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Biomedical subjects

E Outwater

Publications and source records attributed to E Outwater.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The expression of a truncated HMGI-C gene induces gigantism associated with lipomatosis.

Rearrangements of the HMGI-C gene have frequently been detected in human benign tumors of mesenchymal origin, including lipomas. The HMGI-C protein has three AT-hook domains and an acidic COOH-terminal tail. The HMGI-C modifications consist in the loss of the C-tail and the fusion with ectopic sequences. Recent results show that the loss of the COOH-terminal region, rather than the acquisition of new sequences, is sufficient to confer to HMGI-C the ability to transform NIH3T3 cells. Therefore, transgenic mice carrying a HMGI-C construct (HMGI-C/T), containing only the three AT-hook domains, were generated. The HMGI-C/T mice showed a giant phenotype, together with a predominantly abdominal/pelvic lipomatosis, suggesting a pivotal role of the HMGI-C truncation in the generation of human lipomas.

3T3 Cells↗

Solid pelvic masses caused by endometriosis: MR imaging features.

OBJECTIVE: Solid fibrotic nodules of endometriosis can simulate peritoneal metastases on imaging studies. To assist with this distinction, we analyzed the MR appearance of solid masses of pelvic endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of pathologic and surgical records of patients who had pelvic MR imaging with a phased-array multicoil disclosed 13 patients who had endometriosis proved at laparotomy. MR images were reviewed retrospectively by two unblinded radiologists for the signal intensity, size, and enhancement pattern of solid peritoneal masses. Eight solid masses in six patients were detected on MR images: four lesions were in the cul-de-sac, two in the bladder wall, and two in the rectal wall. Four of the masses were excised at surgery and one was sampled by surgical biopsy; microscopy showed abundant fibrosis with small clusters of endometriotic glandular tissue. Three masses were inspected at surgery and found to represent dense fibrosis caused by endometriosis. RESULTS: Solid masses of endometriosis ranged in size from 1 to 5 cm. Seven of the eight masses had similar features on MR images: intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted spin-echo images with punctate foci of high signal intensity, low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and enhancement after administration of contrast material. CONCLUSION: MR imaging shows enhancing solid masses in some patients with endometriosis. These masses have MR features that might be useful in the differentiation between solid foci of endometriosis and peritoneal metastases.

Adult↗

Characterization of hemorrhagic adnexal lesions with MR imaging: blinded reader study.

To assess the performance of published criteria for differentiation of endometriomas from other hemorrhagic adnexal lesions with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, 74 lesions with pathologic proof in 46 patients were evaluated by means of a 1.5-T system with use of conventional T1-weighted and either T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) or fast SE sequences. The MR images were independently presented to each of three blinded readers, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. The criterion of a cyst with high signal intensity on short repetition time (TR)/echo time (TE) images and shading on long TR/TE images had a mean sensitivity of 68%, mean specificity of 83%, and mean accuracy of 76% for diagnosis of endometrioma. Ancillary findings previously reported to be suggestive of endometrioma (eg, low-signal-intensity rims, adhesions, bowel tethering, and implants) were proved inaccurate and showed low interobserver agreement. ROC analysis showed similar area measurements among the three radiologists for diagnosis of endometrioma. MR imaging had only moderate accuracy in distinction of endometriomas from other hemorrhagic adnexal lesions.

Adnexal Diseases↗

Idiopathic hemochromatosis: MR imaging findings in cirrhotic and precirrhotic patients.

The authors reviewed T2-weighted and T2*-weighted abdominal magnetic resonance (MR) images in 19 pathology-proved cases of hepatic iron overload to compare patterns of iron distribution among cirrhotic and precirrhotic patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis (IH), as well as nontransfusional hepatic siderosis of other causes. Fifteen patients had clinical and laboratory evidence of IH. Four patients without IH had cirrhosis with moderate siderosis. In the MR images of all 19 patients, the liver had low signal intensity. The pancreas of 10 of 11 cirrhotic patients with IH had low signal intensity. All four precirrhotic patients with IH and all four cirrhotic patients without IH had pancreas with normal signal intensity at MR. Thus, pancreatic signal intensity was decreased only in cirrhotic patients with IH in this limited series. Conversely, pancreatic signal intensity is often normal in precirrhotic patients with IH prior to the development of cirrhosis, a stage at which definitive diagnosis by means of quantitative liver biopsy is important because early phlebotomy may prevent morbidity and mortality from IH. In cirrhotic patients with MR evidence of increased hepatic iron, the cause of cirrhosis is less likely to be IH if pancreatic signal intensity is normal.

