[False positive in pelvis in a PET-CT scan due to ovarian reimplantation: a case report]. / A propósito de un caso: falso positivo en pelvis en un estudio PET-TAC debido a una reimplantación ovárica.

We present the case of a 36-year-old premenopausal woman with a background of surgically-treated cervical neoplasm. She underwent a positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for evaluation of the new appearance of abnormal inguinal lymph nodes. The study showed two hypermetabolic nodules in the pelvic region suggestive of corresponding to an implant and to tumor involvement of the lymph node, respectively. After a clinical evaluation and a new PET-CT scan, it was considered that these uptake foci corresponded to physiological activity of the FDG secondary to ovarian activity in a patient with ovariopexy. This article shows the importance of having complete clinical information about the patients before evaluating the studies. We also present a review of the medical literature on the cervical neoplasm and metabolic behavior of the adnexa in relationship with the menstrual cycle of pre-menopausal women.

[PET/CT with (18F)FDG in the initial staging of a pelvic kidney neoplasm. A case report]. / PET-TAC con (18)F-FDG en la estadificación inicial de una neoplasia de pelvis renal. A propósito de un caso.

We report a case of 58-year-old woman referred to our service for an (18)FFDG PET/CT study of initial staging after being diagnosed of a pelvic kidney mass consistent with malignancy. The FDG-PET showed an abnormal mass in the right kidney, a suspicious metastasis versus a second primary tumor in the cortex of the kidney and lymph node infiltration in the paracaval nodes. The histological analysis verification after exeresis of the lesions confirmed the diagnosis of renal metastases. In this article, we present a brief review of the literature published on the role of PET in the characterization and initial staging of kidney and urinary tract tumors. We also stress the clinical importance of carefully evaluating any low attenuation lesion or focal glucose uptake detected in these structures in a PET/CT study with (18)FFDG.

Rare stress fracture: longitudinal fracture of the femur. / Rara fractura de estrés: fractura longitudinal del fémur.

42-year-old man with pain in the posterolateral region of the right knee that began while he was running. Initially, it was diagnosed by magnetic resonance (MR) as a possible aggressive process (osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma) but with computed tomography it was noted a cortical hypodense linear longitudinal image with a continuous, homogeneous and solid periosteal reaction without clear soft tissue mass that in this patient suggest a longitudinal distal femoral fatigue stress fracture. This type of fracture at this location is very rare. Stress fractures are entities that can be confused with an agressive process. MR iscurrently the most sensitive and specific imaging method for its diagnosis.

Radiolocalization of squamous lung carcinoma with 131I-labeled epidermal growth factor.

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) in squamous carcinomas has been demonstrated extensively. Preliminary clinical studies have shown that radiolabeled anti-EGFr monoclonal antibodies can localize to these tumors. The aims of this study were to determine the tolerance, pharmacokinetics, and radiolocalization properties of 131I-labeled EGF in patients (n = 9) with advanced squamous lung cancer. Patients' vital signs and symptoms were monitored regularly for 3 days. Daily scintigrams and biological samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were obtained for 3-4 days. 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin was administered to patients with positive tumor scans. Six patients had positive tumor scans, and five of them had received >/=1.0 mg EGF. In all of these cases, tumors were visualized the same day of the infusion, although best tumor-background contrast was obtained at 50-74 h. There were no false-positive images. Whole-body radioactivity retention rose significantly with increasing EGF doses; most labeled EGF was eliminated by urinary excretion. Tumor:normal tissue uptake ratios increased during the course of the study. All patients presented self-limited, dose-related gastrointestinal adverse effects. In conclusion, recombinant 131I-labeled EGF administered i.v. can localize to squamous lung cancer efficiently, can be administered safely to patients, and has more advantageous pharmacokinetic properties than monoclonal antibodies. Further studies are warranted to determine more accurately the potential of EGF and EGF-related peptides in the imaging and/or therapy of EGFr-overexpressing human cancers.

The clover and heart signs in vertebral scintigraphic images are highly specific of Paget's disease of bone.

