Minor's syndrome: Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal. A case report.

Superior semicircular canal (SSC) dehiscence syndrome, also known as Minor syndrome, is a rare condition characterized by vestibular and cochlear symptoms linked to a defect in the bony roof of the SSC. The prevalence is estimated at 0.5%, with a male predominance. Dehiscence may result from abnormal bone development, becoming symptomatic due to minimal trauma or pressure changes. Clinical presentation varies based on dehiscence size and location, with dizziness and oscillatory movements triggered by pressure changes or loud sounds being common symptoms. Other manifestations include conductive hearing loss due to the formation of a ``third window'' in the inner ear. Diagnosis typically involves computed tomography, distinguishing SSCDS from otosclerosis. Surgical treatment is reserved for cases of disabling vestibular pathology, often involving sealing the dehiscence through various approaches.

Varicella pneumonia in a healthy 31-year-old female with no prior varicella immunity and no skin rush: A case report.

Varicella pneumonia represents a relatively uncommon yet severe complication arising from initial varicella infection. Between 5% and 15% of instances of adult varicella infection may result in various pulmonary conditions. Predominantly afflicting adults, its severity is compounded by factors like smoking, compromised immune systems, pregnancy, age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and male gender. We represent the case of an adult female lacking prior immunity to varicella, who experienced heightened oxygen needs with severe hemoptysis without skin symptoms. Swift improvement was observed just a 2 following valacyclovir administration. Varicella pneumonia stands out as a significant complication stemming from primary varicella infection in adults, with early administration of acyclovir linked to both symptomatic relief and reduced mortality rates.

Primary caecal epiploic appendagitis mimicking acute appendicitis: A diagnostic dilemma of right lower abdominal pain.

Epiploic appendagitis is a benign and self-limiting condition that has garnered more recognition, particularly in preoperative settings, thanks to advancements in imaging techniques, notably computed tomography (CT). Its distinct radiologic features facilitate accurate diagnosis prior to surgery. Despite its unique characteristics, the clinical presentation of epiploic appendagitis often resembles that of various other intra-abdominal medical and surgical conditions, leading to potential confusion. Here, we present the case of a 37-year-old otherwise healthy woman who was diagnosed with primary epiploic appendagitis based on CT scan findings conducted initially for suspected appendicitis. The patient received successful conservative treatment. This paper seeks to highlight the importance of recognizing this clinical condition and its characteristic imaging features, aiming to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, antibiotic treatments, and the associated morbidity and mortality linked with surgical interventions.

Spontaneous ilio-iliac arteriovenous fistula: A rare complication of aorto-iliac aneurysm.

Ilio-iliac arteriovenous fistula is an unusual complication of aorto-iliac aneurysms that can occur spontaneously, traumatically or iatrogenically. The typical clinical presentation includes the characteristic triad of high-output heart failure, a pulsatile abdominal mass with unilateral limb ischemia, or signs of venous congestion. We describe a rare case of spontaneous rupture of an aortoiliac aneurysm into the left common iliac vein of a 65-year-old man, easily diagnosed by angiography. We highlight here the angiographic findings of the ilio-iliac fistula, which was the means of diagnosis in this presentation, especially in patients with atypical clinical features at the outset, and we report the difficulties in choosing the optimal vascular approach.

An unexpected complication: Air embolism during contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Air embolism is often an iatrogenic complication that may occur in venous or arterial circulation depending on the port of entry. We present a case of a 40-year-old female who had a venous air embolism in the pulmonary artery as a consequence of the injection of a contrast agent. She experienced dyspnea and chest pain following a contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography imaging. She was successfully treated and discharged from our hospital. Early detection of this clinical condition is essential to prevent morbidity and mortality.

Endothelial cyst of the adrenal gland: A rare case report.

