Pancreatic pseudocysts drained through a percutaneous transgastric approach

We describe a new method for the percutaneous drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts using a transgastric approach. We used this technique in three dogs and six patients for whom no other "safe" access route was available. The procedures were performed under US guidance alone or with US combined with fluoroscopy. No complications were observed.     

Serious diabetes-specific emotional problems in patients with type 2 diabetes who have different levels of comorbid depression: A Polish study from the European Depression in Diabetes (EDID) Research Consortium

ObjectiveDepression is a common psychiatric problem in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2). A common view is that the burden of having DM2 contributes to the development of depression in DM2. Aim of the present study was to compare the levels of diabetes-specific emotional problems of DM2 patients with diagnosed depression with those with a subclinical form of depression and those without depression.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 101 DM2 patients (51 men and 50 women, mean age = 63,17; SD = 10,74) who completed a standardized, structured psychiatric diagnostic interview (MINI), the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale as well as the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale (a 20-item measure, with an overall scale measuring diabetes-related emotional distress and four subscales [negative emotions, treatment-related problems, food-related problems, lack of social support]).ResultsA depression diagnosis was made in 35% (n = 35) of the participants, 24% (n = 24) had a subclinical form of depression, 42% (n = 42) were not diagnosed with any kind of depressive disorder. Diabetes-specific emotional problems were most common in DM2 patients with a depressive disorder (significantly highest PAID score: 39) compared to patients with subclinical depression or no depression. In the group of non-depressed patients, only 14% agreed to have four or more (somewhat) serious diabetes-specific problems. In those with subclinical depression, this percentage was 42% and in those with a depressive disorder 49% (P < 0.001).ConclusionsDiabetes-related emotional problems are particularly common among DM2 patients with comorbid clinical depression and to a lesser extent in patients with subclinical depression, compared to non-depressed DM2 patients. Male diabetes patients with a depressive disorder are particularly vulnerable to develop high levels of diabetes-specific emotional distress. Major differences between the three groups mainly concern the diabetes-specific problems connected with the illness.     

Percutaneous treatment of an intrahepatic abscess caused by a penetrating duodenal ulcer

We present a well-documented case of duodenal ulcer that penetrated into the quadrate lobe of the liver with subsequent abscess and fistula formation. An accurate diagnosis depended on the use of ultrasound to identify the presence of an abnormal gas pattern in the liver which had been mistaken for bowel on computed tomography. Successful percutaneous drainage under ultrasound guidance was then accomplished. This is the first recorded case we can find in which percutaneous drainage combined with antibiotic and H2 blocker therapy was able to supplant the surgical treatment of liver abscess with an enteric fistula. The diagnosis and management of this condition are discussed. Special reference is made to the use of ultrasound to overcome a major pitfall in the use of computed tomography for diagnosing liver abscesses with fistula formation.     

Liver abscess: sonography in diagnosis and treatment

Over 24 months, 22 patients with intrahepatic abscesses were diagnosed by sonography. The sonographic appearance of the abscesses was nonspecific and varied from anechoic lesions to highly echogenic solid masses. Septations, fluid-fluid interfaces, and debris were also observed. In 19 of 22 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by needle aspiration. Subsequently, 12 patients were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage; in 10 patients this therapy obviated the need for further surgery.     

Male infertility: role of transrectal US in diagnosis and management.

Ultrasound (US) has become crucial in the assessment of infertility of couples, in 50% of whom the male partner is responsible. Male infertility is caused by many diverse conditions, from reparable obstructive disorders to noncorrectable intrinsic testicular failure. During the past 4 years, a select group of 70 young infertile men with azoospermia or oligospermia and low ejaculate volume were examined with transrectal US. Twenty-six patients had congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, 11 had congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens and contralateral obstructive pathology, 15 had additional abnormalities thought to be directly related to semen deficiencies, and 18 patients with other causes for semen deficiency and infertility had findings that were either normal or showed minor abnormalities. The delineation of congenital and obstructive abnormalities of the distal urogenital tract with transrectal US enables an accurate diagnosis of certain cases of male infertility and helps guide appropriate clinical and surgical management.     

Bilomas: A new approach to the diagnosis and treatment

Biloma, a newly described entity, appears to have gained a heightened clinical interest recently. During the past 18 months we have diagnosed 9 abnormal biliary collections. We discuss here the role of sonography and radionuclide cholescintigraphy in the evaluation of bilomas. The diagnosis of all cases was confirmed by ultrasoundguided percutaneous needle aspiration. Subsequently 7 patients were treated with catheter drainage, obviating the need for any surgery.     

Predictors of prostate carcinoma: accuracy of gray-scale and color Doppler US and serum markers

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of detecting prostate cancer by using (a) gray-scale and color Doppler transrectal ultrasonography (US), (b) serum and excess prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and (c) targeted and sextant transrectal US-guided biopsy. The relationship between US-detected neovascularity and tumor biologic activity was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 1999, 544 patients with elevated PSA levels and/or abnormal digital rectal examination underwent transrectal US-guided sextant biopsy and targeted biopsy of US abnormalities. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of gray-scale US, color Doppler US, targeted biopsy, and PSA and excess PSA were calculated. RESULTS: Gray-scale US depicted 78 (41.1%) of 190 cancers, whereas color Doppler US depicted 30 (15.8%) additional cancers. Targeted biopsy was used to detect 108 (56.8%) cancers, whereas sextant biopsy was used to detect 82 (43.2%) additional cancers. Although US-visible cancers had a higher Gleason grade than did cancers discovered at sextant biopsy (P <.05), 25 of the 66 cancers identified with sextant biopsy alone were Gleason grade 6 or higher. Color Doppler US-depicted hypervascularity correlated with biologically aggressive tumors. Excess PSA was normal in 58 (30.5%) cancers, with an accuracy of 67.3%, resulting in better prediction of prostate tumors than with serum PSA level alone. CONCLUSION: Gray-scale transrectal US, even coupled with color Doppler US, is inadequate for prostate carcinoma screening; therefore, targeted biopsy should always be accompanied by complete sextant biopsy sampling.