Ovarian hyperthecosis on grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound findings in women with ovarian hyperthecosis. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we reviewed the findings on ultrasound examination of the ovaries in 10 patients with proven hyperthecosis. Clinical features had been recorded and testosterone levels measured in all cases. The ovaries had been examined using grayscale ultrasound in all patients and color Doppler in six patients. Bilateral stromal hyperthecosis had been pathologically confirmed in all patients. RESULTS: The clinical features were polymorphic, with symptoms of virilization in four patients. Type 2 diabetes was present in four patients. Testosterone levels were greater than 2 ng/mL in four patients. On grayscale ultrasound examination, the ovaries were normal in two patients but showed bilateral abnormalities in eight; both ovaries were increased in size in seven patients and had a round shape in two patients, the ovary being both increased in size and round in shape in one of these patients. A very peculiar nodular stromal pattern was observed in two out of 10 patients, while a homogeneous stromal pattern was observed in eight patients. On color Doppler, performed in six patients, no areas of hypervascularization were observed. CONCLUSION: Findings on grayscale ultrasonography and on color Doppler examination, in association with clinical and biological findings, are useful in the diagnosis of ovarian hyperthecosis and in ruling out the presence of an androgen-secreting tumor.

Thoracic splenosis. Case report and literature review.

Thoracic splenosis is the autotransplantation of splenic tissue into the thoracic cavity after thoracoabdominal trauma. We report a case of thoracic splenosis in a 35-year-old woman who had had a thoracoabdominal gunshot wound 12 years earlier. A review of the literature revealed 15 cases already reported. All patients had an asymptomatic thoracic lesion discovered on a plain chest film 9 to 32 years (mean 16) after the initial accident. In 13 cases an operation was necessary to establish the diagnosis. In two cases technetium 99m and indium 111 scans established the diagnosis.

Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in the preoperative staging of rectal cancer.

Nineteen patients with middle and lower rectal carcinomas were operated on, with abdominoperineal resection in 10 patients, lower anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis in 6 patients, and colorectal anastomosis in 3 patients. The distance of the lower margin of the tumor to insertion of the levator ani on the rectal wall was correctly evaluated by computed tomography in 12 (63%) of 19 patients and by magnetic resonance imaging in 13 (68%) of 19 patients, while digital examination correctly assessed the distance in 15 (79%) of 19 patients. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were unable to assess extension through the rectal wall. No significant difference was observed between computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in assessing extension to the perivesical fat, adjacent organs, pelvic side wall, or lymph nodes. According to the TNM classification, magnetic resonance imaging correctly staged 74% (14/19) of carcinomas, while computed tomography correctly staged 68% (13/19).

Magnetic resonance imaging of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

MRI findings in three cases of pseudomyxoma peritonei, in two cases associated with visceral invasion, are described. MR imaging using the same morphologic criteria as described in ultrasonography and CT suggested the diagnosis in all three cases. In T 1 weighted images (SE 400/28 ms) the hypointensity of signals of both implants and mucoid ascites was found to approach that of muscle tissue. In T 2 weighted images (SE 1600/40, 80, 120 ms), however, there was general hyperintensity of signals, which was more pronounced in mucoid ascites than in implants, and which approached signal intensities of water. Invasion of the viscera was very well depicted in all cases.

Fat suppression techniques in MR imaging of mature ovarian teratomas: comparison with CT.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the ability of MR fat suppression techniques to characterize fat components of ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCT) shown by CT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MR images of eight MCTs of the ovary were obtained using standard sequences followed by a SPIR (spectral presaturation with inversion recovery) sequence in six cases and by Dixon sequences in two cases. In all cases correlation with CT and pathologic findings was achieved. RESULTS: MR fat suppression sequences showed to be as accurate as CT in detecting fat inside the cystic part of the teratomas (8/8). CONCLUSION: MR fat suppression sequences should be performed when presence of fat is suspected on images of ovarian tumors produced by standard MR sequences.