Adult↗

Lymphadenopathy in sclerosing cholangitis: pitfall in the diagnosis of malignant biliary obstruction.

We retrospectively reviewed abdominal computed tomographic (CT) studies from 20 patients with sclerosing cholangitis and found evidence of abdominal lymphadenopathy in 13 patients. Enlargement occurred primarily in areas draining the liver, such as the gastrohepatic ligament or celiac axis (N = 8), the porta hepatis (N = 7), and the pancreaticoduodenal region (N = 2). One patient had reactive adenopathy and retroperitoneal fibrosis. The presence of benign reactive lymphadenopathy in at least one intraabdominal location was confirmed by pathological examination of excised lymph nodes in seven patients. Malignancy was excluded by surgical exploration or clinical follow-up. We conclude that enlarged lymph nodes are a common finding by CT in patients with sclerosing cholangitis. Enlarged reactive lymph nodes in this condition should not be mistaken for evidence of periportal metastasis or cholangiocarcinoma.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗

Magnetization transfer of hepatic lesions: evaluation of a novel contrast technique in the abdomen.

The authors evaluated the technique of magnetization transfer to determine if it could enable distinction of benign from malignant liver lesions. Thirteen patients with 27 hemangiomas or cysts and 13 patients with 31 malignant liver lesions underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Hepatic malignancies demonstrated magnetization transfer similar to that of the liver. However, hemangiomas and cysts showed significantly less magnetization transfer than malignant liver lesions. Gradient-recalled-echo imaging with the off-resonance saturation pulse showed increased lesion contrast compared with the liver for hemangiomas and cysts but not for malignancies. On the basis of signal intensity measurements alone (ie, ignoring morphologic criteria), the magnetization transfer studies showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.96 for distinguishing benign from malignant liver lesions. Though the separation of these two groups was imperfect, it was comparable with that achieved with qualitative analysis of signal intensity ratios at spin-echo imaging.

Cysts↗

First principles of fast spin echo.

Fast spin echo (FSE), a variant of the rapid acquisition with refocused echoes pulse sequence, is now being widely considered as an alternative to conventional spin echo for proton density and T2-weighted imaging. Although the medical experience with this sequence is relatively limited, relevant aspects of the technique have been well understood in the context of spectroscopic applications for many years. This article attempts to portray the subject in an appropriate historical context. Such a viewpoint promotes a deeper understanding of the artifacts, determinants of contrast, and future evolution of FSE. Hopefully, this may not only be of benefit in the design of optimal clinical imaging protocols for current state of the art but may also be of use in fashioning the criteria by which new developments in this field may be judged.

Artifacts↗

Evaluation of gynecologic malignancy by magnetic resonance imaging.

Currently, MR imaging has demonstrated the greatest accuracy and has potentially the greatest clinical utility for the staging of cervical carcinoma. Endometrial carcinoma also can be staged by MR imaging with reasonable accuracy, although the clinical indications for preoperative endometrial carcinoma staging are less clear. MR imaging has unparalleled capacity for the tissue characterization of adnexal disease and has demonstrated utility for diagnosis of common adnexal masses such as pedunculated leiomyoma, endometrioma, and ovarian dermoid. Its use in the evaluation or staging of ovarian, vaginal, and vulvar carcinoma has not been evaluated fully. MR imaging can demonstrate complications of radiation therapy and surgery and can distinguish most recurrent carcinomas from postradiation fibrosis. New techniques such as arrayed use of surface coils, endoluminal surface coils, fast spin-echo acquisitions, and contrast agents show promise for contributing to the already rapid pace of technologic advancement in the field of MR imaging of the female pelvis.

