Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common thoracic venous anomaly and may be a component of the complex cardiac pathologies. While it is often asymptomatic, it can lead to significant problems such as arrhythmias and cyanosis. Besides, it can cause serious complications during vascular interventional procedures or the surgical treatment of cardiac anomalies (CA).

Impact of anatomical features of the left atrial appendage on outcomes after cryoablation for atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon has been accepted as a safe and effective method for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite advances in catheter-based technologies, some patients still experience AF recurrence. In this study, we aimed to compare left atrial appendage (LAA) morphology in AF patients and subjects with sinus rhythm and also investigate the association between LAA morphology and success of PVI using cryoballoon in subjects with AF.

Anterior inferior iliac spine morphology: quantitative and qualitative assessment in an asymptomatic population.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) types, and to investigate the quantitative measurements that characterize AIIS morphology in an asymptomatic adult population.

Methods: In this prospective study, 358 hips from 179 consecutive subjects (age range, 19-82 years; 91 males, 88 females), who underwent CT examination for reasons other than hip problems and were negative for hip impingement test, were analyzed. AIIS types were determined (1, flat wall of the ilium between distal end of AIIS and acetebular rim; 2, bony eminence between distal end of AIIS and acetebular rim; and 3, extension of AIIS to the anterior superior acetebular rim) and AIIS tip angle (TA), direct distance (DD) of the anterior acetabular rim to AIIS as well as projectional distances in vertical (VD) and horizontal (HD) planes were measured.

Leptomeningeal form of Immunoglobulin G4-related hypertrophic meningitis with perivascular spread: a case report and review of the literature.

Purpose: Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease represents a spectrum of fibro-inflammatory disorders that affects various organ systems, including the central nervous system.

Methods: Here we present the case of lgG4-related hypertrophic meningitis with exclusively leptomeningeal involvement and spread via perivascular spaces.

Results: A 58-year-old male patient presented with complex partial seizures.

Pulmonary vein orientation is independently associated with outcomes following cryoballoon-based atrial fibrillation ablation.

Aims: Several studies have investigated the influence of pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy on outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between PV orientation and AF-free survival following cryoablation.

Methods: 160 patients scheduled for cryoablation between September 2012-March 2014 were included.

Caseous Necrosis of Mitral Annulus.

Masses or mass-like lesions located in proximity to mitral valve encompass a wide range of differential diagnoses including neoplasias, abscesses, thrombi, and rarely caseous calcification of mitral annulus. Due to asymptomatic presentation, its diagnosis is usually incidental. Echocardiography is the first choice of imaging in evaluation.

Colon perforation and Budd-Chiari syndrome in Behçet's disease.

Background: Behçet's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease involving multiple systems, with vasculitis being the most important pathological feature. Multiple colon perforations are thought to be secondary to vasculitis and they occur in patients with ulcers. These may be encountered within the entire colon but most commonly in the ileocecal region.

Anomalous small cardiac vein draining into the superior vena cava.

Coronary venous anatomy is little studied, and an abnormal coronary vein drainage is a rarely reported entity. Few cases about abnormal drainage of the great cardiac vein into the superior vena cava have been reported in literature. Herein we present a case of anomalous small cardiac vein draining into superior vena cava.

Left atrial drainage of the great cardiac vein.

Coronary venous anomaly is a less studied and rarely encountered subject in contrast to the coronary arterial system. In this article, we present 2 cases of anomalous great cardiac veins that drain into the left atrium individually.