Answer 1 is incorrect because the imaging tests of choice would be ultrasound or CT; answer 3 is incorrect because the laparoscopic approach is indicated from the start; answer 4 is incorrect because the indication in the first episode is for those under 50 years of age, in the rest it is indicated after the second episode or in cases of persistent symptoms or suspected neoplasia; and answer 5 is incorrect because surgery in cases of perforation with peritonitis should always resect the affected segment of colon to control the focus of the infection.

Answer 1 is [HIDDEN] because the imaging tests of choice would be ultrasound or CT; answer 3 is [HIDDEN] because the laparoscopic approach is indicated from the start; answer 4 is [HIDDEN] because the indication in the first episode is for those under 50 years of age, in the rest it is indicated after the second episode or in cases of persistent symptoms or suspected neoplasia; and answer 5 is [HIDDEN] because surgery in cases of perforation with peritonitis should always resect the affected segment of colon to control the focus of the infection.

A 78-year-old woman comes to the emergency department for left iliac fossa pain of 24 hours of evolution associated with fever and occasional vomiting. On examination, there is selective pain on palpation in the left iliac fossa with a feeling of occupation, defense and positive decompression. When acute diverticulitis is suspected, which of the following statements is correct?

The safest and best performing complementary examination is the barium contrast enema.

In case of contained pelvic abscess, percutaneous drainage guided by CT or ultrasound is indicated.

If surgical intervention is required after resolution of the acute episode, the laparoscopic approach is contraindicated.

In case of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, elective sigmoidectomy is indicated after cure of the first acute episode.

If generalized peritonitis occurs, the most appropriate surgical technique is the practice of a derivative colostomy without resection of the affected sigmoid segment.

[Management of complications of sigmoid diverticulosis].

Computed tomography (CT) with contrast enhancement for vascular and bowel opacification is the reference examination for suspected sigmoid diverticulitis because it makes it possible to confirm the diagnosis and look for signs of severity (pericolic abscess, or presence of air or extraintestinal contrast product). Therapeutic management depends on the patient's general condition and on the severity of the intraperitoneal infection, assessed according to Hinchey's 4-stage classification. For Hinchey stages I and II (pericolic or pelvic abscess), radiologically guided puncture-drainage is an effective treatment, combined with antibiotic therapy. Emergency surgery is only indicated if this drainage fails. Two to three months later, elective prophylactic sigmoidectomy, by laparoscopy, is indicated. In stage III or IV diverticulitis (generalized purulent or fecal peritonitis), the surgical treatment of reference is a Hartmann procedure (sigmoidectomy and left iliac colostomy with closure of the rectal stump). But because of burden of the procedure and the risk of failing to re-establish gastrointestinal continuity, it is preferable, if local conditions allow, to propose resection-anastomosis with a temporary protective stoma. Prophylactic sigmoidectomy is controversial. It is indicated regardless of the number of episodes and regardless of age in patients at high risk of recurrence, that is, those with a complicated clinical form or radiologic signs of severity. There is no consensus for patients aged younger than 75 years with a first uncomplicated episode, for whom the risk of recurrence is also elevated. Finally, for patients older than 50 years with an uncomplicated episode on CT, the role of prophylactic surgery, even after 2 or 3 episodes, has not been demonstrated, because of the very low risk (<5%) of subsequent complications. More than 80% of diverticular hemorrhages stop spontaneously but their rate of recurrence is high (25% of cases) and they sometimes require emergency colectomy.

[Sigmoid diverticulitis].

The sigmoid diverticulitis is the most common complication of diverticulosis of the colon. The remaining questions concern the current risk factors for recurrence after a first acute episode, radiological asking immediately upon suspicion of diverticulitis and therapeutic management including the indications of surgical treatment, what to conduct and its principles. Literature review. Risk factors of recurrence are: persistent or recurrent diverticulitis, abscess, stenosis and / or fistula. Abdominal CT is recommended in all patients clinically suspected diverticulitis of the colon. Treatment of acute diverticulitis is medical. The emergency surgical treatment depends on the stage of Hinchey. Stage I: In case of failure of medical treatment, resection-anastomosis in an emergency time delay to be proposed. Stage II: a percutaneous drainage followed by resection-anastomosis in 1 time. Stage III: surgery in emergency sigmoid colectomy based on. Stage IV: Hartmann procedure is the procedure of reference. Prophylactic colectomy is proposed in the case of presence of risk factors of recurrence. Comparison with other literature review were allowed to find that ultrasound made by an experienced radiologist could replace abdominal CT, and for stage III and IV Hinchey, laparoscopic resection can be performed with an immediate restoration of digestive continuity in well selected patients.

Guidelines of diagnostics and treatment of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis.

The incidence of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis (ACD) is increasing in the Western world. To improve the quality of patient care, a guideline for diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis is needed. A multidisciplinary working group, representing experts of relevant specialties, was involved in the guideline development. A systematic literature search was conducted to collect scientific evidence on epidemiology, classification, diagnostics and treatment of diverticulitis. Literature was assessed using the classification system according to an evidence-based guideline development method, and levels of evidence of the conclusions were assigned to each topic. Final recommendations were given, taking into account the level of evidence of the conclusions and other relevant considerations such as patient preferences, costs and availability of facilities. The natural history of diverticulitis is usually mild and treatment is mostly conservative. Although younger patients have a higher risk of recurrent disease, a higher risk of complications compared to older patients was not found. In general, the clinical diagnosis of ACD is not accurate enough and therefore imaging is indicated. The triad of pain in the lower left abdomen on physical examination, the absence of vomiting and a C-reactive protein >50 mg/l has a high predictive value to diagnose ACD. If this triad is present and there are no signs of complicated disease, patients may be withheld from further imaging. If imaging is indicated, conditional computed tomography, only after a negative or inconclusive ultrasound, gives the best results. There is no indication for routine endoscopic examination after an episode of diverticulitis. There is no evidence for the routine administration of antibiotics in patients with clinically mild uncomplicated diverticulitis. Treatment of pericolic or pelvic abscesses can initially be treated with antibiotic therapy or combined with percutaneous drainage. If this treatment fails, surgical drainage is required. Patients with a perforated ACD resulting in peritonitis should undergo an emergency operation. There is an ongoing debate about the optimal surgical strategy. Scientific evidence is scarce for some aspects of ACD treatment (e.g. natural history of ACD, ACD in special patient groups, prevention of ACD, treatment of uncomplicated ACD and medical treatment of recurrent ACD), leading to treatment being guided by the surgeon's personal preference. Other aspects of the management of patients with ACD have been more thoroughly researched (e.g. imaging techniques, treatment of complicated ACD and elective surgery of ACD). This guideline of the diagnostics and treatment of ACD can be used as a reference for clinicians who treat patients with ACD.

[Diverticulosis and diverticulitis of the vermiform appendix. Report of a case and review of the literature].

Diverticulitis of the vermiform appendix is a rare disease with clinical features often similar to conventional acute appendicitis. The importance of appendiceal diverticulosis is the fact that it can lead to an early and a higher incidence of perforation and therefore a higher mortality rate, in contrast to acute appendicitis alone. In this study we present the clinicopathology, diagnosis and therapy of the disease with a review of the literature. A 65-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 48-hour history of intermittent pain in the right iliac fossa. Abdominal ultrasound raised the possibility of acute appendicitis but because of the relative asymptomatic state of the patient, the lack of fever and rebound tenderness we started observation. After 2 days with episodic abdominal pain, the patient was taken to the operating theatre for laparoscopic exploration. Intraoperatively, multiple diverticula were noted on the appendix and appendectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed diverticulosis and inflammation of the appendiceal wall. Due to the possible complications, the difficult preoperative diagnosis and its frequent association with appendiceal neoplasm, appendiceal diverticulosis requires special attention. For asymptomatic cases, incidentally diagnosed intraoperatively or discovered by radiology prophylactic appendectomy is recommended. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(19): 768-772.

Computed tomography in the initial management of acute left-sided diverticulitis.

Computed tomography (CT) was used in place of contrast enemas as the initial imaging study to evaluate patients with the clinical diagnosis of acute sigmoid diverticulitis. This report attempts to clarify the role of CT in the management of acute sigmoid diverticulitis by reviewing its usefulness in the diagnosis and treatment of 59 patients. CT established that three patients (5 percent) were hospitalized with an incorrect clinical diagnosis. Thirty-seven patients (62.7 percent) were identified as having uncomplicated acute diverticulitis. These patients were all treated successfully with nonsurgical therapies and were discharged in an average of 6.8 days. In the remaining 19 patients (32.2 percent), CT revealed complicated acute diverticulitis by identifying abscess, fistula, peritonitis, or obstruction. Eleven of these 19 patients required urgent surgery or CT-guided percutaneous drainage of an abscess. The four patients whose abscesses were drained percutaneously responded favorably and underwent an elective single-stage resection. The average hospital stay for patients with complicated diverticulitis was 13.6 days. Computed tomography is a useful aid in the initial management of patients with acute diverticulitis. It is a noninvasive test that recognizes and stratifies patients according to the severity of their disease. It has the further advantage of providing information about extracolonic pathology and anatomic variation useful for surgical planning. Additionally, early CT-guided needle drainage allowed downstaging of complicated diverticulitis, avoided emergent surgery, and permitted single-stage elective surgical resection.

