Passage of "colonic cast" after colorectal surgery: report of four cases and review of the literature.

Anal passage of a full-thickness infarcted colonic segment (so-called "cast") not accompanied by any features of acute peritonitis is a very rare occurrence and may be the main advertising manifestation of acute colonic ischemia. Most of the reported cases of acute colonic ischemia are secondary to abdominal aortic aneurysms and ensuing inferior mesenteric artery thrombosis or to the repair of these aneurysms. The preceding events causing ischemia in other cases are Hartmann reversal, rectal resection and colonic J-pouch construction, and acute pancreatitis. In this article we present our experience on four cases of colonic cast passage, all of which developed subsequent to colorectal resection. Three of these casts are supposed to be mucosal and one is transmural. Generally, surgery is the rule and consists of the resection of the concerned ischemic segment. Every clinician should be aware of this form of presentation of bowel ischemia, not only following aneurysm surgery but also in the postoperative course of colorectal surgery.

Comparison of virtual colonoscopy with conventional colonoscopy in detection of colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of multidetector computed tomography-based virtual colonoscopy for colorectal polyp detection by using conventional colonoscopy as the reference standard. METHODS: 48 patients with high risk for colorectal cancer underwent virtual colonoscopy followed by conventional colonoscopy. Examination results were compared with conventional colonoscopy, which served as the gold standard. RESULTS: Virtual colonoscopy correctly depicted 19 of 22 polyps (sensitivity, 86%) that were detected in conventional colonoscopy. All 4 polyps that were greater than 10 mm in size (100%), 6 of 7 polyps 6-9 mm in size (85%), and 9 of 11 polyps 5 mm in size or smaller (81%) were correctly depicted with virtual colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy had an overall sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 98%. CONCLUSION: Multidetector computed tomography-based virtual colonoscopy has excellent sensitivity for the detection of clinically important colorectal polyps.

Radiological evaluation of internal abdominal hernias.

An internal abdominal herniation is the protrusion of a viscus through a normal or abnormal mesenteric or peritoneal aperture. Internal abdominal herniations can either be acquired through a trauma or surgical procedure, or constitutional and related to congenital peritoneal defects. Paraduodenal hernias are the most common type of internal abdominal hernias, accounting for over one-half of reported cases, and thus are a significant clinical entity. Other internal hernias include pericecal, transmesenteric, transomental, intersigmoid, supravesical hernias and herniation through the foramen of Winslow. Because internal abdominal herniations are rare, their diagnosis remains a challenge for both the clinician and the radiologist. Symptoms of internal abdominal herniations are nonspecific. We present our experience with the radiological evaluation of internal abdominal herniations and review the main radiologic findings on barium as well as computed tomography studies.

Gamna-Gandy bodies: a sign of portal hypertension.

Gamna-Gandy bodies (siderotic nodules) represent organized foci of hemorrhage in the spleen that is caused by portal hypertension. Gamna-Gandy bodies contain hemosiderin, fibrous tissue, and calcium. Magnetic resonance imaging has been approved as the most sensitive imaging modality for the detection of these nodules due to their iron content. Computerized tomography and ultrasonography also help in the detection and characterization of these lesions. We report here a case of portal hypertension due to cryptogenic liver cirrhosis with Gamna-Gandy bodies, and characteristic features of ultrasonography, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance.

Enteroliths developed in a chronically obstructed afferent loop coexisting with gastric remnant carcinoma: Case report and review of the literature.

A case of gastric remnant carcinoma coexisting with a chronic afferent loop syndrome harboring multiple enteroliths in a grossly dilated and elongated afferent loop is presented herein. The patient had undergone a Polya type antecolic Billroth II reconstruction for a stenosing duodenal ulcer 40 years previously. A concise review of the relevant literature is also presented.

Effect of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver on hepatic artery resistance index.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various degrees of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver on the hepatic artery resistance index. METHODS: One-hundred forty subjects were examined using standard color and spectral Doppler sonography protocols. Fatty infiltration of the liver was identified and graded sonographically. The patients were grouped (n = 35 in each of 4 groups) according to the degree of diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver as follows: normal (group 1), mild (group 2), moderate (group 3), and severe (group 4). The resistance index calculated for each patient was the mean of 3 measurements. Mean resistance index of the hepatic artery was then calculated for each group. RESULTS: The mean resistance index was 0.81 +/- 0.04 for group 1, 0.79 +/- 0.06 for group 2, 0.75 +/- 0.05 for group 3, and 0.73 +/- 0.05 for group 4. We found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in resistance index when comparing groups 3 and 4 with groups 1 and 2 separately. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic artery resistance index decreases as the severity of diffuse fatty infiltration increases.

Primary cardiac hydatid disease: cross-sectional imaging features.

