Posterior wall as atypical localization of left atrial myxoma : Diagnosis and management.

Atrial myxomas are the most common benign cardiac neoplasms. Although the majority occur in the left atrium (LA) and are attached to the interatrial septum (75-80 % of cases), they can arise from any part of the LA and the cardiac chambers. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with features of worsening dyspnea and persistent headache. During transthoracic echocardiography, a suspected cardiac myxoma was found arising from the posterior wall of the LA.

New Codanin-1 Gene Mutations in a Italian Patient with Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia Type I and Heterozygous Beta-Thalassemia.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with macrocytic anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis, iron overloading and characterized by abnormal chromatin ultrastructure in erythroblasts such as internuclear chromatin bridges, spongy heterochromatin and invagination of the nuclear membrane. A 58-year-old Causasian man with chronic hemolytic anemia, heterozygous for ß (+) -globin IVS1, nt110 G>A mutation (causing abnormal alpha:beta globin chain ratio) showed clinical, laboratory and hematological features suggesting diagnosis of CDA1. Sequence analysis of CDA-related genes revealed compound heterozygosity for two novel mutations in the CDAN1 gene: a frameshift mutation 3367 del 4 (TTAG) in exon 25 and a missense mutation c.1811 G>T in exon 11 causing an aminoacid change from glycine to valine at codon 565 (G565V). One of the propositus' brothers showed the same gene mutations. As the CDA1 can mimic thalassemia, a frequent misdiagnosis is possible especially in countries where the prevalence of thalassemia is high. A strong clinical suspicion in patients who do not reveal a clear genetic basis for presumed thalassemia may help clinch the correct diagnosis.

Dual-source CT coronary angiography: prospective versus retrospective acquisition technique.

PURPOSE: The aim of our work was to compare image quality and radiation dose in a group of patients who underwent cardiac dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) with prospective electrocardiographic (ECG) gating with those of a control group studied with retrospective gating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to two groups of 30 individuals each. Patients with heart rates >70 bpm and body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2) were excluded. Group A was examined with prospective ECG gating and group B with retrospective gating. The dose-length product (DLP) was recorded to calculate the radiation dose, whereas the effective dose was normalised to a standard 12-cm scan of the heart. RESULTS: Applying the best reconstruction interval, 98.6% of segments in the prospective group and 99.3% in the retrospective group were diagnostic. No significant difference (p>0.05) in image quality was observed between groups. Mean normalised radiation dose was 4.91 ± 0.4 mSv in the prospective-gating group and 14.62 mSv ± 4.36 in the retrospective-gating group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary CT with prospective ECG gating, a standard feature on new scanners, allows for a significant reduction in radiation dose without causing any significant decrease in image quality or in the number of segments assessed. The prospective technique is thus recommended for patients with heart rates £70 bpm and BMI £30 kg/m(2).

Preliminary experience with abdominal dual-energy CT (DECT): true versus virtual nonenhanced images of the liver.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to compare the quality and noise of true non-enhanced (TNE) and virtual non-enhanced (VNE) images in patients undergoing dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients (mean age 54.7±19.9 years) prospectively underwent abdominal DECT to assess the liver using a triphasic protocol consisting of precontrast, arterial-phase and portal-phase acquisitions. Exclusion criteria were allergy to iodinated contrast material, impaired renal function and a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m(2). The DE portal-phase acquisition was performed with automatic dose modulation (CARE Dose 4D). Nonionic iodinated contrast material (Iomeron 400) was administered at 0.625 gI/kg with a flow rate of 3.5 ml/s. Axial VNE images were reconstructed based on the portal data set using a collimation and an increment of 5 mm and were compared with TNE images reconstructed with the same parameters. The average image quality and noise were analysed by two radiologists in separate reading sessions. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in image quality was observed between VNE (4.00±0.85) and TNE images (4.35±0.58). A sufficient diagnostic quality was found in 95.0% (19/20) of VNE images and in 100% of TNE images. No statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in the average image noise of VNE (9.5±0.7) and TNE (12.3±1.1) images. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal DECT allows acquisition of liver VNE images with similar image quality and lower noise than TNE. Nevertheless, a few technical limitations related to the small field of view of the second detector in patients with a high BMI and heterogeneous iodine subtraction restrict the application of this technique to selected patients only.