Diverticulitis

Antibiotics Mild uncomplicated diverticulitis without systemic inflammation should not be treated with antibiotics. For mild, uncomplicated, and non-purulent cases of acute diverticulitis, symptomatic treatment, IV fluids, and bowel rest have no worse outcome than surgical intervention in the short and medium term, and appear to have the same outcomes at 24 months. With abscess confirmed by CT scan, some evidence and clinical guidelines tentatively support the use of oral or IV antibiotics for smaller abscesses (<5 cm) without systemic inflammation, but percutaneous or laparoscopic drainage may be necessary for larger abscesses (>5 cm). Emergency surgery is required for perforated diverticulitis with peritonitis.

Diverticulitis

Diagnosis People with the above symptoms are commonly studied with computed tomography, or a CT scan. The CT scan is very accurate (98%) in diagnosing diverticulitis. In order to extract the most information possible about the person's condition, thin section (5 mm) transverse images are obtained through the entire abdomen and pelvis after oral and intravascular contrast have been administered. Images reveal localized colon wall thickening, with inflammation extending into the fat surrounding the colon. The diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is made confidently when the involved segment contains diverticula. CT may also identify people with more complicated diverticulitis, such as those with an associated abscess. It may even allow for radiologically guided drainage of an associated abscess, sparing a person from immediate surgical intervention. Barium enema and colonoscopy are contraindicated in the acute phase of diverticulitis because of the risk of perforation.

Diverticulitis

However, most surgeons prefer performing the bowel resection laparoscopically, mainly because postoperative pain is reduced with faster recovery. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure in which three to four smaller incisions are made in the abdomen or navel. After incisions into the abdomen are done, placement of trocars occurs which allows a camera and other equipment entry into the peritoneal cavity. The greater omentum is reflected and the affected section of the bowel is mobilized. Alternately, laparoscopic sigmoid resection (LSR) compared to open sigmoid resection (OSR) showed that LSR is not superior over OSR for acute symptomatic diverticulitis. Furthermore, laparoscopic lavage was as safe as resection for perforated diverticulitis with peritonitis.

Therapeutic options in acute diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is a serious intra-abdominal infection that ultimately afflicts about one in four patients having colonic diverticulosis. The illness may be indolent or fulminant, depending on the degree of colonic spillage and its containment. Most patients require hospitalization, and medical therapy suffices in about three fourths. Those who fail aggressive medical management and those with recurrent acute attacks, diffuse peritonitis, abscess, persistent obstruction, or fistulization require surgical intervention. Abdominal CT scanning has supplanted the contrast enema as the acute diagnostic procedure of choice and allows guided percutaneous drainage of large abscesses in selected cases. This approach helps realize the surgical ideal of a single elective operation without a temporary colostomy. For those patients still requiring emergency surgery, the two-stage approach employing resection of the diseased colon at the initial operation is far superior to the older three-stage approach.

Diverticulitis

Surgery Indications for surgery are abscess or fistula formation; and intestinal rupture with peritonitis. These, however, rarely occur. Surgery for abscess or fistula is indicated either urgently or electively. The timing of the elective surgery is determined by evaluating factors such as the stage of the disease, the age of the person, their general medical condition, the severity and frequency of the attacks, and whether symptoms persist after the first acute episode. In most cases, elective surgery is deemed to be indicated when the risks of the surgery are less than the risks of the complications of diverticulitis. Elective surgery is not indicated until at least six weeks after recovery from the acute event. Emergency surgery is indicated for an intestinal rupture with peritonitis.

Emergency Surgery for Acute Complicated Diverticulitis.

The optimal treatment of acute complicated diverticulitis is a matter of debate and has undergone significant changes. Currently, the main focus of surgical treatment concepts is on controlling the emergency situation triggered by acute complicated sigmoid diverticulitis through interventional and minimally invasive measures. This article presents the current data and recommendations on differentiated treatment of acute complicated sigmoid diverticulitis, which are also summarized in a decision tree. In general, resection of the diverticular sigmoid is needed to treat acute complicated sigmoid diverticulitis, because without resection the recurrence rate is too high at 40%. Since the morbidity and mortality rates associated with emergency resection are extremely high, resulting in the creation of a stoma, efforts are made to control the acute situation through interventional and laparoscopic measures. Therefore, pericolic and pelvic abscesses (Hinchey stages I, II) are eliminated through percutaneous or laparoscopic drainage. Likewise, laparoscopic lavage and drainage are performed for purulent and feculent peritonitis (Hinchey stages III, IV). After elimination of the acute septic situation, interval elective sigmoid resection is conducted. If emergency resection cannot be avoided, it is performed, while taking account of the patient's overall condition, with primary anastomosis and a protective stoma or as discontinuity resection using Hartmann's procedure. Thanks to the progress made in interventional and laparoscopic treatment, differentiated concepts are now used to treat acute complicated sigmoid diverticulitis.

[Sonographic diagnosis of diverticulitis: the burdensome way to acceptance].

Since the middle to the end of the 80 s, the sonographic detection of diverticulitis has been increasingly improved. In a paper including a larger number of patients published in 1992, W. B. Schwerk demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity. The detection of diverticulitis was the final entry into the chapter of acute abdominal sonography, after the diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation, acute appendicitis and ureterolithiasis had been achieved with high reliability. Until then, diverticulitis was a classic surgical disease and a contrast enema with water-soluble contrast medium the diagnostic method of choice. Invariably, the radiologist added the well known comment: Cancer of the sigmoid colon cannot be excluded with certainty. What has changed in the 12 years after Schwerk's publication? Many internists practising sonography have discovered the sonographic diagnosis of this condition and, depending on the severity, treat the less complicated cases with intravenous antibiotics and parental nutrition or with oral antibiotics and low-ballast diet. Soon, abscesses were healed with sonographically guided aspiration and drainage. For a long time, the older generation of surgeons stayed with contrast enemas and prolonged parenteral therapy and, in case of complications, surgical interventions, though surgeons early recognized the diagnostic contribution of sonography. Influenced by radiologists and the Anglo-American literature, surgeons increasingly used computed tomography (CT) as standard method for the initial diagnostic work-up for the last five to eight years. A physician dedicated to gastrointestinal sonography cannot accept this approach, in particular, since sonography is easy and reliable, provides a reasonable differential diagnosis and was found to help the surgeons. An exception is the deep-seated diverticulitis in the sometimes barely accessible distal sigmoid colon. Furthermore, an experienced clinician will anyhow proceed to CT in any unexplained discrepancy between clinical and sonographic findings. It reflects the high value given to sonography if our surgical colleagues use this diagnostic method in the primary diagnosis of acute diverticulitis and achieve results that are as good as the results of the expensive and by all criteria more elaborate CT. The extended application of ultrasound for the omentum and in necrotic epiploic appendagitis should be mentioned here as well. Altogether, CT can be easily refrained from in 80 % to 90 % of cases with suspected diverticulitis. In view of the DRG era, this is an important argument, and emphasizes the economic role of sonography, the necessity of correct coding of sonographic procedures and the need of more sonographic training. Only quality will increase the acceptance of sonography as diagnostic tool as repeatedly demanded and presented in this journal. If this fails, it is highly likely that the diagnostic potential of sonography will remain unexploited or, under the best of circumstances, rediscovered after a 5-year expiration date in a new literature search in 10 years.

[Radiological and endoscopic diagnosis of sigmoid diverticulitis].

In emergency, the most commonly used examination, other than plain radiographs of the abdomen, is the water-soluble contrast enema (Gastrografin). It demonstrates three different pictures, which may be more or less associated one to the other: "peridiverticulitis", featuring serrate lesions, abnormal stiffness and fixity and, in some cases, a long narrowing or stricture of the colon; diverticula, mainly in the sigmoid colon, becoming sharp-pointed or spark-liked; spillage of contrast material out of the colic lumen or into a neighbouring organ (fistula). Ultrasonography may be a useful emergency procedure to secure a hesitating diagnosis in a patient with a febrile abdominal pain or with a abdominal-pelvic mass, especially in women. Colonoscopy and barium enema are both usually contra-indicated in the acute setting of diverticulitis because of their potential hazards. On the other hand, after resolution of the acute event, these tests may allow to rule out carcinoma or associated adenomas (which coexist in more than 15% of the patients). Endoscopic control appears more especially important as initial accurate diagnosis in sometimes impossible to assess between adenocarcinoma and diverticulitis. CT scan has found an increasing place in both diagnosis and evaluation of infectious complications of diverticular disease. It is most recommended to assess the diagnosis of severe episodes, failing to clearly improve after medical treatment, and most particularly when an abscess in suspected. CT scan may demonstrate a thickening of the colic wall, high densities of pericolic fat and a tissular mass which may enclose gas bubbles.

