Gary G. Ghahremani

Internal Abdominal Hernias

Internal hernias are the underlying cause of acute or intermittent intestinal obstruction in approximately 4 per cent of cases. Their preoperative diagnosis depends on radiologic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract with contrast material. This article presents the clinical and radiographic findings associated with various types of intra-abdominal herniations.

Nasoenteric feeding tubes. Radiographic detection of complications

Recent technical refinement of feeding tubes and formula infusion pumps has led to widespread clinical use of long-term nasoenteric alimentation. We evaluated 340 hospitalized adults after placement of flexible, small-bore feeding tubes. These debilitated or critically ill patients were intubated transnasally at their bedside without fluoroscopic guidance, but portable radiographs of the chest and abdomen were obtained routinely for tube localization before administering liquid nutrients. Various complications were detected in 26 cases (7.6%). Tube malposition into the airways (seven patients) or within the pharynx and esophagus (eight patients) was the most common problem; it occurred in 4.4% of all cases. Radiographic findings in 11 other patients included tube-induced perforation of the lung (one case), massive aspiration (three), malfunction of knotted tubes (three), and rupture of their mercury capsule within the gastrointestinal tract (four). Our observations indicate a need for careful radiographic localization of the feeding tubes at the time of insertion and their periodic monitoring throughout the course of nasoenteric alimentation.

Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the colon in the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.

Large, infiltrative cavernous hemangiomas of the distal colon were present in 3 children with the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, 2 of whom are the subject of this report. The lesion is manifested clinically as intermittent rectal bleeding starting in the first 5 years of life. The radiographic features include (a) varicose lesions in the wall of the rectosigmoid, ranging from a network of distended submucosal veins to nodular defects, (b) narrowing of the rectum by the surrounding extramural portion of the hemangioma, and (c) phleboliths within the lesion. Inferior mesenteric angiography and sigmoidoscopy are useful for preoperative confirmation. The occurrence of visceral hemangiomas in the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and its relevant diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.

Iatrogenic intubation injuries of the upper gastrointestinal tract in adults

Perforation of the hypopharynx, esophagus, and stomach complicated the insertion of flexible tubes in 11 adults. Nasogastric suction tubes were responsible for 5 instances of gastric perforation. Palliative intubation of obstructive carcinomas of the distal esophagus resulted in delayed perforation of the esophagus and stomach in 2 cases. The use of a Linton tube for decompression of bleeding varices caused esophageal rupture in 1 patient whereas 2 others developed pharyngoesophageal perforation due to misplaced endotracheal tubes. The remaining 1 case demonstrated penetration of a chest tube into the esophageal lumen. The radiographic features and mechanisms of these iatrogenic injuries are described and the pertinent literature is reviewed.

Esophageal manifestations of Crohn's disease.

Two patients with concurrent esophagitis and ileocolitis due to Crohns disease are presented. The initial feature of esophageal involvement was dysphagia caused by severe inflammation of the distal esophagus with mucosal ulcerations and polypoid folds. Long-term observation of both cases revealed a gradually progressive course leading to development of rigid esophageal stricture, intramural sinus tract, and esophagobronchial or esophagogastric fistulas. The clinical and radiographic manifestations of Crohns esophagitis in these 2 patients and in 18 previously reported cases are reviewed.

Diagnosis and management of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum

The descending part of duodenum is the principal site for an intraluminally projecting mucosal pouch or diverticulum, but this unusual lesion may also occur elsewhere in the upper gastrointestinal tract. We report three patients in whom a large intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) was diagnosed radiographically at the ages of 15, 27, and 68 years, respectively. Fiberoptic duodenoscopy was performed in the two symptomatic cases for the removal of impacted food from IDD or dilatation of its outflow aperture. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IDD are provided based on our experience and review of the pertinent literature.

Complications of fiberoptic Endoscopy. II. Colonoscopy.

Fiberoptic colonoscopy is being used increasingly for endoscopic visualization of the large intestine, particularly in the electrocautery removal of polypoid lesions. Complications may include bleeding, mesosigmoid hematoma, splenic avulsion, and impaction of the instrument, but the most common is perforation of the colon, which occurs in 0.4-1.9% of colonoscopic examinations. Radiological evaluation plays a critical role. Free intraperitoneal rupture may be clinically overlooked in an aged or infirm patient. Extraperitoneal perforation often results in delayed signs and symptoms. The demonstration of extraluminal gas documents perforation. Recent roentgen-anatomical studies of the characteristic distribution of extraperitoneal gas may permit precise localization of the site of colonic perforation on plain films.

Calcified primary tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

The dominant pattern and location of calcifications occurring within 23 primary gastrointestinal tumors have been analysed and correlated with the data from the literature. The provided guidelines for radiologic diagnosis of such calcified tumors include: (1) a retrocardiac mass containing amorphous calcifications is typical of leiomyoma of the esophagus; (2) calcific deposits similar to that in uterine fibroids may be the feature of gastric leiomyoma or intestinal leiomyosarcoma; (3) sand-like deposits within the wall of the stomach or colon are characteristic of a mucinous adenocarcinoma; (4) clusters of phleboliths in the gastrointestinal wall suggest a hemangioma particularly if recurrent intestinal bleeding and cutaneous hemangiomas are associated; (5) sunburst type of calcification in the pancreas indicates a cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma of that organ; and (6) aggregates of granular calcifications in the liver are diagnostic for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon but may rarely be seen in a primary malignancy of the liver.

Complications of Fiberoptic Endoscopy: I. Esophagoscopy and Gastroscopy

Flexible fiberoptic endoscopes are being used increasingly for direct visualization and biopsy of lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Contrary to earlier expectations, however, the incidence of complications has not diminished despite the technical advantages of modern flexible instruments over semirigid endoscopes; indeed, the mortality of fibergastroscopic perforation has almost quadrupled compared to standard gastroscopy. The authors cite their experience with the spectrum of complications associated with fiberoptic esophagoscopy and gastroscopy. Radiological recognition and evaluation of these iatrogenic incidents is of paramount importance.

Diverticulitis of the jejunum: Clinical and radiological features

This article describes three cases of jejunal diverticulitis in elderly women, who had presented with pain and tenderness in the periumbilical region or the left side of the abdomen, lowgrade fever, anemia, and weight loss. The findings were initially attributed to possible inflammatory or neoplastic lesions of the colon. However, gastrointestinal barium studies and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen proved crucial in establishing the preoperative diagnosis of jejunal diverticulitis and its associated abscess in the adjacent mesentery or abdominal wall. The clinical and radiological manifestations of this uncommon entity are herein presented along with a brief review of the pertinent literature.