Pulmonary Comorbidities of Lung Emphysema

Pulmonary emphysema is defined as the “abnormal permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles accompanied by destruction of the alveolar wall and without obvious fibrosis.” Pulmonary emphysema could result in various complications or comorbidities, many of which are interrelated. Pulmonary emphysema can result in a number of interrelated complications and comorbidities. When pulmonary emphysema is accompanied by comorbidities, it may exhibit different and unique radiologic findings, depending on the underlying lung condition. The purpose of this article was to review radiologic findings that have been reported in patients with underlying emphysema, as well as localized pulmonary comorbidities including infection, fibrosis, primary lung cancer, hemorrhage, and other rare conditions.

Spectrum of Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Findings that Alter Pulmonary Artery Diameters in Adults

Abnormalities in the anatomy of pulmonary arteries may have heritable or environmental causes and involve a reduction or enlargement in transverse diameters of the blood vessels eg, congenital and developmental disorders, acquired intrinsic causes, extrinsic compression, and constriction. Pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary artery aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm, and idiopathic dilatation can also increase the diameter of a pulmonary artery. Multi-detector computed tomography (CT) is useful to evaluate each pulmonary artery and to diagnose the conditions that alter the diameter of the pulmonary artery. It is important to be familiar with the CT features of a variety of disorders to allow for accurate diagnoses and appropriate therapeutic management.

Estimation of Diastolic Filling Pressure with Cardiac CT in Comparison with Echocardiography Using Tissue Doppler Imaging: Determination of Optimal CT Reconstruction Parameters

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal CT image reconstruction parameters for the measurement of early transmitral peak velocity (E), early peak mitral septal tissue velocity (E′), and E / E′. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients underwent simultaneous cardiac CT and echocardiography on the same day. Four CT datasets were reconstructed with a slice thickness/interval of 0.9/0.9 mm or 3/3 mm at 10 (10% RR-interval) or 20 (5% RR-interval) RR-intervals. The E was calculated by dividing the peak transmitral flow (mL/s) by the corresponding mitral valve area (cm²). E′ was calculated from the changes in the left ventricular length per cardiac phase. E / E′ was then estimated and compared with that from echocardiography. RESULTS: For assessment of E / E′, CT and echocardiography were more strongly correlated (p < 0.05) with a slice thickness of 0.9 mm and 5% RR-interval (r = 0.77) than with 3 mm or 10% RR-interval. The diagnostic accuracy of predicting elevated filling pressure (E / E′≥ 13, n = 14) was better with a slice thickness of 0.9 mm and 5% RR-interval (87.0%) than with 0.9 mm and 10% RR-interval (71.7%) (p = 0.123) and significantly higher than that with a slice thickness of 3 mm with 5% (67.4%) and 10% RR-interval (63.0%), (p < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Data reconstruction with a slice thickness of 0.9 mm at 5% RR-interval is superior to that with a slice thickness of 3 mm or 10% RR-interval in terms of the correlation of E / E′ between CT and echocardiography. Thin slices and frequent sampling also allow for more accurate prediction of elevated filling pressure.

The dose of cyclophosphamide for treating paraquat-induced rat lung injury

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a promising treatment for severe cases of paraquat (PQ) poisoning. We investigated the effective dose of CP for mitigating PQ-induced lung injury. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into five groups: control, PQ (35 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection), and PQ + CP (1.5, 15, or 30 mg/kg). The dimensions of lung lesions were determined using X-ray microtomography (micro-CT), and histological changes and cytokine levels were recorded. RESULTS: The micro-CT results showed that 15 mg/kg CP was more effective than 1.5 mg/kg CP for treating PQ-induced lung injury. At a dose of 1.5 mg/kg, CP alleviated the histological evidence of inflammation and altered superoxide dismutase activity. Using 15 mg/kg CP reduced the elevated catalase activity and serum transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 level. CONCLUSIONS: A CP dose of > 15 mg/kg is effective for reducing the severity of PQ-induced lung injury as determined by histological and micro-CT tissue examination, possibly by modulating antioxidant enzyme and TGF-beta1 levels.

