Torsion of vermiform appendix: value of ultrasonographic findings.

A case of torsion of the vermiform appendix is described in a five-year-old boy with a two-day history of right-sided abdominal pain. No associated abdominal tenderness was reported, no vomiting nor fever. The pain was localized in the same place for 24 hours and became more severe and constant. Blood film showed a normal white cell count. After two ultrasonographic examinations in the course of 24 hours, the sign of a distended intestinal loop became constant. With the diagnosis of mucous-producing appendicular lesions or appendicular torsion, a laparotomy was performed. The appendix was severely congested and gangrenous; there was a 360-degree anticlockwise twist in its base. The related literature is reviewed and the value of the ultrasound scanner images and the possible mechanism involved is discussed.

[Renal volumetric echography in the newborn infant with an agenetic, dysplastic or obstructive contralateral kidney]. / Volumetría ecográfica renal en el recién nacido con riñón contralateral agenésico, displásico u obstructivo.

In newborn babies with congenital renal pathology type agenesia, dysplasia or obstruction is very important to know if there is intrautero vicariant growing of the contralateral kidney. To find out that we have proceeded to be ultrasound volume measurement of the normal renal unit, as this is a valuable parameter related to compensatory mechanisms. We have studied by ultrasounds 28 renal units (16 right, 12 left) in newborns with contralateral pathology: pyeloureteral stenosis in 10 cases, multicystic kidney in 13 cases, renal agenesia in 3 cases, obstructive ureterocele in 1 case and another one with ureterovesical stenosis. We considered renal function, length of the larger renal axis width and depth of the kidney mass. Renal function was normal in all cases. Analysis of objectives results show a clear difference between the volume of normal Kidneys in children with contralateral pathology and the control group constituted by 42 renal unit in normal newborns without urological pathology. We conclude with the real evidence of compensatory growing of the normal contralateral kidney during intrautero periods.