Adrenal gland cysts are rare and uncommon manifestations. Mostly asymptomatic, discovered incidentally during radiological studies or at autopsy, or without characteristic symptoms. The spectrum of these entities may include benign cysts or malignant cystic neoplasms. They are classified into four types: pseudocysts, endothelial cysts, epithelial cysts, and parasitic cysts. Though pseudocysts are reported to be the most frequently clinically recognized adrenal cysts in surgical series, endothelial cysts are more frequent in autopsy series. Even with advanced imaging modalities, it is still difficult to differentiate a benign adrenal neoplasm from a malignant one. As a result, getting a definitive diagnosis and starting treatment is challenging. In both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases with a large diameter or increasing sizes during follow-up, or with any abnormality of adrenal hormones, surgery is the treatment of choice in symptomatic. Herein, we present a 47-year-old female with a nonfunctional left adrenal endothelial cyst, who was incidentally found during a computerized tomography scan. The patient presented with left-sided nephritic colic due to renal lithiasis. The objective of this paper is to recall the clinical characteristics and to specify the diagnostic contribution of imaging as well as the therapeutic modalities of this entity.

Hydatid cyst of the liver invading the inferior vena cava.

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infestation due to the development of Echinococcus granulosus in the organism. This disease is particularly frequent in Morocco where echinococcosis is endemic. The liver is the most common organ to be affected by hydatidosis, and several complications have been described. Vascular complications secondary to hepatic echinococcosis such as fistulization or rupture of hydatid liver cysts to the inferior vena cava (IVC) are an extremely rare and life-threatening condition. This report aims to describe a case of invasion of the IVC by a hydatid cyst of the liver resulting in portal hypertension in a 60-year-old female patient. The diagnosis was established in the preoperative phase by a CT scan. IVC invasion remains an infrequent complication that should be routinely looked for in patients with hydatid disease of the liver, and few cases have been reported in the literature to date.

Carotid canal fracture with internal carotid artery transection: A deadly trauma.

Carotid artery injuries are rare with an incidence of 1%-2.6% in trauma patients. They are associated with high morbi-mortality rates, with mortality ranging from 19% to 43%. The diagnosis relies mainly on computed tomography angiography in the emergency setting; however, it is fundamental to be able to suspect carotid artery injuries on non-contrast computed tomography, as the latter is the routine imaging tool for trauma patients. We report the case of a young male, victim of a blunt high velocity motor-vehicle trauma. He was unconscious, with abundant epistaxis and hypovolemic shock. A fracture of the left carotid canal on non-contrast computed tomography was seen, raising concern for an arterial injury. A computed tomography angiography was performed subsequently revealing a transection of the internal carotid artery. This type of injury is highly lethal, and its management relies on urgent surgical intervention, and endovascular treatment, with the purpose of controlling the hemorrhage.

Osseous hydatid disease: A mimic of other skeletal pathologies.

Hydatid disease is still endemic in several regions worldwide including Morocco, and is caused in most cases by the larval form of 2 species of the tapeworm Echinococcus: E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Primary hydatid disease of the bone without systemic involvement is rare. The disease has a silent clinical evolution until it reaches complicated stages. Complications may include pathological fracture, neural deficit, infection, and fistulization of the abscess. Preoperative diagnosis is based on clinical history, imaging findings, and serological tests, which lack high sensitivity and specificity. Although the interpretation of imaging studies can prove to be very confusing because the bone changes evolve with time, and the nonspecificity of these findings often leads to a mistaken diagnosis. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, especially in patients who reside in or travel to sheep-raising areas where hydatid disease is endemic. A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis, especially in patients that live in or travel to sheep-raising areas where hydatid disease is endemic. The treatment of choice remains surgical, following the principles of a locally malignant lesion. Chemotherapy (albendazole alone or in combination with praziquantel) is indicated when surgery is not possible or as an adjuvant treatment. The prognosis is often poor. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman with long-standing pain in the left hip joint in which the imaging findings were thought of as being either tuberculous or neoplastic. The result of a CT-guided biopsy concurred with an unexpected diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. This case highlights that in the absence of a high index of suspicion for echinococcal infection, the semblance of imaging findings of hydatid disease in the bone to those of other skeletal pathologies can lead to misinterpretation.

