Multimodality imaging of extra-nodal lymphoma in the head and neck.

Malignant lymphomas represent approximately 5% of all malignant neoplasms of the head and neck. The head and neck region is the second most frequent anatomical site of extra-nodal lymphomas (after the gastrointestinal tract). Most are non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of B-cell lineage, and overall diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type. They can present in highly variable appearances in different anatomical subsites in the head and neck. There is little literature on their imaging appearances on different imaging methods including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and integrated positron-emission tomography (PET)/CT. The review aims to illustrate the presentation of histopathological-proven extra-nodal lymphoma in the head and neck using various imaging methods.

Patterns of COVID-19 on computed tomography imaging.

PURPOSE: As the designated tertiary referral centre for infectious diseases in Hong Kong, our hospital received the city's first group of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Herein, we studied the earliest patients admitted to our centre in order to clarify the typical radiological findings, particularly computed tomography (CT) findings, associated with COVID-19. METHODS: From 22 January 2020 to 29 February 2020, 19 patients with confirmed COVID-19 underwent high-resolution or conventional CT scans of the thorax in our centre. The CT imaging findings of these patients with confirmed COVID-19 in Hong Kong were reviewed in this study. RESULTS: Ground-glass opacities (GGO) with peripheral subpleural distribution were found in all patients (100%). No specific zonal predominance was observed. All lobes were involved in 16 (84.2%) patients, focal subsegmental consolidations were observed in 14 (73.7%) patients, and interlobular septal thickening was present in 12 (63.2%) patients. No mediastinal lymph node enlargement, centrilobular nodule, or pleural effusion was detected in any of the patients. Other imaging features present in several patients include bronchial dilatation, bronchial wall thickening, and crazy-paving patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral subpleural GGO without zonal predominance in the absence of centrilobular nodule, pleural effusion, and lymph node enlargement were consistent findings in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The observed radiological patterns on CT scans can help identify COVID-19 and assess affected patients in the context of the ongoing outbreak.

Clopidogrel plus omeprazole compared with aspirin plus omeprazole for aspirin-induced symptomatic peptic ulcers/erosions with low to moderate bleeding/re-bleeding risk -- a single-blind, randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Clopidogrel causes significantly less symptomatic peptic ulcer disease and gastrointestinal bleeding than low-dose aspirin in average-risk patients. The gastrotoxicity of clopidogrel in patients with active peptic ulcer disease is unknown. AIM: To compare the incidence of unhealed ulcers in patients receiving clopidogrel or aspirin. METHODS: Patients with aspirin-induced peptic ulcer disease treated with omeprazole (20 mg/day) were randomized to receive clopidogrel (75 mg/day) or to continue with low-dose aspirin. Success was defined as ulcer/erosion healing at the eighth week. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients were recruited (69 received clopidogrel and 60 continued with aspirin). Thirty-one (45%) in the clopidogrel group and 25 (42%) in the aspirin group had a minor gastrointestinal bleed. No ulcer showed an adherent clot or visible vessel. The distributions of peptic ulcer disease were similar in the clopidogrel and aspirin groups (gastric ulcer: 41% vs. 40%; duodenal ulcer: 10% vs. 12%; gastric ulcer + duodenal ulcer: 6% vs. 3%; gastritis: 32% vs. 37%; duodenitis: 4% vs. 7%; gastritis + duodenitis: 0% vs. 2%). Clopidogrel and aspirin were re-started after 0.86 +/- 1.79 and 0.44 +/- 1.60 days, respectively (P = 0.170). Three (4%) patients stopped clopidogrel due to drug rash. Using per protocol analysis, the treatment success rates of clopidogrel and aspirin were 94% (62/66) and 95% (57/60), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with aspirin-associated peptic ulcer disease of low to moderate grade, both early conversion from aspirin to clopidogrel and continuation of aspirin are safe.

