[Cervical spondylolysis : a rare fortuitous finding]. / Cas clinique. Spondylolyse cervicale : une découverte fortuite rare.

A young patient consulted in our physical and rehabilitation medicine department following the onset of pain on the scapula area and at the base of his right upper limb after carrying a heavy load. After a couple of weeks, the patient also developed cervical pain. Fortuitously, the cervical scanner displayed a right C6 spondylolysis. Further evaluation by bone scan confirmed that this lesion was not recent and so probably not the cause of the symptoms. Cervical isthmic spondylolysis is a rare condition, much more common at the lumbar level and often ignored at the cervical one. The etiology, pahophysiology, imaging and treatment options for this cervical pathology are discussed in this article.

Un jeune patient a consulté en médecine physique pour des douleurs aux niveaux de l'omoplate et de la racine du membre supérieur droit apparues suite au port d'une charge lourde. Après quelques semaines, le patient se plaignait également de cervicalgies. Un scanner du rachis cervical a objectivé fortuitement une spondylolyse C6 droite. Un bilan complémentaire par scintigraphie osseuse a révélé que la lésion était ancienne et qu'elle n'était probablement pas la cause de la symptomatologie. La lyse isthmique cervicale est une pathologie peu répandue. Très connue à l'étage lombaire, la spondylolyse est rare et souvent ignorée au niveau cervical. L'étiologie, la physiopathologie, l'imagerie et la prise en charge de cette pathologie cervicale sont discutées dans cet article.

[A rare complication of acute coronary syndrome : left ventricular pseudo-aneurysm]. / Complication rare du syndrome coronarien aigu Survenue d'un pseudo-anévrysme ventriculaire gauche.

We report a case of left ventricular pseudo-aneurysm and we take the opportunity to briefly review the literature concerning etiologies, diagnosis and management of this pathology, emphasizing some differences with the true aneurysm.

Nous rapportons un cas de pseudo-anévrysme ventriculaire gauche et nous en profitons pour réaliser une brève revue de la littérature concernant les étiologies, le diagnostic et la prise en charge de cette pathologie, en insistant sur certaines différences avec le vrai anévrysme.

[Multimodal cardiovascular imaging before aortic valve transcatheter replacement]. / L'imagerie cardiovasculaire multimodalités avant l'implantation d'une prothèse valvulaire aortique par voie percutanée.

Calcified aortic valve stenosis is the most frequent valvular heart disease in developed countries with a very poor outcome when symptoms develop. However, several of these patients are denied for surgery. The main reasons are their advanced age (elderly patient), co-morbidities, technical limitations and a very high surgical risk. It is currently possible to propose a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). After selection of candidates, the feasibility of the intervention is analysed. The size of the aortic bioprosthesis must be selected according to the cardiac anatomy. Several cardiac imaging modalities (echocardiography, computed tomography and cardiac MRI) can be used to identify unsuitable situations. Heavy calcifications or tortuosity can thwart the retrograde approach use. The sub-clavian arteries (for the CoreValve) and trans-apical approach (for the Edwards-Sapien) constitute alternatives ways.

[Cardiac amyloidosis, about an atypical case]. / Le cas clinique du mois. Amyloïdose cardiaque, a propos d'un cas atypique.

A 64 year old patient with heart failure due to primary cardiac amyloidosis is described. This case offers the opportunity to review the literature dealing with the cardiac involvement associated with this disorder and the differential diagnosis of restrictive heart disease.

[Single cervical metastasis of breast cancer]. / Métastase unique cervicale d'un cancer du sein.

We report a rare case of single cervical metastasis of breast cancer. Bone metastases are the most frequent in breast cancer. Early diagnosis combined with the new therapeutic advances have considerably improved the quality of life and increased the survival. Imaging plays a great role in the diagnosis, particularly scintigraphy and radiography, but sometimes also CT and MRI. The treatment is currently not standardized and it combines hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery.

[Pseudoaneurysm of the left gastric artery]. / Pseudoanévrisme de l'artère gastrique gauche.

We report the case of a 65-year-old man admitted for an upper-GI hemorrhage. A CT scan performed with vascular reconstructions demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm of the left gastric artery. Proximal vascular control of the celiac axis was obtained by balloon occlusion with a Fogarty balloon inserted retrograde via the femoral artery: the pseudoaneurysm was then successfully controlled with direct suture.

[How I investigate... The coronary arteries in 2007: contributions of CT coronary angiography]. / Comment j'explore...Les artères coronaires en 2007: apports de la tomodensitomètrie.

Cardiac imaging has always been a challenge because of the continuous movement of the heart. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has undergone an accelerated progression over the past decade, due to the combination of the high-speed rotation of the X-ray tube, the ECG-gating technique and the infra-millimeter spatial resolution. Multidetector CT allows visualisation of the coronary artery lumen and the detection of coronary stenosis after intravenous injection of contrast medium. Studies have demonstrated a high negative predictive value of CT coronary angiography (CTCA). CTCA may be reasonably used for the assessment of symptomatic patients, especially in the setting of equivocal treadmill or functional testing. Also, CTCA allows assessment of coronary bypass graft patency and recognition of aberrant coronary arteries. Limitations in the use of this technique exist: atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias remain a contraindication; severe calcifications are the most frequent reason for impaired assessment of coronary arteries. High radiation doses prohibit the use of this test as a screening tool for asymptomatic patients.

[Rounded atelectasis: a follow up of 10 years by CT]. / Le cas clinique du mois. Atélectasie ronde: dix ans de suivi par tomodensitométrie.

We report the case of a 69-year-old man who presented with a rounded atelectasis (RA). During a 10-year follow-up by Computed Tomography (CT), the lobe showed a progressive shrinkage, and a moderate increase in size of the lesion led to a percutaneous biopsy which confirmed the diagnosis. RA is an unusual form of lung consolidation. The major cause of RA is asbestosis. RA is usually asymptomatic and may simulate a pulmonary neoplasm on chest Xray. The diagnosis is made by CT, demonstrating the pathognomonic "comet tail sign". No treatment is required.

[Cardiac computed tomography in preoperative management of a congenital coronary anomaly]. / La tomodensitométrie cardiaque dans la mise au point préopératoire d'une anomalie congénitale d'une artère coronaire.

We report the case of a 81-year-old man presenting with stable exercise angina pectoris. The stress test is positive and the coronaro-angiographic evaluation demonstrates a coronary fistula between the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and the pulmonary artery trunk. The mid LAD presents a significant lesion after the origin of the fistula. A cardiac computed tomography is used before surgical treatment. Coronary artery fistulas are unusual congenital or acquired coronary artery abnormalities in which blood is shunt into a cardiac chamber, great vessel or other structure. Low-pressure structure is the most common site of drainage of the coronary fistula. The clinical presentation of coronary fistulas is mainly dependent on the severity of the left-to-right shunt. Various cardiac imaging modalities are used for diagnosis and anatomical exploration before surgical or percutaneous intervention if the closure of the fistula is indicated.