Analysis of DNA sequence polymorphism at the cMWG699 locus reveals phylogenetic relationships and allopolyploidy within Hordeum murinum subspecies.

Hordeum murinum L. is one of the most widely distributed species in the genus Hordeum. This species is composed of three subspecies with three ploidy levels, namely subsp. glaucum (2x=14), subsp. murinum (4x=28) and subsp. leporinum (4x=28, 6x=42). These three subspecies are morphologically similar and are frequently referred to as the 'murinum complex'. Although many cytological studies suggest that the murinum complex is allopolyploid, one inter-specific hybridization study suggested that it is autopolyploid. The goals of the present study are to identify nucleotide variation in the cMWG699 locus in the polyploid genomes of the murinum complex, to conduct molecular phylogenetic analysis of this locus, and to clarify the allo- versus auto-polyploidy status of the murinum complex. For this purpose, PCR-RFLP analysis was conducted with HhaI and SspI restriction enzymes on 80 H. murinum accessions. Single enzyme digestion data revealed polymorphism between diploid and polyploids, and double-digestion revealed polymorphism between tetra- and hexaploids. The nucleotide sequences of clones clearly show that polyploid murinum species are allopolyploid. In addition, DNA sequence analysis indicated that one donor of the tetraploid was subsp. glaucum (2x), as has been suggested previously by cytological studies. The other diploid donors were not identified, but at least one group of sequences common to 4x and 6x genomes (namely clonetype B) was highly diverged from 2x subsp. glaucum. The two tetraploid subspecies, 4x subsp. murinum and 4x subsp. leporinum, had identical DNA sequences, suggesting that these two subspecies are not differentiated at the cMWG699 locus.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the spleen: report of a case and literature review.

There is a marked paucity of reports on malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the spleen in the literature, and there are no previous reports of its color Doppler sonographic (US) and contrast-enhanced US findings. We report on an 82-year-old male with splenic MFH (inflammatory subtype), with an emphasis on color Doppler and contrast-enhanced US findings.

Gallbladder adenoma: report of a case with emphasis on contrast-enhanced US findings.

There is a marked paucity of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) findings of gallbladder disease in the literature, and there is only one previous case of gallbladder adenoma. We report such a case. US showed a 2-cm polypoid lesion at the gallbladder body. Color Doppler US showed the hypervascular nature of the lesion, and contrast-enhanced US revealed the lesion to be homogeneously enhanced, suggesting that the lesion was composed of the same pathology. The lesion was surgically resected, and was found to be an adenoma without cancer foci. This case suggests that contrast-enhanced US is an effective tool in diagnosing a gallbladder adenoma.

Duodenal adenoma with production of massive mucus: report of a case with emphasis on US findings.

Duodenal adenoma with massive mucus production is very rare. We report such a case. Ultrasonography (US) showed the presence of massive mucus, and contrast- enhanced US revealed the thickened wall to be homogeneously enhanced, suggesting that the lesion was composed of the same pathology. The US results were confirmed histologically by endoscopically guided biopsy. Thus, contrast-enhanced US helps determine the biopsy point and determine good diagnostic strategies.

Malignant paraganglioma draining into the main portal vein.

Abdominal paraganglioma is a relatively rare tumor, and there have been no previous reports describing its contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic findings. We report a case of a lesion of unknown origin incidentally detected by ultrasound in the right upper abdomen. The lesion was markedly hypervascular and contrast-enhanced ultrasonogram showed it to be communicating with the portal vein. This communication was then confirmed by angiogram. Such an arteriovenous communication through paraganglioma has been recently reported, and a diagnosis of a paraganglioma should be considered when contrast-enhanced ultrasonogram shows a solid mass of unknown origin draining directly into the venous system.

