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Biomedical subjects

C M Sandler

Publications and source records attributed to C M Sandler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Blunt urethral trauma: a unified, anatomical mechanical classification.

PURPOSE: We propose a simple, anatomically based classification of blunt urethral injury as a replacement for currently used classifications, which are not comprehensive, anatomically inconsistent or based on a mixed anatomical/mechanistic formula. The latter are difficult to learn and use, and have not been universally adopted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed most of the currently used general uroradiological, emergency radiological and urological textbooks to define the classification of urethral injuries that is most widely accepted. Most authors use the Colapinto and McCallum classification, modifications thereof or the older surgical classification of urethral injuries, which simply divides such injuries anatomically into anterior and posterior. However, there is little consensus about the best classification and none includes all of the blunt injuries of the urethra. To correct these difficulties we devised a comprehensive and anatomically consistent classification. RESULTS: The proposed classification categorizes blunt urethral trauma as I-posterior urethra intact but stretched (Colapinto and McCallum type I), II-partial or complete pure posterior injury with tear of membranous urethra above the urogenital diaphragm (Colapinto and McCallum type II), III-partial or complete combined anterior/posterior urethral injury with disruption of the urogenital diaphragm (Colapinto and McCallum type III), IV-bladder neck injury with extension into the urethra, IVA-injury of the base of the bladder with periurethral extravasation simulating a true type IV urethral injury and V-partial or complete pure anterior urethral injury. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed classification is anatomically valid and includes all of the common types of blunt urethral injuries. Universal adoption of this system should permit comparison of various management/treatment modalities at various institutions.

Humans↗

Ureteropelvic junction injuries secondary to blunt abdominal trauma.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and imaging findings of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) injuries caused by blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In two children (aged 10 and 16 years) and eight adults (aged 23-82 years) with UPJ injuries, findings at computed tomography (CT) (n = 10), excretory urography (n = 6), and retrograde pyelography (n = 8) were retrospectively reviewed to identify the location and extent of contrast material extravasation. Clinical and follow-up data were correlated with radiologic findings. RESULTS: CT and urography played complementary roles in diagnosis. UPJ avulsion, defined as complete transection of the ureter with no filling of the ipsilateral ureter below the level of the UPJ, was diagnosed in four patients. UPJ laceration, defined as contrast material extravasation from the UPJ with contrast material in the ipsilateral ureter distal to the point of injury, was diagnosed in six patients. Medial perirenal contrast extravasation was seen in all 10 patients but failed to help differentiate UPJ avulsion from laceration. A distinctive pattern of contrast material extravasation at CT termed "circumrenal urinoma" was present in five patients and was found to be specific for UPJ injury. CONCLUSION: Medial perinephric contrast material extravasation was highly suggestive of UPJ injury. Demonstration of ureteral filling differentiated UPJ laceration from avulsion.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Unenhanced helical CT of ureterolithiasis: value of the tissue rim sign.

