January 31, 2012

Intestinal Ascariasis

Author: Santip Srisuwan, M.D.

Axial CT image shows multiple tubular filling defects (arrows) within the opacified lumen of the small bowel. Note contrast filling within the filling defects.

Facts:
  • Most common helminthic infection (worldwide prevalence 25%)
  • Usually asymptomatic.
  • Possible symptoms are colicky abdominal pain in adults and growth retardation/intussusception/volvulus in children
Imaging
  • X-ray: usually normal but may present as bowel obstruction (partial or complete), or soft tissue masses
  • US: hypo echoic curvilinear tubular structures with well-defined echogenic walls and curling movement of the worm during the exam
  • CT: long, thin tubular structure coiled within the small bowel, outlined by oral contrast materials
References:
1. Hommeyer SC, Hamill GS, Johnson JA. CT diagnosis of intestinal ascariosis. Abdom Imaging 1995;20:315-316.
2. Rodrigues EJ, Gama MA, Ornstein SM, et al. Ascariasis causing small bowel volvulus. Radiographics 2003;23:1291-3.
3. Villamizar E, Mendez M, Bonilla E, et al. Ascaris lumbricoides infestation as a cause of intestinal obstruction in children: experience with 87 cases. J Pediatr Surg 1996;3:201-4.
4. Hendi JM, Horton KM, Fishman EK. Ascariasis infection of the colon: MDCT evaluation. Emerg Radiol 2006;12:180-1.
5. Bude RO, Bowerman RA. Case 20: Biliary ascariasis. Radiology 2000;214:844-7.
6. Hershkovitz D, Wasserberg N. Large bowel obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides. IMAJ 2004;6:115-116.

January 21, 2012

Triquetral Fracture

A lateral wrist radiograph shows a small bone fragment (arrow) dorsum to the wrist with overlying soft tissue swelling.

Facts:
  • Second most common carpal bone fracture
  • Two main types: dorsal chip fracture and body fracture
  • Dorsal chip fracture (like in our case ) believed to be due to forceful impingement of the triquetrum during wrist hyperextension
  • Body fracture frequently associated with perilunate dislocation (direct blow)
  • Pain and swelling localized at the dorsum of the wrist where triquetrum is located
  • Complication: motor branch of ulnar nerve injury
Imaging
  • Chip fracture best seen on lateral radiograph with hand in flexion
  • Body fracture best seen on AP and oblique radiographs
  • Fractures are possibly underreported. CT can help in suspected cases.
Reference:
Simon RR, Koenigsknecht SJ. Emergency orthopedics: the extremities, 2001.

January 10, 2012

Pneumothorax on Ultrasound

M-mode ultrasound images of the lungs (right and left) show a normal "lung sliding" on the right side "Right" and absence of it on the left side "Left".

Facts:
  • Ultrasound can be performed to diagnose pneumothorax with high accuracy
  • Normal "lung sliding" is seen when pleura moves against the chest wall during respiration. The movement is easily seen on real-time imaging and can be captured on M-mode ultrasound
  • M-mode US shows normal lung sliding as a "seashore sign", in which the motion of pleura/lung produces sand-like granular appearance on the image. The non-mobile chest wall shows several uninterrupted band or "sea"
  • Some diseases may produce "loss of lung sliding", most notably pneumothorax
Pneumothorax on US
  • Absence of lung sliding shown on real-time imaging
  • On M-mode as "barcode sign" or "stratosphere sign" (see above image labeled "left")
  • More specific sign is the "lung point sign"
Our case: left pneumothorax (confirmed with radiography)

Reference:
Lichtenstein DA, Menu Y. A bedside ultrasound sign ruling out pneumothorax in the critically ill. Chest 1995; 108:1345-48.

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