BACKGROUND: Bone scintigraphy used as a diagnostic technique frequently yields non-specific intense uptake by vertebrae. Bone biopsy may therefore be required to establish a diagnosis in cases of Paget's disease of bone. The aim of the study was to ascertain the sensitivity and specificity of two new images-heart sign and clover sign-in Paget's disease of bone. METHODS: Two expert rheumatologists analyzed 294 bone scintigraphies of patients with vertebral involvement: 204 without and 90 with Paget's disease. The presence or absence of the clover or heart signs was determined in each scintigraphy. A specificity and sensitivity study was performed with the data obtained. A study of concordance was made between two radiologists blinded to the real diagnosis. Each one analyzed 120 scintigraphies for the presence and absence of the signs: 40 with Paget's disease and clover and/or heart signs (selected from the initial 90 cases), 40 with Paget's disease with neither sign and 40 selected from the pool of 4000 scintigraphies of patients with vertebral involvement, with images easily mistaken for these signs (vertebral collapse, osteoarthritis and bone metastases). Kappa statistics were calculated. FINDINGS: Sensitivity of both signs for Paget's disease of bone was low: 44% (95% CI 34.0 to 55.3). However, specificity was excellent: 100% (95% CI 98.2 to 100). Inter-radiologist concordance was almost perfect: Kappa 0.86 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.95). INTERPRETATION: The heart and clover signs are highly specific (probably pathognomonic) of Paget's disease of bone. In cases with doubtful radiologic images, these findings on scintigraphic vertebral images may afford a definitive diagnosis of Paget's disease of bone and thus obviate further confirmatory invasive diagnostic procedures.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome of the lower limbs in a renal transplant patient treated with tacrolimus.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a previously unrecognized posttransplant syndrome known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome of the lower limbs has emerged in patients receiving cyclosporine as immunosuppression. We describe herein this complication observed in a patient treated with tacrolimus after kidney transplantation. METHODS: A 49-year-old man received a kidney transplant from a cadaver donor and was treated with tacrolimus. Three months later, the patient complained of severe pain in the lower limbs that affected both knees and ankles. Bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance were consistent with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. RESULTS: Laboratory tests that included creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, calcium, phosphate, urate, alkaline phosphatase, and parathormone were normal or near normal. Tacrolimus levels were around 13 microg/ml. Clinical improvement appeared slowly and spontaneously during the following 3 months, without appreciable changes in the tacrolimus level. CONCLUSIONS: In kidney transplant patients, tacrolimus could be a risk factor for the development of a reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.

Captopril test and renal duplex scanning for the primary screening of renovascular disease.

To evaluate the utility of renal duplex scanning and the captopril test in the detection and functional assessment of renovascular disease, by comparing their results with those of angiography and captopril isotopic renography (CIR). Sixty hypertensive patients with aortoiliac disease and 16 with clinically suspected renovascular hypertension (RVH) were included. All the patients underwent renal duplex scanning prior to angiography. In addition, isotopic renograms and a determination of peripheral plasma renin activity (PRA) at baseline and 60 min after oral intake of 50 mg of captopril were both performed. A postcaptopril PRA > 5.7 ng/mL/h was considered as diagnostic of a positive captopril test. On the basis of the results of the angiography and isotopic renograms, all the patients were classified into three groups: group I (n = 33), essential hypertension (EHT); group II (n = 20), hypertension and angiographic RAS > 60% but negative CIR; and group III (n = 24), RAS > 60% and positive CIR. This last condition was considered as highly suspicious for RVH. Renal duplex scanning showed greater accuracy than captopril PRA or CIR for detecting RAS > 60% (groups II and III) with 87.3% versus 52.4% and 45.3% sensitivity (S), and 91.5% versus 84.4% and 92.8% specificity (Sp), respectively. The captopril test correctly identified 44 of 51 EHT patients (groups I and II) and 20 of 23 highly suspected of RVH (group III) with 87% S, 86.5% Sp, 74.1% PPV, and 93.6% NPV. Accuracy was further increased when a combined approach (renal duplex scanning and captopril test) was followed (82.6% S, 93.7% Sp, 86.4 PPV, and 91.8 NPV). In our study, renal duplex scanning was a useful screening method for detecting anatomical RAS. A combination of both renal duplex scanning and captopril test may be an appropriate approach to the primary screening for RVH, thereby permitting the selection of those patients indicated for angiography.

