Can radiographic plain film be used to determine the depth of the tumour bed in the absence of surgical clips for breast boost planning.

PURPOSE: A number of studies have demonstrated the importance of using surgical clips to define the tumour bed in breast boost radiotherapy. In the absence of such clips, other techniques suggested to improve boost location have included CT and ultrasound (US). Determination of the depth of the tumour bed is important in the selection of electron energy. This study was conducted to prospectively compare the depth of the lumpectomy cavity as defined by ultrasound to radiographic plain film evaluation of the anterior border of the pectoralis muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one breast-cancer patients treated at the Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University between December 2004 and December 2006 were prospectively identified as having no surgical clips within the lumpectomy cavity. All patients underwent both US evaluation of the depth of tumour bed (D1) and radiographic evaluation of the depth of the anterior border of the pectoralis muscle (D2). These depth dimensions (D1 and D2) were compared using a paired t-test. The correlation of both methods was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: Depth dimensions by US were shorter than the radiographic film method in 85% of patients. The absolute mean difference of the depth (radiographic films minus US) was 0.129 cm. A paired t-test demonstrated that the difference between these two methods to be not statistically significant (p= 0.27). The absolute difference of depth between the two methods ranged from 0 to 0.5 cm. A significant correlation was found between US and radiographic film measurements (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Plane radiographic film evaluation of the anterior border of the pectoralis muscle can be used to define the depth of the tumour bed in patients who have no surgical clips. However, the plane radiographic film method determines only the depth, not the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the tumour bed. Additional information from US is needed to delineate the target volume for the tumour bed boost. In the absence of surgical clips, the authors recommend integration of both methods in breast boost planning process.

Urachal abnormalities: clinical and imaging features.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical manifestation of urachal abnormalities may mimic many intraabdominal or pelvic diseases. We present clinical, imaging and pathological findings of a spectrum of complicated urachal abnormalities and determine whether imaging can be used to differentiate tumour from infection. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 2006, seven patients with surgically-proven complicated urachal abnormalities had their clinical, imaging and pathological features reviewed. RESULTS: There were three men and four women, aged 12-73 years. Four patients had infected urachal remnants and three had urachal carcinoma. The main clinical findings in infected urachal remnants were dysuria, abdominal pain and mass. The patients of urachal carcinoma presented with abdominal mass and haematuria. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in all cases, and ultrasonography (US) was performed in four cases. CT in all cases showed a mass located extraperitoneally in the midline just beneath the rectus abdominis muscle and extending from the umbilicus to the dome of the urinary bladder. There were one well-defined cystic mass and six ill-defined solid masses. US showed one cystic mass and three echogenic masses. Cystography was performed in one patient and it showed indentation to the dome of the urinary bladder with mucosal irregularity. The cystic mass and one ill-defined solid mass were pathologically-proven to be xanthogranulomatous inflammation. The other five solid masses were found to be adenocarcinoma in three and chronic non-specific inflammation in two cases. CONCLUSION: Preoperative diagnosis of urachal abnormalities may be suggested by clinical presentation and imaging features. However, it is difficult to differentiate tumour from infection based on imaging features alone.

CT findings of tuberculous peritonitis.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis is still challenging and very important. Early and accurate diagnosis leads to an effective therapy and good survival rates. With the widespread use of computed tomography (CT) in the abdomen, it is important to be familiar with the spectrum of CT appearances seen in tuberculous peritonitis. Our retrospective study aims to describe the common CT features of this disease. METHODS: Abdominal CT images in 17 patients with tuberculous peritonitis in our institution from January 2002 to December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. CT findings were evaluated for the presence of ascites, the abnormal patterns of mesentery, omentum and peritoneum. RESULTS: Ascites and mesentery involvement were present in all patients. The most common pattern of mesenteric changes was thickened soft tissue strands with crowded vascular bundles (65 percent). The involvement of the omentum was present in 15 patients (88 percent), and the most common type was smudged pattern (82 percent). Peritoneal involvement was present in 15 patients (88 percent). Smooth uniform thickening pattern was the most common type (76 percent). CONCLUSION: Common features in the patients with tuberculous peritonitis include the combination of free ascites, thickened strands with crowded vascular bundles within the mesentery, smudged pattern of the omental involvement and smooth uniform thickening of the peritoneum.

Computed tomography of biliary cystadenoma and biliary cystadenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Biliary cystadenoma (BCA) and biliary cystadenocarcinoma (BCAC) are rare biliary ductal neoplasms of the liver. This study aims to describe the computed tomography (CT) findings of these neoplasms and to distinguish between both entities. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT findings of five patients with proven BCA and seven patients with proven BCAC at our institution from July 2000 to August 2006. The CT parameters were analysed, including number, size, location, and characteristics of the cystic lesion: presence and number of internal septation, calcifications and enhanced mural nodule. RESULTS: All 12 patients had a solitary, large well-defined intrahepatic cystic lesion. Lesions in all five patients with proven BCA (100 percent) and six patients with proven BCAC (86 percent) had a multilocular appearance. The remaining patient with proven BCAC had a unilocular lesion. Smooth, thin septa and walls were found in five patients with BCA (100 percent). The enhanced mural nodule at the septum or wall was identified in seven patients with BCAC (100 percent) but was not found in the BCA patients (p-value is less than 0.001). The other parameters including size, location and number of septa had no statistically significant differences between BCA and BCAC. CONCLUSION: BCA and BCAC should be considered in the differential diagnosis, when a solitary large well-defined multilocular intrahepatic cystic lesion is detected in a middle-aged woman. The presence of an enhanced mural nodule is the most important finding to suggest BCAC.

Computed tomography of blunt abdominal trauma in children.

Computed tomography (CT) plays a major role in diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma of haemodynamically-stable children. The purpose of this article is to review the CT findings in children with hepatic, splenic, renal, adrenal, pancreatic, bowel, and mesentery injuries and in children with blunt abdominal trauma and active haemorrhage.

Benign breast lesions mimicking carcinoma at mammography.

Many benign breast lesions pose diagnostic challenges. These lesions include abscess, haematoma, radial scar, post surgical scar, diabetic mastopathy, focal fibrosis, sclerosing adenosis, granular cell tumour, extra-abdominal desmoid tumour, medial insertion of pectoralis muscle and sternalis muscle, and axillary lymphadenopathy (due to HIV infection, collagen vascular lesions, tuberculous and bacterial lymphadenitis). Radiologists should be familiar with the characteristic imaging features of these benign lesions, and should include these benign lesions in the differential diagnosis whenever malignant-appearing findings are encountered. Correlation of the patient's clinical features with the mammographical findings and additional use of ultrasonography, fine-needle aspiration biopsy or core biopsy are helpful in establishing the final diagnosis and obviating unnecessary surgical intervention. In some of these lesions, surgery may be avoided while in others, the appropriate surgical procedure may be planned. This pictorial essay aims to illustrate the mammographical features of these lesions in a group of proven cases.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (62). Gallstones with acute cholecystitis.

A 75-year-old man presented with right upper quadrant pain and fever. Ultrasonography showed gallstones, gallbladder enlargement, gallbladder wall thickening and pericholecystic fluid collection. Cholecystectomy confirmed the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. The differential diagnosis of right upper quadrant abdominal pain and fever is discussed, and the role of imaging in its evaluation is emphasised.