Case of the Month: A patient with acute abdominal pain and a peritoneal mass on ultrasound and multidetector CT.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S E Rha.
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The aim of this study was to correlate MR findings of gallbladder wall thickening with pathologic findings on the basis of the layered pattern and to evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging in gallbladder disease. We retrospectively evaluated the source images of HASTE sequences for MR cholangiography in 144 patients with gallbladder wall thickening. The layered pattern of thickened wall was classified into four patterns. Type 1 shows two layers with a thin hypointense inner layer and thick hyperintense outer layer. Type 2 has two layers of ill-defined margin. Type 3 shows multiple hyperintense cystic spaces in the wall. Type 4 shows diffuse nodular thickening without layering. MR findings of a layered pattern of thickened gallbladder were well correlated with histopathology. Chronic cholecystitis matched to type 1, acute cholecystitis corresponded to type 2, adenomyomatosis showed type 3, and the gallbladder carcinomas showed type 4. All four layered patterns were associated with PPV of 73% or greater, sensitivity of 92% or greater and specificity of 95% or greater. Our results indicate that MR findings of gallbladder wall thickening are characteristic in each entity and correlate well with pathologic findings. The classification of the layered pattern may be valuable for interpreting thickened gallbladder wall.
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CT and MR imaging have an important role in establishing the diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia. However, without specific signs such as thromboembolism in the mesenteric vessel, intramural or portal venous gas, and the absence of bowel wall enhancement, mesenteric ischemia can be confused with inflammatory or neoplastic gastrointestinal diseases. Arterial or venous occlusion or low-flow state are the main direct causes of mesenteric ischemia. Delayed diagnosis in equivocal cases can be avoided through an understanding of the patholophysiological aspects of mesenteric ischemia as they occur in a variety of other conditions, including: thromboembolism, bowel obstruction, neoplasm, vasculitis, inflammatory diseases, trauma, and drug or radiation therapy.
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We report the imaging findings in a case of Kaposi's sarcoma involving a transplanted kidney, ureter and urinary bladder. Ultrasound and CT demonstrated multiple nodular masses in the pelvis of the transplanted kidney, ureter and bladder. The masses enhanced well on CT following i.v. contrast medium.
OBJECTIVE: We examined the CT features of 22 patients with metastatic linitis plastica to the rectum. CONCLUSION: Metastatic linitis plastica to the rectum should be considered when CT shows a long segment of circumferential rectal wall thickening, especially in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer. In such patients, CT helps avoid unnecessary extensive surgery.
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PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of barium suspension prepared in methylcellulose (MC) in modified small-bowel follow-through (SBFT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated 155 patients who underwent modified SBFT with oral administration of MC after ingesting barium suspension. Of these patients, 52 received 40% suspension in MC, 46 received 40% suspension in water, and 57 received 70% suspension in water. Patients were divided into normal (n = 74) and abnormal (n = 81) groups according to the final results. The image quality, transit time to the cecum, and time to and frequency of flocculation were compared for both groups. RESULTS: In the normal group, the quality of the images in patients receiving 40% suspension in MC or 70% suspension in water was superior to that of images in patients receiving 40% suspension in water. In the abnormal group, the best image quality was achieved for the patients who received 40% suspension in MC. In the normal group, the difference in transit time between the three preparations was not substantial. In the abnormal group, however, the 40% suspension in MC showed the fastest transit time. Use of the 40% suspension in MC helped lower the frequency of flocculation in the normal group. CONCLUSION: Use of 40% barium suspension in MC is effective for improving the image quality in modified SBFT.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CT features of intraperitoneal manifestations with parasitic infestation in nine patients. CONCLUSION: The CT features of intraperitoneal manifestations of parasitic infestation were single or multiple multiseptated cystic masses in the peritoneal cavity, hazy omental infiltration, or both. Recognizing these features is important to establish an early diagnosis that leads to rapid treatment and helps avoid unnecessary surgery.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of CT in determining the causes of intestinal obstruction in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery for malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the CT scans of 55 patients with benign (n = 26) or malignant (n = 29) intestinal obstruction that developed after abdominal surgery for malignancy. After calculating the diagnostic accuracy of interpretations by three radiologists, we compared CT findings for benign and malignant intestinal obstructions with respect to peritoneal involvement patterns and other ancillary findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the diagnostic performance of CT in revealing causes of obstruction. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracies of the three radiologists were 67%, 75%, and 78%. CT findings indicating malignant obstruction were a mass at the site of obstruction or prior surgery, lymphadenopathy, or an abrupt transition zone and irregular bowel wall thickening at obstructed sites (p < .05). Conversely, the chance for benign obstruction increased when CT revealed mesenteric vascular changes, a large amount of ascites, or a smooth transition zone and smooth bowel wall thickening at the obstructed site (p < .05). With multivariate logistic regression analysis using two variables (a mass at the site of obstruction or prior surgery and lymphadenopathy), we calculated the overall accuracy of CT as 84% (46/55 patients). CONCLUSION: CT is useful in differentiating benign from malignant intestinal obstructions in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery for malignancy. However, CT has limitations in patients not having a demonstrable peritoneal mass.