Appendicitis

Rovsing's sign: Pain in the lower right abdominal quadrant with continuous deep palpation starting from the left iliac fossa upwards (counterclockwise along the colon). The thought is there will be increased pressure around the appendix by pushing bowel contents and air toward the ileocaecal valve provoking right-sided abdominal pain. Sitkovskiy (Rosenstein)'s sign: Increased pain in the right iliac region as the person is being examined lies on their left side. Perman's sign: In acute appendicitis palpation in the left iliac fossa may produce pain in the right iliac fossa.Emil Samuel Perman 1856-1946 "About the indications for surgery in appendicitis and an account of cases of Sabbatsberg Hospital in Hygiea 1904

Acute diverticulitis and surgical treatment.

Diverticulitis is a common condition in industrialized countries and an important cause of hospital admissions. Its growing trend is a challenge for the surgeons who perform emergency surgery, because approximately 15-25% of the patients will require surgery, being the surgical management of complicated acute diverticulitis controversial. The past decade has seen a paradigm shift in the treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis based on new epidemiological studies and refinement of surgical techniques that has produced a reassessment of our guidelines. CT imaging and sepsis scores allows to stratify the patients and better define the therapeutic strategies in each case. Special considerations must also be made for patients with a high surgical risk, such as immunosuppressed ones. The recommendations to perform surgery after two episodes of uncomplicated diverticulitis have been re-evaluated and the belief that new episodes may be complicated and associated with high morbidity and mortality has been rejected, since the clinical manifestations of this disease are usually defined by the first attack. In complicated cases, more patients can be treated with resection and primary anastomosis with or without an associated stoma, whose reversal rate is much higher than that of a Hartmann's procedure. Likewise, laparoscopic surgery performing a peritoneal lavage and drainage without associated resection may have an increasing role in the management of these patients, although with controversial results, having become laparoscopic colon resection the approach of choice for the treatment of this pathology in elective settings.

[Surgical treatment of colonic diverticulitis].

Colonic diverticulitis is a serious disease that may require surgical treatment. Early diagnosis and management are necessary to reduce the rates of morbidity-mortality. This review article was performed in order to discuss the most recent advances in the diagnosis and management of colonic diverticulitis. Patients with acute diverticulitis should be categorized based upon the presence or absence of complications. Patients with complicated diverticulitis should be further categorized into I) pericolonic abscess, II) distant abscess (retroperitoneum or pelvis), III) purulent peritonitis, and IV) fecal peritonitis. In the absence of complications, elective treatment is mainly indicated in patients with recurrent episodes of diverticulitis. In complicated diverticulitis, the surgical alternatives will depend upon the clinical category. The current tendency is to attempt a percutaneous drainage of the abscess, followed by a semi-elective resection. In patients operated upon on emergency basis, resection with a diverting colostomy, with or without anastomosis, is the most widely used procedure. Surgical treatment for acute diverticulitis should be based upon the presence of complications and their clinical category.

[Colonic diverticulitis. Primary clinical and ultrasound diagnosis--report of 47 cases from general practice].

Clinical and sonographic diagnosis-Report on 47 cases From 1993 to 1996, 47 patients with/after acute diverticulitis were examined in our practice by abdominal ultrasound. In all 36 cases with acute diverticulitis, a dolent non-echous wall thickening of descendent/sigmoid colon was seen. In five cases, we found other sonographic signs suspicious of penetration. Elevation of CRP and sometimes leukocytosis assisted the diagnosis in acute cases. In 39 of the 47 patients, colonoscopy was performed in the practice mostly during intermissions. Diverticula were confirmed in 31 patients whereas sigmoid stenosis from chronic diverticulitis could not be passed in 6 cases. 32 patients were treated with antibiotics and 10-including those with stenosis-underwent surgery. Except in one particular case (tubar abscess involving the sigmoid), operation confirmed sonographic findings of severe inflammation (stenosis and sealed perforation, respectively, in five cases). In patients presenting with pain in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen, colonic diverticulitis has to be considered especially if signs of inflammation are present. After clinical examination the first diagnostic measures should be venopuncture (CRP, leukocytes) and at the same time abdominal ultrasound by an experienced clinician. Due to its high accuracy, abdominal ultrasound is sufficient for primary diagnosis and evaluation of the course of colonic diverticulitis. Colonoscopy and barium enema follow after resolution of acute inflammation.

Diverticulosis

Imaging Barium enema is inferior to colonoscopy in terms of image quality and is usually only performed if the patient has strictures or an excessively tortuous sigmoid colon where colonoscopy is difficult or dangerous. Colonoscopy will show the diverticulum and rule out malignancy. A colonoscopy should be performed 4–6 weeks after an acute episode. Contrast CT is the investigation of choice in acute episodes of diverticulitis and where complications exist. MRI provides a clear picture of the soft tissue of the abdomen, however, its expense often outweighs the benefits when compared to contrast CT or colonoscopy. Plain abdominal X-ray may show signs of a thickened wall, ileus, constipation, small bowel obstruction or free air in the case of perforation. Plain X-rays are insufficient to diagnose diverticular disease. There is no blood test for diverticulosis.

Elective surgery for conservatively treated acute uncomplicated diverticulitis: a systematic review of postoperative outcomes.

Elective surgery has been proposed, after at least two episodes of acute diverticulitis, initially treated conservatively, in order to prevent further episodes or chronic complaints. However, prophylactic surgery has been questioned, due to the associated risks of postoperative mortality and morbidity, as well as the risk of recurrent diverticulitis. This systematic review attempts to assess the role of prophylactic left colonic resection, after episodes of uncomplicated acute diverticulitis treated either conservatively with antibiotics and/or other supportive measures. A systematic search was performed using Medline, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane databases for studies reporting on the treatment of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (Hinchey I). The main endpoint was treatment failure, defined as persistent/recurrent symptoms or need for readmission and/or reintervention. Secondary endpoints were the immediate postoperative outcomes. In total, 24 studies with 2855 patients were included in the analysis. Intra- and postoperative complications rate were 5% and 16%, respectively. Anastomotic leak was 1.3% and emergency reoperation was 2.4%. Long-term symptomatic resolve was reported at 91%. Persistent or recurrent symptoms were observed in 5.4% of cases. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in recurrence rates between surgical and conservative management. Elective surgery to prevent recurrent diverticulitis is not recommended, irrespective of the number of previous episodes. Generally, elective sigmoidectomy should not be recommended to patients with ongoing atypical lower abdominal symptoms after acute diverticulitis, but should aim primarily at improving quality of life. It should be offered to patients with ongoing inflammation, or diverticular complications.

Diverticulitis

Barium enema and colonoscopy are contraindicated in the acute phase of diverticulitis because of the risk of perforation. Classification by severity Four classifications by severity have been published recently in the literature. The most recent and widely accepted is as follows: Stage 0 – asymptomatic diverticulosis Stage 1a – uncomplicated diverticulitis Stage 1b – diverticulitis with phlegmonous peridiverticulitis Stage 2a – diverticulitis with concealed perforation, and abscess with a diameter of one centimeter or less Stage 2b – diverticulitis with abscess greater than one centimeter Stage 3a – diverticulitis with symptoms but without complications Stage 3b – relapsing diverticulitis without complications Stage 3c – relapsing diverticulitis with complications The severity of diverticulitis can be radiographically graded by the Hinchey Classification.

[Standards in diagnosis of diverticulitis].

The diagnostic procedure is determined by the severity of the diverticulitis. In complicated cases of diverticulitis, it is necessary to detect those patients with obstructive ileus, perforation, and peritonitis who require instant emergency surgery. In all other cases, diagnostic procedures serve as a tool to determine the best therapeutic options. The CT scan of the abdomen seems to have the highest reliability for determining therapy. Other investigations such as barium enema and coloscopy are not indicated in emergency cases or cannot exactly describe the stage of the diverticular disease. Many surgeons still prefer an enema with water-soluble contrast medium in emergency cases to visualize a perforation. CT scans have the same ability to answer this question, but they are more expensive and are not available everywhere at any given time.

[Primary diagnostics of acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid].

The initial diagnostics of acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid should render the correct diagnosis as well as assisting in the decision on the options of conservative or surgical treatment by ruling out or demonstrating complications. At present, sonography or computed tomography (CT) are the two competing diagnostic options. This study was designed to demonstrate that sonography could be used as the method of choice. 63 patients with clinical suspicion of acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid were examined initially by sonography or CT in a prospective study. Sonography and CT showed a 97 % sensitivity and specificity for reaching the accurate and clinically plausible diagnosis. As to the demonstration of complications of the disease, sensitivity and specificity were comparably high for both diagnostic methods. Sonography can compete with the more complex CT examination and therefore represents the recommended primary diagnostic procedure.

[Sonography in acute diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon].

Sonography is the primary diagnostic method in the painful left lower quadrant. Experienced investigators can diagnose an acute diverticulitis in more than 90%. In unclear cases or when complications are suspected, CT should be performed. Sonography can diagnose most differential diagnosis of the painful left lower quadrant as colitis, appenagitis or haematomas.

