Lemmel's syndrome due to giant periampullary diverticulum: report of a case.

Lemmel's syndrome is a rare cause of obstructive jaundice in the absence of stones or tumors, commonly due to periampullary duodenal diverticulum (PAD). CT scan with the oral and intravenous administration of iodinated contrast media, was crucial to exclude the presence of stones or tumours, but esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) confirms the diagnosis. We report a case of a 72 -year-old woman affected by Lemmel's syndrome secondary to a giant PAD, suffering from right upper abdominal quadrant pain and pancreaticobiliary disease. Subsequently we proceed to analyse the pathogenesis of PAD, and later to discuss pitfalls, tips and tricks useful to make a correct diagnosis, in order to achieve an accurate management.

"Split atlas" in a trauma and nontrauma patient: two different case reports for a rare congenital malformation.

Congenital atlas abnormalities are rare and often asymptomatic findings, accidentally detected in trauma and, more rarely, in nontrauma patients. Rachischisis in both anterior and posterior atlas arches, condition defined as ''split atlas," is extremely uncommon and it may well be confused with fracture. Being able to discriminate between these 2 conditions is an essential step in patient care management. In this article, we report 2 cases of split atlas ascertained in both trauma and nontrauma patients. The first concerning a 54-year-old man fell from a 2 m scaffold, and the second related to a 25-year-old woman suffering from treatment-resistant headaches. Subsequently we proceed to analyse the embryology of these abnormalities, and later to discuss pitfalls, tips and tricks useful to a correct diagnosis, in order to achieve an accurate management of split atlas. Specifically, we outline the crucial radiological features to identify, that are beneficial to an efficient differential diagnosis between congenital atlas abnormalities and fracture. These include smooth corticated margins of the cleft, and <3 mm lateral displacement of C1 lateral masses.

A multimodal diagnostic approach to inverted papilloma: Proposal of a novel diagnostic flow-chart.

PURPOSE: Inverted papilloma (IP) is a tumor usually arising from sinonasal cavities, with tendency for recurrence and possible malignant transformation. Along with endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a crucial role in defining preoperative staging, tumor origin, and possible differential diagnosis, with significant repercussions on therapeutic planning. However, at present no consensus has been reached concerning IP diagnostic workup. Aim of this study is to assess CT and MRI sensitivity and specificity in identifying IP imaging hallmarks, evaluating their global diagnostic accuracy in order to define a novel diagnostic flowchart. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed multimodal imaging of patients with histologically confirmed IP and mimics. Two neuroradiologists in consensus retrospectively rated the presence of typical imaging features of IP, both on CT and MRI scans. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were assessed for both the techniques. Final results were expressed as ROC curves and relative areas under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: The AUC considering CT parameters were 0.42, whereas the AUC considering MRI parameters were 0.54. Combining the 2 techniques and limiting the evaluation to the most distinctive features such as focal hyperostosis and CCP, the AUC was 0.79. CONCLUSION: MRI can provide better tissue characterization and higher diagnostic accuracy in case of suspected IP, whereas CT is more useful in determining bony involvement. Here we propose a possible diagnostic flowchart for IP, based on the assumption that the combination of the imaging techniques allows to optimize the clinical assessment and the subsequent therapeutic planning.