Colitis associated with persistent drug-induced immune dysregulation.

Adverse drug reactions frequently involve the gastrointestinal tract. We present two cases of colitis that occurred months to years after chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for the treatment of lymphoma. Laboratory tests revealed altered immune status with decreased CD4/CD8 ratio and hypogammaglobinemia (in one patient). The patients had no history of inflammatory bowel disease or immunodeficiency. Biopsies showed chronic active colitis with crypt architectural distortion, erosions, and ulcers as well as pyloric gland metaplasia and loss of plasma cells (in one patient, respectively). Colitis appeared to be related to lymphoma therapy, but could not be attributed to a distinct drug or infectious agent, suggesting the concept of persistent immune dysregulation driving mucosal inflammation. Hence, we suggest "immune dysregulation-associated colitis" (ID-colitis) as an umbrella term for cases of chronic colitis, in which immune dysfunction is evident from blood samples or clinical information and inflammatory bowel disease has been ruled out.

Fractures and dislocations of the foot in children.

The challenge of managing pediatric foot injuries is the identification of the rare injuries that require operative treatment and the management of complications such as compartment syndrome, post-traumatic foot deformities, and avascular necrosis. With these complications in mind, the authors discuss fractures of the talus, calcaneus, lesser tarsal bones, Lisfranc's joint, metarsals, and phalanges. Dislocation of metatarsophalangeal or interphalangeal joints is also discussed.

Sonoanatomy of the Achilles tendon insertion in children.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe typical age-related sonographic features of the Achilles tendon and calcaneal apophysis in children, providing a reference for the assessment of heel pathologies during the growth period. METHODS: The calcaneal apophysis and Achilles tendon insertion of 100 children 2 months to 18 years old were examined by high-frequency gray-scale and color Doppler sonography along both the longitudinal and transverse planes. The thicknesses of the apophyseal cartilage at the calcaneal tuberosity and of the Achilles tendon were measured. Also, the sonographic appearance of the bone-cartilage interface was studied. RESULTS: In children 2 months to 3 years old, the cartilage of the calcaneal tuberosity apophysis was anechoic, with small scattered echoes. In 19 of these 25 children (76%), the echogenic areas contained at least 1 small vessel, visualized on color Doppler sonography. In 15 of 25 children (60%) 4-6 years old, a wavy interface was noted at the junction of the calcaneus and the apophyseal cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency sonography can yield reliable information about the bone-cartilage interface and the Achilles tendon insertion site at the calcaneal tuberosity in children. The sonographic features of the normal heel described here may contribute to improved assessment of pathologies in this anatomic region.