Computed tomography in blunt chest trauma.

Objective. To assess the role of multidetector spiral CT in patients with blunt chest trauma. Methods. Forty-two patients (38 males and four females), age range from 6 to 80 years, of blunt chest trauma were evaluated with multidetector computed tomogram (MDCT) after initial radiographs and the results were tabulated. Results. The most common mode of injury was motor vehicle accidents (64%). On computed tomography (CT), major injuries were haemothorax (83.33%), consolidation (66.6%), rib fractures (61.90%), pneumothorax (54.76%), diaphragmatic injury (30.95%), lung contusions (28.57%), spinal injury (16.66%), lacerations (9.52%), tracheo-bronchial injury (4.76%), mediastinal haematoma (4.76%), thoracic-aortic injury (4.76%) and oesophageal injury (2.38%). Operative intervention was performed in 11 (26.19%) patients. Of these, diaphragmatic rent repair was done in seven patients (63.63%), exploratory laparotomy alone was done in two (18.18%) and resection and anastomosis and polytetrafluoroethylene graft in one patient each. Three patients each with chest wall injury, thoracic vascular injury and diaphragmatic injury died; while only one patient with lung injury died. Conclusion. Multidetector computed tomogram is the modality of choice for rapid assessment of emergency chest trauma patients.

Role of CT in evaluating upper aerodigestive tract injuries.

This study was aimed to assess the role of CT in upper aerodigestive tract injuries. Twenty six patients presenting with upper aerodigestive tract injury were examined by CT. Nineteen patients had blunt trauma to the neck while seven had penetrating injury. Most of the patients presented soon after injury. Symptoms included respiratory distress (14), neck tenderness (18), hoarseness (7), haemoptysis (2) and odynophagia (3). Soft tissue injuries were seen in 8 patients, aryepiglottic fold edema in 4, aryepiglottic fold haematoma in 1, vocal cord edema in 2 and pyriform sinus obliteration in 5 patients. Supraglottic injuries were seen in six patients, glottic injury in 8 patients and subglottic injuries in 4 patients. Tracheal injuries were seen in 8 patients and included cricotracheal separation (1), tracheal tears (5) and tracheal narrowing (4). Hypopharyngoesophageal injuries were seen in 2 patients. CT was helpful for localization of foreign bodies in 2 cases. CT is useful in deciding management of patients with upper aerodigestive tract injuries obviating the need of open exploration in patients with minimal mucosal injuries, undisplaced fracture and sealed tears. It is particularly helpful in cases when indirect laryngoscopy was not possible.

Traumatic diaphragmatic herniation.

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is rare in children. Left-sided Herniations are seen in 90%. The diagnosis is often delayed for months to years because of its rarity and overshadowing injuries. Chest/abdominal radiographs and, in particular cases, computed tomography and ultrasound improve the accuracy of diagnosis. We report two cases of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture in children. The history of trauma along with plain X-rays/barium study was diagnostic in both the cases.

Associated anomalies with anorectal malformation (ARM).

OBJECTIVE: To find the prevalence of associated anomalies in children with anorectal malformation (ARM). METHODS: One hundred and forty patients (80 males and 60 females) with expand were studied to detect associated anomalies and to find their prevalence. High and low type of ARM was seen in 52.14% and 47.86% of patients respectively. Associated anomalies were more common with high type of ARM (78.08%) than in patients with low type of ARM (37.31%). 58.57% patients had associated anomalies which included those of urinary system (37.14%), vertebral system (34.28%), skeletal system other than vertebral (15.17%), genital system (14.29%), cardiovascular system (12.14%), gastrointestinal tract (10.7%) and spinal cord (10%). RESULTS: 37.43% patients had 3 or more than 3 components of VACTERL association. Two patients had all six components of VACTERL. Most common association was vertebral, anal and renal anomalies seen in 16 patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with ARM should undergo a detailed general physical, systemic and radiological examination (infanto-gram, echocardiography, US of urogenital system) in neonatal period to detect associated anomalies in early period.

Mediastinal foregut duplication cysts.

Foregut duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies of enteric origin. In majority of the patients, the diagnosis is made in infancy. The authors report 4 cases of mediastinal foregut duplication cyst in children diagnosed on CT/MRI and confirmed on histopathology. In none of the cases the cysts had intraspinal extension nor heterotopic gastric mucosa.

Aniridia and Wilm's tumor.

Aniridia (absence of iris) is a congenital, bilateral, uncommon panocular disorder. Whereas the occurrence of aniridia in the general population is 1:50000, it is present in about 1 in 70 patients with Wilm's tumor. This aniridia is sporadic and Wilm's tumor in these cases presents at an unusually early age. Aniridia was present in two cases out of 60 cases of Wilm's tumor operated at PGIMS, Rohtak. Both cases presented below two years of age. The recognition of a child with sporadic aniridia should alert to the increased risk of development of Wilm's tumor.

Multicystic encephalomalacia.

Antepartum death of a fetus in a multiple gestation can be associated with mortality or major morbidity in the survivor. This article reports a rare case of multicystic encephalomalacia that occurred in the survivor twin with antepartum death of its co-twin. Its pathology and pathogenesis are discussed with review of literature.

Imaging in acute abdomen.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims at establishing the exact role and limitation of ultrasound in pediatric acute abdomen. METHODS: Fifty children less than 14 years of age presenting with acute abdomen were evaluated by US and other imaging modalities. The mean age of presentation was 3 1/2 years. Maximum number of cases were seen in less than two years of age. There were 17 cases of intussusception with US sensitivity and specificity of 88.2% and 100% respectively and positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 94.5% respectively. There were 13 cases of appendicitis. US was diagnostic in 11 with sensitivity and specificity of 91.6% and 97%; the positive and negative predictive values were 91.6% and 97% respectively. RESULTS: There were two cases each of congenital bands, adhesive intestinal obstruction, malrotation of bowel with volvulus, incarcerated inguinal hernia, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, duplication cyst and pseudopancreatic cyst, one case each of trichobezoar, Meckel's diverticulum, ureteric calculus and worms as a cause of intestinal obstruction. The sensitivity of US for diagnosing specific cause of acute abdomen was found to be 77.5%. The main limitation of US was in the diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction such as congenital bands and adhesions. CONCLUSION: US should now be considered as imaging modality of choice in pediatric acute abdomen. However, at times, plain radiography, conventional contrast studies and CT may be vital to reach the true diagnosis.