Mediastinal myelolipoma: CT and MRI appearances

A 72-year-old man presented with a mediastinal mass on chest radiograph. Computed tomography and MR imaging showed that the mass consisted of both fatty and small nodular soft tissue components, highly suggestive of an extramedullary hematopoiesis or a myelolipoma. A CT-guided needle biopsy was next performed and confirmed the diagnosis. We discuss the CT and MR imaging appearances of this tumor and usefulness of a CT-guided needle biopsy to avoid surgery in asymptomatic patients. Received: 8 March 1999; Revised: 23 June 1999; Accepted: 25 June 1999     

Early spontaneous regression of a hypothalamic/chiasmatic mass in neurofibromatosis type 1: MR findings

A patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 was found to have an enhancing mass in the hypothalamus and in the anterior optic pathway. A 3-month MR study showed a reduction in the size and enhancement of the mass. At a 9-month MR follow-up the mass disappeared and ceased to enhance. This report shows the unusual behaviour of a hypothalamic/chiasmatic mass confirming that in such asymptomatic cases the conservative management can be considered the treatment of choice. Received: 27 July 1999; Revised: 20 October 1999; Accepted: 19 November 1999     

Aberrant cervical thymus in an infant: an unusual cause of stridor

We report an 8-month-old infant presenting with stridor caused by a nonpalpable neck mass discovered at imaging and surgery. The diagnosis of aberrant thymic tissue was confirmed at histopathology. The authors reviewed the literature and discuss the embryology, imaging findings and differential diagnosis of this rare disorder. Received: 1 July 1999; Revised: 3 September 1999; Accepted: 6 September 1999     

Helical CT appearance of glomus tumor of the stomach

Glomus tumor occurs only rarely in the stomach. This benign intramural mass is located most frequently in the distal half of the stomach. We experienced two cases of glomus tumor of the stomach which were examined with helical CT and were confirmed pathologically. Both tumors were well-marginated solitary lesions, located in the gastric antrum. On the early-phase helical CT, an intact overlying mucosa was demonstrated in both cases, and both tumors showed a dense homogeneous contrast enhancement, which persisted to the delayed phase. Received: 26 January 1999; Revised: 18 May 1999; Accepted: 2 July 1999     

Age- and gender-specific differences in left and right ventricular cardiac function and mass determined by cine magnetic resonance imaging

We examined possible age- and gender-specific differences in the function and mass of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles in 36 healthy volunteers using cine gradient-recalled echo magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects were divided into four groups (nine men and nine women in each): men aged under 45 years (32 ± 7), women aged under 45 (27 ± 6), men aged over 45 (59 ± 8), and women aged over 45 (57 ± 9). Functional analysis of cardiac volume and mass and of LV wall motion was performed by manual segmentation of the endocardial and epicardial borders of the end-diastolic and end-systolic frame; both absolute and normalized (per square meter body surface area) values were evaluated. With age there was a significant decrease in both absolute and normalized LV and RV chamber volumes (EDV, ESV), while LV and RV masses remained unchanged. Gender-specific differences were found in cardiac mass and volume (for men and women, respectively: LV mass, 155 ± 18 and 110 ± 16 g; LV EDV, 118 ± 27 and 96 ± 21 ml; LV ESV, 40 ± 13 and 29 ± 9 ml; RV mass, 52 ± 10 and 39 ± 5 g; RV EDV, 131 ± 28 and 100 ± 23 ml; RV ESV, 53 ± 17 and 33 ± 15 ml). Normalization to body surface area eliminated differences in LV volumes but not those in LV mass, RV mass, or RV function. Functional parameters such as cardiac output and LV ejection fraction showed nonsignificant or only slight differences and were thus largely independent of age and gender. Intra- and interobserver variability ranged between 1.4 % and 5.9 % for all parameters. Cine magnetic resonance imaging thus shows age- and gender-specific differences in cardiac function, and therefore the evaluation of cardiac function in patients should consider age- and gender-matched normative values. Received: 10 May 1999; Revision received: 27 August 1999; Accepted: 28 October 1999     

