Parathyroid Computed Tomography Angiography: Early Experience with a Novel Imaging Technique in Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVES: To describe parathyroid computed tomography angiography (PCTA), determine its accuracy, and, as a secondary objective, calculate its mean radiation dosimetry. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism from 2007 to 2015. SETTING: Single-center tertiary care academic military hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: PCTA is a 2-phase computed tomography imaging technique that uses individualized timing of contrast infusion and novel patient positioning to accurately identify parathyroid adenomas. Consecutive patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism from 2007 to 2015 were reviewed; 55% of patients were women. The mean age was 50.9 years (range, 26-68 years). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated as well as mean radiation dosimetry and timing of contrast. RESULTS: A total of 108 procedures were performed during the study period. Twenty-one patients undergoing 22 PCTAs after prior sestamibi scans were nonlocalizing or equivocal. In this group, there were 15 true-positive, 3 false-positive, 4 true-negative, and 0 false-negative PCTAs. This represents a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 74.7%-100%) and a specificity of 57% (95% CI, 20%-88%). The mean calculated radiation dose was 5.15 mSv. In the most recent studies, a mean dose of 4.1 mSv was calculated. The ideal time of image acquisition contrast administration varied from 20 to 30 seconds after contrast infusion. CONCLUSIONS: PCTA is a new technique in anatomic imaging for hyperparathyroidism. In a single-center, single-radiologist retrospective study, it demonstrates excellent accuracy for patients with parathyroid adenomas that are otherwise difficult to localize preoperatively. Preliminary experience suggests that its use may be indicated as a primary imaging modality in the future.

Congenital complete absence of tracheal rings with trifurcate carina: Case report of a rare clinical and endoscopic presentation.

We describe the case of a child with isolated absence of cartilaginous tracheal rings and a trifurcate carina. At 6 months of age, the patient presented to our multidisciplinary airway clinic with stridor and recurrent severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization. Radiographs showed airway narrowing. Exam demonstrated biphasic stridor. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy demonstrated only mild laryngomalacia. Operative bronchoscopy demonstrated severe tracheomalacia with absence of any visible tracheal rings and a trifurcate carina. Subsequent CT imaging corroborated these findings and did not demonstrate any other major abnormality. The patient did not require operative intervention and his subsequent course was uncomplicated.

A Case of an Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma Arising from the Innominate Vein Mimicking Cervical Metastatic Lymphadenopathy.

Background. Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare tumor usually presenting in soft tissue. EHE is a vascular malignancy of intermediate clinical behavior, with a histologic appearance of endothelial cells growing in nests or cords. Although EHE often originates from a vessel, it is relatively rare for a primary vascular EHE to originate from a large vein or artery. Occurrence in the mediastinum is exceptionally rare. There are no known associations with other malignancies. Case Presentation. We present a case of mediastinal invasive EHE in a 39-year-old female with concurrent papillary thyroid cancer. She initially presented with a thyroid mass found by her primary care provider, with preoperative imaging concerning for extension into the superior mediastinum. Operative exploration revealed a mediastinal mass distinct from her thyroid carcinoma with invasion into the great vessels, requiring off-pump interposition graft bypass for en bloc resection. Final pathology confirmed pT3N1b multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma with a separate grade 1 pT1b EHE. Review of the literature describes the demographics, updated pathologic outcomes, histologic findings, and reported incidence of EHE. Conclusions. This is the first reported case of thyroid malignancy with separate and concurrent EHE. Surgeons should remain aware of this entity given its variable behavior. Although initially described as an indolent neoplasm, tumors with poor prognostic factors have been shown to be locally aggressive.