High incidence of clopidogrel-associated gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with previous peptic ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND: In average-risk patients, the new anti-platelet agent, clopidogrel, causes less upper gastrointestinal adverse events than aspirin. However, there are no safety data on the use of clopidogrel in high-risk patients. AIM: To evaluate the safety of clopidogrel in patients with peptic ulcer disease in a retrospective cohort longitudinal study. METHODS: During the period from January 2000 to May 2002, 70 patients who were prescribed clopidogrel (75 mg/day) for a previous history of non-aspirin-related peptic ulcer disease or a history of aspirin-related gastrointestinal complications (dyspepsia or peptic ulcer) were recruited. The occurrence of ulcer complications (bleeding/perforation/obstruction) was the primary end-point. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 1 year, nine patients (12%) developed gastrointestinal bleeding and one had a perforated peptic ulcer. Clopidogrel-associated gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly more common in patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding than in those without (22% vs. 0%; P = 0.007; odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Clopidogrel is associated with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in high-risk patients. A previous history of gastrointestinal bleeding appears to be a predictor of adverse gastrointestinal events.

Sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic vs. continuous intravenous antibiotic in the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess.

AIM: Pyogenic liver abscesses result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial regimens using sequential intravenous/oral therapy may reduce the length of hospital stay. In this retrospective analysis, the efficacy of continuous intravenous antibiotic therapy (group I) vs. sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic therapy (group II) was studied in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. METHODS: One hundred and twelve consecutive patients (55 in group I and 57 in group II) with pyogenic liver abscess were analysed. Clinical response, length of hospital stay and relapse rates were examined. RESULTS: Group II had a significantly shorter duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment (3.2 weeks vs. 5.9 weeks, P < 0.01) and a shorter length of hospital stay (28 days vs. 42 days, P < 0.01) when compared to group I. Oral antibiotics were prescribed for a median duration of 2.9 weeks in group II after discharge. No relapse occurred within 6 weeks after the completion of treatment in both groups. The cost of therapy was significantly lower in group II than in group I by 33%. CONCLUSIONS: A sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic regime is a safe and effective treatment for pyogenic liver abscess. This reduces the cost of therapy and the length of hospital stay.

Repeated intestinal perforation caused by an incomplete form of Behçet's syndrome.

Behçet's disease, as initially described, is a triad of recurrent oral and genital ulcers and relapsing uveitis. The incomplete form, in which there is no ocular involvement, has been described in Japan and Korea, but this is not commonly recognized in the southern Chinese. We reported herein a rare case of repeated intestinal perforations caused by an incomplete form of Behçet's syndrome in a southern Chinese man.

A Chinese patient with non-HFE-linked iron overload.

The gene for hemochromatosis (HFE) was recently identified and contains two missense mutations: C282Y and H63D. The C282Y mutation is found homozygous in approximately 85% to 90% of patients of Northern European ancestry with hereditary hemochromatosis. There are no previous reports with results of genetic testing in Chinese patients with regard to iron overload. In this case report, we describe a Chinese woman with marked hepatic iron overload that was nonfamilial, with unusual biopsy findings, in whom neither the C282Y nor the H63D mutations in HFE were found.

Prolonged storage of frozen unbuffered rapid urease test.

Unbuffered rapid urease test (RUT) is an accurate, rapid, and inexpensive method of detecting Helicobacter pylori. However, it is generally recommended to prepare the reagent daily. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the shelf-life of our unbuffered RUT at -20 degrees C. Two sets of antral biopsies (X2) and body biopsies (X1) were taken from all patients. They were subjected to histologic examination and RUT stored at -20 degrees C. We studied 303 patients. One hundred seventy-nine (59%) were infected as defined by histologic examination. The reagent was classified according to the storage time (group I, 0-30 days [n = 109]; group II, 31-60 days [n = 63]; group III, 61-90 days [n = 80]; and group IV, tau91 days [n = 51]). There was an excellent agreement between the histologic examination and the RUT of the four groups (kappa coefficient: group I, 0.88; group III, 0.80; group III, 0.87; group IV, 0.88). The sensitivity of our RUT in groups I, II, III, and IV were 92%, 92%, 91%, and 89%, respectively. The corresponding specificity were 97%, 88%, 97%, and 100%. Our RUT remains highly sensitive and specific when it is stored at -20 degrees C for 4 months.

Skip colonic ulceration in typhoid ileo-colitis.

Colonic skip lesions are typically described in Crohn's colitis, but this phenomenon has been recognized in ulcerative colitis (skipped appendiceal involvement), Behcet's colitis, cytomegaloviral colitis, and even in Aeromonas hydrophilia and Histoplasma capsulatum infection. However, skip lesions in typhoid ileo-colitis have not been reported in the English-language literature. We report herein a patient with skip ulcers due to typhoid fever.

