MRI in differentiating malignant versus benign portal vein thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Value of post contrast imaging with subtraction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate MR imaging parameters including quantitative multiphasic post-contrast enhancement with subtraction and qualitative diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating benign versus malignant portal venous thrombosis (PVT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: Radiology reports over a 6-year period ending February 2016 were searched for key words indicating presence of both HCC and PVT on abdominal MRI. 39 patients were identified with PVT characterized as benign or malignant based on pathologic data or serial imaging growth criteria. Image review was performed by two subspecialized radiologists blinded to the diagnosis and medical chart. Signal intensity for regions of interest were recorded within the portal vein thrombus as well as the portal vein on pre-contrast and dynamic post-contrast phases without and with subtraction. Qualitative parameters for DWI and presence of PV expansion were also evaluated. RESULTS: Percent enhancement generated high area under the curve (AUC) for both readers on all non-subtraction phases: arterial (0.95/0.98), portal venous (0.97/0.97) and delayed phase (0.96/0.99) and subtraction phases: arterial (0.91/0.96), portal venous (0.94/0.99) and delayed phases (0.96/0.97). Statistically significant differences were observed between benign and malignant PVT for both readers for PV expansion (p= <0.001/0.006). No qualitative DWI parameter reached statistical significance for both readers. CONCLUSIONS: Post-contrast and subtraction MRI can reliably distinguish malignant from benign PVT in patients with HCC using subtracted or non-subtracted images and at arterial, portal venous, or delayed phase timing.

Clinical Significance of Pulmonary Nodules in the Pretransplant Evaluation of Liver Transplant Recipients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary nodules are common in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are being evaluated for a possible liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the records of liver transplant recipients at our institution with a primary diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma who received transplants between 2000 and 2015. All patients had magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed disease within Milan criteria and a concurrent staging chest computed tomography. Patient survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared between pulmonary nodule characteristic groups. A Cox proportional hazards model was constructed for adjusted analysis. RESULTS: Of the 197 liver transplant recipients who met our study inclusion criteria (median follow-up, 40 mo), 115 (58.4%) had a total of 231 pulmonary nodules, with 57 (49.6%) having multiple nodules and 108 (93.9%) having nodules ≤ 1 cm. The presence of pulmonary nodules did not negatively affect patient survival, per our univariate and multivariate analysis, nor did their presence affect their number, location, laterality, shape, edge, density, or the presence of calcifications (P ≥.05). However, pulmonary nodules ≥ 1 cm were associated with decreased overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: In our pretransplant evaluation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, pulmonary nodules ≤ 1 cm did not portend worse patient or graft survival posttransplant.

