An unusual origin of the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery in the thorax

The authors report a case of a 44‐year‐old male found to have unusual origins of the celiac trunk (CT) and superior mesernteric artrery (SMA) as revealed by routine multidetector computed tomograph (MDCT) angiography. The CT and SMA originate from the thoracic aorta (TA) 21 mm and 9 mm above the aortic hiatus, respectively. The median arcuate ligament (MAL) is located at the level of the L1–L2 intervertebral disc. The course of the CT descends in the thoracic cavity making a 14° acute downward angle in front of the TA; below the level of the MAL, the CT descends, making an angle of 47°. The course of the SMA descends at both the thoracic and abdominal level making an angle of 17°, and having an aortomesenteric distance of 9 mm at the level of the third part of the duodenum. In the present case, the supradiaphragmatic origin of the CT and the SMA was determined by their incomplete caudal descent, associated with a pronounced apparent descent of the diaphragm. A thoracic origin of the CT and SMA and the acute downward aortomesenteric angle (17°) associated with a reduced aortomesenteric distance at the level of the third part of the duodenum (9 mm), although no clinical signs are present, may predispose the patient to develop simultaneously a triple syndrome: the compression of CT by MAL (celiac axis compression syndrome), the compression of SMA by MAL (superior mesenteric artery compression syndrome), and the compression of the duodenum by the SMA (superior mesenteric artery syndrome). Clin. Anat. 26:975–979, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of the ellipsoid shape of the left ventricular outflow tract on the echocardiographic assessment of aortic valve area in aortic stenosis

BackgroundPrevious studies showed discrepancies between echocardiographic and multidector row CT (MDCT) measurements of aortic valve area (AVA).ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the effect of the ellipsoid shape of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), as shown and measured by MDCT, on the assessment of AVA by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in patients with severe aortic stenosis.MethodsThis retrospective single-center study involved 49 patients with severe aortic stenosis referred before transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The AVA was deduced from the continuity equation on TTE and from planimetry on cardiac MDCT. Area of the LVOT was calculated as follows: on TTE, from the measurement of LVOT diameter on parasternal long-axis view; on MDCT, from manual planimetry by using multiplanar reconstruction perpendicular to LVOT.ResultsAt baseline, correlation of TTE vs MDCT AVA measurements was moderate (R = 0.622; P < .001). TTE underestimated AVA compared with MDCT (0.66 ± 0.15 cm² vs 0.87 ± 0.15 cm²; P < .001). After correcting the continuity equation with the LVOT area as measured by MDCT, mean AVA drawn from TTE did not differ from MDCT (0.86 ± 0.2 cm²) and correlation between TTE and MDCT measurements increased (R = 0.704; P < .001).ConclusionAssuming that LVOT area is circular with TTE results in constant underestimation of the AVA with the continuity equation compared with MDCT planimetry. The elliptical not circular shape of LVOT largely explains these discrepancies.     

Median arcuate ligament syndrome: Predictor of ischemic complications?

Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is a pathologic entity that can affect the celiac axis. Due to the extensive collateral network of mesenteric circulation, stenosis of one mesenteric artery does not lead to significant symptoms. The purpose of this study was to describe multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography findings of celiac artery entrapment by the median arcuate ligament and determine those patients with high risks of ischemic complications. From January 2012 to March 2016, 103 patients with celiac artery (CA) compression by median arcuate ligament were detected. In 23 patients collateral circulation was developed. In order to investigate the problem, we managed to estimate the correlation between range of stenosis of CA and presence of collateral circulation between the celiac artery (CA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). A statistically significant correlation was found between range of CA stenosis and collateral circulation presence (Spearman's correlation coefficient 0.339, P < 0.0001). In conclusions, based on our observations, we hypothesize that ischemia as a result of mesenteric vessel narrowing by the median arcuate ligament may occur more often than indicated by clinical symptoms and described in literature. Clin. Anat. 29:1025–1030, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Biliary complications of arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Rationale and backgroundTransarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most frequently used palliative therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is a safe and effective procedure with few major and minor complications. Rarely, biliary complications are also encountered following TACE. The goal of our study was to investigate the incidence and the presentation of biliary complications following TACE in patients with HCC.Material and methodsIn this retrospective study, data of patients with HCC who underwent TACE between June 2002 to December 2014 were obtained from the records. Their detailed information about the procedure of TACE, diagnosis of biliary complications and subsequent management details were reviewed.ResultOne hundred and sixty-eight patients with HCC underwent 305 procedures of TACE. Of these, biliary complications of various severities developed in 6 (3.6%) patients leading to an incidence of 1.9% (6/305). Minimal intrahepatic biliary dilatation (IHBD) occurred in three, biliary stricture in one and intrahepatic biloma in two patients. Supportive management was undertaken for IHBD patients while percutaneous aspiration and naso-biliary drainage was performed for the infected bilomas.ConclusionBiliary complications following TACE are infrequent. Diagnosis should be suspected clinically and confirmed with imaging. Treatment depends on the severity. Enforcing specific measures can minimize its frequency.     

