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PubMed1982

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal adenopathy.

From an experience of approximately 4 000 body computed tomographic scans we identified 14 patients in whom non-nodal structures mimicked the appearance of retroperitoneal adenopathy; six of the patients are discussed in detail. Causes of a wrong diagnosis include varices, normal veins, aneurysms, localized hemorrhage, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and bowel adhesions. More common causes such as non-opacified bowel are not included. We emphasize ways to avoid these infrequent, though often clinically important, diagnostic pitfalls.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Pitfalls in diagnosis: the hip.

The hip joint is unique anatomically, physiologically, and developmentally. Because of these features, diagnosis of pathologic conditions is more difficult than for most joints. Because delay in diagnosis and treatment may result in crippling osteoarthritis, it is imperative that diagnostic pitfalls be avoided.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism on spiral computer tomography.

Spiral computer tomography (CT) has become a widely accepted clinical tool in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. The accuracy of computed tomography in diagnosing pulmonary embolism has increased over the past 10 years, parallel to technological improvements. However, as with most imaging techniques, interpretative pitfalls may occur for a variety of reasons. These include technical problems caused by respiratory motion artifact, improper bolus timing, streak artifact, and patient body habitus. In addition, misinterpretation of normal bronchovascular anatomy may lead to an erroneous diagnosis. This article discusses the various diagnostic pitfalls and methods to minimize and overcome them.

Artifacts↗

PubMed1980

Cross-sectional echocardiography: physical principles, anatomic planes, limitations and pitfalls.

Although M mode echocardiography has achieved a prominent role in the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiovascular disease, the limited area of view afforded by M mode techniques has restricted the application of ultrasound in many areas. The development of two dimensional echocardiography has obviated many of the limitations inherent in the narrow view of the M mode technique. It has enabled imaging of the heart from additional transducer locations, permitted determination of shape and anatomy and provided the ability to determine motion along two axes. Several types of two dimensional echocardiographs have been developed, and each type offers both advantages and disadvantages. Although two dimensional echocardiography has provided a larger area of view with ultrasound, it has also introduced new limitations including a larger and bulkier transducer, a much reduced sampling rate and a difficult display medium (videotape). In addition, new considerations regarding ultrasonic resolution have been raised. Two dimensional techniques have resulted in new pitfalls in ultrasonic diagnosis related to instrument artifacts as well as to performance and interpretation of the examination. The spurious appearance of cardiac masses because of these ultrasonic artifacts represents a particularly prominent diagnostic pitfall that must be avoided in daily practice. It is anticipated that the new wider field of view provided by two dimensional echocardiography combined with a standard high resolution capability of ultrasound (2 to 4 mm) will result in an increasingly large role for echocardiography in the management of patients with heart disease.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2003

Diagnostic utility of thyroglobulin detection in fine-needle aspiration of cervical cystic metastatic lymph nodes from papillary thyroid cancer with negative cytology.

Cystic changes in metastatic cervical lymph nodes (CLN) from papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) may be a diagnostic pitfall in fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology. We investigated in a series of CLN metastases from thyroid cancers (TC), including cystic PTC, and from a wide spectrum of extrathyroidal malignancies, the diagnostic role for metastatic TC of the rapid detection of thyroglobulin in eluates from FNAB (FNAB-Tg) of CLN. The study was carried out in a group of 79 subjects (22/57 M/F; median age, 56 years; range, 20-86 years) with enlarged CLN and thyroid nodules (TN), examined for potential metastatic TC, and harboring a large spectrum of incidentally diagnosed extrathyroidal malignancies (n = 24, mostly represented by lymphomas, lung, and breast cancers), CLN metastases from thyroid cancers (n = 28, including 6 cystic metastatic PTC), 6 specific lymphadenitis and 21 reactive lymphadenitis mostly detected (n = 16) during follow-up of patients with previously ablated TC. Markedly high FNAB thyroglobulin (Tg) values were found in all metastatic CLN TC. Two of the six cases with cystic metastatic CLN PTC were diagnosed by FNAB-Tg but not by cytology. In conclusion, FNAB-Tg has been confirmed as an easy modality and fast procedure to diagnose CLN metastasis from TC and high FNAB-Tg values with nondiagnostic cystic cytology strongly suggest cystic metastatic PTC.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis.

