Acta radiologica: diagnosis最新文献

Despite the heterogeneous nature of congenital defects, an increasing number of aetiologically specific entities are being delineated, which is partly due to the increasing use of radiology. Data concerning the aetiology are especially important to the parents, who need information on the risk of recurrence for future pregnancies. During 1980-1982 a postmortem radiologic investigation was carried out on 514 perinatally dead infants from 22 hospitals in Finland. Pathologic radiologic findings were seen in 30 per cent of the material. Ninety-nine cases had congenital defects, while the rest showed other skeletal or soft tissue abnormalities. Of those with congenital defects, there were 6 osteochondrodysplasias, 16 chromosomal malformation syndromes, 13 autosomal recessive inherited malformation syndromes and 18 multiple malformation syndromes of unknown aetiology. There were also 18 cases with malformation sequences and 10 single malformations with abnormal radiologic findings. Congenital defects due to disruptions were detected in 12 cases and defects due to deformations in 7. The present article includes a review of the radiologic findings in 514 cases, with special reference to the skeletal findings.

One intramuscular calf hematoma, 2 ankle hematomas and 4 cephalhematomas were imaged at various ages in a low magnetic field (0.02 T). At least one spin echo (SE) multislice image and a series of inversion recovery images (IR) were made varying the inversion time for estimation of the relaxation time T1. T1 tended to shorten and T2 to stay unchanged. With an unsuitable pulse sequence the hematomas were not visible. They were best seen with short TIs. The images of one of the ankle hematomas and the calf hematoma were compared with sonographic findings. The appearances of the hematomas varied during aging with both imaging modalities. The hematomas were easier to detect with magnetic resonance imaging than with ultrasound, also when aging.

Interobserver variations between three radiologists with different backgrounds (duration of practice, and departments) were studied in connection with the diagnosing of urolithiasis. Films from 152 consecutive patients (examined with conventional abdominal films, urography/tomography) were analyzed independently. With respect to the number of patients with or without calculi there was agreement between the three observers in 129 of the 152 cases, which was taken to represent very good agreement beyond chance. The total number of stones was interpreted as 832, 460 and 570 respectively, and the median stone size as 6, 9 and 11 mm2. There was a fair interobserver agreement rate regarding whether stones were localized to the renal parenchyma or calyces, and whether stenosis/stricture or hydronephrosis was present. Tomography appeared to reduce the interobserver variability significantly. Adequate bowel cleaning, oblique projections, and lack of clinical information apparently did not influence the agreement rate. It was concluded that such interobserver variations are factors of importance in the reliability of the radiologic evaluation of urolithiasis.

The internal acoustic meatus was evaluated in 97 temporal bone specimens, half of which were radiographed in different projections. Part of the material was also examined by multidirectional and computed tomography. Casts of the specimens were prepared and the meatuses were measured in different planes. The anatomic variations, especially in the transverse plane, and their relations to other structures in the petrous bone, were assessed. The meatus varied in shape, being mainly either long and thin, short and broad, funnel-shaped or pear-shaped. The pear-shaped meatus was practically always broad. The angle formed by the long axis of the meatus and the posterior wall of the pyramid varied inversely with the meatal length, a long meatus forming a small angle and vice versa. Large anteroposterior diameters were correlated to large meatal angles, but there was no direct correlation between meatal length and width. In addition, the meatal length was correlated to the perilabyrinthine and mastoid pneumatization and also to the dimensions of the pyramid.

Coronary angiography was performed 3 to 6 months after myocardial infarction in 107 males below the age of 45 (mean age 39.7 +/- 3.9, range 23-44 years). The coronary angiograms were allocated to various groups according to the presence or absence of obvious atheromatous changes. Metabolic evaluation included determination of cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the major serum lipoproteins. Marked elevation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration was found in patients with angiographic evidence of atheromatosis, in contrast to patients with normal coronary angiograms or with single occlusion and no other abnormalities. Thus, there was a correlation between angiographic appearance of the coronary arteries and disturbances of LDL metabolism. It is proposed that coronary angiography may distinguish between atheromatous and non-atheromatous pathogenesis of myocardial infarction at young age.

Nineteen patients with urologic disorders referred to bone scintigraphy were evaluated with a dual radioisotope technique using simultaneous injection of 99Tcm-MDP and 131I-Hippuran. The MDP and Hippuran renograms showed in general the same pattern and there was no difference between the kidney function determined with the two radionuclides. The peak of the MDP curves occurred later and was less distinct than that of the Hippuran curves. The residual activity of the kidneys 20 min after the injection was higher on the MDP renograms compared with the Hippuran renograms. The early sequential MDP images were superior in quality to the Hippuran images and to the renal images obtained at bone scintigraphy. The early MDP images correlated well with the findings at urography performed in 12 patients, as all cases of radiologically diagnosed hydronephrosis, reduction of renal parenchyma and renal mass lesions became demonstrated. Renal calculi were only diagnosed at urography. In conclusion, MDP cannot replace Hippuran as a renal radionuclide agent, mainly due to its lower extraction ratio and the high bone uptake. However, an increased use of early dynamic renal imaging is recommended in urologic patients referred to bone scintigraphy as valuable information about renal function may be obtained by this procedure.

