Prostatic abscess evaluated by serial computed tomography

Prostatic abscess appears on computed tomography (CT) as multiple, well-demarcated fluid collections within the prostate gland and/or periprostatic tissues. Since prostatic abscess may not be differentiated from other prostatic disease on the basis of history and physical examination alone, CT can contribute significantly to establishing this diagnosis. Prostatic abscess can be an aggressive lesion within the pelvis and may rupture into the urethra, peritoneum, prevesical space, rectum, perineum, and ischiorectal fossa. By defining the extent of the disease, CT can guide selection of an optimal surgical drainage procedure. CT can be used effectively to monitor the treatment of prostatic abscess.     

Spermatic cord abscess with concurrent prostatic abscess involving the seminal vesicle

Prostatic abscess involving the seminal vesicle has become rare following the development of effective antibiotic treatments. To our knowledge, we report the first case in the English-language literature of a patient with a spermatic cord abscess and a concurrent prostatic abscess. We examined an 81-year-old man for swelling and pain in the left inguinal region and performed computed tomography (CT) that later confirmed the suspected diagnosis of left inguinal hernial strangulation. We performed urgent surgical drainage of a left spermatic cord abscess; and under the correct diagnosis by CT, he was successfully treated further with antibiotics and transperineal drainage of a prostatic abscess extending to the seminal vesicle. We highlight that familiarity with such a rare condition is overwhelmingly essential for patient management and that CT is the most valuable imaging procedure for diagnosing such cases.     

The variable CT appearance of hepatic abscesses

Fifty computed tomographic (CT) scans in 33 patients with 37 separate episodes of hepatic abscess were reviewed retrospectively. Abnormalities were detected in all but one case (97% sensitivity). However, a characteristic CT appearance of hepatic abscess was not evident. Most intrahepatic foci were solitary, but multiple abscesses were present in 34% of cases. The CT appearance of the lesions varied from well defined, rounded cavities with contents near water density, resembling poorly defined hepatic cysts, to higher-density foci indistinguishable from hepatic neoplasms. In only 19% was gas present within the abscess. Rim enhancement was seen in only 6%. This study suggests that CT is a sensitive test for detecting hepatic abscess but is often nonspecific.     

糖尿病并发脓肿的CT表现

目的：探讨糖尿病并发脓肿的CT表现特征。方法：回顾性分析26例糖尿病患者合并脓肿的CT表现。结果：并发脓肿的26例糖尿病患者中,25例病灶内出现气体,24例未出现液体,仅2例出现少量液体。结论：糖尿病并发脓肿在CT平扫上具有明显的特征,大多数不需要增强就可以明确诊断。     

Nasal septal abscess in patients with immunosuppression

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the imaging findings of nasal septal abscess in 2 patients with immunosuppression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two patients with immunosuppression were identified as having a nasal septal abscess, and correlative CT imaging in both patients was evaluated. RESULTS: The characteristic radiographic appearance of a nasal septal abscess included a fluid collection with thin rim enhancement, located within the cartilaginous nasal septum. After CT examination, incision and drainage was performed in both patients, and appropriate antibiotic coverage was initiated. Clinical and imaging follow-up demonstrated no signs of residual infection. CONCLUSION: Nasal septal abscess has a characteristic appearance on CT examination. Prompt diagnosis and treatment, including incision and drainage and appropriate antibiotic coverage, are necessary to avoid serious complications.     

Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of abscesses

Ten patients with percutaneous biopsy or surgically proven abscesses were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to describe the appearance of abscesses, define the capability of MRI to localize abscesses, and compare the capabilities of MRI and CT for the diagnosis and determination of the extent of an abscess. Comparative CT scans were available in six cases. The most common MRI finding was an abnormal area of low signal intensity, either homogeneous or heterogeneous, on the short repetition rate (500 msec TR) images with a relative increase in signal intensity on the longer repetition rate (1500 or 2000 msec TR) images. MRI demonstrated a more clear delineation of the extent of inflammatory changes than did CT, and MRI demonstrated the abscess as a collection distinct from surrounding structures on at least one repetition rate. Intravenous contrast medium was unnecessary with MRI to evaluate vasculature or to define the capsule around an abscess. With CT, unless an abscess contained air or was of low attenuation, it often blended with the surrounding structures and was difficult to differentiate from them. Surgical clips in the postoperative patient with an abscess did not degrade the MR images as often occurred with CT. This study describes the MRI appearance of abscess and indicates a potential value of the use of MRI to evaluate abscess outside the central nervous system and spine.     

