Perihepatic capsulitis is associated with various diseases, such as Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, perforated cholecystitis, perforated hepatic abscess, and tuberculous peritonitis. Miliary tuberculosis is present in about 2% of all reported cases of tuberculosis and is characterized by the widespread millet-like hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We describe a 24-year-old virgin patient presenting with right upper quadrant and costovertebral angle pain. Diffuse perihepatic capsular enhancement was observed in abdominal computed tomography scans. Chest radiography showed miliary tuberculosis, and a polymerase chain reaction hybridization assay of sputum revealed the presence of M. tuberculosis. Symptoms improved after administering anti-tuberculosis medications. This report describes a rare case of miliary tuberculosis accompanying perihepatitis.
Cholecystitis ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radiography ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Miliary ; Young Adult

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most prevalent malignancies and frequent causes of death worldwide. Treatment options of hepatocellular carcinoma consist of locoregional therapy, surgical resection, liver transplantation, and systemic therapy. Assessment of tumor response is required in patients receiving locoregional and systemic therapy. The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 is widely used tumor response evaluation criteria. However, the RECIST does not reflect the extent of tumor necrosis after some locoregional therapies and molecular targeted agents. The Modified RECIST (mRECIST), which has the concept of viable tumor, was introduced in order to overcome this problem. The mRECIST were developed on the basis of RECIST version 1.1 and only tumoral tissue showing contrast uptake in arterial phase of dynamic radiologic imaging techniques was measured to assess tumor response. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. To identify tumor response after immunotherapy, immune RECIST (iRECIST) has been proposed as consensusbased criteria. After achieving complete response after curative treatment, optimal surveillance was needed to detect recurrence. Individualized surveillance schedule should be considered, taking into consideration the risk factors of the patient and the risk associated with the treatment modalities.
Appointments and Schedules ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cause of Death ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Liver Transplantation ; Necrosis ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To compare the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of upper abdominal organs with 2 different 3.0 tesla MR systems and to investigate the usefulness of normalization using the spleen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients were enrolled in this prospective study, of which, 35 patients (M:F, 27:8; mean age ± standard deviation, 62.3 ± 12.3 years) were finally analyzed. In addition to the routine liver MR protocol, single-shot spin-echo echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging using b values of 0, 50, 400, and 800 s/mm2 in 2 different MR systems was performed. ADC values of the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney and liver lesion (if present) were measured and analyzed. ADC values of the spleen were used for normalization. The Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, paired sample t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Bland-Altman method were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: For all anatomical regions and liver lesions, both non-normalized and normalized ADC values from 2 different MR systems showed significant correlations (r = 0.5196-0.8488). Non-normalized ADC values of both MR systems differed significantly in all anatomical regions and liver lesions (p < 0.001). However, the normalized ADC of all anatomical regions and liver lesions did not differ significantly (p = 0.065-0.661), with significantly lower coefficient of variance than that of non-normalized ADC (p < 0.009). CONCLUSION: Normalization of the abdominal ADC values using the spleen as a reference organ reduces differences between different MR systems, and could facilitate consistent use of ADC as an imaging biomarker for multi-center or longitudinal studies.
Aged ; *Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Kidney/*radiography ; Liver/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/*radiography ; Prospective Studies ; Spleen/*radiography

Chilaiditi sign refers to the presence of bowel gas under the right diaphragm which is similar in appearance to a pneumoperitoneum on radiography, and is caused by abnormal anatomic positioning of the colon or small bowel between the liver and the diaphragm. When symptoms are present, this condition is known as Chilaiditi syndrome. The most common symptoms are gastrointestinal. It has been less commonly associated with chronic, recurrent respiratory distress. We report acute respiratory distress without gastrointestinal symptoms exacerbated by Chilaiditi syndrome in a pneumonia patient with no history of chronic respiratory disease.
Chilaiditi Syndrome* ; Colon ; Diaphragm ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Humans ; Liver ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Radiography

