Massive primary hepatic tuberculoma mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma in an immunocompetent host

Tuberculoma of the liver is rare in an immunocompetent individual. We report a 26-year-old man with upper abdominal pain, abnormal liver function, and raised inflammatory markers. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a mixed attenuation lesion measuring 6 x 5 cm occupying most of the left lobe of the liver. Subsequent histology and culture confirmed tuberculous abscess. Following antituberculous therapy, repeat CT scan revealed complete resolution of the initial findings. This case illustrates the diagnostic difficulties of hepatic tuberculosis (TB) and the importance of considering TB in patients with hepatic lesions.     

结核性脑膜炎与化脓性脑膜炎脑脊液与血浆生化指标比值的比较研究

目的:比较结核性脑膜炎与化脓性脑膜炎脑脊液与血浆生化指标比值。方法:选择2010年2月~2014年12月我院结核性脑膜炎患者82例,化脓性脑膜炎98例,检测脑脊液与血浆中的蛋白、糖及氯化物含量,并计算比值。结果:两组患者脑脊液蛋白、糖含量的差异无统计学意义(P0.05),化脓性脑膜炎组的氯化物含量高于结核性脑膜炎组(P0.05);两组血浆糖含量的差异无统计学意义(P0.05),化脓性脑膜炎组蛋白和氯化物含量明显高于结核性脑膜炎组(P0.05);化脓性脑膜炎组蛋白比值低于结核性脑膜炎组,氯化物比值则高于化脓性脑膜炎组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);两组间糖比值比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:脑脊液与血浆生化指标比值对鉴别诊断结核性脑膜炎与化脓性脑膜炎有重要意义。     

Acid-fast bacilli in aspiration smears from tuberculous lymph nodes. An analysis of 255 cases

An analysis of fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears from 255 patients with tuberculous lymphadenopathy was done. The aspirates were either purulent, cheesy or mixed with blood. A total of 56.4% of all cases aspirated showed acid-fast bacilli. Of the cases in which purulent material was aspirated, 66% were positive for acid-fast bacilli. These findings stress the importance of doing Ziehl-Neelsen staining in smears of all cases suspected of being tuberculous in etiology, particularly when purulent material is aspirated.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of antibacterial therapy

It is recommended to estimate the clinical effect of antibacterial therapy in patients with different purulent inflammatory complications with an account of the data on both the clinical and bacteriological examinations. The full affect consisted in disappearance of the clinical signs and complete bacteriological sanation of the purulent inflammatory foci. The partial effect was shown by a marked decrease in the clinical manifestations without complete bacteriological sanation of the foci. The ill effect was evidenced by clinical picture having no time course and no favourable time course in bacteriological tests. No effect was indicated by deterioration of the clinical picture and no favourable time course in the bacteriological tests.     

A new side effect of BCG immunotherapy — BCG-induced arthritis in man

Summary Ten of 159 patients showed arthritic symptoms during the course of BCG immunotherapy for advanced cancer. The arthritic symptoms occurring after BCG injections had the following characteristics: (1) The incidence of arthritis was closely correlated with the host immunologic responsiveness to BCG; (2) These symptoms usually occurred 1–5 months after the first BCG injection (7/10); (3) The arthritic symptoms usually started with morning stiffness (9/10), which was followed by acute inflammatory signs in the affected joints. They gradually subsided in response to treatment with nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs, but were not completely cured while the effectiveness of BCG continued; (4) The symptoms were aggravated by additional BCG injections (8/10). (5) This form of arthritis could be differentiated from rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculous, or purulent arthritis by its clinical course and by roentgenograms of the affected joints. It is thought to be induced by the adjuvant effect of BCG, and is a new side effect of BCG immunotherapy.     

