Hemoperitoneum due to Ruptured Paraumbilical Vein in a Cirrhotic Patient with Portal Hypertension: Treatment by means of Coil Embolization

The paraumbilical vein is one of the anastomotic channels between the portal and systemic circulatory systems, and rupture of the intra-abdominal varix is an unusual complication of portal hypertension that can lead to life-threatening hemoperitoneum. We experienced a case of hemoperitoneum due to a ruptured paraumbilical vein revealed by ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT) and percutaneous transhepatic portography. The last mentioned demonstrated a dilated paraumbilical ve i n draining two branches of the left portal vein into the right external iliac vein, and we performed coil embolization at the site at which the presumed site of paraumbilical vein was presumed to cause hemoperitoneum. We describe this unusual case of hemoperitoneum due to a ruptured paraumbilical vein in a known liver cirrhosis patient in whom portal hypertension was treated by means of coil embolization.

CT Findings of the Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus (MD),according to the diabetic control state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 34 cases of pulmonarytuberculosis accompanied by DM. We divided the right lung three lobes and ten segments and the left into two lobesand eight segments and analyzed CT findings of bronchogenic spread, cavitary lesion, ill-defined nodule, lobularconsolidation, lobar and segmental consolidation, atelectasis, interlobular septal thickening, fibrotic band, andassociated findings such as lymph node enlargement, pleural effusion and empyema. We also tried to determine thetypical CT findings of pulmonary tuberculosis according to diabetic duration and controlled state of DM focusingby FBS 160 and HbA1C 8.0. RESULT: Among 34 CT scans, bronchogenic spread was seen on 29 (85.3%), cavitary lesionon 26 (76.5%), ill-defined nodules on 11 (32.4%), lobular consolidation on 14 (41.2%), lobar and segmentalconsolidation on 12 (35.3%), atelectasis on four (14.7%), and fibrotic band on eight (23.5%). Multiple cavitieswere present in 76.9% of total cavitary lesions, and consolidation with bronchogenic spread in 75%; associatedfindings were as follows: lymph node enlargement (n=1), pleural effusion (n=10), empyema (n=2), and pericardialeffusion (n=2). In 46.7% of cases, general tubercular lesions were in an unusual location, but among cases ofsecondary pulmonary tuberculosis, 73.9% of lesions were in the usual location. More lobular consolidation was seenin patients with less than FBS 160 on admission, and this result was statistically significant (p<0.05); CTfindings did not, however, differ according to diabetic duration and HbA1C. CONCLUSION: In patients with DM,general fubercular lesions were found infrequently, but in secondary tubereulosis, multiple cavitary lesions-inthe usual location-were very frequent. In patients with DM, CT findings of pulmonary tuberculosis did not varyaccording to the diabetic control state, except that in patients with less than FBS 160 on admission, there was agreater degree of lobular consolidation.

Dumbbell-shaped Epidural Cavernous Hemangioma: A Case Report

It has been reported that cavernous hemangiomas in the spine are generally located in vertebral bodies. Wereport a case of epidural cavernous hemangioma, a very rare condition, at the C7-T2 level. MR images showed adumbbell-shaped mass, with iso and high signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. The mass wasintensely enhanced following Gd-DTPA injection.

CT findings of exophytic hepatocellular carcinoma

We retrospectively evaluated the characteristic computed tomographic (CT) findings in nine patients with exohepatic hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) pathologically prove by surgery(n=2) or percutaneous needle biopsy(n=7). The CT findings of exohepatic HCC were correlated with clinical findings and compared with those of usual HCC Lesions were in the left lobe lobe(n=7) and right lobe(n=2) of the liver. All lesions showed a well-marginated hypodense mass with capsular enhancement on enhanced CT scan. The patterns of capsular enhancement were complete in five and partial in four cases. The portal vein thrombosis was seen only in one case. There was no difference between exohepatic HCC and usual HCC in clinical findings such as increased α-fetoprotein(α-FP), positive Hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), and underlying liver cirrhosis. In conclusion, the CT findings of exohepatic HCC were a well-defined hypodense mass with complete or partial capsular enhancement and these findings may be useful in differentiation from the tumors of adjacent organs.

Percutaneous biliary drainage in acute suppurative cholangitis with biliary sepsis

Acute suppurative cholangitis is a severe inflammatory process of the bile duct occurred as a result of partial or complete obstruction of the bile duct, and may manifest clinically severe from of disease, rapidly deterioration to life-threatening condition. We analyzed emergency percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in 20 patients of acute suppurative cholangitis with biliary sepsis to evaluate the therapeutic effect and complication of the procedure. The underlying causes were 12 benign diseases(stones) and eight malignant tumors and among eight malignant tumors, bile duct stones(n=4) and clonorchiasis (n=1) were combined. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed successfully in 17 of 20 patients improvement of general condition and failed in three patients. The procedures were preterminated due to the patient's condition in two and biliary-porto fistula was developed in one. After biliary decompression by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, effective and successful elective surgery was performed in nine cases, which were seven biliary stones and two biliary cancer with stones. Our experience suggests that emergency percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is an initial and effective treatment of choice for acute suppurative cholangitis with sepsis and a safe alternative for nonsurgical treatment.