Radiological diagnosis and management of diverticulitis.

Thirteen (13) patients with proven diverticulitis are presented with the aim of demonstrating the current evaluation and management. Radiological evaluation were obtained with plain abdominal x-rays and computed tomography (CT) in all cases, abdominal ultrasonography (US) in 8 cases and contrast enema in 5 patients. Radiological percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) were performed in 5 cases, two of which preceded surgery. A clinical suspicion of diverticulitis was made in only 3 of the 13 cases. CT provided the diagnosis in all cases and helped in directing the appropriate management. Ultrasound was also useful but to a lesser extent. CT or US guided PAD reduced the surgical operation to a single stage procedure instead of the former 2- to 3-stage surgical management. Plain abdominal x-ray were only useful for the diagnosis in intestinal obstruction and vesical fistula. Contrast enema provided supporting information when necessary. CT clearly diagnosed both suspected and totally unsuspected cases of diverticulitis and provides guidance for the appropriate management. When CT is unavailable US with accurate colonic imaging and abscesses identification can also be useful in diagnosing and guiding drainage. Plain abdominal x-rays are less helpful but mandatory since the presentation is usually that of acute abdomen. Water soluble contrast enema also provides supportive features when necessary. In areas where diverticular disease is uncommon, diverticulitis should be suspected in cases with left iliac fossa or pelvic pain with mass and tenderness.

[Treatment of acute diverticulitis].

In Western countries, diverticular disease is a frequent condition and the prevalence of which increases with age. Acute diverticulitis is its most frequent complication. CT-scan is now the best exam for diagnosis of acute diverticulitis, classification of its severity, and for follow-up. It can also, when necessary, allow percutaneous drainage of pericolic abscesses. Treatment of acute diverticulitis is most often conservative. Surgery outside acute events is now considered as a technique with extremely low morbidity and mortality. In this situation, laparoscopy represents nowadays the technique of choice for safe sigmoid surgery.

Danish national guidelines for treatment of diverticular disease.

In order to elaborate evidence-based, national Danish guidelines for the treatment of diverticular disease the literature was reviewed concerning the epidemiology, staging, diagnosis and treatment of diverticular disease in all its aspects.  The presence of colonic diverticula, which is considered to be a mucosal herniation through the intestinal muscle wall, is inversely correlated to the intake of dietary fibre. Other factors in the genesis of diverticular disease may be physical inactivity, obesity, and use of NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Diverticulosis is most common in Western countries with a prevalence of 5% in the population aged 30-39 years and 60% in the part of the population > 80 years. The incidence of hospitalization for acute diverticulitis is 71/100,000 and the incidence of complicated diverticulitis is 3.5-4/100,000. Acute diverticulitis is conveniently divided into uncomplicated and complicated diverticulitis. Complicated diverticulitis is staged by the Hinchey classification 1-4 (1: mesocolic/pericolic abscess, 2: pelvic abscess, 3: purulent peritonitis, 4: faecal peritonitis).  Diverticulitis is suspected in case of lower left quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness associated with fever and raised WBC and/or CRP; but the clinical diagnosis is not sufficiently precise. Abdominal CT confirms the diagnosis and enables the classification of the disease according to Hinchey. The distinction between Hinchey 3 and 4 is done by laparoscopy or, when not possible, by laparotomy.  Uncomplicated diverticulitis is treated by conservative means. There is no evidence of any beneficial effect of antibiotics in uncomplicated diverticulitis, but antibiotics may be used in selected cases depending on the overall condition of the patients and the severity of the infection.  Abscess formation is best treated by US- or CT-guided drainage in combination with antibiotics. When the abscess is < 3 cm in diameter, drainage may be unnecessary, and only antibiotics should be instituted.   The surgical treatment of acute perforated diverticulitis has interchanged between resection and non-resection strategies: The three-stage procedure dominating in the beginning of the 20th century was later replaced by the Hartmann procedure or, alternatively, resection of the sigmoid with primary anastomosis. Lately a non-resection strategy consisting of laparoscopy with peritoneal lavage and drainage has been introduced in the treatment of Hinchey stage 3 disease. Evidence so far for the lavage regime is promising, comparing favourably with resection strategies, but lacking in solid proof by randomized, controlled investigations.  In recent years, morbidity has declined in complicated diverticulitis due to improved diagnostics and new treatment modalities. Recurrent diverticulitis is relatively rare and furthermore often uncomplicated than previously assumed. Elective surgery in diverticular disease should probably be limited to symptomatic cases not amenable to conservative measures, since prophylactic resection of the sigmoid, evaluated from present evidence, confers unnecessary risks in terms of morbidity and mortality to the individual as well as unnecessary costs to society. Any recommendation for routine resection following multiple cases of diverticulitis should await results of randomized studies.  Laparoscopic resection is preferred in case of need for elective surgery. When malignancy is ruled out preoperatively, a sigmoid resection with preservation of the inferior mesenteric artery, oral division of colon in soft compliant tissue and anastomosis to upper rectum is recommended.  Fistulae to bladder or vagina, or stenosis of the colon may be dealt with according to symptoms and comorbidity. Resection of the diseased segment of colon is preferred when possible and safe; alternatively, a diverting stoma can be the best solution.

Effectiveness of clinical guidelines in the management of acute sigmoid diverticulitis. Results of a prospective diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trial.

Evidence-based criteria in the therapeutic choice for sigmoid acute diverticulitis (AD) are lacking. It is necessary to differentiate an acute episode of diverticular disease, not complicated (NCAD) and complicated (CAD) because these stages of diverticular disease needs different approach. In a prospective study on 377 consecutive patients admitted for AD, 265 had NCAD and 112 CAD diagnosed with CT scan. Thirty-six of 265 with NCAD were operated on due to two or more previous episodes of AD. On 188 patients with NCAD followed-up, 35 had further episodes of NCAD and 2 had CAD. On 112 CAD patients, 61 had Hinchey I and were submitted to colonic resection. Twenty-three of 24 patients with Hinchey II were treated with percutaneous drainage. All Hinchey II patients were operated on. All the 13 patients with Hinchey III and IV had emergency surgery. We had no mortality and respectively 9.8% and 30% morbidity in Hinchey I and II patients. In Hinchey II patients percutaneous drainage was successful in 21 on 23 (91.3%). In 13 Hinchey III and IV patients the mortality rate was 25%. The comparison of CT findings and pathological results showed a sensitivity of 100% and predictive positive value of respectively 94.4, 96.7, 100 and 100% for NCAD, Hinchey I, Hinchey II and Hinchey III-IV. The therapeutic approach of diverticular disease needs to differentiate among an acute episode, NCAD and CAD. Evidence-based therapeutic choices can be reached only by homogeneous diagnostic criteria obtained by CT scan.

[Sonography in the diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis].

Acute colonic diverticulitis is mainly diagnosed clinically, as endoscopy or coloncontrast enema might be dangerous. In this study diagnostic criteria and typical sonographic findings of acute diverticulitis are summarized. The comparison of these findings - in stadium IIa of diverticulitis - to other sonographic colon findings shows high sensitivity (0.96), specificity (0.98) and predictive values (pV +0.85, pV -0.99) for sonographic findings of acute colonic diverticulitis. Thus sonography can improve diagnostic and follow-up controls of acute diverticulitis.

The role of ultrasound in the diagnosis, management and evolutive prognosis of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis: a review of 208 patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of acute diverticulitis and its capacity to predict posterior complications in patients undergoing medical treatment. A review was made of the histories of 208 hospitalized patients (262 admissions) initially diagnosed with acute diverticulitis over a 5-year period. Ultrasound was performed in all patients upon first admission. Diverticulitis was retrospectively classified as either simple or complicated, the latter being defined by the presence of extraluminal air and/or abscesses. Diverticulitis was finally diagnosed in 203 patients. Ultrasound exhibited a sensitivity of 86% in 77 cases subjected to surgery, and of 94% in the global 203 patients (192 true-positive and 11 false-negative findings). Of 34 patients with diverticulitis and emergency surgery, 10 had false-negative US exams. Twenty of the 73 cases (27%) with signs of complicated diverticulitis in the initial ultrasound study required emergency surgery, compared with only 4 of the 119 patients (3%) with US evidence of simple diverticulitis (p<0.001). Of the 169 patients with diverticulitis undergoing conservative management, 54 (32%) developed complications during follow-up. The patients under age 50 years with signs of complicated diverticulitis suffered more complications (65%) than the rest of groups (p<0.001). In subjects with recurrences (26%), these were either similar to or less than the first episode in 84% of the cases. The present study shows that ultrasound constitutes a feasible technique for diagnosing acute diverticulitis. The severity of diverticulitis according to US is statistically predictive of surgical risk during the acute phase. Severity is also related to the appearance of posterior complications in patients undergoing conservative management, although only in younger patients (<50 years).

[Accurate predictors for acute diverticulitis].

