Cholangiocarcinoma and its mimickers in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the most common malignancy in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Approximately half of CCA are diagnosed within two years of initial diagnosis and often have a poor prognosis because of advanced tumor stage at the time of diagnosis. Thus, rigorous initial imaging evaluation for detecting CCA is important. CCA in PSC usually manifests as intrahepatic mass-forming or perihilar periductal-infiltrating type. Imaging diagnosis is often challenging due to pre-existing biliary strictures and heterogeneous liver. Multimodality imaging approach and careful comparison with prior images are often helpful in detecting small CCA. Ultrasound is widely used as an initial test, but has a limited ability to detect small tumors in the heterogeneous liver with PSC. MRI combined with MRCP is excellent to demonstrate focal biliary abnormalities as well as subtle liver masses. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is useful to demonstrate CCA by demonstrating rapid and marked washout. In addition, there are other disease entities that mimic CCA including hepatocellular carcinoma, confluent hepatic fibrosis, IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, inflammatory mass, and focal fat deposition. In this pictorial essay, imaging findings of CCA in PSC is described and discuss the challenges in imaging surveillance for CCA in the patients with PSC. Imaging findings of the mimickers of CCA in PSC and their differentiating features are also discussed.

Presacral Myelolipoma: Diagnosis on Imaging With Pathologic and Clinical Correlation.

OBJECTIVE: Myelolipoma is a benign tumor composed of fatty and hematopoietic elements. Presacral myelolipoma is rare, with fewer than 40 cases reported in the English literature. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis because there are malignant diseases included in the differential diagnosis of a presacral fatty mass, particularly liposarcoma. CONCLUSION: The combination of a well-encapsulated fat-containing presacral mass, lack of coinciding hematologic disease, and uptake on sulfur colloid scintigraphy support the diagnosis of a presacral myelolipoma.

Investigating Patient and Physician Delays in the Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancers: a Canadian Perspective.

Diagnostic delays for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are common. Patients often disregard symptoms for long periods before seeking help, and some family physicians may not be alert to the warning symptoms and signs of HNCs. This study evaluated the factors associated with length of delays in the diagnosis of HNCs in a Canadian population. This was a mixed-method study consisting of patient interviews and surveys in an academic health center. A questionnaire requesting demographic and disease information was completed by HNC patients followed by a 30 min semi-structured interview in a private setting. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and descriptively coded for emergent themes. Twenty-eight head and neck cancer patients participated in the study. More patients experienced physician delay (71 %) than patient delay (36 %). The median physician delay and patient delay were 108 and 31 days, respectively. Two main themes regarding these delays were (1) physician lack of knowledge and (2) lack of patient awareness. Results indicate that physician delay needs to be focused on compared to patient delay, as it is more common and has longer delays. More comprehensive training in head and neck clinical examination skills during undergraduate and residency training is recommended to reduce physician delay. Patient delay could be targeted by public education programs via both physicians and dentists.