Aggressive multiple myeloma presenting as mesenteric panniculitis.

Mesenteric panniculitis is a rare disease of the bowel mesentery, characterized by tumor-like infiltration by chronic inflammatory cells, fat necrosis, and fibrosis. Reported cases cited clinical presentation ranging from abdominal pain to fever of unknown origin, the majority of which were idiopathic and associated with a benign prognosis. We report the case of a 43-yr-old male who presented with malaise, weight loss, microcytic anemia, and a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Radiographic and histological investigations revealed typical features of mesenteric panniculitis. Initial treatment with high-dose oral prednisolone led to rapid and complete resolution of symptomatology, radiographic, and laboratory anomalies. Within 6 months, the patient presented again with anemia, renal failure, and hypercalcemia. A diagnosis of IgA kappa chain myeloma was made. Despite chemotherapy and restoration of normocalcemia, he died from refractory pulmonary edema. This is the first report of a hematological malignancy initially presenting with features of mesenteric panniculitis culminating in an aggressive course and a fatal outcome.

The beneficial role of transvaginal ultrasound in the preoperative characterisation of dermoid cysts of the ovary.

The advent of transvaginal sonography has improved the ability of radiologists to visualise both ovaries and has facilitated the preoperative characterisation of many of these lesions. We describe the beneficial role of transvaginal sonography in the accurate preoperative characterisation of dermoid cysts of the ovary in two patients and describe the characteristic features of ovarian dermoid cysts.

Pleuropulmonary abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: assessment with high resolution computed tomography, chest radiography and pulmonary function tests.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nature of pleuropulmonary abnormalities, with particular reference to interstitial lung disease (ILD), in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: 29 patients were prospectively evaluated using high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), plain chest radiography (CXR) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Clinical assessments, drug therapy, disease activity, smoking status and serologic markers were also noted. RESULTS: The HRCT was abnormal in 72% (20/29) of patients, while 34% (10/29) had an abnormal CXR. The most frequently detected primary HRCT abnormality was suggestive of ILD and was noted in 11 patients (38%) In 9 of these, ILD was clinically unsuspected, including one patient who had an HRCT suggestive of active alveolitis. Pleuropericardial abnormalities were seen on HRCT in 5 patients (17%). Of 15 patients who were asymptomatic, and had a normal examination, normal CXR and normal PFTs, four (26%) had HRCT features of ILD. There was no correlation between the HRCT appearances and symptoms, disease duration, ds-DNA titres, smoking history or non-pulmonary involvement. Although no statistical significance was noted between abnormal pulmonary function tests and ILD on HRCT (0.10 < p < 0.20), a trend towards significance was noted between disease activity and ILD (0.05 < p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: HRCT is more sensitive than PFTs or CXR in the evaluation of pleuropulmonary disease in SLE. We report an unusually high prevalence of HRCT appearances suggestive of ILD in patients with SLE. Subclinical lung disease is common in patients with SLE.

Lung findings on high-resolution computed tomography in idiopathic ankylosing spondylitis--correlation with clinical findings, pulmonary function testing and plain radiography.

