Orthotopic cardiac transplantation: evaluation with CT

As cardiac transplantation has become widely available, computed tomography (CT) of the chest has played a useful role in the examination of patients after heart transplantation. To determine anatomic features related to the procedure, the authors evaluated 59 scans in 46 patients who had undergone orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Aortic anastomosis (seen in 98% of scans) and altered spacing between the great vessels (83%) proved to be the most common and most reliable findings. Other features including atrial anastomosis, high main pulmonary artery segment, remnant superior vena cava, and cardiac reorientation were also seen. Accurate interpretation of adenopathy, mediastinal abscess, and pericardial effusion will be enhanced in these patients through a better understanding of the cardiovascular-pericardial complex, which is afforded by CT.     

Bilateral hemorrhagic parapelvic pseudocysts

The development of bilateral parapelvic hemorrhagic pseudocysts with abdominal pain, systemic symptoms of malaise and fever, elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum alkaline phosphatase, and decreased renal function is described in a patient taking anticoagulants. The symptoms and signs resolved with the resolution of the hemorrhagic pseudocysts. The bilaterality and selective localization of these hemorrhages suggest the existence of a specific pathogenesis. The advent of new imaging techniques in the last decade allows for a diagnosis and a better understanding of the pathologic processes that affect the renal sinus.     

Seminal vesicle imaging

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of CT, MRI and US images of the seminal vesicles. Accurate interpretation of images requires knowledge of normal anatomy, embryology and pathology. Anatomy and a spectrum of abnormalities are reviewed and discussed. Cases are from an analysis of clinical and surgical files to show the diagnostic features of various cystic diseases of the seminal vesicles. Tissue characteristics of the seminal vesicles on CT, MRI and US images are emphasized.     

Pulmonary involvement by histiocytosis X in the pediatric age group.

The lungs may be involved by histiocytosis X either as part of a generalized disease or as a separate entity, primary pulmonary histiocytosis X. The former is much more frequent in the pediatric age group, and although it occurs primarily in those who are quite sick with widely disseminated disease, the lung involvement rarely caused symptoms and almost invariably clears. By contrast, primary pulmonary histiocytosis X is mainly seen in young adult males and frequently leads to severe disability. Twelve patients less than 20 years old with lung involvement by histiocytosis X are presented.     

Percutaneous gastrostomy for enteral feeding

Over a period of 18 months, percutaneous nonendoscopic gastrostomy using the Seldinger technique was successfully performed in 32 adults for enteral feeding. There were no deaths or major morbidity related to the procedure. Three patients died of existing disease within 30 days; one had peritoneal irritation following dislodgement of the catheter two days after the procedure but responded to conservative treatment with antibiotics alone. The authors conclude that this procedure is simple and safe and represents the preferred method of gastrostomy for enteral feeding.