Transvaginal US vs. CT in non-pregnant premenopausal women presenting to the ED: clinical impact of the second examination when both are performed.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical impact of the second examination when both CT and TVUS are obtained in the same ED visit for acute pelvic/lower abdominal symptoms in non-pregnant premenopausal women. METHODS: 200 consecutive non-pregnant premenopausal women (mean age, 31.8 years; range, 18-49 years) who underwent both ED-based TVUS and abdominopelvic CT evaluation for acute symptoms over a 12 month period were included; 107 women had TVUS first, followed by CT; 93 women had CT first. All relevant clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings were reviewed to establish a final diagnosis. Any additional clinical impact provided by the second imaging test was assessed by two experienced abdominal radiologists. RESULTS: Initial TVUS was interpreted as normal (n = 63) or mentioned incidental findings (n = 11) in 69% (74/107); subsequent CT established a non-gynecologic GI/GU etiology in 25 (34%). For 37% (34/93) of CT exams interpreted as normal, TVUS added no new information. In 32 cases (34%), TVUS further excluded ovarian torsion/adnexal pathology when initial CT was indeterminate/equivocal. Overall, CT following TVUS provided a key new or alternative diagnosis in 26% (28/107), whereas TVUS after CT provided a relevant new/alternative diagnosis in only 1/93 cases (p < 0.001). In nine cases (8%), CT confirmed a positive US diagnosis but detected relevant additional diagnostic information. CONCLUSION: CT following negative TVUS frequently identified a non-gynecologic cause of acute pelvic or lower abdominal symptoms in non-pregnant premenopausal women, whereas the main benefit of TVUS after CT was more confident exclusion of ovarian torsion.

US-guided Musculoskeletal Interventions of the Body Wall and Core with MRI and US Correlation.

Chest, abdominal, and groin pain are common patient complaints that can be due to a variety of causes. Once potentially life-threatening visceral causes of pain are excluded, the evaluation should include musculoskeletal sources of pain from the body wall and core muscles. Percutaneous musculoskeletal procedures play a key role in evaluating and managing pain, although most radiologists may be unfamiliar with applications for the body wall and core muscles. US is ideally suited to guide these less commonly performed procedures owing to its low cost, portability, lack of ionizing radiation, and real-time visualization of superficial soft-tissue anatomy. US provides the operator with added confidence that the needle will be placed at the intended location and will not penetrate visceral or vascular structures. The authors review both common and uncommon US-guided procedures targeting various portions of the chest wall, abdominal wall, and core muscles with the hope of familiarizing radiologists with these techniques. Procedures include anesthetic and corticosteroid injection as well as platelet-rich plasma injection to promote tendon healing. Specific anatomic structures discussed include the sternoclavicular joint, costochondral joint, interchondral joint, intercostal nerve, scapulothoracic bursa, anterior abdominal cutaneous nerve, ilioinguinal nerve, iliohypogastric nerve, genitofemoral nerve, pubic symphysis, common aponeurotic plate, and adductor tendon origin. Relevant US anatomy is depicted with MRI correlation, and steps to performing successful safe US-guided injections are discussed. Confidence in performing these procedures will allow radiologists to continue to play an important role in diagnosis and management of many musculoskeletal pathologic conditions. ©RSNA, 2021.

Carcinosarcoma of the Tunica Vaginalis Following Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer.

Spermatic cord tumors (SCTs) are rare neoplasms with 80% exhibiting benign pathology. Of the malignant SCTs, 90% are sarcomas. To date there has only been one documented case of primary CS of the spermatic cord which occurred in a 40 year old with no reported medical history. A 76-year-old male with a history of biopsy proven Gleason score 7 (3 + 4) prostatic adenocarcinoma underwent external beam radiation therapy (7920 cGy) in 44 fractions in 2004. He presented with a 3 year history of an asymptomatic right hydrocele. Several scrotal ultrasounds had been performed confirming a hydrocele, with the most recent revealing a hydrocele measuring 10 × 14 cm and several epididymal cysts. During the hydrocelectomy a firm suspicious mass was noted inside the tunica vaginalis and involving the spermatic cord. Given the intraoperative findings, decision was made to proceed with radical orchiectomy. Final pathologic examination revealed the tumor to have a biphasic pattern composed of spindled cells and also cells with an epithelioid morphology. Five months following orchiectomy he patient presented with a painful, enlarging right upper scrotal mass. A CT scan revealed new soft tissue lesions suspicious for necrotic lymph nodes within the right inguinal canal. Additional metastatic evaluation revealed multiple new pleural and parenchymal lung nodules. CT guided needle biopsy of a left lung nodule demonstrated spindle cells with high cellularity and areas of necrosis which were histomorphologically similar to the previous scrotal CS. Gemcitabine therapy was subsequently started. Four months following the diagnosis of metastatic CS, the patient expired. Dedifferentiation of prostatic adenocarcinoma to prostatic CS should be considered as a treatment outcome after localized radiation therapy to the prostate due to the highly aggressive nature of metastatic CS.