Intrathoracic manifestations of metastatic testicular seminoma: a comparison of chest radiographic and CT findings

The chest radiographs and CT scans of 200 patients with pure testicular seminoma were reviewed. The radiographs showed evidence of intrathoracic metastatic disease in 25 patients (12.5%). Of these, 17 had an abnormal mediastinal contour, seven had pulmonary metastases, five had pleural effusions, and two had discrete pleural masses. CT showed evidence of intrathoracic metastatic disease in 30 patients (15%). This included mediastinal nodal enlargement in 21, pulmonary metastases in 12, pleural effusions in six, and pleural masses in two. CT not only showed disease in five patients with normal chest radiographs, but also showed additional sites of disease in four other patients with abnormal chest radiographs. The results suggest that mediastinal nodal enlargement is the most common intrathoracic manifestation of metastatic testicular seminoma. CT is more accurate than chest radiography in the detection of metastatic seminoma in the chest and defines the extent of metastatic disease more precisely.     

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia: CT features in 14 patients

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is a disease characterized by the presence of granulation tissue within small airways and the presence of areas of organizing pneumonia. We retrospectively reviewed the chest radiographs, CT scans, and biopsy specimens in 14 consecutive patients with proved bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. Six patients were immunocompromised because of leukemia or bone-marrow transplantation. In all patients, 10-mm collimation CT scans were available. In 11 of the 14 patients, select 1.5-mm scans were obtained. The CT findings included patchy unilateral (n = 1) or bilateral air-space consolidation (n = 9), small nodular opacities (n = 7), irregular linear opacities (n = 2), bronchial wall thickening and dilatation (n = 6), and small pleural effusions (n = 4). All patients had areas of air-space consolidation, small nodules, or both. A predominantly subpleural distribution of the air-space consolidation was apparent on the radiographs of two patients and on CT scans of six. Pathologically, the nodules and the consolidation represented different degrees of inflammation in bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli. Although most of the findings were apparent on the radiographs, the CT scans depicted the anatomic distribution and extent of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia more accurately than did the plain chest radiographs.     

Wegener's granulomatosis: findings from computed tomography of the chest in 10 patients.

Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest were reviewed for 10 patients with pathologically proven Wegener's granulomatosis. The CT scans revealed multiple pulmonary nodules in seven patients and a single nodule in one. The nodules ranged in diameter from 2 mm to 7 cm, and most had irregular margins. All of the nodules larger than 2 cm in diameter showed evidence of cavitation in the CT scans. Additional CT findings included associated areas of consolidation (in two patients), pleural thickening (in two) and pleural effusion (in two). Chest radiographs were available for eight patients, and the CT scans contributed information additional to that available from the radiographs for seven of these. In one patient lung nodules were visible in the CT scans but could not be distinguished from surrounding areas of consolidation in the chest radiographs. CT revealed additional nodules in five of the six patients in whom multiple nodules were seen in chest radiographs and in one of these also revealed cavitation tht was not visible in plain radiographs. CT excluded the possibility of a nodule that was suspected from the chest radiographs in a patient who had been treated previously for Wegener's granulomatosis. The authors conclude that Wegener's granulomatosis is characterized in CT scans by multiple nodules with irregular margins and by cavitation in nodules larger than 2 cm in diameter. CT may also demonstrate nodules and cavitation not apparent in radiographs.     

Comparison of plain radiographs and coronal CT scans in infants and children with recurrent sinusitis

We performed a prospective study of 70 infants and children with recurrent sinusitis. We compared plain radiographs with coronal CT scans of the sinuses to determine if plain radiographs can be used to accurately diagnose and localize residual sinus disease amenable to endoscopic surgery. This residual disease is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of recurrences of sinusitis. The patients were taking antibiotics and were clinically well at the time of the two examinations (performed on the same day). Findings on slightly over 80% of the CT scans were abnormal. In about 75% of the patients, the findings on plain radiographs did not correlate with those on CT scans. About 45% of the patients had normal findings on plain radiographs of at least one sinus with an abnormality of that sinus shown on CT scans. Almost 35% of the patients had what was interpreted as an abnormality of at least one sinus on plain radiographs, but that sinus was normal on CT scans. Sinusitis in infants and children is often underdiagnosed or overdiagnosed on the basis of findings on plain radiographs of the sinuses. Plain radiographs cannot be used to determine the need for, or to guide, endoscopic surgery on the sinuses.     

Tuberculosis of the spine. CT demonstration of paravertebral abscess

Two surgically proven cases of tuberculous psoas abscess are presented. The common findings on CT were low-density paraspinal masses and extension of the lesions which followed the typical distribution of iliopsoas muscle in both cases. The skeletal findings from the spine are also discussed. Our cases indicate the complementary use of plain radiography and CT in the investigation of tuberculous spondylitis.     