In a relatively high percentage of patients with a clinically suspected diverticulitis a different diagnosis is established after imaging tests, such as 'appendicitis' or 'intestinal obstruction'. The clinical diagnosis 'acute diverticulitis' is correct for between 43% and 68% of suspected patients. Strongly predictive variables for the diagnosis are tenderness in the left lower abdomen only, CRP > 50 mg/l and absence of vomiting. This triad has a positive predictive value of 97% (95% CI: 83-99) for the final diagnosis 'diverticulitis'. The negative predictive value is much lower, namely 47%: the absence of 1 of the 3 factors does not (sufficiently) exclude 'diverticulitis'. This triad can be an easy-to-use decision rule to rule in diverticulitis.

Management of acute diverticulitis and its complications.

Colonic diverticular disease is a common condition, and around a quarter of people affected by it will experience acute symptoms at some time. The most common presentation is uncomplicated acute diverticulitis that can be managed conservatively with bowel rest and antibiotics. However, some patients will present with diverticular abscesses or purulent or faeculent peritonitis due to perforated diverticular disease. Whilst most mesocolic abscesses can be managed with percutaneous drainage alone, pelvic abscesses are associated with a higher rate of future complications and usually require percutaneous drainage followed by interval sigmoid resection. Patients who require emergency surgery for complicated acute diverticulitis most commonly undergo a Hartmann's procedure, although resection with primary anastomosis and laparoscopic peritoneal lavage have emerged as alternative treatment options for patients with purulent peritonitis in recent years. However, robust evidence from randomized trials is lacking for these alternative procedures, and the studies that have reported good outcomes from them have included carefully selected patient groups. There has been a move away from recommending elective prophylactic colectomy after two episodes of acute diverticulitis in the light of evidence that most patients will not experience a significant recurrence of their symptoms; elective surgery is indicated for those with ongoing symptoms, pelvic abscesses, complications-such as fistulating disease, strictures or recurrent diverticular bleeding-and those who are at high risk of perforation during future episodes, for example, due to immunosuppression, chronic renal failure or collagen-vascular diseases.

[Value of ultrasonography as the initial diagnostic method in acute sigmoid diverticulitis].

We herein describe the ultrasonographic findings of 19 patients with clinical suspicion of acute diverticulitis. The criteria considered as evidence of the disease included the identification of the diverticuli, thickening of the wall of the loop, alteration of local mesenterium and selective pain. Diagnosis was complemented by CT scan, barium enema and, in determined cases, colonoscopy. Of the 19 cases studied, 18 corresponded to acute diverticulitis of the sigma and one to acute salpingitis. The former 18 cases were correctly diagnosed by ultrasonography (uncomplicated diverticulitis) and the posterior CT scan did not provide additional information. In conclusion, ultrasonography is a highly sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis when the sigmoid colon is involved.


The correct answer is: 2. Abdomino-pelvic ultrasound. Abdomino-pelvic ultrasound is undoubtedly the most specific and sensitive test for the diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease and, above all, the cheapest to demonstrate whether or not the patient's sibling has inherited polycystic kidney disease.

The correct answer is: [HIDDEN] Abdomino-pelvic ultrasound is undoubtedly the most specific and sensitive test for the diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease and, above all, the cheapest to demonstrate whether or not the patient's sibling has inherited polycystic kidney disease.

A 52-year-old patient with stage V chronic kidney disease, secondary to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, receives a cadaver donor kidney graft. A 34-year-old brother of his comes to visit him and says he does not know if he has the disease because he has never seen a doctor since he was a teenager. What attitude or test do you think is the most appropriate to recommend at that moment?

Helical computed axial tomography with iodinated contrast.

Diagnosis Usually, the diagnosis of ADPKD is initially performed by renal imaging using ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI. However, molecular diagnostics can be necessary in the following situations: 1- when a definite diagnosis is required in young individuals, such as a potential living related donor in an affected family with equivocal imaging data; 2- in patients with a negative family history of ADPKD, because of potential phenotypic overlap with several other kidney cystic diseases; 3- in families affected by early-onset polycystic kidney disease, since in this cases hypomorphic alleles and/or oligogenic inheritance can be involved; and 4- in patients requesting genetic counseling, especially in couples wishing a pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.

Polycystic kidney disease

Diagnosis Polycystic kidney disease can be ascertained via a CT scan of abdomen, as well as, an MRI and ultrasound of the same area. A physical exam/test can reveal enlarged liver, heart murmurs and elevated blood pressure Natural history Most cases progress to bilateral disease in adulthood. Treatment There is no FDA-approved treatment. However, recent research indicates that mild to moderate dietary restrictions slow the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in mice. If and when the disease progresses enough in a given case, the nephrologist or other practitioner and the patient will have to decide what form of renal replacement therapy will be used to treat end-stage kidney disease (kidney failure, typically stage 4 or 5 of chronic kidney disease).

The Jeremiah Metzger Lecture. Polycystic kidney disease: old disease in a new context.

I want to thank the organizers for inviting me to present the Jeremiah Metzger Lecture at this, the 114th meeting of the ACCA. It is a high honor, indeed, to join a list of very distinguished predecessors. And for this opportunity to tell you about my passion in medicine and science, I am most grateful. Most of you in this room have passing knowledge of polycystic kidney disease, probably hearing about it in your medical school Pathology course where you were shown an especially grotesque, enormously enlarged kidney either encased in transparent plastic or submerged in a bucket of formaldehyde. In that minute or two when PKD was discussed in lecture, you may have been told that this is a rare, hereditary disorder that causes kidney failure and that nothing can be done to alter that course. Unless you chose to specialize in General Internal Medicine or Nephrology, you may not have encountered PKD again until today, despite the fact there are approximately 600,000 PKD patients in the USA and over 10,000,000 worldwide, and it accounts for approximately 5% of non-diabetic dialysis and renal transplant patients (Table 1). I might have overlooked PKD as well had it not been for a close friend that I grew up with who had inherited the disease from his mother. He was very open about the fact that he had cysts in his kidneys that caused bleeding into the urine from time to time, especially after a solid hit during a game of tackle football. We remained friends long after I left home for college and medical school. At an early stage of my research career in medicine, while wondering how nephron segments processed glomerular filtrate, I inadvertently discovered that renal tubules could secrete as well as reabsorb salt and water. This was quite an unexpected finding at the time (1). But it occurred to [table: see text] me that this might be a means to fill renal cysts with fluid and so I decided to learn more about the pathology and pathogenesis of PKD. This didn't take long, because there wasn't much literature on the subject. The clinical manifestations of PKD were described in the 19th century European medical literature and Sir William Osler had published on the topic in this country, but by and large only a few descriptions of small groups of patients were reported through the middle of the 20th century. In 1957, Dalgaard (2) reported in a classic doctoral thesis that the most common type of hereditary PKD is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait (ADPKD) with complete penetrance. It is a bilateral renal condition, but cysts also occur in the liver (approximately 60%), pancreas (approximately 10%) and various other organs, and it is associated with cerebral aneurysms in approximately 5% of patients. A recessive form that affects infants and children primarily (ARPKD), is much rarer than ADPKD and commonly leads to death in infancy in association with massively enlarged kidneys (Table 2). I was also attracted to the study of PKD because the etiology was not in question: it had to be mutated DNA. Yet that fact proved to be a hindrance in attaining research support. As some of you will recall, not too long ago genetic diseases were viewed by kidney-oriented NIH review panels to be incurable. I was advised that a young scientist's time would be better spent determining how the kidneys excrete salt and water. Fortunately, the era of molecular genetics and biology was upon us, and we quickly learned that uncommon genetic disorders could lead to the discovery of novel molecules in metabolic and structural pathways. And that is just what happened in the PKD field. The autosomal dominant form of PKD led to the discovery of a unique family of highly complex proteins long before they would have been selected from a gene or proteomic micro-array by some desperate graduate student or fellow. The chromosomal location of the major ADPKD genotype, PKD1, was defined in 1985 (3), a date that marks the beginning of a remarkable period of discovery.

InternalMed_Harrison

is because there is an increased frequency of developing simple renal cysts with age. Conversely, in subjects between age 30 and 59 years, the absence of at least two cysts in each kidney, which is associated with a false-negative rate of 0%, can be used for disease exclusion. These criteria have a lower sensitivity for patients with a PKD2 mutation because of a late onset of ADPKD2. CT scan and T2-weighted MRI, with and without contrast enhancement, are more sensitive than ultrasonography and can detect cysts of smaller size. However, a CT scan exposes the patient to radiation and radiocontrast, which may cause serious allergic reactions and nephrotoxicity in patients with renal insufficiency. T2-weighted MRI, with gadolinium as a contrast agent, has minimal renal toxicity and can detect cysts of only 2–3 mm in diameter. However, a large majority of cysts may still be below the detection level. Genetic testing by linkage analyses and mutational analyses is available for ambiguous

Glomerulocystic kidney disease

Diagnosis There must be a differential diagnosis done for GCKD because it can appear so similar to other kidney disease. To differentiate it from autosomal recessive polycystic disease it is found there is abnormal medullary pyramids in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease but not GCKD. Imaging of small renal cysts with sub scapular distribution also help to separate it from other diseases. In ADPKD cysts can be observed in the cortex and medulla, while GCKD they just present in the cortex. Diagnosis for GCKD can be confirmed if 5 percent or more of glomeruli are cystic. CT scans are one way to test but are not able to make distinctions between other diseases. MRI's are recommended because they are able to make definitive diagnosis of GCKD. Ultra sonographs can also be useful. A biopsy may also help differentiate from other cysts because in GCKD there will be tubular and glomerular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis.

