Various congenital anomalies and anatomical variations of the spleen: a multimodality pictorial review.

There are various congenital anomalies and anatomical variations of the spleen (CAAVS). CAAVS are common and are often associated with systemic anomalies. Widespread use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in a variety of clinical situations has increased the detection of CAAVS. However, CAAVS are frequently overlooked and are occasionally misdiagnosed as pathologic disease entities. This article aimed to review the various manifestations of CAAVS with radiologic findings.

The effect of post-treatment N-acetylcysteine in LPS-induced acute lung injury of rats.

BACKGROUND: Oxidation plays an important role in acute lung injury. This study was conducted in order to elucidate the effect of repetitive post-treatment of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) of rats. METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups. LPS (Escherichia coli 5 mg/kg) was administered intravenously via the tail vein. NAC (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 3, 6, and 12 hours after LPS injection. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were obtained to evaluate the ALI at 24 hours after LPS injection. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) were measured in BALF. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured using lung tissues. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images were examined in each group at 72 hours apart from the main experiments in order to observe the delayed effects of NAC. RESULTS: TNF-α and IL-1ß concentration in BALF were not different between LPS and NAC treatment groups. The concentration of LPO in NAC treatment group was significantly lower than that of LPS group (5.5±2.8 nmol/mL vs. 16.5±1.6 nmol/mL) (p=0.001). The activity of MPO in NAC treatment group was significantly lower than that of LPS group (6.4±1.8 unit/g vs. 11.2±6.3 unit/g, tissue) (p<0.048). The concentration of NF-κB in NAC treatment group was significantly lower than that of LPS group (0.3±0.1 ng/µL vs. 0.4±0.2 ng/µL) (p=0.0001). Micro-CT showed less extent of lung injury in NAC treatment than LPS group. CONCLUSION: After induction of ALI with lipopolysaccharide, the therapeutic administration of NAC partially attenuated the extent of ALI through the inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Individual pulmonary vein atresia in adults: report of two cases.

We present two cases of individual pulmonary vein atresia without vestige of an involved pulmonary vein. On CT, we noted the absence or interruption of normal pulmonary venous structures, and the presence of abnormal vascular structures that represented collaterals for the involved lung parenchyma. On angiography, the atretic pulmonary vein was found to drain into the other ipsilateral pulmonary veins through the collaterals.

CT findings of colonic complications associated with colon cancer.

A broad spectrum of colonic complications can occur in patients with colon cancer. Clinically, some of these complications can obscure the presence of underlying malignancies in the colon and these complications may require emergency surgical management. The complications of the colon that can be associated with colon cancer include obstruction, perforation, abscess formation, acute appendicitis, ischemic colitis and intussusception. Although the majority of these complications only rarely occur, familiarity with the various manifestations of colon cancer complications will facilitate making an accurate diagnosis and administering prompt management in these situations. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review the CT appearance of the colonic complications associated with colon cancer.

MRI of gastric carcinoma: results of T and N-staging in an in vitro study.

AIM: To determine the accuracy of 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of gastric wall invasion and perigastric lymph node metastasis in gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Twenty resected gastric specimens containing 20 tumors were studied with a 1.5-T MR system using a commercial head surface coil. MR scanning was performed with a T1 weighted image (TR/TE = 500/20), and a T2 weighted image (TR/TE = 2500/90). MR findings were compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS: A T1-weighted image demonstrated three layers in the normal gastric wall. All of the gastric tumors were well demonstrated by lesions and location. In a MRI findings of gastric wall invasion, there was 1 case of T1, 7 of T2, 11 of T3. Pathologic results of resected specimens included 3 cases of pT1, 4 of pT2, and 12 of pT3. The accuracy of T staging with MRI was 74% (14 of 19). MRI findings of lymph node metastasis included 6 cases of N0, 13 cases of N1. The accuracy of the N staging with MRI was 47% (9 of 19). CONCLUSION: MRI has a high diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of the T staging of gastric cancer in vitro and thus potentially enables preoperative histopathologic staging.

Marked recovery from paraquat-induced lung injury during long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Paraquat-induced lung injury has been considered a progressive and irreversible disease. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term evolution of lung lesions in eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injuries who could be followed-up for longer than 6 months. METHODS: We retrospectively examined high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function test of eight survivors with significant paraquat-induced lung injurys. RESULTS: High-resolution computed tomography revealed a predominant pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation with traction bronchiectasis at 1-2 months after paraquat poisoning, a mixed pattern of irregularly shaped consolidation and ground-glass opacity at 3-12 months, and a mixed pattern of consolidation, ground-glass opacity, and honeycombing at 1-2 years. At 3-12 months after paraquat ingestion, the areas of consolidation had markedly decreased and the decreased lung volume had returned to normal. At 1-2 years after paraquat poisoning, the cystic changes had disappeared. At 2-3 years after paraquat poisoning, the decrease in forced vital capacity had greatly improved to the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery of nearly normal pulmonary structure and function may occur over several years following paraquat poisoning. Pulmonary function (both forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec) evolved toward normal in the long-term survivors of paraquat poisoning with initial prominent lung injuries.