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Biomedical subjects

T Franquet

Publications and source records attributed to T Franquet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Mycobacterium genavense infection in AIDS: imaging findings in eight patients.

This retrospective study included eight HIV-positive patients with a M. genavense infection. Seven of these patients had a CT scan of the abdomen and a US examination, whereas one patient with pulmonary symptoms had conventional chest radiographs and thin-section CT scan of the thorax. Multiple large retroperitoneal and mesenteric lymph nodes were demonstrated in seven patients; low-attenuation centers within enlarged nodes were identified in two patients. On CT scans two cases showed circumferential wall thickening of the proximal small bowel with a deep ulceration in one of these patients. Additional findings included focal lesions in the liver (n = 1), spleen (n = 2), splenomegaly (n = 6), and hepatomegaly (n = 4). The CT scans from the thoracic examination demonstrated multiple diffuse nodular infiltrates in both lungs. M. genavense infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of AIDS patients with CD4 counts below 100 cells/mm3 presenting with abdominal lymphadenopathy, multinodular or homogeneous hepatosplenic enlargement and circumferential thickening of the small bowel wall.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2000

Spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in IPF.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are at risk for a variety of acute pulmonary complications, including pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Our aim was to describe the radiographic and CT findings and to determine the frequency of complicating spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in patients with IPF. A retrospective study was performed including 78 consecutive patients who underwent CT scanning of the chest and who had confirmed IPF. The chest radiographs and CT scans were reviewed by two chest radiologists and classified as showing features of extra-alveolar air collections. The CT scans showed extra-alveolar air in 9 (11.2 %) of 78 patients (six females and three males; age range 26-90 years, mean age 65 years). Pneumothorax was demonstrated in 5 patients and mediastinal air collections in 4 patients. All patients had dyspnea for 1-48 months (mean 14 months). Of the five cases with pneumothorax, four developed acute onset of dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain, whereas 1 patient had a relatively stable functional status. Of the 4 patients with pneumomediastinum, three presented with nonpleuritic chest pain and acute dyspnea. Chest radiographs showed extra-alveolar air in 6 patients. Three cases were predicted to be negative by chest radiographs. Follow-up CT showed that air collections had resolved completely in 5 patients. Two patients died of respiratory failure within 4 months after CT. Extra-alveolar air should be recognized as a relatively common IPF-related complication. Chest CT is a useful imaging method in determining air collections in patients with IPF that become acutely breathless and their chest radiograph fails to reveal the presence of extra-alveolar air.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Spontaneous reversibility of "pleural thickening" in a patient with semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: radiographic and CT findings.

We present serial radiographic and CT findings of spontaneous reversibility of "pleural thickening" in a patient with proved semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis who developed bilateral intracavitary aspergillomas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of this feature. Radiologists should be aware that pleural thickening in patients with semi-invasive aspergillosis does not necessarily indicate irreversible pleural fibrosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[The prognostic factors of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with chronic pneumopathy].

