A dual-energy CT scan acquired during the delayed phase and its VNC reconstruction allow detection of endoleaks with a substantial reduction of effective dose and a complete diagnostic agreement with a triple-phase acquisition protocol.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by visceral hypersensitivity likely related to altered processing of sensory stimuli along the brain-gut axis. Previous neuroimaging studies demonstrated structural and functional alteration of several brain areas involved in bodily representation, e.g. the insula, in patients with IBS. By means of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) we searched for alteration of functional connectivity within the network involved in self-bodily consciousness. We found significant inverse correlation between hypochondriasis assessed through a clinical questionnaire and connectivity between posterior cingulate cortex and left supramarginal gyrus, extending into the adjacent superior temporal gyrus. Moreover, we observed a significant and positive correlation between a clinical questionnaire assessing interoception and connectivity between left anterior ventral insula and two clusters located in supramarginal gyrus bilaterally.Our findings highlight an "abnormal network synchrony" reflecting functional alteration, in the absence of structural and micro-structural changes, which might represent a possible therapeutic target for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Situs inversus incompletus is a rare congenital condition in which the major abdominal organs are reversed or mirrored from their normal positions. It is often associated with multiple congenital anomalies. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman with dyspnea and a clinical history of chronic kidney disease and kidney transplantation. Echocardiography showed a right atrial mass, and analysis of multidetector computed tomography angiography revealed the interruption of the inferior vena cava with an increase of the azygos vein and azygos continuation. These congenital malformations are often associated with deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary thromboembolism and explained the occurrence of dyspnea. Cardiac magnetic resonance with contrast medium confirmed the presence of the right atrial mass, the characteristics of which were attributed to interatrial thrombus, which was further confirmed by the success of thrombolytic therapy and the remission of symptoms. In conclusion, we described a case of situs inversus with levocardia in association with infrahepatic interruption of the inferior vena cava, and azygos continuation with cardiac thrombus and chronic renal failure.
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