Power doppler sonography in early renal transplantation: does it differentiate acute graft rejection from acute tubular necrosis?

To evaluate the role of power Doppler in the identification and differentiation between acute renal transplant rejection and acute tubular necrosis (ATN), we studied 67 live donor renal transplant recipients. All patients were examined by spectral and power Doppler sonography. Assessment of cortical perfusion (CP) by power Doppler was subjective, using our grading score system: P0 (normal CP); homogenous cortical blush extending to the capsule, P1 (reduced CP); cortical vascular cut-off at interlobular level, P2 (markedly reduced CP); scattered cortical color flow at the interlobar level. Renal biopsies were performed during acute graft dysfunction. Pathological diagnoses were based on Banff classification 1997. The Mann- Whitney test was used to test the difference between CP grades with respect to serum creatinine (SCr), and resistive index (RI). For 38 episodes of acute graft rejection grade I, power Doppler showed that CP was P1 and RI ranging from 0.78 to 0.89. For 21 episodes of acute graft rejection grade II, power Doppler showed that CP was P1, with RI ranging from 0.88 to >1. Only one case of grade III rejection had a CP of P2. Twelve biopsies of ATN had CP of P0 and RI ranging from 0.80 to 0.89 There was a statistically significant correlation between CP grading and SCr (P <0.01) as well as between CP grading and RI (P <0.05). CP grading had a higher sensitivity in the detection of early acute rejection compared with RI and cross-sectional area measurements. We conclude that power Doppler is a non-invasive sensitive technique that may help in the detection and differentiation between acute renal transplant rejection and ATN, particularly in the early post-transplantation period.

Cysts of the lower male genitourinary tract: embryologic and anatomic considerations and differential diagnosis.

Cysts of the lower male genitourinary tract are uncommon and usually benign. These cysts have different anatomic origins and may be associated with a variety of genitourinary abnormalities and symptoms. Various complications may be associated with these cysts, such as urinary tract infection, pain, postvoiding incontinence, recurrent epididymitis, prostatitis, and hematospermia, and they may cause infertility. Understanding the embryologic development and normal anatomy of the lower male genitourinary tract can be helpful in evaluating these cysts and in tailoring an approach for developing a differential diagnosis. There are two main groups of cysts of the lower male genitourinary tract: intraprostatic cysts and extraprostatic cysts. Intraprostatic cysts can be further classified into median cysts (prostatic utricle cysts, müllerian duct cysts), paramedian cysts (ejaculatory duct cysts), and lateral cysts (prostatic retention cysts, cystic degeneration of benign prostatic hypertrophy, cysts associated with tumors, prostatic abscess). Extraprostatic cysts include cysts of the seminal vesicle, vas deferens, and Cowper duct. A variety of pathologic conditions can mimic these types of cysts, including ureterocele, defect resulting from transurethral resection of the prostate gland, bladder diverticulum, and hydroureter and ectopic insertion of ureter. Accurate diagnosis depends mainly on the anatomic location of the cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging and transrectal ultrasonography (US) are excellent for detecting and characterizing the nature and exact anatomic origin of these cysts. In addition, transrectal US can play an important therapeutic role in the management of cyst drainage and aspiration, as in cases of prostatic abscess.

Genitourinary schistosomiasis: life cycle and radiologic-pathologic findings.

Genitourinary schistosomiasis is produced by Schistosoma haematobium, a species of fluke that is endemic to Africa and the Middle East, and causes substantial morbidity and mortality in those regions. It also may be seen elsewhere, as a result of travel or immigration. S haematobium, one of the five fluke species that account for most human cases of schistosomiasis, is the only species that infects the genitourinary system, where it may lead to a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs. In the early stages, it primarily involves the bladder and ureters; later, the kidneys and genital organs are involved. It rarely infects the colon or lungs. A definitive diagnosis of genitourinary schistosomiasis is based on findings of parasite ova at microscopic urinalysis. Clinical manifestations and radiologic imaging features also may be suggestive of the disease, even at an early stage: Hematuria, dysuria, and hemospermia, early clinical signs of an established S haematobium infection, appear within 3 months after infection. At imaging, fine ureteral calcifications that appear as a line or parallel lines on abdominopelvic radiographs and as a circular pattern on axial images from computed tomography (CT) are considered pathognomonic of early-stage schistosomiasis. Ureteritis, pyelitis, and cystitis cystica, conditions that are characterized by air bubble-like filling defects representing ova deposited in the ureter, kidney, and bladder, respectively, may be seen at intravenous urography, intravenous ureteropyelography, and CT urography. Coarse calcification, fibrosis, and strictures are signs of chronic or late-stage schistosomiasis. Such changes may be especially severe in the bladder, creating a predisposition to squamous cell carcinoma. Genital involvement, which occurs more often in men than in women, predominantly affects the prostate and seminal vesicles.

Quantitative enhancement washout analysis of solid cortical renal masses using multidetector computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to prospectively assess the utility of quantitative enhancement washout method in the differentiation of benign solid renal masses from various subtypes of malignant masses using multidetector computed tomography. METHODS: In a prospective investigation from January 2009 to May 2010, 97 patients with solid renal masses underwent CT scan examination with unenhanced, arterial, parenchymal, and delayed phases. The following features were analyzed: the maximum attenuation value in each phase, attenuation difference (enhancement) of the mass in each phase from the unenhanced phase (ΔH), and parenchymal and delayed phases' washout. Of these patients, 82 (85%) underwent unilateral radical nephrectomy, 15 (15%) underwent partial nephrectomy. Group comparison was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The masses included in our study were 45 clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CCRCCs); 18 chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, 16 papillary (PRCC), 14 oncocytomas, and 4 minimal fat containing angiomyolipomas. In the arterial phase, the CCRCC was the most enhancing type and could be differentiated from other renal masses (benign or malignant) with high sensitivity and specificity. In the parenchymal phase, the CCRCCs demonstrated the highest washout. Chromophobe renal cell carcinomas showed the second highest washout in this phase. Benign lesions and PRCCs did not exhibit significant washout in this phase. In the delayed phase, the malignant lesions (with the exception of PRCCs) showed the highest washout. Benign lesions showed significant washout but less than malignant lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Multiphasic multidetector CT utilizing arterial-phase attenuation and quantitative enhancement washout method could help in the preoperative differentiation of various types of solid renal masses.