Radiology in Thai
Acute Tubular Necrosis
Facts
- May occur immediately or after an initial short period of allograft function
- Related to both donor and recipient factors
- More common in cadaveric kidneys of older donors who sustained warm ischemia time or prolonged hypotensive periods
- Presented with oliguria or anuria early after transplant
- Diagnosis made by exclusion of other factors. Traditional signs (tubular casts, low urine osmolality) not reliable if patients with native partially functioning kidneys
- Treatment: supportive, return to dialysis if anuric (expected recovery of renal function usually within 3 weeks)
- Normal perfusion, variable uptake but no (or delayed) excretion
- Serial scans helpful in determining viability of oliguric kidneys, predicting recovery or deterioration
Resnick MI, Older RA. Diagnosis of Genitourinary Disease, 2nd edition, 1997
Renal Artery Aneurysm
Facts:
- True aneurysms involve all layers of the artery and usually inherited. They can be fusiform or saccular, and are more commonly extraparenchymal in location. Example: fibromuscular dysplasia, Ehlers-Danlos
- False aneurysms involve only some layers of the artery, usually are acquired and saccular. Examples: trauma, iatrogenic, dissection, mycotic
- Intrarenal aneurysms are intraparenchymal, can be either true or false aneurysm. Examples: polyarteritis nodosa, tuberculosis, neurofibromatosis
- Symptomatic: rupture, pain, ischemia, infarction, hypertension
- Diameter more than 2 cm, enlarging or dissection
- Female patient who is pregnant, or contemplating pregnancy
Reference:Lew WK, Weaver FA, Otero CA, et al. Renal artery aneurysm. E-medicine, updated September 17, 2008
Primary Brachial Plexus Tumor
Coronal T1W and T2W MR images of the brachial plexus show a fusiform-shaped mass (large arrows) along the course of the right cervical nerve root (small arrow). The mass demonstrates heterogeneous low T1 and high T2 signal intensity. It has smooth, well circumscribed borders.
Axial T1W post contrast MR image shows heterogeneous enhancement of the mass (arrows) with a central area of non-enhancement.
Facts: Primary Brachial Plexus Tumor
- Rare tumor, most commonly benign with good prognosis after surgical resection
- Clinical presentations: pain, paresthesia, palpable mass
- Common pathology: schwannoma, neurofibroma. Other possibilities: malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), desmoid, ganglion, epidermoid
- MRI is the study of choice to delineate the margins of tumor from surrounding tissues
- Characteristic feature on any imaging techniques is close relationship with the parent nerve, which helps to exclude other possibilities such as lymphadenopathy, vascular anomalies, etc.
- Low signal on T1, high signal on T2 and heterogeneous enhancement
- MRI cannot differentiate schwannoma from neurofibroma
References:
1. Binder DK, Smith JS, Barbaro NM. Primary brachial plexus tumors: imaging, surgical, and pathological findings in 25 patients. Neurosurg Focus 2004;16.
2. Rettenbacher T, Sogner P, Springer P, et al. Schwannoma of the brachial plexus: cross-sectional imaging diagnosis using CT, sonography, and MR imaging. Eur Radiol 2003;13:1872-1875.
About Case Contributor: Dr. Balachandra is the head of the Department of Radiology at Government General Hospital in Pondicherry, S. India.
Colonic Closed Loop Obstruction
Facts: Closed Loop Obstruction of the Colon
- Colonic obstruction is rarely caused by postoperative adhesion (less than 1%). It is most commonly due to tumor
- CT should be the next imaging work-up to look for a mass. Contrast enema should be omitted due to the risk of perforation
- Closed loop obstruction of the colon usually is due to volvulus, which can be sigmoid (80%), cecal (15%) or involving the transverse colon (5%). Long mesocolon can predispose to malrotated cecum and result in a bascule or volvulus
- Signs of closed loop obstruction on imaging include focally dilated bowel loop with little gas distally and proximally, transition point with a whirl-like appearance at the mesenteric root, mesenteric haziness and free fluid
Reference:Halpert RD. Gastrointestinal imaging case review series, 2nd ed, 2008.
