Asymptomatic adult cystic lymphangioma of the spleen: case report and review of the literature

In the present report we describe a case of an asymptomatic splenic cystic lymphangioma in a 43 year-old female. Only a few cases of this benign tumor have been reported in adult patients so far. Clinical examination revealed a tender mass in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal ultrasound and CT-scan revealed a large well-defined splenic cystic mass surrounded by multiple peripheral cysts, all divided by thin septa. MRI confirmed these findings and excluded the possibility of malignant degeneration. Histologic examination permitted the accurate diagnosis to be made. Different imaging findings of this tumor have been described but only a few reports have focused on the value of MRI imaging.     

Structural characteristics of different types of nanoparticles synthesised in mesomorphic metal alkanoates

The class of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) of the metal alkanoates possesses a number of unique properties, such as intrinsic ionic conductivity, high dissolving ability and ability to form time-stable mesomorphic glasses. These ionic LCs can be used as nanoreactors for the synthesis and stabilisation of different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Thus, some semiconductors, metals and core/shell NPs were chemically synthesised in the thermotropic ionic liquid crystalline phase (smectic A) of the cadmium octanoate (CdC₈) and of the cobalt octanoate (CoC₈). By applying the scanning electron microscopy, the cadmium and cobalt octanoate composites containing CdS, Au, Ag and core/shell Au/CdS NPs have been studied. NPs’ sizes and dispersion distribution of the NPs’ size in the nanocomposites have been obtained.