Faculty Bibliography

Ingested foreign bodies are often seen in clinical practice, but their radiographic demonstration is unusual unless they have a metallic or bony density. This report describes and illustrates a case of small bowel perforation secondary to an ingested wooden toothpick and emphasizes the role of CT in evaluating similar cases

Computed tomographic (CT) features in 29 patients with gastrointestinal leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas were analyzed and compared. Features evaluated included size, shape, homogeneity, response to intravenous contrast material, and presence of calcification. The sarcomas were larger (average, 12 cm) than the myomas (average, 4.8 cm), had an irregular shape, and had a nonhomogeneous appearance both before and after contrast enhancement. Gross features depicted on CT are compared with gross pathologic criteria. Analysis of the CT appearance suggested malignancy in two cases in which microscopic examination was interpreted as benign

Splenic and perisplenic pathology, demonstrated by CT examination in 14 septic patients, was correlated with the clinical course and with surgical and pathologic findings available. Twelve patients were intravenous drug addicts and two patients developed bacteremia associated with bacterial endocarditis. The CT findings were divided into three groups: (1) Single wedge-shaped peripherally located defects were seen in five patients; there was good response to medical therapy without other complications. (2) Larger and/or multiple, rounded or oval lesions were present in five patients; two of these patients had splenic abscesses proven on subsequent splenectomy. (3) Multiple splenic lesions and fissures associated with perisplenic and subphrenic fluid collections were seen in four patients; infected splenic infarcts, splenic fractures, and infected perisplenic hemorrhagic fluid collections were found in this group of patients. The CT examination in septic patients can reliably demonstrate splenic and perisplenic pathology, and its appearance contributes greatly to the overall clinical assessment and surgical approach

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 43 cases of colonic diverticulitis and compared with the contrast-enema examination (CE) in 37 patients. Findings on CT included inflammation of the pericolic fat in 98% of cases, diverticula in 84%, thickening of the colon wall in 70%, a pericolic abscess in 35%, peritonitis in 16%, a fistula in 14%, colon obstruction in 12%, and intramural sinus tracts in 9%. Secondary findings included a distant abscess in 12% and ureteral obstruction in 7%. In addition to detecting ureteral and bladder involvement and distant abscess formation, CT was preferable for demonstrating the extent of pericolic inflammation, which was underestimated with CE in 41% of patients. Differential diagnosis of the CT findings is discussed. The authors indicate that CT should be the initial procedure in patients with suspected diverticulitis, particularly when CE is contraindicated

The computed tomographic (CT) findings in 13 consecutive patients with proven gastric varices were analyzed and correlated with the radiographic, angiographic, and gastroscopic evaluations. In 11 patients, CT clearly identified large (five) or smaller (six) varices located mainly along the posteromedial wall of the gastric fundus and proximal body of the stomach. Well defined rounded or tubular densities that enhanced during intravenous administration of contrast material and could not be distinguished from the gastric wall were identified. Dense, enhancing, round or tubular, intraluminal filling defects were seen in the cases where the stomach was distended with water. In two patients, the CT diagnosis of gastric varices could not be confidently made. All patients had associated intraabdominal collateral circulation, situated medial to the stomach within the lesser omentum, along the distribution of the coronary venous system. In seven patients, the CT examination correctly diagnosed the pathogenesis of gastric varices by identifying hepatic cirrhosis, calcific pancreatitis, and carcinoma of the pancreas

A psoas mass in a patient with a history of penetrating trauma to the area was demonstrated by computed tomography (CT) to represent a lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm surrounded by hematoma. This report emphasizes the importance of recognizing the anatomic position of the lumbar arteries on CT images and considering the possibility of pseudoaneurysm in the differential diagnosis of post-traumatic psoas masses

Although most often recognized in neonates and young children, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) occasionally appears in later years. Three patients, aged 35, 24, and 7 years, are reported. Chest radiographs in each case suggested a localized patchy density, a cystic mass, or a multicystic mass, but computed tomography (CT) best demonstrated the cystic and solid components while ruling out bronchiectasis or major bronchial obstruction. Bronchography contributed no further diagnostic information compared with CT. Each patient underwent lobectomy. Histologically, the characteristic overgrowth of bronchiolar elements replacing normal parenchymal architecture was accompanied by some superimposed inflammatory change. Each patient had a history of pneumonia, and in such patients, characteristic radiographic features should suggest the possibility of late presentation of CCAM

Twenty-four cases of pleural tuberculosis (20 active and 4 inactive) were studied with computed tomography (CT). In 14 patients with proved acute tuberculous pleurisy, CT improved diagnostic accuracy by demonstrating small areas of cavitation not apparent on the chest radiograph and by detecting or confirming lymphadenopathy. In 10 patients with chronic tuberculous pleural disease, CT differentiated active from inactive infection by detecting a collection of fluid within the pleural rind. In both groups, CT also demonstrated complications such as bronchopleural fistula and involvement of the chest wall. CT can be beneficial in such cases because of its ability to show the pleural surfaces in transverse section, discriminate parenchymal from pleural disease, and quantify tissue density