[Bright's disease is mentioned in an official Hungarian medical document in the 19th century].

The World Kidney Day was announced for the fifth time in 2011, that calls attention to chronic renal failure as it attains the title of endemic. Richard Bright (1789-1858), a British doctor was the first to recognize and describe the uremic state and the kidney diseases leading to it. There are many aspects that the readers should remember him about especially in connection with the World Kidney Day. During his European study tour's stage in Hungary, he was not so much interested in the country's medical and health conditions, rather in its economic and cultural life, natural history and geography. He travelled to Hungary on two occasions and recorded his experiences in a personal travel documentation illustrated with his own drawings. He finally established himself in London in 1820 and together with Thomas Addison and Thomas Hodgkin they formed the Guy's Hospital's world-famous "scientist trio". Bright described the nephritis's classical image, nowadays known as Bright's disease for the first time at the age of 38 years in 1827. A presently turned up Hungarian medical certificate from 1870 contains the Bright's disease described by Richard Bright as a written diagnosis. This 140-year-old document also confirms that we can be proud of our predecessors concerning our knowledge of kidney diseases and their application in daily use in Hungary, because in the past they were the ones who used the most advanced knowledge in their practices. One of today's greatest challenges for us is to be able to inform healthy and ill people alike properly about kidney diseases and their prevention or management. Place this in order to stem the epidemic of chronic renal failure and still pay homage to this disease's greatest scientist, Richard Bright.

History of head trauma in a 6-year-old boy: maybe more than meets the eye (and head).

It is spring and you are meeting for the first time, Eddie, a recently turned 6-year-old boy who moved to the area in September of the previous year and is here for his 6-year-old health maintenance visit. Eddie's mother is concerned that although he is "only" in kindergarten, he is not retaining any information at school. His mother reports he knew some of his letters before kindergarten. Currently, when he is trying to write a word, for example, "daddy" he will need to ask his mother: "what letter is the letter D?" Before kindergarten, he knew his numbers 1 to 10. At times now, Eddie will forget these numbers. For example, "if he is counting he will forget what comes after 4 and what comes after 9." Mother reports he will start crying for no apparent reason and if she asks why, he will say "I don't know why." Mother is worried that Eddie is sad, although she denies suicidal ideation. She reports he used to like making noise with other kids, and now he cannot stand when the children are noisy. Eddie will comment he does not want to go to school because the kids make lots of noise and his head hurts. He complains of headaches as often as 2 to 3 times a month. She next states, "This was not an issue before his head trauma." At this point, she reveals to you that in August, before the family relocated, Eddie fell from a 7-foot deck onto concrete while playing. He struck his head on the left side and lost consciousness for several seconds until shaken awake. He was nauseous and disoriented initially but without emesis or incontinence. He was taken to the local emergency department where he was admitted for 1 day and diagnosed with closed head injury, left frontal epidural hematoma, and question of postconcussive syndrome. Eddie has gone back to see the neurosurgeon twice over the last 6 months for scheduled visits and since the accident has had no further treatment.Eddie's mother reports that before the accident, if she read him a story from a book, he could remember the details from the story. Currently, he does not have good memory recall. Before the trauma, he did not attend a preschool program but stayed home with his mother full time. Eddie's first formal schooling has been kindergarten this year. When they moved, the neurosurgeon recommended he start school at the end of September given his head trauma in August. He had a recent computed tomography completed 3 months ago showing the epidural hematoma had completely resolved and the study was otherwise normal. His mother reports he had an evaluation the spring before the accident for a kindergarten screening test and was reported as "excellent." Eddie's birth and medical history are otherwise unremarkable except for some seasonal allergies. He has not had a loss in language skill, although his mother reports he did not speak during his hospitalization. He would just stare and nod his head if someone would ask him a question. No family history of any learning or behavioral difficulties on either side of the family. Eddie has 2 older brothers, 10 and 7 years of age, with no learning issues.What would you do next?

Age at clinical onset and at ultrasonographic detection of adult polycystic kidney disease: data for genetic counselling.

Few reports are available on the age-related risk of relatives of affected persons to manifest adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD). For 371 persons in 17 kindreds, at risk for APKD by virtue of having an affected first degree relative, we calculated the estimated probability of clinical diagnosis of APKD to be 0.011 by age 20, 0.041 by age 30, 0.115 by age 40, 0.299 by age 50, and 0.404 by age 60 years (expected = 0.50). Ultrasonographic examination of 172 asymptomatic persons at risk showed definite APKD in 60. The probability of ultrasonographic detection of asymptomatic APKD is estimated as 0.222, 0.657, and 0.855 at age 5, 15, and 25 years, respectively. The probability of having APKD following normal ultrasonogram results (conservatively assuming 90% specificity) is estimated as 0.46, 0.28, and 0.14 for persons at 50% risk in their first, second, or third decade. The marginal benefit of ultrasound as a diagnostic test for APKD for persons in the second or third decade is estimated as 0.37 and 0.41, respectively for a "positive" test and 0.22 and 0.37 for a "negative" test.

[Diagnosis in Polycystic Kidney Disease].

The diagnosis of ADPKD should be based on a thorough assessment of the family history, radiological study and when indicated, genetic study. The anamnestic definition of 'negative family history' should be accepted only after a full clinical-instrumental assessment of close relatives of the subject . Ultrasound is the diagnostic modality of choice in at-risk patients with a positive family history of ADPKD. In some clinical scenarios (screening kidney donation, family planning and others) misdiagnosis based on morphological criteria may be too high. For this reason, it is not recommended to use the kidney ultrasound in order to rule out the diagnosis in patients younger than 40 years. In the cases with a positive family history in which the renal ultrasonography has not been able to clarify the diagnosis, either as confirmation or exclusion, MRI is indicated, given the increased sensitivity and specificity of the technology. The molecular genetic analysis can help establish the diagnosis. In the cases with negative family history, it is necessary to evaluate the presence of syndromic elements non-characteristic of ADPKD. In the presence of these elements, it is recommended to send the patient to a tertiary center for a differential diagnosis based on clinical and molecular assessment.

Persian cat

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) which causes kidney failure in affected adult cats has an incidence rate of 36–49% in the Persian breed. The breed – and derived ones, like the British Longhair and Himalayan – are especially prone to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Cysts develop and grow in the kidney over time, replacing kidney tissues and enlarging the kidney. Kidney failure develops later in life, at an average age of 7 years old (ranging from 3 to 10 years old). Symptoms include excessive drinking and urination, reduced appetite, weight loss and depression. The disease is autosomal dominant and DNA screening is the preferred method of eliminating the gene in the breed. Because of DNA testing, most responsible Persian breeders now have cats that no longer carry the PKD gene, hence their offspring also do not have the gene. Before DNA screening was available, ultrasound was done. However, an ultrasound is only as good as the day that it is done, and many cats

[Screening for intracranial aneurysms].

This review states the reasons for considering screening for intracranial aneurysms in Denmark: if patients have two first-degree relatives with intracranial aneurysms, are 30-70 years old, do not have competing disorders, which could significantly shorten life expectancy, and subsequently in patients with autosomal dominant kidney disease and a family history of subarachnoid haemorrhage. MR angiography should be the imaging study of choice, unless contraindicated. Generally, the ethical consequences ought to be considered before carrying out screening.

Polycystic kidney disease

Signs and symptoms Signs and symptoms include high blood pressure, headaches, abdominal pain, blood in the urine, and excessive urination. Other symptoms include pain in the back, and cyst formation (renal and other organs). Cause PKD is caused by abnormal genes which produce a specific abnormal protein which has an adverse effect on tubule development. PKD is a general term for two types, each having their own pathology and genetic cause: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Autosomal dominant Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common of all the inherited cystic kidney diseases with an incidence of 1:500 live births. Studies show that 10% of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients being treated with dialysis in Europe and the U.S. were initially diagnosed and treated for ADPKD.