OBJECTIVES: a) To determine in patients with chronic respiratory disease the risk factors for death due to semi-invasive and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (SIPA), and b) to describe the clinical features of SIPA in such patients. METHOD: Twenty-one patients with chronic respiratory disease were enrolled (9 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 asthmatics and 3 with bronchiectasis, 5 with post-tubercular sequelae and 2 mixed cases). A diagnosis of SIPA was established in our hospital when, in a patient with a clinical picture consistent with such a diagnosis, the fungus was isolated in bronchial secretions or parenchymal pulmonary specimens were obtained during autopsy. RESULTS: The most common symptoms were dyspnea (81%), cough (67%) and expectoration (62%) increasing over the levels usual for patients with chronic respiratory disease. Hemoptysis was present in only 14%. Eight patients (38%) died as a result of SIPA. A comparison of those surviving and non-surviving patients revealed that the latter had significantly higher LDH levels and white cell counts, and significantly lower total plasma protein and platelet counts. CONCLUSIONS: a) Low protein levels and high LDH levels and white cell counts with thrombopenia are indicators of poor prognosis in chronic respiratory disease patients with SIPA, and b) such patients do not usually present signs or symptoms that lead to a suspicion of SIPA given that such signs are typical of failing compensatory mechanisms in the disease itself.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Semiinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: radiologic and pathologic findings in nine patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the radiographic, thin-section CT, and histologic findings of semiinvasive aspergillosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included nine patients with COPD seen at the Hospital de Sant Pau during a 3-year period who had histopathologically proven aspergillosis with tissue invasion. Chest radiography and thin-section (2-mm collimation) CT of the chest were available in all cases. RESULTS: Nine patients had semiinvasive aspergillosis proven at autopsy (n = 7) or by thoracoscopically guided lung biopsy (n = 2). The radiologic findings consisted of parenchymal consolidation (n = 6) and nodules larger than 1 cm in diameter (n = 3). Parenchymal consolidation involved the upper lobes in five patients and was bilateral in four. Cavitation was present in two of the patients with consolidation and in two of the patients with nodular opacities. Adjacent pleural thickening was revealed by CT in four patients. Histologically, the areas of consolidation represented active inflammation and intraalveolar hemorrhage containing Aspergillus organisms. In the three patients with multiple cavitated nodules, a variable degree of central necrosis was observed. The inflammatory infiltrate extended into the surrounding lung parenchyma, and adjacent areas of hemorrhage were also seen. Aspergillus colonies were identified within the lung tissue. CONCLUSION: Upper lobe consolidation or multiple nodules in patients with COPD should raise the possibility of semiinvasive aspergillosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Bronchoscopy guided by high-resolution computed tomography for the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancies and normal plain chest X-ray.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest is able to demonstrate the presence of pulmonary infiltrates in febrile neutropenic patients with normal chest X-rays. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a safe procedure for the etiological diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates in oncohematologic patients. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic yield and subsequent therapeutic changes of a protected BAL (p-BAL) guided by HRCT in febrile oncohematologic patients unresponsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics with a normal chest X-ray. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-two episodes from 20 oncohematologic patients were included: group A, 9 episodes (8 patients) with no respiratory symptoms and group B, 13 episodes (12 patients) with signs or symptoms of pulmonary infection. HRCT and p-BAL were performed in all episodes within the first 24 hours. RESULTS: HRCT showed abnormalities in all 22 episodes (bilateral abnormalities in 14 of the 22 episodes [64%]) and the most frequent pattern was ground-glass infiltrate (7 out of 22 episodes). An infectious agent was isolated in 12 of the 22 episodes, 5 in group A and 7 in group B with a diagnostic yield of 54%. Antimicrobial therapy was modified in 12 of the 22 episodes (54%): 5 in group A and 7 in group B. In 6 episodes, treatment was changed according to HRCT results and in the remaining 6 due to positive microbiologic results. Modifications in empirical therapy were associated with a favorable response in 44% episodes of group A and in 31% of group B. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Oncohematologic patients with fever of unknown origin unresponsive to empirical antibiotics and with a normal chest X-ray can be candidates to undergo a HRCT. This subgroup of high-risk patients can benefit from a combined strategy consisting of BAL guided by a previous HRCT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Bronchiolar inflammatory diseases: high-resolution CT findings with histologic correlation.

Bronchiolar diseases pose a significant challenge to the clinician confronted with the evaluation and management of the affected patient. A variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases may affect the bronchioles causing either reversible or fixed bronchiolar obstruction. High-resolution CT (HRCT) is currently the best imaging modality for evaluation of small-airway disease. In fact, a wide spectrum of abnormalities are identified at HRCT in patients with bronchiolar diseases. These abnormalities are shown on HRCT in the presence of a normal or unclear chest radiograph. Additionally, HRCT performed at suspended full expiration may demonstrate the physiologic consequences of bronchiolar disease, e. g., air trapping. The differential diagnosis of pulmonary manifestations of bronchiolar diseases at HRCT is based on the different patterns of abnormality. Familiarity with the presentation of different bronchiolar inflammatory processes aid the radiologist in narrowing the differential diagnosis or even in suggesting a specific diagnosis. This article reviews the HRCT findings of various bronchiolar inflammatory diseases outlining their pathologic features. Knowledge of the underlying gross and microscopic pathologic features leads to a better understanding of their CT appearances.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1999

Acute Q fever in adult patients: report on 63 sporadic cases in an urban area.

We report here 63 sporadic urban cases of acute Q fever diagnosed in 1985-1997. Fifty-eight men and five women were included; the mean age (+/- SD) was 35.6 (+/- 10.2) years. Twenty-six patients had pneumonia, 30 had hepatitis, and 7 had a self-limited febrile illness. The most frequent radiological abnormalities were lobar or segmental alveolar opacities involving right lower lobes. Chronic bronchitis was significantly more frequent among patients with pneumonic Q fever (P = .01). Thirty-two patients' illnesses were diagnosed through seroconversion, 12 by a fourfold increase in serum antibody titer, and 19 by initial high titers. Patients who initially received doxycycline had a significantly shorter duration of fever than those treated with erythromycin or other antibiotics (P = .0001 and P = .0004, respectively). No patient died. Acute Q fever affects mainly urban men, most frequently causing hepatitis, except in those with chronic bronchitis, who more frequently develop pneumonia. Hepatic Q fever presented with more pronounced increases in liver function test values than did pneumonic Q fever. Treatment with doxycycline caused a significant reduction in the duration of fever.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Sclerosing mesenteritis: imaging findings in 17 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic findings of sclerosing mesenteritis and to describe certain signs that suggest the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Sclerosing mesenteritis represents a single disease with two radiologically different variants. In an appropriate clinical setting, radiologic features can suggest the diagnosis, delineate the extent of the process, and prescribe or limit surgical procedures. The "fat ring" sign and the presence of a tumoral pseudocapsule are important findings for the diagnosis of the disease.