Potentialities of temporal bone CT in the diagnosis of chronic purulent otitis media and its complications

Temporal bone CT was used to examine a group of 87 patients with chronic purulent otitis media (103 temporal bones). The patients' age ranged from 2 to 74 years. A scheme was developed and proposed to evaluate the temporal bone by CT. The CT signs of chronic purulent otitis media uncomplicated by cholesteatoma and those of cholesteatomic purulent otitis were identified. The CT symptomatology of chronic purulent otitis includes: sclerotic changes in the bone tissue of the mastoid process, impaired pneumatization of the cavities of the middle ear, including the tympanic cavity, destructive changes in auditory ossicles, carious changes in the walls of the cavities of the middle ear. The CT semiotics of cholesteatoma depends on its site and spread into the temporal bone and includes as follows: deformation of the epitympanum due to soft tissue mass-induced destruction of the lateral wall; the dilated entrance into the antrum; the presence of a cavity with the sclerosed walls in the antromastoid area; carious changes in the auditory ossicles; the displacement of a chain of ossicles medially or laterally in relation to the initial site of cholesteatoma. CT reflects carious changes in the walls of the cavities of the middle ear, including the roof and labyrinthine wall of the tympanum, which allows labyrinthine fistula and intracranial cholesteatomic complications. The study of the temporal bone by the proposed scheme may reveal anomalies and the specific features of its structure: the presentation of the sigmoid sinus, the high elevation of the bulb of the jugular vein, diverticulum of the latter, the low standing of the bottom of the ACH.     

Capacities of computed tomographic angiography in the diagnosis and estimation of the site, pattern, and degree of vascular bed lesion in nonspecific aortoarteritis

Nonspecific aortoarteritis (NAA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the aorta and its branches. The clinical manifestations of this disease are of a great variety and depend on the site of a lesion and the stage of the disease. A wide range of highly informative noninvasive imaging techniques, such as duplex scanning (DS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) of the aorta and its branches, are used to make a more accurate diagnosis and to determine the site and extent of a vascular bed lesion. The given clinical example suggests that CT angiography of the aorta and its branches is a high-precision technique in determining the site of vascular bed lesion in patients with NAA and the pattern and extent of arterial involvement and that it may be used for both the diagnosis of the disease at its developmental stages and the monitoring of the vessels during pathogenetic therapy.     

Characteristics of hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A total of 745 P. aeruginosa strains from patients with purulent inflammatory processes, 216 strains from the environment of a surgical hospital and 35 strains from carriers were studied with respect to 30 cultural and biochemical signs of P. aeruginosa. 19.8% of the strains were found to form no pigment, and in 14.8% of the strains delayed pigment formation was observed (on days 3-10). The most stable signs were motility (99.6%), growth in Simmons citrate agar (97.6%), growth at 42 degrees C (97.4%), arginine decarboxylase activity (96.8%). In 77.0% of the strains glucose assimilation in Hiss liquid medium, in 85.6% glucose oxidation in the OF test, in 90.8% the formation of urease and in 93.2% the formation of gelatinase were observed. Among the strains isolated from the environment, P. aeruginosa variants, atypical with respect to their main differentiating signs, were isolated significantly more frequently.     

Computed tomography in the investigation of dementia.

To assess the value of computed tomography in investigating patients with dementia, 500 consecutive patients presenting with a provisional clinical diagnosis of dementia of recent onset were reviewed and the results analysed in a computer. Most patients had either cerebral atrophy or infarction, but 82 patients had a normal scan and 42 others had tumours. More than 10% of all patients, including 5% with no other symptoms or signs, had a treatable lesion. Various associated symptoms and signs were useful pointers to such a treatable lesion and clearly indicated computed tomography. Accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of proper management, and if a few patients with treatable lesions can be identified then the benefits to all concerned may be incalculable.     

Clinical significance of adrenal computed tomography in Addison's disease.

Adrenal computed tomographic (CT) scanning was conducted in twelve patients with Addison's disease during the clinical course. In tuberculous Addison's disease (n = 8), three of four patients examined during the first two years after disease onset had bilaterally enlarged adrenals, while one of four had a unilaterally enlarged one. At least one adrenal gland was enlarged after onset in all six patients examined during the first four years. Thereafter, the adrenal glands may atrophy bilaterally, in contrast to adrenal glands in idiopathic Addison's disease, which atrophy bilaterally from disease onset (n = 2). Adrenal calcification was a less sensitive clue in tracing pathogenesis, i.e., adrenal calcification was observed in five of eight patients with tuberculous Addison's disease, but not in idiopathic patients. Thus, adrenal CT scanning could show the etiology of Addison's disease (infection or autoimmunity) and the phase of Addison's disease secondary to tuberculosis, which may be clinically important for initiating antituberculous treatment.     