InternalMed_Harrison

Diagnosis Diagnosis is typically made from a positive family history consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance and multiple kidney cysts bilaterally. Renal ultrasonography is often used for presymptomatic screening of at-risk subjects and for evaluation of potential living-related kidney donors from ADPKD families. The presence of at least two renal cysts (unilateral or bilateral) is sufficient for diagnosis among at-risk subjects between 15 and 29 years of age with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 100%. The presence of at least two cysts in each kidney and the presence at least four cysts in each kidney are required for the diagnosis of at-risk subjects age 30 to 59 years and age 60 years or older, respectively, with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100%. This is because there is an increased frequency of developing simple renal cysts with age. Conversely, in subjects between age 30 and 59 years, the absence of at least two cysts in each kidney, which is

Medullary cystic kidney disease

Medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD) is an autosomal dominant kidney disorder characterized by tubulointerstitial sclerosis leading to end-stage renal disease. Because the presence of cysts is neither an early nor a typical diagnostic feature of the disease, and because at least 4 different gene mutations may give rise to the condition, the name autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD) has been proposed, to be appended with the underlying genetic variant for a particular individual. Importantly, if cysts are found in the medullary collecting ducts they can result in a shrunken kidney, unlike that of polycystic kidney disease. There are two known forms of medullary cystic kidney disease, mucin-1 kidney disease 1 (MKD1) and mucin-2 kidney disease/uromodulin kidney disease (MKD2). A third form of the disease occurs due to mutations in the gene encoding renin (ADTKD-REN), and has formerly been known as familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy type 2.

Jimmy Little

In 1958 Little married fellow singer, Marjorie Rose Peters and they had one child, Frances Claire Peters-Little (born ca. March 1958), who is a documentary film-maker, writer and historian. In 1990 Little was diagnosed with kidney disease, "Unfortunately, I didn't get check-ups often enough or soon enough to realise the possibility that my kidneys could fail". In 2002 he was diagnosed with kidney failure and was placed on dialysis and, in 2004, had a kidney transplant. As a result of immunosuppressants Little developed type 2 diabetes. He also developed a heart condition. Marjorie Rose Little died on 25 July 2011, aged 74, in Dubbo – she had been under medical care since early that year for an unspecified illness. On 2 April 2012 Little died at his home in Dubbo, aged 75 years. He is survived by his daughter, Frances, and his grandson, James Henry Little. In 2005 Little told Peter Thompson, on the ABC-TV program Talking Heads, how he would like to be remembered, "I just want people to

Features of Catatonia in a 12-Year-Old Boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Thomas is a 12-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder who presents to his primary care clinician with symptoms of worsening mood in the last 3 months. On review of his last school testing, his cognitive abilities are found to be within the average range, with a relative vulnerability with his processing speed. He can speak in sentences to communicate and answer questions, but he rarely picks up on conversational bids. He has had difficulties developing friendships and often prefers to play by himself.Thomas has a long history of some features of anxiety and depression for which it was recommended that he establish care with a therapist, but his family has had a hard time finding a provider for him. At this visit, the mother reports that for the past several months he has been more anxious, sad, and easily overwhelmed. He seems irritable at home and school and cries often. His family has been advocating for him to receive increased school supports, as school is a source of anxiety for him, but there are no recent changes in school services. There is a family history of both anxiety and depression. Given his worsening mood functioning, Thomas was started on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication in addition to again recommending a therapist. Weekly phone call check-ins and an in-person clinic visit in 1 month are planned.About 1 month after starting the SSRI medication, he is still not showing any improvement in mood functioning, and his family reports he seems more "sluggish" than usual. There are no side effects reported with the medication, and the dose is increased to see whether it will help. However, about 2 weeks later, he is seen again in the clinic because there are increasing concerns. He continues to be "sluggish." During the clinic visit, he lies down on the examination table, sometimes holding his head off the edge of the table, which he has never done before. He responds very slowly to the questions and often says "I don't know, I don't know," almost in an automatic way. His mother reports that he is now engaging in some repetitive hand movements which he had not done previously. He is no longer able to shower independently. He is still eating and drinking adequately. What would you do next?

[Echographic screening for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease from intrauterine life to adult life].

ADPKD is the most widespread genetic nephropathy. Only twenty-five per cent of patients are symptomatic. In order to prevent the disease it is important early screening by ultrasonography that shows a typical picture only in adults. Familiar history is determinant for diagnosis in intrauterine age, in newborns and in infants. Ultrasonographic diagnosis is certain only after twenty-five weeks of pregnancy.

[Adult male with chronic renal failure due to reflux nephropathy that was possibly induced by neurogenic bladder since childhood].

A 38-year-old male with impaired renal function and serious anemia was admitted to our hospital. He had suffered from a disorder of urination since early childhood and been diagnosed as having neurogenic bladder by an urologist when he was 20 years old. Since February 2007, general fatigue emerged and gradually worsened. In addition, he began to feel nauseous around February 2008. He visited a family doctor and was diagnosed with renal failure and anemia both of which were serious. H e was referred t o our office and admitted immediately because his blood test showed a serum creatinine level of 4.4 mg/dL and hemoglobin of 3.1 g/dL. The initial study with ultrasonograhy suggested that both kidneys contained multiple cysts for the most part, likely due to hereditary polycystic kidney disease. However, a subsequent series of diagnostic imaging tests, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance urography, determined that the cause of renal failure was most likely reflux nephropathy due to secondary vesicouretral reflux induced by the chronic neurogenic bladder. Moreover, the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination showed that the cause of anemia was probably the persistent bleeding from gastric antral vascular ectasia. Reflux nephropathy emerges in early childhood and slowly progresses to chronic renal failure in some cases. According to the literature, it is not rare as a cause of end-stage kidney failure even among adult populations. Diagnostic imaging of severe reflux nephropathy is apparently similar to that of polycystic kidney disease. We herein present an adult male with chronic renal failure due to reflux nephropathy, the images of which were similar to polycystic kidney disease.

[Prevention and clinical course of polycystic kidney disease in adults. Examination and case report of 134 patients].

Adult polycystic kidney disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and it ranks third as the cause of end-stage renal disease, with 9% of patients in dialysis treatment. It is possible to achieve an effective primary or secondary preventive action because of its clinical, evolutive and hereditary features. We studied 134 patients with different degrees of renal function, considering the beginning and the evolution of the disease. The collected data were compared with other reports. Furthermore the finding of cysts in organs other than the kidney, the coexistence of intracranial aneurysms, high blood pressure and pregnancy were examined. We report a study carried out on 17 families of patients in hemodialysis because of MPRA, which included 118 subjects. We were only able to examine 40 adults (34%) completely and among these five patients were discovered to have MPRA. For 29 of the subjects (41%) didn't complete the examinations or refused further investigations. The contemporary presence of suggestive family history and data obtained by urography, nephrotomography, nephrosonography and the study of renal function permit a reliable diagnosis. The incidence of the disease could only be reduced by a constant prevention, but there are considerable difficulties caused by the little attention given to the disease by the medical class and people in general.

Polycystic liver disease

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) usually describes the presence of multiple cysts scattered throughout normal liver tissue. PLD is commonly seen in association with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, with a prevalence of 1 in 400 to 1000, and accounts for 8–10% of all cases of end-stage renal disease. The much rarer autosomal-dominant polycystic liver disease will progress without any kidney involvement. Presentation Pathophysiology Associations with PRKCSH and SEC63 have been described. Polycystic liver disease comes in two forms: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (with kidney cysts) and autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (liver cysts only). Diagnosis Most patients with PLD are asymptomatic with simple cysts found following routine investigations. After confirming the presence of cysts in the liver, laboratory tests may be ordered to check for liver function including bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and prothrombin time.

Imaging kidneys: unknown documents in the history of nephrology. Five consulti by Marcello Malpighi.

Consulti are one of the most interesting sources for reconstructing a true outline of the state of the medical art in the Early Modern period. They were epistulae--in Latin as well as in vernacular--sent to famous physicians to receive a more correct diagnosis, and better therapeutical prescriptions. They collect and illustrate case studies, therapeutical uses, as well as the patient's attitude towards disease. This article concerns five urological consulti by Marcello Malpighi.

InternalMed_Harrison

Imaging Studies The most useful imaging study is a renal ultrasound, which can verify the presence of two kidneys, determine if they are symmetric, provide an estimate of kidney size, and rule out renal masses and evidence of obstruction. Because it takes time for kidneys to shrink as a result of chronic disease, the finding of bilaterally small kidneys supports the diagnosis of CKD of long-standing duration, with an irreversible component of scarring. If the kidney size is normal, it is possible that the renal disease is acute or subacute. The exceptions are diabetic nephropathy (where kidney size is increased at the onset of diabetic nephropathy before CKD supervenes), amyloidosis, and HIV nephropathy, where kidney size may be normal in the face of CKD. Polycystic kidney disease that has reached some degree of renal failure will almost always present with enlarged kidneys with multiple cysts (Chap. 339). A discrepancy >1 cm in kidney length suggests either a unilateral developmental

Refractory ascites and graft dysfunction in early renal transplantation.

