Unusual Tc-99m MDP and I-123 MIBG images in focal pyelonephritis.

A 6-year-old boy presented with an inflammatory syndrome. Because Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy revealed increased tracer uptake at the upper pole of the right kidney, further studies were oriented towards a diagnosis of renal or adrenal pathology. I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) accumulated at the site of the abnormal MDP uptake. The diagnosis of neuroblastoma or allied disorder was excluded on the basis of other investigations and further evaluation, suggesting that the MIBG uptake was a false-positive. Findings on clinical imaging, laboratory findings, Tc-99m DMSA imaging, sonography, and CT scanning were highly suggestive of acute focal pyelonephritis.

[I-MIBG scintigraphy in the diagnosis of neuroblastoma in children]. / I-MIBG-scintigrafie in de diagnose van neuroblastomen bij het kind.

Since the early eighties, *I-MIBG (= *I-metaiodobenzylguanidine), which is stored in the neurotransmitter storage granules of chromaffin cells, has been increasingly used for the detection of pheochromocytomas and allied sympathoadrenal pathologies. The aim of this paper is to illustrate, by means of clinical examples, the role of *I-MIBG-scintigraphy in child neuroblastoma and to underline its original place, compared with other imaging techniques, in determining the neuro-ectodermal origin of a tumor as well as in establishing the extension of the lesions at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up.

99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy in acute urinary tract infection in children.

24 children with symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) underwent systematically ultrasound studies (US) and 99mTc-DMSA renal scans. Among the 15 patients considered as acute pyelonephritis (APN) on clinical grounds, the scan was abnormal in 12 cases, in contrast with only 1 abnormal scan in the clinical subgroup of the lower UTI. Among the 10 abnormal scans that were repeated later on, 6 did completely normalize. US showed only once a parenchymal appearance suggestive for APN. Our findings suggest that the DMSA scan has to be considered at present as the most sensitive imaging technique for the detection of APN.

Consolidating the role of *I-MIBG-scintigraphy in childhood neuroblastoma: five years of clinical experience.

In recent years, *I-MIBG (*I-metaiodobenzylguanidine), which is transported and stored in the chromaffin cells, has been shown to allow good visualization of neuroblastomas in children. This paper deals with 30 *I-MIBG-scans performed in 20 children: 16 with neuroblastoma, 3 with retinoblastoma, and 1 with a malignant paraganglioma. A high detection rate was found for both primary and secondary sites of neuroblastoma. *I-MIBG was generally superior to 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases. Our experience illustrates the unique place of *I-MIBG-scintigraphy compared with other imaging techniques: it makes it possible to define the nature of the tumour, particularly in cases with normal catecholamine levels; to establish how extensive the lesions are at the time of diagnosis; and to confirm complete remission. No abnormal *I-MIBG uptake was noted in the 3 cases of retinoblastoma.

Antenatal diagnosis of urological disorders by ultrasound: a critical review.

The suspected diagnosis of urological disorders made on the basis of antenatal ultrasonography was compared with the final outcome in 23 cases. In 18 cases the initial diagnosis could be confirmed, whereas 5 showed no postnatal urological anomalies. Further efforts should be undertaken to improve prenatal diagnosis in order to facilitate treatment as early as possible.

Cervical esophageal perforation diagnosed by endoscopy in a premature infant: review of recent literature.

A case of cervical esophageal perforation in a premature infant by an orogastric polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube is reported. Perforation appeared as an esophageal atresia, suspected because of the inability to aspirate gastric secretions. Initially, atresia was confirmed by an esophagogram, but endoscopy revealed a "double esophagus" with a normally located and developed esophagus and a blind mediastinal fistula starting at the opposite side of the glottis. The "double esophagus" was confirmed by an esophagogram, followed by a contrast study in the pharynx. Esophageal perforation in the neonate is an iatrogenic disease that may mimic esophageal atresia. We recommend endoscopy instead of contrast studies for suspected esophageal atresia.

Evaluation of time interval difference digital subtraction fluoroscopy in patients with cystic fibrosis.

In this study the potential of thoracic subtraction fluoroscopy has been evaluated on the basis of our experience with this functional imaging modality in patients presenting with cystic fibrosis. The method, which consists of subtracting dynamic digital fluoroscopic images of the breathing chest in the time interval difference (TID) mode, applies to the study of the lucency variations during the respiratory cycle and provides dynamic functional information about ventilation and/or perfusion and diaphragmatic kinetics, without any injection and with minimal irradiation. To assess the validity of the TID procedure, our results were compared with standard roentgenography, clinical data, and scintigraphic findings, with emphasis on the latter. The limitations and advantages of TID compared with scintigraphy are discussed. Three groups of discrepancies emerge which do not discredit TID. TID offers rather the advantage of providing anatomic pictures and unique dynamic information, which is emphasized.

Puncture of unilateral renal cyst in utero.

Although most authors do not recommend prenatal puncture of a unilateral single cystic renal mass, in case the contralateral kidney is normal and there is sufficient amniotic fluid, this case report shows that the procedure, which can be done very carefully under ultrasonic guidance, can be helpful in establishing the presumed diagnosis.

Neonatal diagnosis of the immotile cilia syndrome.

The immotile cilia syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by inappropriate motility of the cilia. The clinical symptoms include recurrent sinopulmonary infections and reduced fertility. In about half of the cases, situs inversus is encountered. The case presented is of a two-day-old boy in whom diagnosis was based on ultrastructural abnormalities. Early diagnosis permitted immediate symptomatic treatment and an absence of infections during a 37-month period of observation. Nasal biopsies performed in six newborns with various degrees of respiratory distress secondary to classic neonatal respiratory problems and in a healthy one-day-old newborn demonstrated the presence of normal ciliary structures at birth. In cases without situs inversus, diagnosis of the immotile cilia syndrome may be difficult. The importance of early diagnosis and management is stressed; the ultrastructural abnormalities are present at birth in newborns with the immotile cilia syndrome.