Preoperative coronary risk assessment with dual-source CT in patients undergoing noncoronary cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of our work was to assess the role of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in the preoperative evaluation of coronary artery disease in patients scheduled for noncoronary cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients were prospectively evaluated. Patients negative for coronary disease at DSCT (n=81) underwent surgery without coronary angiography. Patients positive for significant lesions or with nondiagnostic image quality due to artefacts or severe calcifications underwent coronary angiography (n=19) and were excluded from the study. In patients who underwent surgery with only a DSCT diagnosis, we evaluated the frequency of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during the perioperative period and at 3 months follow-up. RESULTS: No MACEs were recorded during the perioperative period; three noncardiac complications (one surgical revision for bleeding, one cardiac tamponade and one respiratory insufficiency) and one death related to severe respiratory insufficiency were observed. None of the 80 patients had MACEs during the 3-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary evaluation with DSCT is able to rule out the presence of coronary disease in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, without the need for coronary angiography confirmation. Patients with significant stenosis or nondiagnostic image quality should be referred for coronary angiography.

[Multidetector CT urography: diagnostic role in the evaluation of patients with non-traumatic hematuria]. / Urografia-TC multidetettore: ruolo diagnostico nella valutazione del paziente con ematuria non traumatica.

Blood in the urine (hematuria) can originate from any site along the urinary tract and may be the only sign of renal or vesical malignancy. Therefore, literature recommends for the evaluation of any case of macroscopic or microscopic hematuria. Our aim was to define the diagnostic role of multidetector CT urography (MDCTu) in the evaluation of this symptom through the analysis of 181 consecutive patients from January 2003 to March 2006.

Second-generation sonographic contrast agents in the evaluation of renal trauma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define the indications, diagnostic accuracy and limitations of second-generation sonographic contrast agents in the evaluation of patients with renal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2004 and April 2005, 277 patients with blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated. Twenty-eight out of 277 patients had renal lesions, the severity of which was graded according to the organ injury severity scale of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). All the patients enrolled in the study had minor trauma and were evaluated with baseline ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced US after injection of a second-generation contrast agent (SonoVue) and, if positive, with multiphasic multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). RESULTS: Five out of 28 traumatic parenchymal lesions with perirenal fluid collection were identified at baseline US. All 28 renal parenchymal lesions, with or without perirenal or retroperitoneal haematoma, were identified at contrast-enhanced US. Multiphase MDCT confirmed all the cases that were positive at contrast-enhanced US and demonstrated the integrity of the urinary tract in the delayed phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience confirmed the diagnostic accuracy of second-generation sonographic contrast material both for diagnosis and for appropriate patient management. In particular, contrast-enhanced sonography proved to be a reliable technique for the evaluation and follow-up of low-grade renal injuries. Its main advantage is reduced radiation exposure, as fewer MDCT examinations are needed, whereas its limitation is the high cost of the technique if used in unselected patients.

[Isolated blunt hepatic traumas: role of emergency CT in therapeutic choice].