Appendiceal mucocele: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Appendiceal mucocele (AM) is a relatively rare disease, and its sonograms (US) have not been sufficiently analyzed. METHODS: We studied the US findings of five patients with AM, with special attention to AM size, shape, internal echoes, and the mode of back echoes. RESULTS: All five cases showed an elongated mass in the lower right abdomen. Internal echoes were present in all cases and M-mode US confirmed the movement of those echoes. The echogenecity of the lesion changed according to the frequency of the transducer used. Only one case showed posterior echo enhancement, and no case showed lateral shadowing. CONCLUSION: AM appears as an elongated echo-poor mass without posterior echo enhancement. The cyst wall is less distinct than what one would expect for a cyst. When encountering such a mass in the lower right abdomen, one should strongly suspect an AM. In such cases, appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are especially necessary to prevent rupture that results in development of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Dilatation of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that obstructive jaundice causes biliary dilatation, but sonographic (US) findings of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice are rarely reported. METHODS: We reviewed US findings in 25 such patients. RESULTS: US findings of dilated cystic duct could be divided roughly into two patterns: tortuous and tubular. The former pattern was a tortuously dilated cystic duct arising from the gallbladder neck, running predominantly deeply, turning anteromedially, and then joining the posterior face of the common hepatic duct. The latter pattern was a straight dilated cystic duct running parallel with the common hepatic duct, giving the appearance of a septated bile duct. CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the US findings of dilated cystic duct translates into improved biliary US diagnosis.

Retroperitoneal cyst: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal cyst (RC) is a relatively rare disease, and its sonographic (US) findings have not been analyzed sufficiently. METHODS: We studied US findings of five patients with RC, with special attention to location, size, shape, internal echoes, the presence or absence of lateral shadowing, and the mode of back echoes. RESULTS: In all cases, the cyst was situated behind (four cases) or lateral to (one case) the pancreas: behind or lateral to the pancreatic head in two cases, behind the pancreatic body in one case, and behind the pancreatic tail in two cases. Four cases showed a round mass (three cases) or multiple round mass (one case). Internal echoes were present in those cases and showed a "pseudo-solid" pattern. In those cases, M-mode US confirmed the movement of those internal echoes. In the remaining case, the lesion was imaged as an irregularly shaped multilocular mass. No case showed posterior echo enhancement, and no case showed lateral shadowing. No blood flow signals from the lesion were seen. CONCLUSION: Unlike ordinary cysts, RC usually is imaged as a round mass behind the pancreas, with dense internal echoes without lateral shadowing or posterior echo enhancement, which presents a "pseudo-solid" pattern. A diagnosis of RC should be considered when encountering a mass with such US findings.

Abdominal lymphoma: differentiation from pancreatic carcinoma with Doppler US.

BACKGROUND: Marked lymphadenopathy around the pancreas due to lymphoma (abdominal lymphoma) occasionally can mimic a total pancreatic carcinoma on ultrasonography (US). We investigated whether US and color Doppler US allowed differentiation between those pathologies. METHODS: We analyzed the US and color Doppler results of 12 cases of abdominal peripancreatic lymphoma and 21 cases of total pancreatic carcinoma. RESULTS: With regard to shape, echogenicity of the lesion, and mode of vascular involvement, there was no difference between groups. With regard to maximal velocities and resistive indices of the involved vessels, there was no difference between groups. However, the presence of turbulent flows in the involved vessels was seen exclusively in the pancreatic carcinoma group. CONCLUSION: The presence or absence of turbulent flow in the involved vessels is a very important finding for differentiating abdominal lymphomas from total pancreatic carcinomas.

Mesenteric lipoma: report of a case with emphasis on US findings.

Mesenteric lipoma (ML) is a relatively rare disease that has been very infrequently reported. We present the clinical data and medical imaging results of an asymptomatic case with ML incidentally detected by sonography (US). On US the lesion was imaged as a well-demarcated hypoechoic mass with multiple linear echoes. The mass also changed location under probe compression. The lesion was imaged as a clearly demarcated non-enhanced homogeneous fat-density mass on CT. Color Doppler US and angiography confirmed the avascular nature of the mass. Knowledge of the US findings in this case is useful for the diagnosis of ML.

Duodenal carcinoma: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Duodenal carcinoma is a relatively rare tumor and its sonographic (US) findings have rarely been reported. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data and US results of 15 patients with histologically proven duodenal carcinoma to pinpoint the contribution of US to the diagnosis. RESULTS: US was useful for not only detecting the duodenal carcinoma (13 of 15, 86.7%), which altered the endoscopic procedure in nine patients, but also for evaluating vascular involvement (marked portal invasion in four cases and inferior vena cava invasion in two cases). Four of the eight carcinomas arising from the second or third portion showed this vascular invasion. CONCLUSION: After reviewing the clinical data and US results of 15 cases of duodenal carcinoma, we found that US was useful for detecting duodenal carcinoma and determining vascular invasion. Thus, US contributed significantly to alter the endoscopic procedure and patient management.

