Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Filiatrault

Publications and source records attributed to D Filiatrault.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Testicular torsion in infants and children: diagnosis with Doppler sonography.

The accuracy of Doppler sonography in the evaluation of testicular torsion was tested in 65 boys (aged 0-18 years) with acute scrotal pain or swelling. All patients underwent pulsed Doppler sonography of both testes, followed by scintigraphy (n = 16) and/or surgery (n = 34) and a close clinical follow-up for 4-8 months (n = 31). Color Doppler sonography was performed in 29 patients. The testicular artery was deemed patent if Doppler shifts from branches within the parenchyma could be found. Surgery revealed 19 cases of testicular torsion, 17 of which were diagnosed with Doppler sonography. There were six technical failures, in which no signals could be found on either side. In four boys, no color signals were obtained in either testis but subsequent examination with a mechanical sector scanner and pulsed Doppler sonography yielded arterial signals. Doppler sonography was successful in 59 of 65 boys (91%) and yielded a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 100%. Pulsed Doppler sonography with mechanical sector scanners was more sensitive than color Doppler sonography. Intermittent torsion was missed both with Doppler sonography and scintigraphy.

Adolescent↗

Renal vein thrombosis in children: evidence of early flow recovery with Doppler US.

PURPOSE: To characterize renal arterial and venous Doppler signals in pediatric renal vein thrombosis (RVT) and to study changes in the circulation in the months following the acute event. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with proved acute RVT (eight infants and two boys with renal allografts) were studied with serial Doppler ultrasonography (US) of the inferior vena cava and the main renal and intrarenal veins and arteries. RESULTS: The resistance index in the affected vessel was increased by 10% compared with that of the normal side in patients with unilateral RVT. Only the allografts had reversed diastolic flow. Venous flow, which was detected around the thrombus and in intrarenal veins in all native kidneys, was absent during the 1st week in the transplanted kidneys but reappeared thereafter in one. Perirenal collateral vessels were demonstrated with color Doppler US in one baby. Seven of eight native kidneys atrophied, and the allografts failed. CONCLUSION: Classic Doppler signs of RVT--absent venous flow and reversed diastolic arterial flow within the kidney--were present in only the acute phase in transplanted kidneys. These signs are unreliable in RVT of native kidneys.

Child↗

Duplex Doppler sonographic examinations of the testis in prepubertal boys.

This retrospective study of 143 pediatric patients with unilateral acute scrotal disease was done to assess the value of duplex Doppler sonographic examination prior to puberty (110 patients) in comparison to a pubertal group (33 patients) in a pediatric hospital, where the examinations are done by staff radiologists and radiology residents of varying degrees of expertise and experience with Doppler technique. All patients seen during an 18 month period were included. The unaffected side was examined in most patients and served as control. The normal Doppler shift in the center of the prepubertal testis was found to be 0.2 to 0.5 kHz, when using a 5 MHz duplex Doppler probe. With puberty, the Doppler shift increased to 0.5 to 1 kHz. Of 18 patients (10 prepubertal) with testicular torsion, five (three prepubertal) had false-positive Doppler shift. In four of these five cases, faulty placement of the Doppler sample volume cursor was probably the cause. Using a multi-way frequency analysis, puberty was found to have no significant influence on results of Doppler signal (chi square = 0.1346; P = 0.7137). Duplex Doppler sonographic examination is as useful to rule out testicular torsion in prepubertal boys as it is after puberty. Meticulous technique is essential. The opposite side should be examined first and serves as control for the affected one. Results showing no flow in the center of the diseased testis with positive flow in the unaffected one should lead to further clinical action (scintigraphy or surgery).

Adolescent↗

Cholelithiasis in newborns and infants.

Cholelithiasis in infants is rare, and has usually been associated with hemolysis, ileal disease, congenital anomalies of the biliary tree, hyperalimentation, and prolonged fasting. With the increased use of abdominal ultrasonography (US), more cases of cholelithiasis are being discovered. We report our experience with 13 infants diagnosed on abdominal US to have gallstones. There were 9 boys and 4 girls with an average age at diagnosis of 2.6 months (range, 0 to 9 months). Predisposing factors could be identified in only 6 of the 13 patients. Two patients with obstructive jaundice underwent cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration. One patient with choledocolithiasis and common bile duct dilatation was observed. His stone passed spontaneously, with resolution of symptoms. Ten patients without cholestasis remained asymptomatic, with disappearance of lithiasis in five of them. Neonatal cholelithiasis is more common than previously suspected; it seems to affect males more often than females and is usually not associated with known predisposing factors. It appears to be a temporary, self-limiting phenomenon, and an aggressive approach is not warranted in the asymptomatic infant. Surgical or radiological intervention should be reserved for the symptomatic patients or those with underlying lithogenic disorders.