Brenner Tumor of the Ovary
Facts: Complex Ovarian Mass
- Long list of potential causes, encompassing tumor (primary and neoplastic), inflammation and infection in a postmenopausal woman
- Potential tumors: serous and mucinous cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma, teratoma, clear cell carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, necrotic primary or metastatic tumors
- Most of these (if we think it is neoplasm) would need to be diagnosed histologically because imaging findings are nonspecific and malignancy cannot be excluded
- Uncommon ovarian neoplasm, usually incidentally found
- Women in 5th to 7th decade of life
- Predominantly solid, but can be complex with cystic components when associated with serous and mucinous cystadenomas (seen in up to 30% of cases)
- Can be benign, borderline or malignant
Reference:
Green GE, Mortele KJ, Glickman JN, Benson CB. Brenner tumors of the ovary sonographic and computed tomographic imaging features. J Ultrasound Med 2006;25:1245-1251.
Anatomic Position of Heart Valves
PA and lateral chest radiographs demonstrate anatomic position of three heart valves, A = aortic, M = mitral and T = tricuspid, in a patient with rheumatic valve disease. Note that the tricuspid prosthesis is an annuloplasty.
Facts
- The three heart valves (aortic, mitral and tricuspid) commonly overlap each other on frontal radiograph. Correct radiographic identification can be difficult.
- To differentiate the mitral from aortic valve on lateral view, one draws a line from the junction of the sternum and diaphragm to the carina. This line normally intersects aortic valve*. The valve below the line is mitral valve. The tricuspid valve is the one to the mitral valve.
- Without a lateral view, the best criterion for use in differentiating between aortic and mitral prostheses is the direction of flow (discernable in Starr-Edwards and most Bjork-Shiley prostheses). Orifice (en face or in profile) and orientation (vertical or horizontal) of prosthesis are less reliable.
Our patient's mitral and aortic prostheses are disc type, so their direction of flow was not discernable.
Reference:1. Gross BH, Shirazi KK, Slater AD. Differentiation of aortic and mitral valve prostheses based on postoperative frontal chest radiographs. Radiology 1983;149:389-391.2. Miller SW, Boxt LM, Abbara S. Cardiac Imaging the Requisites, 3rd edition, 2009.
Scimitar Syndrome
Fig. 1: Chest radiograph of an asymptomatic young woman shows small right lung volume with cardiomediastinal shift toward the right side, small right hilum and a characteristic scimitar-shaped structure in the right lower lobe (arrow).
Figs 2&3: Contrast-enhanced CT images (maximal intensity projection, and 3D volumetric images) show an anomalous right lower lobe pulmonary vein (arrows) descending vertically, draining the right lower lobe and entering the IVC.
Facts: Scimitar Syndrome
- Also known as venolobar syndrome, hypogenetic lung syndrome
- Associations: congenital heart disease 25% (usually atrial septal defect)
- Symptoms: usually asymptomatic. Patients may have dyspnea if there is a large left to right shunt
- Small right lung
- Diminutive right hilum
- Dextroposition of the heart
- Characteristic scimitar vein draining below the diaphragm
About Guest Author: Dr. Santip Srisuwan is a radiologist at Samitivej Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)
Facts: AS
- Prototype of seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SNSA), which is a group of disorders of chronic inflammation of sacroiliac joints and spine
- Frequency: about 0.1% - 6% across different population (most likely toward the lower end)
- Genetic risk factor = human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27
- Principal bone/joint abnormalities = sacroilitis, synovitis and enthesitis
- Imaging findings are incorporated into the modified New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis, as one of the four criteria.
- Sacroilitis: pseudowidening, sclerosis, erosions and later ankylosis
- Grading of sacroilitis on radiographs can be viewed here (link to Google Document provided by Schering-Plough Ply)
ReferenceKippel JH. Primer on the rheumatic diseases, 13rd ed, 2008.
