Infectious mediastinitis after cardiovascular surgery: role of computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) findings in the diagnosis of mediastinitis after cardiovascular surgery with median sternotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 122 patients were divided into two groups: the early group (21 days after surgery). Among them, six patients were ultimately diagnosed with infectious mediastinitis. CT findings in each patient were evaluated. Mediastinal fluid collections or free gas bubbles were regarded as the primary findings of mediastinitis. RESULTS: In the early group, sensitivity and specificity of the primary CT findings were 100% and 39%, respectively. In the late group, the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity 85%. Mediastinal fluid collections were observed in all six patients with mediastinitis. CONCLUSION: Mediastinal fluid collections or free gas bubbles are not specific during the early postoperative period. However, after 2 21 days, these observations could be indicative of mediastinitis.

Testicular seminoma presenting with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and gynecomastia.

Chest computed tomography (CT) of a 22-year-old man with a history of long-term low fever and nonproductive cough demonstrated lymphadenopathy in the superior, middle, and posterior mediastinum. Slight bilateral gynecomastia was also observed on the CT scan. Subsequent physical examination and ultrasonography revealed a left testicular mass, and abdominal CT showed retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Left orchiectomy was performed, with the histological examination confirming the diagnosis of seminoma.

Percutaneous ipsilateral portal vein embolization using a modified four-lumen balloon catheter with fibrin glue: initial clinical experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to show the feasibility and safety of ipsilateral portal vein embolization (PVE) using an improved four-lumen balloon catheter with fibrin glue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To improve the ipsilateral PVE with fibrin glue, we modified a commercially available four-lumen balloon catheter to create a catheter comprising one lumen with a catheter tip for a guidewire, one lumen for an occlusion balloon, and two lumens, each with a side-hole just proximal to the balloon. Eight patients had hepatobiliary disease (three with bile duct carcinoma, two with gallbladder carcinoma, one with hepatocellular carcinoma, one with Caroli disease, and one with metastatic carcinoma). RESULTS: All embolization procedures were technically successful. After embolization, the volume of the future remnant liver increased a mean of 131%. There was no inadvertent embolization of portal vein branches and no major procedure-related complications. CONCLUSION: Our method is potentially easier and safer than the traditional ipsilateral method with fibrin glue using a three-lumen balloon catheter because the fourth lumen makes possible the use of a guidewire to access the targeted portal vein and measurement of any portal vein pressure elevation following PVE via the fourth lumen.