Francesco Candiani

Infantile recurrent sialectatic parotitis: the role of sonography and sialography in diagnosis and follow-up

The results of a clinical, sonographic and sialographic study in 10 children (aged 4-10 years) with recurrent sialectatic parotitis are presented. Alteration in the sonographic pattern of the parotid glands, consisting of multiple hypoechogenic areas in the parenchyma, were found in four cases; milder nonhomogeneity was seen in four cases, and an almost normal pattern in two cases. Sonographic follow-up in two children showed a parallel reduction in non-homogeneity with symptomatic improvement. A probable therapeutic action following sialography using fat-soluble contrast medium was observed in four of the 10 children. The familial nature of the disease, which has not previously been described, is documented.

The role of vascularization in the formation of echographic patterns of hepatic metastases: Microangiographic and echographic study

An experimental microangiograhic and echographic study was carried out on metastatic autopsy livers which were also examined histologically. Relationships between the echographic pattern and vascularization are explored. In most cases, hypervascular lesions correspond to hyperechogenic patterns, while hypovascular lesions furnish hypoechogenic images.

Non-occupational recurrent bilateral pneumoparotitis in an adolescent

This is a case report of recurrent bilateral parotid swelling with intraglandular gaseous bubbles in a 14-year-old boy, together with a review of the literature on this condition, which is usually called pneumoparotitis. The disorder has been reported as an occupational hazard in wind instrument players and glass-blowers and also as a rare non-occupational disease, mainly in adolescents and often associated with psychological problems.

Pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma: diagnostic problems

Eleven cases of pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma were studied with respect to the differential diagnosis from that of pancreatic pseudocysts, using diagnostic ultrasound as the initial investigative technique. Most of the cases presented an ultrasonic picture that correlated well with the gross pathology, but this correlation was not reliable enough to be considered characteristic in differentiating such masses from pseudocysts. The authors divide the cystadenocarcinomas of the pancreas into four echographic classes. In all but one of the classes, diagnostic ultrasound was insufficient by itself to render an accurate diagnosis. In such cases other techniques, i.e. CT, tissue biopsy, and especially angiography, were required for a reliable diagnosis.

Idiopathic osteonecrosis versus osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: A retrospective ultrasound study

Abstract In order to evaluate the role of ultrasonography to detect the osteochondral defects of the femoral condyles in idiopathic osteonecrosis and in osteochondritis dissecans, from January 1992 to June 1994 echography of the knee was performed on 21 patients. Fifteen patients had a diagnosis of osteonecrosis and six a diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans (diagnosis made on the basis of X-ray and MRI findings). The sonographic study of the femoral condyles was made using a real time instrument equipped with a linear array probe of 7.5 MHz, with the patient in supine decubitus and the knee in maximum flexion. In order to make a graph of the alterations that can be evidenced echographicaly in two diseases, a ‘score’ based on the analysis of the subcondylar line is suggested. Ultrasound (US) has evidenced the anatomical alterations typical of each disease; this capacity together with clinical signs and the age of the patient allows the correct diagnosis. Sonography is faster than arthrography, arthroscopy, CT and MRI, is non-invasive and less expensive. Its drawback is that it does not detect small intraarticular bodies. We, therefore, believe that echography has a role in aseptic necrosis of the knee in the diagnosis and monitoring the course of the disease.