[Imaging features of Takayasu's arteritis]. / Imagerie de l'artérite de Takayasu.

Takayasu's arteritis is the most frequent inflammatory arteritis in young patients. It is characterized by the presence of giant cells and typically involves specific vascular sites: aorta and its main branches and pulmonary arteries. Inflammatory arterial involvements leads to stenosis, aneurysm, occlusion and arterial wall thickening. Diagnosis relies mainly on imaging, namely Doppler US, CT, and MRI. The imaging features of this disease are reviewed based on a retrospective review of 36 patients imaged over a 13 year period.

[Imaging features of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis]. / Imagerie de la pyélonéphrite xantogranulomateuse.

Pseudotumoral xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a rare chronic renal infection. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult because of its non-specific presentation. The purpose of this retrospective review of 8 cases is to assess the value of different imaging techniques in the evaluation of this pathology. Six males and 2 females, aged 29 to 75 years were included. The right kidney was involved in 5 cases and the left kidney was involved in 3 cases. Involvement was upper polar in 2 cases and lower polar in 6 cases. A kidney stone was present in 3 cases. US showed a heterogeneous hypoechoic lesion in 3 cases, a homogeneous hypoechoic lesion in 3 cases, and isoechoic lesion in 1 case and a cystic lesion in 1 case. CT showed a focal solid lesion with peripheral enhancement in 4 cases and a cystic mass with peripheral enhancement in 3 cases. US features are non-specific. CT shows a non-specific renal mass, the presence of obstruction and demonstrates perirenal involvement. Preoperative MRI, not performed in our patient population, demonstrates specific changes in the perirenal fat that suggests the diagnosis. The diagnosis of pseudotumoral xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis can be suspected on a constellation of clinical and laboratory findings combined with non-specific features on CT and US and specific MRI features of perirenal fat changes. Percutaneous biopsy may be needed in selected cases to confirm diagnosis.

[Abnormality of hepatic perfusion secondary to superior vena cava obstruction: three case reports]. / Troubles de la perfusion hépatique secondaires à une thrombose cave supérieure: à propos de trois cas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the altered flow dynamics of liver perfusion that can be observed during superior vena cava obstruction. Through the description of three case reports of patients with SVC obstruction, the authors discuss the different collateral pathways used that result in systemic portal venous shunting creating this altered flow dynamics and their appearance in computed tomography.

[Vertebral and spinal cord hydatidosis: contribution of imaging]. / Hydatidose vertébromédullaire: intérêt de l'imagerie.

The authors report the case of a vertebromedullary hydatidosis revealed by medullar compression in a 40-year-old male patient. Magnetic resonance imaging showed lesions of the seventh and eighth dorsal vertebras, cystic lesions in the epidural space and in the perivertebral soft tissues. Surgical excision lead to clinical cure. Vertebromedullary hydatidosis is rare and severe. Modern techniques of imaging are very helpful for the diagnosis and the follow-up of patients after treatment.