Hyperechoic breast lesions: anatomopathological correlation and differential sonographic diagnosis.

Hyperechoic lesions are not a frequent finding at breasts ultrasonography, and most of times are associated with benign pathologies that do not require further evaluation. However, some neoplasms such as invasive breast carcinomas and metastases may present with hyperechogenicity. Thus, the knowledge about differential diagnoses and identification of signs of lesion aggressiveness are of great relevance to avoid unnecessary procedures or underdiagnosis, and to support the correct clinical/surgical approach. On the basis of such concepts, the present essay describes and illustrates the main features of hyperechoic lesions at breast ultrasonography in different cases, with anatomopathological correlation.

As lesões hiperecogênicas constituem um achado com baixa prevalência nos exames ultrassonográficos das mamas, em sua maior parte associado a doenças benignas que não necessitam de avaliação adicional. Porém, algumas neoplasias, como o carcinoma invasivo da mama e as metástases, podem apresentar-se desta forma. Assim, o conhecimento dos diagnósticos diferenciais e a identificação dos sinais de agressividade das lesões são de grande relevância, a fim de evitar procedimentos desnecessários ou o subdiagnóstico, e apoiar a conduta clínica/cirúrgica correta. Com base nestes conceitos, este artigo descreve e ilustra os principais aspectos das lesões hiperecogênicas presentes no exame ultrassonográfico das mamas, por meio de diferentes casos, e sua correlação anatomopatológica.

Hyperechoic breast lesions: anatomopathological correlation and differential sonographic diagnosis / Lesões hiperecogênicas na mama: correlação anatomopatológica e diagnósticos diferenciais à ultrassonografia

Abstract Hyperechoic lesions are not a frequent finding at breasts ultrasonography, and most of times are associated with benign pathologies that do not require further evaluation. However, some neoplasms such as invasive breast carcinomas and metastases may present with hyperechogenicity. Thus, the knowledge about differential diagnoses and identification of signs of lesion aggressiveness are of great relevance to avoid unnecessary procedures or underdiagnosis, and to support the correct clinical/surgical approach. On the basis of such concepts, the present essay describes and illustrates the main features of hyperechoic lesions at breast ultrasonography in different cases, with anatomopathological correlation.

Resumo As lesões hiperecogênicas constituem um achado com baixa prevalência nos exames ultrassonográficos das mamas, em sua maior parte associado a doenças benignas que não necessitam de avaliação adicional. Porém, algumas neoplasias, como o carcinoma invasivo da mama e as metástases, podem apresentar-se desta forma. Assim, o conhecimento dos diagnósticos diferenciais e a identificação dos sinais de agressividade das lesões são de grande relevância, a fim de evitar procedimentos desnecessários ou o subdiagnóstico, e apoiar a conduta clínica/cirúrgica correta. Com base nestes conceitos, este artigo descreve e ilustra os principais aspectos das lesões hiperecogênicas presentes no exame ultrassonográfico das mamas, por meio de diferentes casos, e sua correlação anatomopatológica.

Complexo de von Meyenburg: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Von Meyenburg complex: case report and literature review

Os hamartomas biliares, conhecidos como complexo de von Meyenburg, são lesões tipicamente benignas que podem mimetizar metástases aos exames de imagem. Neste estudo é relatado um caso de complexo de von Meyenburg e são discutidos o diagnóstico por imagem, a associação com doença policística do adulto, e o potencial maligno atualmente considerado e frequentemente ignorado deste achado, que torna necessário o acompanhamento.

Biliary hamartomas, also known as von Meyenburg complex, are typically benign lesions that may mimic metastases at imaging studies. The present study reports a case of von Meyenburg complex and discusses the imaging diagnosis, the association with adult polycystic disease and the malignant potential of this finding currently considered and frequently ignored, which raises the necessity of follow-up.

Interictal SPECT in the presurgical evaluation in epileptic patients with normal MRI or bilateral mesial temporal sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of interictal compared to ictal SPECT in the lateralization of the epileptogenic focus in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients that present with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Thirty patients with TLE, for whom MRI examinations were normal or who presented with bilateral MTS, were retrospectively studied. Using a confidence interval of 95% and a level of significance for p-value <0.05, an estimated agreement rate of 73% with a minimum agreement rate of 57% was calculated comparing interictal and ictal SPECTs. In conclusion the interictal SPECT is only useful when associated with the ictal SPECT and does not substitute it in the localization of epileptogenic areas in patients with normal MRI or bilateral MTS.

Interictal SPECT in the presurgical evaluation in epileptic patients with normal MRI or bilateral mesial temporal sclerosis / SPECT intercrítico na avaliação pré-cirúrgica de pacientes epiléticos com ressonância magnética normal ou esclerose mesial temporal bilateral

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of interictal compared to ictal SPECT in the lateralization of the epileptogenic focus in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients that present with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bilateral mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Thirty patients with TLE, for whom MRI examinations were normal or who presented with bilateral MTS, were retrospectively studied. Using a confidence interval of 95 percent and a level of significance for p-value <0.05, an estimated agreement rate of 73 percent with a minimum agreement rate of 57 percent was calculated comparing interictal and ictal SPECTs. In conclusion the interictal SPECT is only useful when associated with the ictal SPECT and does not substitute it in the localization of epileptogenic areas in patients with normal MRI or bilateral MTS.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a sensibilidade do SPECT interictal, em relação ao ictal, na lateralização do foco epileptogênico, de pacientes com epilepsia refratária de lobo temporal (ELT) que apresentam ressonância magnética (RM) normal ou esclerose mesial temporal (EMT) bilateral. Foram estudados retrospectivamente 30 pacientes com ELT, nos quais os exames de RM eram normais ou apresentavam EMT bilateral. Avaliada a sensibilidade do SPECT interictal em relação ao ictal, obtivemos taxa estimada de acerto de 73 por cento com taxa mínima de acerto de 57 por cento, adotando intervalo de confiança de 95 por cento e índice de significância p<0,05. Conclui-se que o SPECT interictal é necessário apenas quando associado ao SPECT ictal, e não substitui a realização do ictal na localização da AE em pacientes com RM normal ou EMT bilateral.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of chronic ischemic heart failure in angina-free patients.

We sought to determine clinical characteristics as well as outcome of angina-free patients with chronic ischemic heart failure. In comparison with ischemic chest pain patients, angina-free patients have higher heart rate and systolic blood pressure on admission, lower number of diseased coronary artery vessels at coronary arteriogram and higher survival probability. Thus, angina-free patients with ischemic heart failure have a distinctive clinical picture and a better outcome than ischemic chest pain patients with chronic heart failure.