Values of high-resolution computed tomography and pulmonary function tests in managements of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

AIM:To investigate pulmonary involvement via pulmonary function tests (PFT) and high-resolution computed tomocjraphy (HRCT) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS:Thirty-four patients with chronic HCV infection without diagnosis of any pulmonary diseases and 10 healthy cases were enrolled in the study,PFT and HRCT were performed in all cases. RESULTS:A decrease lower than 80% of the predicted value was detected in vital capacity in 9/34 patients,in forced expiratory volume in one second in 8/34 patients,and in forced expiratory flow 25-75 in 15/34 patients,respectively.Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) was decreased in 26/34 patients.Findings of interstitial pulmonary involvement were detected in the HRCT of 16/34 patients.Significant difference was found between controls and patients with HCV infection in findings of HRCT (X^2=4.7,P=0.003).Knodell histological activity index (KHAI) of 28/34 patients in whom liver biopsy was applied was 9.0±4.7.HRCT findings,PFT values and DLCO were not affected by KHAI in patients with HCV infection.In these patients,all the parameters were related with age. CONCLUSION:We suggest that chronic hepatitis C virus infection may cause pulmonary interstitial involvement without evident respiratory symptoms.

Brain metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma:A case report and review of the literature

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies in the world. It is more common in far eastern countries and relatively rare in the United States and western European countries where at autopsy it accounts for only 1-2% of malignant rumors, The disease is usually manifested in the the 6^th and 7^th decade of life. HCC is one of the highly malignant neoplasms, Extrahepatic metastases are seen in 64% of patients with HCC. The lungs, regional lymph nodes, kidney, bone marrow and adrenals are common sites of HCC metastasis^[1-3], But, metastasis to brain and skull is extremely rare. Table I shows some of the reported cases of HCC with brain metastasis. These case reports reaffirms the complex and multidisciplinary care of these patients^[4-5].

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma with rapid growth after spontaneous regression

We report an 80-year-old man who presented with sponta- neous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).He complained of sudden right flank pain and low-grade fever. The level of protein induced by vitamin K antagonist(PIVKA)- II was 1 137 mAU/mL.A computed tomography scan in November 2000 demonstrated a low-density mass located in liver S4 with marginal enhancement and a cystic mass of 68 mm×55 mm in liver S6,with slightly high density content and without marginal enhancement.Angiography revealed that the tumor in S4 with a size of 25 mm×20 mm was a typical hypervascular HCC,and transarterial chemoembolization was performed.However,the tumor in S6 was hypovascular and atypical of HCC,and thus no therapy was given.In December 2000,the cystic mass regressed spontaneously to 57 min×44 mm,and aspiration cytology revealed bloody fluid,and the mass was diagnosed cytologically as class I. The tumor in S4 was treated successfully with a 5 mm margin of safety around it.The PIVKA-II level normalized in February 2001.In July 2001,the tumor regressed further but presented with an enhanced area at the posterior margin.In November 2001,the enhanced area extended,and a biopsy revealed well-differentiated HCC,although the previous tumor in S4 disappeared.Angiography demonstrated two tumor stains,one was in S6,which was previously hypovascular, and the other was in S8.Subsequently,the PIVKA-II level started to rise with the doubling time of 2-3 wk,and the tumor grew rapidly despite repeated transarterial embolization with gel foam.In February 2003,the patient died of bleeding into the peritoneal cavity from the tumor that occupied almost the entire right lobe.Considering the acute onset of the symptoms,we speculate that local ischemia possibly due to rapid tumor growth,resulted in intratumoral bleeding and/or hemorrhagic necrosis,and finally spontaneous regression of the initial tumor in S6.

Gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumors:A surgical point of view

AIM: Gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumors are uncommon stromal tumors of the intestinal tract. Their histological appearance is similar to that of other gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We report two cases and performed an analysis of the literature by comparing our findings with the available case reports in the medical literature.METHODS: Two patients were admitted with abdominal tumor masses. One occurred in the stomach with large multiple liver metastases and the second originated in Meckel's diverticulum. The latter site has never been reported previously. Both patients underwent surgery. In one patient gastrectomy, right liver resection and colon transversum resection were performed to achieve aggressive tumor debulking. In the other patient the tumor bearing diverticulum was removed.RESULTS: Postoperative recovery of both patients was uneventful. Histological examination, immunohistochemical analysis and electron microscopy revealed the diagnosis of a gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor. The patient with the tumor in Meckel's diverticulum died 6 mo after surgery because of pneumonia. The patient with liver metastases have been alive 13 years after initial tumor diagnosis and 7 years after surgery with no evidence of tumor progression. In light of our results, we performed athorough comparison with available literature reports.CONCLUSION: Radical surgical resection of gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumors seems to be the only available curative approach to date, and long term survival is possibleeven in large metastasized tumors.

Dysphagia lusorium in elderly:A case report

AIM: Late unset of dysphagia due to vascular abnormalities is a rare condition. We aimed to present a case of right subclavian artery abnormalities caused dysphagia in the elderly.METHODS: A 68-year-old female was admitted with dysphagia seven months ago. Upper endoscopic procedures and routine examinations could not demonstrate any etiology. Multislice computed thorax tomography was performed for probable extra- esophagial lesions.RESULTS: Multislice computed thorax tomography showed right subclavian artery abnormality and esophagial compression with this aberrant artery.CONCLUSION: Causes of dysphagia in the elderly are commonly malignancies, strictures and/or motility disorders. If routine examinations and endoscopic procedures fail to show any etiology, rare vascular abnormalities can be considered in such patients. Multislice computed tomography is a usefull choice in such conditions.

A case of leptospirosis simulating colon cancer with liver metastases

We report a case of a 61-year-old man who presented with fatigue,abdominal pain and hepatomegaly.Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed hepatomegaly and multiple hepatic lesions highly suggestive of metastatic diseases.Due to the endoscopic finding of colon ulcer,colon cancer with liver metastases was suspected.Biochemically a slight increase of transaminases,alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase were present;α- fetoprotein,carcinoembryogenic antigen and carbohydrate 19-9 antigen serum levels were normal.Laboratory and instrumental investigations,including colon and liver biopsies revealed no signs of malignancy.In the light of spontaneous improvement of symptoms and CT findings,his personal history was revaluated revealing direct contact with pigs and their tissues.Diagnosis of leptospirosis was considered and confirmed by detection of an elevated titer of antibodies to leptospira.After two mo,biochemical data,CT and colonoscopy were totally normal.

Diagnostic significance of ultrasonography and CT for large upper abdominal mass

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of ultrasonography and computerized tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of large upper abdominal mass. METHODS: Data from 43 cases that were clinically and pathologically confirmed were retrospectively analyzed and the effect of their preoperative ultrasonography and CT was compared. RESULTS: Four of 10 (40 percent) cases of liver mass were diagnosed correctly using ultrasonic device, nineteen of 25 (76 percent) cases of adrenal gland mass and 2 of 4 cases of kidney mass. Two of 10 (20 percent) cases of liver mass were correctly diagnosed by CT, and so were 6 of 22 (27.2 percent) cases of adrenal gland mass. In 4 patients with spleen mass, neither ultrasonography nor CT diagnosis was correct. CONCLUSION: Because upper abdomen organs are closely connected with each other, correct imaging localization of a large mass in this region is not easy. In this study, we compared the accuracy of ultrasonography and CT in diagnosing large upper abdominal masses, and found that ultrasonography works better for adrenal rather than liver or kidney. Neither ultrasonography or CT could accurately diagnose a large mass in the spleen.

Three-dimensional CT angiography and surgical correlation in the evaluation of intracranial aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional CT angiography in the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Twenty-four patients suspected of intracranial aneurysms underwent routine catheter four-vessel angiography, three dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA). RESULTS: A total of 28 aneurysms were detected by CT angiography in this study. Twenty-one patients each had a single aneurysm, two patients each had two aneurysms, and one had three aneurysms. The shapes of aneurysms revealed by 3D-CTA were round in 20 lesions, elliptical in 5, and 1 obulated in 3. Of the 24 lesions which were completely disclosed during surgery, the shapes correlated well with the 3D-CT angiograms. The mean diameter of the aneurysmal neck was 5.9 mm in 3D-CTA images, with the smallest being 1.6 mm and the largest 13.7 mm. The size was very close to the actual size measured at surgery (P

CT virtual colonoscopy in patients with incomplete conventional colonoscopy

OBJECTIVES: To study the usefulness of CT virtual colonoscopy (CTVC) in patients with incomplete conventional colonoscopy (CC) and assess the statistical differences between two methods of colorectal segment examination. METHODS: Sixty patients with incomplete CC underwent volume scanning using spiral CT. CT VC images were obtained using a navigator software in workstation. All patients were confirmed by surgical or CC biopsy histology. Statistical analysis was done using t test comparing two sample percentages. RESULTS: CTVC succeeded in 55/60 patients (91.7%) who had incomplete CC. Additional lesions were identified in the proximal colon in 15/55 patients (27.3%), including 1 primary carcinoma, 16 polyps in 13 patients and 1 ulcerative colonitis. The main cause of incomplete CC was occlusive mass; others were redundant, tortuous colon loops, and excessive colonic spasm. There was a statistically significant difference between the two methods in colorectal segment examination. CONCLUSION: CTVC is a feasible and effective adjunctive method for evaluating the entire colorectal segment following an incomplete CC procedure. It offers a new approach for colorectal examination.

Clinical studies on diffuse axonal injury in patients with severe closed head injury

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the clinical criteria for diagnosing diffuse axonal injury (DAI). METHODS: Clinical and computed tomographic features of 117 patients with severe closed head injury were analyzed. The authors preliminarily put forward CT diagnostic criteria of DAI, that is, 1) single or multiple small intraparenchymal hemorrhages in the cerebral hemispheres (

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma: comparison of helical CT multiplanar reformation, three-dimensional reconstruction and virtual laryngoscopy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical application of helical CT multiplanar reformation (MPR) three-dimensional reconstruction (3D) and virtual laryngoscopy (CTVL) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Axial helical CT scans were performed in 22 patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma, along with MPR, 3D and CTVL. These results were compared with the findings of fiber optic laryngoscopy and surgery. RESULTS: Combining axial and MPR images, both the accuracy in preoperative tumor staging and the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes were 95%. MPR demonstrated more information about the extent of tumor than axial images in 23% cases; 3D image displayed clearly the extension of tumor, the vessels and airway from multiple views. The location, size and extent of tumors found in cranio-caudal CTVL corresponded well with that of laryngoscopy, and CTVL demonstrated the relationship between the tumor and vocal cords and anterior commissure by caudo-cranial approach, which was inaccessible to fiber optic laryngoscopy in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Axial images of helical CT clearly demonstrate the location, size and extent of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma, while MPR and 3D images are useful in displaying the three-dimensional images and anatomical relation of the tumor. CTVL can clearly display the mucosal surface structures of the larynx and hypopharynx and is a good complementary method of laryngoscopy.

Burr-hole craniotomy treating chronic subdural hematoma： a report of 398 cases

Objective： To investigate the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma （CSDH） with burr-hole craniotomy in our hospital. Methods： From January 2004 to December 2009, 398 patients with CSDH, 338 males and 60 females （male/ female=5.63/1）, received burr-hole craniotomy in our hospital. The median age was 60 years with the mean age of （58.1± 18.1） years, （65.0±14.5） years for females and （57.0± 8.2） years for males. Trauma history was determined in 275 patients （69.1%）. Burr-hole craniotomy was performed under local anesthesia in 368 patients and general anesthesia in 30 patients. CSDH was classified into 3 groups according to the density on CT scan. Clinical data concerning etiologies, symptoms and signs, concomitant diseases, diagnosis, therapies and outcomes were investigated retrospectively. Patients＇ neu- rological status on admission and at discharge was also classified to judge the outcomes. Results： Generally, trauma history showed few dif- ferences between those over 60 years old and under 60 years old, but showed obvious differences when gender was taken into account. Totally 123 male patients （60.0% of 204 cases） suffering from head injuries were under 60 years, whereas 35 female patients （85.4% of 41 cases） with trauma histories were over 60 years. The duration from trauma to appearance of clinical symptoms was （84.0±61.7） days （range, 0-1493 days）. Traumatic accident was the leading etiology, other accompanying diseases such as cerebral vascular disease, hypertension, etc, were also predisposing factors. Commonly, the elderly presented with hemiplegia/ hemidysesthesia/hemiataxia and the young with headache. Most CSDH patients （95.6%） treated with burr-hole cran- iotomy successfully recovered. However, postoperative complications occurred in 17 cases, including recurrence of CSDH in 15 cases, subdural abscess in 1 case and pneumonia in 3 cases. Conclusion： Burr-hole craniotomy is an easy, efficient and reliable way to treat CSDH.