Sonographic detection of multiple Staphylococcus aureus hepatic microabscesses mimicking Candida abscesses.

We report the sonographic, CT, and clinical findings in a patient presenting with clinical sepsis and multiple Staphylococcus aureus hepatic microabscesses. Although contrast-enhanced CT has had a higher sensitivity than sonography in detecting hepatic microabscesses in some studies, this examination was negative in our patient. On sonography, numerous small hypoechoic lesions were present.

Observations on renal replacement services in Russia, Belarus and Lithuania.

This report describes the current financial, technical and medical status of nephrology, dialysis and renal transplant services in these countries with the hope of helping our colleagues there to upgrade their standards of care. The general impression is that physicians as well as administrators in these countries are eager to improve conditions of patient care despite a disastrous economical climate. Our view is that we can help by providing literature, textbooks, journals, travel funds, by offering visiting fellowships to individual physicians, and by forming partnerships between nephrology centres.

Wegener granulomatosis is associated to exposure to silicon compounds: a case-control study.

Wegener granulomatosis is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. In the majority of these patients the kidney is involved in the disease process. We performed a case-control study to evaluate the role of occupational exposure in the development of Wegener granulomatosis with renal involvement.

The impact of routine admission abdominal sonography on patient care.

In a prospective study of 1000 consecutive patients, abdominal sonography added diagnostic information to that available by history and physical examination in 8.9%. The yield ranged from a high of 27.

Dilated abdominal paraaortic lymphatic duct: a possible pitfall in retroperitoneal US.

Three cases of dilated abdominal left paraaortic lymphatic duct are described. The diagnosis was established by means of sonography and confirmed with lymphography in all three patients. A sonographically guided puncture of the lymphatic duct was performed in one patient.

The role of desferrioxamine in dialysis-associated mucormycosis: report of three cases and review of the literature.

We report 3 patients on maintenance hemodialysis who developed a fulminant, disseminated and fatal form of mucormycosis. The diagnosis was made by microscopy and culture in 1 case, yielding Rhizopus rhizopodiformis, and by post-mortem microscopy in the two other cases. These patients were receiving desferrioxamine (DFO) for aluminum overload and had no iron-overload.

Parathyroid aspiration biopsy under ultrasonographic guidance.

Localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands is difficult. We examined 16 patients with biochemically proven primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism, using a 5-MHz 90 degrees real-time sector transducer. In those 16 patients, ultrasonographically guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of 26 hypoechogenic retrothyroid nodules was performed.

Partial splenoportal and superior mesenteric venous thrombosis. Early sonographic diagnosis and successful conservative management.

A 61-yr-old woman presented with acute severe pain in the upper abdomen. Within a few hours after admission, diagnosis of partial splenoportal and superior mesenteric venous thrombosis was made by ultrasonography. This thrombosis appeared to be the first sign of a previously unsuspected essential thrombocythemia.