Spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture of hepatic hydatid cyst: a rare cause of ascites.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease is endemic in certain areas of the world and it is located mostly in the liver. Intraperitoneal rupture is rare. Rupture may result from trauma or may occur spontaneously from increased pressure of the cystic fluid. Ruptured hydatid cyst is a rare cause of ascites, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in endemic areas. The diagnosis of ruptured hydatid cyst should be prompt because it requires emergency intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case refers to a 62 year old Tunisian male admitted in our institution for diffuse abdominal distension. Physical examination was unremarkable except for the presence of ascites. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a large amount of fluid into the peritoneal cavity associated with many intraperitoneal cysts with a scalloping on the liver. It showed also a heterogeneous cystic lesion of the segment II of the liver. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed in addition a fat infiltration and a thickening of the peritoneum. Thus intraperitoneal hydatid cyst rupture was suspected and emergency laparotomy was performed. A yellow serous fluid , containing many daughter vesicles disseminated through the peritoneal cavity was noted. A mass consistent with a hydatid cyst was noted at segment II of the liver with a tear on the inferior surface. Thus, intraperitoneal rupture of hepatic hydatid cyst was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The rupture of hydatid cyst into the peritoneal cavity is rare but presents a challenge for the radiologist and the surgeon. This condition is included in the differential diagnosis of ascites in endemic areas.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus on MDCT: a rare intracardiac mass.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is a rare form of chronic degenerative process in the mitral valve fibrous ring with a mass-like appearance that has to be in the differential of the radiologist and cardiologist. We present the case of an 82-year-old woman in whom a tumor-like calcified mass in the posterior side of the mitral valve annulus was detected at echocardiography, and the diagnosis of caseous calcification was confirmed on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). The diagnostic features of this rare cardiac mass are described.

[Iliac chondroma: a case report]. / Chondrome iliaque: a propos d'un cas.

Chondroma is a benign bone tumour that usually occurs in the in carpal and phalangeal bones. The iliac involvement is very rare and should be differentiated from chondrosarcoma. The authors report a case of iliac chondroma revealed by an acetabular lytic area in a 13-year-old girl. The diagnosis of chondroma was confirmed after surgical biopsy.

[Diagnosis and treatment of primary germ cell tumors of the mediastinum. Report of six cases]. / Diagnostic et traitement des tumeurs germinales malignes primitives du mediastin. A propos de six cas.

Primary germ cell tumours of the mediastinum are rare. We report a retrospective study of six cases. Sex ratio was 2/1. The tumor site was the posterior mediastinum in two patients and anterior in the remaining cases. High level serum markers was noted in two patients. At histologic exam we found two cases of seminoma, one embryonal carcinoma, one case of yolk sac tumor and two cases of composite tumor. All patients had non metastatic but locally advanced disease at diagnosis. Three patients were treated with cisplatin based chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or surgical resection of residual masses. Only one patient is still alive. As it is often reported in the literature, the prognosis of this disease is poor especially for non seminomatous tumours.

[Non-metastatic thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus complicating Burkitt's lymphoma. A case report]. / Thrombose non tumorale du sinus longitudinal supérieur compliquant un lymphome de Burkitt. A propos d'un cas.

We report a case of non-metastatic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis complicating a Burkitt's lymphoma of the small bowel, and review similar cases of this cerebrovascular disorder associated with lymphoma.