[Mycotic aneurysm of the iliac artery disclosed by an abdominal mass]. / Anévrysme mycotique de l'artère iliaque révélé par une masse abdominale.

BACKGROUND: Mycotic aneurysms are classic complications of infective endocarditis. Their diagnosis can be difficult when they are located in deep vessels. CASE REPORT: A 8 year-old boy was admitted for psoitis, tenderness of the left iliac fossa and a palpable mass. He was treated with antibiotics for 2 months for infective endocarditis, but vomiting and fever began after 3 weeks of therapy. Blood cultures showed Staphylococcus epidermidis. Ultrasonography of the mass showed findings compatible with an abscess but sampling of its contents showed blood. Immediate Doppler echography showed that the mass was an aneurysm of the left iliac artery. This diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan and aortography. The aneurysm was excised and a satisfactory repair was made using a Gore-tex graft. CONCLUSION: Although this mass had no clinical vascular characteristics, its origin should have been recognized because of the history of infective endocarditis and a better analysis of the ultrasonographic findings.

[Tumoral calcinosis. Apropos of a further case in a child]. / Calcinose tumorale. A propos d'une nouvelle observation chez l'enfant.

Tumor-like calcinosis is an infrequent condition whose etiology is poorly understood. Calcifications develop in the subcutaneous tissue neighboring the large joints. All age groups can be affected, although the disease is more common before the age of twenty years. A new case of tumor-like calcinosis in an eight-year-old girl is reported here. A huge mass in the right hip region and a smaller mass around the right elbow were found. Biologic studies revealed increased serum phosphorus levels with normal serum calcium levels. Roentgenograms confirmed the diagnosis of tumor-like calcinosis by showing calcified masses independent from the bones of the neighboring joint. Management consisted in complete removal of both masses. Outcome was favorable. In this patient's family, the disease appears to be inherited according to a dominant pattern, although recessive autosomal transmission is believed to be more common.

[Pneumoblastoma]. / Le pneumoblastome.

Pneumoblastoma is a rare malignant pulmonary tumor. A new case is reported in a 2 years 5 month-old girl. Because the lack of locoregional extension an isolated surgical excision was performed. However, 6 months later, a local relapse occurred, with inframediastinal extension and cerebral metastases. On the occasion of this case, the authors review the problems set by the histogenesis of this tumor, its therapeutic indications, poorly codified due to its rarity and, overall, its often unfavourable outcome.

[Contribution of echography in the course and treatment of acute osteomyelitis]. / Apport de l'échographie dans l'évolution et le traitement de l'ostéomyélite aiguë.

In a series of 43 cases of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, the ultra sound (US) allowed the diagnosis and the accurate localisation of the sub periosteal abscess. The early surgical treatment of the sub periosteal abscess since its nascent or, at least, before its rupture into the soft parts, changes completely the development of the illness and reduces considerably the chronicity forms. This early surgical treatment allows also to isolate rapidly the germ and to test its sensitiveness to antibiotics, which insures a better effectiveness to the medical treatment.

[Post-traumatic dissecting aortic aneurysm in adolescents]. / Anévrysme disséquant post-traumatique de l'aorte chez l'adolescent.

The authors report a case of chronic post-traumatic dissecting aneurysm associated with myocardial contusion in a 13 year old adolescent. They stress the rarity of this condition in children and discuss the diagnostic contribution of various imaging techniques.

[Cardiac failure caused by arteriovenous malformation in the area of Galen's vein. Treatment by endovascular embolization]. / Insuffisance cardiaque secondaire à une malformation artério-veineuse de la région de l'ampoule de Galien. Traitement par embolisation endovasculaire.

The authors report a case, in a 7-month-old girl, of cerebral arteriovenous malformation with a vein of Galen ectasia, complicated by a congestive heart failure and hydrocephalus. The clinical diagnosis was carried out by fontanelle auscultation and confirmed by: cerebral echography. Döppler exploration, computerized tomography and cerebral angiography. A cerebral embolization permitted reduction of cardiac insufficiency and stabilisation of the hydrocephalus.