Spinal Involvement in Patients with Chronic Non-Bacterial Osteomyelitis (CNO): An Analysis of Distinctive Imaging Features.

Spinal involvement by chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) has been increasingly reported in recent years, often being presented as a diagnostic dilemma requiring differential diagnosis with bacterial spondylodiscitis and/or neoplasia. This study was aimed at identifying the imaging features of CNO facilitating its differentiation from other spinal diseases. Two radiologists assessed the imaging studies of 45 patients (16 male and 29 female, aged from 6 to 75 years, 15 children) with CNO collected from 5 referential centers. Spinal lesions were found in 17 patients (2 children and 15 adults), most often in the thoracic spine. In children, the lesions involved short segments with a destruction of vertebral bodies. In adults, the main findings were prominent bone marrow edema and osteosclerosis, endplate irregularities, and ankylosing lesions extending over long segments; paraspinal inflammation was mild and abscesses were not observed. In both children and adults, the involvement of posterior elements (costovertebral and facet joints) emerged as an important discriminator between CNO and neoplasia/other inflammatory conditions. In conclusion, a careful inspection of imaging studies may help to reduce the number of biopsies performed in the diagnostic process of CNO.

Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of Renal Function and Parenchymal Changes in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging for noninvasive assessment of pathologic changes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-four patients with CKD and 20 healthy volunteers were examined on a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit. The examination consisted of morphologic sequences and diffusion-weighted echo-planar sequence with 10 b values. Diffusion parameters were calculated with the use of mono- (apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC) and bi-exponential model: pure diffusion coefficient (D) and perfusion fraction (Fp). Blood samples to assess the serum creatinine level were taken immediately before examination. Ultrasound guided biopsies were performed in less than 30 days from MRI and were scored by an experienced nephropathologist. Parametrical unpaired t-test and ROC curve analysis were used to investigate differences in diffusion parameters in relation to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to assess relationship between diffusion parameters and laboratory and histopathological markers of renal damage. P-value <0.05 indicated statistical significance. RESULTS Both ADC and D correlated positively with eGFR (respective r 0.74 and 0.72), however D showed a more significant correlation with histopathology: while D correlated negatively with parameters reflecting chronic glomerular (r -0.48) and tubulo-interstitial changes (r -0.47), ADC correlated only with interstitial infiltrations (r -0.44). Flow-related diffusion parameters showed high standard deviation. CONCLUSIONS IVIM imaging is sensitive to functional and morphologic changes in CKD. The separation of influence of Fp from true diffusion improves the assessment of chronic changes in renal parenchyma.

Ischiofemoral Impingement Syndrome: A Case Report and a Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Ischiofemoral impingement syndrome is characterized by a hip pain associated with abnormalities in quadriceps femoris muscle and ipsilaterally reduced distance between the lesser trochanter and the ischium. Thus far, the congenital variant of this entity has been reported exclusively in women. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 22-year old male with painful hips in whom on the basis of the imaging studies the constitutional variant of ischiofemoral impingement was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Ischiofemoral conflict should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of hip pain, particularly among women, but also in patients with valgus hip deformity and other abnormalities leading to reduction of the space between femoral and ischial bones independent of gender.

Pulmonary post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder with a CT halo sign.

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) comprises a spectrum of clinically relevant lymphatic diseases that occur in patients after transplantation. The PTLD-related mortality is high and the clinical picture and location of the lesions are very variable. For these reasons, the diagnosis of PTLD is difficult and new diagnostic tools are sought. CASE REPORT: A 31-year-old woman, 17 years after kidney transplantation, presented with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, fever, and weakness and was diagnosed with pulmonary PTLD. Computed tomography appearance was not typical for lymphoma and demonstrated multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules and masses with a halo sign. Initial differential diagnosis included invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and acute Wegener granulomatosis. Since cultures from bronchoalveolar lavage and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were negative, videothoracoscopy with lung biopsy was performed. Pathology analysis revealed diffuse large T-cell lymphoma with histopathologic features of infiltrative growth along the lung interstitium, vessel invasion, and hemorrhagic necrosis possibly explaining the presence of a halo sign. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest PTLD should always be suspected in a transplant recipient presenting with the CT halo sign. Moreover, the correlation of this radiological phenomenon with the patient's clinical presentation and severe pathologic findings allows us to conclude that the thoracic halo sign in PTLD may reflect a worse prognosis.

Radiological spectrum of pulmonary infections in patients post solid organ transplantation.

Pneumonia remains an important source of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. Since clinical findings are nonspecific and cultures may be time-consuming, imaging plays an important role in establishing the probable etiology of pneumonia. Plain films are used as an initial study. However, they have a limited capacity in differentiating the causative factors. HRCT is used as a problem-solving tool in patients with unclear plain film findings and/or no response to treatment. The main advantage of HRCT is a very detailed depiction of the lung parenchyma. Even though HRCT findings are not always specific, there are several sings that are more common in certain types of pneumonia. The aim of the article is to present radiological findings suggestive of a particular causative microorganism and show how they can narrow the differential diagnosis when coupled with clinical data.

Early everolimus-induced pneumonitis in a renal transplant recipient: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Everolimus is a derivative of sirolimus, and is considered to be free of the latter's pulmonary toxicity. Recently, a few cases of everolimus-induced lung injury have been reported. Early recognition of drug-induced lung disease is important because it can be reversed if appropriate therapy is instituted soon after the onset of symptoms. CASE REPORT: We present the case of an everolimus-induced pneumonitis in a renal transplant recipient, which occurred as early as on the 5th day after everolimus introduction. Shortly after the transplant procedure, the patient presented with typical symptoms of pulmonary infection. Chest radiography and computed tomography showed bilateral patchy lung infiltrates with peribronchial distribution that were suggestive of bacterial pneumonia. However, there was no improvement with empiric antibiotic treatment. Repeated cultures from the blood, sputum, and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) also were negative. Tuberculosis, Pneumocystis jiroveci, and Cytomegalovirus infections were excluded. A transbronchial lung biopsy performed 9 days after the onset of symptoms revealed mild nonspecific inflammation with a fibrotic component in the bronchial walls. Withdrawal of everolimus on the third day of hospitalization and after 8 days of its usage resulted in quick clinical recovery and resolution of radiological abnormalities within 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of drug-induced pulmonary toxicity is difficult because it is essentially a diagnosis of exclusion. Lack of response to empiric antibiotic treatment and an imaging pattern of organizing pneumonia should raise suspicion of everolimus-induced pneumonitis in patients undergoing therapy with this drug.

[Embolotherapy of recanalized symptomatic pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in a patient with Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome: a case report and review of literature]. / Powtórna embolizacja objawowych przetok tetniczo-zylnych pluc u pacjentki z choroba Rendu-Oslera-Webera: opis przypadku i przeglad pismiennictwa.

Rendu-Osler-Weber disease is a genetic disorder resulting in mucosal and celiac angiodysplastic lesions. We present a case of a 47-year-old woman with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease manifesting with telangiectasias on the skin and mucosa of the face and pulmonary and hepatic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Due to cardiovascular and neurological (recurrent brain abscess) complications of pulmonary AVMs, the patient was qualified for the embolization of a recanalized AVM in the right lung. Endovascular embolotherapy is the method of choice in treatment of pulmonary AVMs allowing for avoidance of complications and prolonged survival. Due to the risk of recanalization of embolized AVMs, a long-term follow up is necessary.