A pitfall in the echographic diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm: when para-aortic lymph nodes are the trick.

The abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially fatal asymptomatic disease. It progresses silently with clinical complications that, when they occur, constitute a very serious event, frequently resulting in the patient's exitus. As a result, early detection and treatment are critical because the right therapeutic strategy can halt the disease's natural progression. AAA is frequently discovered as an incidental finding during an abdominal ultrasound or a plain X-ray of the abdomen, which is required for other pathologies. The primary diagnostic tool for AAA identification is abdominal B-mode ultrasound. It is cheap, widely available, non-invasive, and has high diagnostic sensitivity. However, this diagnostic tool may fail in rare cases due to misleading anatomical findings. We present an unusual flaw in the echographic AAA evaluation that should be considered during the diagnostic work-up.

In vitro evidence for the involvement of H2S pathway in the effect of clodronate during inflammatory response.

Clodronate is a bisphosphonate agent commonly used as anti-osteoporotic drug. Throughout its use, additional anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been reported, although the benefits described in the literature could not solely relate to their inhibition of bone resorption. Thus, the purpose of our in vitro study is to investigate whether there are underlying mechanisms explaining the anti-inflammatory effect of clodronate and possibly involving hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Immortalised fibroblast-like synoviocyte cells (K4IM) were cultured and treated with clodronate in presence of TNF-α. Clodronate significantly modulated iNOS expression elicited by TNF-α. Inflammatory markers induced by TNF-α, including IL-1, IL-6, MCP-1 and RANTES, were also suppressed following administration of clodronate. Furthermore, the reduction in enzymatic biosynthesis of CSE-derived H2S, together with the reduction in CSE expression associated with TNF-α treatment, was reverted by clodronate, thus rescuing endogenous H2S pathway activity. Clodronate displays antinflammatory properties through the modulation of H2S pathway and cytokines levels, thus assuring the control of the inflammatory state. Although further investigation is needed to stress out how clodronate exerts its control on H2S pathway, here we showed for the first the involvement of H2S in the additive beneficial effects observed following clodronate therapy.

The popliteomeniscal fascicles: from diagnosis to surgical repair: a systematic review of current literature.

BACKGROUND: Popliteomeniscal fascicles (PMF) are considered the posterolateral meniscocapsular extensions which connect the lateral meniscus to the edge of the tibia. PMFs disruption leads to hypermobility of the lateral meniscus with pain and locking sensation. Recognition and treatment of PMFs tear remain very challenging. The aim of this systematic review is to collect and analyse the articles concerning popliteomeniscal fascicle disruption from diagnosis to surgical approach. METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched. Various combinations of the keywords "Popliteomeniscal Fascicles", "Lateral Meniscus", "Popliteal Hiatus", "Posterolateral Corner", "Tear" and "Surgical Repair" were used. The original literature search identified a total of 85 articles comprising of duplicates. The PRISMA guidilines were followed. Studies in English language and published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Articles with level of evidence I to IV were included RESULTS: A total of three articles were included in the qualitative analysis. All the articles included are retrospective case series, with a level of evidence IV. Studies concerning patients with pre-operative imaging MRI and clinical assessment, reporting surgical technique and clinical outcomes assessed by physical examination and/or subjective evaluation scales were analysed. CONCLUSIONS: MRI and the Figure-4 test allow to assess PMF tears pre-operatively. Arthroscopic evaluation constitutes the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis. Although surgery is considered resolutive for symptoms, there is still controversy about the most appropriate technique. Further higher quality studies are required.

MRI of perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease.

Perianal fistulas represent one of the most critical complications of Crohn's disease (CD). Management and treatment need a multidisciplinary approach with an accurate description of imaging findings. AIM: This study aspires to assess the significative role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the study of perianal fistulas, secondary extensions, and abscess in patients with CD. Therefore it is essential to standardize an appropriate protocol of sequences that allow the correct evaluation of disease activity and complications. METHODS: We selected and reviewed ten recent studies among the most recent ones present in literature exclusively about pelvic MRI imaging and features in CD. We excluded studies that weren't in the English language. CONCLUSIONS: MRI has a crucial role in the evaluation and detection of CD perianal fistulas because, thanks to its panoramic and multiplanar view, it gives excellent anatomic detail of the anal sphincters. Today MRI is the gold standard imaging technique for the evaluation of perianal fistulas, mainly because this technique shows higher concordance with surgical findings than does any other imaging evaluation. Surgical treatment is often required in the management of perianal fistula in patients with CD, which often have complex perineal findings.

