Duodenal obstruction secondary to date stone impaction.

The use of non-invasive imaging techniques to rapidly establish diagnosis has always been an attempt in emergency situations. Recent significant advances in imaging technology have changed approach and algorithm of many emergencies. We present a case of swallowed date stone resulting in duodenal obstruction in a 10-year old child.

Ultrasound wall-sign in pulmonary echinococcosis (new application).

Purpose: We report our experience in diagnosing pulmonary cystic echinococcosis using an ultrasound sign related to the cystic wall.

Materials And Methods: 40 patients with 46 cysts, suspected of pulmonary echinococcosis, based on plain chest radiographs and clinical findings, were examined by ultrasound over a 9-year period (1996 - 2004), and followed up until discharge. We applied our long experience with echinococcal cysts utilising the wall sign (WS) to diagnose pulmonary hydatid disease.

Are they spherules of ovarian cystic teratoma or daughter cysts of echinococcosis?

Teratoma is a germ cell tumour which accounts for approximately 15-20 % of all ovarian cancers. The tumour is possibly derived from ectodermal differentiation of totipotent cells or mitotic germ cells. We present a case of a 37-year-old female patient with multiple spherical structures floating in a large pelvic-abdominal cystic mass seen on sonographic images.

Tetra-layered sign of adult intussusception (new ultrasound approach).

Two-dimensional ultrasound is the principle method for the detection of intussusception. The aim of this study was to establish a pathognominic ultrasound criterion for diagnosing intestinal intussusception to facilitate a proper clinical decision. We have developed a new approach to diagnosing colonic intussuception based on the hypothesis that ultrasound image of the invaginated segment should reveal four border layers.

Giant hydronephrosis mimicking echinococcal cyst.

Cases of giant hydronephrosis are rare and usually contain no more than one to two liters of fluid in the collecting system. We report a remarkable case of giant hydronephrosis of > 17.5 Kg mimicking a huge echinococcal cyst.

Segmental portal hypertension due to a splenic Echinococcus cyst.

A 60-year-old Libyan woman developed perihilar splenic varices without other signs of portal hypertension. Plain abdominal X-ray examination showed two calcified structures in the left and right hypochondria. Ultrasound examination disclosed a 3-cm diameter, globally calcified hydatid cyst lodged in a critical location at the hilar region of the spleen.

Intracavitary cardiac hydatid cyst and the wall sign criteria.

Cardiac hydatid is rare at any age, accounting for less than 2% of all hydatid disease. The case is discussed of a 48-year-old female with a cardiac hydatid cyst attached intracavitary in the posterior wall of the right atrium. The Echinococcus cyst grows very slowly and, unless located in a critical anatomic site, it takes many years to evolve.