Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0000737 (abdominal pain)
 31,184 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The recent discovery of the mutated gene responsible for Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is supposed to facilitate its diagnosis which up till now is a clinical one because there are no specific laboratory tests. The sensitivity of genetic testing is limited because these tests search only for known mutations. In this case report we describe a patient with periodic abdominal pain in whom the diagnosis of FMF was wrongly discarded because of lack of a durable effect of colchicine and negative genetic testing. Diffuse peritoneal inflammation was nicely demonstrated by a FDG-PET (fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron-emission tomography) performed during a typical crisis. We discuss the possible diagnostic pitfalls and conclude that a crisis-PET might upgrade the level of diagnostic certainty in equivocal cases.
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PMID:Progressive bouts of acute abdomen: pet the peritoneum. 1130 83

This study aims to assess the influence of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) detection of recurrent disease on the management of patients with colorectal cancer and suspected recurrence. One hundred and twenty patients with suspected recurrence were studied with FDG-PET. Fifty-eight patients were referred for FDG-PET because of the elevation of serum tumour markers. Thirty-one patients were referred because of inconclusive results of conventional imaging modalities. Twenty-five patients had known recurrence and were referred for pre-surgical assessment. Six patients were referred because of abdominal pain. A major management change was considered when, as a consequence of FDG-PET results, medical treatment was changed to surgical, or surgical to medical or to no treatment. A minor management change was considered when changes were made within a treatment modality. Of the 58 patients with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), FDG-PET detected recurrence and led to a major management change in 34 (58%). Eighteen underwent curative surgery and 16 were treated with systemic therapy. Of the 31 patients evaluated because of inconclusive results of conventional imaging modalities, FDG-PET was positive for recurrence in 24 and negative in seven. A major management change took place in 14 patients (45%). Of the 25 patients evaluated to rule out other sites of disease before surgery, FDG-PET did not show any other site of recurrence in 13 (52%) and showed more lesions in the remaining patients. Major management change took place in eight patients (32%). Overall, in the 120 patients studied, FDG-PET resulted in major management changes in 58 (48%), minor changes in four (3%) and no change in 54 (45%). It can be concluded that FDG-PET has a significant impact on the management of patients with suspected recurrence of colorectal cancer. FDG-PET detection of recurrence frequently allows curative surgical intervention. The early identification of distant metastases may also facilitate the implementation of systemic treatment.
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PMID:FDG-PET improves the management of patients with suspected recurrence of colorectal cancer. 1235 96

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a malignant neoplasm deriving from intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. It affects both sexes, and is most prevalent at the age 50 to 70. Chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, hepatolithiasis, congenital hepatic fibrosis, and Caroli's disease may lead to the increased incidence of CC. Recently, hepatic cirrhosis in the course of virus-associated chronic hepatitis has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis CC. Histologically, 90-95% of CC are well differentiated adenocarcinomas. Usually the tumor grows slowly and metastazes late locally and even less frequently extrahepaticly. CC often causes symptoms by blocking the bile ducts, abdominal pain, weight loss, signs of portal hypertension, rare ascites and thrombophlebitis. Serum chemistry was compatible with obstructive jaundice. The increased expression of CEA, Ca19-9, as well as loss or reduction of sialomucin/sulfomucin concentration in the biliary lining epithelium may be indicative of malignant changes. CC as usually non-vascularized nonencapsulated tumor with a large amount of fibrosis. It is isochogenic in classical USG, CT or MRI. MRCP-magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and virtual endoscopy are more helpful methods on the diagnostics of CC. Recently, FDG positron emission tomography has been suggested to be a sensitive technique in identifying small bile duct cancers. Surgical excision of the lesion confirmed localized CC. The adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy and transplantation are not satisfactory. Palliative therapy includes surgical biliary-intestinal bypass procedures as well as operative and nonoperative techniques for biliary intestinal drainage. Recently, the local treatment of CC by photodynamic therapy as a palliative strategy is very promising. Ordinary CC is reported as a neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Post resection 5-year survival is affirmed in about 25% of CC, whereas after palliative treatment only 1 year.
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PMID:[Cholangiocarcinoma--bile ducts cancer]. 1290 Dec 70