Cystic lesions of the prostate.

As the use of ultrasound (US) for evaluating the prostate gland has grown, so has the variety of cystic prostatic lesions that can be identified with US. We review many of these cystic lesions seen in our department over the past several years. Lesions discussed include müllerian duct cyst, prostatic utricle cyst, ejaculatory duct cyst, cystic degeneration in benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic retention cyst, cavitary prostatitis, and prostatic abscess. The defect from transurethral resection of the prostate gland, which may have a sonographic appearance similar to that of a cystic prostatic mass, is also discussed. A diagnostic algorithm based on a combination of sonographic findings and the results of transperineal needle aspiration is presented.     

不典型肝脓肿的CT诊断

目的:分析不典型肝脓肿的CT表现,分析和探讨其影像学特点。方法:回顾近年经临床或病理证实的12例不典型肝脓肿患者的CT资料,所有患者均行CT平扫及增强检查。结果:不典型肝脓肿CT平扫表现为低密度肿块,增强可见周围强化征、肿块缩小征、蜂窝状强化和延时强化。结论:不典型肝脓肿CT平扫无特征表现,增强扫描有一定特征性表现,有助于不典型肝脓肿的诊断。     

附件脓肿的CT诊断

目的 探讨附件脓肿的CT特征及其诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析26例经手术证实的附件脓肿,分析其CT影像表现.结果 26例附件脓肿中,单侧6例,双侧20例,共46个病灶,其中输卵管脓肿33个病灶,输卵管卵巢脓肿13个病灶.输卵管脓肿的CT征象为输卵管壁增厚,呈管状、囊状或多房囊状扩张,输卵管积脓.输卵管卵巢脓肿多表现为多房囊实性肿块,卵巢脓肿位于中心,外围由输卵管脓肿包绕,脓肿壁呈环形10例,团片状3例,增强扫描脓肿壁呈分层强化.盆腔结缔组织炎21例,表现为盆腔脂肪模糊、密度增高,宫骶韧带增厚,盆腔腹膜炎.输卵管卵巢脓肿与周围结构粘连,其中5例引起肠梗阻,3例引起输尿管积水.子宫内膜炎19例,腹水18例.结论 附件脓肿的CT表现具特征性,掌握其影像特征及其与周围结构的关系,对疾病的及时诊断与治疗非常重要.     

Computed tomographic evaluation of abdominal and pelvic abscesses.

The CT characteristics of abdominal and pelvic abscesses in 29 patients were analyzed. The pathological development of an abscess as it relates to the CT appearance is discussed. Findings such as low-density areas within a soft-tissue mass or a definable wall or rim, while seen in abscesses, can be seen in other pathological entities as well, such as hematomas, noninfected inflammatory masses, and cystic or necrotic tumors. The most specific CT sign of an abscess was extraluminal gas, seen in 38% of patients.     

Prostatic abscess: CT and sonographic findings

The value of CT and sonography in the diagnosis and follow-up of abscesses of the prostate was studied in six patients with this disease. Five had CT alone, one had CT and sonography, and one had sonography only. CT findings included an enlarged gland with nonenhancing fluid-density collections that sometimes were multiseptated or had enhancing rims. Sonographic findings were similar, showing a hypoechoic mass with thick walls. Follow-up examinations after antibiotic therapy (one CT, one sonogram) showed improvement or resolution. In the patients studied, CT and sonography were useful methods to detect and follow the course of prostatic abscess.     

