Chemical abscess post vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation embolisation with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare congenital malformation characterised by arteriovenous fistulas between primitive choroidal arteries and the median prosencephalic vein, the embryonic precursor to the vein of Galen. Endovascular techniques have changed the management of these patients with improved prognosis. An eight-month-old with VGAM managed by endovascular embolisation using ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) developed a chemical abscess - a rare complication. It was managed conservatively and showed promising clinical outcome. Contribution: Chemical abscesses following EVOH embolisation are scarce - with imaging differentials, which include brain abscess and onyx granuloma. Knowledge and successful identification of this entity are essential as its management as prognoses differ. Chemical abscess is managed conservatively and has a good prognosis.

Abdominal and Chest Ultrasonography: A predictor for disease progression in nonsevere dengue.

Background: Dengue is one of the most rapidly spreading arboviral infections in the world. Ultrasound is well established in abdomino-thoracic evaluation of patients with dengue infection. The aim of this study was to explore the role of ultrasound in predicting occurrence of severe infection in dengue patients and in predicting deterioration in patients with nonsevere dengue. Methods: The serologically proven dengue patients who reported to hospital during the study period were divided into three categories based on the dengue infection severity score. Ultrasound findings of abdomen and chest in these patients were noted in the initial, as well as follow-up scans and inferences drawn. Results: 61% belonged to the category of Dengue Fever, 35% were in Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever category, and 4% had Dengue Shock Syndrome. Positive ultrasound findings were seen to be significantly higher in patients with severe dengue. Logistic regression analysis revealed the presence of pericholecystic fluid to be significantly associated with the severe disease, while the presence of gall bladder wall edema, ascites, and any ultrasound finding were significantly associated with the disease progression. The odds of a patient with severe dengue having gall bladder wall edema, ascites, or any ultrasound finding were 2.74, 2.04, and 2.619 times, respectively. Conclusion: Our study indicates that positive findings on ultrasound are significantly higher in severe dengue and also that ultrasound can be reliably used to identify the patients with nonsevere dengue who are likely to progress to severe dengue.

Myriad Presentations of Intracranial Meningiomas: Pictoral Essay.

Meningiomas are the most common non-glial tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). Seen in middle age with a female preponderance, most of the tumors are solitary and supratentorial with benign histology (WHO grade I). Atypical and anaplastic (malignant) meningiomas (WHO grade II and III), comprise 15-20% of all intracranial meningiomas [12345]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice.

MRI evaluation of soft tissue vascular malformations.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue vascular malformations are not uncommonly encountered in clinical practice and are often mistaken for other pathologies. Vascular anomalies are divided into vascular tumors and malformations. Vascular malformations progressively increase in size with increasing age and are classified into low-flow (venous, lymphatic, veno-lymphatic, capillary and capillary venous) and high-flow malformations (arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and arteriovenous fistula (AVF)) depending on the presence or absence of arterial flow. AIM: Aim of this study is to evaluate the Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of the soft tissue vascular malformations and to classify the lesions depending on flow pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 patients of soft tissue vascular malformations were included in this study over a period of 3 years. All patients underwent detailed clinical examination and dynamic post contrast MRI evaluation. Doppler and ultrasound were done as an adjunct. RESULTS: There were 31 females and 21 male patients with age ranging from 9 to 34 years. In total 33 venous, 11 lymphatic, 8 veno-lymphatic malformations were seen. No case of high-flow malformation was seen. Majority of the lesions involved the head and neck region and the extremities. Fat saturated T2WI, STIR, and 3D dynamic post contrast sequences were found to be the most useful MRI sequences. CONCLUSION: MRI is the modality of choice for evaluating the soft tissue vascular malformations. It depicts the extent of the lesion, classifies the lesions into low or high flow and helps in treatment planning.

Computed tomography patterns of pulmonary and pleural involvement in lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary and pleural involvement is fairly common in patients with lymphoma, especially in the setting of progressive or recurrent disease. Pleuropulmonary involvement in lymphoma may occur as a single pattern or as a combination of multiple patterns which can often mimic unrelated pathologies. METHODS: Review of our institutional database from 01 Jan 2015 to 04 Oct 2017 revealed 90 patients with pulmonary and/or pleural lesions attributable to lymphoma. These lesions were classified into various categories, and the pattern of involvement was evaluated. RESULTS: Pulmonary involvement was seen in 17.6% of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and in 10.5% of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), whereas pleural involvement was seen in 6.5% of patients with NHL. Almost all the patients in our study had findings belonging to multiple categories. Pulmonary involvement in patients with HL was seen in the form of nodules (51.6%), masses (51.6%), and direct extension from a mediastinal/hilar mass (45.2%). Patients with NHL had pulmonary involvement in the form of nodules (42.4%), direct extension from a mediastinal/hilar mass (25.4%), pulmonary masses (18.6%), and interstitial pattern (2.4%). Pleural thickening (61.5%), masses (30.8%), and effusion (15.4%) were the three patterns of pleural involvement. CONCLUSION: Nodules and masses were the two commonest patterns of pulmonary involvement in patients with HL, whereas nodules were the commonest pattern noted in patients with NHL. Pulmonary masses were seen more commonly in patients with HL than in those with NHL. Pleural involvement was seen exclusively in patients with NHL.

