Imaging of Violence Against the Elderly and the Women.

Emergency department assessment is a critical opportunity to identify elder abuse and violence against women, which represent a growing problem, requiring the attention of health care systems. Elder abuse is most frequently perpetrated by family members because of the higher levels of stress, burnout, and financial problems affecting the caregivers that can even lead to deadly consequences. Intimate partner violence is defined as physical, sexual, or psychological harm caused to another by a current or former partner or spouse, and can range from a single acute hit to chronic battering, varying in frequency and severity. Radiologists have a critical role in detecting those injury findings suggestive of abuse and violence. When appropriate, additional information about the social circumstances in which an injury took place, linked with imaging findings, may also be helpful in diagnosing abuse. The purpose of this article is to highlight the role of diagnostic imaging in the detection of lesions compatible with domestic abuse in elderly patients and women, and to allow the recognition of the alterations most frequently associated with this type of violence.

Polyacrylamide gel injection for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated facial lipoatrophy: 18 months follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Lipoatrophy of the face affects the quality of life and body image of individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a permanent nonbiodegradable polyacrylamide gel filler, used for facial wasting rehabilitation. METHODS: Thirty-two individuals positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were enrolled in the study between January 2007 and January 2009 and treated using nonbiodegradable polyacrylamide gel injections for a facial wasting rehabilitation. RESULTS: Local infection, foreign body reaction, and migration of the product were not observed during follow-up (18 months). Small, palpable, nonvisible nodules were recorded in 13 cases at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Polyacrylamide hydrogel is an appropriate treatment option in restoring facial contours in immunocompromised people with HIV. Injections of large volumes of polyacrylamide gel (8 to 12 mL) are not associated with a high rate of complications such as infection and foreign body reaction and allow improvement in quality of life in a limited time.

Fine needle aspiration cytolog of perineal alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: cytohistopathologic and immunocytochemical correlations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cytopathologic findings in a case of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) of the perineum in a 13-year-old girl and to compare the cytopathologic findings with the histopathologic and immunohistochemical features observed on the corresponding fragments obtained from core biopsy of the mass. STUDY DESIGN: The cytopathologic findings observed in fine needle aspiration biopsy of a vulvar mass were analyzed with reference to their predictive diagnostic value in pathologic evaluation of the lesion. RESULTS: Following a prospective cytopathologic diagnosis of ARMS, a cutting needle core biopsy was performed. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical study of the tissue fragments confirmed the cytopathologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Careful cytopathologic evaluation of optimal cell samples from ARMS may elicit a correct diagnosis provided that immunocytochemical staining for markers of myogenic differentiation is performed in a pretherapeutic phase.