Confirmation of Age-dependence in the Leakage of Contrast Medium around the Cortical Veins into Cerebrospinal Fluid after Intravenous Administration of Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent

Purpose:It has been reported previously that intravenously administered gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) leaks into the subarachnoid space around the cortical veins at 4 h after injection in all old people over 37 years, but not in younger people up to 37 years of age in 3D-real IR images. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a strict threshold of 37 years of age for the leakage of the GBCA into the subarachnoid space.Methods:The subjects included 190 patients, that were scanned for 3D-real IR images at 4 hours after intravenous injection of GBCA as a diagnostic test for endolymphatic hydrops. The patient’s age ranged from 14 to 81 years. Two experienced neuroradiologists evaluated the images to determine whether the GBCA leakage around the cortical veins was positive or negative. Any discrepancies between the two observers were discussed and a consensus was obtained.A Mann–Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to compare the positive and the negative group and to set the age cut-off value for the prediction of GBCA leakage.Results:The GBCA leakage around the cortical veins was negative in 35 patients and positive in 155 patients. The average age was 33 ± 11 years in the negative group, and 55 ± 12 years in the positive group (P < 0.01). In the ROC analysis for the age and leakage of the GBCA, an area under the curve was 0.905 and the cut-off age was 37.317 years (sensitivity of 0.942 and specificity of 0.771).Conclusion:Intravenously administered GBCA leaks into the subarachnoid space around the cortical veins in most patients over 37 years of age. However, it should be noted that it can be found occasionally in patients under 37 years of age.     

Changes in HRCT findings in patients with respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease after smoking cessation.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in patients with respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD) are varied and nonspecific. There is no known report of changes in HRCT findings and respiratory function test results for RB-ILD patients following the cessation of smoking. Five patients with RB-ILD, confirmed by surgical lung biopsy, were retrospectively studied. Each stopped cigarette smoking and did not receive corticosteroid therapy after diagnosis. The clinical symptoms, respiratory function test results and HRCT findings obtained at the final observation were compared with those from the time of diagnosis. Ground-glass opacity and centrilobular nodules corresponding to pathological respiratory bronchiolitis, as well as intralobular fine linear-reticular opacity corresponding to fibrosis involving the subpleural alveolar septa, showed computed tomography-pathological correlations. Both clinical symptoms and the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide improved significantly following smoking cessation, as did ground-glass opacity and centrilobular nodules seen during the initial HRCT examination. Centrilobular nodules and ground-glass opacity, which are the main features of high-resolution computed tomography of respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease patients and represent pathological respiratory bronchiolitis, can be improved by smoking cessation. The diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide in respiratory function tests can be also improved.     

Synchronous growth of triple lung cancer

The case of a 75-year-old man with three synchronous carcinomas of the lung (large cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma) is reported. This is the eighth well-documented case report in the literature; however, our case is the first to be reported with the newly described histological combination.     

A case of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor producing gastric cancer]

We report a case of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor producing gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases. A 68-year-old woman who complained of epigastralgia visited our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination revealed a type-2 gastric cancer. The laboratory data at admission indicated leukocytosis (35,900/microl) and a high level of serum granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (61 pg/mg). Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor producing gastric cancer was diagnosed by immunohistochemistry of biopsy specimen. Since we detected multiple liver metastases, chemotherapy was performed. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor-producing gastric cancer is relatively rare and we summarize previous reports.     

Nephron Sparing Surgery for De Novo Renal Cell Carcinoma in an Allograft Kidney: A Case Report

De novo renal cell carcinoma in a renal allograft is rare and has special implications in renal transplant recipients. We describe a patient with a renal allograft who developed a de novo renal cell carcinoma in the functioning renal allograft 258 months after transplantation. The patient underwent enucleation of the tumor because preoperative MRI showed it was well-encapsulated. A DNA banding study showed that the tumor originated from the donor. Indications for conservative renal surgery in renal cell carcinoma have been increasing. Accordingly, 1 option in the treatment of de novo renal cell carcinoma in a functioning renal allograft is enucleation as a method of nephron sparing surgery.     

Palmar advancement flap with V-Y closure for thumb tip injuries

The palmar advancement flap with V-Y closure was used in two patients with thumb tip injuries. This technique allows more distal advancement of the flap than does a conventional palmar advancement flap and does not require skin graft coverage.     

MR appearance of parasymphyseal insufficiency fractures of the os pubis

 Objective. To clarify the MRI features of parasymphyseal insufficiency fractures of the os pubis. Design and patients. MRI was performed in four postmenopausal women with parasymphyseal insufficiency fractures. The diagnosis was confirmed with plain films in every patient. T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were obtained in four patients using a 1.5-T unit. Postcontrast T1-weighted imaging was also done in three patients. Results and conclusions. MRI of pubic parasymphyseal insufficiency fracture characteristically demonstrates a hyperintense mass lesion with a hypointense rim on T2-weighted imaging, showing peripheral and septal enhancement after contrast administration. It is important to have this entity in mind in patients with osteoporosis, especially in patients with a history of pelvic irradiation for malignant disease, so as not to misinterpret it as a chondroid tumor or bone metastasis.     

Traumatic acute subdural hygroma mimicking acute subdural hematoma.

Subdural hygroma is a frequent delayed complication of head trauma. Most hygromas are clinically 'silent' and a few cases have shown slow deterioration in the chronic stage. We report a case of subdural hygroma showing unique radiological findings and rapid deterioration. A 74-years-old female presented with a mild headache and consciousness disturbance after head injury. Computed tomography showed a midline shift as a result of two components piling up in the subdural space; the outer components showed low density, the inner components high density. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that these two subdural components were subdural hygroma and subarachnoid hematoma. Simple burr hole irrigation, rather than large craniotomy, was thought to be more appropriate treatment to reduce the mass effect. Simple burr hole irrigation was performed to remove the subdural hygroma and the patient showed an excellent recovery. Careful examination of the radiological findings prevented an unnecessary procedure in this case. A possible mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.