ABSTRACT
Objective@#We compared appendiceal visualization on 2-mSv CT vs. conventional-dose CT (median 7 mSv) in adolescents and young adults and analyzed the undesirable clinical and diagnostic outcomes that followed appendiceal nonvisualization. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 3074 patients aged 15–44 years (mean ± standard deviation, 28 ± 9 years; 1672 female) from 20 hospitals were randomized to the 2-mSv CT or conventional-dose CT group (1535 vs. 1539) from December 2013 through August 2016. A total of 161 radiologists from 20 institutions prospectively rated appendiceal visualization (grade 0, not identified; grade 1, unsure or partly visualized; and grade 2, clearly and entirely visualized) and the presence of appendicitis in these patients. The final diagnosis was based on CT imaging and surgical, pathologic, and clinical findings. We analyzed undesirable clinical or diagnostic outcomes, such as negative appendectomy, perforated appendicitis, more extensive than simple appendectomy, delay in patient management, or incorrect CT diagnosis, which followed appendiceal nonvisualization (defined as grade 0 or 1) and compared the outcomes between the two groups. @*Results@#In the 2-mSv CT and conventional-dose CT groups, appendiceal visualization was rated as grade 0 in 41 (2.7%) and 18 (1.2%) patients, respectively; grade 1 in 181 (11.8%) and 81 (5.3%) patients, respectively; and grade 2 in 1304 (85.0%) and 1421 (92.3%) patients, respectively (p < 0.001). Overall, undesirable outcomes were rare in both groups. Compared to the conventional-dose CT group, the 2-mSv CT group had slightly higher rates of perforated appendicitis (1.1% [17] vs. 0.5% [7], p = 0.06) and false-negative diagnoses (0.4% [6] vs. 0.0% [0], p = 0.01) following appendiceal nonvisualization. Otherwise, these two groups were comparable. @*Conclusion@#The use of 2-mSv CT instead of conventional-dose CT impairs appendiceal visualization in more patients. However, appendiceal nonvisualization on 2-mSv CT rarely leads to undesirable clinical or diagnostic outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare catecholamine-producing tumor with the incidence in hypertension of 0.1-0.6%. PCC crisis is an endocrine emergency that can lead to hemodynamic disturbance and organ failure such as catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. The circulatory collapse caused by it often requires mechanical support. The author reports an unusual case in which a patient who previously underwent surgery for malignant PCC developed catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, and successfully recovered using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
ABSTRACT
Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare catecholamine-producing tumor with the incidence in hypertension of 0.1-0.6%. PCC crisis is an endocrine emergency that can lead to hemodynamic disturbance and organ failure such as catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. The circulatory collapse caused by it often requires mechanical support. The author reports an unusual case in which a patient who previously underwent surgery for malignant PCC developed catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, and successfully recovered using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cardiomyopathies , Emergencies , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation , Hemodynamics , Hypertension , Incidence , Pheochromocytoma , Shock , Shock, CardiogenicABSTRACT
Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare, poorly differentiated malignancy arising from the intimal layer of the pulmonary artery. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) is a good diagnostic modality that shows a low-attenuation filling defect of the pulmonary artery in PAS patients. An 18-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the evaluation and management of cavitary pulmonary lesions that did not respond to treatment. A contrast-enhanced CT of the chest was performed, which showed a filling defect within the right interlobar pulmonary artery. The patient underwent a curative right pneumonectomy after confirmation of PAS. Although lung parenchymal lesions of PAS are generally nonspecific, it can be presented as cavities indicate pulmonary infarcts. Clinicians must consider the possibility of PAS as well as pulmonary thromboembolism in patients with pulmonary infarcts. So, we report the case with PAS that was diagnosed during the evaluation of cavitary pulmonary lesions and reviewed the literatures.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Lung , Pneumonectomy , Pulmonary Artery , Pulmonary Embolism , Pulmonary Infarction , Sarcoma , Thorax , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Catamenial hemoptysis is a rare condition, characterized by recurrent hemoptysis associated with the presence of intrapulmonary or endobronchial endometrial tissue. Therapeutic strategies proposed for intrapulmonary endometriosis with catamenial hemoptysis consist of medical treatments and surgery. Bronchial artery embolization is a well-established modality in the management of massive or recurrent hemoptysis, but has seldom been used for the treatment of catamenial hemoptysis. We report a case of catamenial hemoptysis associated with pulmonary parenchymal endometriosis, which was successfully treated by a bronchial artery embolization.
Subject(s)
Female , Bronchial Arteries , Embolization, Therapeutic , Endometriosis , HemoptysisABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. In patients with SLE, the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies is considerably higher, and is largely responsible for thrombosis. Splenic infarction is a rare complication of arterial thrombosis in patients with SLE. It is important to consider splenic infarction in a patient with SLE complaining of left upper quadrant (LUQ) pain because of the possibility of severe infarction-related complications, such as subcapsular hemorrhage and splenic rupture. We report a case of solitary splenic infarction in a patient with SLE. The only symptom was LUQ pain of 3-day duration. Lupus anticoagulant activity was positive and abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) was consistent with splenic infarction. She did not show any other evidence of thrombotic events. The patient was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome that presented as a splenic infarction in a SLE patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antibodies, Antiphospholipid , Antiphospholipid Syndrome , Autoimmune Diseases , Hemorrhage , Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Prevalence , Splenic Infarction , Splenic Rupture , ThrombosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although the lung is a common site of metastasis, endobronchial metastases (EBM) from extrathoracic malignancies are rare. Previous studies were retrospective reviews of the cases from each single institute, and the last one was performed between 1992 and 2002. We evaluated the characteristics of patients with EBM who had been diagnosed in recent 10 years in our hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1,275 patients who had undergone diagnostic bronchoscopic procedures between 2001 and 2011. An EBM was defined as bronchoscopically notable lesion, which was histopathologically identical to the primary tumor. RESULTS: A total of 18 cases of EBM were identified. The mean age was 53 years, and 12 cases of the 18 patients were female. The most common primary malignancies were colorectal cancer and breast cancer (4 cases each), followed by cervix cancer (3 cases) and renal cell carcinoma (2 cases). Cough was the most common symptom. The most common radiologic finding was atelectasis, which was identified in 27.7% of the cases. The median interval from the diagnosis of primary malignancy to the diagnosis of EBM was 14 months (range, 0-112 months). The median survival time from the diagnosis of EBM was 10 months (range, 1-39 months). CONCLUSION: EBM from extrathoracic malignancies were rare. Colorectal cancer and breast cancer were common as primary malignancies. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy should be performed in all patients, who are suspected of having EBM. If atypical clinical and pathological features are present, appropriate diagnostic studies should be undertaken.