Pulmonary aspergilloma may usually demonstrate the classic "air-crescent sign" in the conventional radiograph. However, this lesion is often seen as a pulmonary nodule or is obscured by the surrounding scarred and fibrotic lung tissue, which may limit the value of the conventional techniques and hinder the diagnosis. We retrospectively analysed the plan film findings of 44 lesions of 40 patients and CT findings of 29 lesions of 26 patients with pulmonary aspergilloma with special emphasis upon the atypical manifestation. The cases with classic "air-meniscus sign" in conventional radiograph accounted for 50%, while 30%, presented with a pulmonary nodule and 20% were unrecognized forms due to surrounding parenchymal lesion. CT findings of 28 aspergillomas were analyzed according to the shape of the intracavitary space(space between the cavity wall and the fungal ball) and the fungal ball itself. The intracavity space showed "air-meniscus sign" (62%), filling cavity (28%), peripheral air bubble (3%) and high density due to hemorrhage (3%), in descending order of frequency, The shape of the fungal ball itself showed homogeneous low density mass (62%) and spongeform or irregular air bubble contained mass (34%), CT was more accurate than conventional radiograph in the diagnosis and evaluation of number and location of atspergilloma, particularly in the case of atypical presentaion and was useful to assess the associated disease and to predict postoperative outcome.
Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Retrospective Studies

Melorheostosis is a rare from of hyperostosis characterized by candle greasing down along the major axis of long bones. A case of melorheostosis combined with exostosis in the fifth toe was presented here because of its rarity.
Exostoses ; Hyperostosis ; Melorheostosis ; Toes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA) and to determine thefactors affecting the long-term patency rate in the management of insufficient hemodialytic arteriovenousfistula(AVF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine cases of insufficient hemodialytic AVF were treated in 44patients(native AVF:20, graft AVF:29, M:17, F:27, Age:22-70 years). In 28 thrombus patients, thrombolysis wasperformed with urokinase, and was followed by PTA. The initial success rate and complications of PTA wereevaluated. According to the site and length of the stenosis, type and age of the AVF, the presence or abscence of thrombus, a history of diabetic mellitus, the patient 's age, and the duration of renal failure, patency rateswere compared within each subgroup using the Kaplan-Meier logrank test. RESULTS: The initial success rate of PTAfor insufficient hemodialytic AVF was 88%(43/49), the patency rate of PTA was 67% at 6 months, and 50% at 12months. The initial success rate of thrombolysis was 89%(25/28). The complication rate of PTA was 12%(6/49), ofwhich five cases were vein rupture, and one was subcutaneous hematoma. Statistically, the patency rates in theabove mentioned subgroups were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: PTA with or without thrombolysis offerssafe and effective management of insufficient hemodialytic AVF.
Angioplasty* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Rupture ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Veins