Gastric schwannoma: CT findings and clinicopathologic correlation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics of gastric schwannoma. METHODS: Eight cases of gastric schwannomas confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed by CT. We reviewed the CT findings of gastric schwannomas for the following characteristics: tumor location, size, contour, margin, growth pattern, enhancement pattern, the presence or absence of necrosis, and perigastric lymph nodes. RESULTS: The tumors were located in the lesser curvature of gastric body (n = 5) and greater curvature of the gastric antrum (n = 3) with a median size of 4.8 cm (range 1.7-11.4 cm). Gastric schwannomas appeared as submucosal tumors with CT features of ovoid (7/8 patients), well-defined (8/8) and exophytic (4/8) or mixed (3/8) growth patterns. On dynamic CT examination, the tumors displayed homogeneous enhancement in seven cases and heterogeneous enhancement in one case. Solid parts of eight tumors demonstrated mild enhancement during the arterial phase and strengthened progressive enhancement during the venous and delayed phases. Two cases had perigastric lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric schwannomas typically manifested as ovoid, well-defined, exophytic, or mixed growth pattern masses on CT. Homogeneous progressive enhancement on dynamic CT is a characteristic finding of gastric schwannoma.

Multiple simple cystic metastases in the lateral neck at presentation with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Metastasis of a papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in the lateral neck is characterized primarily by solid lymphadenopathy, although some cases may rarely present with a cervical cystic mass. We report a case of lateral cervical lymph node metastases of PTMC that appeared as a cystic lymphangioma of the lateral neck. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 55-year-old man with a painless egg-sized mass in the right side of the neck that had been present for 1 month underwent physical examination, ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), and intraoperative fast-frozen pathological examination, which indicated that the cystic masses in the neck were benign. However, the final pathology report identified the lateral neck masses as lymph node metastases of thyroid carcinoma. DIAGNOSIS: The patient was diagnosed with PTMC of the right lobe of the thyroid gland with lateral neck metastases. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent right cervical neck dissection together with a right thyroidectomy, followed by levothyroxine therapy and routine follow-up. OUTCOMES: No postoperative complications were reported, and the thyroid-stimulating hormone inhibition target was <0.1 mmol/L; there was no detectable tumor recurrence on routine clinical follow-up for up to 16 months. CONCLUSIONS: This case report emphasizes the need to consider cervical lymph node metastases of thyroid carcinoma in the differential diagnosis for patients with large, multiple, simple cystic neck masses.

Application of artificial neural networks in detection and diagnosis of gastrointestinal and liver tumors.

As a form of artificial intelligence, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have the advantages of adaptability, parallel processing capabilities, and non-linear processing. They have been widely used in the early detection and diagnosis of tumors. In this article, we introduce the development, working principle, and characteristics of ANNs and review the research progress on the application of ANNs in the detection and diagnosis of gastrointestinal and liver tumors.

[Epidemiological survey of chronic vascular complications of type 2 diabetic in-patients in four municipalities].

OBJECTIVE: To provide an epidemiological description and risk factors of chronic vascular complications of type 2 diabetic in-patients in four municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing. METHODS: Data of the study came from 3,469 Type 2 diabetic in-patients from 1991 to 2000 in 10 medical centers of Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing. A variety of parameters of in-patients were evaluated retrospectively to know the prevalence and risk factors of chronic vascular complications in the study patients. RESULTS: Overall, the detailed prevalence of chronic vascular complications is listed as follows: diabetic retinopathy 31.5%, diabetic nephropathy 39.7%, diabetic neuropathy 51.1%, hypertension 41.8%, coronary heart disease (CHD) 25.1%, cerebral vascular disease (CVD) 17.3%, vessel complication of lower limbs 9.3%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows that diabetes family history, duration of diabetes (> 5 years), and systolic blood pressure (> 125 mmHg) are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy; duration of diabetes (> 5 years), systolic blood pressure (> 125 mmHg), LDL-C (> 3.12 mmol/L), and triglyceride (> 1.70 mmol/L) are the risk factors for diabetic nephropathy; age (> 45 years), duration of diabetes (> 5 years), HbA1C (> 7.0%), systolic blood pressure (> 125 mmHg), and LDL-C (> 3.12 mmol/L), are the risk factors for CHD; age (> 45 years), duration of diabetes (> 5 years), systolic blood pressure (> 125 mmHg), and triglyceride (> 1.70 mmol/L) are the risk factors for CVD. CONCLUSION: In order to improve patients' outcome, multiple metabolic controls in type 2 diabetic patients are urgently needed, which include decreasing glycemia, reducing hypertension and improving lipid levels.