Primary small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder diagnosed by PET/CT combined with tumour markers: A case report.

Small cell cancer (SCC) of the gallbladder is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy. We report here a case diagnosed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) combined with tumour markers. A 51-year-old man presented with pain in his neck, shoulder, back, lumbar and right thigh. Ultrasonography showed an isoechoic mass in the gallbladder, and a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan showed multiple retroperitoneal occupations and multiple vertebral bone destruction with pathological fractures. Blood analysis showed elevated levels of tumour markers including neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and PET/CT images showed extensive distant metastases. A diagnosis of primary SCC of the gallbladder was made following exclusion of the possibility of metastasis from other organs. The use of biomarkers with immunohistochemical findings and PET/CT imaging, will assist clinicians in the identification and understanding of the pathology of this disease.

Value of transcranial color-code Doppler in evaluating intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: a comparison of transcranial Doppler and computed tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: There are several imaging assessment methods for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). This study investigated the most efficient method by which to diagnose ICAS in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: One hundred seven patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled as the experimental group and 68 healthy subjects were designated as the control group. The experimental group was examined with transcranial color-code Doppler (TCCD) and transcranial Doppler (TCD). Sixty-five patients in the experimental group were diagnosed by computed tomography angiography (CTA) on a voluntary basis. The 68 subjects in the control group were examined by TCCD alone. RESULTS: Based on TCCD examinations, the ICAS positivity rate was 71.0% (76/107) in the experimental group, which was greater than the 42.6% (29/68) in the control group (χ2=13.954, P<0.001). The middle cerebral artery was most frequently affected by ICAS (χ2=4.684, P=0.030), with a higher incidence of moderate and severe stenosis (χ2=4.510, P=0.034). The ICAS positivity rate was 64.6% (42/65) by TCCD, 75.4% (49/65) by CTA, and 53.8% (35/30) by TCD. There was a statistically significant difference between the TCCD and CTA (χ2=1.795, P=0.180) and between the TCD and CTA (χ2=6.594, P=0.010) positivity rates. CONCLUSIONS: ICAS is expected to occur in patients with diabetes mellitus more often than healthy subjects, and to involve the middle cerebral artery with moderate-to-severe stenosis. The ICAS positivity rate evaluated by TCCD was lower than CTA and higher than TCD.