Vascular malformations and arteriovenous fistulas of the kidney.

Vascular malformations of the kidney are disease processes that involve renal veins and arteries and include congenital arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and arteriovenous fistulas. AVMs are congenital communications between arteries and veins with a vascular nidus that bypass the capillary bed. Congenital AVMs are rare and subclassified in cirsoid, angiomatous, and aneurysmal types. Congenital AVMs are different from iatrogenic or traumatic arteriovenous fistulas (AVF), which are characterized by a single direct communication between an artery and a vein without an intervening vascular nidus. These lesions may present with a wide range of signs and symptoms that vary from hypertension to renal masses. Imaging is valuable in the detection and characterization of AVM and AVF. The presence of arteriovenous shunting characterizes AVM and AVF. These lesions represent an important group of entities for diagnostic consideration, and understanding the vascular anatomy helps in guiding for proper treatment. This article describes the imaging features of each lesion that help to differentiate it from the others and the endovascular therapies to treat these vascular processes and their possible complications.

The quadruple cruciate sign of simultaneous bicompartmental medial and lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears.

We report the second known case of bicompartmental bucket-handle tears of the medial and lateral menisci and the first documented case of the bucket-handle tears occurring simultaneously following trauma, which occurred after a motorcycle accident. Both bucket-handle fragments were displaced into the intercondylar notch. An anterior cruciate ligament tear was also present. Coronal images demonstrated four structures in the intercondylar notch: the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral bucket-handle meniscal fragments.

Early enhancement of the inferior vena cava on helical CT.

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are abnormal communications between the arterial and the venous systems. We describe two cases in which an aortocaval fistula (ACF) and a deep femoral AVF were diagnosed on dynamic computer tomography (CT) by early transient enhancement of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Awareness of the specific CT features found in central and peripheral AVFs and the effects on the arterial and venous systems may enable the radiologist to make the diagnosis.

Midaortic syndrome associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Midaortic syndrome (MAS) is an uncommon condition characterized by progressive narrowing of the abdominal aorta and its branches and impressive formation of collateral circulation. It affects children and young adults and presents predominantly as untreatable hypertension. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) refers to a constellation of physical, behavioral, and cognitive abnormalities secondary to alcohol exposure in utero. The authors present an unusual association between a hypoplastic abdominal aorta and fetal alcohol syndrome. The patient discussed in this article presented with severe hypertension that was successfully treated with renal angioplasty.

Imaging findings in human immunodeficiency virus-related pulmonary hypertension: report of five cases and review of the literature.

Five cases of human immunodeficiency virus-related pulmonary hypertension and their imaging manifestations are reported. The radiologic findings vary from mild enlargement of the pulmonary trunk or the central pulmonary arteries at early stages to marked dilatation of the central pulmonary arteries and massive cardiomegaly due to right ventricular and right atrial enlargement at later stages of the disease.