Impact of varicocele on biological markers of gonadal function.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effect of varicocele in the hormonal and clinical profile of adolescents. METHODS: Twenty adolescents at Tanner stage 4-5 with left varicocele were studied and compared with a control group of 20 healthy adolescents. All patients underwent ultrasonographic testicular volumetry as well as hormonal evaluation of inhibin B, testosterone, baseline and gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulated, follicle-stimulating hormone as well as luteinizing hormone. Statistical analysis was performed using the student's t test with p value <0.05 taken as statistical significant. RESULTS: Patients with varicocele showed reduced levels of inhibin B compared to controls and a significant reduction in the testicular volume on the affected side. The response of luteinizing hormone to gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation was significantly higher in the varicocele group compared to the control group. Furthermore a significant inverse relationship of inhibin B compared to follicle-stimulating hormone was noted. CONCLUSION: Serum inhibin B levels could represent a useful marker of Sertoli cell damage caused by varicocele.

Complicated pneumococcal meningitis in a fully vaccinated child: value of magnetic resonance imaging monitoring.

We present a unique case of life-threatening pneumococcal meningitis complicated by vasculitis in a fully vaccinated 4-year-old female with the heptavalent conjugate vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae (PCV7). Serotype 23F was isolated in both blood and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples. Pulses of methylprednisolone were promptly initiated in addition to antibiotics leading to a good recovery. CSF studies and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were used for diagnosis and monitoring the response to corticoid therapy. We report the investigations of a child with failure of PCV7 vaccine to protect against vaccine-serotype invasive disease. Use of corticosteroids and temporal association with changes in brain imaging are described for the first time in literature.

Infantile fibromatosis of the mandible: a case report.

We report an aggressive tumour in a 5-year-old girl causing facial disfigurement. Imaging confirmed a solid, diffusely enhancing mass at the right internal pterygoid muscle, infiltrating the adjacent bone. Surgical excision and reconstruction of the mandible were performed. Histology revealed aggressive infantile fibromatosis. No recurrence was noted 7 months later. Infantile fibromatosis may mimic malignancies and should be considered in aggressive mandibular soft tissue masses, in order to carefully plan biopsy and reconstructive surgery.

Invasive Salmonella virchow infection in childhood.

Salmonella virchow is generally considered to be one of the less invasive non-typhoidal Salmonellae species; however, several invasive cases have previously been reported. We report 3 cases of otherwise healthy children with S. virchow bacteraemia, monoarthritis and prevertebral abscess, only 1 of whom had previously had gastroenteritis. All 3 children responded to antibiotic regimens consisting of cefotaxime for 10 d, ceftriaxone for 3 weeks and ceftriaxone plus clindamycin for 4 weeks, respectively. In conclusion, S. virchow may be a more invasive serotype in immunocompetent children and present with a wider spectrum of manifestations than considered previously.

Late complication following percutaneous cholecystostomy: retained abdominal wall gallstone.

A case of recurrent abdominal wall abscess following percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is presented. Transperitoneal PC was performed in an 82-year-old female with calculous cholecystitis. Symptoms resolved and the catheter was removed 29 days later. The patient came back 5 months later with a superficial abscess that was drained and 8 months post PC with a fistula discharging clear fluid. Ultrasonography revealed the tract adjacent to an area of inflammation containing a calculus, whereas CT failed to depict the stone. Subsequent surgery confirmed US findings. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a dislodged bile stone following percutaneous cholecystostomy.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting with respiratory symptoms.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease associated with mild, nonspecific abdominal symptoms and a wide spectrum of imaging findings, with thickened mesentery and peritoneum being the most common ones. A case of a malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting with manifestations of pulmonary disease is reported. Imaging evaluation revealed pleural, lung and pericardial involvement together with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, little ascites and extensive omental, but only subtle, mesenteric thickening.

Acute abdomen due to torsion of wandering spleen: CT diagnosis.

