Hypertension and symptomatic hypokalemia in a patient with simultaneous unilateral stenoses of intrarenal arteries and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.

We present the case of a young patient with hypertension and unprovoked symptomatic hypokalemia. His workup uncovered secondary aldosteronism, moderate proteinuria, and, quite unusually, concurrent chronic hepatitis B. Detailed investigations, including renal angiography, renal vein sampling, and kidney biopsy, showed unilateral renin hypersecretion due to intrarenal arterial stenoses and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, presumed to be secondary to hepatitis B infection. Targeted pharmacotherapy reversed all clinical manifestations, normalizing blood pressure and serum potassium level and achieving full remission of proteinuria and loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and a dramatic decrease in viral load.

Failure and success of percutaneous angioplasty in a hypertensive child with bilateral renal artery stenosis.

We describe the clinical course of a 5-year-old girl with severe arterial hypertension that was uncontrollable with antihypertensive medication. Renal angiography revealed bilateral renal artery stenoses. Because percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) failed to dilate the stenotic lesions, a renal artery bypass grafting in both renal arteries was performed. The patient remained normotensive for 7 months, and after that the arterial pressure increased again. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrated stenosis at the peripheral and central anastomosis of the vein graft that was used for revascularization of the left kidney. PTRA was decided on and successful patency was achieved. The patient has now been normotensive for a period of 5 years.

Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma in a child.

Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma (NCMH) is a benign tumor that was described in 1998. The occurrence of this lesion in the nasal cavity of infants and children is especially rare, with only 21 cases reported in the international literature. We report a 12-month-old boy with respiratory distress due to nasal obstruction. Computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging examination demonstrated a soft-tissue mass obstructing the left nasal cavity. Digital subtraction angiography and preoperative superselective embolization with microparticles were also performed. The tumor was completely resected surgically. Histopathology and immunohistochemical analyses of the tumor disclosed a NCMH. The imaging characteristics of the tumor are described and the radiology literature is reviewed.

Management of cervical paragangliomas: review of a 15-year experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cervical paragangliomas are highly vascular neoplasms and should be considered in the evaluation of all lateral neck masses. The aim of this study is to review an institutional experience in the management of these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with 14 paragangliomas were treated in our institution during a period of 15 years. There were eight women (61.5%) and five men (38.5%) with a mean age of 41.3+/-15 years. A painless lateral neck mass was the main finding in 69.2% of patients. There was no evidence of a functional tumor. Carotid angiography was performed in all patients to define the vascular anatomy of the lesion. The 78.6% of paragangliomas underwent selective embolization of the major feeding arteries. Surgical resection followed within the next 48 h. RESULTS: The majority of the lesions were paragangliomas of the carotid bifurcation (85.7%), while one patient was diagnosed with a jugular and one with a vagal paraganglioma. In one patient, bilateral paragangliomas in the carotid bifurcation were detected. There was no evidence of malignancy in any case. Preoperative embolization has proven successful in reducing tumor vascularity. Vascular reconstruction was necessary in one patient. The main postoperative complication was transient cranial nerve deficit in seven (53.8%) patients, and a permanent Horner's syndrome was documented in one patient. No stroke occurred. The jugular paraganglioma was treated with irradiation due to skull base extension with significant symptomatic relief. CONCLUSION: Combined therapeutic approach with preoperative selective embolization followed by surgical resection by an experienced team offers a safe and effective method for complete excision of the tumors with a reduced morbidity rate.

Arterial embolization of giant hepatic hemangiomas.

Hepatic cavernous hemangiomas are usually small and asymptomatic. They are usually discovered incidentally and only a few require treatment. However, giant hemangiomas may cause symptoms, which are indications for treatment. We describe four cases of symptomatic giant hepatic hemangiomas successfully treated with transcatheter arterial embolization, performed with polyvinyl alcohol particles. There were no complications. Follow-up with clinical and imaging examinations showed disappearance of symptoms and decrease in size of lesions.