Anterior and Posterior Vertebral Column Resection Versus Posterior-only Technique: A Comparison of Clinical Outcomes and Complications in Congenital Kyphoscoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the anterior-posterior surgery to posterior-only vertebra resection for congenital kyphoscoliosis in pediatric patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Vertebral column resection is a very powerful correction technique mainly used in the treatment of severe and rigid spinal deformities. The technique can be applied with combined anterior and posterior vertebral column resection (APVCR) or posterior-only vertebral column resection (PVCR) approaches. PVCR has gained popularity recently due to several apparent advantages, but APVCR is still believed by some to be a viable alternative, despite the use of an anterior exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart and radiographic review was performed including the patients with congenital kyphoscoliosis up to 16 years of age who were operated on by a single senior surgeon in our department after 2005. The data included surgical time, estimated blood loss, duration of hospital and postoperative intensive care unit stay, intraoperative and postoperative complications. Preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up radiographs were evaluated for scoliosis, kyphosis, and spinal balance. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (20 girls, 6 boys) met the inclusion criteria. APVCR was performed on 17 (median age, 13.2 y) and PVCR on 9 (median age, 10.7 y). Scoliosis correction at the time of last follow-up was 54.3% and 52.6% for APVCR and PVCR, respectively, whereas the average kyphosis correction was 25.4 degrees in APVCR and 30.1 degrees in PVCR group. Surgical time, hospital stay, and estimated blood loss were all significantly higher in the APVCR group, whereas the complication rates were similar. No neurological or vascular complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that although the operative time and surgical blood loss were higher with APVCR, there were no major complications and the radiologic outcomes were similar between APVCR and PVCR. APVCR should be considered as an acceptable technique especially in deformities where PVCR would be technically difficult or at the beginning of the spine surgeon's learning curve. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurement in Mediastinal Lymphadenopathies: Differentiation between Benign and Malignant Lesions.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to prospectively assess the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement in the differentiation of benign and malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 63 consecutive patients (28 women, 35 men; mean age 59.3 years) with 125 mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Echoplanar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the mediastinum was performed with b-factors of 0 and 600 mm2/s before mediastinoscopy and mediastinotomy, and ADC values were measured. The ADC values were compared with the histological results, and statistical analysis was done. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean ADC value of malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathy (1.030 ± 0.245 × 10-3 mm2/s) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when compared to benign lymphadenopathies (1.571 ± 0.559 × 10-3 mm2/s). For differentiating malignant from benign mediastinal lymphadenopathy, the best result was obtained when an ADC value of 1.334 × 10-3 mm2/s was used as a threshold value; area under the curve 0.848, accuracy 78.4%, sensitivity 66%, specificity of 86%, positive predictive value 76.7%, and negative predictive value of 79.2%. Interobserver agreement was excellent for ADC measurements. CONCLUSIONS: ADC measurements could be considered an important supportive method in differentiating benign from malignant mediastinal lymphadenopathies.

Evaluation of anterior mediastinal solid tumors by CT perfusion: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the role of computed tomography (CT) perfusion in differentiation of thymoma from thymic hyperplasia, lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and lung cancer invading anterior mediastinum. METHODS: In this study, 25 patients with an anterior mediastinal lesion underwent CT perfusion imaging from January 2015 to February 2016. Diagnoses included thymoma (n=7), thymic hyperplasia (n=8), lymphoma (n=4), thymic carcinoma (n=3), and invasive lung cancer (n=3). Lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and lung cancer were grouped as malignant tumors for statistical analysis. Values for blood flow, blood volume, and permeability surface were measured in CT perfusion. RESULTS: Blood flow and blood volume values were higher in thymoma in comparison to thymic hyperplasia; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Blood volume values were significantly higher in thymoma (mean, 11.4 mL/100 mL; range, 5.2-20.2 mL/100 mL) compared with lymphoma (mean, 5.3 mL/100 mL; range, 2.5-7.2 mL/100 mL) (P = 0.023). Blood flow and blood volume values were significantly higher in thymoma compared with non-thymoma malignant tumors (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: CT perfusion is helpful in differentiating thymoma from non-thymoma malignancies including lymphoma, thymic carcinoma, and invasive lung cancer involving the anterior mediastinum.

Embolism of a pellet after shotgun injury: From liver to right ventricle.

Bullet embolism to the heart is a rare but serious complication of penetrating trauma. Distant migration of foreign bodies via the vascular system must be taken into consideration following penetrating gunshot trauma. Delays in diagnosis may result in poor management and subsequent complications that may lead to grave prognosis. Presently described was a conservatively managed case of asymptomatic intracardiac pellet embolization. Highlighted was the importance of serial scanning for intravascular migration of pellet following penetrating gunshot injury, in addition to conservative management in asymptomatic patients.

Life-threatening complication of percutaneous transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy: systemic arterial air embolism.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous transthoracic fine-needle aspiration biopsy of lung lesions is a well known diagnostic technique. Nevertheless, it has some complications; such as pneumothorax, intraparenchymal hemorrhage and hemoptysis, which are not rare. Air embolism is one of the rare but potentially fetal complications of this procedure. Herein, we report the case of a 69-year-old male, in which case of systemic air embolism developed after the performance of lung biopsy. Early diagnosis and prompt oxygen therapy is crucial for patient's survival so careful reviewing of the obtained computed tomography images during the biopsy may prevent a missing systemic air embolism and provide an adequate therapy.