Effectiveness of gentamicin sulfate in suppurative-inflammatory processes of varying localization]

Antibiotic sensitivity of 486 strains of grampositive and gramnegative organisms isolated from patients with purulent infections was studied in vitro. Gentamicin was shown to be highly active as compared to kanamycin and other antibiotics against the main causative agents of purulent inflammatory infections including multiresistant E. coli, Proteus, Ps. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus. High efficiency of gentamicin in therapy of peritonitis, septic conditions, purulent postoperative wounds, infections of the urinary tract, pneumonia, etc. (197 patients) was shown. Positive results were obtained in 87.4 per cent of the cases. Side effects, such as albuminuria, hyperthermic reaction, rash, pruritis were registered in 3 per cent of the patients.     

Computerized Tomographic Scanning in Cases of Dementia

In assessing the clinical value of computerized tomographic (CT) scanning in elderly patients with dementia, only one of 100 patients with dementia of insidious onset and no other abnormal neurologic signs was found to have a potentially treatable disorder. In a second group of 100 patients with dementia of abrupt onset or with additional abnormal neurologic signs, 12 were found to have a lesion that potentially required medical or surgical intervention. We conclude that a subgroup of patients with dementia, representing about a third of demented patients in our hospital, are unlikely to benefit from CT scanning.     

What do biomarkers tell us about the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis?

Biomarkers may provide information that promotes understanding of prognosis, disease activity, and pathogenesis in ankylosing spondylitis. Biomarkers reflecting disease activity (metallo-proteinase-3) and inflammatory lesions on magnetic resonance imaging predict new bone formation and are ameliorated by anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy, yet this treatment may not prevent new bone formation. Moreover, elevated levels of biomarkers reflecting tissue repair (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) post-treatment together with magnetic resonance imaging indicates such treatment may even promote repair through new bone formation. Tumor necrosis factor regulation of Dickkopf-1 may constitute a molecular brake that controls osteoblastogenesis through wingless and bone morphogenetic proteins in an established inflammatory lesion in ankylosing spondylitis.     

Intravenous methylprednisolone in the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Eleven euthyroid patients with severe Graves'' eye disease were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and followed up for six months or more by ophthalmological assessment, orbital computed tomography (CT), photographs, and antibody measurements. Papilloedema resolved in the single patient in whom it was present; visual acuity was abnormal in seven eyes initially and in only one eye after treatment; the intraocular pressure differential, which reflects muscle dysfunction, was initially abnormal in 18 eyes but showed a progressive and distinct improvement; nine patients showed substantial improvement in inflammatory signs. Exophthalmos improved early after treatment, but this improvement was not maintained. Orbital CT showed a pronounced reduction in the bulk of eye muscles after treatment in eight of nine patients. Autoantibodies to the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor declined. Adverse effects were trivial. Thus eight patients showed a clear response to intravenous methylprednisolone as judged by ophthalmic assessment and CT scan. The two patients who showed little response and one who had none all had a long history (more than a year) of ophthalmopathy. Results were better than those with oral steroids and adverse effects less. Treatment of Graves'' eye disease is more likely to be effective if given early; patients should be referred promptly to specialist centres, where treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone should be considered.     

Nervous System Involvement in Ankylosing Spondylitis

In a review of 45 patients with ankylosing spondylitis 10 had neurological symptoms and signs and three of them had two separate neuropathological disorders. The neurological profiles fell into five main categories—multiple sclerosis, the cauda equina syndrome, focal epilepsy, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and peripheral nerve lesions. An association between ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis is suggested, possibly due to an immunological defect or to one being a complication of the other.     