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose since it mimics many other abdominal conditions and has protean manifestations. The disease can present as an abdominal mass, bowel perforation, Crohn's disease and dysentery. These presentations are discussed with representative cases to illustrate the diagnostic difficulties. It is emphasized that to obviate the diagnostic pitfalls, tuberculosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of unusual gastrointestinal presentations particularly because radiological and laboratory tests may be noncontributory.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

PubMed2000

Patterns of keratin polypeptides in 110 biphasic, monophasic, and poorly differentiated synovial sarcomas.

Synovial sarcoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm of unknown histogenesis that shows various degrees of epithelial differentiation. It is known to contain simple epithelial keratins, and the possibility of complex epithelial keratin expression has been suggested. In this study, we immunohistochemically examined 110 well-documented synovial sarcomas including 44 biphasic, 48 monophasic, and 18 poorly differentiated (undifferentiated, highly mitotically active) tumors for 11 different keratin (K) polypeptides of the Moll catalogue. The epithelia of biphasic synovial sarcomas showed consistent, extensive reactivity for K7, K8, K14, K18, and K19. Other keratins seen in the epithelia of biphasic tumors included K17 (variable, in 77%), K13 (25%), K16 (23%), and K6 (24%) in the minority of biphasic tumors, predominantly in stratified-appearing epithelia. K10 was detected only focally in one case that showed keratinizing squamous differentiation. Focal expression of K20 was seen in 27% of cases. Monophasic synovial sarcomas had a more limited keratin repertory. Simple epithelial keratin positivity was detected, usually focally for K7 (79%), K19 (60%), K8 (45%), and K18 (46%). Two cases showed more extensive keratin positivity in the spindle cells. The monophasic tumors showed limited positivity for complex epithelial keratins: K14 (28%) and K17 (10%). K20 was detected focally in 6% of the monophasic tumors; other keratins were not detected. The poorly differentiated synovial sarcomas showed limited simple epithelial keratin reactivity, usually limited to scattered cells: K19 (61%), K7 (50%), K18 (47%), K8 (33%), but five cases showed more extensive positivity. Complex epithelial keratins were scant: K14 in one case and K17 in two cases. The immunoreactivity of capillary endothelia seen for K7 and K18 (but not for K8 and K19 with the antibodies used) is a potential diagnostic pitfall, and may cause overdiagnosis of synovial sarcoma if not properly recognized. In summary, we show complex patterns of keratins in synovial sarcoma, especially in the biphasic tumors. Such patterns establish a baseline in differential diagnostic considerations, and give an insight into the complex epithelial differentiation of this enigmatic mesenchymal tumor.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Neurological manifestations of an acute abdomen in children.

The acute abdomen in the pediatric age group is not infrequently fraught with diagnostic pitfalls. The younger the patient, the more problematic the presentation can be. Among the more unusual manifestations of an acute abdomen is an apparent encephalopathic picture. We present 2 cases which serve to illustrate the diagnostic difficulties encountered.

Abdomen, Acute↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the DNA content in liver cell adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and regenerative nodules.

With regard to neoplasms of hepatocytes, diagnostic pitfalls have been reported for differentiation of liver cell adenoma (LCA) from well differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since cytophotometric analysis of the DNA content with the help of image analysis has proven to be of diagnostic value in various neoplasms, we examined its ability to discriminate between LCA and HCC as well as regenerative liver nodules. The material investigated consisted of 54 cases of HCC, 10 benign liver tumours and 10 cases suspicious for HCC. All the benign liver tumours demonstrated an euploid histogram. 9 out of 10 borderline tumours were euploid while 1 out of 10 was suspiciously aneuploid. Among HCC, 21 out of 54 were euploid, 18 out of 54 suspiciously and 15 out of 54 clearly aneuploid. 5c exceeding rate differed significantly between benign liver changes and borderline lesions (p = 0.0474) as well as between borderline lesions and malignant tumours (p = 0.0108). We conclude that the use of image cytometry is helpful as an additional criterion for more diagnostic accuracy in morphologically difficult cases.

Adenoma, Liver Cell↗

PubMed2003

Frequency of diagnostic dilemmas in 131I whole body scanning.

