulum (>3 cm) and volvulus of the small bowel (SB) in adults. A computer search of the medical records between January 1995 and December 2002 revealed 94 surgically proved cases of small bowel volvulus in adults. We reviewed the surgical records and recorded any specific condition found during laparotomy. The control group included 107 consecutive patients receiving a laparotomy with a diagnosis other than SB volvulus. In the 94 surgically proved cases of SB volvulus, the surgical records described presence of adhesion in 47 cases, adhesions around large SB diverticulum (>3 cm) in 5 cases, coexistence of large SB diverticulum and adhesions around the narrowed mesenteric root in 4 cases, large SB diverticulum without a specific description of the presence of adhesion or narrowed mesenteric root in 24 cases, narrowed mesenteric root without large SB diverticulum in 3 cases, internal hernia in 4 cases, tumors in 3 cases, and absence of any specific lesion in 4 cases. Only one case was found to have a large SB diverticulum in the control group. The incidence of large SB diverticulum in SB volvulus of adults was 35% (33/94), significantly higher than that of the control group (1%, 1/107) (p < 0.01). Large diverticulum of the small bowel might play a contributing role in the occurrence of SB volvulus in adults.

Leiomyoma arising from the tunica albuginea of the testis: sonographic findings.

Leiomyomas are benign neoplasms that may arise from any structure or organ containing smooth muscle. The majority of genitourinary leimyomas are found in the renal capsule, but this tumor has also been reported in the epididymis, spermatic cord, and tunica albuginea. Sonography is the imaging modality of choice for evaluating intrascrotal pathology, but the sonographic appearance of leiomyomas arising from the tunica albuginea have rarely been reported. We report a case of such a leiomyoma that was diagnosed sonographically.