Background: Bone subtraction computed tomography angiography (BSCTA) is a useful alternative technique for improving visualization of vessels surrounded by skull bone.However, no studies have compared computed tomography angiography (CTA) and BSCTA for improving the visibility of canine cerebral blood vessels. Objectives: To evaluate the potential benefit of BSCTA for better delineation of brain arteries of the circle of Willis (CoW) in dogs by comparing BSCTA with non-subtraction computed tomography angiography (NSCTA). Methods: Brain CTA was performed for nine healthy beagle dogs using a bolus tracking method with saline flushing. A total dose of 600 mgI/kg of contrast agent with an iodine content of 370 mgI/mL was injected at a rate of 4 ml/s. Bone removal was achieved automatically by subtracting non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) data from contrast CT data. Five main intracranial arteries of the CoW were analyzed and graded on a scale of five for qualitative evaluation. Results: Scores of basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, and rostral cerebral artery in the BSCTA group were significantly higher than those in the NSCTA group (p = 0.001, p = 0.020, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Scores of rostral cerebellar artery (RcA) and caudal cerebral artery (CCA) did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, scores of RcA and CCA in the BSCTA group were higher than those in the NSCTA group. Conclusions BSCTA improved visualization of intracranial arteries of the CoW with close contact to bone. Thus, it should be recommended as a routine scan method in dogs suspected of having brain vessel disease.

A 5-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat was referred for further investigation of pulmonary nodules incidentally detected on thoracic radiographs. Thoracic radiographs identified ill-defined soft tissue opacity nodules with small faint mineral opacity. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) revealed that bronchial dilation and bronchial wall thickening in bilateral cranial and accessory lung lobes. Round to ellipsoid mineralized concretions were found embedded in the intrabronchial soft tissue attenuation material. Based on radiography, CT, and cytology, the patient was tentatively diagnosed as having broncholithiasis with chronic bronchitis. This report described the CT diagnosis of broncholithiasis, which has been rarely reported in a cat.

This study was purposed to make the referenced range of stomach antral contraction strain in 50 dogs using 2-dimensional speckle tracking. In addition, the strain results were compared among body condition scores to reveal the correlations of obesity among the subjects of the study. Finally, the medetomidine group that was comprised of 10 dogs was compared with the normal group to identify the medetomidine pharmacologic effect in the stomach antral contraction. Clinically healthy 50 dogs were recruited for the study. In an ultrasonographic examination, the stomach antrum region was scanned, and at least one cycle of antral contraction was recorded. The peak strain of antral contraction in healthy dogs was 58.2 ± 20.47% (mean ± SD). The obesity group showed a high strain result and there were significant correlations between the body condition score (BCS) 2, BCS 3 groups and BCS 8 group. The medetomidine group revealed a low strain result and was significantly correlated with normal group. Two-dimensional speckle tracking was useful to the evaluation of stomach motility disorders.

Primary leiomyosarcoma rarely occurs in bone; when it occurs, it is more frequent in middle-aged individuals and frequently metastasizes to the lung. Here, we report a case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the femur in a 47-year-old woman who complained of pain in the left hip. The plain x-ray revealed an osteolytic lesion in the greater trochanter of the femur. The histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a moderately differentiated leiomyosarcoma. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen revealed no other potential primary lesions. The patient was diagnosed with primary leiomyosarcoma of the bone. Although surgical removal was recommended, the patient refused surgery. As an alternative, she was given radiotherapy and chemotherapy. No local progression or distant metastasis has been observed during the 4-year follow-up period.
Abdomen ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy ; Thorax

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) may be observed in various types of cancer, but is mainly seen in small-cell carcinoma. It can also be caused by several chemotherapeutic agents. However, it is a very rare phenomenon in esophageal cancer or its treatment. We report here on a case of SIADH related to esophageal cancer treatment. A 55-year-old man received chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for esophageal cancer. After receiving CRT for 5 days, he complained of nausea, dizziness, and general weakness, and his sodium level had dropped to 107 mEq/L. His volume status was clinically euvolemic and there were no edema or pigmentation. After hypertonic saline infusion, the sodium level increased and the symptoms improved. There have been several reports of SIADH associated with malignancies or chemotherapy agents. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first Korean case of SIADH associated with esophageal cancer that occurred after cisplatin treatment.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Cisplatin ; Dizziness ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Pigmentation ; Sodium

Coombs' negative autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare disease which shares similar clinical and hematological features with Coombs' positive AIHA, but its exact frequency remains unknown. There have been few reports of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and Coombs' negative AIHA associated with other lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs). Since there is a well known association between LPDs and autoimmune phenomena, it is important to investigate the possibility of an underlying malignancy. We report a case of ITP and Coombs' negative AIHA associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Coombs Test ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Rare Diseases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The most common type of syncope in young adults is neurocardiogenic in origin, which is not related to organic problems and has a benign nature. Therefore, there have been few reports regarding syncope in young Korean adults. Here, we examined the causes of syncope and its clinical characteristics in young combat and auxiliary police in Korea. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of the medical records of 193 combat and auxiliary police in Korea admitted to the National Police Hospital for syncope or presyncope between January 2004 and December 2007. RESULTS: The subjects' mean age was 21+/-1.2 years, and there were 2.8+/-2.9 episodes of syncope (mean+/-SEM). The first syncope occurred after enlistment in the police in 102 patients (52.8%). Basic diagnostic studies showed two cases of elevated creatine phosphokinase and one case of anemia to be related to syncope. Syncope-related traumatic injuries occurred in 38 patients (19.7%), and syncope was more prevalent in the summer. Head-up tilt test was performed in 175 of the 193 patients, and 123 showed a positive response. Other evaluations, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and echocardiography, were not helpful for diagnosis. Syncope was neurocardiogenic in origin in the majority of cases. Other causes of syncope were exhaustion (n=2), hyperventilation syndrome (n=2), Meniere's disease (n=1), anemia (n=1), and psychiatric problems (n=5). The causes of syncope could not be identified in 59 patients (30.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Neurocardiogenic syncope was the most common type in our study population. More than half of our patients experienced their first episode after enlisting with the police. Further studies in these groups are necessary.
Adult ; Anemia ; Brain ; Creatine Kinase ; Echocardiography ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Meniere Disease ; Police ; Retrospective Studies ; Syncope ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; Young Adult

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) plays an important role in diagnosis of malignant tumors and adds to conventional imaging in the staging of pertoneal carcinomatosis. However, false positive cases resulting from benign disease such as tuberculosis may occur. We report two cases of peritoneal tuberculosis on F-18 FDG PET/CT which showed multiple hypermetabolic foci in the mesentery and peritoneum with increased serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125). Subsequent F-18 FDG PET/CT showed a disappearance of pathologic uptake following treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Carcinoma ; Mesentery ; Peritoneum ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, such as intestinal tuberculosis, has become more common with the increase in human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal tuberculosis are often delayed because the symptoms are nonspecific and diverse. We experienced a case of AIDS with intestinal tuberculosis that manifested as a duodenal fistula. The presence of AIDS should be suspected in patients who have extrapulmonary tuberculosis with atypical presentations.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Fistula ; HIV ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, such as intestinal tuberculosis, has become more common with the increase in human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal tuberculosis are often delayed because the symptoms are nonspecific and diverse. We experienced a case of AIDS with intestinal tuberculosis that manifested as a duodenal fistula. The presence of AIDS should be suspected in patients who have extrapulmonary tuberculosis with atypical presentations.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Fistula ; HIV ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Tuberculosis