Biomedical subjects

M B Alpern

Publications and source records attributed to M B Alpern.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1985

Chronic pancreatitis: ultrasonic features.

A retrospective analysis of 84 ultrasound examinations (in 77 patients) was performed to assess the frequency of sonographic findings in chronic pancreatitis. The findings included: inhomogeneously increased echogenicity in 53% of these examinations, focal or diffuse enlargement in 41%, focal dense echoes in 40%, pseudocyst formation in 21%, and a hypoechoic head mass in 7%. Thirteen per cent of our patients had a normal sonogram. Several presentations of chronic pancreatitis not previously described in the sonographic literature included: pancreatic or common bile duct enlargement or pseudocyst formation with otherwise normal-appearing glands. There was no direct relationship between the presence of focal high-intensity echoes within the pancreatic parenchyma and the presence of radiographic calcification. There was no difference in the frequency of ultrasonic abnormalities between patients with and without clinical evidence of pancreatic insufficiency. These results indicate that the sonographic findings in chronic pancreatitis are significantly more varied than previous reports would indicate.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Inflammatory lesions of the groin: ultrasonic evaluation.

Sonograms of 72 patients with pain and swelling in the groin due to intravenous drug abuse were reviewed, together with 2 cases which were due to trauma. There were 27 abscesses, 36 cases of cellulitis or thrombophlebitis, 7 cases of lymphadenopathy, 3 hematomas, and 1 pseudoaneurysm. Most abscesses presented as distinct masses, while cellulitis was seen most often as soft-tissue swelling. However, 5 abscesses were manifested sonographically as diffuse soft-tissue swelling without a distinct mass, while 8 cases of cellulitis appeared as a mass. In most cases, ultrasound was able to distinguish diseases requiring surgery or percutaneous drainage from those that should respond to medical therapy. In some cases, percutaneous aspiration and/or follow-up sonograms after antibiotic therapy will be necessary for a specific diagnosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Sonographic features of parovarian cysts and their complications.

Parovarian cysts have received virtually no attention in the sonography literature, despite a common occurrence, constituting 10%-20% of adnexal tumorlike conditions in pathologic series. The sonographic features of 11 parovarian cysts, including a number with complications, are reported. Six uncomplicated lesions had the appearance of simple cysts found in other organs. One cyst had ruptured, and one lesion was associated with ipsilateral tubal torsion. Two cysts had echogenic areas representing blood clot. One cyst had a triangular papillation representing the development of a serous cystadenofibroma in its wall. This experience differs from previous reports in that there was increased incidence of preoperative recognition of an adnexal mass clinically, lack of identification of a fallopian tube exiting from the lateral aspect of the parovarian cyst and identification of complications sonographically, and the smaller average size of lesions, both clinically and sonographically. Parovarian cysts and their complications should be included in the differential diagnosis of cystic adnexal masses.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Case report: CT of a duodenal paraganglioma.

Paraganglioma is a neoplasm of neuroectodermal origin that occurs rarely in the bowel. This case report illustrates the previously undescribed CT appearance of a duodenal paraganglioma. An intensely enhancing mass in the region of the pancreatic head was found. The intense enhancement ruled out adenocarcinoma and focal pancreatitis. An islet cell tumor of the pancreas was the major differential diagnostic consideration.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMedDate not supplied

CT appearance of hemangiopericytoma.

Hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon tumor that may occur anywhere in the body but is most often found in the retroperitoneum, extremities, and nasopharynx. The CT evaluation of five malignant hemangiopericytomas (two retroperitoneal, two nasopharyngeal, one thigh) revealed speckled calcifications in all cases. The lesions in the retroperitoneum and thigh were large and lobular, with areas of cystic-degeneration or hemorrhage. Computed tomography of a rare, benign osseous hemangiopericytoma demonstrated characteristics of a slow-growing bone tumor with a cortical break in the proximal femur. The homogeneously enhancing, noncalcified mass found in the posterior fossa appeared similar to the typical benign hemangiopericytoma reported in this location by other authors.

Adolescent↗