Imaging manifestations of a dreaded obstetric complication in the immediate postpartum period.

HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet) syndrome is a dreaded complication that may develop during pregnancy or in the immediate postpartum period. Rarely this syndrome manifests itself with imaging findings. We report a case of HELLP syndrome in which the diagnosis was reaffirmed via imaging findings.

Fatal abdominal hemorrhage associated with gallbladder perforation due to large gallstones.

Gallbladder perforation is a relatively uncommon complication of acute cholecystitis and may occur with or without gallstones. Prophylactic cholecystectomy has been recommended for patients with very large stones (>3 cm) due to an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman who died of hemorrhagic shock following gallbladder perforation due to very large gallstones.

Synovial metastasis from lung cancer.

Intraarticular masses are infrequently encountered in clinical practice; however, the differential diagnosis can be broad. Neoplasia, both benign and malignant, and proliferative processes are the most common etiologies. We present a case of metastatic disease in the synovium in a patient with a history of lung cancer.

Intracranial Nocardia in the setting of AIDS.

Nocardia intracranial abscesses occur almost exclusively in patients who are immunocompromised due to diabetes, transplantation, or HIV/AIDS. Patients usually present with seizures, headaches, fevers, and menin-gismus. Laboratory evaluation is nonspecific but may reveal an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white blood cell count.

A pictorial review of complications of acute coalescent mastoiditis.

This case study highlights the extracranial and intracranial manifestations of severe otomastoiditis. A 35-year-old man presented with numerous symptoms, including ear and neck pain, headache, temporary vision loss, fever, malaise, and nausea and vomiting. Imaging studies led to the diagnosis of coalescent mastoiditis with septic dural sinus thrombosis, venous hemorrhagic infarctions, brain abscesses, and subdural empyema.