OBJECTIVES: The differentiation of tuberculous effusion from the other causes of exudative pleural effusion remained difficult even with aids of biochemical analyses and pleural biopsy. As the pathophysiology of tuberculous pleural effusion is an enhanced cell mediated immunity, Adenosine deaminase(ADA) and various cytokines including Inteferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) are considered as useful diagnostic tools in differentiating exudative pleural effusion The author would like to demonstrate the diagnostic usefulness of TNF-α in the differentiation of exudative pleural effusion, and compared the discriminating ability of TNF-α with ADA. METHODS: Pleural fluids obtained from 80 patients (tuberculous : 39, malignant : 31, parapneumonic : 10) with exudate pleural effusions were processed for cell counts and biochemical analysis including ADA and TNF-α RESULTS: Tuberculous pleural fluid showed higher levee of ADA and TNF-α, 48.7α 32.7U/L and 184.1±214.2pg/mL than that of non-tuberculous effusion 26.0α41.3U/L and 44.1α114.2pg/mL, respectively (ADA, TNF-α : p<0.05, p<0.01). Receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curves were generated for ADA and TNF-α, and the best cut-off value for adenosine deaminase and TNF-α were considered as 30U/L and 15pg/ml, respectively. Comparing the area under the ROC curves, there was no significant difference between ADA and TNF-α CONCLUSION: For the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion from the other causes of exudative pleural effusions, TNF-α as well as ADA was considered as useful diagnostic method. However adding TNF-α to ADA has no further diagnotic benefit than ADA alone.
Adenosine ; Adenosine Deaminase ; Biopsy ; Cell Count ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Pleural Effusion* ; ROC Curve ; Tuberculosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of real-time neck computed tomography (CT)-guided ultrasonography (US) in detecting cervical neck lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from 176 patients (mean age, 43 years; range, 23 to 74 years) with surgically confirmed PTC who underwent preoperative US, neck CT, and neck CT-guided US. We then compared the sensitivities and diagnostic accuracies of each of the three above modalities in detecting cervical LNM. RESULTS: Preoperative US showed 17.3% sensitivity and 58.5% diagnostic accuracy in detecting central LNM compared with 64.3% sensitivity and 89.2% diagnostic accuracy in detecting lateral neck LNM. Neck CT showed 23.5% sensitivity and 55.7% diagnostic accuracy in detecting central LNM and 71.4% sensitivity with 90.9% diagnostic accuracy in detecting lateral neck LNM. CT-guided US exhibited 37.0% sensitivity and 63.1% diagnostic accuracy in detecting central LNM compared with 92.9% sensitivity and 96.0% diagnostic accuracy in detecting lateral LNM. CT-guided US showed higher diagnostic accuracy with superior sensitivity in detecting central and lateral LNM than did US (P<0.001, P=0.011) and CT (P=0.026, P=0.063). CONCLUSION: Neck CT-guided US is a more accurate technique with higher sensitivity for detecting cervical LNM than either US or CT alone. Therefore, our data indicate that neck CT-guided US is an especially useful technique in preoperative examinations.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Ultrasonography*

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a relatively rare condition in which gas is found as a linear or cystic form in the submucosa or subserosa of bowel wall. PCI is usually found incidentally on an imaging study. Treatment is usually conservative including oxygen and antibiotics therapy. So far, etiology and pathogenesis of PCI remain uncertain. PCI is associated with various medical conditions including various pulmonary diseases, connective tissue diseases, and endoscopic procedures. However, there are only few reports on lactulose causing PCI in patients with cirrhosis. Oral lactulose or enema is one of the main treatment modalities in hepatic encephalopathy. Here, we report a case of PCI which was found during the treatment with lactulose therapy in a patient with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.
Gastrointestinal Agents/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lactulose/therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis/etiology/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Thyroid ultrasonography (US) plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of thyroid-related diseases. The aim of this article was to illustrate various pitfalls that can occur in utilizing thyroid US and techniques to prevent them. In this article, we present cases demonstrating the common pitfalls associated with US equipment, performance, normal thyroid structures, misinterpretations, and surrounding structures. Knowledge of these areas is essential to avoid misdiagnosis or improper disease management.
Adult ; Artifacts ; Diagnostic Errors/*prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Diseases/*ultrasonography ; Thyroid Gland/anatomy & histology/*ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography/instrumentation

Phyllodes tumors of the breast are rare, accounting for 0.3-0.5% of breast neoplasms. The tumors are divided into benign, borderline and malignant lesions according to the histological features. Phyllodes tumors are commonly recurrent, so wide local excision is considered as the only curable treatment. Therefore, an accurate pre-operative diagnosis can reduce recurrence after treatment. On ultrasonography, benign phyllodes tumors are generally seen as well circumscribed, oval shaped, hypoechoic or isoechoic masses, and occasionally, internal clefts or cystic portions are visible. Borderline or malignant phyllodes tumors tend to be larger and more highly categorized than benign tumors. Most phyllodes tumors present as a palpable mass, which usually require sonographic evaluation with a core biopsy; however, the reported diagnostic accuracy is approximately 60 percent, due to limitations of the histological features. Thus, a follow-up ultrasonographic evaluation is essential after a core biopsy and a phyllodes tumor should be considered in cases of growth occurring after a benign biopsy.
Accounting ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Phyllodes Tumor ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Humans

Metaplastic breast carcinoma is a very rare disease with many different histologic subtypes including squamous cell, spindle cell, and heterologous mesenchymal growth (sarcomatoid, osseous). We report a case of sarcomatoid metaplastic carcinoma of the breast which was manifested as a well-circumscribed, round, hypoechoic mass on ultrasound.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Rare Diseases

Although cervical thymic cyst is rarely reported in adults, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of cystic lesion developed on the lower lateral neck. Despite showing nonspecific image findings, sonography and sonography-guided aspiration biopsy are useful to distinguish cervical thymic cyst from other cystic lesions on the neck.
Adult* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Mediastinal Cyst* ; Neck

PURPOSE: We investigated the feasibility of using surgical clips as markers for tumor localization and their effect on the imaging evaluation of treatment responses after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHODS: A total of 16 breast cancers confirmed by needle biopsy in 15 patients were included in this study from October 2012 to June 2014. Under ultrasonography (US)-guidance, the surgical clips were placed prior to NAC. Additional mammography, breast US, and breast magnetic resonance examinations were performed within 10 days before surgery. The time period from marker insertion to operation date was documented. Images acquired via the three modalities were evalu-ated for the following parameters: location of clip, clip migration (>1 cm), the presence of complications from clip placement, and the effect of clips on the assessment of treatment. RESULTS: The mean time period was 128.6+/-34.4 days (median, 132.0 days) from the date of clip insertion to the date of surgery. The mean number of inserted clips was 2.3+/-0.7 (median, 2.0). Clip migration was not visualized by imaging in any patient, and there were no complications reported. Surgical clips did not negatively affect the assessment of treatment responses to NAC. CONCLUSION: Surgical clips may replace commercial tissue markers for tumor localization in breast cancer patients undergoing NAC without migration. Surgical clips are well tolerated and safe for the patient, easily visualized on imaging, do not interfere with treatment response, and are cost-effective.
Biopsy, Needle ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Mammography ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Surgical Instruments* ; Ultrasonography