Gadodiamide and gadopentetate dimeglumine in MRI versus spiral CT in the diagnosis of liver lesions.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P Chevallier.
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A new genotyping method for Serratia marcescens is described. This method uses the flagellin gene as target for polymerase chain reaction amplification and Alu I restriction fragment length polymorphism. The strains tested belonged to 13 different hospital clusters of S. marcescens isolated between 1983 and 1988, concerning outbreaks and/or patient environments in different hospital units in Lyon and the Rhone-Alpes region of France. Initially, the classification had been performed by marcescinotyping. These strains were then tested by ribotyping and genotyping of the flagellin gene. Genotyping showed similar classification to ribotyping. The genotyping method is the easiest technique, as reproducible as ribotyping, and with almost the same ability to discriminate different strains. It does not need expensive equipment, is more rapid, and is less labor intensive than ribotyping. With this method, all strains of S. marcescens including sporadic isolates could be amplified and typed. Antibiotic sensitivity determination was found to be a useful complementary and confirmation test for all these typing methods.
Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are widely used tools to appreciate liver anatomy. Vascular and segmental anatomy are adequately appreciated with CT, while biliary anatomy is mainly seen with MR imaging. Basic principles of techniques and anatomical landmarks will be detailed.
PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate fluoroscopic-assisted insertion of self-expanding metallic stents before surgery or for palliative treatment of soft tissue colorectal obstruction. Materials and methods. From January 1999 to October 2000, 18 consecutive patients with colorectal obstruction were included in the study. Treatment with self-expanding metallic stent was either the first line of treatment before surgery (n=8) (group I) or purely palliative (n=10) (group II). Colic stenosis was located proximal to the sigmoid in seven cases. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 83.3% of cases and colic decompression was observed after 48 hours in all patients with a stent. Thirty days mortality and stent related complications were respectively 0% and 37.5% for group I, and 20% and 50% for group II. All complications were minor except for one colic perforation by a guidewire. CONCLUSION: Stent insertion was effective and provided relief of colic obstruction in the majority of cases. Randomized studies would be necessary to demonstrate a definitive reduction in mortality and morbidity with this technique as compared to the classical surgical approach.
The aims of this study were, firstly, to monitor temperature with magnetic resonance (MR) during laser ablations performed in pig livers in vivo in a low-field open scanner (0.23T) and, secondly, to study the feasibility of lesion size prediction. Spin-echo (SE) images of 29 sec acquired during laser applications allowed calculation of temperature maps using T1 and M(0) temperature sensitivity. Temperature was also measured with thermocouples. Images of prediction of tissue damage were calculated using temperature maps and Arrhenius model. T2W sequences were acquired after the ablations. Animals were sacrificed immediately. Lesions were photographed macroscopically. Lesion surfaces were measured and compared in T2W images, temperature images, damage prediction images, and macroscopic pictures. A correlation exists between temperature measured with MR and with thermocouples (rho = 0.878; P < 0.001, Spearman test). Mean surface of predicted damaged tissue is consistent with mean early necrosis measured in macroscopic pictures. Early T2W images underestimate mean necrosis size. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:42-49.
Thermal therapy of tumour including hyperthermia and thermal ablation by heat or cold delivery requires on line monitoring. Due to its temperature sensitivity, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows thermal mapping at the time of the treatment. The different techniques of MR temperature monitoring based on water proton resonance frequency (PRF), longitudinal relaxation time T1, diffusion coefficient and MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) are reviewed and debated. The PRF method appears the most widely used and the most efficient at high magnetic field in spite of important drawbacks. The T1 method is the easiest method of visualisation of qualitative temperature distribution and quantitative measurement seems possible in the tissue surrounding the tumour up to a temperature of 45-65 degrees C. Despite its high temperature sensitivity, application of the diffusion method in vivo is restricted due to its high motion sensitivity. The recent MRSI technique seems very promising provided acquisition times can be reduced. Results from the literature indicate that MR temperature monitoring in vivo can be achieved in vivo with a precision of about 3 degrees C in 13 s for a voxel of 16 mm3 (1.5 x 1.5 x 7 mm) in 1.5 T scanners.
