ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Extraadrenal myelolipomas are very rare tumors, with a characteristic, though nonspecific, radiologic appearance. Tissue sampling is necessary for diagnosis, and although most of these tumors are asymptomatic, surgical excision is often indicated. CASE: A 59-year-old male was found to have a large mass within the mesentery of the abdomen, incidentally discovered during an ultrasound examination for renal lithiasis. Computed tomography-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy yielded mature adipose tissue admixed with hematopoietic elements. CONCLUSION: FNA proved to be a rapid and effective modality for the diagnosis of this distinctly uncommon tumor.
Subject(s)
Mesentery/pathology , Myelolipoma/diagnosis , Peritoneal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Biopsy, Needle , Humans , Male , Mesentery/diagnostic imaging , Middle Aged , Myelolipoma/pathology , Peritoneal Neoplasms/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the CT findings in occipital condyle fractures in patients suffering craniocervical trauma. METHODS: Six occipital condyle fractures in five patients were analyzed. Because of clinical or plain-film findings, the craniocervical junction in each patient was imaged using thin-section, high-resolution CT. Axial data were reformatted in the coronal plane or in both coronal and sagittal planes. Clinical and radiologic findings associated with occipital condyle fractures reported in the English medical literature were correlated with our cases to determine conclusive predictive features indicating condylar injury. RESULTS: Two avulsion (type III) fractures in two patients, two compression (type I) fractures in one patient, and two compression fractures in two patients were diagnosed by CT. Specific predictive features indicating occipital condyle fracture could not be confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: CT greatly facilitates diagnosing and typing of occipital condyle fractures. Nonspecific parameters promoting CT after trauma are unexplained persistent upper-neck pain with normal plain-film findings, lower cranial nerve palsies, spasmodic torticollis, retropharyngeal or prevertebral soft-tissue swelling, and fractures of the atlas or axis.