Prediction of oesophagogastric varices in patients with liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: All patients with liver cirrhosis are recommended for evaluation of oesophagogastric varices (EGV) regularly. This prospective study was designed to develop a predictive model for EGV in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Ninety-two patients were recruited. From all patients studied, the size of palpable spleen, liver chemistry value, platelet count, prothrombin time, diameter of main portal vein and splenic length as assessed by ultrasonography were determined. Upper endoscopy was performed. Oesophageal varices (EV) and gastric varices (GV) were graded (EV, grade 1-4; GV, grade 1-3). In the predictive model, the EGV was classified into two grades (low, grade 1-2 EV or grade 1 GV; high, grade 3-4 EV or grade 2-3 GV). RESULTS: There were 53 patients with EGV and 39 patients without EGV as determined by endoscopy. Patients with EGV had a significantly higher degree of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, lower platelet count and longer splenic length than those without EGV. Low platelet count and presence of ascites were the significant independent predictors for high-grade EGV (concordance rate 0.83). The optimal critical value for the platelet count was 150 x 10(9)/L. Of patients without thrombocytopenia and ascites, 37% had low-grade EGV but none had high-grade EGV, whereas 38 and 35% of patients with thrombocytopenia or ascites had low and high-grade EGV, respectively. Therefore, this predictive model for high-grade varices had a positive and negative predictive value of 35 and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic screening for EGV was not necessary until thrombocytopenia or ascites occurred.

Esophageal variceal ligation by reloading with inexpensive hemorrhoidal O-ring--is an overtube necessary?

The overtube is the major cause for severe complications during endoscopic variceal ligation with a single-shot ligator. This retrospective study was designed to examine the necessity of the placement of an overtube during elective endoscopic variceal ligation. Thirty-one sessions in 18 patients were analyzed. An overtube was inserted using an over-the-scope technique in 11 sessions (group 1) but was omitted in 20 sessions (group II). The complications, technical difficulties, and operating time were analyzed. Child's grading, the size of the esophageal varices, and the number of rubber bands deployed were comparable in both groups. There was a significantly longer operating time (p < 0.01) and more oropharyngeal injury (p = 0.03) in group I than in group II. Mid esophageal injury, which was associated with resistance in withdrawing the gastroscope from the overtube, occurred in 55% of sessions in group I but in 0% of session in group II. In conclusion, the use of an overtube is associated with more complications, and it can be omitted during elective endoscopic variceal ligation.

High alpha-fetoprotein level in HCV-related nodular liver cell dysplasia.

The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is generally made in patients with a mass lesion in the cirrhotic liver if the alpha-fetoprotein level is >1,000 ng/L. Other causes of elevation of alpha-fetoprotein to this extreme degree include nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and hepatic metastasis. However, it is extremely rare for benign hepatic lesions to cause alpha-fetoprotein of > 1,000 ng/ml. We report a Chinese patient with spontaneous normalization of alpha-fetoprotein with an initial value > 10,000 ng/ml due to nodular dysplasia complicating hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis. The alpha-fetoprotein was secreted from the dysplastic liver cells.

Cytomegalovirus colitis in individuals without apparent cause of immunodeficiency.

Cytomegalovirus infection is usually reported in immunocompromised patients. In this study, apparently immunocompetent patients with cytomegaloviral colitis were reviewed. Records with a diagnosis of cytomegaloviral colitis from January 1989 to June 1996 were retrieved for analysis. Ten patients were included (median age 70 yr). The major presenting symptoms were diarrhea and hematochezia. Ulceration was the main macroscopic finding. Rectal bleeding was mostly self-limiting. Three patients developed local complications (rectovaginal fistula in two; rectal stricture in one). In the two patients with rectovaginal fistula, lymphocytes subsets and proliferative response were entirely normal. In the other patient, low B lymphocyte count and low response to mitogen were demonstrated. However, the immunoglobulins were not suppressed and rectal biopsies revealed noncaseating granulomas, suggesting activated cell-mediated immunity. In conclusion, a high index of suspicion is crucial for early diagnosis of cytomegaloviral colitis in patients with bloody diarrhea, even though obvious evidence of immunodeficiency is lacking.