Chilaiditi syndrome is a condition in which the colon or small intestine is interposed temporarily or permanently between the liver and the diaphragm. Usually, it is an asymptomatic and incidental radiographic finding, but it may be a potential source of abdominal problems, ranging from intermittent mild abdominal pain to acute intestinal obstruction. We report multidetector computed tomographic findings of a case of Chilaiditi syndrome presenting as small bowel obstruction due to hepatodiaphragmatic interposition of the ileal loop, which was entrapped by adhesive bands caused by Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome.
We report the imaging findings of spiral computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and MR angiography in a patient with nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Spiral CT showed multiple enhancing nodules during the hepatic arterial and portal venous phases. MR images showed multiple hyperintense nodules on T1-weighted images and hypointense or isointense nodules on T2-weighted images. MR angiography showed thrombotic occlusion of three hepatic veins, suggesting Budd-Chiari syndrome.
We report the imaging findings in a case of pedunculated exogastric leiomyoblastoma presenting as a wandering abdominal mass. Ultrasound and computed tomography showed a large, mixed solid and cystic mass in the peritoneal cavity. Computed tomography clearly showed that the mass was connected to the stomach by a narrow stalk. Small bowel follow-through showed subtle extrinsic indentation of the gastric body. The mass wandered from the right to the left side of the peritoneal cavity during various radiologic examinations.
PURPOSE: Our goal was to evaluate CT efficacy in differentiating gastrointestinal leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 45 patients (21 men, 24 women, mean age 55 years) with surgically proven gastrointestinal leiomyomas (n = 21) and leiomyosarcomas (n = 24) with respect to size, contour, enhancing pattern, mesenteric fat infiltration, calcification, ulceration, regional lymphadenopathy, direct invasion, distant metastasis, and growth pattern after visual inspection by two radiologists in agreement. On the basis of these CT features, subjective diagnosis was also categorized into three groups (Group I: probably benign, Group II: probably malignant, Group III: diagnostic malignant). The results were compared with the final histopathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: In addition to the features of direct invasion and distant metastasis suggesting diagnostic malignancy, the CT features favoring malignancy with statistical significance included larger size (> 5 cm), lobulated contour, heterogeneous enhancement, mesenteric fat infiltration, ulceration, regional lymphadenopathy, and exophytic growth pattern (p < 0.005). However, calcification was not significant in differentiating the two entities (p = 0.25163). A subjective analysis revealed 89% sensitivity, 85% specificity, and 87% accuracy for diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. CONCLUSION: CT features are useful in differentiating leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma in gastrointestinal tract.
Ischemic bowel disease represents a broad spectrum of diseases with various clinical and radiologic manifestations, which range from localized transient ischemia to catastrophic necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract. The primary causes of insufficient blood flow to the intestine are diverse and include thromboembolism, nonocclusive causes, bowel obstruction, neoplasms, vasculitis, abdominal inflammatory conditions, trauma, chemotherapy, radiation, and corrosive injury. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can demonstrate the ischemic bowel segment and may be helpful in determining the primary cause. The CT and MR imaging findings include bowel wall thickening with or without the target sign, intramural pneumatosis, mesenteric or portal venous gas, and mesenteric arterial or venous thromboembolism. Other CT findings include engorgement of mesenteric veins and mesenteric edema, lack of bowel wall enhancement, increased enhancement of the thickened bowel wall, bowel obstruction, and infarction of other abdominal organs. However, regardless of the primary cause, the imaging findings of bowel ischemia are similar. Furthermore, the bowel changes simulate inflammatory or neoplastic conditions. Understanding the pathogenesis of various conditions leading to mesenteric ischemia helps the radiologist recognize ischemic bowel disease and avoid delayed diagnosis, unnecessary surgery, or less than optimal management.
Vasculitides can cause local or diffuse pathologic changes in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in nonspecific paralytic ileus, mesenteric ischemia, submucosal edema and hemorrhage, or bowel perforation or stricture. The extent and clinical course of disease depend on the size and location of the affected vessel and the histologic characteristics of the lesion. Vasculitis may primarily involve large vessels (eg, giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis), medium-sized vessels (eg, polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease, primary granulomatous central nervous system vasculitis), or small vessels (eg, Wegener granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis, Henoch-Schönlein syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid vasculitis, Behçet syndrome). Radiologic findings in various types of vasculitis often overlap considerably and therefore have limited value in making a specific diagnosis. Nevertheless, the possibility of vasculitis should be considered whenever mesenteric ischemic changes occur in young patients, are noted at unusual sites (eg, stomach, duodenum, rectum), have a tendency to concomitantly involve the small and large intestine, and are associated with genitourinary involvement. Knowledge of systemic clinical manifestations in affected patients may suggest and even help establish the specific diagnosis.