Mature cystic teratomas of the ovary: CT and MR findings.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate CT and MR patterns of ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: CT and MR findings in 25 histologically proven ovarian MCT were retrospectively reviewed. MCT characterization at CT and MR was based on detection of fat and/or a Rokitansky protuberance. MR signal intensity and CT density numbers of fat were correlated. RESULTS: At pathology, 24/25 tumors contained fat, 1/25 a water content, and 23/25 a Rokitansky protuberance. Twenty one MCT contained fat with a density number less than-20 HU (mean density: -95 HU) and a signal intensity superior or equal to sub-cutaneous fat on T1 images, however, only six of these had a signal intensity equal to sub-cutaneous fat on T1 and T2 images and 12 had a reversed chemical shift artifact. Three contained fat with a density number ranging from -13 to +8 HU and a signal intensity inferior to subcutaneous fat on T1 images. CT showed a Rokitansky protuberance in 21/23, containing adipose tissue in 16 and calcified structures in 21. Standard MR showed a Rokitansky protuberance in 14/23 and characterized adipose tissue in eight cases, and calcified material in six cases. Finally, CT characterized 24/25 (96%) MCT. Standard MR characterized 22/25 (88%) MCT, and standard MR with fat-suppression sequences characterized 23/25 (92%) MCT. CONCLUSION: Standard MR is less effective than CT in characterizing fat and has the same difficulty as CT in characterizing fat mixed with hair when its density is high. When fat cannot be identified by either technique, diagnosis of a Rokitansky protuberance is more easily made at CT than at MR.

Emergency arteriography in the assessment of penetrating trauma to the lower limbs.

One hundred emergency arteriographies (EA) were performed in 87 patients with lower limb trauma due to high-velocity missiles. Thirteen patients had bilateral injuries. In 79 cases, EA findings were positive and led to emergency surgery. In 76 cases an arterial injury was found and treated, a positive predictive value of 96% (76/79). In the other 3 cases, no arterial lesion was found (3 false positives). Among the 21 patients with normal findings from angiography, 10 had surgical exploration because of high clinical suspicion of vascular injury. Arterial injury was found in 2 cases (2 false negatives). In 8 patients, arteriography modified the surgical procedure. In the 11 remaining patients, clinical and echo Doppler follow-up results were normal, a negative predictive value of 90% (19/21). Sensitivity was 97%, specificity 86%, and accuracy 95%. These data show that arteriography in stable patients is a safe and accurate procedure. It permits avoidance of unnecessary surgical exploration in selected patients and helps modify the surgical procedure.

[Cardiac wounds. Experience from 10 years of war. Apropos of 32 cases treated surgically]. / Plaie cardiaque. Une expérience de dix ans de guerre. A propos de trente-deux cas opérés.

Thirty-two patients with cardiac wounds from high velocity firearms (bullets or shrapnel) were operated. Seven of these patients who had no cardiac activity on arrival underwent emergency thoracotomy with a mortality of 85%. The other twenty-five patients underwent planned sternotomy with a mortality of 12%. The authors analyse these case with emphasis on the diagnostic and therapeutic management.

[Tumor calcinosis. Review of the literature: apropos of a case]. / Calcinose tumorale. Revue de la littérature: à propos d'un cas.

Tumoral calcinosis is an uncommon disease of unknown etiology characterized by the presence of single or multiple lobulated, para-articular, cystic soft tissue productions. Hyperphosphatemia is the only biological abnormality which can be detected. The honeycomb roentgenographic pattern is characteristic. CT scan and ultrasound are useful in showing the extra-articular location of the mass. The treatment is surgical and the prognosis is good.

Agenesis of the left internal carotid artery associated with coarctation of the aorta: report on an unusual case.

An unusual association of agenesis of the left internal carotid artery and coarctation of the aorta is reported. There was also an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta distal to the coarctation. The subclavian artery was obstructed and revascularization occurred through the vertebral artery via anastomoses with the occipital artery. An embryological hypothesis for this association is proposed.

Swyer-James syndrome documented by spiral CT angiography and high resolution inspiratory and expiratory CT: an accurate single modality exploration.

Spiral CT angiography was performed in a patient suspected of having pulmonary embolism. The right pulmonary system was normal. The left arterial system was small but patent. The left upper lobe was small and hyperlucent. The left lower lobe was collapsed and contained bronchiectasis. The bronchi were patent. High resolution CT in inspiration and expiration confirmed air trapping in the left upper lobe. A diagnosis of Swyer-James syndrome of the left upper lobe was made.

MR staging of bladder carcinoma: correlation with pathologic findings.

Forty patients with bladder carcinoma were examined preoperatively by means of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In all patients, total cystectomy with enterocystoplasty and pelvic node dissection was performed. The surgical and pathologic findings were correlated with the MR findings. Extension through the deep muscle of the bladder wall was present in 20 of the 40 patients and was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 95%. Extension to perivesical fat was present in 18 of 40 patients and was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 66% and a specificity of 100%. Invasion of the adjacent organs was present in nine of 40 patients and was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 44% and a specificity of 96%. On the basis of the MR findings, the tumor was correctly staged, according to the TNM classification, in 24 of 40 (60%) patients, tumor extension was overestimated in three of 40 (7.5%) patients, and tumor extension was underestimated in 13 of 40 (32.5%) patients. MR imaging has been shown to be accurate in identification of macroscopic lymph node involvement and deep muscle involvement. It appears to be at least as useful as computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of perivesical fat involvement and to be superior to CT in the detection of invasion of adjacent organs. One limitation of MR imaging is in the evaluation of tumor extension into the periurethral glands.

