Chronic Lipoid Pneumonia in a 9-Year-Old Child Revealed by Recurrent Chest Pain.

Lipoid pneumonia in children is a rare disorder due to accumulation of fatty oily material in the alveoli and usually associated with an underlying condition. In absence of obvious context, diagnosis remains difficult with nonspecific clinical and radiological features. We report the first case of voluntary chronic aspiration of olive oil responsible for exogenous lipoid pneumonia, in a previously healthy 9-year-old boy. Clinical presentation was atypical; LP was revealed by isolated chest pain. We discuss radiological and bronchial alveolar lavage characteristics suggestive of lipoid pneumonia. Conclusion. Lipoid pneumonia is a disease to be reminded of in children, which can occur with original findings in terms of etiology and clinical presentation.

[Chest computed tomography in children: indications, efficiency and effective dose]. / Tomodensitométrie thoracique chez l'enfant : un examen utile mais irradiant.

INTRODUCTION: New multidetector row computed tomography (CT) has made the imaging of younger children more feasible and extending CT indications to a wide range of pediatric respiratory diseases in the last few years. However, CT is a source of radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the main indications and the contribution of chest CT in pediatric pulmonology as well as induced radiation. METHODS: This was an observational, prospective study. Children whose chest CTs were analyzed during multidisciplinary meetings (radiologist, pulmonary pediatrician) were included from November 2009 to April 2010. We collected demographic data, CT results, contribution of CT to diagnosis and management, and radiation doses (dose-length product [DLP] and effective dose). Radiation doses were compared according to the CT scans (Lille University Hospital with 128-slice dual-source CT or Lille University Hospital single-source 64-slice CT, or CT performed outside the university hospital). RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five patients were included. The mean age was 6.4 years old. The main indications were analysis of bronchial disease (44%), infectious disease (16%), interstitial disease (14%), or a malformation (9%). The aim of CT was diagnosis (61%) or follow-up of previous lung diseases (39%). Diagnosis chest-CT directly contributed to diagnosis in 48% of cases and to treatment in 24%. Follow-up CT contributed to diagnosis in 38% and treatment in 19% of cases. DLP and effective doses were significantly lower for CT performed in the university hospital, especially with the 128-slice CT compared to the others (P<0.001). The effective doses were: 128-slice CT, 0.61 mSv ± 0.32; 64-slice CT, 1.24 mSv ± 0.97; outside university hospital, 2.56 mSv ± 1.98. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the role played by chest CT in children, which contributes to diagnosis and management of lung diseases. The main concern of CT application, especially in children, is the radiation burden. Children are more susceptible to the effects of radiation than adults and have a longer life expectancy to develop complications. Both radiologists and pediatricians should be aware of a potential risk and have to conjugate their efforts in reducing this risk. The wide range of radiation doses in this study for the same CT procedures underlines the extensive efforts still needed to limit radiation exposure in children.

[Spiral CT angiography in the diagnosis of central pulmonary embolism: comparison with pulmonary angiography and scintigraphy]. / Tomodensitométrie par balayage spirale volumique dans le diagnostic de l'embolie pulmonaire centrale: comparaison avec l'angiographie pulmonaire et la scintigraphie pulmonaire.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of spiral CT angiography in the diagnosis of central pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken in a population of 90 patients who were evaluated with spiral CT angiography (acquisition: 12 to 24 s with or without strict apnea; injection of 90 cm3 of 12, 20 or 30% contrast material at a rate of 4 to 7 cm3, selective pulmonary angiography of each lung (n = 55) and/or ventilation-perfusion (VP) scanning (n = 35). RESULTS: Among the 55 patients evaluated with both spiral CT and angiography, central pulmonary embolism was excluded in 19 patients (34%), assessed in 29 patients (53%) whereas CT examination was considered as inconclusive in 7 patients (13%) due to interpretive difficulties at the level of obliquely oriented arteries and/or presence of hilar lymph nodes (sensitivity: 90.5%; specificity: 82.6%). With spiral CT, the finding of 95 central emboli (3 main, 61 lobar and 31 segmental) corresponded exactly to the angiographic findings; spiral CT enabled direct visualization of intraluminal filling defects (n = 95) whereas the angiographic recognition of PE was based on direct (n = 57) and indirect (n = 38) signs. Spiral CT angiography was more sensitive and specific than VP scanning. CONCLUSION: Spiral CT angiography appears as a sensitive and specific noninvasive method for the diagnosis of central PE.

