An infrequent case of intussusception caused by gastrointestinal stromal tumor in an adult patient.

Intussusception may occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal system. Unlike its idiopathic childhood counterpart, it is uncommon during adult life and a definitive cause is usually found; almost half of cases develop with malignancy. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) originate from interstitial Cajal cells of the gastrointestinal tract. They more frequently occur in the stomach and small intestines, and often grow extraluminally, making it unlikely to cause an obstruction or bleeding. Presently described is an unusual instance of ileo-ileal intussusception due to GIST.

Vacuum-assisted stereotactic biopsy for isolated BI-RADS 4 microcalcifications: evaluation with histopathology and midterm follow-up results.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 10-gauge vacuum-assisted stereotactic biopsy (VASB) of isolated Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 microcalcifications, using histology and follow-up results. METHODS: From January 2011 to June 2013, VASB was performed on 132 lesions, and 66 microcalcification-only lesions of BI-RADS 4 were included into our study. VASB was performed using lateral decubitis stereotaxy for all patients. Pathologic results of VASB and further surgical biopsies were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who were diagnosed to have benign lesions by VASB were referred for follow-up. VASB and surgical histopathology results were compared to determine the underestimation ratios. RESULTS: Fifteen out of 66 lesions from 63 patients (median age, 47 years; range, 34-88 years) were identified as malignant by VASB. Pathological results after surgery revealed three cases of invasive ductal carcinoma among the 12 VASB-diagnosed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, for a DCIS underestimation rate of 25%. The atypical ductal hyperplasia underestimation rate was 0% for the three lesions. The follow-up period was at least 10 months, with an average of 22.7 months for all patients and 21.2 months for patients with VASB-diagnosed benign lesions. None of the patients had malignancy during the follow-ups. The false-negative rate was 0% in the follow-up of 48 patients. CONCLUSION: VASB should be the standard method of choice for BI-RADS 4 microcalcifications. This method obviates the need for a surgical procedure in 73% of BI-RADS 4 microcalcification-only patients.

Coronary calcium score, albuminuria and inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetic patients: associations and prognostic implications.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores with common carotid artery intima media thickness (CCA-IMT), albuminuria and inflammatory factors in type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: 128 asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients, with at least one cardiovascular risk factor in addition to diabetes, were included in the study. CAC scores, carotid arteries plaque formation and CCA-IMT were assessed. The patients were followed for a mean period of 36.6 ± 3.3 months. Linear regression analysis identified the logarithmically transformed (Ln) albuminuria (ß=0.32, P=0.007), age (ß=0.04, P=0.001) and the uric acid (ß=0.13, P=0.04) as independent determinants of the CAC score. During follow-up period, cardiovascular events occurred in 18 out of 46 patients with CAC score ≥100 compared with 5 out of 82 patients with CAC score <100 (log rank, P<0.0001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis identified LnCAC score (P<0.0001), LnAlbuminuria (P=0.01) and uric acid (P=0.03) as independent predictors for cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant relationship between CAC score, albuminuria and inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes. LnCAC score together with LnAlbuminuria and uric acid were identified as independent predictors of cardiovascular events in these patients.

Assessment of cardiac masses: magnetic resonance imaging versus transthoracic echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for characterization of cardiac masses. METHODS: Twenty-three patients were examined with a 1.5T MRI Scanner and TTE for the evaluation of suspected intracardiac masses. MRI examinations were performed with a protocol of steady cine imaging, HASTE and 3D IR-FLASH sequence after administration of gadolinium chelate. All patients were examined with MRI within a period of 1-2 weeks after TTE. RESULTS: According to the results of MRI, 15 patients underwent cardiac surgery. All of the operated patients were proven to have cardiac tumors with no false positive diagnosis on MRI. In 3 of 8 unoperated patients who were diagnosed to have cardiac tumors on TTE, cardiac thrombi were identified on MRI. Two patients with Eustachian valve in the right atrium on MRI were misinterpreted as having cardiac masses on TTE. In one patient with known renal cancer, metastases were diagnosed within the myocardium on MRI. TTE demonstrated a mass in the left atrium in one patient with a history of myxoma operation, whereas MRI was able to show the paracardiac extension of the mass into pulmonary veins and lung metastases, which are indicators of malignant transformation. In one patient, a mediastinal mass compressing the left atrium on MRI was misinterpreted as an intracavitary lesion with TTE. CONCLUSION: Contrast enhanced MRI is a noninvasive method superior to TTE in diagnosis, differentiation, and detection of extension of cardiac masses.

