[Usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective study about 20 cases]

Diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis is difficult and radiographic signs are often late. MRI detects erosions at an early stage and visualizes synovitis, bone edema and tenosynovitis. To assess the value of MRI for diagnosis of early forms of rheumatoid arthritis. Prospective study involving 20 patients who had non erosive rheumatoid arthritis lasting for less than 2 years. MRI of the hand was performed by sequences coronal and axial T1-weighted, T2 with saturated fat signal [FatSat] FatSat and T1 with gadolinium injection. The median age of patients was 52 years and sex ratio M/F of 0.05. The median disease duration was 9 months. Ten patients had antibodies Anti-Cyclic citrullinated protein positive. The MRI was abnormal in 75% of patients. This review found 36 erosions which 50% were in carpal bones, 55 joints with synovitis mainly localized midcarpal and metacarpophalangeal. Bone edema was found mainly in carpal bones. Tenosynovitis affected most frequently the flexor tendons. Seventy percent of patients without anti-Cyclic citrullinated protein had a pathological MRI. MRI has an important role in detecting infraradiological lesions in early RA. This contributes to early diagnosis and initiation effective treatment

[Evaluation of small bowel involvement in Croh'ns disease by small-bowel videocapsule endoscopy: a prospective comparative study with computed-tomography enteroclysis and small bowell radiography]

Small-bowel videocapsule endoscopy [VCE] is a new technique in evaluation of intestinal involvement in several pathologies. Crohn's disease affects principally terminal ileum.Small bowel involvement in Crohn's disease is not well estimated by endoscopic and radiologic conventional techniques. To evaluate the performances of VCE in detection of asymptomatic proximal small bowel lesions in consecutive patients with Crohn's disease with terminal ileal involvement, to compare the results of VCE to small bowel radiography and CT-enteroclysis and to determine the therapeutic impact of VCE in these patients. A prospective study which included Crohn's disease patients with distal ileal involvement, based on radiological or endoscopic findings. We performed in all patients small bowel radiography, CT enteroclysis and VCE. Proximal involvement was characterized by presence of aphtoid, superficial or deep ulcerations in the jejunum or the proximal ileum. We studied 20 patients [12 men, mean age 31.6 years]. VCE confirmed the distal ileal involvement in all patients. Significative proximal lesions was observed in nine patients [jejunum only: one case, jejunum and ileum: six cases and proximal ileum: two cases], in most cases aphtoid or superficial lesions. Deep ulcerations were observed in two patients. Small bowel radiography showed proximal ileal lesions in only two patients, and CT-enteroclysis in only one patient. Treatment by azathioprine was prescribed in two patients with severe and extended small bowel lesions in VCE examination. VCE is more accurate than radiologic techniques in detection of small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease. In cases of severe and extended small bowel involvement, VCE can conduct to changes of therapeutic approach

[Roasai- Dorfman disease: a two cases report]

Rosai-Dorfman disease [RDD] is a benign lymphoproliferatif disorder characterized by cervical lymphadenopathies with a consistent risk of airways' compression and esthetical prejudice. Extra nodal localizations are also described. To report two pediatric cases of RDD. The first case concerned a patient with a prolonged nodal involvement of RDD. Remission seems to be natural although it coincided with a sulfam‚thoxazole- trim‚thoprime therapy. The second case illustrated an extranodal form of RDD localized in soft tissue and paranasal sinus with extension to nasal cavity which were corticodependant. RDD is usually a benign disorder. Particular localizations, lack of effective therapy and the high risk of recurrence are important issues in this rare affection

[Difficulty in diagnosing pseudotumoral autoimmune pancreatitis: two original cases]

In recent years, autoimmune pancreatitis [AIP] has been increasingly recognized. The diagnosis of AIP is based on a series of clinical, biological and radiological criteria. In imaging, it may appear as two different forms: a diffuse form by destroying channels and pseudotumoral lesions that can cause inadequate resections. To report two new cases of pseudotumoral autoimmune pancreatitis. We report two cases of pseudotumoral autoimmune pancreatitis, with different clinical, biological and radiologic features.The diagnosis was established easily in one case and after surgery in a 2nd case. Our two cases underline the difficulties still encountered in the diagnosis of AIP

Synchronous occurrence of colonic intraepithelial neoplasia and small bowel stromal tumour

We report the diagnosis of synchronous gastrointestinal stromal tumours affecting the small bowel and intraepithelial neoplasia of the colon in a 52-year-old patient. After surgical resection of the two tumours outcome was favourable. We discuss the causality of this association, based on a literature review of the few previously published cases

[Mucormycosis: four case reports]

Mucormycosis is a rare and invasive fungal infection, but frequently fatal when it occurs. It commonly affects patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to assess the clinical presentation, radiological findings, management and prognosis of mucormycosis. This retrospective study was conducted in the department of infectious diseases of Rabta hospital between January 1988 and December 2004 and included patients hospitalized for mucormycosis confirmed by mycological and/or histological findings. The study is about four diabetic patients with mucormycosis [3 men and a woman]. Three of them had diabetic ketoacidosis at the time of diagnosis. The infection was sinusal in 2 cases and rhinocerebral in the other two cases. Treatment consisted in systemic amphotericin B combined with surgical debridement in 3 cases. A fatal outcome was noted in 2 cases. Mucormycosis remains a severe infectious disease in diabetic patients. Early diagnosis and treatment is mandatory for a successful management of this infection

[Nasosinusal sarcoidosis: 2 cases. a report of 2 cases]

Nasosinusal sarcoidosis is a rare non caseating granulomatous disease. It may be inaugural, isolated or associated with multisystemic sarcoidosis. We report two cases of nasosinusal sarcoidosis associated to multisystemic sarcoidosis. Both patients were females aged over 43 years. In one case, the primary symptom was a nasal obstruction. Tomodensitometric and guided biopsy findings provided the main diagnostic criteria. Anti-malaric treatment was prescribed in both cases. Stabilisation of the lesions was noted. We tried to reveal through this study the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties of nasosinusal sarcoidosis

[Brain abscess in medical environment, a current problem]

Brain abscesses are severe infections with lethal outcome in the case of delay in diagnosis and treatment. The authors report their experience about 30 patients with pyogenic brain abscesses treated between 1989 and 2000. The goal of the study is to analyse epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this disease. The sex ratio [M:W] was 2,3 and the mean age was 34 years. Predisposing factors were sepsis of adjacent organs [53%] and bacteremia [30%]. The clinical manifestations were: fever [83%], headaches [90%] and focal neurologic signs [57%]. CT-scan findings were single lesions in 80% of cases. CT-scan showed a deep ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding edema in 77% of cases. Bacteriological agents in 13 cases [43%] were: 4 Staphylococcus aureus, 2 Neisseria meningitidis and 7 negative Gram bacilli. Medical treatment alone was in 77% of cases seven patients benefited from medical and neurosurgical approaches. Death occurred in 10% of cases

Tumeur papillaire solide et kystique du pancreas

solid cystic papillary tumors of the pancreas are rare. This tumors were seen in young women. They have distinct clinic pathologic characteristics. Their prognosis is excellent because of their low grad of malignancy. The tumor was encapsulated and have favorable prognosis after complete surgical resection. We report one case of solid cystic papillary tumor of the pancreas occuring in female patient who are 20 years old. This observation have been a pre operative morphologic and ultrastructural study [CT, Ctscan, EE, IRM and immunohisto-chemistry study] who permetted to elaborate diagnosis