Real-time PCR technology may provide an accurate and sensitive method to quantify hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. So far, studies have been carried out using the Taqman technology with the ABI Prism 7700 sequence detector. An alternative and simple real-time PCR assay is described with no probe requirement, based on the SYBR Green I dye and LightCycler fluorimeter. Amplicon synthesis was monitored continuously by SYBR Green I dye binding to double stranded DNA during PCR of the 5' HCV non-coding (NC) region. Specificity was verified by amplicon melting temperatures. An external standard curve was constructed with serial 10 fold dilutions of a modified synthetic HCV 5' NC RNA. A wide range linear relationship (up to 3.7x10(9) copies/ml) was observed between number of PCR cycle needed to detect a fluorescent signal and number of RNA copy. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 0.7 to 2.1 and 3.7% respectively, indicating good reproducibility of the method. Thirty-three HCV positive sera of different genotypes were quantified by this method and gave similar but more sensitive results compared to the branched DNA (bDNA) technology.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In approximately 5% of chronic liver disease cases, no aetiology can be identified. We selected sera from 50 patients with chronic hepatitis of unknown aetiology who were enrolled in this follow-up study whose aim is to gain insight into the possible role of viruses and to define potential clinical outcomes. METHODS: Patients' sera were screened with highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction assays for hepatitis B (HBV), C, D, and G viruses and TT virus. Sera were also retested for antibodies against the core antigen of HBV. RESULTS: Surprisingly, HBV DNA was detected in both serum and liver in 15/50 (30%) patients. Immunostaining for HBV antigens on biopsies from patients positive for HBV DNA showed HBcAg and/or HBsAg expression at low levels in 9/15 samples. Eleven of the fifteen patients were anti-HBc positive. With one exception, all patients carried HBV genomes at low levels (10(4) copies/ml or less). Histological signs of chronic liver disease were observed in all patients. CONCLUSION: Unrecognised HBV infections may account for a high proportion of chronic hepatitis cases of unknown aetiology. Improved HBV detection tests, which appear mandatory for the diagnosis and management of non-A non-E hepatitis as well as for improved safety of transfusions and transplantations are needed.
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The afferent loop syndrome corresponds to an acute or chronic obstruction of the afferent loop following a partial gastrectomy with Billroth II gastro-jejunal anastomosis. We describe the case of a 77-year-old man with history of partial gastrectomy for peptic ulcer disease performed 31 years ago and currently admitted for jaundice and poor general status. MR imaging showed dilatation of biliary and pancreatic ducts and showed a soft tissue mass between the afferent loop and the residual stomach. Endoscopy showed complete obstruction of the afferent loop by a biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma. The patient died of sepsis shortly after endoscopy of septicemia.
The authors report the MR features of a non functioning and hemorragic islet-cell tumor of the pancreas. This tumor was composed of a central cystic component with a fluid-fluid level seen on T1- and T2-weighted images and a peripheral hypervascular soft tissue component which showed hyperintensity on T2-weighted images with fat saturation.
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Pituitary adenomas are usually benign neuroendocrine tumors. However, some of those that are histopathologically undistinguishable behave aggressively and metastasize. The polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), which is highly expressed during the development of the brain and pituitary, is detected in some neuroendocrine tumors and might be relevant as a prognostic marker in pituitary tumors. In the present study, we have searched for PSA-NCAM expression in four lineages of rat pituitary transplantable tumors (SMtTW). Each lineage, maintained by serial tumor grafts under the kidney capsule and skin, differed in its GH/Prl secretion, growth rate, and malignant behavior. PSA-NCAM expression, detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting and quantified by ELISA, varied according to the SMtTW lineage. The benign tumors, SMtTW2, with a low growth rate never expressed PSA-NCAM. Another benign lineage, SMtTW3, with a high growth rate expressed a low amount of PSA-NCAM. The highest PSA-NCAM expression was seen in tumors that grew beneath the skin, invaded the kidney, and metastasized (SMtTW4). Tumors of the SMtTW10 lineage, which behaved as either benign or malignant tumors, were heterogeneous in terms of PSA-NCAM expression. In this rat transplantable pituitary tumor model, PSA-NCAM expression correlated in decreasing order with: (a) invasiveness (P < 0.0001), (b) metastases (P = 0.004), (c) ability to grow under the skin (P = 0.006), and (d) growth rate under the kidney capsule (P < 0.01), but not with hormone secretion (r = 0.207). This model, which is very similar to the human pathology, suggests that PSA-NCAM evaluation is of interest in the diagnosis of malignancy and the prognosis of human pituitary tumors. In addition, the SMtTW tumors could be instrumental in evaluating the effects of new therapeutic agents modulating PSA-NCAM expression.