OBJECTIVE: The tissue rim sign-a rim or halo of soft-tissue attenuation seen around the circumference of an intraureteral calculus on unenhanced axial CT-has been described as useful in differentiating ureteral calculi from extraurinary abdominal or pelvic calcifications. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of the tissue rim sign in patients with ureterolithiasis and extraurinary calcifications and to determine the relationship between the tissue rim sign, the size of a calculus, and the degree of urinary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unenhanced helical CT studies followed by excretory urography were obtained in 59 patients with suspected acute ureterolithiasis. Each calcification along the expected course of the ureter seen on axial CT scans was categorized as a ureteral calculus or as an extraurinary calcification. Each categorization was based on CT, urographic, and clinical findings and the presence or absence of a tissue rim sign. When the outer wall of the ureter could not be seen because there was no clear fat plane at the level of the calcification on CT, the sign was categorized as "indeterminate." The size of the calculus was measured on CT, and the degree of urinary obstruction was estimated on the basis of the urograms. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients each had a single ureteral calculus. Of these patients, CT revealed a positive tissue rim sign in 16 patients (50%), was negative in five patients (16%), and was indeterminate in 11 patients (34%). In addition, we saw 57 extraurinary calcifications in 18 patients (11 patients with ureteral calculi and seven patients without ureteral calculi). None of the 57 extraurinary calcifications was associated with a positive tissue rim sign. The tissue rim sign was negative in 39 (68%) of the 57 extraurinary calcifications and indeterminate in the remaining 18 (32%). Ureteral calculi with a negative tissue rim sign were larger than ureteral calculi with a positive tissue rim sign (p < .01). A high degree of obstruction was present in four of five patients with ureteral calculi for which CT showed a negative tissue rim sign. Conversely, six of 16 patients in whom CT revealed a positive tissue rim sign also had a high degree of obstruction. Therefore, no clear relationship was found between the degree of obstruction and the presence of a positive tissue rim sign. CONCLUSION: A positive tissue rim sign is specific for the diagnosis of ureterolithiasis. However, a negative tissue rim sign does not preclude such a diagnosis. The presence or absence of this tissue rim sign correlates with the size of a calculus but not with the degree of urinary obstruction. When CT reveals an indeterminate tissue rim sign, careful inspection for other CT findings, such as ipsilateral ureteral dilatation, perinephric edema, dilatation of the intrarenal collecting system, and renal swelling, is necessary.

Acute Disease↗

Renal inflammatory disease: the current role of CT.

Computed tomography (CT) plays a significant role in establishing the diagnosis in clinically equivocal cases of renal infection, determining the extent of the disease process, and assessing its complications. Gas, calculi, renal parenchymal calcifications, hemorrhage, and masses can be revealed with unenhanced CT. A subsequent study with contrast enhancement is crucial for the complete evaluation of patients with renal infection in order to demonstrate the areas of altered nephrogram that occur as a result of the inflammatory process and to identify complications. In this article we review a spectrum of renal inflammatory disease, with illustrations of the CT findings in representative cases. We also review the role and potential pitfalls of fast scanning techniques that can image a particular phase of the nephrogram in a renal infection. In acute pyelonephritis, enhanced CT scans obtained during the cortical nephrographic phase typically demonstrate solitary or multifocal hypodense areas with obliteration of the corticomedullary differentiation. Delayed images obtained during the excretory phase are frequently more helpful in defining the extent of the disease process, identifying the complications such as renal abscess, and confirming the presence of urinary obstruction than are early images.

Acute Disease↗

Suspected urolithiasis in pregnant women: imaging algorithm and literature review.

Urolithiasis during pregnancy is a difficult clinical problem in which carefully selected radiologic studies play an essential role. For years excretory urography has been the standard of care in the radiologic evaluation of urolithiasis in pregnancy. Recently, sonography, particularly Doppler sonography, has evolved as an invaluable tool in the armamentarium of radiologists facing this challenging problem. In experienced hands, the diagnosis of urolithiasis in pregnancy can be made confidently using Doppler sonography and, when necessary, excretory urography.

Algorithms↗

The indeterminate renal mass.

Ultrasound and CT scan play complimentary roles for the evaluation of indeterminate renal masses. Fast MR imaging with and without gadolinium is performed for characterization of renal masses when patients have a contraindication to iodinated contrast material. Radiologists have a primary role in detecting and managing indeterminate renal masses.

Humans↗

Portal vein thrombosis: imaging findings.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is usually a complication of pre-existing cirrhosis, abdominal malignancy (e.g., pancreatic or hepatocellular carcinoma), or abdominal inflammation (e.g., appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis). Less frequently, PVT can be associated with myeloproliferative or connective tissue disorders or inflammatory bowel disease [1]. PVT can cause or exacerbate portal hypertension; variceal bleeding or hypersplenism may then develop acutely or several years later. PVT also complicates portosystemic shunt surgery or hepatic transplantation. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of PVT can be subtle or nonspecific and can be overshadowed by the underlying illness. The radiologist may be the only physician to suggest the preoperative or premortem diagnosis of PVT. Familiarity with the imaging findings of PVT, therefore, is imperative.