Does multiparametric US improve diagnostic accuracy in the characterization of small testicular masses?

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in ultrasonography (US) have produced new innovative techniques for the non-invasive assessment of testicular masses. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of multiparametric US, including gray-scale, Color-power Doppler and real-time elastography (RTE) analysis, in the characterization of testicular lesions. METHODS: Fifty-four patients (median 42.2 years; range, 10-64 years) with testicular lesions detected with gray-scale US and power Doppler US were evaluated with RTE. The tissue elasticity was assessed in all lesions. Hard lesions were suspected of being malignant while testicular lesions with normal or decreased tissue stiffness (soft lesions) were considered benign. Intraoperative findings were the standard of reference. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated for each US method and in combination. RESULTS: Forty-six of the 54 lesions (85.2%) were testicular malignant tumors. Thirty-five out of 46 (76%) were ≥2 cm [seminomas (n=18), mixed seminomatous and/or nonseminomatous tumors (n=9), embryonal carcinomas (n=2), immature teratomas (n=3) and Leydig cell tumors (n=3)] while the remaining 11 tumors were <2 cm [seminomas (n=5), mixed germinal cells tumors (n=2), immature teratomas (n=2) and Leydig cell tumors (n=2)]. Eight out of 54 lesions (14.8%) were benign lesions (orchitis n=2, dermoid cyst n=1, adrenal rest n=1, papillary cystadenoma n=1, sclero-hyaline nodule n=1, focal fibrosis n=1 and post-traumatic focal fibrosis n=1). RTE showed the presence of hard pattern in 40 out of 46 (87%) malignant tumors and in 2 out of 8 (25%) of benign lesions. The combination of gray-scale US, Color-power Doppler and RTE aided a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 83%, a negative predictive value of 100%, a positive predictive value of 91% and accuracy of 90%. CONCLUSIONS: RTE demonstrated to increase the diagnostic accuracy of conventional US in the characterization of testicular lesions providing additional information on tissue stiffness. The multiparametric US evaluation has proven to increase the diagnostic performance in the characterization of testicular lesions.

Computed tomography densitometric study of anti-angiogenic effect of regorafenib in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

AIM: Regorafenib induces radiological changes in liver metastasis among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The standard criteria used to evaluate solid tumor response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) may be limited in assessing response to biologic agents with anti-angiogenic action. PATIENTS & METHODS: A total of 67 hepatic lesions in 32 selected patients were analyzed to evaluate tumor attenuation as measured by Hounsfield unit (HU) and size changes. RESULTS: Following two cycles of regorafenib, tumor HU values decreased in the in 73.1% (49/67) of lesions (average HU changes -25.6%) while tumor size increased in 64.2% (43/67) of them (average size changes +25.4%). CONCLUSION: The computed tomography density changes evaluation may be an additional tool, in combination with tumor sizing, to evaluate tumor response in patients treated with regorafenib.

Sphenoidal pneumosinus dilatans due to anterior skull base meningiomas - CT and MRI aspects: Report of two new cases and literature review.

We report on two patients disclosing a pneumosinus dilatans (PSD) and an anterior skull base meningioma. Our findings, together with those from the pertinent literature, support the thought that this infrequent anomaly of paranasal sinuses is a useful clue to suspect a concomitant meningioma. Moreover, hypotheses concerning the pathophysiology of PSD are discussed.

Foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region: assessment with multidetector computed tomography.

Maxillofacial region is an anatomically complex area, representing a crossroads of different systems and apparatus. It is defined as the anatomical region lying on the facial skeleton from the inferior outline of maxilla up to an ideal plane passing through the skull base and the inion point, posteriorly. In this area, the digestive and respiratory systems connect to themselves and open in the mouth and sino-nasal cavities. Even the orbits with the ocular globes and their surrounding tissues lie in the same area. Despite the little exposed surface, the chance of penetrating injuries to this site is at least similar to other regions of the body due to the "pivotal role" of the face in human relations. Moreover, the external openings of respiratory and digestive systems and the orbital cavities represent an easy way in for foreign bodies (FBs). Based on the access paths, it is possible to distinguish ingested, inhaled, penetrating, and iatrogenic (owing to surgery) FBs. FB may stop in oral and ocular cavities, or proceed deeply, reaching the surrounding soft tissues, the facial bones, or other cavities such as sino-nasal region, mouth, orbits, and further spaces of the head and neck region, like infratemporal fossa, parapharyngeal space, and sphenopalatine fossa. Furthermore, FBs accidentally introduced and lost in visceral cavities (mouth, ear, and nose), particularly in pediatric subjects, may be quickly removed during direct inspection.