One hundred and forty-three calcaneal fractures in 140 patients under the age of 19 years were reviewed. Of the total number, 75 per cent were in males. Eighty fractures were seen in females under 13 years of age and in males under 16 years of age. Fifteen (19%) of these fractures were initially not recognized. Four projections were available in the majority of the cases, and were reviewed: lateral, axial, straight dorsoplantar and oblique dorsoplantar views. The various types of fractures had different courses and localizations. The optimum demonstration of a fracture in a certain projection will therefore be dependent on the type of fracture present. It is clinically difficult to foresee a specific type of calcaneal fracture, and consequently it is recommended that all four views should be obtained routinely following trauma to the calcaneal region in patients of the pertinent age groups.

Tissue damage as sequelae after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in eight consecutive patients was investigated with computed tomography performed 3 days, 2 weeks and 6 months after the stroke. The presence of contrast enhancement after 2 weeks, hypodense areas after 6 months, and atrophy of adjacent structures were considered to be markers of irreversible tissue damage. Except for a narrow zone in the periphery of the hematoma (ring blush) contrast enhancement was not observed, neither in the hematoma nor in areas where resolution had taken place. After 6 months the site of the hematomas was not identifiable in 3 patients, and 4 patients had small 'lacunar' hypodense lesions. Only one patient had a more extensive hypodense area 6 months after the hemorrhage. The most prominent sequelae after intracerebral hematoma were atrophy of adjacent structures (i.e. atrophy of basal ganglia, thalamus and ventricular enlargement) which were seen in all patients even though irreversible de loco damage in the hematoma area was sparse or absent.

The accuracy in the diagnosis of gastric cancer was investigated in 188 histologically proven cases, including 12 cases of early gastric cancer. One hundred and sixty-five of 167 patients (99%) were recorded radiologically as having a gastric lesion. The initial diagnosis was carcinoma in 144 patients (86%), and benign lesion in 21 cases (13%). In 2 cases (1%) no abnormalities were seen. In 3 out of 9 patients with a partial gastrectomy (33%) an incorrect diagnosis was made. In 11 of 12 patients with early gastric cancer the radiologic examination revealed abnormal findings, but 7 of these were incorrectly interpreted as benign. A retrospective analysis of the radiologic examination in which no malignancies were reported showed that inadequacy of the examination technique and misinterpretation of radiologic signs of malignancy were the main causes of failure in diagnosing of malignancy. The rate of misinterpretation of malignancy as a benign lesion (13%) justifies the endoscopic control of every radiologically detected abnormality. The high sensitivity in detecting a lesion indicates, however, that a biphasic radiologic examination is a safe screening method in gastric cancer. Endoscopy with biopsy showed a lesion in 156 out of 160 patients (98%), but in 11 of these (7%) the initial examination did not yield histologic proof of malignancy. In 4 patients (2%) no abnormalities were observed by endoscopists. One hundred and forty-nine patients were examined with both radiology and endoscopy with biopsy. A malignant lesion with recognition of its malignant character was defined in 144 cases (97%).

Thirteen patients presenting with acute cholecystitis and considered high surgical risks were treated with a percutaneous needling procedure under ultrasonic guidance. The gallbladder was drained following simple needle puncture in six cases while a drainage catheter was inserted in seven. A premedication of 0.5 mg of atropine and 50 mg of pethidine was given. The gallbladder became decompressed in all cases, and pain was instantly relieved. Impacted stones were freed from the cystic duct in two cases and from the papilla of Vater in another two cases. The patients' condition improved and elective cholecystectomy was performed in four cases, while a further three patients await surgery. In five cases the acute stage of the disease subsided; surgical treatment was refrained from because of gallbladder carcinoma with metastases in one patient and other diseases in the remainder. One patient died of gastric carcinoma. One patient with ischemic heart disease had systemic hypotension for six hours after the drainage and one had slight haemorrhage for four hours. No other complications were noted. In addition, the procedure was also carried out as a diagnostic study in one patient in whom the site of bile leakage was determined by filling the biliary tree with contrast medium from the gallbladder. Guided aspiration and percutaneous drainage of the gallbladder is helpful in patients with severe acute cholecystitis attended with a high surgical risk.