Single Small Bowel Metastasis after Curative Operation in a Pleomorphic Lung Carcinoma / 결핵및호흡기질환

Small bowel metastasis of pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung is very rare. A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with abdominal palpable mass in the right upper quadrant area. He underwent right middle and lower lobectomy for early stage pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung approximately 3 months ago. USG-guided biopsy was performed for abdominal mass. Pathologic examination revealed a metastatic pleomorphic carcinoma from the lung. He received chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy but died due to septic shock caused by intestinal stenosis and adhesion. We report the first case of small bowel metastasis by pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung after curative surgery.

Natural Course of Benign Pulmonary Metastasizing Leiomyoma / 대한내과학회지

Benign metastasizing pulmonary leiomyoma is a rare disease that is usually detected several years after hysterectomy or myomectomy. Recently, we experienced two cases, one with monthly chest pain and the other without symptoms, which were diagnosed with benign metastasizing leiomyoma in the lung. A 48-year-old woman who underwent hysterectomy 12 years earlier was referred to us because of multiple pulmonary nodules on chest radiography, and chest pain for 6 months. Thoracoscopic tumor excision was performed. Pathologically, she was diagnosed with benign metastasizing leiomyoma in the lung. After that, chest computed tomography showed tumors with a progressive reduction in size. The other 48-year-old woman, who had undergone myomectomy for uterine leiomyoma 8 years before, visited our hospital for evaluation of incidentally revealed bilateral multiple nodules on chest radiography. The microscopic finding of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy revealed a benign pulmonary metastasizing leiomyoma originating from uterine leiomyoma. Multiple nodules on chest radiography were more increased than those performed 1 year and 3 months prior to admission. However, chest X-ray showed tumors that had progressively decreased in size at 6 months after diagnosis of menopause.

A Case of Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of the Lng with Atypical Adenomatous Hyperplasia in Adult / 결핵및호흡기질환

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), which is classified into five types according to size and bronchial invasion, is a rare type of developmental anomaly of the lung. CCAM is occasionally accompanied by malignancy, such as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) or rhabdomyosarcoma. As defined by the WHO, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) is a non-invasive spread of atypical epithelial cells in single rows along the alveolar wall, within a lesion that is usually less than 5 mm in diameter. AAH was also regarded as a pre-invasive neoplasia, especially associated with BAC and adenocarcinoma. We report a case of type II CCAM with AAH in adults, with a review of the references.

Angiolipoma of the Breast: A Case Report / 한국유방암학회지

An angiolipoma is a common mixed connective tissue tumor that commonly occurs in the trunk and extremities, and has been rarely reported in the breast. It is a benign variant of a lipoma that shows various appearances on mammography. It is usually seen with a well circumscribed homogeneously hyperechoic pattern on ultrasound. We report a rare case of an angiolipoma of the breast with no definite abnormality on mammography, appearing as an irregular homogeneously hyperechoic lesion on ultrasound.

The Area of Ground Glass Opacities of the Lungs as a Predictive Factor in Acute Paraquat Intoxication

Even though plasma paraquat (PQ) levels have known to be an informative predictor, many patients succumb at low PQ levels in acute PQ intoxication. This study was designed to see whether the high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the lungs would be a predictive measure in acute PQ intoxication. HRCT of the lungs was obtained from 119 patients with acute PQ intoxication on 7 days after PQ ingestion. The areas with ground glass opacities (GGOs) were evaluated at five levels with the area measurement tool of the picture archiving and communication systems. Among 119 patients, 102 survived and 17 died. The plasma PQ levels were significantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (2.6+/-4.0 microgram/mL vs. 0.2+/-0.4 microgram/mL, P=0.02). The area with GGOs was 2.0+/-6.4% in the survivors and 73.0+/- 29.9% in the non-survivors (P<0.001). No patients survived when the area with GGOs was more than 40% but all of the patients survived when the area affected by GGOs was less than 20%. In conclusion, the area of GGOs is a useful predictor of survival in acute PQ intoxication, especially in patients with low plasma PQ levels.