Multiple brown tumors in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Brown tumors are benign bone tumors that rarely complicate hyperparathyroidism, manifesting as fibrous and erosive lesions secondary to rapid and localized osteoclast turnover. These lesions are typical of primary hyperparathyroidism, but they are not often observed. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman presenting with asthenia, bone pain, and hemiplegia. Biological analysis showed primary hyperparathyroidism, cervical ultrasound a right parathyroid adenoma that fixed on scintigraphy. When cross-sectional imaging was performed, it revealed multiple bone tumors of the axial and peripheral trunk with spinal cord compression which were diagnosed as brown tumors related to parathyroid adenoma. We illustrate through this case the importance of multidisciplinary imaging techniques before raising the diagnosis, especially in unusual pathologies such as brown tumors.

Zinner's Syndrome: A Rare Diagnosis of Dysuria Based on Imaging.

Zinner's syndrome is a rare congenital malformation of the seminal vesicle and ipsilateral upper urinary tract, due to developmental arrest in early embryogenesis of the Müllerian duct. Clinical presentation is nonspecific and includes voiding symptoms such as dysuria, ejaculatory disorders, and hypogastric or perineal pain. The diagnosis is made with imaging techniques, notably Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which remains the gold standard exam for diagnosis confirmation and therapeutic management. Treatment options depend on the severity of symptoms, the size of the cyst, and the complications. Herein, we report a rare case of a 33-year-old young patient who presented recurrent dysuria and ejaculatory disorders for the last 5 years. Imaging studies revealed an empty left renal fossa, with cystic pelvic mass related to the seminal vesicle and which was compatible with the diagnosis of Zinner's syndrome. The patient underwent successful laparoscopic removal of the cyst and seminal vesicle, with total disappearance of urinary and sexual complaints with a 3-year follow-up.

Pituitary abscess: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary abscess is a rare condition with nonspecific symptoms that can be delayed. Proper diagnosis needs to occur preoperatively so that the management can be set up accordingly. Accurate diagnosis is challenging because many differential diagnoses can exhibit the same magnetic resonance imaging features. CASE PRESENTATION: We report two cases of pituitary abscess. The first patient was a 66-year-old Arab woman who underwent a surgical procedure for a pituitary macroadenoma and presented 3 months later with chronic headaches and panhypopituitarism. A pituitary abscess was found on the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging. The second patient was a 64-year-old Arab man with no medical history who presented with a chiasmal syndrome with headaches and panhypopituitarism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a heterogeneous pituitary mass that turned out to be a pituitary abscess intraoperatively. These two patients were treated with hormone substitution, endoscopic transsphenoidal drainage, and antibiotherapy, with excellent outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Pituitary abscess is a rare and serious condition. Preoperative diagnosis can be challenging because of the many existing differential diagnoses upon imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging is the mainstay technique of imaging due to its multimodal nature. These cases demonstrate the variable patterns of a pituitary abscess seen on magnetic resonance imaging and the potential difficulties in achieving an accurate diagnosis preoperatively due to many other conditions potentially exhibiting the same magnetic resonance imaging features.

Dyspnea and hemoptysis revealing Behçet's syndrome: Pulmonary artery aneurysms in a case report.

Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitis that primarily affects young adults. Arterial involvement in Behçet's disease is rare and associated with a poor prognosis. This manifestation is rarely the initial presentation, often leading to a delayed diagnosis. We present the case of a 27-year-old man who arrived at the emergency department with dyspnea and hemoptysis. An initial chest X-ray revealed bilateral opacities, and subsequent thoracic CT angiography confirmed the presence of pulmonary artery aneurysms. Pulmonary artery involvement, though rare, is a serious condition that manifests as hemoptysis (airway bleeding) caused by pulmonary aneurysms. These aneurysms, often challenging to diagnose, can result in severe hemorrhages and carry a low 2-year survival rate. CT pulmonary angiography is the most effective imaging method for identifying thoracic manifestations of Behçet's disease. Treatment includes early immunosuppression, surgery, or embolization in severe cases, such as those involving massive hemoptysis.

Sprengel's deformity.

The features of Sprengel's deformity, also known as congenital high scapula, include abnormal positioning and dysplasia of the affected scapula, with a possible omovertebral connection or atrophy of the surrounding muscles. This case primarily aims to present the CT scan findings of a 19-year-old male with Sprengel deformity. Imaging enables the definitive diagnosis of this congenital malformation, and allows for the detection of associated anomalies, particularly the presence of the omovertebral bone, thereby facilitating appropriate management.