Comparison of pathological findings and accumulation of fluorin-18 fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography/computed tomography: A case of relapsing polychondritis.

A 70-year-old woman with a hoarse voice and dry cough was referred to our hospital. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed abnormal accumulation of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) at the nasal septum, larynx, trachea, bronchus, and costal cartilages. The maximum standard uptake values of FDG accumulation in the nasal septum and costal cartilage were similar. Biopsies of the nasal septum and costal cartilage were performed. The patient was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis (RP) based on the clinical features and pathological findings. Histopathological examination revealed progressive initial RP findings. The disease progression was different, even with the same FDG accumulation.

Disseminated Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Infection in an Immunocompetent Host.

A 56-year-old woman, without any immunocompromising diseases, was referred to our hospital because of a recurrence of pyogenic spondylitis. Computed tomography revealed multiple osteolytic changes in the whole body. Vertebral magnetic resonance imaging revealed osteomyelitis and spondylitis. Mycobacterium scrofulaceum was detected in sputum cultures, in abscesses from the right knee, and in a subcutaneous forehead abscess. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with disseminated Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection. The patient was treated with rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin, which resulted in symptomatic relief and radiological improvement. We herein report a rare case of disseminated Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection in an immunocompetent host.

Type II endoleak repair after endovascular abdominal aortic repair using a computed tomography-guided percutaneous transabdominal approach.

The current treatment of type II endoleaks includes either transarterial or sac puncture techniques. Sac puncture can be further divided into translumbar, transabdominal, and transcaval approaches.1 However, transabdominal techniques for the treatment of type II leak are not well established. Herein, we report a case of a type II endoleak repaired in a 76-year-old woman using a computed tomography-guided percutaneous transabdominal approach. This type of transabdominal repair is easy and safe because punctures to the aneurysm sac are visualized in real time by computed tomography. It is possible to selectively embolize persistent blood flow in arteries in either the sac or main artery.

Correlation of apparent diffusion coefficients measured by diffusion-weighted MR imaging and standardized uptake values from FDG PET/CT in metastatic neck lymph nodes of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Both diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography are oncological imaging techniques. The aim of this study was to assess any correlation between apparent diffusion coefficients and standardized uptake value in metastatic neck lymph nodes of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Usefulness of administration of SPIO prior to RF ablation for evaluation of the therapeutic effect: an experimental study using miniature pigs.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for assessing the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) liver ablation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using a protocol approved by the animal research committee of our university, nine RF liver ablations were performed in three miniature pigs. Six ablations were performed after administration of SPIO in two pigs (group A). Three ablations were performed in the other pig without administration of SPIO (group B). All pigs were sacrificed 4 days after the procedure. Harvested livers were scanned with a 1.5T MR system before and after fixation with 10% buffered formalin, and MR images were precisely compared with histological specimens. RESULTS: There were no histological differences between the two groups. All ablated liver lesions showed coagulation necrosis at the external layer. There were no viable cells inside the coagulation necrosis. All ablated lesions had a hypointense rim on fast low angle shot (FLASH) images. The rims of group A were thicker than those of group B. The rims of group B corresponded histologically to congestion and hemorrhagic necrosis area. The rims of the group A corresponded to hemorrhagic necrosis and coagulation necrosis areas. In group A, the hypointense rim reflected necrotic Kupffer cells that took up SPIO before RF liver ablation. CONCLUSION: Administration of SPIO made it possible to precisely evaluate ablated liver parenchyma by hypointense rim on FLASH images. This method is helpful for the evaluation of safety margin after RF ablation for liver tumors.