This is a case study of a 47-year-old Caucasian male whose chief concern was left lower leg swelling for 1 month. A unilateral lower extremity venous duplex examination was performed. The results concluded that the distal femoral vein was occluded to the distal popliteal vein. Incidentally, a hypoechoic region in the distal thigh near the distal femoral artery was noted by the technologist. The patient was placed on anticoagulation and was told to return for further examination if there was no relief. Three months later, the patient continued to experience lower left leg swelling and returned for another sonogram. The hypoechoic region was seen again in the distal thigh and remained occluded. A computed tomographic arterial (CT-A) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were ordered for further investigation of the hypoechoic area. The CT-A and the MRI revealed the presence of a mass in the distal thigh. The mass was biopsied and diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma, grade 1. The mass caused the compression and occlusion of the distal femoral vein. The mass was removed, along with a portion of the distal femoral artery due to involvement of the artery within the mass. The artery was repaired with a graft.
On the Economic Value of Open Source Hardware – Case Study of an Open Source Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner
