Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis(PCI) is a rare condition that may be associated with a variety of diseases.The presenting clinical picture may be very heterogeneous and represent a challenge for the clinician.In th...Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis(PCI) is a rare condition that may be associated with a variety of diseases.The presenting clinical picture may be very heterogeneous and represent a challenge for the clinician.In the present paper we describe both a common and an uncommon clinical presentation of PCI and review the pertaining literature.Our cases confirm that,apart from asymptomatic cases,the clinical presentation of PCI may be widely different and suggest that a new onset of stipsis might be the presenting symptom.Diagnosis might be suggested by a simple X-ray of the digestive tract showing a change in the characteristics of the intestinal wall in two-thirds of these patients.However,one third of the patients do not have a suggestive X-ray and require a computed tomography(CT) scan/nuclear magnetic resonance that may reveal a thickened bowel wall containing gas to confirm the diagnosis and distinguish PCI from intraluminal air or submucosal fat.CT also allows the detection of additional findings that may suggest an underlying,potentially worrisome cause of PCI such as bowel wall thickening,altered contrast mucosal enhancement,dilated bowel,soft tissue stranding,ascites and the presence of portal air.Our results also point out that clinicians and endoscopists should be aware of the possible presentations of PCI in order to correctly manage the patients affected with this disease and avoid unnecessary surgeries.The increasing number of colonoscopies performed for colon cancer screening makes PCI more frequently casually encountered and/or provoked,therefore the possible endoscopic appearances of this disease should be well known by endoscopists.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the clinical,radiological and microbiological properties of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) and to discuss methods needed to get the diagnosis. METHODS:Thirty-one patients diagnosed as abdominal TB between...AIM:To evaluate the clinical,radiological and microbiological properties of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) and to discuss methods needed to get the diagnosis. METHODS:Thirty-one patients diagnosed as abdominal TB between March 1998 and December 2001 at the Gastroenterology Department of Kartal State Hospital, Istanbul,Turkey were evaluated prospectively.Complete physical examination,medical and family history,blood count erythrocyte sedimentation rate,routine biochemical tests, Mantoux skin test,chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography (USG) were performed in all cases,whereas microbiological examination of ascites,upper gastrointestinal endoscopy,colonoscopy or barium enema,abdominal tomography,mediastinoscopy,laparoscopy or laparotomy were done when needed. RESULTS:The median age of patients (14 females,17 males) was 34.2 years (range 15-65 years).The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain and weight loss. Eleven patients had active pulmonary TB.The most common abdominal USG findings were ascites and hepatomegaly.Ascitic fluid analysis performed in 13 patients was found to be exudative and acid resistant bacilli were present in smear and cultured only in one patient with BacTec (3.2%).Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy yielded nonspecific findings in 16 patients.Colonoscopy performed in 20 patients showed ulcers in 9 (45%),nodules in 2 (10%) and,stricture,polypoid lesions,granulomatous findings in terminal ileum and rectal fistula each in one patient (5%). Laparoscopy on 4 patients showed dilated bowel loops, thickening in the mesentery,multiple ulcers and tubercles on the peritoneum.Patients with abdominal TB were divided into three groups according to the type of involvement. Fifteen patients (48%) had intestinal TB,11 patients (35.2%) had tuberculous peritonitis and 5 (16.8%) tuberculous lymphadenitis.The diagnosis of abdominal TB was confirmed microbiologically in 5 (16%) and histo- pathologically in 19 patients (60.8%).The remaining nine patients (28.8%) had been diagnosed by a positive response to antituberculous treatment. CONCLUSION:Neither clinical signs,laboratory,radiological and endoscopic methods nor bacteriological and histopathological findings provide a gold standard by themselves in the diagnosis of abdominal TB.However,an algorithm of these diagnostic methods leads to considerably higher precision in the diagnosis of this insidious disease which primarily necessitate a clinical awareness of this serious health problem.展开更多