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to establish the role of score-based CT classification of hepatic lesions, peritoneal and retroperitoneal bleeding in the blunt hepatic trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CT examinations of 47 haemodynamically stable patients, with isolated traumatic hepatic lesions were reviewed. CT scans were obtained with a spiral CT (thickness mm 10, pitch of 1) before and after 60 seconds after from intravenous administration of 140 cc of contrast medium at a rate of 2 cc/sec). Eleven out of 47 patients underwent surgery immediately after the CT examination, 2/47 patients in 48 hours; 34/47 patients were treated conservatively with CT follow-up on days 3 and 7, and before dimission discharge. The hepatic lesions, and degree of peritoneal and retroperitoneal haemorrhage were classified using the following scale: 1-5 for the hepatic lesions, in according to the Mirvis classification; 0-3 for peritoneal haemorrhage (0=no haemorrhage, 1=minor mild haemorrhage, 2=moderate haemorrhage, 3=major massive haemorrhage); 0-2 for retroperitoneal haemorrhage (0=no haemorrhage, 1=haemorrhage confined to the anterior pararenal space, 2=haemorrhage in 2 or more retroperitoneal spaces). The score was correlated to the treatment decisions (follow-up or surgery). RESULTS: Based on the hepatic lesion scores, we classified: 4 patients as grade 1 of grade 1, 9 as grade 2, 22 as grade 3, 11 as grade 4, 1 as grade 5; based on peritoneal haemorrhage, 14 patients as grade 0, 9 as grade 1, 8 as grade 2, and 10 as grade 3; based on retroperitoneal haemorrhage, 36 patients as grade 0 of grade 0, 3 as grade 1, and 8 as grade 2. The overall scores of the 13 patients that who underwent surgery were: 6 in 6 patients, 7 in 4 patients, 8, 9, and 10 in 1 patient. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: CT is the modality of reference for evaluating traumatic hepatic lesions. The selection of patients for surgery requires an accurate classification and grading of the lesions. The classification of hepatic lesions alone, however, is not sufficient, as it does not take into account peritoneal and retroperitoneal haemorrhage, that which often occurs, and are correlated with the need for exploratory laparotomy. Integrated score-based evaluation of the hepatic lesions, peritoneal and retroperitoneal haemorrhage shows a good correlation with treatment decisions and clinical outcome.

[US and CT findings in complicated Meckel diverticulum]. / Aspetti ecografici e TC nelle complicanze del diverticolo di Meckel.

AIM: Meckel s diverticulum is the most common congenital abnormality of the small bowel. It may be silent or symptomatic when complicated by hemorrage, intestinal occlusion, diverticulitis and umbilical fistulas. Radiologic diagnosis is often difficult because abdominal plain radiography and ultrasound are not sufficiently specific; CT is most accurate in differential diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS. 11 patients (age 5-69 ys) were studied. Clinical symptoms included acute abdomen (4 pts), intestinal occlusion (3 pts), abdominal pain (4 pts), fever (5 pts). Radiological studies were abdominal plain radiography (8 pts), ultrasound (5 pts), CT (9 pts). RESULTS: Abdominal plain radiography depicted signs of intestinal occlusion (4 pts) and perforation (1 pts); in 4 pts the signs were non diagnostic. Ultrasound showed an abscess in the pelvis (2 pts), dilatation and wall-thickening of an intestinal loop (2 pts), intestinal invagination (1 pts); it was not diagnostic in 3 pts. CT was not diagnostic in 3 pts; in 2 pts it showed an abscessual fluid collection in the pelvis, adherent to intestinal loops, with flogosis of the perivisceral fat; in 1 pt it revealed perforation; in 4 cases it was specific showing inversion of the diverticulum in an intestinal loop (2 pts) or a tubular fluid-filled structure, with thickened walls and contrast enhancement, which was interpreted as a inflammatory diverticulum (2 pts). DISCUSSION: Our series confirms the difficulty of diagnosing Meckel s diverticulum in an acute setting. Abdominal plain radiography only allowed to diagnose intestinal occlusion or perforation. Ultrasound revealed abscessual collections in the pelvis, fluid distention of the diverticulum, segmental thickening of the intestinal walls and invagination. CT proved to be more specific showing signs suggestive of correct diagnosis in 6 pts. In particular, evidence of an intraluminal prolonged mass with central area of fat density and peripherral collar was considered suggestive of intraluminal invagination of Meckel s diverticulum. Another diagnostic sign is the evidence of a tubular fluid-filled structure, with thickened, enhanced walls. In 2 cases CT showed an abscessual collection with gas-fluid level (complication of perforation) confirming the need for surgery. CONCLUSION: Meckel s diverticulum is a not uncommon condition that in some cases is complicated, resulting in acute abdomen. Preoperative radiological diagnosis can be suspected in the presence of suggestive signs, more often depicted by CT.

Inhibition of histone deacetylase activity by trichostatin A modulates gene expression during mouse embryogenesis without apparent toxicity.