Two adults and a child with acute abdomen and surgically confirmed torsion of wandering spleen are presented. Computed tomography provided a spectrum of findings including an ovoid or comma-shaped abdominal mass, hypertrophy of the liver's left lobe, a whirled appearance of hyperdense, nonenhancing splenic vessels, and an enlarged spleen, exhibiting minimal or no enhancement. Computed tomography also indicated the point of torsion and the viability of splenic parenchyma.

A comparison between digital fluoroscopic hard copies and 105-mm spot films in evaluating vesicoureteric reflux in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare fluoroscopic freeze-frame digital images with conventional 105-mm spot films during voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) with regard to diagnostic quality and radiation dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VCUG was performed on 57 consecutive children by a commercially available fluoroscopic digital system. Both freeze-frame digital images and conventional 105-mm spot films were obtained during 90 s of fluoroscopy. Skin radiation dose was assessed separately for spot films and for both fluoroscopy and spot films, employing thermoluminescent crystals on the anterior surface of the body. Patients were classified into three age groups: group A younger than 12 months, group B 1-5 years old and group C 5-12 years of age. RESULTS: Digital and conventional images provided diagnostically identical results in 108 out of 114 ureters examined (94.7%). Percentage reductions in skin radiation dose due to the fluoroscopic hard copies compared with the four 105-mm radiographs were 53.8%, 50.5% and 57.1% for groups A, B and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Substitution of conventional 105-mm spot films during VCUG with digital fluoroscopic hard copies resulted in a substantial reduction in radiation dose. Digital images were as accurate as the conventional films in excluding vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). The two methods correlated well in diagnosing and grading VUR.

Retropsoas positioned bowel: incidence and clinical relevance.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to assess the incidence of retropsoas positioned large or small bowel in the population and to examine factors predisposing to its formation. METHOD: The presence of retropsoas positioned bowel was retrospectively studied in 1,852 abdominal CT examinations of 1,055 men and 797 women, 648 younger and 1,204 older than 50 years. All examinations were considered normal or demonstrated findings that were unrelated to the position of the bowel. RESULTS: Retropsoas positioned colon (RPC) was observed in 51 (2.8%) cases for the ascending and 45 (2.3%) for the descending colon. RPC appeared more frequently in younger (< 50 years) than older patients and in individuals with decreased amount of retroperitoneal fat. Retropsoas position of small bowel loops was observed in 11 (0.6%) patients, all exhibiting paucity of retroperitoneal fat. CONCLUSION: Because of its prevalence, retropsoas positioned bowel should be considered when performing percutaneous diskectomy or other interventional procedures in the posterior retroperitoneum.

Maturation of the tract after percutaneous cholecystostomy with regard to the access route.

PURPOSE: To assess the shortest time for catheter removal with regard to the transhepatic or transperitoneal approach in patients undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC). METHODS: In this prospective study, 40 consecutive high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis (calculous, n = 22; acalculous, n = 18) underwent PC by means of a transhepatic (n = 20) or transperitoneal (n = 20) access route. In 28 patients (70%) computed tomography was used for puncture guidance, while in the remaining 12 (30%) the procedures were formed under ultrasound control. A fistulography was performed on the 14th postprocedural day in al patients and was repeated weekly if the tract was found to be immature. The catheter was removed only if a mature tract without evidence of leakage was delineated. RESULTS: In 36 of 40 patients the procedure was technically successful (90%). Three of the unsuccessful punctures were attempted transperitoneally and one transhepatically. Thirty-five of 36 patients showed rapid improvement within the first 48 hr following the procedure (96%). Three of them died of their severe underlying disease (7.5%) and in another three the catheter was accidentally removed prior to the first fistulography (7.5%) A total of 30 patients could be fully evaluated after the procedure: 15 with a transhepatic, and 15 with a transperitoneal PC. Whereas 14 of 15 patients (93%) with transhepatic gallbladder access developed a mature tract after 14 days and the remaining patient after 3 weeks, only 2 of 15 patients (13%) with a transperitoneal route presented a mature tract after 2 weeks (p < 0.0001; chi2 test with Yates' correction). Eleven patients (73%) with transperitoneal access required 3 weeks and two patients (13%) 4 weeks for complete tract formation. CONCLUSION: A period of 2 weeks suffices for the majority of patients to develop a mature tract when the transhepatic access route is used; when using the transperitoneal route at least 3 weeks are required. We suggest that the transhepatic route is preferable since it allows earlier removal of the catheter and reduces the incidence of complications and discomfort for the patients.