Peritonsillar Abscess
Facts: Peritonsillar Infection
- Peritonsillar space is a space between anterior and posterior tonsillar pillar, deep to the tonsillar capsule and below the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
- Infection of this space usually arises from tonsillitis or pharyngitis, which can lead to peritonsillar cellulitis or abscess
- Differentiation of cellulitis from abscess has a clinical value, since cellulitis is treated medically but abscess usually requires surgical drainage
- Clinical distinction of the two can be difficult; imaging such as contrast-enhanced CT or ultrasound have been utilized for this purpose
- On CT, abscess appears as a cystic/multilocular low density collection with enhancing rim, with or without presence of gas at the center. Cellulitis appears as homogeneous soft tissue swelling with obliteration of fat planes.
Meningioma
Figure 2: Axial contrast-enhanced T1W MR image shows a large homogeneously enhancing extra-axial mass (star) near the left petrous bone overlying the sigmoid venous sinus (arrow).
Facts: Meningioma
- Tumors of meningeal cells (typically arising from meninges but can also be found in the choroid plexus, tela choroidea and arachnoid villi); therefore meningiomas can be seen in the meninges, spinal canal, intraventricular, and pineal regions
- Common, greater than 20% of all primary intracranial neoplasms
- Female:male = 3:2 to 2:1; mostly in late middle age
- Pathology: benign, atypical and malignant
- Homogeneous, lobulated, well-circumscribed mass with uniform dense enhancement following contrast administration
- Common locations: parasagittal > convexity > sphenoid ridge
- High attenuation on unenhanced CT, iso- to mildly hypointense on T1W MR images
- May calcify in up to 1/4 of all cases, best seen on CT. Calcifications can be microscopic, punctate, large, peripheral or central. Malignant meningiomas rarely calcify.
- Hyperostosis can be seen in up to 1/2 of cases that meningiomas are immediately adjacent to the bone. Common in 'en plaque' meningioma
- Uncommon to have bone destruction (if pure destruction think of metastasis, sarcoma or myeloma)
References:1. Drevelegas A. Imaging of brain tumors with histological correlation, 2002.2. DeAngelis LM, Gutin PH, Leibel SA. Intracranial tumors: diagnosis and treatment, 2002.
Cortical Desmoid
Facts: Cortical Desmoid
- Considered to be an avulsion of the medial supracondylar ridge of the distal femur
- Occurs only on the posteromedial epicondyle of the femur (insertion of adductor magnus aponeurosis)
- Common in older children
- Patients may complain of pain, or being asymptomatic (incidentally detected on radiograph done for other reasons)
- They may or may not show periosteal reaction; 1-3 cm in size, mixed sclerosis and lucency in the cortex
Helical CT for Urolithiasis
Facts:
- Urolithiasis incidence in the U.S. and Europe approximately 0.1% - 0.4% of population
- Male to female ratio = 3:1
- Peak age during third to fifth decade of life
- Recurrence rate about 75% during 20 years
- Conventional radiography 50-70%
- Intravenous urography (IVU) 70-90%
- Ultrasound 50-60%
- Normal-dose CT: sensitivity 94-100%, specificity 97%
- Low-dose CT: sensitivity 95%, specificity 95%
- Shorter examination time
- Avoid cost and complications of IV contrast
- Greater sensitivity for stone detection
- Higher potential for detection of abnormalities unrelated to stone disease
- Study directly compared low-dose (<>
- Meta-analysis of 7 studies of low-dose CT in 1061 patients showing 95% sensitivity and specificity for stone diagnosis
Hook of Hamate Fracture
Figure 2: Axial CT image at the level of the hamate shows a nondisplace fracture near the base of the hamate hook (arrow).
Facts:
- Uncommon fracture that is easily missed on radiography
- Hook of hamate fracture is more common than fracture of the hamate body
- Direct blow to the hook, or avulsion of transverse carpal ligament and pisohamate ligament
- Presenting with pain on ulnar side of the palm aggravated by grasp, point tenderness over the hook at 1 cm distal and radial to the pisiform
- Best seen on carpal tunnel view (radiography) or CT
- If displaced and untreated, avascular necrosis and nonunion may occur.
