[Primary retroperitoneal fibrosis: a report of 7 cases]. / La fibrose rétropéritonéale idiopathique: à propos de sept cas.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare fibrosing disease of the retroperitoneal tissue characterized by a significant clinico-biological polymorphism. No codified treatment exists, particularly for the primary type which is the most frequent. We retrospectively report on 7 cases of primary retroperitoneal fibrosis seen over a period of 10 years. There were 4 men and 3 women (mean age: 58 years).The most common presenting symptom was lumbar pain. A biological inflammatory syndrome and a renal insufficiency were found in 4 cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal CT scan and/or histology. Etiological investigations remained negative. The evolution was generally favourable under corticosteroids. Retroperitoneal fibrosis requires a careful etiological investigation before it is considered primary. Prognosis is good in spite of the absence of a well codified treatment.

[Unusual radiologic signs of bone echinococcosis in children]. / Signes radiologiques inhabituels de l'échinococcose osseuse chez l'enfant.

The authors report 2 cases of 2 children aging 11 and 12-years-old presenting hydatitosis in the upper extremity of 2 long bones femur and tibia. In 2 cases, radiological appearances were atypical. In the femur, plain radiographs revealed multiple lucencies, irregular, located in the superior extremity with a periostal reaction. The CT scan confirmed these data and showed a cortical rupture, extension to soft tissue with contrast enhancement. In the tibia, plain radiographys showed delimitated lucencies, confluent with a rim condensation in the proximal epiphyseal-metaphyseal area. Echography and CT are helpful when radiological appearances are unusual.