New Consideration of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome Diagnosed by Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: As a rare malformation of the female reproductive system, Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS) was categorized into 3 classifications. It was recommended recently that, on the basis of the past classification, cervicovaginal atresia without communicating uteri should be newly added as classification 4. The surgical intervention will differ by type. To better optimize patient counseling as well as the preoperative evaluation and planning, our objective was to describe the ultrasound characteristics of each type of HWWS, including the new type. METHODS: From January 1995 to November 2015, 37 cases of HWWS in with complete ultrasound information confirmed by surgery in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were reviewed. We analyzed their ultrasound features, including hematometra, hematocervix, hematocolpos, and an ovarian chocolate cyst. RESULTS: All of the ultrasound images of the 37 patients showed uterus didelphys with ipsilateral renal agenesis. Compared with the other 3 types, classification 4 showed distinctive ultrasound characteristics. Most cases of classification 4 showed hematometra (5 of 7 [71.4%]) and an ipsilateral ovarian chocolate cyst (6 of 7 [85.7%]), which was significantly higher than in the other 3. A rudimentary uterine horn was also a distinctive characteristic in this type. Meanwhile none of the classification 4 cases showed hematocervix or hydrocolpos, which were common signs of the other 3. CONCLUSIONS: According to this new classification criteria for HWWS, ultrasound characteristics of the new classification 4 differ from the others. As classification 4 was suggested to have a different surgical option, we should pay attention to its ultrasound characteristics, which might help in providing more information about the treatment and prognosis to the gynecologist.

Sonographic features of the testicular adrenal rests tumors in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a single-center experience and literature review.

PURPOSE: Testicular adrenal rests tumor (TART) is a rare kind of benign tumor in the testis. It usually occurred secondary to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a hormonal disorder caused by hydroxylase deficiency. As the first-line examination method, ultrasound provides crucial diagnostic information for TART, although misdiagnosis to malignancy is quite common because of its rare prevalence. We aimed to summarize the sonographic manifestations of TART to improve the diagnostic accuracy and specificity. METHODS: Eight CAH patients with TART identified by ultrasound in our medical center were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and hormonal profile, semen analysis and treatment choices were collected. Sonographic examinations were performed at the first evaluation and interpreted by experienced radiologists individually. All patients received regular follow-up, and 5 patients undertook repeated scrotal ultrasound. A literature review of TART in CAH patients was conducted, with 123 patients from 23 articles since 1990 included. RESULTS: A total of 8 patients aged between 4 to 27 years old were enrolled. 7 of 8 (87.5%) patients exhibited bilateral testicular lesions. The sizes of the testicular lesions were between 0.18 ml to 5.68 ml, and all showed a clear boundary. 10/15 (66.7%) lesions were homogenously hypoechoic, 4/15 (26.7%) were heterogeneously iso-hypoechoic, and 1/15 (6.7%) were homogenously isoechoic. 10/15 (66.7%) lesions were hyper-vascular. The longitudinal follow-up of 5 patients showed testicular lesions changed in terms of size, echogenicity, and vascularity after steroid treatment. A potential correlation may exist between ACTH levels and tumor size (p = 0.066). From the literature review, 100/123 (81%) patients got bilateral lesions, and 95% of them were located near the mediastinum. 80/103 (78%) lesions exhibited a clear boundary, and predominant lesions (74%) were hypoechogenic. Vascularity was with great diversity. Seventy-nine lesions of 44 patients were followed-up by scrotal ultrasound, among which 29 (37%) remained unchanged, 29(37%) shrank, and 21(27%) disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Key sonographic characteristics of TART are: resembled lesions on both testes, located near the mediastinum, clear boundary, and changed in size or echogenicity after steroid treatment. These features can help radiologists to make an accurate diagnosis of TART.

Ultrasonography of Extrathyroidal Diseases Mimicking Intrinsic Thyroid Lesions.

Some localized or multisystem diseases as well as congenital anomalies occasionally involve thyroid and unusual findings will be identified during thyroid ultrasonography. Recognition of these entities will minimize unnecessary complementary examination and lead to appropriate management for patients. Therefore, we aim to review sonographic features of these extrathyroidal diseases that affect thyroid in adults. Our review derives from cases diagnosed in our hospital and published literature, with pictures accessible using as illustration. These disorders included intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma, intrathyroidal cystic findings of nonthyroid origin, metastases to the thyroid, esophageal diverticulum, paratracheal air cysts, and ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament.

