Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: What every radiologist should know

Objective:The purpose of the study was to evaluate the spectrum and incidence of intrahepatic portal vein (PV) variations on triphasic abdomen multidetector CT (MDCT) and to discuss the surgical and radiological implications.Methods:A retrospective review of 1000 triphasic MDCT abdomen scans was performed in patients sent for various liver and other abdominal pathologies between January 2014 and August 2014. A total of 967 patients (N = 967) were included in the study. The variations in branching pattern of PV were classified according to classification used by Covey et al (Covey AM, Brody LA, Getrajdman GI, Sofocleous CT, Brown KT. Incidence, patterns, and clinical relevance of variant portal vein anatomy. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2004; 183: 1055–64) and Koç et al (Koç Z, Oğuzkurt L, Ulusan S. Portal vein variations: clinical implications and frequencies in routine abdominal CT. Diagn Interv Radiol 2007; 13: 75–80).Results:Normal anatomy (Type I) was seen in 773 patients (79.94%) out of 967 patients in our st...

The imaging manifestations of hepatic lymphoma, both in its primary and secondary form, are extremely variable and overlap with a number of other more common hepatic diseases. However, in the appropriate clinical context, combining the imaging and laboratory features can aid in making the correct diagnosis. Since the management and prognosis of lymphomas are significantly different from other malignancies, early diagnosis and prompt commencement of therapy is of paramount importance. The various morphological appearances of hepatic lymphoma on imaging have been described here along with their possible differentials. Teaching points • Primary hepatic lymphoma is extremely rare. • Secondary liver involvement occurs in 50 % of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. • The imaging manifestations of hepatic lymphoma are largely non-specific. • Some imaging features may be helpful in the appropriate clinical setting. • Management and prognosis of lymphoma is significantly different from other malignancies.

Background: Ashwagandha herb is commonly used in Ayurveda and a “fad” dietary supplement for a host of indications based on low levels of evidence. Recently, ashwagandha was implicated in multiple reports of herb-induced liver injury (HILI), mainly from the United States. We present the first, and currently largest, series of ashwagandha-HILI from multiple centers in India. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the respective institutional electronic medical records for ashwagandha-HILI. Patients consuming ashwagandha as part of multiherbal formulations or along with other known hepatotoxic supplements or medicines were excluded. All patients underwent a detailed diagnostic workup to exclude competing causes reasonably. Where possible, the implicated herbal formulation was retrieved and subjected to chemical analysis. Results: Out of 23 patients with liver injury from ashwagandha (January 2019 to December 2022), we report 8 patients with single-ingredient formulation-related HILI. Study cohort was male predominant, and cholestatic hepatitis was the commonest presentation. Five patients had underlying chronic liver disease; 3 presented with acute-on-chronic liver failure, and all 3 died on follow-up. In others, the liver injury was prolonged, nonetheless self-limiting. Liver biopsy revealed cholestatic features predominantly with hepatocellular necrosis and lymphocyte/eosinophil predominant portal-based inflammation. One patient progressed to chronic HILI. Chemical analysis revealed only natural phytochemicals without adulteration or contamination. Conclusions: Ashwagandha-HILI presents with cholestatic hepatitis and can lead to the syndrome of acute-on-chronic liver failure with high mortality in those with pre-existing liver disease. Educating the public on avoiding the use of potentially toxic and unrecommended herbal supplements can help mitigate the avoidable liver disease burden in the community. Export

Portosystemic collateral formation in cirrhosis plays an important part in events that define the natural history in affected patients. A detailed understanding of collateral anatomy and hemodynamics in cirrhotics is essential to envisage diagnosis, management, and outcomes of portal hypertension. In this review, we provide detailed insights into the historical, anatomical, and hemodynamic aspects to portal hypertension and collateral pathways in cirrhosis with emphasis on the various classification systems.