[Diagnostic strategy for intrauterine lesions]. / Stratégie diagnostique des lésions intra-utérines.

DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGY FOR INTRAUTERINE LESIONS The diagnostic strategy for intrauterine lesions is a question that arises very frequently in gynecological consultations. Endometrial cancer is more frequent in postmenopausal women and bleeding is the first clinical sign in more than 90% of cases. Pelvic ultrasound and endometrial biopsy have a very important place in the diagnostic strategy. After a single episode of abnormal uterine bleeding and when the ultrasound estimates the thickness of the endometrium to be less than or equal to 4 mm, it is possible to postpone further uterine exploration. In the event of recurrent abnormal uterine bleeding or when the thickness of the endometrium is greater than 4 mm in a postmenopausal woman, additional uterine explorations (hysteroscopy and histology) are recommended. If endometrial cancer is discovered, the key examination is lumbopelvic MRI.

STRATÉGIE DIAGNOSTIQUE DES LÉSIONS INTRA-UTÉRINES La stratégie diagnostique des lésions intra-utérines est une question qui se pose très fréquemment en consultation de gynécologie. Le cancer de l'endomètre survient le plus souvent chez des femmes ménopausées, et les saignements sont le premier signe clinique dans plus de 90 % des cas. L'échographie pelvienne et la biopsie d'endomètre ont une place très importante dans la stratégie diagnostique. Lors d'un épisode unique de saignement utérin anormal et lorsque l'échographie estime l'épaisseur de l'endomètre inférieure ou égale à 4 mm, il est possible de surseoir à une exploration utérine complémentaire. En cas de saignements utérins anormaux récidivants ou lorsque l'épaisseur de l'endomètre est supérieure à 4 mm chez une femme ménopausée, des explorations utérines complémentaires (hystéroscopie et histologie) sont en revanche recommandées. En cas de découverte d'un cancer de l'endomètre, l'examen clé est l'IRM lombopelvienne.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of focal nodular hyperplasia: a matter of size.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) frequencies of centrifugal enhancement, spoke-wheel sign and central scar in focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) as a function of lesion size. METHODS: Ninety-four FNHs were retrospectively reviewed to assess their largest diameter and enhancement pattern, including centrifugal enhancement from one central artery, spoke-wheel sign, diffuse or centripetal enhancement, central scar and late-phase washout. RESULTS: Mean FNH-lesion size was 3.7 ± 2.1 cm. Only 43.6 % of FNHs had centrifugal enhancement, with a spoke-wheel pattern (23.4 %) or without (20.2 %), while 56.4 % showed diffuse or centripetal enhancement. Centrifugal enhancement was observed in 73.9 % of FNHs ≤3.1 cm and 14.6 % of FNHs >3.1 cm (P < 10(-4)). Size and frequency of centrifugal enhancement were negatively correlated (r = -0.57, P < 10(-4)). The spoke-wheel pattern was also seen more frequently in smaller (37 %) than in larger FNHs (10.4 %) (P < 10(-3)). Late-phase washout was described in 5.3 % of FNHs and was not size-dependent. Lesions with a central scar were larger than those without, respectively, 5.7 ± 1.7 and 3.6 ± 2.0 cm (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Typical centrifugal enhancement yielding a confident FNH diagnosis is seen significantly more frequently when the lesion is ≤3.1 cm. KEY POINTS: • CEUS yields confident diagnoses of FNHs ≤3.1 cm • The larger the FNH, the lower the diagnostic sensitivity of CEUS • Final diagnosis of FNHs >3.1 cm should be obtained with MRI not CEUS.

Stump appendicitis. A diagnostic trap.

Stump appendicitis is an underestimated condition and a diagnostic trap that few surgeons think about when faced against localized pain in the lower-right abdomen. Misdiagnosis and therefore delay of the appropriate treatment results in increased morbidity. We report the case of a patient who presented a 7-day history of right iliac fossa abdominal pain. She had undergone open appendectomy in childhood. Stump appendicitis was not diagnosed immediately despite imaging (CT and MRI) and exploratory laparoscopy. In conclusion, surgeons and gastroenterologists need a heightened awareness of the possibility of stump appendicitis.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) follow-up after radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation of focal liver lesions: treated-area patterns and their changes over time.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the early patterns of liver lesions successfully treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or cryoablation (CA) and their changes over time. METHODS: Twenty-two RFA-treated and 17 CA-treated patients underwent CEUS from week 1 to year 3 post-ablation. Patterns, margins and volumes of RF-induced and cryolesions were evaluated and compared over time. RESULTS: After contrast enhancement, shortly after ablation, undefined margins with persistent enhancing small vessels penetrating >2 mm into the treated zone were significantly more frequent after CA (67 %) than RFA (22 %) (P < 0.02). During the arterial phase, a thin, enhancing marginal rim was seen during week 1 (T1) in around 28 % of RF lesions, while 75 % of cryolesions had thick enhancing rims (P < 0.02). The mean RF-induced lesion volume, maximum at T1 (44.1 ± 37.5 ml), shrank slowly over time, remaining clearly visible at 1 year (8.3 ± 7.4 ml). Cryolesions shrank faster (P = 0.009), from an average of 16.6 ± 7.1 ml at T1 to 1.7 ± 1.3 ml 1-year post-ablation. CONCLUSION: RF-induced and cryolesions differ, particularly their margins and shrinkage rates. Knowing these differences allows avoidance of incomplete treatment or falsely diagnosed recurrence, especially after CA. KEY POINTS: • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) provides new follow-up information following hepatic radiological inyervention. • CEUS provides good visualisation of vascular modifications after thermoablation. • RFA-induced lesions and cryoablated lesions differ. • Knowledge about RF and cryolesion patterns is essential for correct CEUS follow-up. • Cryolesions have thicker peripheral inflammatory reactions and shrink faster than RFA-induced lesions.