Previous studies on the association of ankylosing spondylitis and abnormalities of the lung parenchyma have been based largely on plain radiography and pulmonary function testing. This study, although uncontrolled, is the first to use high-resolution computed tomography to examine the entire lung parenchyma in ankylosing spondylitis patients, and to correlate the findings with clinical assessment, plain radiography and pulmonary function testing. The study population comprised 26 patients meeting the New York criteria for idiopathic ankylosing spondylitis who attended the out-patient department at our institution. High-resolution computed tomography examination revealed abnormalities in 19 patients (70%): these included interstitial lung disease (n = 4), bronchiectasis (n = 6), emphysema (n = 4), apical fibrosis (n = 2), mycetoma (n = 1) and non-specific interstitial lung disease (n = 12). Plain radiography was abnormal in only four patients and failed to identify any patient with interstitial lung disease. All patients with interstitial lung disease on high-resolution computed tomography had respiratory symptoms and three of the four had evidence of a restrictive process on pulmonary function testing. This study raises, for the first time, the possible association between interstitial lung disease and ankylosing spondylitis, and highlights the use of high-resolution computed tomography in detecting such disease in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Plain radiographs and thoracic high-resolution CT in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to identify the spectrum of abnormalities seen on high-resolution CT in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and to compare our findings with reports of plain film pulmonary manifestations of the disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 26 patients with documented ankylosing spondylitis. All patients underwent plain chest radiography (posteroanterior and lateral views), thoracic helical CT, high-resolution CT, and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: High-resolution CT revealed abnormalities in 18 patients (69%), whereas plain chest radiography revealed abnormalities in four patients (15%). The most common abnormalities seen on CT were interstitial lung disease (ILD) (n = 4), bronchial wall thickening and bronchiectasis (n = 6), paraseptal emphysema (n = 3), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (n = 3), tracheal dilatation (n = 2), and apical fibrosis (n = 2). CONCLUSION: This study, which describes high-resolution CT findings in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, reveals a spectrum of abnormalities unlike those described in previous reports in which researchers used plain chest radiographs as the sole imaging technique. In addition to apical fibrosis, high-resolution CT revealed nonapical ILD, bronchiectasis, paraseptal emphysema, and tracheobronchomegaly. Of these new findings, we believe that identification of ILD is the most important. We suggest that nonapical ILD should be actively sought as an explanation for pulmonary symptoms developing in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. High-resolution CT should form an integral part of such workup.

High-resolution chest CT in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to identify high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to determine their significance by correlation with clinical findings, plain chest radiography, and pulmonary function testing. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with documented SLE were prospectively studied. All patients had plain chest radiography (posteroanterior and lateral) thoracic spiral CT, HRCT, and pulmonary function testing performed. RESULTS: HRCT abnormalities were identified in 24 patients (70%), pulmonary function abnormalities were present in only 14 patients (41%), and the plain chest radiograph was abnormal in only 8 patients (24%). The most common CT findings were: interstitial lung disease (n = 11), bronchiectasis (n = 7), mediastinal or axillary lymphadenopathy (n =6), and pleuropericardial abnormalities (n =5). No correlation was found between disease activity, duration of disease, chest symptoms, drug therapy, smoking history, and the presence of abnormal HRCT findings. More importantly, no correlation was found between pulmonary function abnormalities and the presence or grade of interstitial lung disease or bronchiectasis as determined by HRCT. CONCLUSION: The results of this study, the first to describe the HRCT findings in SLE, suggest that airways disease, lymphadenopathy, and interstitial lung disease are common thoracic manifestations of SLE, whereas pleural abnormalities are less common than previously suggested. HRCT evidence of airways disease and interstitial lung disease was frequently present despite an absence of symptoms, a normal chest radiograph, and normal pulmonary function testing. HRCT provides a sensitive and noninvasive technique for detecting pulmonary involvement in SLE, with the added advantage that it can be performed in all patients, including those too compromised to undergo a surgical procedure. In patients with advanced disease, HRCT permits procedures such as bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy to be directed toward areas of particular interest.

Imaging of small cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.

Four cases of oesophageal small cell carcinoma are described. Radiological features at presentation included oesophageal strictures in association with bulky intrathoracic and intraabdominal lymphadenopathy. The subject is reviewed and the radiologically relevant features are emphasized.

Ileal loop conduit volvulus: a rare but reversible cause of bilateral ureteric obstruction.

Conduit volvulus is a very rare complication of ileal loop diversion. To date it has not been described in association with parastomal herniae. We report two such cases. Antegrade nephrostogram established the diagnosis and nephrostomy drainage facilitated spontaneous resolution of the volvulus with return to baseline renal function in both patients. Percutaneous drainage was the only intervention required in one case. For the second patient, percutaneous decompression permitted elective surgical refashioning of the conduit following clinical stabilization. Conduit volvulus in association with a parastomal hernia is a potentially reversible cause of renal impairment in patients with urinary diversions. The diagnosis depends on accurate radiological evaluation. The initial treatment of choice is percutaneous drainage with elective surgery when the patient's clinical status has improved.

Computed tomography of the retroperitoneum in patients with femoral neuropathy.

