A bump: what to do next? Ultrasound imaging of superficial soft-tissue palpable lesions.

Soft-tissue palpable lesions are common in clinical practice, and ultrasound (US) represents the first imaging option in the evaluation of a patient with a soft-tissue swelling. A full and systematic US assessment is necessary, however. This includes grayscale, color- and power-Doppler, spectral-Doppler, and possibly elastography facilities, as well as a trained operator. Several lesions showing characteristic US features can be diagnosed confidently, without any further work-up, and the high spatial resolution of ultrasound in the superficial layers can be a powerful tool to discriminate their etiologies. Second-level options, to be reserved for indeterminate cases or those suspected malignant at initial ultrasound, include magnetic resonance imaging, percutaneous fine-needle aspiration or biopsy, and surgical-excision biopsy. In this article, we discuss the proper US approach for addressing superficial soft-tissue lesions.

Parapelvic cysts, a distinguishing feature of renal Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry's disease (FD) is a rare, multi-organ lysosomal disease, caused by the deficiency of the enzyme α-galactosidase A, and is difficult to diagnose. Although parapelvic cysts (PC) were previously associated with FD, their prevalence and significance are unclear. Methods: The present study aimed to: (i) evaluate, by renal ultrasound, the real prevalence of PC and of their determinants in a multicentre, nationwide cohort of FD patients (n = 173, Study 1) and (ii) ascertain whether a greater accuracy of PC detection improved their identification, in FD patients from a single centre (n = 67, Study 2). In both studies, for each FD patient, an age- and renal function-matched subject was selected for comparison (1:1). Results: In Study 1, PC were detected in 28.9% of FD subjects and in only 1.1% of control subjects (P < 0.001). The presence of other renal abnormalities did not differ between the groups, nor differences exist in the main demographic and laboratory parameters between the groups. In Study 2, the greater accuracy of ultrasound increased PC prevalence from 29.8% to 43.3% in the same subjects (P < 0.05). In both studies, no correlation was detected between PC and the main demographic, clinical and biochemical parameters, including use of enzyme replacement therapy (P < 0.1, minimum value). Finally, no difference existed between FD patients with and without PC. Conclusions: The present study suggests that the presence of PC in renal patients should alert physicians to consider the diagnosis of FD, primarily in subjects with an unclear family history of renal disease and in the presence of other stigmata of the disease.

Corpus callosum involvement: a useful clue for differentiating Fabry Disease from Multiple Sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been proposed as a possible differential diagnosis for Fabry disease (FD). The aim of this work was to evaluate the involvement of corpus callosum (CC) on MR images and its possible role as a radiological sign to differentiate between FD and MS. METHODS: In this multicentric study, we retrospectively evaluated the presence of white matter lesions (WMLs) on the FLAIR images of 104 patients with FD and 117 patients with MS. The incidence of CC-WML was assessed in the two groups and also in a subgroup of 37 FD patients showing neurological symptoms. RESULTS: WMLs were detected in 50 of 104 FD patients (48.1%) and in all MS patients. However, a lesion in the CC was detected in only 3 FD patients (2.9%) and in 106 MS patients (90.6%). In the FD subgroup with neurological symptoms, WMLs were present in 26 of 37 patients (70.3%), with two subjects (5.4%) showing a definite callosal lesion. CONCLUSION: FD patients have a very low incidence of CC involvement on conventional MR images compared to MS, independently from the clinical presentation and the overall degree of WM involvement. Evaluating the presence of CC lesions on brain MR scans can be used as a radiological sign for a differential diagnosis between MS and FD, rapidly addressing the physician toward a correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment options.

Humongous right atrial lipoma: a correlative CT and MR case report.

A 66-year-old man was referred to our department for further investigation of a right atrial mass incidentally discovered on ultrasound examination (US). US showed an oval mass arising from the free wall of the right atrium and projecting into the atrial cavity. The mass was hypoechoic and had a broad base of attachment on the free wall of the right atrium. This case was referred to our department in order to perform an MR cardiac examination. Our diagnosis was supported by a CT scan study that confirmed the diagnosis of a cardiac lipoma subsequently confirmed at surgery.

Atypical Presentation of Ewing's Sarcoma with a Single Left Orbital Metastasis.

BACKGROUND: We present an uncommon case of Ewing's sarcoma in a 16-year-old boy. CASE REPORT: This case can be considered unique because of the atypical presentation, normal laboratory tests and absence of the typical symptoms such as pain, masses or swelling, fatigue or weight loss, breathing problems linked to lung metastases or pathologic fractures. The only event that brought the patient to our attention was the sudden onset of left proptosis. CONCLUSIONS: The final histopathology together with CT and PET-CT findings led to the diagnosis of a multi-metastatic Ewing's sarcoma involving the orbit, skeleton, bone marrow and lymph nodes.

Lobular intraepithelial neoplasia arising within breast fibroadenoma.

BACKGROUND: Fibroadenomas are the second most common breast pathology occurring in young women under the age of 35 years old. Fibroadenomas can be classified as simple or complex according to histological features. Complex fibroadenomas differ from simple fibroadenomas because of the presence of cysts (3 mm), sclerosing adenosis, epithelial calcifications, or papillary apocrine changes. Most fibroadenomas are clinically identifiable. In 25% of cases, fibroadenomas are non-palpable and are diagnosed with mammography and ultrasound. Differential diagnosis with well differentiated breast cancer is often necessary, particularly with medullary or mucinous tumors. Calcification findings within fibroadenomas by mammogram have to be investigated. The age of a lump is usually reflected by calcifications. Microcalcification can hide foci of carcinoma in situ when they are small, branching type, and heterogeneous. However, many morphological possibilities may not be reliable for deciding whether a certain calcification is the product of a malignant or a benign process. From a radiological point of view, fibroadenomas containing foci of carcinoma in situ can be indistinguishable from benign lesions, even if the incidence of carcinoma within fibroadenomas is estimated as 0.1-0.3%, and it could be a long-term risk factor for invasive breast cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old woman presented with a 1.5-cm palpable, smooth, mobile lump in the lower-inner quadrant of her right breast. Standard mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal mammograms showed a cluster of eccentric popcorn-like calcifications within the fibroadenoma. After lumpectomy, a definitive histological examination confirmed the intra-operative diagnosis of a benign mass. However, lobular intraepithelial neoplasia foci were found, surrounded by atypical lobular hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of an old benign breast lump might be supported by fine needle aspiration biopsy or core biopsy before initiating follow-up. According to our experience, when patients are older than 40 years and have a familial history of breast cancer, we prefer to carry out lumpectomy with follow up to avoid the risk of underestimation in situ foci within the lump.