Cystic echinococcosis, review and illustration of non-hepatic manifestations.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis (hydatid cysts), is an infection with a wide spectrum of manifestations, from asymptomatic infection to fatal disease. Ultrasound (US) allows screening, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment guidance and follow-up of CE under many circumstances. Hydatid cysts are predominantly observed in the liver but many other organs can be involved. As part of a series of publications, herewith we present a review describing the characteristic imaging features of the broad variety of organs which can be involved.

Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis of the hepatobiliary tract - the role of new imaging techniques for improved diagnosis.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis (hydatid cysts) is an infection with a wide spectrum of manifestations, from symptomatic infection to fatal disease. Ultrasound (US) allows screening, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment guidance and follow-up of CE under many circumstances. Hydatid cysts are predominantly observed in the liver. Herewith we present a review to demonstrate established and innovative imaging features of CE of the hepatobiliary tract.

Self extrusion on an ingested foreign body: a case report.

Foreign body ingestion is a frequent issue in paediatrician's practice. Foreign bodies often pass the gastro-intestinal tract spontaneously but can sometimes generate complications (1% of the cases). The migration of ingested foreign bodies is rare, but their spontaneous extrusion through the skin is even rarer and was previously described only in the neck. We report an unusual case of a spontaneous extrusion of an ingested foreign body through the skin of the lower abdomen. Observation: A 2 year-old boy, presented with a 2cm inflammatory swelling of the hypogastric region. Laboratory analysis showed hyperleukocytosis (16 7770 /mm3) and high C reactive protein level at 12mg/L. Ultrasonography and computed tomography allowed us to diagnose a parietal foreign body extruding through the skin and to eliminate associated complication (perforation, vascular fistula…). The foreign body was extracted by a surgical incision. This observation is very rare but it is also uncommon because of the nature of the ingested foreign body which was a wooden piece. Its ingestion was explained by a paediatric mental disorder.

Soft Tissue Myoepithelial Carcinoma in a Child: Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Myoepithelial carcinoma was only recently recognized to occur primarily in soft tissue. Only a small number has been reported in children. OBSERVATION: We report a rare case of myoepithelial carcinoma of the leg in a 4-month-old boy with a good response to chemotherapy initially. However, he presented secondarily during chemotherapy a local and metastatic progression. CONCLUSIONS: The rarity of the tumor and unusual age of discovery have prompted us to report this case. Our case suggests that this disease can have an aggressive behavior. This is why we advise a rapid and correct diagnosis followed by an aggressive treatment.

Multi slice computed tomography approach in the assessment of supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Multi Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) on the understanding of the spatial displacement of supracondylar humeral (SCH) fractures, their classification and their management. A prospective study was conducted on 63 children with SCH fractures Gartland II or Lagrange 2 and 3, over a period of 30 months. The patients were 42 boys and 21 girls, aged between 3 and 14. All patients were imaged using conventional radiography. Thirty-two patients underwent MSCT and 3-dimensional reconstructions. According to the Lagrange classification system, 16 patients had type 2 fractures and 47 had type 3 fractures. In type 2, the posterior cortices of both medial and lateral columns were bent on CT (n = 6). In type 3, CT-scan made it possible to distinguish two subgroups. In the first subgroup (n = 12) there was fracture of both anterior and posterior cortices of the lateral column; however, the posterior cortical surface of the medial column was preserved. In the second subgroup (n = 14), there was no cortical surface contact in the medial column, but the continuity of the posterior cortical surface of the lateral column was preserved. Based on a new concept of column stability, the use of CT-scan has allowed for a better understanding of supracondylar fractures in children.

Childhood soft tissue chondroma. Two cases report.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue chondroma is a rare benign tumour, which is generally seen in adult. It consists of islands of heterotopic cartilaginous tissue and most localised on the hands and the feet. The hypothesis that microtrauma is involved in the aetiology of this condition has yet to find any factual support. AIM: To report two paediatric cases of soft tissue chondroma. CASES REPORT: The first is a soft tissue chondroma of the posterior aspect of the left axilla in a 3-year-old boy. CT scans showed a spherical fatty density soft tissue mass without evident calcifications, attaching the infraspinous muscle. The second patient is a 9-year-old girl presented with a right auricular finger soft tissue chondroma. Radiographs showed several punctuated calcifications with adjacent bone scalloping. MRI revealed a lobulated soft tissue mass attaching the flexor tendons. The tumours were entirely removed. Histological examination showed cartilaginous tissue in both cases. At follow-up, the patients had good functions without evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Simple excision should suffice to treat soft tissue chondroma but care should be taken to make the excision complete if recurrence are to be avoided.

Imaging of benign lipomatous tumours of the limbs in children.

BACKGROUND: Lipomatous tumours of the limbs in children are rare, and lipoblastoma is the most common soft tissue tumour. Most of them have typical imaging features, but their clinical presentation and their management may vary, depending on the exact histological subtype. The aim of our study is to illustrate the main clinical, radiological and histological features of the different benign lipomatous tumours in children. METHODS: Review of the literature. RESULTS: It is about a descriptive study of paediatric cases of benign lipomatous tumours of limb in children. CONCLUSION: The imaging findings are helpful and can provide essential components for the diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of acetabular residual dysplasia in developmental dysplasia of the hip: a preliminary study of 27 patients.

Thirty-one hips in 27 young girls, treated for developmental dysplasia of the hip in the authors' institute since 2003, showed persistent radiographic evidence of residual acetabular dysplasia. These hips were registered as candidates for pelvic osteotomy. A prospective study was conducted and these hips were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the average age of the patients was 5 years. MRI measurement of acetabular angle and acetabular head index in 2 different landmarks (bone and cartilage) was performed. The results were correlated with plain radiographic film evolution. MRI studies revealed sufficient cartilaginous acetabular coverage in 27 hips, cartilaginous acetabular dysplasia in 2 hips, and short acetabulum in 2 others. The 27 hips with thick cartilage of the acetabular roof were subsequently followed up by plain radiographs. The average follow-up period was 2.1 years. The authors observed a spontaneous progressive ossification of the cartilaginous acetabular roof in all the 27 cases. In 4 cases, the correction of the acetabular angle was complete. They concluded that MRI promotes more accurate selection of patients for pelvic osteotomy and aids in the choice of the most appropriate type of osteotomy. Clinical imaging examples are presented and need to be further evaluated.

Elastofibroma dorsi: A report on 6 cases.

Elastofibromas are slow growing fibroblastic proliferations, which occur mainly in elderly women. They are typically located in the right subscapular region and are usually asymptomatic. The characteristic findings in ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging usually allow to make the diagnosis. We report six cases of elastofibroma dorsi, the clinical presentation and radiology findings are reviewed and compared with literature.

[Radiation-induced intracerebral cavernous angioma]. / Le cavernome cérébral radio-induit. A propos d'un cas.

Recently, there have been several case reports of cavernous angiomas appearing after radiation to the brain, typically in children. The time interval between irradiation and the detection of the cavernous angioma varied from three to nine years and the doses from 24 to 60 grays. We report the appearance of a cavernous malformation in a young girl 3 years after radiation therapy for a brain tumor.