[MRI of knee tuberculous arthritis]. / IRM de l'arthrite tuberculeuse du genou.

Tuberculous arthritis is rare and the diagnosis may be confused with inflammatory arthritis. Only few cases, explored by MRI, have been reported in the literature. We report 3 cases of tuberculous arthritis of the knee revealed by insidious pain. The abnormalities revealed by MRI suggested tuberculosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology.

[Ectopic thyroid]. / Thyroïde ectopique.

PURPOSE OF STUDY: Ectopic thyroid is defined as thyroid tissue not located anterolaterally between the second and the fourth tracheal cartilage. This anomalous localization results from abnormal embryologic development and/or migration of the gland. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the role of imaging in the preoperative evaluation of ectopic thyroid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 13-year-old girl with no other significant medical history, consulted for dysphonia, fullness in the throat and breathing difficulties. Examination of the oral cavity and oropharynx showed a large mass attached to the base of the tongue, the mass was evaluated by ultrasanography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy. RESULTS: Ultrasound sonography showed a well-defined hypoechogenic mass in the posterior end of the tongue. Scintigraphy showed hyperfixation at the base of the tongue with no fixation in the normal thyroid site. Computed tomography scan revealed a spontaneously hyperdense spherical basilingual mass with a high enhancement after contrast injection. In MRI, the mass was isointense with the muscle in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2 weighted images. CONCLUSION: Ectopic thyroid must be evoked in the presence of any basilangual mass. Scintigraphy and ultrasanography are gold standard in demonstration the ectopic thyroid tissue. But computed tomography and MRI playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, in determination of the malignant transformation and planning the surgical approach.

[Eagle's syndrome]. / Le syndrome de Eagle.

OBJECTIVES: Elongated styloid process also known as Eagle's syndrome is an entity that may be the source of craniofacial and cervical pain. It is frequently reported but is probably more common than generally considered. The symptoms related to Eagle's syndrome can be confused with those attributed to a wide variety of oropharyngeal and maxillofacial diseases. From four observations of Eagle's syndrome, we recall the clinical and radiological findings of this affection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of four patients examined during a 2-year period. These patients presented cervical pain associated with headache, vertigo, otalgia and dysphagia. All patients were explored by conventional radiographs and three-dimensional computer tomography reconstruction. RESULTS: Digital palpation of the fossa reproduced and exacerbated the pain. Neck radiographic examination showed a bilateral elongation of the styloid process in both cases. The cervical scanner showed a bilateral elongation of the styloid process in all cases. CONCLUSION: Eagle's syndrome is a frequent entity that remains vaguely known by physicians. Three-dimensional computer tomography is useful for the diagnosis of this entity.

[Unilocular macrocystic serous cystadenoma of the pancreas: a morphologic variant to be considered]. / Le cystadénome séreux macrokystique uniloculaire du pancréas: une variante morphologique à connaître.

Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas is a benign cystic tumor, which radiological diagnosis is easy in its typical microcystic variant. The macrocystic variant is uncommon and raises diagnostic problems with other macrocystic lesions of the pancreas such as pseudocysts and mucinous cystadenomas. We report the case of a young woman with a unilocular macrocystic serous cystadenoma of the pancreas which was identified on pathologic examination of the surgical specimen, after unconclusive abdominal ultrasound and CT-scan. This case describes an unusual clinical presentation of this cystic tumor and emphasizes that the diagnosis of such an entity is still based on pathological examination after cyst removal.