On a case of "Macrodystrophia lipomatosa".

Macrodistrophia Lipomatosa is a congenital malformation of rare finding and unknown pathogenic mechanism. The pathology is mainly characterized by the interest of lower extremities and peculiar macroscopic feature is the presence of hyperthrophic fibro-adipose tissue. In our experience the localization to the upper extremities and the presence of uncommon clinical signs show the importance of instrumental investigation: MRI and CT for an accurate examination and to exclude other types of localized gygantism.

[Mesenteric cysts: etiopathogenetic and clinical considerations and a case report]. / Le cisti mesenteriche: considerazioni etiopatogenetiche e cliniche e presentazione di un caso.

According to the literature authors describe the etiopathology and symptoms of a case of uncomplicated mesenteric cyst observed and treated by simple enucleation. Therefore after describing the peculiarity of this disease, authors underline the difficulty of diagnosis also using instrumental devices such as ultrasound and CT scan. In particular complicated mesenteric cyst is pointed out because it may be responsible of acute abdomen. About treatment of uncomplicated mesenteric cyst the always more frequent use of laparoscopy is underlined.

[Colovesical fistulae as a complication of diverticula: a report of 2 cases]. / Le fistole colo-vescicali come complicanza della malattia diverticolare: presentazione di due casi.

The authors report two cases of colovesical fistula as a complication of diverticular disease. They underline the increasing frequency of this complication, although the less frequent one. They also stress the importance of clinical and instrumental examinations that are several and among which TC scan can be crucial for surgical treatment. The therapy, exclusively surgical, can be made in one or two steps, according to patient status.

[Volumetric computerized tomography (spiral CT). Technical principles and possible applications in the thorax]. / Tomografia computerizzata volumetrica (spiral TC). Principi tecnici e possibili applicazioni nel torace.

Spiral volumetric CT is a new volume scanning technique allowing the one-acquisition imaging of an anatomical volume, by advancing the patient through a continuously rotating X-ray tube. As a result, the X-ray tube moves in spirals around the patient and this is the reason why this new technique is called Spiral CT. At the end of the acquisition, planar images are reconstructed by means of a dedicated image reconstruction algorithm with a linear interpolation between two contiguous spiral segments. Spiral CT offers many advantages, all resulting from the possibility of evaluating anatomical volumes in a short time: the organs which are subject to respiratory motion can be studied in a single breath-hold scan, the quality of secondary reconstructions (2/3 dimensional) is improved, the use of contrast media is optimal and finally motion artifacts are reduced. The authors report their early experience with spiral CT in the chest. Spiral CT is more reliable than conventional CT in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules, which can be easily identified with no risk of missing small lesions, and of the pulmonary apex and of the diaphragm. Moreover, contrast media can be used at a lower dosage than usually recommended with conventional CT.

[Spiral computed tomography of the trachea. Study technique and possible clinical applications]. / La Tomografia Computerizzata volumetrica della trachea. Tecnica di studio e possibili applicazioni cliniche.

This work was aimed at optimizing the spiral CT technique in studying the trachea to obtain multiplanar reconstructions with high diagnostic yield. The authors tried to identify an image reconstruction technique, on both the coronal and the sagittal planes, to visualize the whole trachea on a single image in each patient. Twenty patients, 15 with pathologic tracheal involvement and 5 with pulmonary lesions with no tracheal involvement, were examined with a Somatom Plus CT unit (spiral technique: 120 kV, 210 mA, 5-mm slices, 5-mm/s table feed and 24-s scanning time). Multiplanar reconstructions were obtained on the oblique plane, identified by three axial reference scans at different levels. The whole trachea was reconstructed on a single image in 100% of cases on the coronal plane and in 95% of cases on the sagittal plane. Image quality was good in 16 patients and acceptable in 4. The authors stress the value of spiral CT multiplanar images when the reconstruction plane lies in the tracheal lumen on both the coronal and the sagittal planes.

[The echo-Doppler evaluation of the effects of glucagon on the portal flow in normal subjects. The premise for the loading test in portal hypertension]. / Valutazione con eco-Doppler degli effetti del glucagone sul flusso portale nei soggetti normali. Premessa per la prova da carico nell'ipertensione portale.

This study was aimed at evaluating the capabilities of Doppler US in the quantitative study of portal blood flow after glucagon administration in normal subjects. While its role in the qualitative study of portal hemodynamics is well known, it remains questionable whether Doppler US may be a valuable tool for the quantitative study of portal blood velocity. This may be solved by introducing, on a routine basis, meal tests which may provide a relative evaluation of the data. To date, these tests were based on the evaluation of blood flow velocity before and after a complete meal. For a more reliable test, we suggest that the meal be substituted with the i.v. administration of glucagon, which is known to play a major role in splanchnic hemodynamics during digestion. We examined 30 healthy volunteers and showed the possibility of a statistically significant evaluation of portal blood flow velocity before and after glucagon administration. After glucagon administration, blood flow velocity increased by 31.3% in 10 minutes, on the average, in all the healthy subjects.