军团菌肺炎的胸部CT表现（附14例分析）

目的：了解军团菌肺炎的ＣＴ表现特点及ＣＴ能否提供较平片更多有利于本病诊断及治疗的信息，材料与方法，收治１４例经临床及血清学证实的军团菌肺炎患者，分析其胸部ＣＴ表现特点，并与平片进行对比分析，结果：ＣＴ扫描示病变呈多叶段受累者１１例，大片及斑片状阴影为最常见的表现，见于本组１０例患者，空洞病变３例，其中１例似金葡萄菌肺炎表现余１列表现双肺弥漫毛玻璃密度及索条影，在本组病例中，１０例伴胸腔积及胸膜肥厚     

Differentiation of radiation-induced fibrosis from recurrent pulmonary neoplasm by CT

We describe and compare the computed tomographic (CT) manifestations of radiation fibrosis and recurrent neoplasm and consider the potential application of CT in the follow-up of patients after radiotherapy for bronchogenic carcinoma. Thirty-one patients were evaluated in this retrospective study. The CT findings in 20 patients with radiation fibrosis were compared with those in 11 patients with recurrent tumor. In 19 of the 20 patients with radiation fibrosis, CT allowed demonstration of consolidation, with a straight lateral margin and containing ectatic air-containing bronchi. In 9 of the 11 patients with recurrent tumor, CT showed a soft tissue mass with a convex lateral border and without air-containing bronchi. Twenty of the 31 patients had a suspected recurrence on plain chest radiographs. CT permitted accurate differentiation between radiation fibrosis and recurrent tumor in all patients, with the exception of two who had large pleural effusions. Because of its great specificity, CT appears useful in complementing chest radiographs in the follow-up of patients after radiotherapy.     

Importance of MRI in the diagnosis of vertebral involvement in generalized cystic lymphangiomatosis

A 9-year-old boy presented with the sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain and on CT was found to have a large pleural effusion, mediastinal fluid, splenic lesions and multiple apparently sclerotic vertebral bodies. Subsequent MRI showed that those vertebral bodies that appeared sclerotic were in fact normal, and the vertebral bodies initially interpreted as normal had an abnormal T1 and T2 hyperintense signal on MRI and were relatively lucent on CT. MRI also demonstrated abnormal heterogeneous T2 hyperintense paraspinal tissue and several multicystic soft tissue masses. Biopsy of two adjacent vertebral bodies, one relatively sclerotic and one lucent, demonstrated findings of bony remodeling without a specific diagnosis. Biopsy of an infiltrative mediastinal mass confirmed the diagnosis of generalized cystic lymphangiomatosis. MRI should be included in the assessment of vertebral involvement in this condition because CT and biopsy findings may be nonspecific.     

Pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis: radiologic findings in 71 patients.

Pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis is a disease caused by lung flukes characterized by migration of a juvenile worm in the early stage and by formation of cysts around the worm later on. The purpose of this study was to describe the radiologic manifestations of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis, with special emphasis on the worm cyst and worm migration track. We retrospectively studied 71 patients who had evidence of pleuropulmonary paragonimiasis on chest radiographs (n = 71) and CT scans (n = 17). The diagnosis was based on the detection of eggs or on positive antibody tests. On chest radiographs, 59 patients (83%) had pulmonary lesions and 43 patients (61%) had pleural lesions. Pulmonary findings included patchy air-space consolidation (n = 37) with or without cystic changes; ring shadows (n = 16); and peripheral linear opacities (n = 29), which were more prominent in patients with pleural effusion. Twelve patients (17%) had bilateral pleural effusions or pneumothoraces. On CT scans, round low-attenuation cystic lesions (5-15 mm), filled either with fluid (n = 5) or gas (n = 5), were characteristically seen within the consolidation. Peripheral linear opacities seen on radiographs were suggestive of worm migration tracks on CT scans. CT may reveal an intracystic worm. Although the findings vary depending on the stage of the disease, findings on chest radiographs are usually typical of paragonimiasis. CT provides more specific information about the worm cyst and the worm migration track.     

CT features of rounded atelectasis

Rounded atelectasis (folded lung syndrome) is a form of pulmonary collapse associated with pleural thickening that can mimic a neoplasm on plain chest radiographs. The abnormality was diagnosed radiologically in nine patients in whom follow-up varied from 1 to 6 years. Four patients had bilateral lesions, making a total of 13 examples. The CT findings were analyzed and compared with previously published criteria for the diagnosis of this disorder. In all cases, CT showed a rounded mass, 3.5-7.0 cm in diameter, abutting a thickened pleural surface in the lung periphery. The margin closest to the hilum was blurred by the entering vessels in 92% of the cases. Our experience suggests that the CT findings of rounded atelectasis are characteristic of the abnormality.     

