Diagnosing active TB in children remains a clinical challenge, due to difficulties in achieving a definite microbiological confirmation, aspecific clinical manifestation, low sensitivity of chest radiography (CXR). For this reason, the use of chest computed tomography (CT) scan to evaluate suspected TB pediatric cases is increasing. We retrospectively reviewed records of patients aged <16 years diagnosed with active TB at the Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart to describe CT findings and to evaluate the need for its execution for diagnosis. In 41 cases, 7 CXR were normal (17.1%) while no CT scan was evaluated as negative. In 19 cases (46.3%), CXR was considered non-probable TB pulmonary, compared with 11 of 37 cases (29.7%) of CT. In 15 cases (36.6%) CXR was described as probable for TB pulmonary, instead 26 of the 37 cases evaluated by CT (70.3%) were classified as probable TB. We describe CT findings in patients with pediatric TB. We confirmed that CT can improve the diagnostic accuracy. In particular, the comparison between the CT and CXR ability in detecting cases of pulmonary TB in accordance with the proposed radiological probability criteria, showed a superiority of CT in detecting probable TB pictures (70.3%) compared with 36.6% of the x-Ray.

UFE represents an excellent alternative to surgical treatment: it is safe, tolerable and effective both in short and long term, with evident advantages in economic and social terms.

No abstract

In our experience, nodule size is the most important diagnostic factor during fine-needle aspiration, while the number of passages and the presence of emphysema constitute risk factors for pneumothorax occurrence.

PURPOSE Renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) are rare in the general population, although the true incidence and natural history remain elusive. Conventional endovascular therapies such as coil embolization or covered stent graft may cause side branches occlusion, leading to organ infarction. Flow diverters (FDs) have been first designed to treat cerebrovascular aneurysms, but their use may be useful to treat complex RAAs presenting side branches arising from the aneurysmal sac. We aimed to evaluate the mid-term follow-up (FUP) safety and efficacy of FDs during the treatment of complex RAAs. METHODS Between November 2019 and April 2020, 7 RAAs were identified in 7 patients (4 men, 3 women; age range 55-82 years; median 67 years) and treated by FDs. Procedural details, complications, morbidity and mortality, aneurysm occlusion, and segmental artery patency were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve months of computed tomography angiography (CTA) FUP was evaluated for all cases. RESULTS Deployment of FDs was successful in all cases. One intraprocedural technical complication was encountered with one FD felt down into aneurism sac which requiring additional telescopic stenting. One case at 3 months CTA FUP presented the same complication, requiring the same rescue technique. At 12 months CTA FUP, 5 cases of size shrinkage and 2 cases of stable size were documented. No rescue surgery or major intraprocedural or mid-term FUP complication was seen. CONCLUSION Complex RAAs with 2 or more side branches can be safely treated by FD. FD efficacy for RAA needs further validation at long-term FUP by additional large prospective studies.