Acute hydrocephalus caused by a colloid cyst - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Colloid cysts are rare benign, slowly growing intracranial tumors of endodermal origin. Most colloid cysts are found incidentally and are asymptomatic, but rarely, they can lead to sudden death. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old female patient was admitted to our emergency department with complaints of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, walking difficulties, and behavioral changes. CT imaging revealed acute obstructive hydrocephalus attributable to a third ventricular colloid cyst. The patient was immediately transferred to a tertiary center where she underwent successful neurosurgical resection of the mass. Pathology results of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of colloid cyst. CONCLUSION: The case we present emphasizes the critical importance of prompt identification of warning signs, complex thinking, and evaluation. Establishing the right diagnostic approach early on can facilitate accurate diagnosis.

Transitional cell and clear cell renal carcinoma: differentiation of distinct histological types with multiphase CT.

BACKGROUND: Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) may mimic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) when it develops in a similar location, therefore, differentiation with imaging techniques might be challenging. Preoperative differentiation may have a significant role indicating the type of surgical treatment (nephrectomy vs. ureteronephrectomy). PURPOSE: To retrospectively analyze the differences in the contrast enhancement of TCC and RCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Images of 20 RCC and 12 TCC (mean ages, 62.3 ± 14.1 and 67.4 ± 12.0 years, respectively) were analyzed from patients who underwent multiphase computed tomography (CT) examinations following 1.5 mL/kg non-ionic contrast agent administration. Unenhanced corticomedullary (30-45 s), nephrographic (70-90 s), and excretory (300-480 s) phases were imaged. The attenuation characteristics of RCC and TCC were compared to the attenuation of the normal renal cortex. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the attenuation ratios between RCC or TCC in the corticomedullary (P = 0.040) and nephrographic (P = 0.004) phases using three regions of interest (ROIs) of 10 mm(2) size. If measuring ROIs comprising the complete tumor lesion instead of three small ROIs, no significant difference was observed in the attenuation ratios between RCC in TCC in any phases. CONCLUSION: Our study reports significant attenuation differences between RCC and TCC in the corticomedullary and nephrographic phases by multiphase CT. The findings underscore the importance of multiphase CT in the differentiation of these two different entities. Using multiple small (three) ROIs is more accurate than measuring the whole tumor attenuation.

High frequency of brachiocephalic trunk stent fractures does not impair clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Stenting is the preferred, minimally invasive treatment for innominate artery (IA) stenosis or occlusion. Stent fractures in the IA have not been assessed in larger cohorts. In this retrospective study, we examined the frequency and risk factors of IA stent fractures. METHODS: The final analysis included 32 patients (15 women; mean age, 59.4 ± 12.0 years) with 32 balloon-expandable stents (2000 to 2009). In 2010, the patients were asked to come back for a fluoroscopic examination of the implanted stents. Stent fractures and their relationship to atherosclerotic risk factors, lesion characteristics, postprocedural symptoms, and in-stent restenosis were analyzed. Fisher exact test and univariate Cox regression analysis were used in the statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Lesions were >20 mm in 14 patients (44%) or heavily calcified in 13 (41%). The mean follow-up time was 33.4 ± 21.0 months. Postprocedural symptoms were noted in nine patients (28%). Significant restenosis was detected in 22% of the implanted stents, and 11 stent fractures (34%) were found. The prevalence of heavily calcified lesions, postprocedural symptoms, and in-stent restenosis did not differ significantly between groups with and without fracture. Long lesions were associated with an increased incidence of stent fracture (hazard ratio, 5.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-19.48; P = .017). No correlation was observed between stent fractures and old age (≥70 years), female gender, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: IA stent fractures are common but seem to have no effect on symptoms and in-stent restenosis rates.

A clinical feasibility study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PEOT/PBT implants for human donor site filling during mosaicplasty.

UNLABELLED: Mosaicplasty has become a well-accepted treatment modality for articular cartilage lesions in the knee. Postoperative bleeding remains potentially concerning. This study evaluates the porous poly(ethylene oxide)terephthalate/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) implants used for donor site filling. Empty donor sites were the controls. After 9 months, MRI, macroscopical and histological analysis were carried out. Treated defects did not cause postoperative bleeding. No adverse events or inflammatory response was observed. PEOT/PBT implants were well integrated. Empty controls occasionally showed protrusion of repair tissue at the defect margins. Surface stiffness was minimally improved compared to controls. Existing polymer fragments indicated considerable biodegradation. Histological evaluation of the filled donor sites revealed congruent fibrocartilaginous surface repair with proteoglycan-rich domains and subchondral cancellous bone formation with interspersed fibrous tissue in all implanted sites. The PEOT/PBT implants successfully reduce donor site morbidity and postoperative bleeding after mosaicplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Claudin-1, -3 and -4 proteins and mRNA expression in benign and malignant breast lesions: a research study.

INTRODUCTION: We compared levels of protein and mRNA expression of three members of the claudin (CLDN) family in malignant breast tumours and benign lesions. METHODS: Altogether, 56 sections from 52 surgically resected breast specimens were analyzed for CLDN1, CLDN3 and CLDN4 expression by immunohistochemistry. mRNA was also analyzed using real-time PCR in 17 of the 52 cases. RESULTS: CLDNs were rarely observed exclusively at tight junction structures. CLDN1 was present in the membrane of normal duct cells and in some of the cell membranes from ductal carcinoma in situ, and was frequently observed in eight out of nine areas of apocrine metaplasia, whereas invasive tumours were negative for CLDN1 or it was present in a scattered distribution among such tumour cells (in 36/39 malignant tumours). CLDN3 was present in 49 of the 56 sections and CLDN4 was present in all 56 tissue sections. However, CLDN4 was highly positive in normal epithelial cells and was decreased or absent in 17 out of 21 ductal carcinoma grade 1, in special types of breast carcinoma (mucinous, papillary, tubular) and in areas of apocrine metaplasia. CLDN1 mRNA was downregulated by 12-fold in the sample (tumour) group as compared with the control group using GAPDH as the reference gene. CLDN3 and CLDN4 mRNA exhibited no difference in expression between invasive tumours and surrounding tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The significant loss of CLDN1 protein in breast cancer cells suggests that CLDN1 may play a role in invasion and metastasis. The loss of CLDN4 expression in areas of apocrine metaplasia and in the majority of grade 1 invasive carcinomas also suggests a particular role for this protein in mammary glandular cell differentiation and carcinogenesis.