CT evaluation of mediastinal infections

Of 104 patients evaluated for thoracic sepsis by CT, 22 patients had both CT and clinical evidence of mediastinal infections. The CT findings in these patients were reviewed and compared with a control group of seven postoperative patients following uncomplicated median sternotomy. Based on CT appearance, patients were classified into one of three groups: (a) diffuse soft tissue infiltration with or without gas (i.e., mediastinitis) (10 patients); (b) focal mediastinal abscess (four patients); (c) mediastinal infection associated with empyema or subphrenic abscess (eight patients). Computed tomography proved reliable in distinguishing diffuse mediastinitis from a localized drainable abscess. However, in the absence of mediastinal gas, CT could not differentiate mediastinitis from benign postoperative changes. Computed tomography was helpful in identifying associated empyemas and a variety of other secondary complications. In five of six patients with mediastinal abscess, CT demonstrated communication or contiguity with four empyemas and one subphrenic abscess. Closed chest tube drainage of the empyemas and percutaneous drainage of the subphrenic abscess combined with antibiotic therapy were successful in treating the mediastinal abscess in these five patients. Although overall mortality for mediastinal infection in this series was 27%, there was a 50% mortality for patients with diffuse mediastinitis.     

颈深筋膜间隙感染的影像学表现及其临床意义

目的 分析颈深筋膜间隙蜂窝织炎和脓肿的CT和MRI表现，探讨深筋膜间隙感染的诊断标准。方法 回顾分析28例经临床及穿刺证实的颈深筋膜感染的CT和MRI表现。包括咽后间隙11例，咽旁间隙5例，嚼肌间隙4例，多间隙感染8例。结果 颈深部筋膜间隙感染包括蜂窝织炎和脓肿，15例蜂窝织炎，CT可见软组织肿胀，伴有脂肪间隙移位、变小或消失。炎性组织在T1WI呈等、低信号，T2WI呈高信号。13例脓肿，CT可见局部低密度灶，边界清或不清，有强化。脓肿在MRI T2WI上见显著高信号，边界可有强化。结论 CT和MRI对颈深筋膜间隙蜂窝织炎和脓肿的诊断和定位十分准确，能为临床医生提供十分有价值的信息。     

The CT appearance of cystic masses of the liver

The authors here discuss twelve discrete pathologic entities that they found, in a review of over 500 abdominal CT scans, caused the appearance of a cystic lesion in the liver. The CT characteristics of the various lesions are illustrated, differential points in the patients' histories are noted, and gross and microscopic pathology specimens are correlated with the CT appearances to explain the CT findings. Lesions considered include: simple (bile duct) cyst, adult polycystic kidney disease, Caroli disease, pyogenic abscess, echinococcal cyst, amebic abscess, metastasis, biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, biloma, and extrapancreatic pseudocyst.     

螺旋CT在肝脓肿诊断中的应用

目的：评价螺旋CT、双期扫描对肝脓肿的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析经临床或病理证实的28例肝脓肿的螺旋CT表现，所有病例均行平扫及螺旋CT双期增强扫描，其中5例经薄层重建后在工作站行表面遮盖重建(SSD)，并经切割处理，显示其冠、矢状位图像。结果：28例中，平扫表现为类圆形边缘不清楚的低密度灶17例，多房或簇状9例，不规则形1例，脓腔内积气1例。增强扫描动脉期28例均表现为病灶边缘极轻或轻度环状强化，其中有15例(53．5％)出现灶周楔形或片状一过性强化；门脉期显示簇状征9例，边缘强化10例，环靶征8例；另1例平扫为不规则形，增强扫描动脉期灶周出现明显楔形一过性强化，门脉期病灶内呈不规则强化，为较特殊表现。5例三维图像直观地显示了脓肿的立体形态和位置。结论：螺旋CT双期扫描对肝脓肿诊断有重要应用价值。动脉期的灶周楔形或片状一过性强化是肝脓肿又一重要CT表现，对诊断有指导意义。     

