[Comparison study of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay with an enzyme immunoassay and shell vial culture for influenza A and B virus detection in adult patients].

Introduction: The age of the patients and the type of sample are major problems in the diagnosis of influenza. Most available diagnostic techniques are highly effective in pediatric patients and in nasopharyngeal aspirates. However, in the adult population and using throat swabs, these techniques are much less reliable.

Venous contrast extravasation during digital subtraction angiography.

Six episodes of contrast extravasation occurred in 5 patients during intravenous digital subtraction angiography in a period of 9 months. The extravasations were into the mediastinum (3), pericardium (1), and right atrial wall (2). These occurred using a variety of catheters, all the same size (5.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the abdominal aortic bifurcation.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the abdominal aortic bifurcation was performed in three patients with atherosclerotic disease. All three patients had experienced severe claudication on exertion. The dilatations were performed with Gruntzig balloon catheters after determination of a significant pressure gradient (greater than 20 mm Hg) across the stenotic lesions.

Type IV total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Unusual survival and review of the literature.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a condition most frequently seen in the pediatric age group. Of those that survive uncorrected into adulthood, type I and type II constitute the great majority. It is most unusual to see a patient with a type IV lesion survive.

Mediastinal extramedullary plasmacytoma.

An asymptomatic 65-year-old woman was found to have a mediastinal mass on routine chest x-ray examination. The initial diagnosis of aneurysm of the thoracic aorta was excluded by a thoracic aortogram, and a plasmacytoma was discovered at exploratory operation.

Lymphocele: an unusual mass in the right upper quadrant.

A patient with a palpable right upper abdominal mass eight years after cholecystectomy was found to have a subhepatic lymphocele. Although this is an uncommon location, the presence of a sonolucent mass in an area of previous surgery suggests lymphocele.