Pyo-Nyun Kim

Autoimmune pancreatitis: radiologic findings in 20 patients

BackgroundAutoimmune pancreatitis is a new clinical entity that is characterized by peculiar histopathologic and laboratory findings and by a dramatic clinical response to corticosteroid therapy. We evaluated the radiologic findings of autoimmune pancreatitis.MethodsComputed tomographic, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic, and ultrasonographic findings of 20 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis in our hospital between November 2000 and December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed regarding changes and ancillary findings in the pancreatic parenchyma, the main pancreatic duct, peripancreatic vessels, and distal common bile duct. In addition, follow-up images were reviewed for changes in any abnormality seen on the initial examinations.ResultsPancreatic parenchymal enlargement was invariably seen that was diffuse (n = 19) or focal (n = 1), with homogeneous contrast enhancement on computed tomography (n = 20) and magnetic resonance imaging (n = 15). Capsule-like rim enhancement was seen in six patients. There was focal (n = 18) or diffuse (n = 2) narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and it was usually multifocal (n = 17) in the former. Narrowing of the peripancreatic veins was seen in 14 patients. There was tapered (n = 15) or abrupt (n = 3) narrowing of the distal common bile duct in 18 patients, with contrast enhancement of the narrowed segment in eight. Invariably, changes in the pancreatic parenchyma, main pancreatic duct, peripancreatic vessels, and common bile duct were normalized on follow-up studies after steroid therapy.ConclusionIn this series, common radiologic findings of autoimmune pancreatitis were (a) diffuse pancreas enlargement, (b) multifocal narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, (c) narrowing of peripancreatic veins, and (d) tapered narrowing of the distal common bile duct with frequent contrast enhancement. These findings were usually reversible with steroid therapy.

Gastric schwannomas: radiological features with endoscopic and pathological correlation

AIM To describe the radiological, endoscopic, and pathological findings of gastric schwannomas in 16 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS The radiological, endoscopic, and pathological findings of 16 surgically proven cases of gastric schwannoma were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) and four patients were evaluated with upper gastrointestinal series. Two radiologists reviewed the CT and upper gastrointestinal series images by consensus with regard to tumour size, contour, margin, and growth pattern, the presence or absence of ulcer, cystic change, and the CT enhancement pattern. Endoscopy was performed in eight of these 16 patients. Six patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography. Pathological specimens were obtained from and reviewed in all 16 patients. Immunohistochemistry was performed for c-kit, CD34, smooth muscle actin, and S-100 protein. RESULTS On radiographic examination, gastric schwannomas appeared as submucosal tumours with the CT features of well-demarcated, homogeneous, and uncommonly ulcerated masses. Endoscopy with endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated homogeneous, submucosal masses contiguous with the muscularis propria in all six examined cases. On pathological examination, gastric schwannomas appeared as well-circumscribed and homogeneous tumours in the muscularis propria and consisted microscopically of interlacing bundles of spindle cells. Strong positivity for S-100 protein was demonstrated in all 16 cases on immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION Gastric schwannomas appear as submucosal tumours of the stomach and have well-demarcated and homogeneous features on CT, endoscopic ultrasonography, and gross pathology. Immunohistochemistry consistently reveals positivity for S-100 protein in the tumours.

Hepatic Hemangiomas with Arterioportal Shunt: Sonographic Appearances with CT and MRI Correlation

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to summarize and illustrate the sonographic appearance of hepatic hemangiomas with arterioportal shunt and to correlate them with CT and MRI findings. CONCLUSION High-flow hepatic hemangiomas tend to be seen as hypoechoic lesions at sonography. In the presence of fatty infiltration in the liver, they may accompany peritumoral low-echoic areas presumably caused by peritumoral sparing of fatty infiltration similar to a hyperattenuating or hyperintense peritumoral rim on unenhanced CT or MR chemical shift imaging. Color Doppler sonography may reveal intratumoral flows, large feeding arteries, and reversal of portal flow around the tumor. Knowledge of such sonographic findings may ensure an accurate sonographic diagnosis of these tumors.

Sparing of fatty infiltration around focal hepatic lesions in patients with hepatic steatosis: sonographic appearance with CT and MRI correlation.

OBJECTIVE The purposes of this study were to illustrate the sonographic features of focal hepatic lesions with peritumoral sparing of fatty infiltration in patients with hepatic steatosis, to correlate the sonographic findings with CT and MRI findings, and to discuss the possible mechanisms. CONCLUSION Various focal hepatic lesions can accompany peritumoral sparing of fatty infiltration in patients with hepatic steatosis, and they can manifest with an atypical sonographic appearance.

