[Imaging nodules within cirrhotic liver: how do I do it?]. / Nodules sur foie de cirrhose: quelle imagerie? pourquoi? comment?

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by the presence of diffuse parenchymal necrosis, reactive fibrosis and nodular regeneration. These regenerative nodules may evolve into dysplastic nodules and finally nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Improved survival of cirrhotic patients with HCC depends on eligibility to liver transplantation. The purpose of this paper is to review the imaging features of liver nodules within cirrhotic liver and to propose the imaging strategies when considering the possibility of liver transplantation.

Failure of the intracaval filter of Günther to prevent recurrence of pulmonary embolism--report of two cases.

Two out of nine patients in which inferior vena cava interruption was performed with a Günther filter developed a recurrent pulmonary embolism. In both cases, the filter had moved down and the anchoring legs had perforated the wall of the vena cava. The source of the pulmonary embolism was a clotted basket filter. Anticoagulation was given for two weeks in one patient and six months in the other after insertion of the filter, but it had been stopped before the thrombotic event leading to the recurrent pulmonary embolism. The formation of the thrombi had probably been caused by the migration of the filter and the subsequent perforation, which may have been facilitated by the cessation of the anticoagulation.

Benign liver tumors.

This article focuses on the main clinicopathologic and MR findings in the more frequent benign liver lesions (excluding hemangiomas) such as cysts, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatocellular adenoma, and fatty tumors. These entities raise several questions concerning their pathogenesis, differential diagnosis from various malignant tumors or pseudotumoral hepatic lesions, and management that remain frequently controversial.

Unusual complication of liver irradiation: acute thrombosis of a main hepatic vein: CT and MR imaging features.

The pathologic changes resulting from liver irradiation include congestion, fibrosis, and veno-occlusive disease. We report an unusual complication of radiation induced injury: acute thrombosis of a main hepatic vein within the radiation port. CT and MR features are described and the etiology of this unusual complication is discussed.

[Gastric duplication. Apropos of 3 cases]. / Les duplications gastriques. A propos de 3 observations.

Duplication of the stomach is a rare congenital malformation. Most reported cases involve infants or young children. On the basis of 3 cases identified at a later age, we describe the CT appearance of this malformation. Those 3 cases were demonstrated by the histological study of the surgical specimen.

[X-ray computed tomography of thoracic injuries. Apropos of 40 cases]. / Tomodensitométrie des traumatismes thoraciques. A propos de 40 observations.

On chest radiographs, the precise assessment of thoracic injuries consecutive to blunt trauma is often compromised by the nonspecific appearance of many lesions. Furthermore, significant injuries are frequently overlooked. However, the management of the patients with chest trauma is still often based primarily upon clinical and radiographic findings and Computed Tomography (CT) is often performed secondarily on the basis of unexplained clinical signs or suspected radiographic abnormality. Some authors have reported that CT was a highly sensitive method for detecting thoracic lesions frequently not seen or underestimated on conventional supine chest radiographs. However, the value that these new CT findings could have in the therapeutic management of these patients, have not been systematically investigated to our knowledge, except in a limited series suggesting that the course of critically ill patients could be substantially altered after thoracic CT. In order to estimate the role of early CT in the management of patient care, we report the therapeutic consequences of CT findings in forty patients who we report the therapeutic consequences of CT findings in forty patients who had a thoracic CT within few hours following a chest injury. We showed that early thoracic CT scan in patients with blunt trauma detected significantly more lesions than did chest X-Ray and appreciably modified the treatment modalities in 70% of our patients. We then recommend that all the patients admitted in ICU after chest trauma undergo a thoracic CT scan as soon as possible in order to optimize their treatment modalities.

[Hepatic infarction of arterial origin. X-ray computed tomographic aspects]. / Les infarctus hépatiques d'origine artérielle. Aspects tomodensitométriques.

Unlike other major abdominal organs, infarctions affecting the liver is extremely rare. In humans, the rarity of hepatic infarction is explained commonly on the basis of the double blood supply via the hepatic artery and portal vein. The imaging studies and clinical records of seven patients with hepatic infarcts were reviewed. These infarctions were essentially observed during post-operative periods: after aortoceliac graft and after accidental ligation of the hepatic artery (4 cases). The other etiologies included: acute hypovolemic shock in patients with atherosclerosis (2 cases) and finally one case of acute thrombocytosis. Dynamic CT was performed initially in all the cases and during the evolution, demonstrating peripheral low attenuation areas without enhancement. Associated splenic infarcts were present in 4 patients and renal infarcts in two. While the clinical and laboratory findings in hepatic infarction can be completely mimicked by hepatic abscess, CT-guided aspirations were performed in 6 patients demonstrating in only one case the presence of infection.

[Gradient echo sequences in the diagnosis of inferior vena cava thrombosis]. / Les séquences d'écho de gradient dans le diagnostic de thrombose de la veine cave inférieure.

The capability for studying noninvasively vessels has been dramatically improved with the use of gradient echo sequences. Twenty-one patients presenting a suspected inferior vena cava obstruction on cavography underwent MR examination with axial, sagittal and coronal gradient echo images. Eighteen patients were also imaged with ultrasound and/or CT. Gradient echo sequences visualized a thrombus in 19 cases and a normal vein in the remaining 2 cases. The potential MR pitfalls are illustrated and the two cases of false positive on cavography are discussed. Gradient echo sequences allow a fast and performant examination of the vessels.

