Imaging features of gluteal in vitro fertilization injection granulomas, with delayed clinical presentation simulating soft tissue sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical and imaging findings of patients with remote history of intramuscular (IM) in vitro fertilization (IVF) gluteal injections, presenting with signs and symptoms of a possible gluteal soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of consecutive patients with a history of prior IVF therapy referred for MRI evaluation of a gluteal soft tissue mass was performed. Six patients were reviewed, with 5 patients meeting study inclusion criteria. Imaging exams (ultrasound n = 3, MRI n = 5) were assessed for lesion location, morphology, and intrinsic imaging characteristics. One case proceeded to percutaneous biopsy with histopathologic correlation. RESULTS: Average patient age was 43 years (range 38-50). Mean time interval between IVF IM injections and MRI was 5.7 years (range 2.2-13 years). Clinical findings included palpable gluteal mass (5/5) and local pain (4/5). Ultrasound showed heterogeneous subcutaneous lesions with varying complex cystic/solid internal echogenicity. On MRI, each case illustrated an irregularly marginated lesion, mean maximal dimension 3.5 cm (range 1.5-5.9 cm), within the deep gluteal subcutaneous fat composed of solitary (1/5) or multifocal (4/5) lobules demonstrating internal areas of high T1 and homogeneous low T2 fat suppressed signal with surrounding peripheral reticular high T2 signal. Correlative histological assessment showed central areas with features of fat necrosis and a peripheral inflammatory rim. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of prior IVF therapy, imaging features of an irregularly marginated, deep subcutaneous gluteal lesion with inflammatory soft tissue changes surrounding solitary or multifocal areas of loculated fat signal may be seen as an inflammatory response to previous inadvertent subcutaneous injection(s).

Using hypernatraemic events to predict reduced renal function in elderly lithium patients: a brief report.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a recognized adverse effect of lithium use, and studies have shown an association between decreased renal function and DI in patients using lithium. We hypothesize that hypernatraemic events that occur in DI predict decreased renal function in elderly patients on lithium. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 55 geriatric psychiatry patients using lithium between 1985 and 2010. Patients who always had sodium levels ≤146 mmol/L were compared to patients with one or more episodes of hypernatraemia (serum sodium level ≥147 mmol/L) for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels and prevalence of severe chronic renal failure (eGFR ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). RESULTS: eGFR was found to be less in the hypernatraemic group than in the non-hypernatraemic controls (41 vs 56 mL/min/1.73 m(2); P = 0.0074). Severe chronic renal failure appeared more prevalent in hypernatraemic patients (4/14 (28.6%) vs. 3/41 (7.3%)), but this did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.061). The two groups did not differ for age, sex, medical comorbidities or other clinical variables, except antidepressant use. Hypernatraemic patients appeared less likely to use antidepressants than non-hypernatraemic patients, odds ratio = 0.69 (P = 0.020). However, in multivariate analysis, hypernatraemia correlated with decreased eGFR (ß = -0.39, P = 0.004), while antidepressant use did not (P = 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hypernatraemic events may predict reduced renal function in geriatric patients using lithium. The role of hypernatraemia and DI in renal failure in this population requires further study. Health professionals should be aware of the risks of renal failure in older patients treated with lithium, especially in the context of sodium level abnormalities.