Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica . Apropos a case

We present one case of osteochondroplastic tracheobronchopathy in a patient with right laterocervical tumoration as a manifestation of a normofunctional nodular goiter detected in a thyroid morphofunctional study, and tracheal stenosis secondary both to the goiter and the tracheobronchial process. The coincidence of these two processes, probably fortuitous, has never been described before.     

Conventional X-ray and CT findings in a case of intraluminal choledochocele

We describe a woman with hypersensitivity pneumonitis that was related to using a home ultrasonic humidifier. A micronodular infiltrate was seen in her chest radiograph. The inhalation challenge test was performed with the humidifier, and she exhibited a positive response. The cultures of the humidifier water grew Candida albicans, Rhodotorula spp., and Aspergillus spp. The test for precipitating antibodies against the humidifier water gave a positive response, and specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies against extracts of A. fumigatus, C. albicans, and Rhodotorula spp. were demonstrated in the patient's serum by ELISA. A strong, dose-dependent inhibition of Rhodotorula IgG-ELISA by humidifier water was observed, suggesting that Rhodotorula might be the cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in this patient.     

Unusual US and CT findings in hepatoblastoma: a case report

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary hepatic tumor in young children and its radiological findings have been well described. We report ultrasound and computer tomography findings in a case of hepatoblastoma diffusely involving the entire liver and presenting as inhomogeneity and numerous cystic lesions in the hepatic parenchyma.     

Respiratory bronchiolitis: radiographic and CT findings in a pathologically proven case

A small number of cases of cigarette-smoking-associated respiratory bronchiolitis (RB) with positive findings on the chest radiograph have been reported in the literature. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings are available in even fewer cases. We describe the case of an asymptomatic female smoker presenting with a reticulomicronodular infiltrate on a routine chest radiograph. High-resolution CT was characterized by ground-glass opacities and centrilobular micronodules with an upper lobe predominance. Surgical biopsy revealed peribronchiolar lesions, with accumulation of brown pigmented macrophages in the lumen of alveolar and bronchiolar lumen, consistent with the pathologic diagnosis of RB.     

Ocular findings in a case of fucosidosis

The ocular findings in a case of fucosidosis are described and the differential diagnosis is discussed. It is suggested that the level of alpha-L-fucosidase should be estimated in cases of bull's eye retinopathy.     

Spiral CT in acute non-cardiac chest pain

The sturgeons (order Acipenseriformes) are extant representatives of a group of ancient Actinopterygian (ray-finned) fish. Galanin and scyliorhinin I (a tachykinin with limited structural similarity to mammalian substance P) have been isolated from an extract of the gastrointestinal tract of a sturgeon (an F1 hybrid between the shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, and the pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus). The primary structure of sturgeon galanin (Gly-Trp-Thr-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ala-Gly-Tyr-Leu10-Leu-Gly-Pro-His-Ala-Val -As p-Gly-His-Arg20-Ser-Leu-Ser-Asp-Lys-His-Gly-Leu-Pro.NH2) contains only two amino acid substitutions (Ser23 --> Asn and Pro29 --> Ala) compared with galanin from the bowfin, Amia calva (Amiiformes), but five amino acid substitutions compared with galanin from the trout (Teleostei). Similarly, the sturgeon tachykinin (Ser-Lys-Tyr-His-Gln-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met.NH2) contains only one amino acid substitution (Tyr3 --> Ser) compared with scyliorhinin I previously isolated from bowfin stomach but five amino acid substitutions compared with trout substance P. The data support the hypothesis that the Acipenseriformes and the basal Neopterygians (gars and bowfin) share a close phylogenetic relationship.     

CT findings in neonatal hypothermia

PROBLEM: Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) are important in the etiology of reproductive failure. Studies have shown that binding proteins are necessary for the detection of APAs. One of these, beta 2-glycoprotein, has been shown to be necessary for detection of anticardiolipin antibodies. It is felt that some APAs may be directed to the binding protein itself, or to a combination of the binding protein and phospholipid. METHOD OF STUDY: In this study, a comparison of APAs vs. anti beta 2-glycoprotein antibodies was performed on the sera of 123 women younger than 40 years of age with a history of reproductive failure. Antibodies to six phospholipid epitopes, cardiolipin, phosphatidyle-thanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylserine, were measured. RESULTS: Of the 123 women tested, 33 had one or more positive immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies to phospholipids, of which 9 were to cardiolipin. However, only 1 of 123 women had IgG antibodies to beta 2-glycoprotein and she was APA negative. Thirty-eight of 123 women had one or more IgM antibodies to phospholipids, with none directed to cardiolipin IgM. In contrast, only 8 of the 123 women had IgM antibodies to beta 2-glycoprotein. Five of the eight patients had IgM APA; 4 of 5 had IgM antibodies to PE, 1 to PI. CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between beta 2-glycoprotein antibodies and APA status in this population. To date, our most sensitive test for detecting phospholipid autoimmune-mediated in vitro fertilization failure still appears to be the ELISA assay for APA.     