Clinical Application of Six Current Classification Systems for Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injuries after Cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Due to being a severe complication, iatrogenic bile duct injury is still a challenging issue for surgeons in gallbladder surgery. However, a commonly accepted classification describing the type of injury has not been available yet. This study aims to evaluate ability of six current classification systems to discriminate bile duct injury patterns. METHODOLOGY: Twelve patients, who were referred to our clinic because of iatrogenic bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy were reviewed retrospectively. We described type of injury for each patient according to current six different classifications. RESULTS: 9 patients underwent definitive biliary reconstruction. Bismuth, Strasberg-Bismuth, Stewart-Way and Neuhaus classifications do not consider vascular involvement, Siewert system does, but only for the tangential lesions without structural loss of duct and lesion with a structural defect of hepatic or common bile duct. Siewert, Neuhaus and Stewart-Way systems do not discriminate between lesions at or above bifurcation of the hepatic duct. CONCLUSION: The Hannover classification may resolve the missing aspects of other systems by describing additional vascular involvement and location of the lesion at or above bifurcation.

The journey of gastric phytobezoar followed by tomography.

Phytobezoars are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. They are usually present in patients with predisposing factors such as previous gastric surgery, diabetes, and edentulousness. In this case report, an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction due to the migration of gastric phytobezoar in a patient with no known predisposing factor is reported.

Relative proportions of stromal to cellular components of pleomorphic adenomas: determination with shear wave elastography.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the relative proportions of stromal to cellular components of pleomorphic adenomas have an effect on the shear elastic modulus determined by shear wave elastography (SWE). METHODS: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of our institution and performed between September 2011 and December 2012. Thirty-five patients who underwent surgery for a parotid mass were included in the study. The maximum shear elastic modulus of the mass was measured by SWE. Pleomorphic adenomas were histopathologically subdivided into stroma-poor, intermediate-stroma, and stroma-rich tumors based on the relative proportion of stromal to cellular components. RESULTS: The maximum shear elastic modulus values of the pleomorphic adenomas ranged from 12.6 to 291.9 kPa (mean ± SD, 120.9 ± 92.8 kPa). The Friedman test revealed a statistically significant relationship between the stromal amount and maximum shear elastic modulus (P < .001). Stroma-poor adenomas (mean, 32.3 ± 27.7 kPa; range, 12.6-81.1 kPa) were softer on SWE than stroma-rich adenomas (mean, 174.1 ± 48.4 kPa; range, 92.7-217.2 kPa; P = .009). No such significant difference was detected between stroma-poor and intermediate-stroma tumors (mean, 146.3 ± 106.1 kPa; range, 19.1-291.9 kPa; P = .062) or between intermediate-stroma and stroma-rich tumors (P = .465). CONCLUSIONS: Shear wave elastography depicts pleomorphic adenomas with a variable appearance, which is due to the relative proportions of stromal to cellular contents in the tumors.

Use of shear wave elastography to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the correlations between the elasticity values of solid breast masses and histopathological findings to define cutoff elasticity values differentiating malignant from benign lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 115 solid breast lesions of 109 consecutive patients were evaluated prospectively using shear wave elastography (SWE). Two orthogonal elastographic images of each lesion were obtained. Minimum, mean, and maximum elasticity values were calculated in regions of interest placed over the stiffest areas on the two images; we also calculated mass/fat elasticity ratios. Correlation of elastographic measurements with histopathological results were studied. RESULTS: Eighty-three benign and thirty-two malignant lesions were histopathologically diagnosed. The minimum, mean, and maximum elasticity values, and the mass/fat elasticity ratios of malignant lesions, were significantly higher than those of benign lesions. The cutoff value was 45.7 kPa for mean elasticity (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 95%), 54.3 kPa for maximum elasticity (sensitivity, 95%; specificity, 94%), 37.1 kPa for minimum elasticity (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 95%), and 4.6 for the mass/fat elasticity ratio (sensitivity, 97%; specificity, 95%). CONCLUSION: SWE yields additional valuable quantitative data to ultrasonographic examination on solid breast lesions. SWE may serve as a complementary tool for diagnosis of breast lesions. Long-term clinical studies are required to accurately select lesions requiring biopsy.