Cervical sonography was performed in a 25-year-old man who was referred to our department because of the recent appearance of a left anterolateral cervical mass. This mass had the sonographic properties of air; it communicated with and extended the piriform sinus as well as deformed the left lamina of the thyroid cartilage. A preliminary diagnosis of left pharyngocele was confirmed by CT. To our knowledge, this is the first sonographic description of such an abnormality.
Pseudomembranous aspergillus bronchitis is considered as an early form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a well-known airway infection in immunocompromised patients. Radiologic features concerning invasive aspergillosis of the airways have been reported. However, we describe here an unusual feature of invasive aspergillus bronchitis, never reported to date, observed in a double-lung transplanted patient. Chest radiograph and CT revealed significant peribronchial thickening without any parenchymal involvement.
Two cases of agenesis of the horizontal segment of the left portal vein are reported. This very rare vascular anomaly probably corresponds to an embryological variation rather than to an obstruction of the left portal vein. In almost all cases liver ultrasonography is sufficient for identifying such vascular abnormalities. It shows a large aberrant vessel emerging from a right anterior segmental portal branch and running transversely in the quadrate lobe towards the teres ligamentum from which the portal supply to the left lobe arises. It is important to be able to recognize the magnetic resonance imaging features of this vascular variation, as magnetic resonance imaging may be the initial imaging study, and ultrasound may be technically challenging. To our knowledge, we present the first description of these features, including an enhanced gradient-echo T1-weighted sequence, a turbo spin-echo T2-weighted sequence with fat saturation, and a three-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance portography.
The authors describe the discovery of ascending colonic variceal veins via celiomesenteric diagnostic angiography following a bout of melena in a 44-year-old woman. Magnetic resonance imaging, including phase-contrast MR venography, allowed visualization of the portal and systemic veins immediately after the initial angiograms. The hemorrhagic episode did not resolve until after transjugular intrahepatic shunt insertion and selective variceal embolization through the shunt. At 1 week-, 3 months-, and 6 months post treatment, follow-up MR venography no longer revealed the presence of colonic varices. Colonoscopy at 6 months was normal and the patient did not have any further episodes of bleeding until a liver transplantation was performed after 9 months.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to clarify the clinical relevance of hepatitis B virus pre-core mutant detection in patients with chronic hepatitis B using a newly developed assay. METHODS: Viral genotypes and pre-core mutations were studied in relation to viral persistence and liver disease severity using INNO-LiPA methodology. The study group included 151 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 85 positive for HBeAg (group I) and 66 positive for anti-HBe (group II). RESULTS: The prevalence of viral genotypes in group I was: 64% A, 1% B, 15% C, 19% D, 0% E, 0% F and in group II: 39% A, 0% B, 2% C, 56% D, 2% E, 2% F (p<0.001). The prevalence of mutations at pre-core codon 28 (M2) was lower in group I (5%) than in group II (64%) (p<0.001). The prevalence of pre-core promoter mutations was also lower in group I (21%) than in group II (61%) (p<0.001). M2 mutations were more frequently detected in genotype D than in genotype A (p<0.001), while the other mutations were not influenced by viral genotype. Serum HBV DNA levels were significantly lower in group II versus group I (p<0.001), and in patients with any of the pre-core mutations versus wild-type sequence (p<0.01). Although cirrhosis was more frequent in group II (37%) versus group I (22%) and in patients with either one of the pre-core mutation (31%) versus wild-type sequence (25%), there was no statistical difference in liver severity assessed by ALT levels and Knodell score. CONCLUSION: Pre-core mutants, whose molecular pattern is strongly dependent on viral genotypes, are associated with viral persistence in anti-HBe positive patients with ongoing chronic hepatitis B. The availability of this rapid assay should allow a precise monitoring of viral pre-core mutants during the course of chronic hepatitis B.