PURPOSE: To evaluate whether CT scanning is useful in differentiating the between endometriomas and other benign complex cystic adnexal masses, and in determining the method of treatment for each mass lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 54 cases (47 patients), we retrospectively analysed the CT findings of 20 pathologically-proven twenty endometriomas (bilateral in four cases), eight hemorrhagic functional cysts, two tubal ectopic pregnancies, eight tubo-ovarian abscesses (bilateral in two cases), ten serous cystadenomas (bilateral in one case), and six mucinous cystadenomas. Internal attenuation, the hyperdense portion, adhesion, and cul-de-sac obliteration were evaluated by CT scanning. RESULTS: Fourteen endometriomas (70%) showed a hyperdense portion, and in only two of these (10%), was a focal nodular hyperdense portion seen on pre-contrast CT scan (10% sensitivity, 100% specificity). Partial or complete cul-de-sac obliteration was identified in 11 patients (75%), while hemorrhagic functional cysts showed a hyperdense portion in four cases (50%) and were accompanied by partial cul-de-sac obliteration in two (25%). Two unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancies showed CT findings of unilateral hyperdense cystic masses of more than 60 HU. In all cases, tubo-ovarian abscesses were accompanied by thickening of the uterosacral ligament and deviation of thickened mesosalpinx (anterior deviation in 87.5% of patients). Serous and mucinous cystadenomas showed CT findings of hypodense masses (less than 20 HU) without adhesion or cul-de-sac obliteration, and this was helpful in differentiating cystadenomas from other benign cystic adnexal masses, including endometriomas. CONCLUSION: The evaluation by CT scanning of benign complex cystic adnexal masses with respect to the hyperdense portion and the presence or absence of cul-de-sac obliteration was usful in differentiating endometriomas from other lesions, and might be helpful in determining the method of treatment for each mass lesion.
Abscess ; Cystadenoma ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Implantation of malignant cells along the needle aspiration tract is an extremely rare potential complication following a percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy of a lung carcinoma. The dissemination of malignant cells by a needle aspiration biopsy may convert an operable and potentially curable lesion into a fatal disease. We report two cases of chest wall implantation of carcinoma of the lung after a thin needle aspiration biopsy. A fifty-five year old male was successfully treated by a radical full-thickness excision of the chest wall and immediate reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous island flap. A sixty-eight year old female was treated with a partial-thickness excision of the chest wall and skin graft due to superimposed infection and ulceration of the metastatic chest wall carcinoma. One case lived for 31 months up to November 1994, and the other's condtion has been uneventful for 3 months up to now.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Needles ; Skin ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Transplants ; Ulcer

Primary cilia have critical roles in coordinating multiple cellular signaling pathways. Dysregulation of primary cilia is implicated in various ciliopathies. To identify specific regulators of autophagy, we screened chemical libraries and identified mefloquine, an anti-malaria medicine, as a potent regulator of primary cilia in human retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. Not only ciliated cells but also primary cilium length was increased in mefloquine-treated RPE cells. Treatment with mefloquine strongly induced the elongation of primary cilia by blocking disassembly of primary cilium. In addition, we found that autophagy was increased in mefloquine-treated cells by enhancing autophagic flux. Both chemical and genetic inhibition of autophagy suppressed ciliogenesis in mefloquine-treated RPE cells. Taken together, these results suggest that autophagy induced by mefloquine positively regulates the elongation of primary cilia in RPE cells.
Autophagy* ; Cilia* ; Humans ; Mefloquine ; Retinaldehyde ; Small Molecule Libraries