Contribution of Serial Focused High-Resolution Renal Ultrasound in the Management of a Neonate in Acute Renal Failure.

Most newborns begin urinating within 24hours of life, and almost always by 48hours. Rarely, some of them are anuric beyond 24hours, thereby causing concern to parents and treating doctors. We report the case of a newborn who presented with anuria till 48hours after birth. High-resolution ultrasound examination, focusing on the renal medulla, demonstrated increased echogenicity at the tip of the pyramids. This was attributed to slow clearance of urinary sediment deposited there, which was causing obstruction to the urinary outflow. On monitoring serially over the next few days, the echogenic sludge was observed being slowly eliminated leading thereby to improvement in the urinary output. High-resolution ultrasound focusing on the renal pyramids played an important role in the observation and management of this transient event unfolding, in the urinary tract.

Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia as first presentation of Tuberculosis-Early diagnosis and successful treatment: A case series.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis of the myocardium is an extremely rare entity with few published case reports. Diagnosis is often delayed, and outcomes are unfavorable: particularly when cardiac involvement has been the presenting entity. METHODS: Four patients, aged 24-51 years, presented with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia (VA). None had a previous history of tuberculosis or any structural heart disease. Electrocardiogram during sinus rhythm and Echocardiography did not show any gross abnormality. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced computer tomography of thorax and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Attempts to obtain tissue (cardiac or associated mediastinal lymph nodes) were associated with increased risk to the patients thus indirect evidence of Mantoux skin test and interferon gamma release assay results were used to aid diagnosis. RESULTS: Based on clinicoradiological findings, patients were put on antitubercular therapy (ATT). Supportive therapy included antiarrhythmic drugs (all patients), catheter ablation (two patients), and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (one patient). Arrhythmia suppression was achieved in all patients predischarge. On a follow-up of 2-24 months, none of the patients has had any recurrence of arrhythmia. ATT and antiarrhythmic drug therapy have been stopped in two patients who have completed the 6 months of ATT. Their radiological lesions showed resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial tuberculosis presenting as life-threatening VA in a rare but definite clinical entity. A high index of suspicion and cardiac imaging can lead to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment that ensures survival in all patients.

Bronchial anthracofibrosis: The spectrum of radiological appearances.

Bronchial anthracofibrosis (BAF), caused by long-standing exposure to biomass fuel smoke, has emerged as a distinct pulmonary disease. It is usually seen in elderly females who have worked long hours in poorly ventilated kitchen full of smoke due to incomplete combustion of biomass fuel. The diagnosis is confirmed on bronchoscopic visualization of bluish-black anthracotic pigmentation along with narrowing/distortion of the affected bronchus. BAF has been associated with clinical conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and malignancy. Tuberculosis, once thought to be the causative agent for BAF, is now considered to be an association. BAF has a diverse radiological presentation and the presence of associated clinical conditions often confound the radiological picture. The imaging features of BAF include primary imaging characteristics, which pertains to the disease entity directly, and secondary features based on the presence of associated conditions. High-resolution computed tomography findings of multifocal bronchial narrowing and peribronchial cuffing are considered to be specific diagnostic features of BAF. In addition, the diagnostic probability is increased in the presence of mediastinal adenopathy and collapse/atelectasis with middle lobe syndrome being the most common presentation. This pictorial essay highlights the range of imaging appearances in patients with BAF.

Bronchocentric granulomatosis with extensive cystic lung disease in tuberculosis: An unusual presentation.

Tuberculosis is known to cause both cystic lung disease and bronchocentric granulomatosis (BCG). However, both are rare manifestations of this common disease. We report a case of BCG with extensive cystic lung disease in a young female who presented with fever, weight loss, and recurrent pneumothoraces with respiratory failure. Early diagnosis and treatment are imperative, as appropriate therapy may be life-saving in such cases.

Phenytoin-induced acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Lungs are target organs for toxic effects of various drugs due to many reasons. Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) is reported to have many extrapulmonary side effects. We are presenting a case of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) secondary to DPH, presenting with respiratory failure. Acute HP with respiratory failure is an uncommon drug side effect of the DPH therapy and is a diagnosis of exclusion. It requires detailed workup and exclusion of other causes along with evidence of improvement in the patient's condition after withholding DPH.

Acute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, shortly after occupational exposure to polluted muddy water, in a previously healthy subject.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) predominantly occurs in severely neutropenic immunocompromised subjects. The occurrence of acute IPA after brief but massive exposure to Aspergillus conidia in previously healthy subjects has been documented, although only six such cases have been reported. The diagnosis was delayed in all six of the affected patients, five of whom died. We report the case of a 50-year-old HIV-negative male, a water pipeline maintenance worker, who presented with acute-onset dyspnea and fever one day after working for 2 h in a deep pit containing polluted, muddy water. Over a one-month period, his general condition deteriorated markedly, despite antibiotic therapy. Imaging showed bilateral diffuse nodules with cavitation, some of which were surrounded by ground-glass opacity suggestive of a halo sign (a hallmark of IPA). Cultures (of sputum/bronchial aspirate samples) and serology were positive for Aspergillus fumigatus. After being started on itraconazole, the patient improved. We conclude that massive exposure to Aspergillus conidia can lead to acute IPA in immunocompetent subjects.

