Nasolacrimal stents in the management of epiphora: medium-term results of a multicenter prospective study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate in a prospective multicenter setting the clinical utility of polyurethane stents in the percutaneous management of epiphora. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 163; age range = 22-85 y, mean = 52 y; 29 men, 134 women) with severe epiphora had stents (n = 183) inserted under fluoroscopic guidance in 180 lacrimal systems (unilateral = 146; bilateral = 17) to treat complete (n = 172) or partial (n = 8) obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct or sac. The junction between sac and duct was the most frequent location (n = 102), followed by the sac alone (n = 48), and the duct alone (n = 30). The etiology of the obstruction was idiopathic in 113 cases (63%) and chronic dacryocystitis in 67 (37%). The set designed by Song was used in all patients and the original technique was slightly modified by the authors. All patients were treated on an outpatient basis. Average time of the procedure was 14 minutes (range = 3-70 min). RESULTS: Initial technical success rate of stent placement was 97%. Resolution of epiphora was complete in 175 eyes and partial in five. On follow-up (mean = 450 d; range = 8-730 d), 157 of 183 stents remained patent (85.8%). Of the 24 obstructed, 19 were easily withdrawn and 17 of these patients remained asymptomatic for a mean of 15 months (secondary patency rate = 89.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The procedure is simple and safe. It can be performed on an outpatient basis and the original technique could be improved with some technical modifications. It is well tolerated by patients and may be considered as a valid alternative technique for the resolution of epiphora.

In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of diseased prostate: spectroscopic features of malignant versus benign pathology.

In vivo Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy appears potentially useful for non-invasive discrimination between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate carcinoma (PC). Aiming to delimit the range within which spectra from one or the other pathology should occur, and establish extreme spectroscopic features of malignant versus benign prostate disease, we performed endorectal proton MR spectroscopy on 20 patients severely affected of either benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n = 10) or prostate cancer (PC) (n = 10). They were selected on the basis of the large volume and homogeneity of their lesions, which were histologically confirmed after spectroscopy. Consequently, high-quality short-TE proton spectra with well-resolved metabolite signals, and practically free of volume averaging issues were obtained in all cases. Apart from the typical citrate, creatine, and choline signals of prostate spectra, both BPH and PC spectra showed a peak centered at 3.6 ppm which was assigned to myo-inositol. The intensity of this contribution was found significantly increased in PC cases compared to BPH. Possible relationships between neoplastic transformation and the metabolic pathways in which myo-inositol participates are discussed. Average spectroscopic profiles were calculated for both advanced pathologies, and showed obvious differentiated features. In quantitative terms, the ratio of citrate to choline peak areas as well as that of creatine to myo-inositol appeared as the most convenient to discriminate between advanced PC cases (both ratios below 1.0) and advanced BPH cases (both ratios above 1.0).

Comparison of digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography, and multicoil magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative evaluation of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was designed to compare the potentials of digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using integrated endorectal and pelvic phased-array coils for preoperative estimation of tumor volume and local extent of prostate cancer. METHODS: Evaluation of 20 consecutive patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy included DRE, TRUS with a 7.5-MHz transducer, and MRI on a 1.5-tesla GE Signa system. Step sections (5 mm) of the entire specimen were performed, and tumor volume and percentage of gland involved were calculated. RESULTS: DRE, TRUS, and endorectal and pelvic phased-array MRI showed 50, 75, and 95% of the cancers, respectively. There was a linear correlation on MRI between predicted tumor volume and pathological tumor volume (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001), but not between predicted volume on DRE or TRUS and real volume. The accuracy for detecting extracapsular penetration was 60% for DRE and TRUS and 79% for MRI. The accuracy for detecting seminal vesicle invasion was 60% for DRE, 66 for TRUS, and 89% for MRI. The negative predictive value for extracapsular and seminal vesicle extension was highest for MRI (85 and 93%, respectively). The accuracy for tumor location in the apex of the prostate was 30% for DRE, 47 for TRUS, and 89% for MRI. CONCLUSIONS: MRI with integrated endorectal and pelvic phased-array coils satisfactorily predicted tumor volume and tumor extent preoperatively. Multicoil MRI can assist in decision making as it is valuable in the definition of patients that may benefit from surgery and can be of help for evaluating the risk of a positive margin, especially in the apical resection.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors. CT and MRI evaluation.

The clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of 17 patients with documented peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) were evaluated in a retrospective study. The age at diagnosis ranged from 9 months to 46 years (median, 15.8 years). Primary sites of involvement were the abdomen (n = 8), extremities (n = 5), chest (n = 1), temporal bone (n = 1), maxilla (n = 1), and diploe (n = 1). At the time of diagnosis, six patients had distant metastases; all of these patients died, with an average survival of 8.8 months. Radiologic workup included standard radiographs, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and bone scintigraphy. The radiographic appearance of these tumors was not specific for differentiation of PNETs from other types of bone and soft tissue tumors. The typical appearance resembled large non-calcified, soft tissue masses with cystic or necrotic areas. Heterogeneous enhancement with intravenous contrast agents was evident on CT, as was an intermediate signal intensity on Tl-weighted images and hyperintense signal on T2-weighted and STIR sequences. After gadolinium administration, variable enhancement was seen. MRI and CT were useful in predicting resectability, in detecting distant metastases, and in the evaluation of response to treatment. Surgery was performed in all cases, either for definitive diagnosis or for therapy. All patients received combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy and five patients received autologous bone marrow transplantation. Clinical follow-up was obtained over a mean period of 3 years (range 1 day to 6 years). Prognosis was poor with a median survival of 3.4 years. Our experience in 17 patients with peripheral neuroectodermal tumors indicates that although their radiologic features are non-specific, they should be included in differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors of aggressive behavior, especially in a young age group. CT and MRI are useful in delineating the extent and resectability of tumor and in monotoring treatment.

[Sphenoidal hyperostosis. Problems of differential diagnosis: report of a case]. / Hiperostosis esfenoidal. Problemas del diagnóstico diferencial: a propósito de un caso.

A case of sphenoid hyperostosis is described in a patient whose clinical history and radiological work up suggested fibrous dysplasia. A year later, the biopsy and MRI showed evidence of a meningioma en plaque. Problems in the differential diagnosis are discussed among entities which present sphenoid hyperostosis: osteoma, Paget's disease, sphenoid meningioma and fibrous dysplasia.

[Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Presentation of 2 cases]. / Neumonía eosinofílica crónica. Presentación de dos casos.

Two cases of patients with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia are presented. We highlight the possibility to obtain the diagnosis without lung biopsy, as well as the spectacular response to steroid treatment which has to be continued for a long period in order to avoid relapses.