We present a case of a 73 year old man, who lost 12 kg of weight in one month, had abdominal pain and progressive hepatic failure. A MRI and liver ultrasound were performed and, with the patient's symptoms, hepatocellular carcinoma Vs metastatic liver was suspected. A PET-FDG was performed and the images showed hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, without other findings of interest. FDG distribution in the liver was homogeneous. The patient was diagnosed of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver biopsy. FDG-PET detects only 50 % to 70 % of hepatocellular carcinomas due to varying degrees of activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase in these tumors. This paper reviews the literature on this type of situations.
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PMID:[FDG-PET in hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on one case]. 1545 Jan 42

A 71-year-old woman with a history of stage III melanoma was hospitalized for evaluating fever of unknown origin and severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a solitary lesion in the spleen, 10.5 x 10.4 x 10.1-cm, causing splenomegaly. Fused F-18 FDG PET/CT images revealed a solitary splenic metastasis and a focus of increased uptake in the region of the previously removed melanoma at the right scapula. Based on the clinical findings and CT and PET scans, malignant melanoma (stage IV) was diagnosed. Splenectomy was performed subsequently. The histopathologic finding was consistent with a metastasis of a melanoma.
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PMID:Solitary splenic metastasis in a patient with a malignant melanoma diagnosed with F-18-FDG PET scanning. 1602 64

Although fluorine-18 deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a sensitive diagnostic modality in detecting malignant tumors, differential diagnosis of malignant tumors from inflammatory lesion is challenging. We experienced a case of acute degenerative necrosis superimposed on chronic pancreatitis, which was difficult to distinguish from pancreatic cancer. The patient was a 66-year-old man with a complaint of upper abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed low-density masses in the head and body of the pancreas. FDG-PET revealed intense accumulations at the head and body of the pancreas (mean standard uptake value for the head and body pancreatic tumors was 4.1 and 6.7, respectively) corresponding to the 2 tumors detected by computed tomography. Because of a possible malignant pancreatic tumor, the patient underwent pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. Histologic examination of the resected specimen revealed a characteristic of chronic pancreatitis in a nontumorous area. Two tumors detected by FDG-PET consisted of degenerative necrosis surrounded by granulation tissue. The amount of granulation tissue was correlated to the levels of standard uptake value. No malignant tumors were observed. This case suggests a limitation of FDG-PET in distinguishing malignant neoplastic lesions in the pancreas, especially from acute degenerative changes in chronic pancreatitis. Repetitive PET examination is recommended for the accurate diagnosis.
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PMID:Intense PET signal in the degenerative necrosis superimposed on chronic pancreatitis. 1602 8

We report here on a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in which liver involvement was the predominant clinical manifestation. A healthy 44-year-old man presented with upper abdominal pain, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, elevated AST, ALT and bilirubin, and marked elevation of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. The abdominal CT scan showed only diffuse hepatosplenomegaly and uneven contrast enhancement of the spleen without any definite mass of the liver and spleen. US-guided aspiration biopsy of liver and the histologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the diffuse large B cell type. Bone marrow biopsy showed the infiltration of malignant lymphoma cells. PET-CT showed an increased FDG uptake of the liver, spleen and long bones. The patient was treated with combination regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone chemotherapy. Even in the absence of a mass lesion or lymphadenopathy, primary hepatic or hepatosplenic lymphoma should be considered in differential diagnosis of hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, especially for patients with diffuse hepatosplenomegaly and markedly elevated LDH.
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PMID:[A case of primary hepatic lymphoma mimicking hepatitis]. 1617 55

