Journal belge de radiologie最新文献

Radiology has gained an enviable position among medial specialities. Developments in new technology expand its horizons and the volume of radiologic imaging techniques and procedures increase far more than the overall growth in health care services. In this position radiology has become a prime target for restrictions, cutbacks, controlled financing in an area of managed care and new national health care policy based on partially fixed budgets. Future health care takers have to choose the best available diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Evidence based medicine, cost-utility analysis, diagnostic performance analysis, patient outcome analysis, technology assessment and guidelines for practice are means to guide us through our obligatory choice. Our major objective is to use the most performant available imaging technique or intervention to achieve the best possible outcome for our patient at lower possible costs. A strategic response from radiologists is required to meet the imperatives of this new management situation. They must do far more than interpret imaging procedures. They must work as efficient managers of imaging resources, organise their practices and define their marketing-strategies using the different, so-called, marketing-mix elements. The challenges will be great but the rewards are worth our best efforts. In this article we highlight the marketing responsibilities of future radiologists and their clinical practice in this new socio-economic environment and we present different useful marketing tools.

Fifteen cases of primary urothelial carcinomas of the ureter are reported (14 transitional cell carcinoma and 1 mixed transitional cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma). There was a clear male predominance (11/4); the peak incidence was in the sixth decade. Most tumors originated from the distal third of the ureter. Multicentricity and high recurrence rate after partial ureterectomy were noted. The clinical signs were hematuria and flank pain. Urine cytology and IVU were diagnostic in a limited number of cases. Retrograde pyelography was very helpful. CT showed to be the image modality of choice for diagnosis and preoperative staging.

Splenic tuberculosis is rare and delay in diagnosis is common. We present two cases of splenic tuberculosis with their appearance on CT. The CT findings were multiple, round or ovoid, low-density lesions without calcification. Except for non-specific lymphadenopathy no abnormality nor history suggestive of tuberculosis was revealed prior to laparotomy. Although CT does not confirm a diagnosis of splenic tuberculosis, it would be a valuable examination to define the extent of disease and guide aspiration biopsy.

Indications of interventional radiological procedures in patients with chronic critical limb ischemia are not clearly defined. PTA of limb arteries is used only in 3 of 4% of patients, although 20 to 40% might be candidates for a proximal intervention in the iliac arteries. Following PTA of intrapopliteal arteries, limb salvage varies from 56 to 82% and arterial patency rate from 34 to 100% after 1 to 2 years follow-up in non controlled case series studies. Arterial local thrombolysis shows better results than surgery in subgroups of patients in a few studies. Pulse spray technique does not show better clinical results than conventional infusion of the plasminogen activator. Overall, radiological interventions give similar results compared with surgery, concerning limb salvage rate, length of hospital stay, morbidity and mortality, but significantly more patients are discharged home versus a nursing institution after radiological treatment than after surgery. Radiological techniques seem to be cost effective compared to surgery. Amputation should be carried out only after all revascularization possibilities have been ruled out at a multidisciplinary vascular center.

Calcium hydroxyapatite deposition disease may occasionally involve the superolateral portion of the longus colli muscle. Clinical symptoms include headache, neck pain, and dysphagia. Characteristic prevertebral calcifications with the epicenter at the C1-C2 level are depicted on lateral radiographs of the cervical spine.

Rare in the general population, gallstone ileus accounts for 25 per cent of nonstrangulated small bowel obstructions in patients over the age of 65. While mortality has declined over the years, it remains high at 12-17 per cent. This is largely due to the insidious symptoms making the diagnosis difficult and to the aged patient population, with frequent comorbid medical conditions contributing to mortality. Much better than plain radiograph and probably easier than ultrasound, CT makes the correct diagnosis of the classical triad of Rigler: distended small bowel loops, pneumobilia and an ectopic calcified gallstone. We report two cases promptly and specifically diagnosed with CT. The second case was a very rare Bouveret's Syndrome, a gastric outlet obstruction caused by a gallstone. Patients were treated by a one time associated enterolithotomy and cholecystectomy. We recommend the early use of abdominal CT scanning for the investigation of clinical bowel obstruction in the elderly, where gallstone ileus is a more common condition.

We report on a patient who presented a fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus, which is an uncommon submucosal tumor that can attain giant proportions. It is covered with squamous epithelium and consists of a mixture of myxoid-collagenous fibrous elements, vascular structures and adipose cells. Diagnosis is made via upper endoscopy, echoendosonography and barium studies. CT and MR imaging can be helpful for full evaluation of this rare lesion.

The purpose of this review article is to propose the basic rules of a scientifically correct breast cancer mass screening. It might give to the different authorities arguments to make a choice between an organized screening and some trials currently used in our country.

Temporal lobe abscess is a rare but known complication of petrosal bone cholesteatoma. We present a case with clinical history, diagnostic imaging and sequential radiological findings of the abscess from the early temporal cerebritis phase till the late full encapsulated abscess. We also succeeded in visualizing the fistula through the tegmen tympani on MR-images.

A 60-year-old man with dysplasia of the glenoid and a rotator cuff tear is reported on. Because of the tear, CT arthrography was performed, offering an opportunity to evaluate the various soft tissue abnormalities accompanying glenoid dysplasia. Marked thickening of the glenoid cartilage and labrum was apparent, as well as an abnormal posterolateral orientation of the glenoid cavity. A deep notch was observed along the central portion of the glenoid cartilage. Furthermore the middle glenohumeral ligament appeared thickened and cordlike.