Thoracic aortic tear disclosed on abdominal CT scan.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Zissin.
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PURPOSE: Intussusception in adults is nowadays usually diagnosed on computed tomography (CT), as CT is often the first modality for the investigation of prolonged abdominal pain from which these patients suffer. We wish to present the CT, clinical and pathological findings of 16 adult patients with intussusception seen over a 5-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The abdominal scans of 16 patients with intussusception were reviewed. Special attention was directed to the location of the mass, its shape and fat content, possible underlying pathology and dilatation of the bowel proximally. The findings were correlated with clinical and pathological data. RESULTS: Eight men and eight women, aged 34-81 years, were studied. The most frequent indication for CT was prolonged abdominal pain. CT findings included an inhomogeneous soft tissue mass, target or sausage-shaped, depending on the angle of the CT beam vs. the intussusception, with a fatty component in 14 of the 16. Intussusception was enteroenteric (six), ileocolic (three), or colocolic (seven). Complete small bowel obstruction was present only in one case and some bowel dilatation in three. The underlying pathology could be diagnosed on CT in only two cases of lipoma. Nine patients had an underlying malignant process, eight of them unsuspected. Of the other five, two had coeliac disease, two were classified as idiopathic and one had a necrotic polyp of undetermined pathology. CONCLUSION: Intussusception on CT presented a characteristic mass lesion containing fat stripes in almost all patients. Obstruction was rarely seen. Malignant lesions were the most common cause and therefore early diagnosis and prompt intervention are essential.
The feasibility of estimating the forced expiratory volume-time curve from the amplitude modulation of the electrocardiogram was studied using a numerical torso model and ECG signal processing. A two dimensional numerical model of the torso was solved for the maximum expiration and inspiration to study the changes in the surface potential as a result of changes in the lung volume. The numerical model showed that significant changes in the surface potential amplitude occur between maximum inspiration and maximum expiration and that this amplitude change in the left-right axis of the torso might be three times as large as in the front-back axis. In the experimental setup, ECG waveforms from the surface of the chest and the mouth air flow were simultaneously recorded from four male subjects during several forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuvers. The amplitude of the QRS complex was measured for different expired lung volumes and an estimation of the forced expiratory volume-time curve was obtained. The FVC and the FEV1 (forced expiratory volume after 1 s) spirometry indices were calculated for the two volume-time curves obtained from the electrocardiogram and from the spirometry measurements. The results differ between 0.1 and 0.8 1. These preliminary results are encouraging and might indicate that a relationship between the volume-time curve during FVC test and the electrocardiogram signals does exist. Further validation in a larger number of subjects and patients is needed before the technique can be applicable for clinical use.
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The spectrum of the primary antiphospholipid syndrome has expanded in recent years. It has been associated with a number of non-thrombotic syndromes such as pulmonary hypertension, adrenal insufficiency, chorea and avascular necrosis of bone. Yet, it has not been described in association with inflammatory pulmonary disease. We describe a young male with definite primary antiphospholipid syndrome who developed insidious diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. The histopathologic examination of the involved lung demonstrated alveolitis and fibrosis. We suggest that this pulmonary involvement may represent another manifestation of the primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
Hamartomas of the spleen are rare benign tumours, which are usually asymptomatic, incidental findings at laparotomy or autopsy (Komakl and Gombas, 1976; Brinkley and Lee, 1981; Norowitz and Morehouse, 1989). There are a few well documented reports of symptomatic splenic hamartoma associated with haematological disturbances, marked splenomegaly or even spontaneous rupture that required an emergency operation (Iozzo et al., 1980; Morgenstern et al., 1984). We report a patient with splenic hamartoma who presented with splenomegaly and iron deficiency anaemia. Computed tomographic (CT) and ultrasound (US) evaluation demonstrated an inhomogeneous mass within the enlarged spleen. Malignant melanoma was mistakenly diagnosed by US-guided fine needle aspiration of the mass, and necessitated splenectomy. The final diagnosis was hamartoma of the spleen.
Decompression of biliary obstruction by an internal stent is well accepted in patients with malignant strictures. Less frequent is the use of this technique for the management of benign disorders. In the latter situation the biliary stent may be left in place for a very long period. We report a rare complication of a broken intracholedochal stent which had been inserted for a benign post-operative stricture.
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Lesions of Cowper's glands duct are uncommon findings in a urethrogram. Three types of anomaly are described in 11 patients. The most frequent type is a slightly dilated duct, which is usually asymptomatic, with or without associated urethral pathology. The other less common types are perforate Cowper's duct and retention cyst, which are usually symptomatic and not associated with other urethral pathologies.
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A gossypiboma (a retained surgical sponge) usually has the characteristic appearance on CT of a soft tissue mass with air-bubbles and a whirl-like pattern. This finding may be confused in the early post-operative period with an abscess, especially when a fistula is present. We describe two patients, in whom this diagnosis was initially missed. A soft tissue mass containing air-bubbles in the early post-operative period with or without a fistula should include a retained pad, in the differential diagnosis.
We describe a 19 year old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus on corticosteroid therapy, who developed bilateral, multiple, gas-forming Salmonella enteritidis leg abscesses and osteomyelitis mimicking deep vein thrombosis. The infection was treated successfully by a combination of surgical drainage and intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by prolonged oral pefloxacin. This rare case of gas-producing S. enteritidis emphasizes the difficulty in diagnosing such complications in active systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Echinococcal involvement of the urinary tract is extremely rare. We present 11 such cases, 10 with renal and 1 with bladder involvement. Clinical and laboratory findings were nonspecific. Calcification was present in all but 1 case. The excretory urogram and retrograde pyelogram demonstrated parenchymal soft-tissue masses causing pressure on and dilatation of the collecting system. Angiography in 3 cases showed the masses to be avascular. The ultrasound findings of a multicystic lesion with mixed echogenicity were typical of echinococcal cysts, while a CT scan in 1 patient showed a cyst with densely calcified border. The combined findings of these different modalities aid greatly in establishing the correct diagnosis.