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Introduction: An association between chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis has been observed. However, the incidence of this association is variable. The current use of high-resolution Chest Thoracic (CT) scans in patients with COPD has contributed to its demonstration. It is comorbidity or even an overlap syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of bronchiectasis in patients with COPD at the Annaba University Hospital in Algeria., Subjects and Methods: We prospectively included patients hospitalized at the Annaba University Hospital in Algeria between 1 st January, 2013 to 31 st December, 2015. All patients were hospitalized for an exacerbation of COPD. One hundred and twelve patients (108 men and 04 women) were enrolled in this study. These patients were classified into two groups: G1 (COPD without bronchiectasis) and G2 (COPD with bronchiectasis). The parameters considered for both the groups were the length of hospitalization, comorbidities as per the Charlson index, number of exacerbations in the previous year, quality of life assessed by the Saint Georges questionnaire, a spirométrie, and C. reactive protein (CRP). The diagnosis of exacerbation, bronchiectasis, and COPD was made. The data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS/version 16. Parametric data were expressed as mean ± SD, and non-parametric data were expressed as the number and percentage of the total. In all tests, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for statistically significant variables., Results and Discussion: One hundred and twelve patients (108 men and 04 women) were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients were: age (69.49 years ± 8.15), smoking (53.21 ± 48 p/y), and FEV 1 (42.55 ± 18.90 l/s). Of the 112 cases included, 21 had COPD associated with bronchiectasis (18.75%). This bronchiectasis was of cylindrical type in the majority of patients, i.e ., 17 (80.95%), saccular in 03 cases (14.28%), and mixed in only one case (04.77%). Lesions were bilateral in 16 patients (76.19%) and unilateral in 05 patients (23.81%). FEV 1 in the COPD group associated with bronchiectasis was more severe (48.7 ± 6 l/s vs. 40.2 ± 3 l/s) (OR=4.3187; 95% C.I = 2.6301 - 6.8740; p <0.017). Furthermore, we noted that the length of hospitalization, the exacerbations during the past year, the CRP rate, the total score of the Saint Georges questionnaire, and the sputum purulence were statistically significant variables with an Odds Ratio significant in the COPD bronchiectasis association., Conclusion: The diagnosis of bronchiectasis should be more efficient in patients with COPD with a severe respiratory deficit, purulent sputum, accelerated CRP, and deterioration in the quality of life., Competing Interests: Declared none., (© 2022 Deghdegh et al.)

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver is a rare primary malignant tumor of vascular origin. It most frequently occurs in middle age adults and clinical findings are non-specific. Histological diagnosis may be difficult to achieve with lesions containing a large myxoid component, and immunohistochemical staining is required. A few imaging features may suggest the correct diagnosis, and radiologists should be familiar with these findings. We will illustrate the potential role of PET-CT at the time of initial presentation. Prognosis is variable and optimal management is based on a case by case analysis, ranging from clinical and imaging follow-up to liver transplantation.

Purpose: To determine the value of Power Doppler US for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and in the prediction of cancer aggressiveness., Patients and Methods: One hundred and five consecutive patients with PSA>4 ng/ml and/or abnormal digital rectal exam underwent power Doppler US prior to biopsy. In addition to biopsies directed to suspiscious lesion on US, 10 to 12 standard sextant biopsies were obtained. Histologic results were correlated to imaging findings., Results: A hypervascular lesion (enlarged, irregular, serpentine or disorganized vessels) was present at power Doppler US in 34 patients and corresponded to cancer in 28 cases. Nineteen cancers showed no detectable abnormality on power Doppler US. Cancer was present in 271 of 1093 cores. After correlation with results from sextant prostate biopsy, power Doppler showed a sensitivity of 44%, specificity of 96%, positive predictive value of 84% and negative predictive value of 80%. Positive results on power Doppler US were strongly cotrrelated with higher Gleason scores., Conclusion: Power Doppler US may contribute to the evaluation of prostate cancer aggressiveness and direct biopsies to more aggressive foci.