Ultrasound combined with biochemical parameters can predict parathyroid carcinoma in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

PURPOSES: Parathyroid cancer (PC) is rare, but fatal condition. Preoperative prediction of PC remains challenging but meaningful. The aim of this study was to determine an effective model to predict PC in patients with parathyroid lesions >1.5 cm. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, we enrolled 30 patients with PC matched to 60 patients with parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia by admission year. All patients were diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and had parathyroid lesions >1.5 cm. Ultrasonic features of the two patient groups, as well as demographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics were retrospectively compared. Best subset selection and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the independent risk factors of PC. ROC curve and decision curve analysis were developed to evaluate the applicability of the new model. RESULTS: The best subset selection method and multiple logistic regression analysis showed that ultrasonic features of DR (two diameters' ratio of the lesion) and tumor infiltration in conjunction with intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level (collective model) were independent predictors of malignancy. Meanwhile, DR, shape, and tumor infiltration (ultrasound model) were found to be risk factors when only ultrasonic features were included in the multivariate analysis. The decision curve analysis showed that collective model outperforms ultrasound model with a better net benefit and a wider range of threshold probabilities. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic features in combination with iPTH level may be an applicable model for predicting PC and has a better potential to facilitate decision-making preoperatively.

Usefulness of preoperative ultrasonographic localization for diagnosis of a rare disease: Intrathyroid parathyroid lesions.

The aim of this article is to explore the value of ultrasonic diagnosis and localization of intrathyroid parathyroid diseases.The medical records of 15 patients with surgically confirmed intrathyroid parathyroid diseases were reviewed. We analyzed the diagnosis process and recorded sonographic features of these intrathyroid parathyroid lesions.The patients included 11 females (73%, 11/15) and 4 males (27%, 4/15) with a mean age of 46.2 ±â€Š10.2 years and a mean lesion size of 2.1 ±â€Š1.1 cm. A total of 11 intrathyroid parathyroid lesions in this study presented as hypoechoic (73.3%, 11/15). Nine lesions were located in the right lobe of the thyroid (60%, 9/15), and most of the lesions were located in the middle and inferior thyroid (80%, 12/15). All of the 15 intrathyroid parathyroid lesions were variable in shape and well defined. Only 1 lesion showed microcalcification, which was confirmed as parathyroid adenocarcinoma by the postoperative pathological diagnosis. The blood supply of 13 lesions was plentiful (86.7%, 13/15). A hyperechoic line on the parathyroid lesion was detected in 13 lesions (86.7%, 13/15). Based on the degree to which the parathyroid gland was embedded in the thyroid gland, 12 cases were classified as the complete type (80%, 12/15), and 3 cases were classified as the incomplete type (20%, 3/15). Ultrasound was used to diagnose 10 cases, and sestamibi-SPECT was used to diagnose 11 cases preoperatively; the 2 imaging methods were complementary.Ultrasonic preoperative localization could be helpful in the diagnosis and management of intrathyroid parathyroid diseases.

Sonographic features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma predicting high-volume central neck lymph node metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlations between the sonographic features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and the presence of high-volume lymph node metastasis. METHOD: Medical records of 2363 PTMC patients were reviewed form October 2013 to December 2015. All the patients with lymph node metastasis identified by histopathology were included. Preoperative sonographic features, such as multifocality, tumour size, echogenicity, calcification, vascularity of papillary microcarcinoma, and capsule invasion, were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the relationships between sonographic features and high-volume lymph node metastasis (number of metastatic lymph nodes >5). RESULTS: In total, 152 patients had high-volume central lymph node metastasis (6.4%, 152/2363). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the preoperative ultrasonic features of microcalcifications (OR = 3.33, p = 0.022), larger tumour size (>7 mm) (OR = 2.802, p < 0.001), and capsule invasion (OR = 2.141, p = 0.006) were independent risk factors for high-volume lymph node metastasis in the central compartment of PTMC. CONCLUSION: The sonographic features of primary papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid are correlated with high-volume central lymph node metastasis.