Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis: CT-histopathologic correlation.

PURPOSE: To correlate computed tomographic (CT) features of inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver with histopathologic results in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT features of 13 cases of inflammatory hepatic pseudotumor in 10 patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis were reviewed. Diagnosis was made by means of surgical resection in all patients. CT scans were analyzed for the appearance of masses and ancillary findings in correlation with the histopathologic findings in each resected specimen. RESULTS: The masses were 2.0-7.0 cm (mean, 3.5 cm). At nonenhanced CT, the masses appeared as ill-defined, hypoattenuating lesions. At contrast material-enhanced CT, the masses exhibited central hypoattenuating areas with an iso- or hyperattenuating thickened periphery in four cases and a multiseptate appearance with hyperattenuating internal septa and periphery in nine cases. CT-histopathologic correlation showed that the central hypoattenuating area indicated the presence of chronic inflammatory infiltrates with foamy histiocytes, plasmacytes, and lymphocytes, while iso- or hyperattenuating areas in the periphery and internal septa of the mass represented fibroblastic proliferation. All patients had CT features of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, such as hepatolithiasis, intrahepatic duct stricture and dilatation, common bile duct calculi, pneumobilia, or parenchymal atrophy. CONCLUSION: Although CT features are not specific, inflammatory pseudotumor should be included in the differential diagnosis in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis and a hepatic mass detected at CT.

Tibial plateau erosions associated with lateral meniscal cysts.

Although meniscal cysts are common, erosions of bone caused by these cysts are quite rare. We report MR imaging findings of two cases in which lateral meniscal cysts resulted in erosion of the lateral tibial plateau.

Nature's sunscreen from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

All shallow-water marine organisms have natural features and behaviours that can reduce exposure to UV radiation and limit the amount of photodamage to functional biomolecules and organelles. Protection from UV radiation often includes the production of UV-absorbing compounds which, in marine organisms, are usually mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) having a range of absorption maxima between 310 and 360 nm. Shallow-water corals produce large quantities of MAAs and their apparent ability to withstand long-term environmental UV exposure suggests utilization of their UV-absorbing chromophore for sunscreen applications. We present an overview of the biochemical photophysiology of tropical reef-building corals, and of the development of a new class of synthetic sunscreen, 1-alkyl-3-alkanoyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridines, based on their natural UV protection. Several sunscreen candidates have been examined for sunscreen suitability and a limited selection is being tested for potential use in human skin-care and cosmetic products.