Differentiation between tuberculosis and leukemia in abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes: evaluation with contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography

PURPOSE:

To compare the characteristics of tubercular vs. leukemic involvement of abdominopelvic lymph nodes using multidetector computed tomography (CT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed multidetector computed tomography features including lymph node size, shape, enhancement patterns, and anatomical distribution, in 106 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, untreated tuberculosis (55 patients; 52%) or leukemia (51 patients; 48%). In patients with leukemia, 32 (62.7%) had chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and 19 (37.3%) had acute leukemias; of these, 10 (19.6%) had acute myeloid leukemia, and 9 (17.6%) had acute lymphocytic leukemia.

RESULTS:

The lower para-aortic (30.9% for tuberculosis, 63.2% for acute leukemias and 87.5% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and inguinal (9.1% for tuberculosis, 57.9% for acute leukemias and 53.1% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) lymph nodes were involved more frequently in the three types of leukemia than in tuberculosis (both with p <0.017). Tuberculosis showed peripheral enhancement, frequently with a multilocular appearance, in 43 (78.2%) patients, whereas patients with leukemia (78.9% for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia, 87.5% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia) demonstrated predominantly homogeneous enhancement (both with p <0.017). For the diagnosis of tuberculosis, the analysis showed that a peripheral enhancement pattern had a sensitivity of 78.2%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 88.7%. For the diagnosis of leukemia, the analysis showed that a homogeneous enhancement pattern was associated with a sensitivity of 84.3%, a specificity of 94.5%, and an accuracy of 89.6%.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings indicate that the anatomical distribution and enhancement patterns of lymphadenopathy seen on multidetector computed tomography are useful for differentiating between untreated tuberculosis and leukemia of the abdominopelvic lymph nodes.     

Coronary-pulmonary artery fistula—multiple diagnostic imaging modalities

Coronary artery fistula is rare anomalies. Most adult patients are usually asymptomatic. A fistula is incidentally identified in the adult using echocardiography. Coronary angiography is considered the standard tool to confirm a coronary artery fistula. However, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography is considered a good alternative to coronary angiography.     

膀胱非上皮性肿瘤的MDCT表现

目的 探讨膀胱非上皮性肿瘤的MDCT表现特征.方法 搜集经病理证实的19例膀胱非上皮性肿瘤患者的临床、膀胱镜和MDCT平扫及四期增强检查资料,结合相关文献分析MDCT表现特征.结果 19例膀胱非上皮性肿瘤中,良性肿瘤11例,其中平滑肌瘤6例,嗜铬细胞瘤4例,炎性肌纤维母细胞瘤1例;恶性肿瘤8例,其中原发性淋巴瘤3例,胚胎性横纹肌肉瘤2例,纤维肉瘤、低度恶性间质瘤及神经内分泌癌各1例.MDCT对膀胱非上皮性肿瘤的良恶性诊断准确率为89.47％ (17/19),病理类型诊断准确率为63.16％ (12/19).5例膀胱镜提示膀胱腔内肿瘤,诊断为膀胱癌,14例膀胱镜提示膀胱黏膜光滑,诊断为黏膜下病变.结论 膀胱非上皮性肿瘤各自有一定的MDCT表现特征,仔细分析大部分可正确诊断,有效地指导临床选择合适的治疗方案.     

多层螺旋 CT 对涎腺结石的诊断价值

目的:探讨多层螺旋CT(MDCT)对涎腺结石的诊断价值及MDCT表现,了解其影像特点。方法:对具有完整头颈部MDCT资料并经手术病理证实的31例涎腺结石的MDCT进行回顾性分析。结果:31例患者共计有阳性结石39个,下颌下腺结石30例(96.77%),7例患者(22.58%)具有多发结石,18例(58.06%)病例伴有明显的炎性症状,结石体积、结石的位置与下颌下腺炎性症状相关,结石越靠后、结石体积越大,下颌下腺炎性症状就越重。结论:MDCT对涎腺结石的诊断有重要的应用价值,能确定结石的形态、数目、大小并定位,为临床手术治疗提供依据。