Non-traditional tools for predicting coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND The traditional coronary calcium score (CCS) is a time-tested tool for the evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis and predictor of future cardiovascular events. Non-traditional tools can also have a value in predicting and detecting subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS We studied the role of CCS, the traditional CAD risk predictor, and the less-recognized, non-traditional risk factors, i.e. epicardial fat volume (EFV) and thoracic extracoronary calcium (ECC), to assess the degree of subclinical CAD. In this cross-sectional observational study, we included 950 Indian patients (suspected to have CAD). Coronary computed tomography angiography was performed. Estimation of CCS, EFV and thoracic ECC was done. RESULTS A CCS of 0 was seen in 583 patients (61.4%). Of these, 492 patients had normal coronary angiogram but 91 patients had CAD. The median values of EFV were statistically significantly higher in the ‘CAD present and CCS 0’ group compared to the ‘CAD absent and CCS 0’ group (p<0.001). The presence of thoracic ECC involving at least a single site was seen in only 6 of these 91 patients. When both EFV and CCS were considered together for the detection of CAD, the sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) were improved compared to either of these in isolation. When ECC was taken together with CCS and EFV, no further improvement in sensitivity or NPV was observed. CONCLUSION The combined use of traditional CCS along with non-traditional EFV may guide us in better profiling cardiovascular risk and supplement the various traditional cardiovascular risk factors/scores.

Use of John Cunningham virus polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy - A rare presenting manifestation in an HIV-positive patient.

John Cunningham virus infection is an important cause of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) in the context of advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. Limited data are available regarding the true incidence of PML as a presenting manifestation of HIV. We report one such case and also highlight the effective use of polymerase chain reaction in confirming its diagnosis.

Liver hemangioma mimicking cholangiocarcinoma - a diagnostic dilemma.

A 55-year-old man presented with a liver mass that had been diagnosed on ultrasonography, carried out in response to the patient’s complaint of non-specific abdominal pain. Triphasic computed tomography (CT) revealed a lesion involving segments 1, 4, 5 and 8 of the liver. It was centrally hypodense with peripheral enhancement in the arterial phase suggesting a cholangiocarcinoma. The middle hepatic vein was encased and the tumour was present near the junction of the left hepatic and middle hepatic veins. We planned a right hepatic trisegmentectomy including resection of the caudate lobe but since the estimated volume of the liver remnant was only 17% of the total, we first embolised the right portal vein. CT scan repeated 5 weeks later revealed that the lesion was still resectable and that the left lateral segment had hypertrophied to 27% of the liver volume. We performed a right trisegmentectomy including caudate lobe resection using intra-operative ultrasonography to establish that the left hepatic vein was not involved. The removed lesion was hard with ill-defined margins. Histopathological examination revealed a hemangioma.

CT and MRI in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

The advent of CT and MRI imaging in the last two decades has redefined the approach and analysis of various diseases including tuberculosis. Tuberculosis afflicts hollow and solid viscera. Genitourinary, hepatobiliary and adrenal tuberculosis is uncommon in children. CT and MRI have however shown several advantages over conventional radiology and other imaging modalities in early diagnosis and follow-up of tuberculosis in different parts of the body.