Comparison of MR enteroclysis with colonoscopy in Crohn's disease--first locust bean gum study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to compare magnetic resonance enteroclysis (MRE) findings with those of colonoscopy, using locust bean gum (LBG) as an oral contrast agent in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with Crohn's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients with histologically proven Crohn 's disease were enrolled in this study; MRE was performed within a week of colonoscopy. All patients were examined using a 1.5 T MR Scanner after per os administration of 850 mL of a combination of LBG and mannitol. After intravenous administration of 50 mg Eritromisin and 40 mg Scopolamine, images were obtained using a T2-weighted, balanced GRE, fat-suppressed T1-weighted sequence, before and after intravenous gadolinium administration. Bowel wall thickness and enhancement of inflamatory bowel wall were measured. RESULTS: The oral ingestion of LBG was well tolerated and allowed optimal small and large bowel distention in all patients. MR findings correlated with the colonoscopy results. Additional inflammatory lesions of the colon and mesenteric inflamatory changes such as lymphadenopathy, conglomerate tumor, and fistulas were demonstrated. Contrast enhancement of the affected bowel wall was markedly increased and positive correlation was obtained between bowel wall enhancement and bowel wall thickness. CONCLUSION: Gadolinium-enhanced MRE with oral locust bean gum is very efficient in the detection and follow-up of the intestinal and extraintestinal findings of Crohn's disease.

MR imaging of apparent small-bowel perfusion for diagnosing mesenteric ischemia: feasibility study.

The purpose of this study, which was approved by the institutional review board, was to assess the differentiation of individuals with from those without mesenteric ischemia. All subjects provided written informed consent. Six healthy volunteers and six patients with documented chronic mesenteric ischemia underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with and without oral caloric stimulation. After intravenous administration of paramagnetic contrast material, signal intensity values of the small-bowel wall were measured up to 130 seconds after contrast material injection. Volunteers and patients, respectively, had maximum enhancement of the bowel wall between 70 and 85 seconds after contrast material administration that amounted to 269% and 267% without and 425% and 333% with caloric stimulation. MR imaging assessment of small-bowel perfusion is possible and seems feasible for differentiating individuals with from those without mesenteric ischemia.

Combined small and large bowel MR imaging in patients with Crohn's disease: a feasibility study.

MRI of the small bowel is a new method for the assessment of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, inflammatory bowel disease can affect both the small and large bowel. Therefore, our goal was to assess the feasibility of displaying the small bowel and colon simultaneously by MR imaging. Eighteen patients with inflammatory bowel disease were studied. For small bowel distension, patients ingested a solution containing mannitol and locust bean gum. Furthermore, the colon was rectally filled with water. MR examinations were performed on a 1.5-T system. Before and after intravenous gadolinium administration, a T1w data set was collected. All patients underwent conventional colonoscopy as a standard of reference. The oral ingestion and the rectal application of water allowed an assessment of the small bowel and colon in all patients. By means of MRI (endoscopy), 19 (13) inflamed bowel segments in the colon and terminal ileum were detected. Furthermore, eight additional inflammatory lesions in the jejunum and proximal ileum that had not been endoscopically accessible were found by MRI. The simultaneous display of the small and large bowel by MRI is feasible. Major advantages of the proposed MR concept are related to its non-invasive character as well as to the potential to visualize parts of the small bowel that cannot be reached by endoscopy.