儿童慢性肉芽肿病胸部CT表现

目的分析儿童慢性肉芽肿病(CGD)胸部CT的特征性表现。方法搜集我院2004年6月～2009年12月确诊的30例CGD患儿,对其胸部CT及实验室检查进行回顾性分析和总结。结果 30例CGD患儿,发病年龄小于2岁的有23例,大多数患儿以呼吸道感染来诊,CT发现纵隔、腋下淋巴结肿大27例,淋巴结钙化17例,其中卡介苗接种同侧淋巴结钙化14例,肺内斑片、片状实变19例,结节及团块样病变24例。实变及结节内空洞12例,小叶间隔增厚11例,胸膜增厚10例,少量胸腔积液10例,支气管扩张9例。此组患儿实验室检查33次,病原菌明确的21次检查中5次为曲霉菌感染,并与影像学检查吻合,病原菌未明确的12次检查中,影像学提示为曲霉菌感染的占4次。结论 CGD患儿肺内主要表现包括实变、结节、团块、空洞,间质改变常见。结节与团块样改变高度提示曲霉菌感染,尤其在病原菌检查不明确时,CT对提示曲霉菌感染有很大帮助。纵隔、腋下淋巴结肿大、卡介苗接种同侧腋下淋巴结钙化具有一定特异性,能为临床提供有价值的诊断信息。     

Pulmonary histiocytosis X: comparison of radiographic and CT findings

The authors retrospectively evaluated radiographs, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and results of pulmonary function tests (when available) for 17 patients with biopsy-proved pulmonary histiocytosis X. In 11 patients, high-resolution CT was used. In 12 patients, CT demonstrated cystic air spaces, usually less than 10 mm in diameter. In three of these 12, cysts were the only abnormality, but in six others, nodules (usually less than 5 mm in diameter) were also present. Two patients had only nodules and one, only emphysema. CT showed that many lesions that appeared reticular on plain radiographs were actually cysts. CT showed no central or peripheral concentration of lesions, but it did reveal that many small nodules were distributed in the centers of secondary lobules around small airways. CT findings correlated better with the diffusing capacity (rho = -0.71) than did the plain radiographic findings (rho = -0.57). Thus, CT was better than radiography at showing the morphology and distribution of lung abnormalities.     

Extramedullary paraspinal hematopoiesis in thalassemia: CT and MRI evaluation.

We present a comparative CT and MRI study of the paraspinal extramedullary hematopoiesis in 32 thalassemic patients. The patients were classified into four groups according to the MRI and CT imaging findings. Active recent extramedullary paraspinal hematopoietic masses show soft tissue behavior in both CT and MRI. Older inactive masses reveal iron deposition or fatty replacement. Combined imaging findings of paraspinal extramedullary hematopoiesis revealed the phase of its evolution and the correct diagnosis.     

肺栓塞的螺旋CT检查与误诊

目的探讨螺旋CT扫描对肺动脉血栓栓塞的诊断价值,重点分析平扫的影像学特点.方法对16例CT平扫误诊病例进行回顾性分析.结果16例患者CT平扫均有阳性发现,敏感性为100%.其中误诊肺炎合并胸腔积液11例;胸腔积液3例;机化性肺炎1例;周围型肺癌1例.结论CT平扫可提供肺栓塞存在与否的有力证据,简便、安全、敏感可靠,在有条件的地方,应将其作为替代平片的首选检诊方法.     

腹膜后神经源性肿瘤的CT诊断

目的 分析30例腹膜后神经源性肿瘤的CT表现,以加深对其认识。资料与方法 30例均经病理证实。使用Siemens Plus 4A CT扫描仪。全部病例均进行了CT平扫和增强扫描。结果 （1）良性肿瘤16例,恶性肿瘤14例。位于肾上腺者19例,位于交感神经链上11例。（2）肿块不规则形14例。类圆形16例;边缘清楚25例,边缘模糊5例。（3）成神经细胞瘤和神经节成神经细胞瘤CT表现具有特征：平扫与肾脏呈等密度为主的混杂密度,增强扫描呈不均匀强化;均有较粗大无定形钙化伴有血管的包埋及腹膜后淋巴结肿大。其他病理类型的神经源性肿瘤CT表现的特征性没有前者明显。结论 大多数腹膜后神经源性肿瘤可根据其CT表现、好发于肾上腺及沿椎旁交感神经链分布的特点,结合患者发病年龄和临床资料CT可作出诊断。     

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis: comparison of radiographic and thin-section CT findings