Cholecystectomy↗

Stenosis of the renal artery: assessment of slowed systole in the downstream circulation with Doppler sonography.

Slowing and dampening of systole in the arterial network distal to stenosis is a well-known Doppler sign of severe arterial stenosis. To determine whether this sign is present in boys and girls with such stenosis, intrarenal Doppler curves (acceleration index [AI] and resistive index [RI]) were compared with findings on renal arteriograms in 20 boys and girls; the AI was also measured in 10 boys and girls without renal disease. Statistical analysis of AI and RI measurements was performed. Eleven of 32 renal arteries were normal. The normal AI was 4.0-7.0; in arteries with greater than 75% stenosis, the AI was 0.7-1.7. In five arteries studied after angioplasty, the AI had changed from 0.7-1.5 to 4.0-5.6 at the first posttreatment examination (performed 28 hours to 1 week after angioplasty), and it remained normal during the 3-year follow-up period. In kidneys with stenotic arteries, the RIs were lower (0.43-0.54) than in healthy subjects (0.56-0.63). Regression and correlation coefficients of AI and RI measurements were statistically significant, and discrimination between normal arteries and those with greater than 75% stenosis was excellent.

Child↗

Intussusception in children: reliability of US in diagnosis--a prospective study.

To assess the diagnostic value of ultrasound (US) in clinically suspected acute intestinal intussusception in children, the authors prospectively compared US and enema studies in 83 episodes. None of the cases negative at US proved to be intussusception at enema study (negative predictive value = 100%). The sensitivity of US was 100%, and the specificity was 88%. Most of the sonograms were initially obtained and examined by residents. Several unsuspected abnormalities were also found with US. The authors conclude that a few months of training in US appears to be sufficient for high-accuracy investigation of clinically suspected intussusception, enabling selection of those patients in need of an enema.

Barium Sulfate↗

[Cysts of the choledochus in children: experience of the Sainte-Justine hospital].

Choledochal cyst remains a rare pathology in western countries. Over the past 15 years, 18 children were diagnosed with choledochal cyst at Hospital Sainte-Justine. There were 14 girls and 4 boys with an average age of 7.4 years ranging from newborn to 15 years. Abdominal pain, jaundice and abdominal mass were present in 70%, 54% and 7% respectively. Only one patient, a 15 years old girl had all three symptoms. Abdominal ultrasonography was diagnostic in all cases and in two cases, a cystic dilatation was found in the antenatal ultrasonography. Transvesicular cholangiography was performed successfully in 11 patients and showed a detailed anatomy of the biliary tract preoperatively. Sixty-seven percent of the cysts were type I while 33% were type IV. A common channel was found in 43% of the cases. Sixteen patients underwent cyst excision followed by Roux en Y hepatico-jejunostomy, one patient with associated biliary atresia had a porto-enterostomy and one patient had a cysto-duodenostomy. The last patient had recurrent episodes of cholangitis and required reoperation while the others are doing well and free of infection. With the liberal use of ultrasonography, the diagnosis of choledochal cyst is being done earlier improving the long term prognosis. Transvesicular cholangiography is a very useful addition in the preoperative investigation of these patients. Roux en Y hepatico-jejunostomy was associated with minimal morbidity and mortality and gave excellent result.

Adolescent↗

Antenatal diagnosis of ovarian cysts: natural history and therapeutic implications.

A retrospective study from 1980 to 1990 shows 29 ovarian cysts in 27 patients diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound performed between 28 and 38 weeks of gestation. Ten patients underwent surgery, 17 patients were observed with serial ultrasound. Delayed good quality sonograms after spontaneous resolution of the cyst in a selected group of 7 patients showed restoration of a normal ovarian anatomy. The size of the cyst and/or its sonographic characteristics are the 2 main factors for deciding a conservative or a surgical management.

Female↗

Surgical indications in antenatally diagnosed ovarian cysts.

