ObjectivesPulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare interstitial granulomatous disease that usually affects young adults who are smokers. Chest computed tomography (CT) allows a confident diagnosis of PLCH only in typical presentation, when nodules, cavitated nodules and cysts coexist and predominate in the upper and middle lungs.MethodsThis article includes a pictorial essay of typical and atypical presentations of PLCH at initial chest CT. Various appearances of PLCH are illustrated and possible differential diagnosis is discussed.ResultsPLCH can present with some aspecific features that may cause diagnosis of the initial disease to be overlooked or other pulmonary diseases to be suspected. In cases of nodule presentation alone, the main differential diagnosis should include lung metastasis, tuberculosis and other infections, sarcoidosis, silicosis and Wegener’s disease. In cases of cysts alone, the most common diseases to be differentiated are centrilobular emphysema and lymphangiomyomatosis. Clinical symptoms are usually non-specific, although a history of cigarette smoking, coupled with the presence of typical or suggestive findings at imaging, is key to suspecting the disease. Atypical presentations require surgical biopsy for diagnosis.ConclusionsThe radiologist should be familiar with PLCH imaging features to correctly diagnose the disease or need for further investigation.Teaching Points• PLCH is a rare interstitial smoking-related disease that usually affects young adults.• The typical first CT shows a mix of nodules, cavitary nodules and cysts in the upper-middle lungs.• Atypical appearance, either cysts or nodules alone, mandates that other diagnoses be considered.• Lung cystic involvement correlates with lung function abnormalities and predicts functional decline.• Integration of the clinical history and imaging results is key to diagnosis.
ObjectiveThis article compares various imaging aspects of magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) of heterotopic ossification (HO) in the pelvic soft tissues in paraplegic patients. Our aim is to highlight the benefits of integrating MR and CT imaging in the diagnosis of immature HO, which may be challenging with MR images alone.MethodsParaplegic patients examined on the same day by contrast-enhanced 0.4-T pelvic MR and unenhanced CT for pressure-sore-related infections were selected. MR imaging was performed on a Hitachi-Aperto 0.4 T; the Open Magnet served as a more favourable configuration for the required limb positioning of these patients. CT images were attained on a six-slice Siemens-Somaton-Emotion.ResultsMR images of HO differ according to the degree of bone maturity. The more immature the HO process, the more heterogeneous is the signal, characterised mostly by focal iso-hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted/short TI inversion recovery (STIR). These characteristics correlate to different CT patterns.ConclusionsMR and CT features of pelvic HO in paralysed patients were reviewed with a focus on the different aspects associated with the degree of ossification. Based solely on the MR findings, immature heterotopic ossification may be difficult to differentiate from other soft tissue pelvic lesions.Teaching points• The pelvis and hip are common locations of heterotopic ossifications (HO), often occurring in paraplegic patients.• With respect to HO, MR imaging allows for a confident diagnosis in mature ossified lesions only. The MR aspect of immature ossification may be confused with other pathologies.• Plain radiographs and CT may show various phases of ossification: amorphous calcification, immature and mature ossification.• Integrating MR with CT can help recognise HO foci and differentiate them from infections and other soft tissue lesions.
Among 230 patients undergoing ultrasound (US) guided renal biopsy, 218 had postbiopsy sonography. Clinical records were reviewed to correlate symptoms to US findings. In each case of large hematoma (thickness above 1 cm), all postbiopsy sonographic studies were analyzed to look for findings indicative of unfavorable outcome. A total of 96 subcapsular/perirenal hematomas were found. Large hematomas were observed in 20 patients (20/230 = 8.7%), seven of these (3%) were severely symptomatic. In the absence of clinical signs of bleeding, no patient had clinical consequences. In the presence of clinical signs of bleeding, serious complications occurred only in patients with large hematomas. US thickness of retroperitoneal hematoma correlated to clinical outcome: whenever measured thickness was less than 2 cm, clinical evolution was very favorable, whereas a thickness above 2 cm was invariably associated to clinical signs of bleeding. In six of seven cases of thickness exceeding 3 cm, severe complications developed. An unfavorable evolution was associated with increasing thickness and an echogenicity inappropriate with respect to the time elapsed since biopsy. Hydroureteronephrosis, peritoneal effusion, and anomalous vascular images were indicators of deterioration. We conclude that sonography is indicated only for symptomatic patients and that the monitoring of both thickness and changing echogenicity of retroperitoneal blood collections supplements clinical follow-up.
We describe a case of clear-cell adenocarcinoma of the kidney with CT evidence of fat that contradicts the rule that radiologically demonstrable fat is absent in renal carcinoma. The cyst-like appearance, egg-shell parietal calcifications, and extrarenal development of the mass suggested a preoperatively incorrect diagnosis of teratoma.
Giant multilocular prostatic cystadenomas (GMPC) are very rare benign tumors that originate from the prostate with extensive spread into the pelvis. The lesion may present as large abdominal mass causing obstructive voiding dysfunction and usually not invading adjacent structures. All of the previously reported patients with GMPC underwent open surgery. Although the natural history of prostatic cystadenoma remains unknown, complete surgical excision may not always be necessary. We report the case of a 74-year-old male who presented a retrovesical recurrence of prostatic cystoadenoma after 16 years, treated with a laparoscopic approach. To our knowledge this is the first case of laparoscopic management of GMPC. In this article we review the current literature about this rare tumor and discuss the diagnostic and management dilemmas posed by this rare pathologic condition. We believe that physicians should at least be aware of the existence of this disease in the differential diagnosis of pelvic cavity tumours and, considering the benignity of GMPC, they should propose--as first--a minimally invasive approach.
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