Imaging of adrenal incidentaloma: our experience.

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical, biochemical and radiological features in 35 patients with adrenal incidentaloma found on CT and/or MRI and to define the management of patients with adrenal masses. MATHERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2011 and May 2013, 35 patients (19F, 16M) with an adrenal mass incidentally discovered on CT and/or MRI were enrolled in a retrospective study. Thirthy-two patients underwent MDCT and eight 1.5 MRI. RESULTS: Patients consisted in 16 males and 19 females, aged between 25 and 89 yo. Adrenal lesions were most commonly found in the sixth decade; in relation to the side of the mass, 20 were found on left side, 15 on the right. Of all the mass analyzed, 3 were <1 cm diameter, 29 between 1 and 4 cm, 3 > 4 cm. The most common finding on CT was adenoma-like appearance (19 cases in relation to size, 14 in relation to attenuation values). Hormonal analysis showed 32 cases of nonfunctional masses and 3 cases of hormone activity. Adrenalectomy was performed in ten patients having adenoma (5 cases), malignant lesions (2 cases), pheocromocitoma, cyst and myelolipoma (1 case). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic approach to adrenal incidentaloma is focused on the definition of malignancy and hormonal activity; the characterization is needs hormonal and radiological (CT and/or MRI) evaluation, even if a fine needle aspiration is needed in selected cases. Benign and/or non-hypersecreting hormone lesion with <4 cm diameter could be sent to follow-up; active adrenal tumors or >4 cm diameter lesions with malignancy suspicious or growth during follow-up could be treated with surgical adrenalectomy.

Multi-detector computed tomography in the evaluation of variants and anomalies of aortic arch and its branching pattern.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the prevalence of aortic arch anatomy and branching pattern variants and anomalies in 1359 patients by Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Angiography. METHODS: Retrospective multi-centric study including exams performed for various clinical issues with the same acquisition and injection protocols on 64-slices scanners. Multi-Planar reformations and Volume Rendering Images were available in all cases. RESULTS: A total of 965 patients (71%) had normal aortic arch anatomy and branching pattern. Anatomical variations and anomalies were present in the remaining 394 patients (29%). The most common variation was the common origin of the brachiocephalic and the left common carotid arteries (302/1359 cases, about 22%). The most common anomaly were aberrant right subclavian artery (4/1359, about 0.5%) and right aortic arch (4/1359 cases, about 0.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our multicentric series is, as far as we know, the largest reported to date for the definition of the prevalence of variation and anomalies of aortic arch anatomy and branching pattern. Knowledge of such findings may avoid both in the immediate and in the long term an injury to the patient, decreasing the rate of complications during surgery and interventional radiology procedures in the head and neck district.

[Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the testis: indications and results]. / Biopsie testicolari sotto guida ecografica: indicazioni e risultati.

Ultrasound examination of the testis is the imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of intratesticular focal lesions. In spite of its high sensibility, eco-Doppler-elastography is lacking of specificity in discrimination between benign and malign lesions, not always allowing us to make a definitive diagnosis of malignancy. When a diagnostic doubt persists, for such lesions that are indeterminate at clinical and radiological evaluation, it is possible to recur to ultrasound-guided testicular needle biopsy. This paper describes the main application scenarios of testicular fine-needle aspiration under ultrasound guidance and the experience in our institute.

Phonemic awareness and reading ability: an investigation with young readers who are deaf.

The study examined the relationship between phonemic awareness and reading ability in students who are deaf. The research questions were: (a) What is the relationship between phonemic awareness and reading ability in students who are deaf? (b) Does phonemic awareness facilitate the reading development of these students? Participants were 29 children of primary school age enrolled in a residential school for students who are deaf. The dependent variable, reading ability, was measured by a retelling task. The independent variables were age, language ability, and phonemic awareness. Language ability was determined through expert analysis of participant interviews. Phonemic awareness was measured with a word-to-word matching task. Descriptive techniques and multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. Results indicated that reading ability was significantly correlated to language ability, but not to phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness did not contribute to any of the variance in reading ability. The study results call into question the role of phonemic awareness as a prerequisite for reading development.