Imaging Features
- On frontal radiograph, there is absence or indistinctness of the "eye" of hamate (oval, dense cortical ring shadow over the hamate)
- On CT scan, the fracture line is apparent at the hook best seen on axial images. It can involve the tip or the base of the hook
Reference:Singh AK, Kaewlai R. Extremity Trauma. In: Soto and Lucey's Emergency Radiology the Requisites, 2008.
Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma
Facts: Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC)
- Rare tumor, 0.5 to 2 cases per million population
- Bimodal age peak - young children, and adults in 4th to 5th decades
- Male = female
- Tumor arises from adrenal cortex; 50% produces hormones (cortisol, androgens)
- Most common site of metastasis: liver and lung
- Mass less than 2 cm: incidence of malignancy 1%
- 2-4 cm: 3% - 8%
- 4-6 cm: 8% - 25%
- Greater than 6 cm: 40% - 80%
- CT or MRI can suggest the diagnosis if there is malignant feature: venous invasion and/or capsular invasion, metastasis to lymph nodes or other organs.
- Mass usually is large, 70% of ACC are larger than 6 cm on imaging
- Usually heterogeneous after contrast administration
- 30% are calcified (usually central)
- Enlarged lymph nodes seen in 1/3 of cases (usually at high para-aortic or paracaval)
- MRI may be used as an adjunct to CT for delineation of IVC invasion and extension
References:1. DeVita VT, et al. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 8th edition, 2008
2. Husband JE, Reznek RH. Imaging in Oncology, Volume 1, 2nd edition, 2004.
Pneumoperitoneum: Right Upper Quadrant Features
Facts: Pneumoperitoneum on Upright Radiograph
- As little as 1mm of free gas can be detected on radiography in an upright position with a horizontal x-ray beam
- If the patient cannot stay upright, a lateral decubitus (preferably patient on the left side) can be performed. Free gas will collect between lateral liver margin and abdominal wall
- Best chance of detection of free gas is when the radiograph is taken after the patient remains in an upright (or lateral decubitus) position for 10 minutes
- More difficult to detect
- Large free gas can be seen indirect as gas collect in different locations
- Right upper quadrant features include 1) linear gas collection running in an inferolateral to superomedial orientation (representing gas in subhepatic space, as in our patient), 2) triangular gas collection right to the spine above the kidney shadow (gas in most posterior recess of the Morrison pouch)
- Visualization of the outer wall of intestine (Rigler's sign)
- Visualization of the falciform ligament of the liver
Reference:
1. Eisenberg RL. Gastrointestinal Radiology: a Pattern Approach, 4th edition, 2003.
2. Menuck L, Siemers. Pneumoperitoneum: importance of right upper quadrant features. AJR 1976;127:753-756.
Left Atrial Enlargement
Signs of Left Atrial Enlargement (LAE) on Chest Radiography
- Convex left atrial appendage
- Double density on the right side of the spine (one of the earliest signs)
- Double density on the left side as the left atrium extends into the left lower lobe
- Posterior displacement of the left mainstem bronchus posteriorly on lateral view, and superiorly on frontal view
- Spreading of the carina
- Acquired: mitral valve disease (stenosis or regurgitation), left ventricular failure, left atrial myxoma
- Congenital: VSD, PDA, hypoplastic left heart complex
Reference: Miller SW, Boxt LM, Abbara S. Cardiac Imaging the Requisites, 2009, 3rd edition.
Intrabronchial Malposition of Nasogastric Tube
Facts:
- Incidence in ICU patients between 0.5% - 1.5% of all NG tube placement
- Right side more common than left, lower lobe more than intermediate bronchus or main bronchus
- In one study of 14 malpositions, nearly half of the cases had subsequent pneumothorax requiring chest tubes, and the other half experienced pneumonias at the same site
- Traditional criteria for determining proper positioning of an NG tube (i.e., sound heard over the stomach upon insufflation of air, aspiration of fluid, absence of coughing) may not work well in ICU patients who are usually obtunded, intubated, have impaired gag reflex, decreased laryngeal sensitivity and are on neuromuscular blocking agents.
