HEPATOSPLENIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS-ASSOCIATED CHRONIC PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS: RISK FACTOR FOR HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA?

BACKGROUND: Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is an endemic disease prevalent in tropical countries and is associated with a high incidence of portal vein thrombosis. Inflammatory changes caused by both parasitic infection and portal thrombosis can lead to the development of chronic liver disease with potential carcinogenesis. AIMS: To assess the incidence of portal vein thrombosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with schistosomiasis during long-term follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving patients with schistosomiasis followed up at our institution between 1990 and 2021. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients with schistosomiasis were evaluated in the study. The mean follow-up time was 16 years (range 5-31). Of the total, 73 (57.9%) patients presented portal vein thrombosis during follow-up. Six (8.1%) of them were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, all with portal vein thrombosis diagnosed more than ten years before. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with schistosomiasis and chronic portal vein thrombosis highlights the importance of a systematic long-term follow-up in this group of patients.

Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis-associated chronic portal vein thrombosis: risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma? / Esquistossomose hepatosplênica associada à trombose crônica da veia porta: fator de risco para o carcinoma hepatocelular?

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is an endemic disease prevalent in tropical countries and is associated with a high incidence of portal vein thrombosis. Inflammatory changes caused by both parasitic infection and portal thrombosis can lead to the development of chronic liver disease with potential carcinogenesis. AIMS: To assess the incidence of portal vein thrombosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with schistosomiasis during long-term follow-up. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving patients with schistosomiasis followed up at our institution between 1990 and 2021. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients with schistosomiasis were evaluated in the study. The mean follow-up time was 16 years (range 5-31). Of the total, 73 (57.9%) patients presented portal vein thrombosis during follow-up. Six (8.1%) of them were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, all with portal vein thrombosis diagnosed more than ten years before. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with schistosomiasis and chronic portal vein thrombosis highlights the importance of a systematic long-term follow-up in this group of patients.

RESUMO RACIONAL: A esquistossomose hepatoesplênica é uma doença endêmica prevalente em países tropicais e está associada a uma alta incidência de trombose da veia porta. Alterações inflamatórias causadas tanto pela infecção parasitária quanto pela trombose portal podem levar ao desenvolvimento de doença hepática crônica com potencial carcinogênico. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a incidência de trombose da veia porta e carcinoma hepatocelular em pacientes com esquistossomose durante um seguimento de longo prazo. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo envolvendo pacientes com esquistossomose acompanhados em nossa instituição entre 1990 e 2021. RESULTADOS: Um total de 126 pacientes com esquistossomose foram avaliados no estudo. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 16 anos (variando de 5 a 31). Do total, 73 (57,9%) pacientes apresentaram trombose da veia porta durante o seguimento e seis (8,1%) deles foram diagnosticados com carcinoma hepatocelular, todos com trombose da veia porta diagnosticada há mais de 10 anos. CONCLUSÕES: A incidência de carcinoma hepatocelular em pacientes com esquistossomose e trombose da veia porta crônica destaca a importância de um acompanhamento sistemático de longo prazo nesse grupo de pacientes.

The role of the radiologist in the assessment of thoracic changes after radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy plays a central role in the palliative and curative treatment of neoplasms of the chest wall or intrathoracic structures. However, despite technical advances, radiotherapy can alter previously normal organs and tissues, those alterations presenting as various types of imaging findings. Post-radiation alterations must be promptly recognized by radiologists, in order to avoid confusion between complications of radiotherapy and the recurrence of a tumor. This pictorial essay aims to illustrate different thoracic changes after radiotherapy.

A radioterapia tem papel fundamental no tratamento curativo ou paliativo de neoplasias da parede torácica ou intratorácicas. No entanto, mesmo com o avanço das técnicas, órgãos e tecidos vizinhos podem ser acometidos e apresentar alterações que devem ser reconhecidas pelos radiologistas, de maneira a evitar confusão com recidiva das lesões inicialmente tratadas, ou mesmo com outras complicações do tratamento oncológico. O objetivo deste ensaio iconográfico é ilustrar as diferentes consequências torácicas da radioterapia.