Simultaneous thrombosis of superior mesenteric artery and superior mesenteric vein following chemotherapy: MDCT findings.

A case of acute mesenteric ischemia due to thrombosis of superior mesenteric artery and vein in a 44-year-old woman following chemotherapy for invasive laryngeal carcinoma was diagnosed on a multi-detector CT scan. Although the link between malignancy and thromboembolism is widely recognized in patients with cancer, chemotherapy further elevates the risk of thrombosis. Acute mesenteric ischemia associated or not associated with chemotherapy rarely occurs in patients with cancer. Moreover, co-occurrence of superior mesenteric artery and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis is reported for the first time.

Aortic and coronary calcifications in Takayasu arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis is well recognized in Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and the associated plaques tend to be more common in areas of arteritis. We now report arterial wall calcification in a large group of TAK patients and controls. We hypothesized that the degree of coronary artery calcification would point to a systemic effect of inflammation while that in the thoracic aorta more of local inflammation. METHODS: A total of 47 patients with TAK, 43 patients with SLE and 70 healthy controls (HC) were studied. The presence of coronary artery and thoracic aorta calcifications (ToAC) was investigated by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). Atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries were screened using B mode ultrasound. RESULTS: The frequency of coronary artery calcification was significantly increased among patients with SLE as compared to the healthy controls while the increase in TAK did not reach statistical significance. There were more TAK patients with ToAC among the TAK as compared to the SLE patients [21/47 (45%) vs 10/43 (23%), P = 0.033]. In addition, a circumferential type of calcification, vs a punctuate or linear type, was the more common type in 67% of patients with TAK whereas only the linear or punctuate type was seen in SLE patients and HC. SLE and TAK patients were found to have increased risk for carotid artery plaques. Among TAK patients, coronary artery calcification, ToAC and carotid artery plaques tend to be at sites of primary vasculitic involvement. CONCLUSIONS: There is increased atherosclerosis in TAK and SLE. Vessel wall inflammation seems to be also important in the atherosclerosis associated with TAK.

Extended pancreaticoduodenectomy for a huge cystic-cavernous lymphangioma: a case report.

CONTEXT: Cystic-cavernous lymphangioma is a rare cystic tumor especially for adults and pancreas. CASE REPORT: We reported a case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with a visible and palpable abdominal mass found to be a huge lymphangioma of the pancreas. An abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a multiloculated, lobulated T1 hypo/hyper, T2 hyperintense cystic mass extending from right subhepatic space to the pelvis measuring 155x167x100 mm. A pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed encompassing the distal stomach and a segment of the transverse colon, because of their close, inseparable relationship to the mass. The cystic mass was histopathologically diagnosed as partly cavernous and partly cystic lymphangioma. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge this is the first case of pancreatic lymphangioma requiring additional organ resection besides a standard pancreaticoduodenectomy. To reduce recurrences, we recommend a complete resection for this pathology, even though its benign nature.

Giant multilocular cystadenoma of the prostate: a rare cause of huge cystic pelvic mass.

Giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma is a rare benign tumor that evolves from the prostate gland. Obstructive voiding symptoms occur in all reported cases. These lesions do not invade adjacent structures. Preoperative radiologic evaluation can define the benign nature of the lesion. Here we report a case of large cystic lesions identified by magnetic resonance imaging and sonographic findings that caused an extensive mass effect in the pelvis. When retrovesical, huge cystic lesions fill the pelvis completely in young men, with high levels of serum prostate-specific antigen, giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the youngest case of prostatic cystadenoma reported in the literature.