Female↗
PubMed1998

[Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: a study of 33 cases].

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an infectious complication appearing mainly in immunosuppressed patients, whose diagnosis is often difficult and lately made, and that usually bears a dismal prognosis. Patients diagnosed as having IPA from 1989 to 1994 were retrospectively analyzed. Probable IPA was diagnosed on the basis of a positive culture for Aspergillus together with a consistent radiological image. Confirmed IPA was diagnosed if there was, in addition to the former, a pathological examination showing Aspergillus hifae invading pulmonary parenchyma and/or pulmonary vessels. There were 25 men and 8 women with a mean age of 53.7 +/- 16.9 years (range: 22-86 years). IPA was confirmed in 11 cases and probable in 22. Sixty three percent of the patients had hematologic malignancy or solid cancer, whereas 30.3% did not have prior granulocytopenia or immunosuppressive therapy. The mean (SD) interval between admission and diagnosis was 40.2 (37.1) days (range: 1-180 days), and the diagnosis was made while the patient was still alive in 75% of the cases. Fifteen percent of the patients had extrapulmonary aspergillosis. The most frequent finding both on X-ray film of the chest and pulmonary computed tomography were bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules. Thirteen patients were treated with itraconazole, 6 with amphotericin B, 5 received both drugs, and 2 received fluconazole. Nineteen patients (57.6%) died and the case-fatality rate among treated patients was 46.1%. IPA presents mainly in immunosuppressed patients, but there was a not negligible proportion of patients lacking the classical risk factors. IPA is often a lately made diagnosis and in a quarter of the patients it is not made when the patient is alive. The most frequent radiological presentation are multiple bilateral nodules. The case-fatality rate of IPA is exceedingly high, even when if the patient has been adequately treated.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis: the effect of steroid therapy on the prevalence of nodal enlargement.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes in cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA) and to assess whether this frequency was related to steroid administration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of chest radiographs and high-resolution computed tomography (CT) of 54 patients with proven cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA). Twenty-two of the 54 patients received oral steroids up to 2 months before the time of high-resolution CT examination (group 1); the remaining 32 patients had not taken steroids for at least 6 months before study entry (group 2). The prevalence, distribution, and size of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes was determined in all groups. The diagnosis of CFA was histologically established in 44 patients. In 10 patients the diagnosis of CFA was based on clinical and high-resolution CT findings. RESULTS: Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was present in 26 of 54 patients with CFA. The prevalence of enlarged nodes was 14% (three of 22) in patients who had received oral steroids up to 2 months before the time of CT examination, and 71% (23 of 32) in patients that had not taken steroids for at least 6 months before study entry. CONCLUSION: We conclude that patients with CFA on steroid therapy had a significantly lower prevalence of mediastinal adenopathy (P < 0.001) than patients who had not taken steroids.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The crazy-paving pattern in exogenous lipoid pneumonia: CT-pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to show a distinctive appearance of exogenous lipoid pneumonia on thin-section CT that has not, to our knowledge, been previously documented. CONCLUSION: On thin-section CT, exogenous lipoid pneumonia is revealed as patchy well-defined areas of ground-glass attenuation with superimposed septal thickening (crazy-paving pattern). Exogenous lipoid pneumonia should be included in the differential diagnosis when thin-section CT reveals a crazy-paving pattern.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Imaging findings of sternal abnormalities.

Radiographic findings in the sternal abnormalities are often nonspecific, showing appearances from a localized benign lesion to an aggressive lesion as seen with infections and malignant neoplasms. A specific diagnosis of sternal abnormalities can be suggested on the basis of CT and MR characteristics. Familiarity with the presentation and variable appearance of sternal abnormalities may aid the radiologist is suggesting a specific diagnosis. We present among others characteristic radiographic findings of hemangioma, chondrosarcoma, hydatid disease, and SAPHO syndrome. In those cases in which findings are not specific, cross-sectional imaging modalities may help the clinician in their management.

Adult↗