Fighting the invisible enemy: providing support and structure to radiology resident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective of this article is to share the strategy we used in order to restructure the radiology and diagnostic imaging department of a referral institution during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, on the basis of the current recommendations. It is essential to integrate the work of supervisors, preceptors, and residents, maintaining communication and sharing decisions, with mutual support, as well as to determine the best strategy to be adopted in this scenario of uncertainty and constant change, while also ensuring adequate emotional support for all parties.

O objetivo deste artigo é compartilhar a estratégia de como estruturamos o departamento de radiologia e diagnóstico por imagem de uma instituição de referência na pandemia da COVID-19, baseados nas recomendações vigentes. É fundamental a integração entre supervisores, preceptores e residentes, sempre mantendo comunicação e compartilhamento das decisões, com apoio mútuo, decidindo a melhor estratégia a ser seguida neste cenário de incertezas e de mudanças contínuas, garantindo ainda suporte emocional adequado a todos.

Extensive renal sinus lipomatosis in xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis simulating liposarcoma

ABSTRACT Renal replacement lipomatosis is a condition characterized by varying degrees of renal parenchymal atrophy and perirenal fibrofatty proliferation secondary to chronic inflammation such as xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. In severe cases, imaging findings can be misdiagnosed as retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Extensive renal sinus lipomatosis in xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis simulating liposarcoma.

Renal replacement lipomatosis is a condition characterized by varying degrees of renal parenchymal atrophy and perirenal fibrofatty proliferation secondary to chronic inflammation such as xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. In severe cases, imaging findings can be misdiagnosed as retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Malignant catatonia responsive to low doses of lorazepam: case report / Catatonia maligna responsiva a baixas doses de lorazepam: relato de caso

Abstract CONTEXT: Catatonia can be divided into non-malignant or malignant. The latter is characterized by autonomic instability, exhibiting high fever, tachycardia and hypertension, and is regarded as a fulminant and rapidly progressive subtype. CASE REPORT: This article reports a case of malignant catatonia in a 43-year-old patient who had been presenting psychiatric disorders for the last three years. The patient was stable, maintaining mutism, immobility and autonomic abnormalities. Oral lorazepam (1 mg every eight hours) was introduced and, in a few hours, the patient became afebrile. Two days later, the patient was already responding to verbal commands. CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention with lorazepam reduced the evolution of this patient to a fatal complication. Therefore, this case report sought to show that early diagnosis and intervention reduced the occurrence of serious and irreversible clinical outcomes.

Resumo CONTEXTO: A catatonia pode ser dividida em não maligna ou maligna. A maligna se caracteriza pela instabilidade autonômica, exibindo febre elevada, taquicardia e hipertensão, além de ser considerada um subtipo fulminante e rapidamente progressivo. RELATO DE CASO: Este artigo relata um caso de catatonia maligna em paciente de 43 anos, com transtornos psiquiátricos há três anos. A paciente estava estável, mantendo o mutismo, a imobilidade e as anormalidades autonômicas. Foi introduzido lorazepam, via oral, 1 mg de oito em oito horas, e em algumas horas, a paciente ficou afebril. Em dois dias, já estava respondendo a comandos verbais. CONCLUSÕES: Intervenção precoce com lorazepam preveniu a evolução desta paciente para um desfecho fatal. Portanto, este relato de caso mostrou que o diagnóstico e a intervenção precoces reduziram a ocorrência de desfechos graves e irreversíveis.

Malignant catatonia responsive to low doses of lorazepam: case report.

CONTEXT: Catatonia can be divided into non-malignant or malignant. The latter is characterized by autonomic instability, exhibiting high fever, tachycardia and hypertension, and is regarded as a fulminant and rapidly progressive subtype. CASE REPORT: This article reports a case of malignant catatonia in a 43-year-old patient who had been presenting psychiatric disorders for the last three years. The patient was stable, maintaining mutism, immobility and autonomic abnormalities. Oral lorazepam (1 mg every eight hours) was introduced and, in a few hours, the patient became afebrile. Two days later, the patient was already responding to verbal commands. CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention with lorazepam reduced the evolution of this patient to a fatal complication. Therefore, this case report sought to show that early diagnosis and intervention reduced the occurrence of serious and irreversible clinical outcomes.