A 15-year-old girl presented with features suggestive of sub-acute intestinal obstruction (SAIO) with a palpable abdominal lump. Contrast-enhanced computed tomogram (CECT) abdomen revealed congregated small gut loops confined to a single area and encased in a thick membrane suggestive of abdominal cocoon. On laparotomy, a thick white membrane was found encasing most of the small gut. The cocoon was excised releasing the encased small bowel. The patient was relieved of her symptoms following surgery. Histopathology of excised cocoon membrane revealed granulomatous inflammation consistent with tuberculosis. The patient was discharged on ninth postoperative day with advice to take anti-tuberculosis drugs for 6 months. The possibility of abdominal cocoon should be considered in patients with SAIO and abdominal lump. Abdominal cocoon being a rare condition, CECT is useful in clinching the diagnosis and planning elective surgery in experienced hands.
Lymphatic microsurgical preventing healing approach (LYMPHA) for prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL)-a preliminary report BCRL-is a chronic debilitating condition which impairs quality of life of breast cancer survivors. The aim is to study the feasibility of preventing lymphedema by performing BLymphatic Microsurgical Preventive Healing Approach (LYMPHA).^Patients undergoing breast cancer surgery with complete nodal dissection were taken up for the study. After the standard axillary nodal dissection, lymphatics were identified by the help of blue dye and were anastomosed with a tributary to the axillary vein. Post-operatively, patients were followed up clinically for development of lymphedema and lymphoscintigraphy was performed after treatment completion. A total of 35 patients were enrolled for the study. The average BMI was 29.5. LYMPHA was feasible in all cases. The number of lymphatics identified was 1 to 5 per axilla. Two patients developed transient lymphedema which resolved with conservative therapy and patients were able to discontinue the compression garment. Follow-up lymphoscintigraphy is performed in two patients, which showed normal lymphatic flow. LYMPHA is a feasible technique, not difficult to perform, takes a short time, is accomplished in same general anesthesia as for axillary dissection, and gives no extra scar. The early results are promising and long-term follow-up may make the procedure as a routine.
Unilateral absence or agenesis of pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital abnormality with an estimated prevelance of 1 in 2,00,000 adults. The entity occurs commonly in association with other congenital heart diseases like septal defects or patent ductus arteriosus. The condition usually runs a benign clinical course with patients usually presenting clinically in adulthood with history of recurrent respiratory tract infections. Two such patients presented with recurrent respiratory tract infections, breathlessness and hemoptysis. The chest radiograph of first patient was reported as normal in the referring hospital, while that of second patient showed volume loss in left lung. CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) was then performed which demonstrated the absence of right and left pulmonary arteries respectively in the first and second patients. Pulmonary artery branches were reformed distally by multiple collaterals arising from systemic arteries. The entire spectrum, including embryology, imaging features and management of UAPA are discussed. UAPA remains a potential cause for life-threatening hemoptysis, due to extensive collateralization associated with the condition. It is important for radiologists to be aware of this uncommon entity in order to suspect it on a routine chest radiograph, diagnose it and map associated collaterals on CTPA and also embolize the bleeding collaterals.
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