Internal architecture of the parotid gland at MR imaging: facial nerve or ductal system?

A radiologic-anatomic study was performed to determine the nature of the low-signal-intensity curvilinear structures currently seen in the normal parotid gland on axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. These structures are considered by some to represent the intraparotid facial nerve. After cannulation of the Stensen duct, the authors imaged the parotid gland of two cadavers in situ before and after intraductal injection of gadolinium tetrazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid. Retrograde filling was obtained in one gland. The same sections were used throughout a subsequent anatomic study, allowing correlation of the MR findings with the macroscopic and histologic appearance of the gland. Comparison of MR images and gross and histologic sections established that two intraparotid facial nerve segments, although identified from the histologic study, were not visible on corresponding MR images. Many areas of low signal intensity seen within the gland were found to represent the main duct and some afferent ductal branches.

[Total colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis in Crohn's colitis. Functional results and recurrence factors (83 cases)]

Eighty-three consecutive patients (38 men, 45 women) underwent colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) for Crohn's colitis between 1960 and 1988. The mean age at the time of IRA was 28.5 years after a mean interval of four years from diagnosis. At the time of IRA, 31 patients had proctitis, while 25 had perianal disease. Two patients died postoperatively. Postoperative complications appeared in 21 cases (25.3%) including 7 anastomotic leaks (13.2%). Leakage did not imply IRA compromise and the diverting ileostomy did not decrease the risk of preservation of the ileorectal anastomosis. With a mean follow-up of 8 years after IRA, among the 81 surviving patients, it was necessary to retain the stomy in five, 24 required exclusion or excision of their IRA (10 defunctioning ileostomies, 14 proctectomies) and 52 still had a functioning IRA at follow-up (64.2%). Among the 43 recurrences (53%), 21 underwent reoperation. The mean interval between IRA and recurrence was 2.2 years. The cumulative rate of recurrence reached 47% at 5 years and 57% at 10 years. Fifty percent of the patients still had a functioning IRA and were satisfied. Preoperative ileal lesions affected the functional results of the IRA and the recurrence rate. Development of ileal, rectal or anal disease after IRA significantly increased the risk of exclusion of the rectum but did not require suppression of anal function. Patients under 30 years of age or patients suffering for more than 5 years had poorer functional results and more frequent reoperations at 5 years. Rectal preservation after IRA may be proposed with success to patients with a healthy rectum or with minimal or moderate proctitis, even if there is perianal disease that could be safely treated before IRA. In this last setting, the patient has to be informed of the risk of rectal preservation and the possible risk of requiring ulterior proctectomy.

[Influence of ano-perineal lesions on the outcome of the rectum in colonic and rectal Crohn disease]

Between 1960 and 1988, 83 patients (38 men, 43 women) underwent colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) for severe colonic or rectal Crohn's disease. The mean age at IRA was 28.5 years. The mean interval from diagnosis was 4 years. There were two post-operative deaths. Among the 81 survivors 5 patients who had a covering ileostomy have never had their stomas closed and 24 patients required exclusion or excision of their IRA and rectum. (= 10 defunctioning IRA, 14 proctectomies with definitive ileostomy). The mean interval between IRA and the creation of a permanent ileostomy was 4.1 years. The mean interval between the onset of problems following IRA and permanent ileostomy was 2 years. 25 patients had perianal lesions prior to IRA. 5 of these patients had unhealed perianal disease at IRA and 7 required defunctioning ileostomy (28%). The need for rectal excision or exclusion following IRA was not related to the presence of perianal disease prior to IRA but functional results were worse. 33 patients developed perianal lesions following their IRA, among whom 19 required exclusion or excision of the rectum. Failure of IRA was then significantly higher amongst those who developed lesions following IRA. Rectal preservation after IRA may be proposed with success to patients with a healthy rectum or with minimal or moderate proctitis, even if there is perianal disease that could be safely treated before IRA. In this last setting the patient has to be informed of the risk of rectal preservation and the possible risk of requiring ulterior protectomy.