AIM: The specific excretion pathways of iodine may cause several diagnostic pitfalls. Information concerning their relative frequency and possible consequences in daily routine is scarce. METHODS: A total of 500 (131)I whole-body scans from 300 consecutive patients with differentiated thyroid cancer of two centers were analyzed. The reports were validated with other diagnostic findings during follow-up for 12 to 85 months. 126 scans (25.2%) were performed at the time of discharge after high dose (131)I therapy (2960-11100 MBq). Residual activity was approximately 185 MBq (131)I at the time of imaging. 374 scans (74.8%) were performed in ambulatory patients 48 h after oral administration of 74 MBq (131)I. All patients revealed TSH concentrations >35 micro U/ml. RESULTS: A computerized literature search revealed 74 entities that may cause a false-positive whole body scan, from which 12 were present in our cohort. The uptake patterns could be epitomized into nine clinical settings. Apart from the significantly higher frequency of cervical activity in residual thyroid tissue in patients after high dose therapy no statistically significant difference was found between high and low dose patients. The most frequent combination was stomach and colon activity, which was seen in 15.3% of all scans. Additional images or diagnostic procedures were necessary in 59.3%. Only one patient with a kidney metastasis was initially misinterpreted. The major clinical problems included: contamination, superimposed intestinal retention, hot nose, isolated peripheral metastasis, unexpected breast activity and kidney metastasis. CONCLUSION: (131)I whole-body scanning has to be performed with painstaking precision and full awareness of even the rarest pitfalls in order to remain a sensitive and specific technique for diagnosing metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Transmission of the electrocardiogram via telephone. Analysis of 10 years' experience].

BACKGROUND: The problem of impaired cardiac rhythm is in recent years in the foreground of the interest of cardiologists. This was influenced not only by the conclusions of the CAST study which changed the therapeutic pattern used for some years but above all the diagnostic pitfalls of impaired rhythm as regards detection and identification. The objective of the present study was to provide evidence of the advantages and usefulness of the method of telephone transmission of the electrocardiogram within the complex of other diagnostic procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: The group was formed by 251 patients, incl. 186 men and 65 women, average age 51.7 years (range 19-85 years). The transmission of the ECG by phone was implemented by the system TESLAR (VUIS-CVUT) which comprises recording units and a terminal with a graphic outlet. A total of 3,727 electrocardiographic tracings were assembled. During their analysis the arithmetic mean was used as the characteristic of the position of the group or groups on the scale, the error of the mean expressing the ratio of the standard deviation to the number of cases. In nominal variables most frequently percentage expression was used, frequently with a confidence interval obtained from tables. Evidence of the usefulness of the method is the high rate of detected arrhythmias within emergency calls (88.5%), as compared with normal calls (10.6%) where the yield is close to that of Holter monitoring, however, with the advantage of time ad libitum and thus also a higher yield. CONCLUSIONS: The presentation of long-term experience with electrocardiograms by telephone confirms unequivocally the assumption that the method extends existing diagnostic possibilities in short-term, symptomatic, but sporadic arrhythmias, that it makes possible dispensarization of risk patients as well as patients with permanent pacemakers and that it improves the tactics of antiarrhythmic treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Iso-intense gallium uptake in hepatocellular carcinoma: potential pitfalls in diagnosis.

Twenty-one patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who had gallium scans were retrospectively reviewed. Four of them demonstrated iso-intense gallium uptake compared to the adjacent liver parenchyma. The importance is therefore emphasized of using radiocolloid scan with tracer angiogram performed at the same time in order to avoid the potential diagnostic pitfall of not recognizing the tumor on gallium scan alone.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Florid endocervical glandular hyperplasia with pyloric gland metaplasia: a radiologic pitfall.

A case of florid endocervical glandular hyperplasia with pyloric gland metaplasia is described. MR images showed multiple and conjugated cysts in the uterine cervix, which suggested adenoma malignum. A postoperative examination revealed florid but definitely benign endocervical glandular hyperplasia. Hitherto described radiologic features considered suggestive of adenoma malignum are not necessarily specific and can be a diagnostic pitfall.

Cervix Uteri↗

PubMed1999

Gingival hemorrhage, myelodysplastic syndromes, and acute myeloid leukemia. A case report.