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of head and neck diseases]

A total of 106 patients suffering from tumors and inflammatory diseases of the head and neck were investigated. CT was performed in axial and frontal projections using a method of intravenous contrast image enhancement. The purpose of CT was to reveal an abnormal lesion, to detect its initial site, spreading, to make differential diagnosis, and to evaluate therapeutic results. Some limitations of CT in differential diagnosis of small-size tumors were observed. CT can be used for differential diagnosis of tumors and inflammatory processes in the accessory nasal sinuses. CT results were important for a choice of therapeutic methods, radiation therapy design, assessment of efficacy of surgical and radiation therapy, and the detection of tumor recurrences.     

Evidence of spinal tuberculosis at the beginning of the fourth millennium BC from Arene Candide cave (Liguria, Italy)

This paper describes tuberculosislike lesions affecting the spine of Neolithic skeleton found in Arene Candide cave (Liguria, Italy) and representing one of the earliest cases of this disease in Europe. The burial is attributed to middle Neolithic (square-mouthed pottery culture) whose layers date, by 14C, to the first half of the fourth millennium BC. The skeleton, well preserved in the postcranial portion, belongs to a male aged about 15 years having a very light body build. Resorptive lesions localized to the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebral bodies, collapse and angular kyphosis, resulting from complete destruction of T11 and T12 and partial destruction of T10 and L1, are the main pathologic features. The morphology of the lesions, sites involved, and age of the specimen are consistent with a diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis (Pott's disease). The extreme gracility of the skeleton, along with other signs of stress (Harris lines, enamel hypoplasia) suffered during the last years of life, and the limited bony regeneration point to a disease process in its late phase having arisen at the beginning of adolescence. The funerary ritual suggests that the social integration of this adolescent was not prevented by the severe infirmity.     

肺部炎性假瘤的CT影像学表现及其鉴别诊断价值

目的:分析肺部炎性假瘤的高分辨率CT影像学表现极其鉴别诊断的价值。方法:收集2012年4月-2015年4月我院收治的59例经手术病理检查证实为肺部炎性假瘤的患者为病例组,并于同一时期随机选取80例周围型肺癌患者为对照组。比较两组患者的高分辨率CT影像学特征,并分析各种影像学特征与肺部炎性假瘤的关系。结果:病例组刀切征、桃尖征及延迟期持续强化的发生率高于对照组,分叶征的发生率低于对照组(均P0.05)。多因素Spearman的秩相关分析发现,刀切征、桃尖征及延迟期持续强化与肺部炎性假瘤诊断呈正相关关系(r=0.738,0.829,0.763,均P0.05),分叶征与肺部炎性假瘤的诊断呈负相关关系(r=-0.791,P0.05)。结论:CT影像学表现中的刀切征、分叶征、桃尖征及延迟期持续强化对肺部炎性假瘤具有较高的鉴别诊断价值,可作为临床辅助诊断肺部炎性假瘤的重要影像学资料。     

Inflammatory Lesions of the Breast: Diagnosis By Fine Needle Aspiration

Amongst 1061 breast lesions diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) over a period of 6 years (1985-1990), 128 were reported to be showing changes consistent with an inflammatory lesion. On review, the cytodiagnosis was found to be inaccurate in 31 cases. The cytological features of the 97 cases that were correctly reported are described in this report. The cytological diagnoses issued in these 97 cases were acute mastitis or breast abscess (57 cases) and tuberculous mastitis (30 cases). Non-specific chronic mastitis and miscellaneous conditions accounted for four and six cases respectively. Acid fast bacilli (AFB) were demonstrated in 28.0% of tuberculous mastitis cases and 10.0% of those diagnosed as acute mastitis or breast abscess. FNA cytology was found to be useful for the diagnosis of inflammatory lesions of breast and their classification, as only five out of 57 cases of acute mastitis/breast abscess and one out of 30 tuberculous mastitis cases were suspected on clinical grounds.     

Opportunistic microorganisms in purulent inflammatory otolaryngologic diseases and meningitis

The contamination of clinical specimens material, obtained from patients with otolaryngology inflammatory processes and purulent meningitides in the Moscow region, has been studied. Etiologically significant causative agents dominating in different purulent inflammatory diseases have been established. As revealed in this study, in the Moscow region the leading causative agents of purulent inflammatory otolaryngology deseases and meningitides are coagulase-negative ataphylococci, Escherichia coli, meningococci, pyogenic streptococci and fungi of the genus Candida.