Minocycline hydrochloride hyperpigmentation complicating treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum.

Minocycline-associated hyperpigmentation is an uncommon side effect. We report the case of a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum successfully treated with oral minocycline but complicated by marked hyperpigmentation in his pyoderma gangrenosum and acne scars. One of the clinical forms of minocycline hyperpigmentation includes dark-blue or black macules in depressed acne scars or other sites of skin inflammation; this pattern seems to be independent of the total cumulative dose and the skin process.

Bilateral basal cell carcinoma of the breasts in a woman.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) on covered sites of the body are rare (1). A case of a young woman with superficial basal cell carcinoma of both breasts is described. No history of sun bathing, X-ray, or arsenical exposure was reported. Simple excision of both lesions was performed without recurrence.

Concurrent cytomegalovirus, M. tuberculosis and M. avium-intracellulare cutaneous infection in an HIV patient.

We report a 25-year-old HIV-positive man with a past medical history of disseminated cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, who developed cutaneous lesions during a disseminated mycobacterium infection. The histological changes of CMV and acid-fast bacilli were seen on histopathology of the lesions. Cultures were positive for M. tuberculosis and M. avium-intracellulare (MAI). CMV is frequently isolated from HIV patients, but skin involvement is rare. The association of CMV and mycobacteria can occur in cutaneous lesions of AIDS patients, but concurrent cutaneous involvement of CMV, M. tuberculosis, and MAI is unusual. These findings emphasize the polymorphous presentation of infectious disorders in AIDS patients and the need for multiple biopsies and for special stains in such patients.

Squamous papilloma of the esophagus diagnosed by cytology. Report of a case with concurrent occult epidermoid carcinoma.

Esophageal material for cytologic smears was obtained by the gel-foam technique from an 84-year-old man with dysphagia and symptoms of obstruction in whom initial attempts at endoscopic biopsy were nondiagnostic. The smears contained cells with koilocytotic atypia, similar to those described in smears from uterine cervix lesions produced by human papilloma virus. The cytologic diagnosis of an esophageal papilloma of viral origin was confirmed by the second biopsy. A third biopsy, from a lower level of the esophagus following dilatation procedures, revealed an epidermoid carcinoma in situ contiguous with the papilloma.

[Cogan's syndrome]. / Síndrome de Cogan. Presentación de un caso.

The association of non syphilitic interstitial keratitis with vestibulo-auditory symptoms was first described by Cogan in 1945. Owing to the rarity of this condition our opportunity of dealing with one of such cases is the reason for this paper, in which are contemplated besides the review of the published literature other points concerning the etiopathogenesis, the treatment and the follow-up of the disease.

[Diagnostic imaging studies: do they create anxiety?]. / Pruebas de diagnóstico por la imagen: ¿generan ansiedad?

UNLABELLED: Cancer is one of the main health problems in western countries. In 2008, it represented the first cause of death in men and the second one in women. When there is a diagnosis or suspicion of cancer, performing diagnostic imaging studies has an important role in the clinical activity and may have an elevated psychological impact. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of anxiety in oncology patients during the performance of a nuclear medicine study (PET-CT) in a Nuclear Medicine Service, by means of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 200 cancer patients who underwent a PET-CT study in a Nuclear Medicine Service were administered the STAI to evaluate the level of anxiety generated during this test. The STAI is a validated questionnaire developed as a research tool on anxiety in healthy adults. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients, two thirds (n=135) (67%) of the patients evaluated had anxiety. Of the 133, 93 (70%) of the patients who underwent PET-CT study for the first time were anxious whereas 42 (62.7%) of the patients who had undergone the study on previous occasions were anxious. Those patients with the greatest anxiety were those in whom the study was performed to initially stage the disease. CONCLUSION: Performing the PET-CT study as an initial staging method and/or to evaluate tumor recurrence is an important and statistically significant generator of anxiety. There is a high emotional and cognitive impact associated to the participation of the diagnostic tests.