Role of radiology in the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis

Clinical studies report a rate of 5 % and autopsy results a rate of 25 % of brain involvement in sarcoidosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of radiology in the diagnosis of patients with neurosarcoidosis. The chest radiographs and MRI brain scans of 22 patients with sarcoidosis were retrospectively reviewed, along with the information that was provided in the request form and clinical charts. All patients had neurological signs and symptoms; 21 patients were examined with contrast enhancement. Facial nerve paralysis was the most common clinical manifestation identified in 10 patients. A wide spectrum of MR findings was noted: periventricular high-signal lesions on T2-weighted images (46 %); multiple supratentorial and infratentorial brain lesions (36 %); solitary intra-axial mass (9 %); solitary extra-axial mass (5 %); and leptomeningeal enhancement (36 %). Neurological signs and symptoms can be significant manifestations of sarcoidosis. Magnetic resonance imaging shows a wide spectrum of brain abnormalities associated with neurosarcoidosis. The patient's history and chest X-ray are helpful in arriving at the correct diagnosis, but in selected cases with isolated brain involvement biopsy may still be required. Received: 21 June 1999; Revised: 27 August 1999; Accepted: 15 October 1999     

The local spread of lower bile duct cancer: evaluation by thin-section helical CT

This study illustrates the local spread of lower bile duct cancer with thin-section helical CT in correlation with the surgical and pathological findings. Pathologically, 16 patients had pancreatic invasion, 4 had small bowel mesentery invasion, 7 had extrapancreatic nerve plexus invasion, and 3 patients had vascular invasion. On thin-section helical CT, pancreatic invasion was correlated to the clarity or non-clarity of the bile duct mass-pancreas border and the presence of an intrapancreatic mass. Cases with small bowel mesentery and extrapancreatic nerve plexus invasion showed mass or stranding around the superior mesenteric artery and/or inferior pancreatoduodenal artery. Vascular invasion was seen as tumor contiguity to these vessels. Received: 28 September 1998; Revised: 30 December 1998; Accepted: 2 April 1999     

A vascular sarcoid mass mimicking a convexity meningioma

We report a 48-year-old woman with a left posterior temporal extra-axial mass that had the imaging characteristics of a meningioma on preoperative CT, MRI and angiography. However, a biopsy diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made. This case illustrates that dural-based sarcoid masses can be very vascular and radiographically indistinguishable from meningiomas. Characteristic imaging features of extra- and intra-axial sarcoid lesions are discussed. Received: 4 March 1999/Accepted: 11 June 1999     

Magnetic resonance imaging of athlete's heart: myocardial mass, left ventricular function, and cross-sectional area of the coronary arteries

To evaluate left ventricular myocardial mass and function as well as ostial coronary artery cross-sectional area in endurance athletes, an athlete group of 12 highly trained rowers and a control group of 12 sedentary healthy subjects underwent MR examination. An ECG-gated breath-hold cine gradient-echo sequence was used to calculate myocardial mass, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, stroke volume, and cardiac output, all related to body surface area, as well as ejection fraction. A 3D fat-saturated ECG- and respiratory-triggered navigator echo sequence was used to evaluate coronary arteries: left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCx), and right coronary artery (RCA). Cross-sectional area was calculated and divided for body surface area. Myocardial mass was found significantly larger in athlete group than in control group (p = 0.0078), the same being for end-diastolic volume (p = 0.0078), stroke volume (p = 0.0055), LM (p = 0.0066) and LAD (p = 0.0129). No significant difference was found for all the remaining parameters. Significant correlation with myocardial mass was found for LM (p < 0.001) and LAD (p = 0.0340), not for LCx and RCA. Magnetic resonance imaging is a useful tool in evaluating the myocardial hypertrophy and function of athlete's heart. Magnetic resonance angiography is a valuable noninvasive method to visualize the correlated cross-sectional area increase of the left coronary artery system. Received: 25 March 1999; Revised: 31 August 1999; Accepted: 1 September 1999     

Colonic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: helical-CT demonstration

Clinically evident colonic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rare. In the present study a hypervascular sigmoid mass was demonstrated on arterial-phase helical CT using a water enema in a patient who had suffered left nephrectomy 8 years previously for RCC. The intense and early enhancement of the lesion suggested the possibility of a solitary colonic metastasis from RCC, a diagnosis which was pathologically confirmed. Received: 22 October 1998; Revised: 22 April 1999; Accepted: 7 May 1999     

Intramural leiomyoma of the bladder

Mesodermal tumors of the urinary bladder are rare and the majority of them are malignant. We report a case of an intramural leiomyoma of the bladder presenting with symptoms of a mild lower urinary tract infection. The patient was managed with partial cystectomy and the outcome was excellent. Received: 31 May 1999; Revised: 21 September 1999; Accepted: 21 September 1999     