A patient with recurrent abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital. Computed tomography showed a soft dense mass surrounding the abdominal aorta at the infrarenal level, which was compatible with retroperitoneal fibrosis. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography showed abnormal uptake of (18)F-FDG into these lesions. Two months after the initiation of corticosteroid therapy, the abnormal uptake of (18)F-FDG had ceased along with a reduction in the fibrous mass surrounding the abdominal aorta.
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PMID:18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in a case of retroperitoneal fibrosis. 1696 Apr 19

Catecholamine-secreting metastatic carcinoid should be considered in differential diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma. Paroxysmal functioning or hormonally silent gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP NETs) require repeat biochemical measurements and sensitive anatomic and functional imaging studies overlapping those for malignant pheochromocytoma. This report presents clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings in a patient presenting with heart rate variability; vasoactive headaches reactive to ethanol, tyramine and tryptophan; labile blood pressure; diaphoresis; diarrhea; abdominal pain; unexplained pancreatitis; joint pain; and paroxysmal flushing with pallor. GI studies (including endoscopic ultrasound) and multiple imaging modalities (including 2D CT, MRI with gadolinium, [18]FDG PET/CT, [123I]MIBG, and SRS [111In]Octreotide [OctreoScan]) were not diagnostic. 24-h BP, Holter and 30-day cardiac event monitors plus urinary biochemical studies consistently suggested catecholamine-synthesizing NET. NIH plasma metanephrines studies and [6]-[18F]Fluorodopamine PET ruled out malignant pheochromocytoma (pheo). Repeated studies showed persistently abnormal GEP NET biomarkers and urinary catecholamines. Capsule endoscopy revealed suspicious submucosal lesions throughout the small intestine. Dual-phase 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with 3D volumetric reconstruction of the abdomen and pelvis revealed multiple diffuse liver metastases and three extrahepatic lesions consistent with metastatic carcinoid. In combination, intensive biochemical testing repeated over time, dual-phase 64-slice MDCT with 3D image reconstruction and volume-rendering (VR) technique, and advanced radionuclide imaging are required to detect NETs' sporadic or paroxysmal functioning, rule out extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma, and localize and characterize metastatic carcinoid. If pheochromocytoma is ruled out, yet symptoms and biochemical markers for catecholamine excess are present, then carcinoid and other amine-precursor-uptake decarboxylation (APUD) tumors must remain in the differential diagnosis.
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PMID:Catecholamine-secreting metastatic carcinoid as differential diagnosis in pheochromocytoma: clinical, laboratory, and imaging clues in the search for the lurking neuroendocrine tumor (NET). 1710 73

A 61-year-old white man was admitted to our department because of severe back and upper abdominal pain of 1 month's duration. The patient was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis 10 months before the presentation based on chronic otitis media, hoarseness, and hemoptysis; positive c-ANCA; and laryngeal and lung biopsies showing multinucleated giant cells. The patient was treated with monthly injections of cyclophosphamide (1-1.5 g per month) and 80 mg prednisone daily with rapid improvement. Prednisone dose was tapered off and 1 month before the present admission, the patient developed severe low back pain. Extensive workup, including abdominal computed axial tomography scan, computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance image of the spinal cord, and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan, revealed 2 periaortic soft tissue structures seen at the level of L3 and at the level of the celiac trunk and linear meningeal thickening of the spinal cord at the level of D4-8. All these structures showed strong signal on FDG-PET scan. Treatment with methylprednisolone (1000 mg/d) for 3 consecutive days followed by 80 mg prednisone per day and 100 mg cyclophosphamide per day was started with rapid attenuation of the patient's symptoms. This case describes the clinical course of the rare complication of Wegener granulomatosis, periaortitis, and dural inflammation despite monthly cyclophosphamide and demonstrates the role of magnetic resonance imaging and FDG-PET in their diagnosis.
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PMID:Wegener granulomatosis with back pain, periaortitis, and dural inflammation developing while receiving monthly cyclophosphamide. 1714 61


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