Esophageal tuberculosis: Findings on barium swallow and computed tomography

Esophageal tuberculosis secondary to tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy is a very unusual presentation of adult tuberculosis. We report a patient presenting with fever of unknown origin and dysphagia. Barium swallow demonstrated esophageal displacement, mucosal ulceration and perforation with a fistulous tract into the mediastinum. CT of the mediastinum gave the most complete delineation of the tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy which surrounded and displaced the esophagus. The fistulous tract extending from the esophagus into the nodal mass was also seen on CT.     

Gastric varices appearing as intraluminal masses on computed transaxial tomography

Two case reports are presented to demonstrate that submucosal and subserosal gastric varices can appear as intraluminal masses on computed transaxial tomographic images.     

Esophageal varices

Barium swallow is generally used to demonstrate esophageal varices, which appear as serpiginous filling defects in the distal esophagus and cardia of the stomach. Angiography is used for pre- and postoperative shunt evaluation.     

Acute variceal hemorrhage

Variceal bleeding is a frequent and life-threatening complication of portal hypertension. The first episode of variceal bleeding is associated not only with a high mortality, but also with a high recurrence rate in those who survive. Therefore, management should focus on different therapeutic strategies aiming to prevent the first episode of variceal bleeding (primary prophylaxis), to control hemorrhage during the acute bleeding episode (emergency treatment), and to prevent rebleeding (secondary prophylaxis). These strategies involve pharmacological, endoscopic, surgical, and interventional radiological modalities. This article reviews management of acute variceal bleeding.     

贲门周围血管离断联合食管横断术治疗食管曲张静脉破裂出血的回顾性研究

目的:评价贲门周围血管离断联合食管横断术治疗食管曲张静脉破裂出血的临床效果.方法:对2001年4月至2006年12月间117例联合断流术治疗食管曲张静脉破裂出血病例(研究组)进行回顾性分析,并与此前94例单纯行贲门周围血管离断术病例(对照组)进行比较,观察术后近远期再出血、曲张静脉残留、肝性脑病、手术并发症等情况.结果:两组均无手术死亡,住院期间无再出血病例,术后均恢复出院.研究组食管横断相关并发症为4例消化道瘘,2例食管吻合口狭窄.术后1年食管曲张静脉残留率联合断流组为21.3%,对照组为50%(P＜0.05);残留食管曲张静脉破裂出血率研究组为0,对照组为29.4%(P＜0.05).两组术后肝性脑病与常见手术并发症发生率无明显差异.结论:该术式在减少术后食管曲张静脉残留,预防再出血方面优于贲门周围血管离断术.     

Portal hypertension and variceal hemorrhage

Portal hypertension, a major hallmark of cirrhosis, is defined as a portal pressure gradient exceeding 5 mm Hg. In portal hypertension, porto-systemic collaterals decompress the portal circulation and give rise to varices. Successful management of portal hypertension and its complications requires knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology, the pertinent anatomy, and the natural history of the collateral circulation, particularly the gastroesophageal varices.     

自发性蛛网膜下腔出血MSCTA检查的临床价值

目的 探讨多层螺旋CT血管造影(MSCTA)对自发性蛛网膜下腔出血病因诊断的临床价值。方法 经CT平扫诊断为自发性蛛网膜下腔出血39例，进行MSCTA检查及三维图像后处理，并均与DSA检查对照，适合介人治疗的病例，进行介人栓塞治疗。结果 全部39例自发性蛛网膜下腔出血的病例共检查出动脉瘤23例，脑动静脉畸形1例，脑动脉硬化1例，未见异常14例。其中颈内动脉动脉瘤5例，前交通动脉动脉瘤7例，大脑中动脉动脉瘤5例，大脑前动脉动脉瘤1例，基底动脉动脉瘤1例，椎动脉动脉瘤1例，多发动脉瘤1例，23例患者中共检出24个动脉瘤，有1例为2个动脉瘤。脑血管病变的阳性率为64．3％。结论 MSCTA检查是自发性蛛网膜下腔出血病因检查的一种简单、快速、无创及有效的方法。     

Effect of esophageal variceal sclerotherapy on hemorrhoids, anorectal varices and portal colopathy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) results in an increase in the prevalence of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). However, the effects of sclerotherapy on hemorrhoids, anorectal or colonic varices and portal hypertensive colopathy are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate these effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients with portal hypertension were studied. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and full-length colonoscopy were carried out before the patients underwent EST for esophageal varices, and after obliteration of the varices following sclerotherapy. RESULTS: The obliteration of esophageal varices by EST did not significantly affect the prevalence of hemorrhoids (32 % before and after), anorectal varices (45% before and after) or portal hypertensive colopathy (60.5 % before and 66 % after, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Obliteration of esophageal varices does not affect the prevalence of hemorrhoids, anorectal varices, or portal hypertensive colopathy.     

An unusual case of noncavitary hemorrhage revealed by intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Peripheral arterial injuries after blunt trauma commonly follow injuries to adjacent soft tissue, organ, and bone. We present here a case of blunt injury to the lumbar artery and the deep iliac circumflex artery in which there was no adjacent bone fracture, but in which hemorrhagic shock and persistent anemia ensued. Intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the site of active bleeding, leading us to perform an angiographic embolization for hemostasis.     

Sensitivity of newer-generation computed tomography scanners for subarachnoid hemorrhage: a Bayesian analysis

Background

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a life-threatening condition considered in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute and severe-onset headache. Currently, the practice pattern for suspected SAH is to perform a non-contrasted computed tomography (CT) scan of the head, followed by lumbar puncture (LP) if the CT is negative. Newer-generation 16-slice CT scanners have been shown in one study to be very sensitive for SAH.

Objective

We sought to validate these findings at our institution by retrospectively analyzing the sensitivity of our 16-slice or better CT scanner and performing a bayesian analysis with the results.

Methods

We utilized ED electronic medical records and the Department of Neurosurgery research database to search for patients admitted from the ED with a diagnosis of SAH from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008. We found a total of 134 patients admitted with SAH during this time frame.

Results

Average age was 53.8 years; 62% were female. Presenting complaint was headache in 57%, paresthesia or weakness in 7%, unresponsive in 10%, confusion or altered mental status in 5%, and “other” in 10%. Sensitivity of 16-slice or better CT scanner in our study was 131/134, or 97.8% (95% confidence interval 93.1–99.4%). No patient with a negative CT had a lesion requiring intervention.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the high sensitivity of 16-slice or better CT scanners for SAH. This calls into question the need for LP after negative head CT when 16-slice CT or better is used.