Liver tumors in fatty liver: difficulty in ultrasonographic interpretation.

BACKGROUND: Fatty liver and liver tumors are very frequent diseases. Sonography (US) currently is the initial diagnostic tool for hepatic exploration. However, there is a marked paucity of US findings of tumors in fatty liver. METHODS: We studied the US findings of 41 lesions (31 patients) with this combination, with special attention paid to internal echoes, marginal echoes, and especially the mode of back echoes, and compared them with the US results of 64 lesions (38 patients) without fatty liver. RESULTS: Comparing the group having liver tumor without fatty liver with the group having liver tumor with fatty liver showed that (a) the number of hypoechoic lesions increased (29 of 41, 70.7%, vs. 16 of 64, 25.0.%), (2) the tumor margin appeared indistinct (32 of 41, 78.0%, vs. nine of 64, 14.1%), and (c) the lesions showing posterior echo enhancement increased (34 of 41, 82.9%, vs. eight of 64, 12.5%). CONCLUSION: Liver tumors in fatty liver are expected to show unusual patterns on US, so we should consider this difficulty when interpreting these US findings and we should not make a conclusion without including other imaging modalities.

Splenic lymphoma: differentiation from splenic cyst with ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Lymphoma can be nearly anechoic and mimic a cyst on ultrasonography (US). To investigate whether this phenomenon occurs at the level of the spleen, we analyzed the US findings of 38 cases of splenic lymphoma and 16 cases of splenic cyst. RESULTS: (1) With regard to shape, echogenicity of the lesion, and mode of posterior echo, there was no difference between splenic lymphomas and splenic cysts. However, the boundaries of the lesions were indistinct in splenic lymphomas and distinct in splenic cysts. (2) Blood flow signals and vascular penetration were seen exclusively in splenic lymphomas. CONCLUSION: The mode of boundary echo (distinct or indistinct) distinguishes splenic lymphomas from splenic cysts. Color Doppler US increases the diagnostic confidence of US.

Peripheral bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We reviewed medical and radiologic records of five patients with bone metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to evaluate the role of sonography (US) in the diagnosis of this bone metastasis. RESULTS: The metastatic lesions were clearly visualized by US as expansive, homogeneous, soft tissue masses with bony destruction, and color Doppler US showed fine vessels within the lesions. After treatment, US showed a decrease in tumor size with an increase in echogenicity and a decrease in blood flow. Hepatic US at the time of bone metastasis showed a portal tumor thrombus in all cases. CONCLUSION: When US detects a portal venous tumor thrombus in HCC patients, attention should be directed not only to the liver but also to bone to improve patient care. US is useful not only in detecting the metastatic lesion but also in evaluating the treatment effect.

Macronodular deformity of the spleen.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Macronodular splenic deformity without a focal lesion has rarely been reported. We present three such cases and discuss the possible pathomechanism. RESULTS: There was one case of macronodular deformity of unknown cause. In this case, the liver was elongated anteriorly over the dome of the spleen, and the markedly deformed spleen mimicked a round lesion in the left lobe of the liver. Color Doppler ultrasonography showed the major intra- and perisplenic vessels to be patent. There were two cases of macronodular deformity associated with extended portal thrombosis. In both cases, portal thrombosis extended throughout the intrahepatic and extrahepatic portal systems, and this portal flow disturbance was presumed to be the cause of the splenic deformity. CONCLUSION: Although very rare, thrombosis should be sought throughout the portal system when ultrasonography shows a markedly deformed spleen. Marked splenic deformity, especially in cases with an elongated liver, may mimic a liver tumor. A good understanding of its sonographic appearance may help sonographers prevent a hazardous misdiagnosis.