The antenatal diagnosis of ovarian cysts poses a therapeutic dilemma because the natural history of these lesions is not well known. A retrospective review from 1980 to 1989 showed 29 ovarian cysts in 27 patients diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography performed between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. Nineteen cysts were initially observed. Eleven cysts resolved (diameter less than 2 cm), three are decreasing, three were lost to follow-up, and two underwent resection. Eight patients underwent surgical exploration immediately following birth. The diagnosis of benign ovarian cyst was confirmed histologically in all cases. A review of the literature showed an additional 230 cases of antenatally diagnosed ovarian cysts. Simple cysts of the ovary tend to resolve spontaneously and, therefore, may be treated conservatively. Serial ultrasonography allows accurate diagnosis and long-term assessment of ovarian cysts in the neonate and may prevent unnecessary oophorectomy. Patients with cysts larger than 4 cm may be candidates for percutaneous aspiration, or should undergo removal of the cyst because of a significant risk of torsion. Complex cystic masses, symptomatic ovarian cysts, and cysts that do not resolve should be removed.

Female↗

Congenital adenomatoid malformation of the lung: current management and prognosis.

A retrospective 10-year review of congenital adenomatoid malformation (CAM) included 10 cases diagnosed in utero by ultrasound and 13 cases that presented postnatally. Two prenatally diagnosed cases were aborted because of associated lethal anomalies. All remaining patients underwent resection. Up to one third of all cases, whether diagnosed prenatally or postnatally, were asymptomatic. Resection is recommended to avoid respiratory distress, infection, or associated malignancy. There were 5 nonsurvivors, including 2 therapeutic abortions and 3 who died postoperatively. All had either polyhydramnios or ascites. All patients who died postoperatively had a respiratory arrest at birth and underwent immediate lobectomy. All died on the first day of life after a brief period and were found to have associated pulmonary hypoplasia. One had undergone a prenatal transthoracic cyst aspiration at 34 weeks gestation in an attempt to allow lung growth and prevent premature labor. Prenatal ultrasound findings suggestive of poor prognosis included polyhydramnios, ascites, mediastinal shift, and noncystic type III CAM. However, there is a spectrum of severity of CAM. The lesion can either regress and be asymptomatic at birth, or it can progress to cause either fetal death from hydrops or neonatal death caused by associated pulmonary hypoplasia. These findings should be considered in prenatal counseling for CAM.

Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenita↗

Normal portal venous diameter in children.

A study was conducted on 156 children, in whom the portal veins were measured using standard real time ultrasonography. Knowledge of the normal dimension may be important in patients with liver disease.

Adolescent↗

Acute appendicitis in children: evaluation with US.

During a 4-month period, high-resolution ultrasonography (US) was used to prospectively evaluate 70 children with clinically suspected acute appendicitis. Thirty-five US scans showed a noncompressible appendix with maximal outer diameters greater than 6 mm. This finding was considered positive for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Thirty-one of these 35 patients had acute appendicitis documented by surgical and pathologic findings. The remaining four patients were observed, and their symptoms resolved. Thirty-five patients had US scans considered negative for appendicitis. Seventeen of these patients had US findings positive for other conditions including mesenteric adenitis, ileitis, intussusception, Crohn disease, and Burkitt lymphoma. In this series US enabled diagnosis of acute appendicitis with a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 89%, and a predictive accuracy of 91%. Diagnosis of acute appendicitis can be made with US with the same accuracy in children as has been previously reported in series of adult patients. The use of US in clinically ambiguous cases may allow earlier diagnosis, prevention of perforation, and decreased complications in the pediatric patient with acute appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗

Pulmonary sequestration with histologic changes of cystic adenomatoid malformation.

Pulmonary sequestration and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) are two infrequent congenital pulmonary diseases. The combination of these two entities is rare. We report a case where the antenatal ultrasonography showed a left pulmonary mass suggesting CCAM. The US done after birth revealed an aberrant vascularisation. Pathologic examination confirmed the association of both lesions.

Adult↗

Nephrocalcinosis in Bartter's syndrome.

Nephrocalcinosis was demonstrated by computerized tomography (CT) in all five children with Bartter's syndrome followed at our institution. In three of these five patients, nephrocalcinosis was also noted on ultrasound examination. Hypercalciuria was present in only one case. The mechanism leading to renal calcification remains unclear in this disease. It is noteworthy, however, that Bartter's syndrome is associated with such a high incidence of nephrocalcinosis.

Adolescent↗

Renal metastases from neuroblastoma. Report of two cases.

Neuroblastoma is one of the pediatric cancers that has the most unpredictable evolution. It can metastasize to almost any organ, but intrarenal metastases have never been reported. We report 2 such cases: the first patient had a left adrenal neuroblastoma completely resected 10 months before routine follow up ultrasound and CT scan demonstrated 3 right intrarenal metastases. The second patient was being investigated for a left abdominal mass when one left intrarenal metastasis was found during the same CT scan. An intrarenal mass found during investigation for staging or follow up of neuroblastoma should then be considered as a metastase until proven otherwise.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