Gadoxetate disodium is a widely used magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent for liver MR imaging, and it provides both dynamic and hepatobiliary phase images. However, acquiring optimal arterial phase images at liver MR using gadoxetate disodium is more challenging than using conventional extracellular MR contrast agent because of the small volume administered, the gadolinium content of the agent, and the common occurrence of transient severe motion. In this article, we identify the challenges in obtaining high-quality arterial-phase images of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced liver MR imaging and present strategies for optimizing arterial-phase imaging based on the thorough review of recent research in this field.
Angiography ; Arteries/anatomy & histology ; Contrast Media/*chemistry ; Gadolinium DTPA/*chemistry ; Humans ; Liver/*radiography ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Imaging studies including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a crucial role in the diagnosis and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several recent studies reveal a large number of MRI features related to the prognosis of HCC. In this review, we discuss various MRI features of HCC and their implications for the diagnosis and prognosis as imaging biomarkers. As a whole, the favorable MRI findings of HCC are small size, encapsulation, intralesional fat, high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and smooth margins or hyperintensity on the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. Unfavorable findings include large size, multifocality, low ADC value, non-smooth margins or hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase images. MRI findings are potential imaging biomarkers in patients with HCC.
Aged ; Biological Products ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/pathology/*radiography ; Contrast Media ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging/methods ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with the presence and morphology of coronary atherosclerotic plaques shown by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in asymptomatic subjects without a history of cardiovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 772 consecutive South Korean individuals who had undergone both dualsource 64-slice MDCT coronary angiography and hepatic ultrasonography during general routine health evaluations. The MDCT studies were assessed for the presence, morphology (calcified, mixed, and non-calcified), and severity of coronary plaques. RESULTS: Coronary atherosclerotic plaques were detected in 316 subjects (40.9%) by MDCT, and NAFLD was found in 346 subjects (44.8%) by hepatic ultrasonography. Subjects with NAFLD had higher prevalences of all types of atherosclerotic plaque and non-calcified, mixed, and calcified plaques than the subjects without NAFLD. However, the prevalence of significant stenosis did not differ between groups. After adjusting for age, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, NAFLD remained a significant predictor for all types of coronary atherosclerotic plaque [odds ratio (OR): 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-2.08; p=0.025] in binary logistic analysis, as well as for calcified plaques (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.07-2.70; p=0.025) in multinomial regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that NAFLD was significantly associated with the presence and the calcified morphology of coronary atherosclerotic plaques detected by MDCT. Further prospective clinical studies are needed to clarify the exact physiopathologic role of NAFLD in coronary atherosclerosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/statistics & numerical data ; Calcinosis/ethnology/*radiography ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Angiography/*methods ; Coronary Artery Disease/ethnology/pathology/*radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/*methods ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/epidemiology/*ultrasonography ; Odds Ratio ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Regression Analysis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To assess the lesion conspicuity and image quality in CT evaluation of small (< or = 3 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) using automatic tube voltage selection (ATVS) and automatic tube current modulation (ATCM) with or without iterative reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and five patients with 123 HCC lesions were included. Fifty-seven patients were scanned using both ATVS and ATCM and images were reconstructed using either filtered back-projection (FBP) (group A1) or sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) (group A2). Forty-eight patients were imaged using only ATCM, with a fixed tube potential of 120 kVp and FBP reconstruction (group B). Quantitative parameters (image noise in Hounsfield unit and contrast-to-noise ratio of the aorta, the liver, and the hepatic tumors) and qualitative visual parameters (image noise, overall image quality, and lesion conspicuity as graded on a 5-point scale) were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Group A2 scanned with the automatically chosen 80 kVp and 100 kVp tube voltages ranked the best in lesion conspicuity and subjective and objective image quality (p values ranging from < 0.001 to 0.004) among the three groups, except for overall image quality between group A2 and group B (p = 0.022). Group A1 showed higher image noise (p = 0.005) but similar lesion conspicuity and overall image quality as compared with group B. The radiation dose in group A was 19% lower than that in group B (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: CT scanning with combined use of ATVS and ATCM and image reconstruction with SAFIRE algorithm provides higher lesion conspicuity and better image quality for evaluating small hepatic HCCs with radiation dose reduction.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*radiography ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Image Enhancement/*methods ; Liver Neoplasms/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/*methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The optimal management of patients exhibiting a partial virologic response (PVR) to entecavir (ETV) has not been determined . The aim of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of prolonged ETV monotherapy in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients exhibiting a PVR to ETV therapy. METHODS: This study included 364 treatment-naive CHB patients treated with ETV for > or =48 weeks and who received continuous ETV monotherapy for > or =96 weeks. PVR was defined as a decrease in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA of more than 2 log10 IU/mL from baseline but with detectable HBV DNA by real-time PCR assay at week 48. RESULTS: Fifty-two of the 364 patients (14.3%) showed a PVR. Among them, 41 patients received continuous ETV monotherapy for > or =96 weeks (median duration 144 weeks, range 96-312 weeks), and 40 of these patients (95%) achieved a virologic response (VR, HBV DNA <20 IU/mL) during prolonged ETV monotherapy (median duration 78 weeks, range 60-288 weeks). The cumulative probabilities of a VR at weeks 96, 144, and 192 from treatment initiation were 78.0%, 92.7%, and 95.1%, respectively. The VR rate was 97.2% (35/36) in HBeAg-positive patients and 100% (5/5) in HBeAg-negative patients. In multivariate analysis, HBeAg positivity (odds ratio [OR], 9.231; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-82.91; P=0.047) and a high baseline HBV DNA level (OR, 0.170; 95% CI, 0.08-0.37; P=0.000) were independently associated with a delayed virologic response. No patient developed genotypic resistance to ETV during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ETV monotherapy is effective for achieving a VR in treatment-naive CHB patients exhibiting a PVR to ETV. HBeAg positivity and high baseline HBV DNA level were independently associated with a delayed virologic response.
Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Genotype ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy/pathology/virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/radiography/ultrasonography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Aged, 80 and over ; Amiodarone/*adverse effects ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/*adverse effects ; Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*etiology/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/*drug effects/radiography ; Predictive Value of Tests ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed