Evaluation of Normal Epiglottis on Computed Tomography with Special Attention to Thickness.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the thickness of the normal epiglottis on computed tomography (CT) in a Japanese population. The focus was on determining the thickness of a normal epiglottis, which could then serve as a reference in detecting abnormalities. We believe that this would facilitate diagnosing and determining the extent of cancerous invasion of the supraglottis and secondary invasion of the epiglottis. This retrospective study was based on a review of radiographic data in patient charts. Cervical CT scans obtained from 79 Japanese patients (44 men [55.7%] and 35 women [44.3%]; age range, 28-85 years; mean, 58.9 years) showing a normal epiglottis under laryngoscopy were evaluated. The thickness of the epiglottis was measured on CT scans and the results analyzed with the Student's t-test, an analysis of variance, and the Tukey-Kramer test. The epiglottis in men was significantly thicker than that in women (p<0.05). A statistically significant difference was observed in thickness depending on longitudinal height (p=<0.001). The thickness at the median was larger than that bilaterally in all patients (p=<0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed in thickness depending on side or age. The thickness of the normal epiglottis was established at each level. We believe that these data could serve as a reference in diagnosing and detecting abnormalities of the epiglottis.

Improvement in Quality of Life Following Celiprolol Hydrochloride Administration in a Patient with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Case Report.

A 40-year-old female, who underwent transcatheter arterial embolization due to acute bleeding from an iliolumbar artery, was subsequently genetically diagnosed with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She experienced chronic anemia for many years due to the easy bruising of her whole body. The bruising improved with oral administration of celiprolol hydrochloride. There were no cardiac or vascular events during the 7 years following the transcatheter arterial embolization. Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome requires specialized treatment that is scientifically proven to prevent a major vascular event. Proactive genetic diagnosis is recommended in patients suspected of having vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome after careful patient interview.

Imaging predictor of ophthalmic involvement in maxillary sinus cancer during super selective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion and concomitant radiotherapy (RADPLAT).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictability of ophthalmic artery involvement in maxillary sinus cancer using preprocedural contrast enhanced CT and MRI. METHODS: We analyzed advanced (T3, T4a, and T4b) primary maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with super-selective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion and concomitant radiotherapy (RADPLAT) from Oct 2016 to Mar 2020. Two diagnostic radiologists evaluated the tumor invasion site around the maxillary sinus using preprocedural imaging. These results were compared with the angiographic involvement of the ophthalmic artery using statistical analyses. We also evaluated our RADPLAT quality using complication rate, response to treatment, local progressive free survival (LPFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Twenty patients were included in this study. There were ten cases of ophthalmic artery tumor stain and there was a correlation between ophthalmic artery involvement and invasion for ethmoid sinus with statistically significant differences. Other imaging findings were not associated with ophthalmic artery involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Ethmoid sinus invasion on preprocedural imaging could suggest ophthalmic artery involvement in maxillary sinus cancer. It may be useful in predicting prognosis and treatment selection.

CT imaging features of antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw/medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

OBJECTIVES: Antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ)/medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) include both bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of jaw (BRONJ) and denosumab-related osteonecrosis of jaw (DRONJ). The purpose of this study is to study radiological characteristics of ARONJ/MRONJ. These imaging features may serve as one useful aid for assessing ARONJ/MRONJ. METHODS: CT scans of 74 Japanese patients, who were clinically diagnosed by inclusion criteria of ARONJ/MRONJ, obtained between April 1, 2011 and September 30, 2016, were evaluated. We investigated the CT imaging features of ARONJ/MRONJ, and clarified radiological differentiation between BRONJ and DRONJ, BRONJ due to oral bisphosphonate administration and due to intravenous bisphosphonate administration, BRONJ with respective kinds of medication, BRONJ with long-term administration and short-term administration, BRONJ with each clinical staging respectively. Fisher's exact test, χ2 test, Student's t-test and analysis of variance were performed in the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Unilateral maxillary sinusitis was detected in all patients with upper ARONJ/MRONJ (100%). DRONJ showed large sequestrum more frequently than BRONJ (3/4, 75 vs 3/35, 8.6%, p < 0.05). DRONJ showed periosteal reaction more frequently than BRONJ (4/10, 40 vs 7/65, 10.1%, p < 0.05). Patients of BRONJ resulting from intravenous bisphosphonate administration showed larger and more frequent buccolingual cortical bone perforations than BRONJ resulting from oral bisphosphonate administration (7/8, 87.5 vs 11/30, 36.7%, p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between CT findings and respective kinds of medication, long/short-term administration, clinical stages of BRONJ. CONCLUSIONS: ARONJ/MRONJ has characteristic CT image findings which could be useful for its assessment.

A rare presentation of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome with bilateral lower limbs.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a vascular lymphatic malformation underlying with bony and soft tissue hypertrophy. It is a rare condition presenting in 1 out of 10 000 people. The growth disturbance due to KTS is more commonly unilateral (85%) than bilateral (12.5%), and most rarely crossed-bilateral (2.5%). A man in his 40s presented to our hospital with a complaint of lower limb discomfort. Radiograph, ultrasonography, computed tomography venography, magnetic resonance (and venography) showed various radiological findings characteristic for KTS. Because the patient was symptomatic, he underwent stripping of bilateral great saphenous vein and varicectomy of bilateral legs. The surgical procedures were undertaken successfully, and there has been no recurrent symptom for about 2 years and a half. In this study, we report a very rare case of bilateral KTS diagnosed by radiological and clinical manifestations with some literature review.

Wandering carotid arteries: Reciprocating change between normal and retropharyngeal positions on serial CT studies.

Positional change in the retropharyngeal carotid artery, a rare phenomenon over time, is even rarer in previous reports, and it is important to be aware of this before any neck surgical procedure. A woman in her 50s underwent an anterior maxillectomy for upper gingival cancer, without neck dissection. The patient had medical histories of diabetes mellitus and liver dysfunction, with unremarkable family histories. Serial neck contrast-enhanced computed tomography for detecting locoregional recurrence had been performed as a follow-up during 4 years. A radiological course of moving carotid arteries in serial computed tomography studies showed reciprocating positional changes (wandering) between normal and retropharyngeal regions. There was no locoregional recurrence of the gingival cancer. This is the first case to describe a so-rare presentation of wandering carotid arteries. It is important for clinicians to be aware of a wandering carotid artery to avoid potentially fatal complications.

Giant cell arteritis with polymyalgia rheumatica on FDG-PET/CT.

If there is no pain in the temporal artery, the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) may be delayed and blindness may occur. Therefore, FDG-PET/CT is important as a modality for diagnosis of GCA. When GCA is suspected and F-18 FDG-PET/CT is performed, it is worthwhile to pay attention to shoulder and hip joints as polymyalgia rheumatica commonly presents with GCA.