[Effectiveness of short-term corticosteroid therapy in patients with acute bronchial asthma in Puerto Rico]. / Efectividad de los corticoesteroides a corto plazo en pacientes Puertorriqueños con asma bronquial aguda.

This is a pilot study realized in the San Juan City Hospital Pediatric Emergency Room to determine the efficacy of the short-term use of corticosteroids in pediatric patients (5 to 6 years old) with the diagnosis of acute bronchial asthma during the months of March to June 1992. Twenty three (23) cases were evaluated, of which, 8 cases were excluded because they did not comply with the eligibility criterias. The treatment was implemented in a random fashion, which consisted of one control group of treatment with different corticosteroids in combination with albuterol. The patients were evaluated at 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hr of therapy a pulmonary index, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and pulse oximeter saturation. On admission to the study the average pulmonary index was 6 and PEFR of less than -3sd. When the patients achieved a pulmonary index of < 4, PEFR > 70% and pulse oxygen saturation of > 95% they were discharged. They were reevaluated at 5 to 7 days and 10 to 14 days after discharge. Using the same objective parameters patients that used corticosteroids had a tendency to improve or maintain the pulmonary index, PEFR and oxygen saturation between normal values. In this study it was possible to identify a tendency in the patients who used corticosteroids: the hospitalizations and exacerbations were less. The extension of the study in terms of population sample offers a better statistical representation to determine the real tendency or conclusions.

[Bone involvement with osteolytic predominance in systemic mastocytosis. A clinical case]. / Atteinte osseuse à prédominance ostéolytique d'une mastocytose systémique. Cas clinique.

Systemic mast cell disease is a rare condition, in which the frequent involvement of bones is likely to raise diagnostic problems. There are other concomitant visceral involvement as a rule. The skin lesions, if present and recognized, are suggestive. The positive diagnosis of bone lesions can be ensured by biopsy. On the basis of one clinical case, we specify the clinical and radiological appearance of systemic mast cell disease.

[Imaging techniques of the breast in 1991. 1]. / Techniques d'imagerie du sein en 1991. Première partie.

Today, there is an increase in breast radiology practise. To realize good investigations with the lowest X ray dose absorbed, the authors accurate the technical specifications of each unit of the mammograph. They insist on the necessary quality control. They definite the technical mammography practice and the ultrasound technology, as a complementary and often indispensable technology after mammography. The association clinical examination-mammography-ultrasound technology, is performed in upper 97% of breast lesion diagnoses. However, other technologies, as complementaries one are sometimes useful to assure the diagnosis.

[Contribution of scanner in the diagnosis of intestinal infarction]. / Apport du scanner au diagnostic d'infarctus intestinal. A propos de deux observations.

The clinical expression of arterial mesenteric infarction is not always acute and typical. In venous thrombosis, clinical signs of aggravation occur after a long development. So, clinical pictures of bowel infarction use not be suggestive. For these patients, US performances are sometimes subject to doubt and deceptive. Therefore, CT findings are of the highest importance. In two cases, the authors remind us the CT characterization of vascular and intestinal abnormalities.

[Hemangiopericytoma. Apropos of a case]. / Hémangiopéricytome. A propos d'un cas.

Haemangiopericytomas are ubiquitous tumours with an equivocal clinical and radiological expression. They generally have a slow course and the lesions are usually revealed by a non-specific mass effect on adjacent structures. The authors report a case of subcutaneous haemangiopericytoma of the elbow which presented clinically as a vascular malformation. Amongst the various imaging techniques performed, only arteriography defined the vascular nature of the lesion and should have suggested the diagnosis of haemangiopericytoma on the basis of classically described specific signs. Instead of preserving the muscular environment, the surgical resection had to be extensive because of the poorly determined malignant potential of the tumour.

[Pyomyositis in AIDS. Apropos of a case]. / Pyomyosite au cours du SIDA. A propos d'un cas.

Pyomyositis is a purulent infection of skeletal muscle, a rare entity in temperate climates. The disease has been rarely reported in patients with AIDS. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant organism. This article presents a case of pyomyositis following insertion of a central venous catheter. Imaging techniques (ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance) are useful for diagnosis. The ultrasound-guided aspiration allows isolation of the etiologic agent. The traditional management is medical and surgical.

[Mesenchymal extra-skeletal chondrosarcoma. Apropos of a case]. / Chondrosarcome mésenchymateux extra-squelettique. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report a case of extra-skeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 22 year old man. This rare tumour developed along the nerve tracts (nerve roots, sciatic nerve and gluteal nerves) with contiguous involvement of muscles and three different bones (vertebra, sacrum, iliac bone). The nature of the tumour could only be determined by histological examination of a large fragment.

[Sternocostoclavicular osteoarthritis]. / Une ostéoarthrite sterno-costo-claviculaire.

On observation of a case of infectious osteoarthritis which was remarkable both because of its site, the sternoclavicular joint, and of the germ involved, which was Salmonella paratyphi A is reported.

[Shoulder bursitis in rheumatoid polyarthritis]. / Bursite de l'épaule au cours d'une polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

Shoulder bursitis seldom appears in rheumatoid arthritis. It is usually associated with an involvement of the omohumeral joint but it may be isolate and sometimes indicative. The production of foreign bodies is very rare (3 published cases). We report about one observation of subacromiodeltoid bursitis with rice bodies, associated with rheumatoid arthritis following a severe evolution.

[Breast plasmacytoma. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature]. / Le plasmocytome mammaire. A propos d'un cas. Revue de la littérature.

The authors report a new case of a bilateral localisation of a mammary plasmacytoma, as an extension of the multiple myeloma, in a 41-year-old woman. There are 19 cases known. In 2/3 of the cases, the breast localisation was an extension of the multiple myeloma, as the new case reported; the others cases were considered as a solitary plasmacytoma. The authors describe its diagnostic imaging appearance.

[Value of x-ray computed tomography in osteoid osteoma]. / Intérêt de la tomodensitométrie dans les ostéomes ostéoïdes.

Four cases of suspected osteoid osteoma were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). The authors relate the role of CT. As a key diagnostic tool: radionuclide imaging is helpful in directing subsequent CT scans, which allows the study of complex anatomical sites (spine) or the analysis of atypical lesions (invisible nidus, sclerosis or lytic lesions, double nidus...). CT provides the surgeon with the exact location and extent of the lesion, and thus, CT may allow a more limited surgical resection of the involved bone.

[Arteriographic aspects of Buerger's disease. Apropos of 18 cases]. / Aspects artériographiques de la maladie de Buerger. A partir de dix-huit cas.

Arteriosclerosis obliterans occurring in a young man in an impressive clinical presentation which requires a precise diagnosis. There are no clinical, radiological, laboratory or histological signs of Buerger's disease. In arteriography, all of the suggestive negative and positive elements are important and must be well known as the diagnostic orientation large depends on recognition of their association. Arteriography is still the fundamental examination for assessment of the course of the disease.

[Renal hydatid cyst. Contribution of radiology apropos of a case]. / Kyste hydatique rénal. Apport de la radiologie à propos d'un cas.

Hydatid disease, an infestation of gastrointestinal origin, is essentially localized in the two principal filters of the body, the liver and the lung (80% of localizations); 20% correspond to a random distribution (brain, bones, kidneys, etc.). The observation of a new case of rare renal infestation (1 to 5% of all hydatid cysts) constitutes an occasion to review the role of various radiological investigations in this disease. Computed tomography has a role in the diagnosis which is complementary to that of plan abdominal x-rays and ultrasonography. Intravenous pyelography may be performed subsequently. It has an essential role in the systematic investigation of other localizations.