The authors illustrate the value of computed tomography (CT) of the retroperitoneum in patients presenting with femoral nerve signs. They describe 28 such patients, examined at a tertiary-care hospital between June 1990 and January 1993, in whom CT of the retroperitoneum contributed significantly to the diagnosis. The patients, 19 males and 9 females, ranged in age from 11 to 81 years. CT showed disease of the psoas compartment in 17 cases; the condition was due to a malignant lesion in 9 cases and was secondary to infection in 5 and to other causes in 3. Disease of the iliacus compartment was shown in 11 cases; it was due to a malignant lesion in 6 cases and was secondary to hemorrhage in 2, to infection in 1 and to a bursa in 1. The diagnostic features of the diseases encountered are discussed, and the importance of performing CT early is stressed.

MR diagnosis of haemorrhagic cystic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We report two cases of cystic renal masses considered indeterminate on sonography and CT, in which haemorrhagic contents were demonstrated on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spin echo T1-weighted axial and coronal (TR 700 ms; TE 17 ms) and T2-weighted axial (TR 3,000 ms; TE 90 ms) upper abdominal scans were obtained on a 1.5 T MR machine. RESULTS: Cyst contents were of high signal on both T1- and T2-weighted sequences, indicating internal haemorrhage, which was confirmed at surgery. CONCLUSION: There is a high propensity for haemorrhagic renal masses to mask carcinoma. By distinguishing blood from other contents, MRI had a noninvasive role in diagnosis and further management.

The American Thoracic Society lymph node map: a CT demonstration.

It is now a decade since the American Thoracic Society (ATS) lymph node map was first described. Recently it has been upgraded to include supraclavicular and superior diaphragmatic lymph nodes. By standardising terminology the map aids in the provision of a more valid data base to evaluate diagnostic techniques and therapeutic protocols. Despite these potential benefits the map has failed to gain widespread use amongst European radiologists. This essay illustrates the relationship of the nodal stations to normal anatomy utilizing calcified nodes on CT scans. The ease with which the map can be applied to cross-sectional anatomy is emphasized. It is hoped that the images will act as a teaching aid to promote greater acceptance and use of the ATS map. The relationship of the nodal stations to the new American Joint Classification of disease extent is also outlined.

Imaging of the mediastinum and hila.

This review covers the papers that we believe represent the most interesting and innovative developments in hilar and mediastinal imaging over the past year. One of the most exciting of these is the expanded role for sonography in imaging extracardiac mediastinal pathology. A number of reports highlight its use in directing mediastinal biopsy, for tissue characterization, and for staging lymphoma. The comparative merits of CT and MR imaging in staging bronchogenic carcinoma have been further clarified. The past year has also seen further attempts to characterize tumor versus postobstructive pneumonitis or collapse using MR imaging and CT. Other useful clinical work includes the documentation of signs distinguishing paramediastinal lung masses from primary mediastinal pathology. References are also made to clinically relevant aspects of MR scanning and advances in imaging of the airway, particularly cine and high-resolution CT of the trachea.

Percutaneous needle biopsy of lung nodules following failed bronchoscopic biopsy.

Though transthoracic needle biopsy (TNAB) is a well established method for obtaining pathologic diagnosis in lung masses, very often the procedure is only performed after a previous negative bronchoscopic biopsy (BB) attempt. In this study we analyzed the results of TNAB in 129 consecutive patients where one or more inconclusive BB had been performed. TNAB was diagnostic in 115 of 129 lesions (89%) and the yield was not significantly affected by size, cell type or tumour location. In 97 patients who underwent thoracotomy, cytologic specimens obtained by TNAB accurately reflected histologic tumour type in all cases. A false negative rate for malignancy on TNAB was 5%. Awaiting inconclusive BB results caused an average delay of three in-hospital days before TNAB. In those patients in whom a biopsy is warranted, TNAB is most useful as an initial diagnostic procedure in masses that are peripheral and in pleural based tumours, in mediastinal adenopathy associated with a lung mass and instead of a repeat, previously failed bronchoscopy.

Pleural granulocytic sarcoma: CT characteristics.

The CT findings in a case of granulocytic sarcoma of the pleura are presented and correlated with pathology sections. CT features included diffuse, circumferential pleural thickening, multiple pleural fluid locules and mediastinal adenopathy. Similarities with the appearance of mesothelioma and metastatic pleural disease are discussed and the literature reviewed.