Various radiological appearances of angiomyolipoinas in the same kidney

A 21-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis presented with abdominal distension and flank pain. Imaging studies, including CT and MR imaging, revealed bilateral renal mass lesions, containing fat and suggesting the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis. However the imaging characteristics of one of these lesions differed from the others with no radiologically detectable fat tissue in this solid lesion suggesting renal cell carcinoma. Histopathological examination of this lesion in the left kidney revealed an angiomyolipoma with minimal fat tissue. The radiological diagnosis of angiomyolipomas with minimal fat tissue remains difficult and the differential diagnosis is discussed. Received: 5 October 1998; Revised: 22 December 1998; Accepted: 7 June 1999     

Bilateral xanthogranulomatous perinephritis without renal parenchymal involvement

A case of isolated bilateral xanthogranulomatous perinephritis, which presented as a symmetrical irregular perirenal rim of soft tissue, is reported. Differential diagnosis and image features on ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance are discussed. Received: 20 May 1999; Revised: 20 July 1999; Accepted: 22 July 1999     

Appendicitis after appendectomy: CT diagnosis

This article presents a case of appendicitis 7 years after open appendectomy. Together with the apparent CT findings we discuss the current literature of this issue. Received: 21 April 1999; Revised: 11 August 1999; Accepted: 13 August 1999     

Gallstone ileus: CT findings

Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of recurrent gallstone cholecystitis. The classic radiographic triad of small bowel obstruction, pneumobilia and ectopic gallstone on abdominal plain radiograph is described with CT imaging. Because of the better resolution of CT compared with abdominal radiography and its recent accession to emergency use, radiologists should be aware of CT findings of gallstone ileus. We report a case in which gallstone ileus was initially diagnosed by CT. Received: 30 July 1999; Revised: 18 October 1999; Accepted: 18 October 1999     

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and fat necrosis of the breast

Fat necrosis of the breast is a well-known complication following trauma, surgery, or radiotherapy. The present paper describes a rare case of fat necrosis after heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The mammographic, sonographic, and MR evaluation and pathologic correlation after a 1-year follow-up period are reported. Received: 21 January 1999; Revision received: 3 June 1999; Accepted: 5 July 1999     

Congenital absence of the horizontal portion of the left portal vein: ultrasound findings

Congenital absence of the horizontal portion of the left portal vein is very rare and has been very reported sporadically. We present three such cases referred from other hospitals with a diagnosis of intrahepatic vascular anomaly. Color Doppler ultrasound not only confirmed the diagnosis but also allowed a quantitative measurement of blood flow in these cases. Although it is a very rare condition, knowledge of the ultrasound and color Doppler findings helps in establishing the diagnosis of this congenital anomaly. Received: 9 July 1999; Revised: 25 October 1999; Accepted: 25 October 1999     

Solitary myofibromatosis of the skull

We present a case of solitary infantile myofibromatosis of the skull in a 3-month-old boy. A right parietal subcutaneous lump was found at birth, and it increased in size over the ensuing 3 months. Surgery was performed, and a diagnosis of myofibromatosis was confirmed histopathologically. Solitary myofibromatosis of the skull is extremely rare. The radiographical, CT, and MR appearances, as well as histopathological findings, are described in this article. Received: 30 December 1998; Revised: 21 April 1999; Accepted: 11 May 1999     

Hemobilia, intrahepatic hematoma and acute thrombosis with cavernomatous transformation of the portal vein after percutaneous thermoablation of a liver metastasis

A 53-year-old-man underwent US-guided percutaneous thermal ablation with a cooled-tip needle of three liver metastases from gastric cancer. Six days later, the patient was re-admitted for melena, scleral jaundice, and anemia. Abdominal US disclosed echogenic material in the gallbladder lumen (hemobilia) and a focal lesion with mixed echotexture in segment III (hepatic hematoma). On day 5 portal cavernomatosis was diagnosed at US and confirmed by color Doppler and a helical CT exam. The case described emphasizes that radio-frequency interstitial hyperthermia may cause not only traumatic injury of the liver parenchyma but also thermally mediated damage of vascular structures. Received: 14 January 1999; Revised: 21 May 1999; Accepted: 9 June 1999     

Chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone

The CT and MRI findings in a case of chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone are reported. Although chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor, only 10 % of chondrosarcomas occur in the head and neck region. The hyoid bone is a rare site of involvement with only seven cases reported previously. Received: 19 February 1999; Revised: 19 April 1999; Accepted: 11 May 1999