Imaging Findings of Wirsungocele: A Report of Two Cases

Wirsungocele is defined as a cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the main pancreatic duct, and this is an extremely rare malady. The pathophysiology of Wirsungocele has been proposed that a congenital or acquired weakness in the distal duct that's associated with functional obstruction may lead to the formation of Wirsungocele. In addition, mechanical obstruction of the distal duct has been considered as another mechanism of Wirsungocele. We report here on the imaging findings of two cases of Wirsungocele that seemed to occur by different pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Acute Sialadenitis in Children and Adolescents: CT Findings and Clinical Manifestations according to Glandular Involvement

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the CT findings and clinical manifestations in children and adolescents with acute sialadenitis according to the involved salivary glands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included fifty children and adolescents (34 boys, 16 girls) with acute sialadenitis that was diagnosed during the past five years. All of the subjects were divided into three groups: group I (parotid gland involvement, n = 16), group II (submandibular gland involvement, n = 20) and group III (involvement of both glands, n = 14). We analyzed the presence of an abscess, sialolith, bilaterality, cellulitis and lymphadenopathy on CT scans. The analyzed clinical data were age, sex, lymphadenopathy, pain, swelling, presence of a mass, tonsillitis, treatment period and surgical treatment if it was performed. RESULTS: The presence of an abscess, sialolith, cellulitis, swelling, age, presence of a palpable mass and treatment period were statistically significant factors for the patients in the three groups. An abscess was combined only in group I patients. There was a high rate of sialolith in group II patients and cellulitis in group III patients as seen on CT scans. Swelling in group II patients and group III patients and the presence of a palpable mass in group I patients were identified as clinical manifestations. Age was younger in group I patients (mean age, 5.3 years) than in group II patients (mean age, 12.9 years) and group III patients (mean age, 15.2 years). The treatment period was longer for group I patients. CONCLUSION: For acute sialadenitis in children and adolescents, age, presence of an abscess, sialolith, cellulitis, swelling, presence of a palpable mass and treatment period were different according to the involved salivary glands.

Congenital Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts

Intrahepatic portosystemic shunts are an anomalous connection between the portal vein and hepatic vein/IVC, which may be either congenital or acquired secondary to liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension. Cases of congenital intrahepatic shunts are usually encountered in children and may spontaneously resolve. We report 5 cases of congenital intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in neonates and an adult.

CT Findings of Foreign Bodies in the Chest: A Pictorial Essay

The most common causes of tracheobronchial foreign bodies are peanuts in children, and meat and dentures in adults. The most common causes of esophageal foreign bodies are coins in children and meat in adults. It is possible to diagnose a foreign body by visualization on a chest radiograph, if the foreign bodies are radioopaque. However, if the foreign bodies are radiolucent and the patients do not remember the history of aspiration, it is important to evaluate CT findings for foreign bodies and their complications. We describe the CT findings of various thoracic foreign bodies in children and adults.

Nontraumatic Subperiosteal Orbital Hematoma Associated with Ethmoid Sinusitis: A Case Report

Subperiosteal hematoma of the orbit is a rare disease and most of the cases occur in young adult males as a result of direct facial or orbital trauma. In the absence of direct facial or orbital trauma, nontranmatic subperiosteal orbital hematoma has rarely been reported in association with a sudden elevation of cranial venous pressure or venous congestion, systemic diseases associated with a bleeding diathesis and paranasal sinusitis. We report here on a rare case of subperiosteal orbital hematoma associated with ethmoid sinusitis, as was seen on CT imaging.