Radiographic measurements was performed on 124 normal adults for anterior, posterior and middle heights of the vertebral bodies in thoracic and lumbar spine. The normal ratios of vertebral height in one vertebral body...Radiographic measurements was performed on 124 normal adults for anterior, posterior and middle heights of the vertebral bodies in thoracic and lumbar spine. The normal ratios of vertebral height in one vertebral body and one with the adjacent bodies were presented. The method for measurement and its diagnostic value to osteoporotic vertebral fractures were discussed.展开更多
文摘Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis(PCI) is a rare condition that may be associated with a variety of diseases.The presenting clinical picture may be very heterogeneous and represent a challenge for the clinician.In the present paper we describe both a common and an uncommon clinical presentation of PCI and review the pertaining literature.Our cases confirm that,apart from asymptomatic cases,the clinical presentation of PCI may be widely different and suggest that a new onset of stipsis might be the presenting symptom.Diagnosis might be suggested by a simple X-ray of the digestive tract showing a change in the characteristics of the intestinal wall in two-thirds of these patients.However,one third of the patients do not have a suggestive X-ray and require a computed tomography(CT) scan/nuclear magnetic resonance that may reveal a thickened bowel wall containing gas to confirm the diagnosis and distinguish PCI from intraluminal air or submucosal fat.CT also allows the detection of additional findings that may suggest an underlying,potentially worrisome cause of PCI such as bowel wall thickening,altered contrast mucosal enhancement,dilated bowel,soft tissue stranding,ascites and the presence of portal air.Our results also point out that clinicians and endoscopists should be aware of the possible presentations of PCI in order to correctly manage the patients affected with this disease and avoid unnecessary surgeries.The increasing number of colonoscopies performed for colon cancer screening makes PCI more frequently casually encountered and/or provoked,therefore the possible endoscopic appearances of this disease should be well known by endoscopists.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the clinical,radiological and microbiological properties of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) and to discuss methods needed to get the diagnosis. METHODS:Thirty-one patients diagnosed as abdominal TB between March 1998 and December 2001 at the Gastroenterology Department of Kartal State Hospital, Istanbul,Turkey were evaluated prospectively.Complete physical examination,medical and family history,blood count erythrocyte sedimentation rate,routine biochemical tests, Mantoux skin test,chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography (USG) were performed in all cases,whereas microbiological examination of ascites,upper gastrointestinal endoscopy,colonoscopy or barium enema,abdominal tomography,mediastinoscopy,laparoscopy or laparotomy were done when needed. RESULTS:The median age of patients (14 females,17 males) was 34.2 years (range 15-65 years).The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain and weight loss. Eleven patients had active pulmonary TB.The most common abdominal USG findings were ascites and hepatomegaly.Ascitic fluid analysis performed in 13 patients was found to be exudative and acid resistant bacilli were present in smear and cultured only in one patient with BacTec (3.2%).Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy yielded nonspecific findings in 16 patients.Colonoscopy performed in 20 patients showed ulcers in 9 (45%),nodules in 2 (10%) and,stricture,polypoid lesions,granulomatous findings in terminal ileum and rectal fistula each in one patient (5%). Laparoscopy on 4 patients showed dilated bowel loops, thickening in the mesentery,multiple ulcers and tubercles on the peritoneum.Patients with abdominal TB were divided into three groups according to the type of involvement. Fifteen patients (48%) had intestinal TB,11 patients (35.2%) had tuberculous peritonitis and 5 (16.8%) tuberculous lymphadenitis.The diagnosis of abdominal TB was confirmed microbiologically in 5 (16%) and histo- pathologically in 19 patients (60.8%).The remaining nine patients (28.8%) had been diagnosed by a positive response to antituberculous treatment. CONCLUSION:Neither clinical signs,laboratory,radiological and endoscopic methods nor bacteriological and histopathological findings provide a gold standard by themselves in the diagnosis of abdominal TB.However,an algorithm of these diagnostic methods leads to considerably higher precision in the diagnosis of this insidious disease which primarily necessitate a clinical awareness of this serious health problem.
文摘Radiographic measurements was performed on 124 normal adults for anterior, posterior and middle heights of the vertebral bodies in thoracic and lumbar spine. The normal ratios of vertebral height in one vertebral body and one with the adjacent bodies were presented. The method for measurement and its diagnostic value to osteoporotic vertebral fractures were discussed.