Chest radiographs, thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scans, and results of pulmonary function tests in nine women with pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis and two women with pulmonary tuberous sclerosis were retrospectively evaluated. In all patients, CT demonstrated thin-walled cysts less than 20 mm in diameter scattered at random in all parts of the lungs. In eight patients, cysts larger than 20 mm in diameter were also present. Lung tissue between cysts appeared normal in all 11 patients, except one with septal lines and dependent alveolar areas of attenuation. CT showed cysts in three patients whose radiographs were normal, and it demonstrated that many lesions that appeared reticular on plain radiographs were actually cysts. CT findings correlated better with the diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide than did the plain radiographic findings. CT was more sensitive and more precise than radiography at showing the presence and morphology of lung abnormalities.     

Thoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis in sickle-cell disease

The radiographic manifestations of thoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis are unilateral or bilateral, smooth, sharply delineated, often lobulated paraspinal masses without erosion of the vertebral bodies or ribs, sometimes associated with subpleural, paracostal masses. These radiographic findings were encountered in eight adult patients with homozygous sickle-cell disease. In one patient, the masses encompassed essentially the entire thoracic paravertebral area bilaterally. In the other seven patients, the masses were unilateral and limited to the region of the eighth to the 12th thoracic vertebrae. Two of the eight patients had lateral subpleural masses that were not contiguous with the paraspinal masses and that were located medial to the lateral portions of the ribs. Follow-up in seven of the cases ranged from 2 to 15 years and demonstrated, after relatively rapid growth initially, either no change in size or slow growth. Each patient was asymptomatic with regard to the thoracic masses. Histologic verification was not available in any case because of the lack of clinical indication for invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The presence of well-defined unilateral or bilateral paraspinal masses and/or paracostal masses in patients with homozygous sickle-cell disease and without related symptoms should alert one to the possibility of the presence of extramedullary hematopoiesis. These masses tend to be slow-growing and should not be subjected to aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic measures.     

Imaging manifestations of pleural tumors.

Although radiologic assessment of pleural tumors may be accomplished with several imaging modalities, the standard noninvasive techniques include chest radiography and computed tomography (CT). These examinations may be supplemented with magnetic resonance imaging and occasionally with ultrasound. Depending on the location, size, and underlying histologic features, pleural tumors may produce a spectrum of findings. CT is particularly useful in defining the location and extent of these masses. The authors present a review of basic pleural anatomy and imaging features of both benign and malignant pleural neoplasms. The pleural may be involved by one of several primary or metastatic tumors. Specific cell types are diffuse malignant mesothelioma (the most common plain radiographic findings are unilateral pleural effusion and pleural thickening), localized fibrous tumor (circumscribed, spherical or ovoid, noncalcified lesions arising in the pleural surface), metastatic disease (radiographic findings may mimic those of malignant mesothelioma), and uncommon neoplasms including thymoma and lymphoma. Among these various pleural tumors, metastatic disease represents the most common neoplasm.     

胸腰椎骨折X线平片螺旋CT三维及多平面重建的对比分析

目的比较和评价X线平片、螺旋CT平扫、三维和多平面重建在胸腰椎骨折诊断中的作用及优势与不足。方法对42例经X线平片、螺旋CT平扫、三维和多平面重建确诊为胸腰椎骨折的病例进行对比分析。结果螺旋CT平扫、三维和多平面重建在显示椎体、椎板、小关节骨折及椎管狭窄方面明显优于X线平片;X线平片、三维和多平面重建在显示椎体压缩、椎体后突成角畸形方面基本一致,但明显优于螺旋CT平扫。结论胸腰椎骨折影像诊断X线平片是基础,CT检查是主要手段,三维和多平面重建是补充,三者结合可详尽反映椎体损伤情况。     

Thoracic outlet syndrome: evaluation with CT

Diagnosis of the thoracic outlet syndrome is often difficult, particularly in patients without osseous abnormalities on plain radiographs. The radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) findings were reviewed from 27 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome and 21 normal subjects. The plain radiographs and CT scans were assessed by two independent observers without awareness of the clinical history. Fifteen patients with thoracic outlet syndrome had osseous abnormalities (anomalous cervical ribs; abnormally long, drooping C-7 transverse processes) identifiable on plain radiographs. CT did not provide further diagnostic information in the patients with abnormal radiographs. Eight of 12 patients (66%) with normal plain radiographs had abnormal findings on CT scans, consisting of impingement of the C-7 transverse process on the scalene triangle or anteromedial aspect of the middle scalene muscle. Only two of 21 control patients (9.5%) displayed this CT abnormality (P less than .01). CT may be useful in patients with symptoms suggestive of thoracic outlet syndrome and no osseous abnormalities on plain radiographs.