Thoracic manifestations associated with advanced liver disease

Multidetector CT evaluation of congenital lung anomalies

Congenital lung anomalies vary widely in their clinical manifestation and imaging appearance. Although radiographs play a role in the incidental detection and initial imaging evaluation in patients with clinical suspicion of congenital lung anomalies, cross-sectional imaging such as computer tomography (CT) is frequently required for confirmation of diagnosis, further characterization, and preoperative evaluation in the case of surgical lesions. Recently, with the development and widespread availability of multidetector CT scanners, CT has assumed a greater role in the noninvasive evaluation of congenital lung anomalies. The combination of fast speed, high spatial resolution, and enhanced quality of multiplanar reformation and three-dimensional reconstructions makes multidetector CT an ideal noninvasive method for evaluating congenital lung anomalies. In this article, the authors review the multidetector CT technique for evaluation of congenital lung anomalies. Important clinical aspects, characteristic imaging features, and key points that allow differentiation among various anomalies are highlighted for a variety of common and uncommon conditions.

[Thoracic manifestations of gastrointestinal diseases]

Variety of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) changes that have their manifestation in thorax, disable their detailed review. Therefore, this article, represents short and overall over-view of these conditions. Standard chest x-ray can reveal esophageal disorders, herniation of abdominal organs into thorax, signs of GIT organs perforation, subphrenic abscess. Numerous diseases of intrabadominal organs of digestive tract can spread to the thorax, either per continuitatem or by lymphogenous or hemaotgenous dissemination. Therefore, chest x-ray is obliged by investigation of abdominal organs. If it is necessary additional diagnostic procedures are performed to confirm or exclude the association of lung or pleura features with GIT disorders. Above mentioned, just confirm that chest x-ray is first in algorithm of diagnostic procedures in these pathologic conditions. If there is any suspicion to conditions that require patients treatment, additional imaging methods like computerized tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US) and barium enema of digestive tract are necessary.

Pericardiacophrenic shunt: imaging finding of rare splenosystemic collateral. Case report

Portosystemic collaterals are the natural consequence of portal hypertension. These collaterals can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Apart from the usual sites, they can develop in some unusual and rare locations. In this report, imaging findings of an unusual venous collateral pathway between spleen and left subclavian vein in a 30-year-old female patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension are presented.