Secretin-stimulated MRCP.

Secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography not only facilitate the depiction of anatomic variations or morphologic changes of the pancreatic duct in the normal and diseased pancreas but also help assessing functional abnormalities of the exocrine pancreas. In this article, we illustrate findings of normal pancreas and various pancreatic diseases on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography after secretin stimulation.

Hepatic involvement in hypereosinophilic syndrome: value of portal venous phase imaging

Abstract. US, portal venous phase CT, and MRI-CSE (MRI with conventional spin-echo sequence) findings in three cases of hepatic involvement in hypereosinophilic syndrome are presented. These showed varied imaging findings, but portal venous phase CT showed multiple, poorly marginated, and hypodense hepatic lesions in all three cases. The result suggested that portal venous phase CT is the optimal method for depicting hepatic involvement.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using internally cooled wet electrodes for treatment of colorectal liver metastases

AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of internally cooled wet (ICW) electrodes, which provide interstitial infusion of saline and intra-electrode cooling simultaneously, in the percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS From February 2008 to October 2010, 27 patients with 35 hepatic metastatic lesions (mean size 1.99cm; range 0.7-3.8cm) underwent RFA using ICW electrodes. Of these 35 tumours, 32 had diameters ≤3cm, and three had diameters of 3-4cm. Moreover, 18 tumours were non-subcapsular and 17 were subcapsular. RESULTS No patients (0%) had major complications after RFA. During follow-up (median 27 months; range 4.5-36 months), 14 of the 35 treated lesions (40%) showed local tumour progression. The local tumour progression-free survival rates at 1 and 3 years were 73 and 56%, respectively. The local tumour progression-free survival period was significantly longer in patients with tumours ≤2cm than >2cm (p<0.001), but did not differ significantly between patients with non-subcapsular and subcapsular tumours (p=0.454). The overall 1 and 3 year survival rates after RFA were 100 and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous RFA using ICW electrodes is safe and technically feasible for the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. It provides effective local tumour control with low complication rates and reduced number of needle placements.

Colonic wall thickening in cirrhotic patients: CT features and its clinical significance

AbstractBackground: To evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) features of colonic wall thickening in cirrhotic patients and to determine their prognostic value. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 28 cirrhotic patients with colonic wall thickening (≥10 mm) on CT. Twenty-six of the 28 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. The severity of hepatic dysfunction was determined by using the Child–Pugh classification. We analyzed the patterns of bowel wall thickening and degree of portal hypertension on CT and the survival periods after initial CT detection of colonic wall thickening. Results: The involved segment of the colon was diffusely thickened with either scalloped or nodular circumferential configuration. In all patients, the thickened colonic wall enhanced poorly. Although the ascending colon was involved in all patients, the transverse (n= 14) or descending (n= 5) colon was also simultaneously involved. Most patients exhibited an advanced stage of portal hypertension on CT. The median survival period of 25 patients who expired was 34 days, and 21 patients (84%) expired within 3 months. Conclusions: Colonic wall thickening on CT can be used as one of the indicators of poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients. Advanced liver cirrhosis with significantly severe dysfunction is the likely cause of mortality. Therefore, a less aggressive therapeutic approach is recommended if hepatocellular carcinoma is coexistent in these patients.

Vasculature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: Comparison of Power and Color Doppler Sonography

The purpose of this study was to compare power Doppler sonography with conventional color Doppler sonography for the detection of the vascularity of hepatocellular carcinomas after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Of the 93 embolized hepatocellular carcinomas, hypervascularity was demonstrated in 36 on angiography; power Doppler sonography correctly identified pulsatile flow signals in 33 (92%) of these 36, whereas color Doppler sonography identified flow signals in 24 (67%). A statistically significant difference was noted when the sizes of the nodules were 30 mm or less. Despite technical difficulties, such as flash artifact, power Doppler sonography is superior to color Doppler sonography for detection of hypervascularity, especially in small embolized nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma (30 mm or less in diameter).

Abdominal cavernous Iymphangiomas: CT findings

Two adult patients with histopathologically proved cavernous lymphangiomas and one adult patient with lymphangiomas of strongly presumed cavernous type by cytologic and computed tomographic findings are reported. On computed tomograms, multiple, aggregated, small, and tiny cysts without a solid portion, along the lymphatic channels are characteristic computed tomographic findings for cavernous lymphangiomas.