Adult↗

Percutaneous cholecystostomy and lithotripsy of gallstones.

Extracorporeal lithotripsy has a high incidence of postprocedure biliary colic and slow disappearance of gallstones. This situation has led to the development of a new technique which has been successful in four patients and consists of percutaneous cholecystostomy, direct stone visualization, and fragmentation of gallstones with a percutaneous lithotripter. All patients had a functioning gallbladder, stone diameter less than 30 mm, and abdominal pain secondary to cholelithiasis. The procedure was performed in a two day hospitalization. Initially, under general anesthesia, the gallbladder was intubated with a 21 gauge needle and guidewire and the tract dilated to #30 French. A nephroscope was advanced into the gallbladder through a rigid sheath. All gallstones were visualized, fragmented with a percutaneous lithotripter, and extracted. After a postoperative cholecystocholangiogram, an self-retaining catheter was placed in the gallbladder for an average of 2.5 days. Three of the four patients were discharged from the hospital in two days without any complications. A fourth patient had a small bile leak treated with antibiotics. After an average of 13 months follow-up, all patients had a normal ultrasound or oral cholecystogram and no biliary tract symptoms. This technique is safe and efficient in removing gallstones and has no recurrence of gallstones in the 13 month follow-up period.

Adult↗

Urethrography in the diagnosis of acute urethral injuries.

Urethrography has proved to be tremendously valuable in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute urethral injuries. The authors review the techniques of examination, the anatomy, and the urethrographic classification of acute injuries in the male patient.

Classification↗

Management of extraperitoneal bladder rupture.

Extraperitoneal bladder ruptures secondary to blunt trauma are caused by fractures of the bony pelvis 95 per cent of the time. A static cystogram is the only way to diagnose the lesion definitely. We have treated our 41 patients successfully with catheter drainage alone despite extensive urinary extravasation. Eighty-seven per cent of the ruptures will be healed in 10 days, and virtually all will be healed in 3 weeks.

Drainage↗

Correlation of radionuclide and ultrasound studies with biopsy findings for diagnosis of renal transplant rejection.

The diagnosis of early renal transplant rejection is of the utmost importance to the transplant recipient. Unfortunately, such a diagnosis is often extremely difficult to make. In an attempt to clarify this issue we retrospectively evaluated 35 patients with the presenting diagnosis of rejection for the correlation of comparable radionuclide (RN) and ultrasound (US) examinations with biopsy findings. In 21 patients with heavy interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration, 22 of 23 serial RN studies within forty-eight hours of biopsy were positive for rejection. Only 3 of 14 comparable US studies were positive for rejection. When examinations performed within approximately fourteen days were evaluated, 7 of 11 RN studies were positive for rejection, while 2 of 9 comparable US studies were positive for rejection. However, in 14 patients with mild or no interstitial cellular infiltration, only 6 of 13 RN studies were positive, while all 4 US examinations were negative. In the group evaluated at approximately two weeks, 2 of 6 RN studies were positive, while 0 of 5 US studies were positive. We conclude that the serial RN study is more sensitive than US examination for the diagnosis of acute rejection. US, however, proved valuable in the identification of transplant complications (i.e., fluid collections, ascites, and hydronephrosis).

Biopsy↗

Mechanisms of injury, patterns of extravasation and management of extraperitoneal bladder rupture due to blunt trauma.

During the last 7 years we have managed more than 100 cases of bladder rupture, the majority owing to blunt trauma. Of these ruptures 62 were extraperitoneal, including 59 (95 per cent) with associated pelvic fractures. Twelve patients had an associated urethral injury and 5 had a concomitant intraperitoneal bladder rupture. Complex injuries with extravasation outside the confines of the perivesical space were noted in 42 per cent of the patients. Extravasation extended into the scrotum, thigh, anterior abdominal wall and penis, and through the obturator foramen. The 41 patients who were treated with catheter drainage alone did well.

Abdominal Injuries↗