The occurrence of ascites after Renal Transplant (RT) is infrequent, and may be a consequence of surgical or medical complications. Case report: 61 year-old, male, history of arterial hypertension, tongue carcinoma and alcoholic habits 12-20g/day. He had chronic kidney disease secondary to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, without hepatic polycystic disease. He underwent cadaver donor RT in September 2017. He had delayed graft function by surgically corrected renal artery stenosis. He was admitted in January 2018 for ascites de novo, with no response to diuretics. HE had visible abdominal collateral circulation. Graft dysfunction, adequate tacrolinemia, Innocent urinary sediment, mild anemia, without thrombocytopenia. Serum albumin 4.0g / dL. Normal hepatic biochemistry. Peritoneal fluid with transudate characteristics and serum albumin gradient > 1.1. Ultrasound showed hepatomegaly, permeable vascular axes, without splenomegaly. Mycophenolate mofetil was suspended, with reduced remaining immunosuppression. He maintained refractory ascites: excluded infectious, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic etiologies. No nephrotic proteinuria and no heart failure. MRI: micronodules compatible with bile cysts. Upper Digestive Tract Endoscopy did not show gastroesophageal varicose veins. Normal abdominal lymphoscintigraphy. He underwent exploratory laparoscopy with liver biopsy: incomplete septal cirrhosis of probable vascular etiology some dilated bile ducts. He maintained progressive RT dysfunction and restarted hemodialysis. The proposed direct measurement of portal pressure was delayed by ascites resolution. There was further recovery of the graft function. Discussion: Incomplete septal cirrhosis is an uncommon cause of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Its definition is not well known, morphological and pathophysiological. We have not found published cases of post-RT ascites secondary to this pathology, described as possibly associated with drugs, immune alterations, infections, hypercoagulability and genetic predisposition.

Halide Pişkin

She became well-known as "Pişkin Teyze" ("Sophisticated Aunt") in radio dramas she performed in addition to her acting on stage. She entered film world in 1933 with her performance in the movie Karım Beni Aldatırsa ("If My Wife Cheats On Me"). Later, she acted in the movies Aynaroz Kadısı (1938), Allah'ın Cenneti (1939), Tuzak (1948), Lüküs Hayat (1950), İncili Çavuş (1951), Kızımın Başına Gelenler (1958) and Kalpaklılar (1959). In 1958, she wrote the screenplay Kızımın Başına Gelenler ("What Happened to My Daughter"). Pişkin died at the age of 57 in Istanbul due to kidney failure on 1 November 1959. References and notes While some sources state her birth year as 1906, 1907 and 1910, in an interview at Milliyet on 28 Nov 1954, pg. 3, she states that she's born in 1320 Hijri, which is 1902. This seems consistent with her interviews on 1930s. 1902 births People from Shkodër Turkish stage actresses Turkish film actresses Turkish radio actresses 1959 deaths

Incidental renal cell carcinoma presenting in a renal transplant recipient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a case report.

We report an instructive case of incidental renal cell carcinoma in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease who underwent simultaneous bilateral native nephrectomy and living donor renal transplantation. A 57-year-old Asian man with end-stage kidney disease due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease received a living kidney graft from his brother. Because of recurrent infection, chronic pain and enlarged kidneys, he underwent a bilateral nephrectomy with concomitant renal transplantation. The total weight of the removed kidneys was 6kg; the maximal diameter of the larger kidney was 28cm. His left kidney had a 1cm diameter tumor. Pathology indicated papillary renal cell carcinoma. At the time of this report, the transplant kidney function was normal with no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis. This case shows and reinforces the importance of considering the possibility of an occult malignancy in the native kidneys of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Simultaneous bilateral native nephrectomy should be considered in these renal transplant recipients not only for preventing the development of adverse symptoms but also for detecting an occult malignancy.

'I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with your kidney'.

Normal baseline investigation results in a patient with common symptoms is often labelled as being due to a functional disorder, with all the pejorative connotations that go along with that term. When given the opportunity to see a patient for a second opinion, it is important to retain an open mind rather than assuming previous assessments are correct. Such an attitude helps with both attaining the definitive diagnosis but is also crucial to helping give hope to the patient. Understanding the patient's concerns about the meaning of their symptoms is critical in finding the balance between advanced investigation to identify a putative cause versus a decision to proceed with symptomatic control.

Diagnosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disease and accounts for 5 - 10% of end stage renal disease. Mutations of two genes, PKD1 and PKD2, account for ∼ 85 and ∼ 15% of cases, respectively. This paper reviews the clinical features of ADPKD, highlights the current roles for image- and molecular-based diagnostics, and the potential for new innovations to improve the clinical diagnostics for ADPKD. This paper reviews the literature on the clinical features, differential diagnosis, and image- and molecular-based diagnostics for ADPKD. At present, presymptomatic diagnosis of ADPKD in subjects born with 50% risk is typically performed by renal ultrasonography. Renal MRI, with improved sensitivity for detecting smaller cysts, is a promising modality. There is also a clear role for molecular diagnostics, especially in patients with equivocal imaging results, in those with a negative family history and in younger at-risk subjects with a negative ultrasound study being evaluated as a living-related kidney donor. Also, several classes of promising disease-modifying drugs are being tested in clinical trials and, if proved effective, some of them will be used in early disease. Therefore, it is likely that there will be an increased demand for accurate and early diagnosis of ADPKD in the not so distant future.

Kidney cancer

Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen administered with and without IV contrast is the ideal imaging to diagnose and stage kidney cancer. There is tentative evidence that iodinated contrast agents may cause worsening of kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 45ml/min/1.73m2 and should therefore be given cautiously in this group. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an alternative imaging method that can be used to characterize and stage a kidney mass. It may be suggested if contrast material cannot be given. MRI can also evaluate the inferior vena cava if the mass is suspected to extend outside the kidney. Since the lungs are the most common organ for kidney cancer to spread to, a chest X-ray or CT scan may be ordered based on the person's risk for metastatic disease. Histopathologic classificationn

In 2014, Japan was the first country in the world to approve a pharmacological treatment for ADPKD followed by Canada and Europe, which approved the drug tolvaptan for ADPKD patients in the beginning of 2015. The USA FDA approved the use of tolvaptan in the treatment of ADPKD in 2018. Tolvaptan, an aquaretic drug, is a vasopressin receptor 2 (V2) antagonist. Pre-clinical studies had suggested that the molecule cAMP could be involved in the enlargement of ADPKD cysts, and studies on rodents confirmed the role of vasopressin in increasing the levels of cAMP in the kidney, which laid the basis for the conduction of clinical studies. Because data from the Consortium for Radiologic Imaging Studies of Polycystic Kidney Disease (CRISP) led by Mayo Clinic showed that total kidney volume (TKV) predicted the risk of developing chronic kidney disease in patients with ADPKD, the TEMPO 3:4 trial, which enrolled patients from 129 sites worldwide from 2007 to 2009, evaluated TKV as a primary

Heredity and origin of duplication of the pelvicalyceal collecting system.

The present study was undertaken in an effort to prove the significance of genetic factors and their role in the origin of one of the most commonly occurring anomaly, i.e. the duplication of the pelvicalyceal collecting system. Our aim was to test foreign data on autosomal dominant inheritance of low penetrance in this anomaly and to try to find whether a preventive examination of the kidneys and urinary tract (sonography or intravenous urography) can be justified in 1st degree relatives. On intravenous urography made in 44.4% of 1st degree relatives a pathological finding was seen in 20%, one half of which having been estimated as serious requiring further examination and therapy. The above mentioned data in principle coincide with reports in literature abroad. Drawing on the results obtain the pediatrician or urologist can be advised to send the family, in which the pelvis et ureter duplex was discovered, to the genetic consulting centre. Here the 1st degree relatives could be recommended for the examination of their kidneys and urinary tracts on the evidence of the family tree and discussion with parents. The literature assumption that this anomaly is an autosomal dominant defect could not be quite confirmed. The fact that the defect was found in 10.7% of parents and 15% siblings indicates that it could represent the autosomal dominant trait type of low penetrance. An exact definition of the inheritance type is influenced by impossibility of examining the children' grandparents and by retrospective selection of the group. Although the type of heredity cannot be accurately stated yet, we believe the main contribution of our results to consist in the discovered importance of preventive examinations of the urinary tract in 1st degree relatives.

Polycystic kidney disease 3 (autosomal dominant) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PKD3 gene. Polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a life threatening hereditary disorder; it is characterized by the development of fluid-filled cyst formation and expansion of the kidney and other organs. It is an autosomal dominant disease, and it is the most common hereditary disorders with a rate of occurrence of approximately 1 in 1000. Characteristics ADPKD is an autosomal dominant disease, it contains 3 types of mutation: PKD1 (16 Chr), PKD2 (4 Chr) PKD3 (11 Chr, this gene). Mutations in the 3 different genes PKD1, PKD2 and PKD3 cause a very similar disorder of the autosomal dominant form of polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The PKD3 gene is located on chromosome number 11q12.3; the phenotype MIM number is 600666.

[Recent insights into polycystic kidney disease].

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases and every general practitioner may have to counsel these patients. The follow-up of the patients carrying the trait has changed substantially lately and new treatments have been developed and are close to get approval. We review here the new ultrasound diagnostic criteria, the place of the renal volumetry by MRI in the follow-up, the place of the genetic molecular diagnosis and we discuss the pathogenesis and the future treatment that are in phase III clinical studies and will soon change completely the outcome of the disease.