[Peritonitis after spontaneous rupture of a pyonephrosis into the peritoneal cavity. Apropos of a case]

Peritonitis by fistulization of a pyonephrosis is an extremely rare complication usually diagnosed perioperatively. Treatment is by immediate or deferred nephrectomy after ensuring the functional condition of the contralateral kidney.

Anatomic and radiologic bases of surgery of the thoracic aorta

Lesions of the thoracic aorta create problems related to their site and relations with the main aortic branches. The aim of surgery must be to treat the lesion while ensuring perfusion of the tissues excluded by clamping during the operation. Anatomic study of the aortic lesions is based on imaging. Angiography is still often the basic examination though it shows only the lumen and course of the aorta. However, CT and MRI visualise the aortic wall and especially the relations of the aorta to the mediastinal structures. A comparison of anatomic and imaging studies was made on 10 fresh subjects coming from the anatomy department of the Saints-Pères and from the school of surgery of Fer à Moulin. Sections were made every 3 to 5 mm in 3 planes (sagittal, coronal and axial) after CT localisation of the plane of section. This anatomic study was correlated with CT and MR images made on healthy volunteers. The choice of surgical management of a lesion of the thoracic aorta is based on preoperative anatomic assessment by imaging applied not only to the aorta but also to its branches and the territory supplied.

The thoracic esophagus: sectional anatomy and radiosurgical applications

The relationships of a tumor of the thoracic esophagus to the adjacent mediastinal structures are currently studied by means of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, more recently, by echoendoscopy. However, the assessment of axial mediastinal CT and of MRI in the coronal and sagittal planes calls for some degree of experience. To further this training a sectional anatomy is proposed in correlation with imaging of the thoracic esophagus and the posterior mediastinum. Ten fresh subjects whose vascular networks had been previously injected with colored resin were sectioned along the three planes of space after positioning under CT monitoring. The axial sections were compared with the CT images made with a GE 9800 Quick scanner. Three frontal and sagittal sections were compared with the MRI images made with a GE Signa apparatus using a high magnetic field. The relations of the esophagus were studied at three levels: the supra-azygo-aortic segment, where it is related to the left subclavian artery; the inter-azygo-aortic segment, where access to the esophagus is barred on the left by the aortic arch and on the right by the arch of the azygos vein, section of which provides ample access; and the sub-azygo-aortic segment, where the esophagus passes behind the left main bronchus and to the right of the descending aorta, two organs whose invasion contraindicates excision of a tumor of the esophagus but is difficult to assess by current thoracic imaging techniques. The esophagus then descends behind the left atrium; the investigation of the kinetics of the heart cavities by transesophageal echocardiography is an application of this anatomic relationship.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hepatic trauma: experience with 135 consecutive liver injuries (1982-1989) and arguments for conservative surgery

Most hepatic traumas are easily cured, but the series of 135 consecutive hepatic wounds reported in the present paper is unusual in that the patients were specifically recruited from among patients subjected to neurosurgical or spinal operations, 25% of whom sustained severe hepatic injuries (classes IV and V) as a result of the surgery. The postoperative mortality was analyzed according to such potentially predictive factors as severity of the hepatic wound, the concomitant extraabdominal lesions, the initial shock, and the kind of surgical treatment. The statistical comparison of the factors affecting the results was analyzed by the Chi-square test. The postoperative mortality rate was 24.4% (33 deaths). This mortality rate is evidently related to the severity of the hepatic lesions and to the frequent associated lesions. The 14 deaths from benign and moderate hepatic injuries were due to concomitant lesions. Among the 19 deaths from severe lesions, 12 were directly related to the severity of the hepatic injury and 7 to associated wounds. Complications directly related to the hepatic trauma occurred in 39 cases with 16 deaths. In general, conservative surgical treatment can be performed with quite low mortality. Among the patients who require hepatic resection one of two dies of hemorrhage or coagulopathy. Among conservative procedures, perihepatic packing has proved to be efficient and safe. If perioperative cholangiography has excluded any leak from a major bilde duct, septic complications are rare. Therefore, the surgical treatment of hepatic trauma should be as conservative as possible, because this can stop hemorrhage and decrease the risk of coagulopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)