Maturation of the Tract After Percutaneous Cholecystostomy with Regard to the Access Route

Purpose: To assess the shortest time for catheter removal with regard to the transhepatic or transperitoneal approach in patients undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC).Methods: In this prospective study, 40 consecutive high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis (calculous, n = 22; acalculous, n = 18) underwent PC by means of a transhepatic (n = 20) or transperitoneal (n = 20) access route. In 28 patients (70%) computed tomography was used for puncture guidance, while in the remaining 12 (30%) the procedures were performed under ultrasound control. A fistulography was performed on the 14th postprocedural day in all patients and was repeated weekly if the tract was found to be immature. The catheter was removed only if a mature tract without evidence of leakage was delineated.Results: In 36 of 40 patients the procedure was technically successful (90%). Three of the unsuccessful punctures were attempted transperitoneally and one transhepatically. Thirty-five of 36 patients showed rapid improvement within the first 48 hr following the procedure (96%). Three of them died of their severe underlying disease (7.5%) and in another three the catheter was accidentally removed prior to the first fistulography (7.5%). A total of 30 patients could be fully evaluated after the procedure: 15 with a transhepatic, and 15 with a transperitoneal PC. Whereas 14 of 15 patients (93%) with transhepatic gallbladder access developed a mature tract after 14 days and the remaining patient after 3 weeks, only 2 of 15 patients (13%) with a transperitoneal route presented a mature tract after 2 weeks (p < 0.0001; chi2 test with Yates' correction). Eleven patients (73%) with transperitoneal access required 3 weeks and two patients (13%) 4 weeks for complete tract formation.Conclusion: A period of 2 weeks suffices for the majority of patients to develop a mature tract when the transhepatic access route is used; when using the trans- peritoneal route at least 3 weeks are required. We suggest that the transhepatic route is preferable since it allows earlier removal of the catheter and reduces the incidence of complications and discomfort for the patients.

Determination of normal splenic volume on computed tomography in relation to age, gender and body habitus.

The purpose of our study was to examine variations in normal splenic size in relation to age, gender and body habitus in vivo, and to determine normative data for splenic volume on CT. The width (W), length (L), thickness (Th), cross-sectional areas and volume (Vol) of the spleen were obtained from abdominal CT examinations of 140 patients who underwent CT for indications unrelated to splenic disease. Splenic volume did not vary significantly (-0.04 < r < 0.05, p > 0.10) with the patient's age, gender, height, weight, body mass index or the diameter of the first lumbar vertebra, the latter considered as representative of body habitus on CT. The mean value of the measured splenic volume (S Vol) was 214.6 cm3 with a range from 107.2 to 314.5 cm3. S Vol correlated well with all the linear and the maximal cross-sectional area measurements and could be calculated using the formula: S Vol = 30 + 0.58 (W x L x Th.). Employing the same formula splenic volume was reliably assessed in 47 patients with clinically evident splenomegaly. Quantitative assessment of splenic volume might be of value in assessing mild variations in splenic size, because splenomegaly is the most common manifestation of splenic involvement in many disorders.

Hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon in the upright and supine position.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the colon (HDIC) has been previously evaluated with chest radiography (CR) of patients examined in an erect position. In this work the presence of HDIC was assessed in patients who underwent CT in the supine position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1,440 patients, 806 men and 634 women, 19-83 years old subjected to CR and abdominal CT for various indications, HDIC was retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: In 2.4% of the patients HDIC was found using CT in the supine position but in only 0.3% on CR. The variation appeared more frequently in men than in women and in older adults and individuals with an increased amount of intraabdominal fat. This latter finding may represent an additional factor favoring malposition of the colon. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that HDIC has a significantly greater incidence in the supine position of patients, and it can not be excluded on the basis of negative CR.