Acute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, shortly after occupational exposure to polluted muddy water, in a previously healthy subject / Aspergilose pulmonar invasiva aguda, logo após exposição ocupacional a água poluída barrenta, em indivíduo previamente saudável

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) predominantly occurs in severely neutropenic immunocompromised subjects. The occurrence of acute IPA after brief but massive exposure to Aspergillus conidia in previously healthy subjects has been documented, although only six such cases have been reported. The diagnosis was delayed in all six of the affected patients, five of whom died. We report the case of a 50-year-old HIV-negative male, a water pipeline maintenance worker, who presented with acute-onset dyspnea and fever one day after working for 2 h in a deep pit containing polluted, muddy water. Over a one-month period, his general condition deteriorated markedly, despite antibiotic therapy. Imaging showed bilateral diffuse nodules with cavitation, some of which were surrounded by ground-glass opacity suggestive of a halo sign (a hallmark of IPA). Cultures (of sputum/bronchial aspirate samples) and serology were positive for Aspergillus fumigatus. After being started on itraconazole, the patient improved. We conclude that massive exposure to Aspergillus conidia can lead to acute IPA in immunocompetent subjects.

A aspergilose pulmonar invasiva (API) ocorre predominantemente em indivíduos imunocomprometidos com neutropenia grave. A ocorrência de API aguda após exposição breve, mas maciça, a conídios de Aspergillus sp. em indivíduos previamente saudáveis já foi documentada, embora apenas seis casos tenham sido relatados. O diagnóstico foi tardio em todos os seis pacientes afetados, dos quais cinco foram a óbito. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 50 anos de idade, HIV negativo, trabalhador de manutenção de tubulação de água, que apresentou dispneia e febre de início agudo um dia após trabalhar 2 h em uma vala funda contendo água poluída e barrenta. Num período de um mês, seu estado geral se deteriorou acentuadamente, apesar da antibioticoterapia. Exames de imagem mostraram nódulos bilaterais difusos com cavitação, alguns dos quais circundados por opacidade em vidro fosco sugestiva de sinal do halo (uma característica da API). As culturas (de amostras de escarro/aspirado brônquico) e a sorologia foram positivas para Aspergillus fumigatus. Após iniciado o tratamento com itraconazol, o paciente melhorou. Concluímos que a exposição maciça a conídios de Aspergillus pode levar a API em indivíduos imunocompetentes.

CT enterography: state-of-the-art CT technique for small bowel imaging.

Multi-detector computed tomography has become a first-line imaging modality for the evaluation of small bowel disease. Its high speed and resolution ensure excellent imaging of the small bowel with simultaneous evaluation of the lumen and wall, adjoining mesentery, and extraluminal structures in the abdominal cavity. Optimal luminal distension is an important prerequisite. Computed tomography enterography (CTE) is a dedicated adaptation for the study of the small bowel. This review discusses CTE with emphasis on procedural technique and image interpretation.

Eagle syndrome.

Eagle syndrome occurs due to elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, which then may produce a pain sensation due the pressure exerted on various structures in the head and neck. When suspected, imaging helps in identifying the abnormally elongated styloid process or the calcified ligament. In recent years, three-dimensional CT (3DCT) has proved to be valuable in these cases. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with this syndrome in whom imaging with 3DCT conclusively established the diagnosis.

Thoracic peri-aortic fibrosis in a patient of psoriasis - Cyclosporine as a putative etiologic agent.

The article describes an unusual occurrence of peri-aortic fibrosis with consequent luminal stenosis in descending thoracic aorta in an adult case of Psoriasis. The report also illustrates the role of Multi-detector CT in the diagnosis of thoracic peri-aortic fibrosis. The patient had received cyclosporine on multiple occasions during acute exacerbation of disease. In absence of any concomitant infective-inflammatory system disorder or atherosclerotic process, the cyclosporine is suggested as a putative etiologic agent for peri-aortic fibrosis.

Case Report: Spontaneous aneurysm of ductus arteriosus: A rare cause of hoarseness of voice in adults.

Ortner's syndrome (left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy caused by cardiovascular pathology) is described in literature as occurring secondary to a variety of conditions. Spontaneous aneurysm of ductus arteriosus is a rare cause of this condition. We present a case where an adult patient with an aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus presented for the first time at the age of 62 years with hoarseness of voice secondary to left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.