BACKGROUND: Although hydatid disease is common, individual series are usually not large as far as primary cardiac hydatid disease is concerned. We believe this study is the largest series of primary cardiac hydatid disease for which cross-sectional imaging is available. Methods. We reviewed the radiologic and medical records of 9 pathologically proven cases of primary cardiac hydatid disease. Echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used. In 5 patients, all three modalities were used, and in 4 only CT was available. RESULTS: Three types of cardiac involvement (pericardial, left ventricular, and right atrial wall) were detected. The cysts showed daughter cyst formation, detached parasitic membrane, rupture, segmental calcification, and end-stage calcification. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography is useful in detecting the cystic nature. Computed tomography best shows the wall calcification. Magnetic resonance imaging depicts the exact anatomic location and nature of the internal and external structures and is the modality of posttreatment follow-up.

Abdominal leiomyosarcomas: radiologic appearances at various locations.

Leiomyosarcomas are soft tissue tumors that account for approximately 15% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Leiomyosarcomas may be located at almost any part of the abdomen but especially are more common in the retroperitoneum, followed by gastrointestinal tract and genital system. They develop mainly in adult life and are very rare in children. In this article, imaging findings of leiomyosarcomas in various abdominal locations are presented. Radiologic studies are capable of providing useful information on the localization, size, changes in the internal structure of the tumor, its extension and invasion. Leiomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis in case of detection of a large, circumscribed, and heterogenous abdominal mass. Histopathologically, diagnosis of malignancy depends particularly on mitotic counts, size, rate of necrosis, and infiltrating margins.

Testicular size and vascular resistance before and after hydrocelectomy.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether there is an association between hydroceles and testicular size and vascular resistance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with a mean age of 42.8 years who had a unilateral idiopathic hydrocele and who underwent unilateral hydrocelectomy were included in the study. Testicular size and resistive (RI) and pulsatility (PI) indexes of the intratesticular arteries on the involved and uninvolved sides were measured before and after the hydrocelectomy. RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences in the testicular volumes between the normal side (mean +/- SD, 15.40 +/-3.41 mL) and the side with the hydrocele (20.67 +/- 4.01 mL) before surgery (p < 0.001) and in the volumes in the side with the hydrocele before (20.67 +/- 4.01 mL) and after (16.20 +/- 2.99 mL) surgery (p < 0.001). No such a difference in volume was seen in the normal side before (15.40 +/- 3.41 mL) and after (15.28 +/- 3.24 mL) surgery (p = 0.200). The mean decrease in volume in the testis with the hydrocele after hydrocelectomy was 21%. There were statistically significant differences of RI and PI values between the normal testis (0.59 +/- 0.07 and 1.02 +/- 0.34, respectively) and the testis with hydrocele (0.79 +/- 0.11 and 1.70 +/- 0.56, respectively) before surgery (p < 0.001). In the testis with the hydrocele, we found a statistically significant decrease in RI and PI values (0.62 +/- 0.05 and 1.00 +/- 0.14, respectively) of intratesticular arteries after surgery (p < 0.001). The mean decreases in RI and PI values after hydrocelectomy were 21% and 36%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is an association between the development of an idiopathic hydrocele and testicular size and vascular resistance. We believe that the increase in volume and vascular resistance is due to an increase in impedance to venous and lymphatic flow.

The effect of an acute decrease in serum estrogen concentration on vessel walls: determination with color and pulsed Doppler ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an acute decrease in serum estrogen concentration on endothelial function in women with surgically induced menopause through the use of color Doppler ultrasonography. There were 40 women scheduled to undergo total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy who participated in the study; 15 women not undergoing surgery also participated as a control group. Color Doppler ultrasonographic examinations of each surgical patient were obtained 3 days prior to and 7 days after surgery. Baseline measurements of the brachial arteries, including peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, true mean velocity, arterial diameter, and volume flow, were obtained for each patient. After baseline measurements were established, hyperemia was induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff on each patient's upper arm to suprasystolic pressures for 5 min. To evaluate endothelium-dependent vasodilation, the ultrasonographic appearance of the brachial artery was evaluated after the cuff was deflated and removed from the arm. Measurements of peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, true mean velocity, arterial diameter, and volume flow were obtained, and were repeated at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 min subsequent to removal of the blood pressure cuff. The differences between baseline and maximum values of each Doppler parameter after the cuff deflation were calculated. No significant differences were identified in terms of laboratory findings or systolic and diastolic pressures in pre- and postoperative status of surgical patients, or between surgical patients and the control group. A significant difference in serum estradiol levels during pre- and postoperative periods ( P<0.001) was detected. No significant difference in serum estradiol levels was detected among preoperative surgical patients and members of the control group ( P=0.72). All net changes detected within each group during reactive hyperemia were statistically significant. No significant difference in values was detected among pre-, postoperative, and control subjects. Our study reveals that acute decrease in serum estrogen level does not appear to affect endothelial function; thus, we assume that this is mainly due to the result of postoperative surgical stress.