[Role of lymphatic scintigraphy and surgery in congenital chylothorax]. / Intérêt de la scintigraphie lymphatique et place de la chirurgie dans les chylothorax congénitaux.

Chylothorax is defined as accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space. Chylothorax in the neonatal period can be classified into three distinct categories: congenital chylothorax (CC), syndromic or malformative chylothorax (MC) and postoperative chylothorax (CO). Although rare, chylothorax is the most common cause of pleural effusions in the neonatal period. Making a positive diagnosis is easy by examination of the pleural fluid, but its mechanism and especially the integrity of thoracic duct and its collateral branches is sometimes difficult to determine. Lymphoscintigraphy is the test of choice in etipathogenic diagnosis. This diagnostic tool can be coupled, if possible, to SPECT-CT (single photon emission tomography / computed tomography) providing more specific anatomical informations. Tratment of chylothorax is based on the drainage of the pleural fluid, the suppression of dietary fats and on parenteral nutrition. Surgery is recommended in the case of medical treatment failure. We report the case of a newborn with unilateral chylothorax who did not respond to medical treatment. Lymphoscintigraphy allowed to diagnose etiopathogenic mechanism underlying chylothorax and therefore to direct surgical treatment.

Bone scan in initial staging of prostate cancer.

Bone scans of 64 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were retrospectively analysed. Metastases were present in 29 patients (45%). In 75% of these cases, the pattern was manifeastly metastatic. The third threshold has high negative and positive predictive values. The topography of metastatic lesions is in favour of a systemic spread. There were no metastatic cases with a PSA level under 10 ng/ml. Multiple IAU and intense IAU are the most specific patterns of metastatic lesions. Also, focal lesions on sacroiliacs are also in favour of metastatic origin. The distribution of metastases is globally similar to that of the bone marrow in adult and systemic spread is the most probable. Staging bone scan must be reserved to patients with PSA level greater than 10 ng/ml, poorly degree of differentiation and advanced clinical stage.