Synchronous occurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Case report.

RATIONALE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common primary mesenchymal tumors in gastrointestinal tract. Synchronous occurrence of GIST and tumors in other organs is rare. We first report an exceedingly rare case of synchronous occurrence of gastric GIST, pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 70-year-old male presented to our hospital because of abdominal pain and dyspepsia. Tumor markers and liver function were abnormal. Abdomen computed tomography showed concurrent tumors in stomach, pancreas, and liver. DIAGNOSIS: Pathology confirmed synchronous occurrence of gastric GIST, pancreatic IPMN and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. INTERVENTIONS: Mass excision, partly gastrectomy, wedge resection of VIII liver segments, and pancreatic-oduodenectomy were performed. OUTCOMES: During the 18-month follow-up, both laboratory tests and computed tomography examination revealed no sign of recurrence or metastasis. Currently, the patient is free of clinical symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, jaundice, and fever. CONCLUSION: As yet, no cases simultaneously with gastric GIST, pancreatic IPMN and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have been described in literatures. This report increases the knowledge to avoid misdiagnosis and delayed therapy for coexistence of the described 3 types of neoplasm.

Ectopic thyroid microfollicular adenoma in the lung: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic thyroid occurs due to aberrant development of the thyroid gland during its migration to the pretracheal region. Intrapulmonary ectopic thyroid is extremely rare and its benign transformation (microfollicular adenoma) has never been reported. This paper reports a case of ectopic thyroid microfollicular adenoma in the lung mimicking metastatic pelvic tumors. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 76-year old female presented to our hospital because of transient unconsciousness. Pelvic ultrasound (US) and chest computed tomography (CT) showed pelvic tumors and pulmonary nodules. DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent pelvic tumors resection and CT-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) at the largest pulmonary nodule. Pathological description revealed bilateral ovarian serous cystadenoma and endometrioma in pelvic, and ectopic thyroid microfollicular adenoma in lung. In view of the patient's age and physical conditions, it is unanimously decided by the physicians and the family members of the patient to closely follow up this benign pulmonary lesion. OUTCOMES: During the 12-month follow-up, no pelvic tumor recurrence or metastasis was found. CT review of pulmonary nodules showed no remarkable changes. The patient was asymptomatic and euthyroid after being discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSION: Ectopic thyroid microfollicular adenoma in the lung is extremely rare and can be easily mistaken for pulmonary metastases from other sites. The case reported in this paper highlights that ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid tumor should not be overlooked.

Modified Lung Ultrasound Examinations in Assessment and Monitoring of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure-Induced Lung Reaeration in Young Children With Congenital Heart Disease Under General Anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: Lung ultrasound can reliably diagnose pulmonary atelectasis. The object of this study is to determine the most efficient region to assess changes in atelectasis in children with congenital heart disease under general anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Operating room at university-affiliated children's hospital. PATIENTS: Children between 3 months and 3 years old, scheduled for elective congenital heart disease surgery under general anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Forty children with congenital heart disease were randomly allocated to either a 5 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure group or a standard therapy control group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Preoperative lung ultrasound was performed twice in each patient-after 1 and 15 minutes of mechanical ventilation. Atelectatic areas and B-lines were compared between two examinations. Different ultrasound regions were evaluated using Bland-Altman plots. The occurrence rate of atelectasis was much higher in inferoposterior lung regions (Scans 4-6) than in anterior and lateral regions (Scans 1-3). The median (interquartile range) lung ultrasound scores were lower in the positive end-expiratory pressure group than in the control group after treatment: 8 (3.3-9.8) versus 13 (8.3-17.5; p < 0.001). The atelectatic area was significantly decreased after treatment in the positive end-expiratory pressure group: 128 mm (34.5.5-213.3 mm) versus 49.5 mm (5.3-75.5 mm; p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots revealed concordance between measurements in Scans 1-6 and those in Scans 4-6. In the posterior axillary line regions, changes in atelectatic area were significantly larger in the positive end-expiratory pressure group than in the control group (p = 0.03, 0.007, and 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Lung ultrasound in inferoposterior lung regions may be more likely to reflect changes in atelectasis and save examination time; 5 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure may be useful in lung reaeration and can reduce, but not eliminate, atelectasis in children with congenital heart disease.

A prospective evaluation of contrast and radiation dose and image quality in cardiac CT in children with complex congenital heart disease using low-concentration iodinated contrast agent and low tube voltage and current.

OBJECTIVE: To the assess image quality, contrast dose and radiation dose in cardiac CT in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) using low-concentration iodinated contrast agent and low tube voltage and current in comparison with standard dose protocol. METHODS: 110 patients with CHD were randomized to 1 of the 2 scan protocols: Group A (n = 45) with 120 mA tube current and contrast agent of 270 mgI/ml in concentration (Visipaque™; GE Healthcare Ireland, Co., Cork, UK); and Group B (n = 65) with the conventional 160 mA and 370 mgI/ml concentration contrast (Iopamiro®; Shanghai Bracco Sine Pharmaceutical Corp Ltd, Shanghai, China). Both groups used 80 kVp tube voltage and were reconstructed with 70% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction algorithm. The CT value and noise in aortic arch were measured and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. A five-point scale was used to subjectively evaluate image quality. Contrast and radiation dose were recorded. RESULTS: There was no difference in age and weight between the two groups (all p > 0.05). The iodine load and radiation dose in Group A were statistically lower (3976 ± 747 mgI vs 5763 ± 1018 mgI in iodine load and 0.60 ± 0.08 mSv vs 0.77 ± 0.10 mSv in effective dose; p < 0.001). However, image noise, CT value, CNR, SNR and subjective image quality for the two groups were similar (all p > 0.05), and with good agreement between the two observers. Comparing the surgery results, the diagnostic accuracy for extracardiac and intracardiac defects for Group A was 96% and 92%, respectively, while the corresponding numbers for Group B were 95% and 93%. CONCLUSION: Compared with the standard dose protocol, the use of low tube voltage (80 kVp), low tube current (120 mA) and low-concentration iodinated contrast agent (270 mgI/ml) enables a reduction of 30% in iodine load and 22% in radiation dose while maintaining compatible image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Advances in knowledge: The new cardiac CT scanning protocol can largely reduce the adverse effects of radiation and contrast media to children. Meanwhile, it also can be used effectively to examine complex CHD.