Diagnosis of central pulmonary embolism with helical CT: role of two-dimensional multiplanar reformations.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of multiplanar two-dimensional (2D) reformations in the diagnosis of central pulmonary embolism with helical CT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with suspected pulmonary embolism underwent contrast-enhanced helical CT of the pulmonary arterial tree. Two sets of images were analyzed: overlapped transverse sections and 2D reformatted images of 10 obliquely oriented arteries (intralobar pulmonary artery, A2, A4+5, A6, and A10 [A = artery]) selected on three-dimensional shaded surface displays of each pulmonary arterial tree. RESULTS: Among the 20 patients with unequivocal central pulmonary emboli on transverse sections (group 1), 2D reformations enabled a more precise analysis of the extent of thromboembolic disease in 13 cases. These patients underwent no further diagnostic procedure. In six patients (group 2), transverse sections alone excluded central pulmonary embolism with angiographic (n = 2) or scintigraphic (n = 4) confirmation. No additional information was provided with the 2D reformations. In nine patients with an uncertain diagnosis of pulmonary embolism on transverse sections (group 3), 2D reformations enabled us to exclude central emboli in all the cases, with angiographic (n = 4) or scintigraphic (n = 5) confirmation. In groups 1 and 3, 2D reformations provided adequate visualization of obliquely oriented arteries (n = 30) and enabled assessment (n = 2) or exclusion (n = 28) of endovascular changes, a clear distinction between endoluminal and perivascular abnormalities (n = 7), or a precise evaluation of extensive mural thrombi (n = 6). CONCLUSION: Our results show that 2D reformations enable confident exclusion of pulmonary embolism on inconclusive helical CT examinations and improve analysis of the extent of thromboembolic disease.

Solitary cystic lymphangioma.

A young girl had a large isolated and localized multicystic lesion of the right humerus, which was revealed by a pathological fracture. MRI and bone biopsy showed liquid-filled bone cysts. The final diagnosis was localized cystic lymphangiomatosis.

Experimental models of tracheobronchial stenoses: a useful tool for evaluating airway stents.

BACKGROUND: Stent implantation is a conservative alternative to open operation for treating benign tracheobronchial strictures. Most of the presently available stents were primarily designed for endovascular use. Their respiratory use entails a risk of iatrogenic complications. From a scientific and from an ethical point of view these risks justify preclinical evaluation of new respiratory stents in experimental models of central airway stenoses. Therefore, an attempt was made to develop such models in piglets and adult minipigs. METHODS: Tracheal stenoses were obtained by creating first a segmental tracheomalacia through extramucosal resection of cartilaginous arches. The fibrous component of the stenoses was then obtained through bronchoscopic application of a caustic agent causing progressive deep mucosal and submucosal injury. Stenoses of the main bronchi were created by topical application of the caustic agent only. RESULTS: These models demonstrated the typical features of benign fibromalacic tracheobronchial stenoses with constant recurrence after mechanical dilation. Preliminary experiments showed that short-term problems of tolerance of stent prototypes are easily demonstrable in these models. CONCLUSIONS: These experimental models, which simulate quite realistically human diseases, offer the opportunity to perfect new tracheobronchial stents specifically designed for respiratory use and to evaluate their long-term tolerance before their use in humans.

Hilar lymph nodes: identification with spiral CT and histologic correlation.

PURPOSE: To determine the appearance of normal hilar lymph nodes and associated soft tissue at spiral computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: At spiral CT in 50 healthy patients, peribronchovascular hypoattenuated areas of 42 right and 45 left hila were systematically evaluated. Histologic results were correlated in five additional cases. RESULTS: Hilar lymph nodes were depicted (a) in the right hilum (lateral to A2 [n = 33 (79%)], medial [n = 29 (69%)] or lateral [n = 11 (26%)] to the interlobar pulmonary artery, and medial to the lower-lobe pulmonary artery [n = 30 (71%)], A7 [n = 9 (21%)], and A8-10 [n = 8 (19%)]; and (b) in the left hilum (lateral to A2 [n = 22 (49%)], medial to the interlobar pulmonary artery [n = 45 (100%)], and the lower-lobe pulmonary artery [n = 27 (60%)], and in the angles of bifurcation of A7 + 8 and A9 + 10 [n = 18 (40%)]). Hilar lymph nodes were seen to be triangular or linear and to be less than 3 mm wide except around the left-lower-lobe pulmonary artery. CONCLUSION: Spiral CT accurately depicts normal hilar lymph nodes and their major anatomic relationships.

[Vascular tracheal compression presenting as bronchiolitis in infants]. / Compression trachéale vasculaire se présentant comme une bronchiolite chez le nourrisson.

BACKGROUND: Anomalies of the aortic arch and pulmonary arteries may produce compression of the trachea with chronic stridor or wheezing aggravated by crying, feeding and flexion of the neck. CASE REPORTS: Three infants, 3, 5 and 2 months-old, respectively, were admitted suffering from acute bronchiolitis. The first patient had intermittent wheezing for one month; lateral chest X-rays showed an opaque area inserted between the trachea and oesophagus and computed tomography showed pulmonary artery sling with tracheal stenosis which was successfully operated. The second patient displayed pulmonary atelectasia which required bronchoscopy; this technique showed tracheal stenosis which was due to pulmonary artery sling. The third patient had a history of congenital stridor: he required endotracheal intubation; a bronchoscopy performed because persistent pulmonary atelectasia showed tracheal stenosis which was secondary to a double aortic arch. The condition was improved after surgical correction. CONCLUSIONS: A history of stridor and/or wheezing in patients admitted for bronchiolitis must lead to consider the possibility of vascular compression of the trachea and to perform specific investigations.