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Alfredo La Fianza

Publications and source records attributed to Alfredo La Fianza.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Henle loop basement membrane as initial site for Randall plaque formation.

Since the early description of Randall plaques in 1937, studies of the pathogenesis of stone formation mainly focused on the chemistry involving salt precipitation and crystallization, rather than tubular and interstitial medullar mechanisms of calcium concentration and supersaturation. In 2003, Bushinsky published a suggestive and inspiring sequence of events aimed to show that the basement membrane of the thin limb of the loop of Henle can be the first site of nucleation, as recently shown by the impressive work by Evan et al. The aim of this minireview is to verify the consistency of the Evan and Bushinsky theory with the current literature in the field.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed2005

Extramedullary hematopoiesis in chronic myelofibrosis encasing the pelvicaliceal system and perirenal spaces: CT findings.

We examined a 46-year-old male patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis diagnosed 28 months earlier. After chemotherapy and irradiation, CT showed nonnodular, soft tissue masses in the renal hilum, pelvicaliceal system, perirenal and periureteral spaces. Ultrasound-guided biopsy showed extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). The mass, which caused delayed nephrographic enhancement, without hydroureteronephrosis, was the only site of EMH. We report the CT findings of this uncommon EMH localization.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2004

Subserous uterine adenomyosis mimicking an adnexal mass on sonography.

Uterine adenomyosis usually manifests as diffuse disease involving the myometrium and the endometrial-myometrial junction, but it may also manifest as a focal lesion. It is usually only a few millimeters in diameter but may sometimes be larger. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman with a large isolated mass in the uterine wall. Transvaginal sonography demonstrated the cystic nature of the mass and its characteristic hemorrhagic pattern, whereas CT confirmed its uterine origin. The patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the mass, and pathologic examinations led to the diagnosis of adenomyosis.

Adnexal Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential diagnosis of Krukenberg tumors using multivariate analysis.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Krukenberg tumors are ovarian metastases from a gastroenteric malignancy in 90% of cases. At present, diagnostic imaging techniques (US, CT, MRI) do not provide any reliable diagnostic criteria to differentiate these metastases from ovarian primaries. We tried to use multivariate analysis to distinguish malignant ovarian primaries from Krukenberg tumors based on their differential natural history. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compared the CT findings of Krukenberg tumors (47 patients, 79 masses, only from gastroenteric malignancy) with CT findings of primary epithelial ovarian cancers (46 patients, 67 masses). We compared the same independent variables in the two groups: age, morphology, margins, carcinomatosis, bilateral versus unilateral involvement, ascites, lymph node involvement, metastases on the basis of multivariate analysis. RESULTS: According to the best fitted model, clear-cut margins (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.14-9.72) and the presence of carcinomatosis (OR: 4.21; 95% CI: 1.51-11.72) were the strongest predictors of a diagnosis of Krukenberg tumor. In contrast, the presence of ascites was more likely to be a protective factor (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.08-0.62). CONCLUSIONS: We can try to make a differential diagnosis between a metastatic lesion from the gastroenteric tract and a primary adnexal lesion based on the multivariate statistical analysis of intraperitoneal spread of the different types of cancer rather than on morphologic findings at CT.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unusual CT findings in urachus carcinoma with an extensive and atypical pattern of metastasis. A case report.

Carcinoma of the urachus is very rare. Usually it has a typical appearance on computed tomography, with calcifications in a midline supravesical mass, but advanced stages of this neoplasm require malignancy evaluation that is not easy to establish. We report a case of a urachal tumor where CT scan did not properly assess the response to chemotherapy, while it did show an uncommon metastatic localization in the laterocervical soft tissues.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnostic imaging of lung cancer after heart transplantation.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In heart transplant recipients pulmonary neoplasms are among the most frequent solid tumors; they have a rapid and aggressive course, and therefore require an early diagnosis. We describe the role that diagnostic imaging plays in different diagnostic moments of this disease. METHODS: We evaluated the incidence and diagnosis of lung cancer in patients who underwent heart transplants at our institution. Taking into account the few different diagnostic imaging techniques (chest X-ray, high-resolution computed tomography [CT], staging CT and CT-guided biopsy) used in standard surveillance protocols or indicated by clinical symptoms, we evaluated their diagnostic accuracy, their efficacy in tumor staging, and their impact on the therapeutic choices. RESULTS: Seventeen neoplasms in a total of 712 patients were diagnosed (2.4%). In 16 of these 17 cases chest X-ray (routinely performed as follow-up in 11 cases, indicated by symptoms in 5 cases) was diagnostic. In another 11 cases chest X-ray was false positive. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of chest X-ray was 98%, 91%, 98%, 50%, and 99%, respectively. Total-body CT correctly staged the tumors and provided information as to whether surgery was indicated or not (stage II or advanced). CONCLUSIONS: Chest X-ray is still the surveillance radiological technique in heart transplant recipients. Considering its low specificity and sensitivity, we propose high-resolution CT imaging during follow-up to identify pulmonary lesions as soon as possible and enable a differential diagnosis with parenchymal inflammation. The use of CT-guided fine-needle biopsy and culture examinations permits to differentiate neoplastic from inflammatory parenchymal opacities. Use of CT in cancer staging is effective for subsequent treatment choices.

Biopsy↗