Congenital mediastinal cysts are uncommon benign lesions generally caused by an abnormal embryological development of the foregut or coelomic cavity. They are expansive lesions, frequently asymptomatic that may manifest as a result from compression of adjacent structures. Bronchogenic, pericardial, enteric, thymic, esophageal duplication cysts and lymphangiomas are the main entities in this group of lesions. Congenital mediastinal cysts morphology is typical and imaging methods allow a correct diagnosis in a great number of cases. Surgical treatment is indicated only in cases of symptomatic lesions, considering that these lesions present no potential for malignant degeneration. The present study was aimed at commenting and illustrating the most relevant imaging findings of these lesions based on a retrospective review of ten cases collected in the records of the involved institutions.

Keywords: Congenital mediastinal cysts, Cystic neoplasms, Cysts

Acute appendicitis is the most important cause of abdominal pain requiring surgical intervention in the Western world. The early diagnosis of this disease is of paramount relevance for minimizing its morbidity. Imaging methods have represented a huge progress in the diagnosis of this entity, which used to be based essentially on clinical history, physical examination and laboratory tests results, considering that 20% to 33% of patients present with atypical symptoms. Diagnostic difficulty is higher in children, the elderly, and women in childbearing age. The main imaging methods for evaluation of acute appendicitis are ultrasound and computed tomography. The present study is aimed at describing the disease physiopathology, commenting main computed tomography technical aspects, demonstrating and illustrating tomographic findings, and describing main differential diagnoses.

Keywords: Acute appendicitis, Vermiform appendix, Computed tomography

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease whose etiology remains unknown. It is characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas and adenopathy, mainly in the pulmonary interstice. This is a systemic disease that may affect any organ or system and should be included in the differential diagnosis of infectious, neoplastic or autoimmune diseases as a correct diagnosis avoids unnecessary surgeries or administration of drugs. The authors report a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with hepatic involvement in which the patient has developed cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis.

Keywords: Liver, Sarcoidosis, Ultrasonography

We report a case of two siblings with primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (pachydermoperiostosis). Pachydermoperiostosis represents only 3 to 5 per cent of all cases of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. These patients presented long bone changes on conventional x-ray films including periosteal new bone formation and expansion of the diaphysis.

Keywords: Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, Pachydermoperiostosis, Radiology

Cherubim is a non-neoplastic hereditary bone disease characterized by bilateral, painless enlargements of the mandible and maxilla in children, producing the cherubic appearance. Cherubism may appear as an isolated case or in members of the same family. We report the case of a girl without familial history of cherubism who presented expansile osteolytic lesions in the mandible and maxilla, demonstrated by radiological exams.

Keywords: Cherubism, Mandibular diseases, Radiology, Computed tomography

Persistent left superior vena cava with absent right superior vena cava is a rare anomaly, with less than 150 cases reported in the literature. Congenitally persistent left superior vena cava is the most common variant of systemic venous return to the heart, resulting embryologically from failure of the left anterior cardinal vein to become obliterated. Its incidence varies from 0.3% in patients with otherwise normal heart to 4.3% in patients with congenital heart disease. In the majority of the patients, a right superior vena cava is present as well, but rarely the right anterior cardinal vein degenerates resulting in the absence of the normal right superior vena cava. The blood from the right side is carried by the persistent left superior vena cava to the right atrium through the coronary sinus. We report the case of a patient with a persistent left superior vena cava and absence of right superior vena cava identified by chance during a chest radiograph and computed tomography examination for investigation of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. The patient had no congenital heart disease and the blood from the right side was drained by the persistent left superior vena cava into the right atrium through the coronary sinus.

Keywords: Persistent left superior vena cava, Absent right superior vena cava, Chest radiography, Computed tomography