Computed tomography of duodenal diverticula

Duodenal diverticula are common and usually considered to be incidental findings. However, they may cause significant patient morbidity due to inflammatory or pressure effects and may be mistaken for pancreatic pathology on CT. We correlated the CT and upper gastrointestinal series appearance of duodenal diverticula in 14 patients, including two patients in whom erroneous diagnoses of pancreatic pseudocyst and pancreatic abscess were suggested based on CT findings. The duodenal diverticulum was visualized on CT in 10 of 14 patients (71%). The CT appearance was variable, with some diverticula containing air, fluid, contrast medium, or a mixture of the three.     

非典型脑脓肿邻近脑膜异常强化的MR诊断

目的 回顾性分析16例非典型脑脓肿临近脑膜异常强化的MR表现,探讨其诊断价值. 资料与方法 16例不典型脑脓肿均经手术病理证实,所有病人术前均行MR平扫及增强扫描.其中5例术前行CT平扫. 结果 单房性脑脓肿12例,多房性脑脓肿4例.其中脓肿腔＞3 cm者13例,有12例MR平扫可见脓肿壁呈中等信号＂暗带＂,另4例中等信号脓肿壁显示不连续或模糊不清.16例增强后均呈环形强化,其中7例脓肿壁厚薄不均,5例脓腔形态不规则,4例在脓肿壁上可见结节状强化.16例增强后在脓肿邻近脑膜均见强化. 结论 认识不典型脑脓肿的MR表现特别是邻近脑膜强化对诊断很有价值.     

CT diagnosis of splenic infarction in blunt trauma: imaging features, clinical significance and complications

AIM: The object of this study is to describe the appearance, complications, and outcome of segmental splenic infarctions occurring after blunt trauma using computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen blunt trauma patients were identified with splenic infarction on contrast-enhanced CT. CT images were retrospectively reviewed and the percentage of infarcted splenic tissue and presence of splenic injury separate from the site of infarction were identified. Splenic angiograms were reviewed and follow-up CT images were assessed for interval change in the appearance of the infarcts. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32 years and the most common mechanism of injury was road traffic accident. The majority (54%) had 25-50% infarction of the spleen. Splenic angiograms were performed in nine patients and seven demonstrated wedge-shaped regions of decreased perfusion corresponding to the infarction seen on CT with no need for intervention. Eleven patients underwent a follow-up CT that demonstrated the following: no significant change in six, near-complete resolution in two, delayed appearance of infarction in one, abscess formation in one, and delayed splenic rupture in one. CONCLUSION: Segmental splenic infarction is a rare manifestation of blunt splenic trauma. The diagnosis is readily made using contrast-enhanced CT. The majority will decrease in size on follow-up CT and resolve without clinical sequelae. Resolution of infarction is also seen and these cases are best described as temporary perfusion defects. Splenic abscess or delayed rupture are uncommon complications that may necessitate angiographic or surgical intervention.     

Multi-slice computed tomography appearance of abscess of cavum septum pellucidum: a case report and review of the literature

Abscesses involving the cavum septum pellucidum are rare and, owing to their location, detection may be difficult with routine conventional computed tomography (CT). Only a few isolated cases have been reported and mostly in children. We report a case of abscess involving the cavum septum pellucidum in an adult and its appearance on multi-slice spiral CT.     

急腹症大网膜病变CT表现

目的 探讨病理情况下大网膜的ＣＴ变化能否为临床提供有价值的诊断信息。材料与方法 搜集有大网膜变化的急腹症１１例,非急腹症大网膜病变４例。观察网、系膜ＣＴ变化设置适合窗口。结果 急腹症中如腹腔脓肿、中空器官穿孔等,病灶周围网、系膜密度增高,“索条”或“网格”影;而原发大网膜肿瘤周围变化远不及急性炎症时显著。此外,ＣＴ能明确显示大网膜外疝内容。结论 观察网、系膜变化,有助于急性腹腔脓肿、中空器官穿孔