[Acute aseptic arthritis in major sickle cell syndromes]. / Arthrites aiguës aseptiques au cours des syndromes drépanocytaires majeurs.

We report 9 cases of febrile aseptic arthritis which occurred in 6 adults presenting with major sickle cell disease. The monoarticular arthritis affected the knee in 8 cases and the ankle in 1 case. Body temperature ranged from 38 degrees C to 39.5 degrees C in 7 cases, and neutrophilia (12.7 to 24 x 10(9)/l) was noted on six occasions. The always sterile synovial fluid contained 100 to 1700 cells/mm3 in 6 cases and 5200 to 12,500 cell/mm3 in 3 cases. Uricacidaemia was normal, and a search for crystals in the synovial fluid gave negative results. Bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging, performed in 3 patients, revealed the presence of a juxta-articular cortical bone infarct, whereas standard radiography was normal. In all patients, a brief immobilization and treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs resulted in complete cure in less than 10 days. These cases illustrate the characteristics of sickle cell arthritis, a rare complication of major sickle cell disease. Clinically, the condition resembles septic arthritis, being febrile and showing granulocytosis, but articular needle aspiration corrects the diagnosis. The mechanisms underlying these disorders have not yet been elucidated, but the bone scintigraphy and MRI performed in our patients are in favour of a reaction to a juxta-articular bone infarct.

[Diagnosis of disorders affecting the solid organs of the supra-mesocolic compartment]. / Diagnostic des affections touchant les organes pleins à l'étage sus-mésocolique.

Sonographic and computed tomographic (CT) examinations have modified the investigation of hepatic, splenic and pancreatic tumors. Because of advances in non-invasive diagnostic procedures, these different benign or malignant tumors are now more frequently detected and surgically treated. However, for these different lesions sonography is the gold standard imaging technique. The different indications for CT and magnetic resonance imaging are discussed for each tumor. For the diagnostic imaging of an acutely injured patient, sonography remains the useful examination in emergencies. The indications for CT scans are limited to the difficulties of sonographic diagnosis in stable trauma patients.

Risk factors and long-term outcome of transplant renal artery stenosis in adult recipients after treatment by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a common complication of kidney transplantation but attempts to identify predisposing risk factors for TRAS have yielded conflicting results. In order to determine the predisposing factors for transplant (TRAS), we retrospectively reviewed the records of 29 renal allograft recipients with TRAS treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The TRAS group was compared with a case-control group of 58 patients. Predisposing factors for TRAS included CMV infection (41.4% vs. 12.1% p = 0.0018) and initial delayed graft function (DGF) (48.3% vs. 15.5% p = 0.0018), respectively in the TRAS and the control group. Acute rejection occurred more frequently in patients from the TRAS group (48.3%) compared with the control group (27.6%), although the difference was not significant (p = 0.06). In a multivariate analysis, only CMV infection (p = 0.005) and DGF (p = 0.009) appear to be significantly and independently associated with TRAS. The long-term graft survival was significantly higher in the control group, compared with the TRAS group (p = 0.03). Our study suggests that CMV infection and DGF are two reliable risk factors for TRAS. Despite treatment by PTA with primary successful results, TRAS significantly affects long-term graft outcome.

Thirteen-megahertz ultrasound probe: its role in diagnosing localized scleroderma.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound imaging has been shown to be useful for the evaluation of systemic and localized scleroderma (LS). However, its specificity and sensitivity have not been studied. OBJECTIVES: To define morphological ultrasound diagnostic criteria in LS and to test their sensitivity and specificity with a 13-MHz ultrasound probe. METHODS: Forty plaques in 26 consecutive patients with LS were examined and compared blindly with 17 control plaques in 16 patients with skin diseases where LS was in the differential diagnosis. Data were also compared with a normal control group. Five patients were re-evaluated 12-18 months after the first examination. RESULTS: Ultrasound examination disclosed a characteristic dense image resembling a flattened 'yo-yo'. Undulations of the dermis, disorganization, loss of thickness and thickened hyperechoic bands in the hypodermis, and the 'yo-yo' image had a high sensitivity and a high specificity for LS. A 92% sensitivity and a 100% specificity for LS were found when at least four of these five signs were present. CONCLUSIONS: Thirteen-megahertz ultrasound is a valuable tool for diagnosing LS. Morphological ultrasound diagnostic criteria had a high specificity and a high sensitivity.

Association of focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatic hemangioma.

The association between hepatic hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia has been occasionally reported. To evaluate the reality of this association, the prevalence of hemangioma was studied in 26 patients with focal nodular hyperplasia by comparison with 27 patients with hepatocellular adenoma. All of these patients underwent surgery, which provided the histologic confirmation of the type of tumor. The presence of hemangioma was assessed by preoperative ultrasonography, dynamic computed tomography, and pathological examination of resected liver specimens. No hemangioma was found in patients with hepatocellular adenoma, but 6 of the 26 patients with focal nodular hyperplasia (23%) had one or two associated hemangiomas that varied in size from 1.5 to 4 cm. All 6 patients having focal nodular hyperplasia and hemangioma were women who had previously used oral contraceptives. None of the patients who had not used oral contraceptives had this association. Moreover, oral contraceptives were taken for a significantly longer period by the women with focal nodular hyperplasia and hemangioma than by those without this association. It is concluded that (a) the association of hemangioma with focal nodular hyperplasia is frequent (23%) and not fortuitous, and (b) prolonged administration of oral contraceptives may facilitate the recognition of this association, possibly by affecting the growth of these tumors.