Female↗

Hepatic colorectal metastases: correlation of MR imaging and pathologic appearance.

Results of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations for 76 patients with proved colorectal metastases to the liver were retrospectively reviewed. Signal intensity and morphologic patterns of 157 lesions were scored. The morphologic patterns were correlated with the histologic material obtained at segmental hepatic resections or excisional biopsies in 33 patients. In 154 lesions (98%) colorectal metastases to the liver were found to be hyperintense on MR images acquired with a long repetition time/echo time; in 77 lesions (49%) central low-signal-intensity changes were seen. Virtually all larger lesions demonstrated areas of low signal intensity within the tumor. These areas were found to reflect histologic findings of coagulative necrosis and desmoplasia within the tumor. Peripheral hyperintense halos around central hypointense areas encompassed the growing tumor margin and variable degrees of cell necrosis. Hypointense peripheral rims, which correspond to abnormalities of surrounding hepatic parenchyma, were seen in 40 lesions (25%). This sign should not be assumed to represent the fibrous pseudocapsule of primary hepatic malignancy. No correlation between tumor grade (differentiation) and tumor morphology was observed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Clinically significant adrenal hemorrhage secondary to metastases. Computed tomography observations.

Clinically significant adrenal hemorrhage due to adrenal metastases has rarely been reported. We describe three cases of this unusual entity, two from lung carcinoma and one from sarcoma. Adrenal hemorrhage was bilateral in two patients, and was the presenting manifestation of malignancy in two. A computed tomography diagnosis of hemorrhage within bilateral adrenal metastases was made when adrenal masses rapidly enlarged in one case, and when previously resolving hematomas showed enlargement in a second case. The third case was believed to represent a pheochromocytoma preoperatively. We conclude that significant adrenal hemorrhage can result from adrenal metastases and can be the presenting manifestation of metastatic tumor. In the patient without discernible risk factors for adrenal hemorrhage, underlying malignancy should be considered as a possible cause, even if the hemorrhage is bilateral.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗

Lymphadenopathy in primary biliary cirrhosis: CT observations.

The authors retrospectively evaluated computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained in 21 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 13 of whom subsequently underwent liver transplantation. Evidence of enlarged lymph nodes, primarily in the gastrohepatic ligament and porta hepatis, was seen on CT scans in 17 patients (81%). Lymphadenopathy also occurred in unusual sites for benign adenopathy, including the paracardiac (24%) and mesenteric (19%) lymph nodes. Surgical or autopsy confirmation of enlarged lymph nodes was made in 13 patients, and histologic analysis of the specimens revealed reactive hyperplasia, sinus hyperplasia, sinus histiocytosis, fibrosis, or normal architecture in these enlarged nodes. The authors conclude that lymphadenopathy is a frequent CT finding in primary biliary cirrhosis and that recognition can help prevent misdiagnosis of lymphoma or metastatic disease.

Adult↗

Condensing osteitis of the clavicle: case report and review of the literature.

Osteitis condensans of the clavicle is a benign, often painful disorder of unknown etiology manifested by bony sclerosis of the clavicular head with an uninvolved sternoclavicular joint. The case presented demonstrates the characteristic scintigraphic findings of osteitis condensans of the clavicle. A review of the published pathologically proven cases reveals this disorder to have distinctive clinical and radiological features that allow differentiation from infection, neoplasia, and arthritides in most instances. The frequent observation, as in this case, of devitalized bone and marrow fibrosis with remodeling of cancellous bone suggests that osteonecrosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Adult↗

Mucinous carcinomas involving the prostate: atypical findings at MR imaging.

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings in four patients with mucinous tumors involving the prostate are presented. The MR appearance of these tumors differed from that of typical prostatic adenocarcinomas in that the signal intensity on T2-weighted images approximated or exceeded that of the uninvolved peripheral zone. The unusual appearance of mucinous prostate tumors may present problems in diagnosis and staging with MR imaging.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