The augmented expression of the cytidine deaminase gene by 5-azacytidine predicts therapeutic efficacy in myelodysplastic syndromes.

5-Azacytidine (5AC), a hypomethylating agent, is clinically used for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Cytidine deaminase (CDA) is a key enzyme in the detoxification of 5AC. We investigated whether the CDA expression could predict response to 5AC in MDS.

Contour variations of the body and tail of the pancreas: evaluation with MDCT.

Purpose: To analyze morphology/contour variations of the pancreatic body and tail in subjects free of pancreatic disease.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed triple-phase, contrast-enhanced multi-detector row computed tomography (3P-CE-MDCT) examinations of 449 patients who had no clinical or CT evidence of pancreatic diseases. These patients were evaluated for morphologic/contour variations of the pancreatic body and tail, which were classified into two types.

Anomalous isolated segmental pulmonary vein dilatation detected by computerized tomography of the chest.

This report presents findings detected on computerized tomography of the chest in three patients with dilatation of a segmental pulmonary vein and its branches. Each patient had dilatation of an isolated segmental pulmonary vein and its branches with a normal distribution, and no associated cardiovascular anomalies; in two patients, ground glass opacity corresponding to the distribution of the dilated pulmonary veins was observed. The CT features are consistent with a rare subtype of congenital pulmonary varix.

Mucin-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder: imaging demonstration in four cases.

We report four cases of mucin-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder (three papillary adenocarcinomas and one mucinous carcinoma), with an emphasis on imaging features. Our findings suggest that when a papillary protrusion or thickened wall, including cystic areas and/or calcifications, is seen radiologically in the enlarged gallbladder, mucin-producing carcinoma of the gallbladder should be included in the differential diagnosis.

CT and MR imaging of desmoplastic fibroblastoma.

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (collagenous fibroma) developing as a slowly enlarging lower abdominal mass is described. The lesion had inhomogeneous low signal intensity (SI) on T1-weighted images, and mixed SI as low SI within high SI on T2-weighted images. On post-contrast T1-weighted images, the mass showed inhomogeneous enhancement.