Computed tomography of retained abdominal sponges and towels.

The diagnosis of retained sponges and towels a year or more after surgery is often very difficult. We describe the computed tomographic (CT) findings in 4 patients with this complication; 2 cases of retained sponges and 2 cases of retained towels. While the CT appearance of the retained sponges was not specific, the particular appearance of the retained towels had not been previously described. This appearance is characteristic enough to suggest the correct diagnosis before reoperation.

MR and CT findings in a case of hibernoma of the thigh extending into the pelvis.

Review of the literature shows no report of hibernoma of the thigh extending into the pelvis. Herein we report a case of hibernoma which appeared on CT and MR as a well-defined pelvic mass with contrast enhancement extending through the obturator foramen into the thigh. Fat was demonstrated by CT, whereas MR, using multiplanar sections, better analyzes the extension of the mass. This case demonstrates that hibernoma as liposarcoma can extend through the obturator foramen. However, no definite diagnosis could be made by CT or MR and the tumor must be considered as a "potential" malignant liposarcoma.

Hyperreactio luteinalis in a normal pregnancy: sonographic and MRI findings.

A case of hyperreactio luteinalis in an otherwise normal pregnancy is reported. Ascites was present, but no peritoneal implants or adenopathy were seen. Findings that would have suggested the correct diagnosis are the symmetrical and bilateral pattern of the mass, as well as the rather uniform size of the loculi, which were 1 to 3 cm in diameter.

Computed tomography of mediastinal lymph nodes in nonsmall cell lung cancer. A new approach based on the lymphatic pathway of tumor spread.

Computed tomography was used to evaluate mediastinal lymph nodes in 97 patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer. All patients had thorough surgical-pathological determination of mediastinal node status. Twenty-three patients were found to have metastatic lymph nodes. The usual lymphatic pathways of tumor spread into the mediastinum were defined using the node mapping scheme suggested by the American Thoracic Society. We considered mediastinal nodes abnormal when the short axis of the largest mediastinal node in the lymphatic drainage territory of the cancer was greater than or equal to 10 mm and the difference between this node and the largest node in the other territories is greater than 5 mm. The sensitivity was 78%, the specificity 99%, the positive predictive value 95%, the negative predictive value 94%, and the accuracy 94%. Comparing our method to those that used the size criterion alone, the number of false positives was reduced.

Peritoneal implants from ovarian tumors: CT findings.

Metastatic peritoneal implants were assessed preoperatively with computed tomography (CT) in 38 patients with ovarian tumors. In the 106 biopsy specimens of gross peritoneal implants and the 118 random biopsy specimens obtained from these patients, metastatic deposits were detected in 27 of 38 (71%) patients and in 104 biopsy sites. CT depicted metastatic lesions in 17 of 27 (63%) patients and in 63 of 104 (61%) biopsy sites. The three sites most commonly involved were the right subphrenic region, the greater omentum, and the pouch of Douglas. The usefulness of CT in detecting lesions depended mainly on the location of the implant and the presence of adjacent ascites, rather than on lesion size.

Fibrothecomas of the ovary: CT and US findings.

OBJECTIVE: Fibrothecomas of the ovary are mesenchymal tumors representing 4-5% of all ovarian neoplasms. The purpose of this study is to describe a large series of CT findings in this type of tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the CT examinations in 25 unilateral cases confirmed by surgery and pathology. Unenhanced and enhanced CT scans were performed in all cases and dynamic CT scans were performed in nine cases. These findings were compared to ultrasound in all cases. RESULTS: Computed tomography detected all but two small ovarian tumors (< 2 cm). Eighteen of 23 fibrothecomas were solid, with significant (> 10 HU) enhancement between precontrast and delayed CT scans. In all eight uncomplicated cases, nonincremental dynamic CT scan did not visualize arterial vessels; in seven of nine cases examined dynamically, early uptake of contrast material was visualized. Three of 23 fibrothecomas were partly cystic, partly solid. Two cases with torsion were mainly cystic with thickening and hemorrhage of the tube. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 79% of ovarian fibrothecomas appeared as solid masses with delayed accumulation of contrast medium. On dynamic CT, the absence of arterial vessels and absence or slight early uptake of contrast enhancement could be useful findings for preoperative diagnosis. When partly or mainly cystic (21% of cases), ovarian fibrothecomas could not be easily differentiated from other ovarian masses.