Coronary Artery Aneurysm After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation Causing Coronary-Bronchial Fistula.

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) after drug-eluting stent implantation is rare, with a reported incidence of 0.3% to 6.0%. Most of these aneurysms are asymptomatic. Hemoptysis as a presentation of CAA is very rare. The patient in our case had CAA after zotarolimus-eluting stent implantation and presented with hemoptysis resulting from a leaking coronary-bronchial fistula. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: Evaluation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is a generalized term used to describe varied spinal symptoms of patients who have had unsuccessful results after spinal surgery. The treatment of FBSS is challenging and varies from conservative management to reoperation. Imaging plays a crucial role in identifying the cause and helps to guide the appropriate therapy. Contrast enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with its superior resolution is the imaging modality of choice. AIM: To evaluate the spectrum of imaging findings on postoperative MRI in FBSS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 postoperative symptomatic patients of FBSS were included in this cross-sectional study. Of these, 26 had undergone surgery for degenerative disc disease and four had spinal fixation surgery for spondylolisthesis or trauma. Patients were subjected to detailed clinical examination. All patients underwent MRI which was done on 1.5 Tesla scanner with standard sequences in all planes. Contrast was administered in all cases. Non Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) scan was done in patients with metallic implants to better delineate the placement of the implant. Patients with contraindication to MRI scanning were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of the total 30 cases (23 males and seven females) of FBSS that were evaluated with contrast enhanced MRI of the spine, 16 patients had recurrent/residual disc herniation, six had epidural scar tissue, three patients had recurrent disc herniation and scar tissue, two had evidence of post surgery arachnoiditis, two patients had postoperative discitis and one patient had implant mal alignment. Eight patients underwent reoperation for recurrent disc herniation and one patient for implant malalignment after imaging. CONCLUSION: MRI is the modality of choice for evaluating the postoperative spine. It helps to identify the cause and guide the appropriate treatment.

Thoracic Sarcoidosis: Imaging with High Resolution Computed Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown aetiology that primarily affects the lungs. Clinical and radiological findings with demonstration of non caseating granulomas on pathology is utilised for diagnosing the disease. AIM: To assess and evaluate the features of thoracic sarcoidosis on High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) chest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 (31 males and 9 females) cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis in a period of three years were included in this study. Patients underwent detailed clinical evaluation, imaging, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) and pathological confirmation of disease. Chest radiograph was obtained in all patients. HRCT was done on 16 slice Computed Tomography (CT) using 1 mm slice thickness and high spatial frequency algorithm for image re-construction. Images were viewed and evaluated using appropriate lung and mediastinal windows. The lymph nodes were classified as hilar and mediastinal with Maximum Short Axis Diameter (MSAD) more than 10 mm taken as cut-off for enlargement. Pulmonary opacities were classified as nodules (micronodules 1-4 mm and macronodules >5 mm), reticular opacities, fibrotic lesions, ground glass opacities and consolidations. Nodule distribution classified as perilymphatic centrilobular and random. Repeat scanning done on follow up or as clinically indicated. RESULTS: A total of five patients had Stage I disease, 24 patients had Stage II disease, eight patients had Stage III disease and three patients had stage IV disease. Mediastinal lymphdenopathy present in 29 patients. Bilateral hilar adenopathy was the predominant pattern seen in 22 patients. Lung parenchymal lesions excluding end stage disease noted in 32 patients. The characteristic HRCT lung parenchymal involvement of micronodules with a perilymphatic distribution was seen in 26 patients. HRCT features of predominant upper and middle lobe distribution seen in majority of patients. Documented atypical lesions and the characteristic features of end stage lung disease on HRCT noted in a small subset of patients. HRCT was superior to chest radiography for evaluating the features, pattern and distribution of the parenchymal lesions and mediastinal lymph nodes, for assessing the stage and activity of the disease and in aiding detection of subtle parenchymal lesions which are liable to be missed on conventional imaging. CONCLUSION: Thoracic sarcoidosis can have varied presentations. HRCT is superior to conventional CT for the detection and characterisation of the lung parenchymal lesions.