- Routine radiography after placement of an NG tube in ICU patients can be helpful for detection of tube malposition
- Once detected intrabronchial NG tube malposition, one should look for evidence of pneumothorax. If not seen, a close follow up radiograph is recommended since delayed pneumothorax may occur.
Bankier AA, Wiesmayr MN, Henk C, et al. Radiographic detection of intrabronchial malpositions of nasogastric tubes and subsequent complications in intensive care unit patients. Intens Care Medicine 1997;23:406-410.
Swimmer's View Lateral Cervical Spine Radiograph
Swimmer's View Lateral Cervical Radiograph
- Usually required to visualize C7-T1 junction. In one study, only 20% of cases receiving five-view cervical radiography (AP, lateral, bilateral obliques and odontoid) C7-T1 can be adequately seen.
- Downsides of this view are: high dose, high scatter, difficult positioning, usually not adequate on large patients or patients with shoulder injuries
- To visualize C7-T1 junction, one should avoid arm pulling in patients who sustained a cervical spine injury
- Now, most places replace cervical spine radiography with CT scan because of higher sensitivity for fracture, shorter scan time, and probably less costly (if combined the use of overall resources)
- Some institutions still perform an out-of-collar lateral radiograph after a negative CT scan to ensure no significant change in alignment that may occur in patients with isolated ligamentous injury not shown on CT. This exam usually includes lateral and swimmer's radiographs.
Reference:1. Daffner RH. Cervical radiography for trauma patients a time-effective technique? AJR 2000;175:1309-1311.2. www.Wikiradiography.com
Sinonasal Polyposis
Axial CT images of the sinuses show complete opacification of the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses with widening of the sinus ostia (yellow stars) and opacity in the nasal passages (blue stars) in this patient with history of allergic rhinitis.
Facts: Sinonasal Polyposis
- Common finding in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (2% - 16% of cases)
- Soft, yellow-white nasal polyps that consist of edematous stroma with eosinophilic infiltrates, covered by respiratory epithelium
- Predisposing factors: asthma, fungal sinusitis, Kartagener syndrome, ASA syndrome, cystic fibrosis
- Can be seen in healthy individual with no predisposition to polyps
- Usually multiple, bilateral polyps. Majority of polyps arise from uncinate-turbinate-infundibulum space and bulla-hiatus seminularis-infundibulum
- On CT, there is opacification of the sinuses with widening of the sinus ostium and sinonasal passages
Sturge-Weber Syndrome
Axial CT images show "railroad track" calcifications (arrows) in the left occipital cortex with ipsilateral enlargement of the choroid plexus (arrowhead) in this patient with a port-wine stain in the left V1 distribution.
Facts
- Also known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis
- Sporadic disorder affecting skin and central nervous system
- Defined as capillary malformation of the leptomeninges with or without choroid and facial V1 or V1-V2 involvement (port-wine stain)
- Probably due to embryonic defect of persistent vascular plexus in the neural tube during 6th week of embryonic development
- Port-wine stains can be unilateral or bilateral, most commonly involve V1 distribution but can also be extracranial
- Intracranial involvement always ipsilateral to the port-wine stain of the face, occipital lobe most common
- MRI more sensitive than CT in identifying secondary changes due to leptomeningeal capillary malformation
- Cerebral cortical atrophy, compensatory ventricular and choroid plexus enlargement, calvarial hemihypertrophy and superficial gyriform enhancement after gadolinium injection
- "Railroad track" calcification of the cerebral cortex caused by precipitation of calcium likely due to alternation of vascular dynamics of the leptomeningeal malformation
Reference:Gorlin RJ, Cohen MM, Hennekam RCM. Syndromes of the Head and Neck, 4th ed, 2001.Muller-Forell WS. Imaging of Orbital and Visual Pathway Pathology, 2005.
