Recurrent non-surgical pneumoperitoneum due to jejunal diverticulosis.

BACKGROUND: The presence of free intraperitoneal gas usually warrants emergent surgery. In rare instances, however, non-surgical conditions such as jejunal diverticulosis can cause pneumoperitoneum and do not require intervention. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to provide the computed tomography (CT) scan findings of jejunal diverticulosis causing pneumoperitoneum. The article will also discuss other non-surgical causes of spontaneous pneumoperitoneum to increase awareness and avoid unnecessary surgery. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of recurrent pneumoperitoneum due to jejunal diverticulosis in which the patient remained asymptomatic and free of complications with repeated evaluations in the emergency department over the course of 18 months. CONCLUSION: Although spontaneous pneumoperitoneum due to jejunal diverticulosis is a rare finding, when it does occur, this condition must be distinguished from other forms of pneumoperitoneum to avoid unnecessary surgery. CT scan findings of multiple rounded, variably sized jejunal outpouchings filled with oral contrast are helpful in diagnosing jejunal diverticulosis and confirming the decision for conservative management of the patient.

Can large B-cell lymphoma mimic cystic lesions of the spleen?

A 58-yr-old male with a history of hepatitis C virus infection, presented with a 2-mo history of intractable left upper abdominal pain. He had fallen from a ladder 2 yr previously, landing on his left side. Abdominal computed tomography identified a large cystic mass in the spleen. The patient was brought to the operating room with a presumptive diagnosis of symptomatic, post-traumatic, false cyst of the spleen. Instead, at surgery, a splenic mass with dense adhesions to the diaphragm and stomach was found. On final histological analysis, it was diagnosed to be a large B-cell lymphoma. Despite its rarity, gastroenterologists and surgeons should be aware of large B-cell lymphoma when encountering cystic lesions of the spleen, because the management of benign cystic disease is usually nonsurgical.

Plugoma: CT findings after prosthetic plug inguinal hernia repairs.

BACKGROUND: Unrecognized CT findings of a prosthetic plug used in inguinal hernia repair can lead to incorrect diagnosis or unnecessary workup of a patient. The objective of this study is to review the expected CT findings present in patients with a history of plug repair. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study retrieving clinical and image data from a single-institution database. Patients who underwent prosthetic plug hernia repair during a 5-year period at our institution had their records queried for subsequent abdominal CT scans. These CT scans were reviewed by 2 radiologists for findings referable to the hernia repair. RESULTS: Five-hundred and sixty-four consecutive patients underwent prosthetic plug hernia repair during a 5-year period. Fifty-one patients who had had 55 surgical procedures had subsequent CT scans, none in the early postoperative period. Readers identified 100% of the plugs, 68% of which were described as round or oval in shape. All the plugs were in close proximity to the inferior epigastric artery and were of low density on CT images. Surgical scar was identifiable in 87% of patients. Thirty-two patients (63%) had a second CT scan, demonstrating no change in size and location of the plugoma. CONCLUSIONS: A prosthetic mesh plug is easily seen on CT images, typically appearing as a smooth round or oval hypodense mass close to the inferior epigastric artery, deep to a surgical scar, and stable over time. It can usually be distinguished from pathologic findings. It is important that the radiologist be familiar with the patient's surgical history when interpreting these images.

Spectral Doppler signature waveforms in ultrasonography: a review of normal and abnormal waveforms.

Doppler ultrasound is routinely used in the clinical setting to evaluate blood flow in many major vessels of the body. Spectral Doppler is used to display the normal and abnormal signature waveforms that are unique to each vessel. It is important for the sonographer and the radiologist to recognize both what is normal and what is abnormal in a spectral Doppler display. In this review, we briefly explain the physics behind Doppler ultrasound and some of the most common mathematical equations applied in a routine clinical examination. We also describe and demonstrate normal versus abnormal spectral Doppler signature waveforms of vessels in the neck, abdomen, pelvis, and fetus.