Immunological findings in a case of Cogan's syndrome

The immune system of a case of Cogan's syndrome was investigated. A transient depression of the cell-mediated immunity was found. Thus, during the acute stage of the disease, there was a depression of the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reaction to PPD and a decrease in the number of T cells. There were also signs of complement consumption. A possible pathogenesis based on immune complexes due to a preceding viral infection is discussed.     

Immunocytologic findings in a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome

BACKGROUND: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a form of chronic panuveitis that often has a poor long-term visual outcome. To the authors' knowledge, there have been only two previous reports describing immunocytologic findings in the eyes of patients with VKH syndrome, all studied in relatively late stages of the disease. METHODS: The authors performed immunocytologic studies on the enucleated eyes of a patient with active VKH syndrome, using monoclonal antibodies to mononuclear subsets, major histocompatibility antigens, and viral and treponemal agents, to better understand the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the disease. Emulsified chorioretinal tissue also was processed for viral isolation in tissue culture and for Treponema pallidum by rabbit inoculation studies. RESULTS: The dense uveal infiltrates in active VKH syndrome are composed predominantly of T lymphocytes and HLA-DR+ macrophages. Scattered T cells and plasma cells were present in the retina. In addition, nondendritic-appearing CD1 (Leu-6) positive cells were localized in the choroid, in close proximity to choroidal melanocytes. No microbial agents were identified. CONCLUSION: Whereas the etiology of the VKH syndrome remains an enigma, the authors' immunocytologic findings are consistent with a T-cell-mediated disorder. In demonstrating CD1 (Leu-6) positive cells in the infiltrates, the authors propose a potential role for these cells in the etiology of VKH syndrome.     

Electrocardiographic findings in a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis

A simple and rapid method for the diagnosis of steatorrhea is described. The method is based on the assessment of the difference of specific gravity and lipophilic property between a normal stool and that in steatorrhea, using a benzene-NaBr system. The stool samples are dried, pulverized, and then investigated. Steatorrhea is defined either as a fat or more in a 24-hour sample. Stool samples of 71 infants and children were examined. Among these were 23 healthy subjects, 10 with upper respiratory tract infections, and 6 with pneumonia. A further 31 children had celiac disease, 9 of them were on a gluten-free diet, and one child had cystic fibrosis. The procedure described renders single stool samples suitable for the assessment of steatorrhea. As a screening test the method proved to be rapid and accurate in the diagnosis of steatorrhea.     

Spiral CT: applications in the emergency patient

The influence of vasopressin (AVP) on recall of information in a passive avoidance situation after bilateral 6-OHDA lesions to the central amygdala was tested. AVP given 15 min before the retention testing at the icv dose of 1 microgram significantly prolonged avoidance latencies both in lesioned and in sham-operated rats in comparison with the respective icv saline injected animals. Insignificant increase of spontaneous locomotor activity in rats lesioned to the central amygdala was unlikely to interfere with the cognitive effect of AVP. These results suggest that dopaminergic projection to the central amygdala is not responsible for the facilitatory effect of AVP on retrieval process in a passive avoidance situation.     

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica presenting at the time of a difficult intubation

Fourteen Suffolk rams (6 mo) were diagnosed with chronic copper poisoning. Preliminary results indicated that a combination of serum aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase, and copper could be used as a test so that high risk lambs could be treated more aggressively.     

CT findings in chondroradionecrosis of the larynx

PURPOSE: Our goal was to describe the CT findings before and after radiation therapy in a series of patients with laryngeal chondroradionecrosis. METHODS: The CT studies obtained before and after radiation therapy in nine patients with the diagnosis of laryngeal chondroradionecrosis were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: CT scans revealed abnormalities in all patients. A variable degree of laryngeal soft-tissue swelling was seen in eight of the patients. In four patients, cartilaginous abnormalities were visible initially, and appeared in three of four other patients who had further follow-up CT studies. Six patients had involvement of the thyroid cartilage; collapse of the thyroid cartilage was seen in two cases and gas bubbles were visible adjacent to the thyroid cartilage in three cases. Four patients with involvement of the thyroid cartilage eventually underwent total laryngectomy, and one died suddenly in severe respiratory distress. In all three patients with arytenoidal involvement, anterior dislocation of this cartilage was seen; in two of these patients, the adjacent part of the cricoid cartilage showed some sclerosis. Two patients with arytenoidal necrosis (both with cricoidal sclerosis) kept a functional larynx. In one case, cricoidal sclerosis was seen in association with lysis of the thyroid cartilage. CONCLUSION: The CT appearance of laryngeal chondroradionecrosis is nonspecific, but the diagnosis can be strongly suggested in cases of sloughing of the arytenoid cartilage, fragmentation and collapse of the thyroid cartilage, and/or in the presence of gas bubbles around the cartilage.     

Atypical CT findings of cervical lymphadenopathy due to Hodgkin''s disease. A case report

We describe a case of Hodgkin's disease with cervical lymphadenopathy which may easily be confused with a granulomatous process both radiologically and pathologically.