Duodenocaval fistula (DCF) is an uncommon but lethal clinical entity. The high mortality has been attributed to the difficulty of diagnosis before attempts at definitive therapy.
A case report and review of literature to be published on May 14, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses the diagnostic significance of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for DCF.
During a 2-mo stay in hospital, a small, low-density air bubble appeared in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and gradually enlarged on follow-up CT scans. MRI clearly demonstrated the high-signal enteric contrast medium or thrombus and signal-void air bubbles in the IVC. However, cavography did not reveal the thrombus in the IVC. The authors deemed that the thrombus was flushed out by the high-pressure injection of intravenous contrast medium. Noninvasive CT and MRI are suggested as a first-line investigation for diagnosis of DCF.
Reference: Guo Y, Zhang YQ, Lin W. Radiological diagnosis of duodenocaval fistula: A case report and literature review. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(18): 2314-2316 http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v16/i18/2314.htm
Correspondence to: Yong Guo, MD, Department of Radiology, General Navy Hospital, 6# Fucheng Road, Beijing 100048, China. guoyong27@hotmail.com Telephone: +86-10-66958279 Fax: +86-10-68285793
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World Journal of Gastroenterology (WJG), a leading international journal in gastroenterology and hepatology, has established a reputation for publishing first class research on esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, viral hepatitis, colorectal cancer, and H pylori infection and provides a forum for both clinicians and scientists. WJG has been indexed and abstracted in Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, Science Citation Index Expanded (also known as SciSearch) and Journal Citation Reports/Science Edition, Index Medicus, MEDLINE and PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Abstracts Journals, Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CAB Abstracts and Global Health. ISI JCR 2008 IF: 2.081. WJG is a weekly journal published by WJG Press. The publication dates are the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of every month. WJG is supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30224801 and No. 30424812, and was founded with the name of China National Journal of New Gastroenterology on October 1, 1995, and renamed WJG on January 25, 1998.
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World Journal of Gastroenterology