Myelodysplasia syndrome (MDS) presenting as spontaneous gingival hemorrhage is described. Gingival hemorrhage is recognized as a symptom of MDS, a rare group of potentially fatal hematological disorders, but it has not previously been documented as a presenting sign. The diagnostic pitfalls are discussed with the case, and the need for careful interpretation of laboratory findings in conjunction with clinical signs is emphasized. Finally, the MDSs are defined, classified and discussed with respect to their relevance to the clinical periodontist, from a diagnostic, therapeutic, and management standpoint.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver: pitfalls in computed tomography diagnosis.

The presence of a fatty liver often complicates the interpretation of abdominal computed tomography (CT). Abnormalities in or adjacent to the liver, including dilated bile ducts, liver masses and subphrenic collections, may be masked by the fatty liver. Furthermore, normal structures may simulate pathological conditions. Five cases are presented to illustrate some of these diagnostic pitfalls.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

[Importance of E-cadherin; expression in the inmunohistochemical diagnosis of breast cancer].

It has been propossed that 50% of lobular carcinomas (LC) may change their phenotype to ductal carcinoma (DC) in 20 years. Since the prognosis and treatment of both breast carcinomas is different, it seems to be important; investigate through immunohistochemistry the loss of E-cadherin expression. E-cadherin expression was investigated in 90 cases with diagnosis or histological appearance of LC or mixed carcinomas (MxC), and in 30 DC selected among 385 cases received during year 2005 to be examined for immunohistochemical diagnosis. In 349 cases a diagnosis of DC was made. In the 90 cases selected to investigate EC the diagnosis of LC and MxC was performed in 36 cases, and among them, the histological diagnosis on 44.4% was modified. In 7 cases the diagnosis of LC was changed to DC, and 10 cases with diagnosis of MxC were considered to be DC. In 8 cases with diagnosis of DC and/or MxC the final diagnosis was that of LC. The histological diagnosis of CL is not always easily made and there are cases of DC with the appearance of LC, and cases of LC and MxC which may simulate to be DC. Diagnostic pitfalls in 44.4% of cases classified as LC and MxC after EC, were noted in our study. This percentage is close to the proposed 50% of cases of LC changing their phenotype to DC. The results with EC herein presented, suggested that diagnostic failures are due to the slight histological differences between both LC and DC. Recent evidences seems to indicate that there is a relationship between loss of EC and Tiroxine kynase receptors of the Epidermal Growth Factor related to migration and invasiveness of tumor cells. Immunohistochemical studies on the expression of EC in breast cancer is emphasized.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Intact stones or fragments? Potential pitfalls in the imaging of patients after biliary extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Ultrasound is used after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of gallbladder stones to assess fragmentation. In many patients with apparently successful fragmentation, the posttreatment studies show an intraluminal, echogenic focus within the gallbladder, with posterior acoustic shadowing characteristic of an intact stone. Cholesterol gallstones were fragmented in vitro by means of lithotripsy, and the sonographic appearance of the fragmented stones was followed up over time to study factors that might affect the process. After lithotripsy, fragments settled and produced an echogenic focus with posterior shadowing indistinguishable from the appearance of an intact stone. These experimental observations led to the development of a clinical maneuver to overcome the diagnostic pitfalls posed by the reaggregation of stone fragments in situ. This rollover maneuver helps distinguish between intact stones and fragments, and prevents both diagnostic errors in follow-up and unnecessary retreatment.

Cholelithiasis↗

PubMed1992

Vertebral osteomyelitis mimicking bone metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Vertebral osteomyelitis can be a diagnostic pitfall for physicians, since it is protean and often subtle in its clinical presentation. It can coexist with metastatic lesions or mimic vertebral bone metastasis. When it occurs in patients with breast cancer, who are prone to have bone metastasis, it can present perplexing diagnostic problems. Misdiagnosing vertebral osteomyelitis as bone metastasis or vice versa results in delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment and may cause serious morbidity. We emphasize this problem by presenting the cases of two patients with breast cancer whose clinical course was complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis. When the clinical course of breast cancer is different from this usual presentation, a different process should be suspected, and histologic diagnosis should be promptly sought. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy and culture of suspicious-appearing bony lesions is recommended as a rapid and reliable method of establishing a definite diagnosis in this circumstance.

Breast Neoplasms↗