Newborn with respiratory distress

CXR of normal position of arterial venous ECMO catheters
CXR AP shows multiple loops of small bowel that are minimally filled with air in the lower left hemithorax. There is mediastinal shift to the right. The tip of the arterial canula placed from the right carotid artery projects over the aortic arch while the tip of the venous canula placed from the right internal jugular vein projects over the right atrium. There are two chest tubes in the right hemithorax.

The diagnosis was normal position of the arterial canula and venous canula in a patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to left congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

School ager with nausea and vomiting

US and MAG3 nuclear medicine scan of orthotopic ureterocele
Transverse US of the bladder (above left) shows a round cystic lesion in the base of the bladder. Sagittal US of the bladder (above right) shows to the left of the image an extremely dilated left ureter and to the right of the image again the round cystic lesion in the base of the bladder. Sagittal image of the left renal fossa (below left) shows non-visualization of the left kidney. Nuclear medicine MAG3 scan (below right) shows a normal right kidney, non-visualization of the left kidney, and a round photopenic defect in the bladder.

The diagnosis was left non-functioning kidney with left hydroureter and a left orthotopic ureterocele.

Teenager after motor vehicle accident

CT of renal laceration and suspected ureter transection
Axial CT with contrast of the abdomen (above left) shows an extensive laceration of the left kidney with an associated low density retroperitoneal hematoma surrounding the left kidney. Delayed lower axial image from the same CT exam (below left) shows extravasation of high density IV contrast around the left psoas muscle. 3D CT urogram performed the next day (right) again shows massive extravasation of IV contrast medial to the left kidney with non-visualization of the left ureter suggesting ureteral transection. The right kidney and ureter are normal. However, a retrograde urogram performed the next day showed the left ureter was not transected which allowed placement of a left ureteral stent.

The diagnosis was left kidney laceration and suspected left ureteral transection which was not confirmed on a retrograde pyelogram exam.

Premature newborn after umbilical venous catheter placement

US of TPNoma due to umbilical venous catheter malposition
CXR AP (above) shows the tip of the umbilical venous catheter projecting over the left portal vein. Transverse (below left) and sagittal (below right) US of the left lobe of the liver obtained 4 months later shows hyperechoic branching lesions in the liver which are felt to be calcifications in the distal branches of the portal veins due to long term direct injection of total parenteral nutrition into the distal branches of the portal veins rather than into the inferior vena cava.

The diagnosis was TPNoma due to umbilical venous catheter malposition in the left portal vein.

Preschooler with elbow pain after being tackled

Radiograph of ossification centers of the elbow ossifying out of their normal order
AP (left) and lateral (right) radiographs of the elbow show ossification of the capitellum and internal (medial) epicondyle. The radial head is not yet ossified. No fracture or fat pad elevation is seen.

The diagnosis was no fracture of the elbow as the ossification centers of the elbow are ossifying out of their normal order as normally the radial head should ossify before the internal (medial) epicondyle according to the CRITOE mneumonic.

Teenager with a VP shunt with a new headache

Radiograph of broken VP shunt tubing
AP radiograph of the neck (above) shows the VP shunt catheter is broken at the level of the mid-neck. Axial CT without contrast of the brain obtained one year ago (below left) shows the tip of the VP shunt in the left lateral ventricle and the ventricular system to be decompressed. Current axial CT without contrast (below right) shows the tip of the VP shunt to be in the left lateral ventricle and interval development of dilation of the ventricular system.

The diagnosis was ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction in the form of broken shunt tubing causing interval development of hydrocephalus.

Teenager with abdominal pain

MRI of schwannoma
AXR AP (above left) shows an incidental semi-circular left paraspinal mass next to the T10-T11 vertebral bodies. Axial T1 MRI without contrast of the thoracic spine (below left) shows an isointense round mass just to the left of the vertebral body. On axial T2 MRI (below center) the mass is hyperintense and on axial T1 MRI with contrast (below right) the mass enhances avidly and homogeneously. There was no spinal extension of the mass. On coronal T1 MRI with contrast (above right) the mass is again seen to be next to the T10-T11 vertebral bodies.

The diagnosis was schwannoma.