Pancreatic metastasis: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic metastasis is a relatively rare pathologic condition. Its ultrasound (US) findings have been infrequently reported, and there has been no previous report describing its color Doppler findings. METHODS: We reviewed the US findings of 13 such cases. RESULTS: The pancreatic metastasis consisted of a single hypoechoic nodule in four cases and multiple hypoechoic nodules in nine cases. US showed a slight dilatation of the main pancreatic duct in two cases of pancreatitis, and a marked biliary dilatation in one case of jaundice. The US results prompted introduction of appropriate treatment in these cases. Color Doppler US was useful for confirming the absence of flow abnormalities in the arterial and portal systems around the pancreas. In a patients with renal carcinoma metastasis, it showed many fine blood flow signals in the metastatic lesions. CONCLUSION: The role of US in the diagnosis of pancreatic metastasis consists of associated complications such as biliary dilatation or pancreatitis and detection of isolated lesions. Additional information provided by color Doppler US may increase diagnostic confidence.

Pancreatic uncinate carcinoma: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic carcinoma arising from the uncinate process (pancreatic uncinate carcinoma) is relatively rare. We wished to define its clinical manifestations and sonographic findings. METHODS: Clinical and sonographic data of eight cases were reviewed. RESULTS: The common bile duct and the pancreatic duct were not dilated until a very late stage. The lesion mimicked a mesenteric tumor in two cases. The superior mesenteric vessels were compressed anteriorly. Computed tomography was useful, not only for confirming the pancreatic uncinate origin of the lesion but also for determining precisely the mode of mesenteric vascular involvement. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of these unusual sonographic findings can determine the diagnostic strategy in pancreatic uncinate carcinoma.

Localized gallbladder carcinoma: sonographic findings.

Our study of color (seven cases) and contrast (three cases) Doppler results of seven cases with gallbladder carcinoma localized in the gallbladder wall (TNM stage T1) showed that the presence or absence of blood flow signals distinguishes gallbladder carcinoma in stage T1b (muscular involvement) from tumefactive biliary sludge and that injection of contrast medium markedly increased diagnostic confidence. Thus, when color Doppler sonography is ambiguous, contrast-enhanced Doppler sonography is the next line of investigation. However, actual color Doppler sonography is still not fully capable of displaying fine blood flow signals from gallbladder carcinoma in stage T1a (mucosal involvement), and greater Doppler sensitivity is mandatory for this purpose.

Liver tumors in children and young patients: sonographic and color Doppler findings.

BACKGROUND: Liver tumors are a relatively rare pathologic condition in children and young patients. The aim of the present study was to categorize the sonographic (US) and color Doppler results of liver tumors in these patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the US findings of 23 such cases: malignant tumor (13 cases)-hepatoblastoma (four cases), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; four cases), and hepatic metastasis (five cases); benign tumor (10 cases)-hepatocellular adenoma (four cases), focal nodular hyperplasia (two cases), mesenchymal hamartoma (two cases), cystadenoma (one case), and hemangioendothelioma (one case). RESULTS: There was no specific US findings for each tumor type. HCC usually developed on a normal liver and was imaged as multiple nodules. Color Doppler US helped in differentiating multiple metastatic nodules (hypovascular) from multiple HCC nodules (hypervascular). Presence of intratumoral cystic areas was usually suggestive of benign tumors. Follow-up US was useful for detecting small nodules in high-risk groups (congenital biliary atresia, glycogen storage disease). Color Doppler US helped in diagnosing portal thrombus or intratumoral shunt. CONCLUSION: Although there were no highly specific findings, US and color Doppler results contributed, to a certain degree, to the diagnosis of liver tumors in children and young adults by showing intratumoral cystic areas or vascularity.

Abdominal involvement in neurofibromatosis 1: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) has been studied from many viewpoints, but its abdominal involvement has rarely been reported. Sonography (US) is now the initial diagnostic tool for abdominal exploration, which prompted us to determine the clinical manifestations and US findings of abdominal involvement in NF1. METHODS: We analyzed the US findings and clinical data of eight NF1 cases with abdominal involvement. RESULTS: Abdominal involvement included neurofibromatous tumor growth in the liver, mesentery, and retroperitoneum, in addition to mesenteric leiomyomatosis and gastric carcinoma. Color Doppler US was useful not only in detecting blood flows in the lesions but also in preventing hazardous vascular injury during tumor biopsy. CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the clinical manifestations and US findings of abdominal involvement in NF1 translates into improved NF1 patient care.