Remodeling of the chromatin template by inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities represents a major goal for transcriptional therapy in neoplastic diseases. Recently, a number of specific and potent HDAC-inhibitors that modulate in vitro cell growth and differentiation have been developed. In this study we analyzed the effect of trichostatin A (TSA), a specific and potent HDAC-inhibitor, on mouse embryos developing in vivo. When administered i.p. to pregnant mice (at a concentration of 0.5-1 mg/kg) at postimplantation stages (embryonic day 8 to embryonic day 10), TSA was not toxic for the mother and did not cause any obvious malformation during somitogenesis or at later stages of development. Treated embryos were born at similar frequency and were indistinguishable from control animals, developed normally, and were fertile. Interestingly, embryos from TSA-treated mice killed during somitogenesis were modestly but consistently larger than control embryos and presented an increased (+2 to +6) number of somites. This correlated with an increased acetylation of histone H4, the number of somites expressing the myogenic factor Myf-5, and the expression of Notch, RARalpha2, and RARbeta2 mRNAs. These data indicate that the effects of TSA on transcription: (a) are not toxic for the mother; (b) transiently accelerated growth in mouse embryos without perturbing embryogenesis; and (c) do not result in teratogenesis, at least in rodents. Thus, TSA might represent a nontoxic and effective agent for the transcriptional therapy of neoplasia.

Determination, diversification and multipotency of mammalian myogenic cells.

In amniotes, myogenic commitment appears to be dependent upon signaling from neural tube and dorsal ectoderm, that can be replaced by members of the Wnt family and by Sonic hedgehog. Once committed, myoblasts undergo different fates, in that they can differentiate immediately to form the myotome, or later to give rise to primary and secondary muscle fibers. With fiber maturation, satellite cells are first detected; these cells contribute to fiber growth and regeneration during post-natal life. We will describe recent data, mainly from our laboratory, that suggest a different origin for some of the cells that are incorporated into the muscle fibers during late development. We propose the possibility that these myogenic cells are derived from the vasculature, are multi-potent and become committed to myogenesis by local signaling, when ingressing a differentiating muscle tissue. The implications for fetal and perinatal development of the whole mesoderm will also be discussed.

[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: radiologic and CT study]. / Pneumomediastino spontaneo. Studio radiologico e TC.

Pneumomediastinum may be due to various diseases. In young adults without thoracic trauma or pulmonary or mediastinal diseases pneumomediastium is secondary to mild strain or cough. This disease is defined as spontaneous pneumomediastinum or Hamman's syndrome, with a good prognosis, and doesn't need any treatment. X-ray and CT of the chest can provide correct diagnosis and adequate treatment.

Differential expression of the Wnt putative receptors Frizzled during mouse somitogenesis.

The expression of eight murine Frizzled (1,3-9) genes was studied during mouse somitogenesis, in order to correlate the Wnt-dependent activation of myogenesis with the expression of specific Frizzled putative receptors. Frizzled 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 have specific expression in the forming and differentiating somites. The genes analyzed have a complex and partly overlapping pattern of expression in other regions of the embryo.

Combined modality follow-up and postoperative recurrence in rectal cancer.

Rectal cancer patients are at high risk for disease progression even after radical surgery for cure. Prognosis depends on a timely diagnosis for effective, curative therapies. In resected patients, an accurate follow-up especially within the first two years of surgery, is required. Clinical and radiologic follow-up is based on periodical, timed physical and instrumental exams (rectal exploration, neoplastic markers, rectoscopy, colonic enema, CT MRI, TRUS) which supply information on locoregional (liver, lymph nodes, peritoneum, chest) recurrence. Rectal exploration, endoscopy, colonic enema and TRUS enable the control of anastomosis and the identification of possible metachronous tumors. CT and MRI as liver US and chest X-ray, detect recurrence in other sites (pelvic perianastomotic recurrence, peritoneal carcinomatosis, lymph node or liver locations). A diagnostic problem is represented by the difficult differentiation of local recurrence from postoperative fibrosis. In this case, surveillance in the course of time with exams more reliable in tissue differentiation (MRI, though with some limitations) and US- or CT-guided biopsy, is required.