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D Bergin

Publications and source records attributed to D Bergin.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The "dependent viscera" sign in CT diagnosis of blunt traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to describe the "dependent viscera" sign and determine its usefulness at CT in the diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture after blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 28 consecutive patients (19 men, nine women) between 17 and 74 years old (mean age, 31 years) who had undergone abdominal CT and subsequent emergency laparotomy after a blunt trauma. Ten patients had a diaphragmatic rupture (six, right-sided; four, left-sided) at laparotomy. An experienced radiologist unaware of the surgical findings retrospectively reviewed the CT scans, and then a second radiologist reviewed the scans to provide interobserver agreement. Note was made of discontinuity of the diaphragm, intrathoracic herniation of abdominal contents, and waistlike constriction of bowel (the collar sign). Also noted was whether the upper one third of the liver abutted the posterior right ribs or whether the bowel or stomach lay in contact with the posterior left ribs. Either of these findings was termed the "dependent viscera" sign. The radiologists' detection rate of diaphragmatic rupture on the CT scans via observance of the dependent viscera sign was determined. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic. RESULTS: The dependent viscera sign was observed on the CT scans of 100% of the patients with a left-sided diaphragmatic rupture and of 83% of the patients with right-sided diaphragmatic rupture. Both observers missed one case of right-sided diaphragmatic rupture. The radiologists' overall rate of detecting diaphragmatic rupture was 90% using the dependent viscera sign. We found excellent interobserver agreement (kappa = 1) for detection of the dependent viscera sign and for the diagnosis of diaphragmatic tear on CT scans. CONCLUSION: The dependent viscera sign increases the detection at CT of acute diaphragmatic rupture after blunt trauma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Power Doppler ultrasound assessment of rheumatoid hand synovitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate power Doppler ultrasound (PD) as a technique in assessing response to treatment with steroids in rheumatoid hand synovitis. METHODS: Twelve patients with rheumatoid hand synovitis were assessed before and after treatment with steroids. Variables used to assess synovitis activity in each patient included patient visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, physician assessment score (PAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and PD of the metacarpophalangeal joints. RESULTS: Nine female and 3 male patients were studied; mean age was 53.3+/-6.5 yrs and mean disease duration 6.5+/-4.5 yrs. All patients had a good clinical response to steroid treatment and there was a significant improvement in the synovitis activity assessments. Wilcoxon signed-rank test using the exact method was applied to the change in disease activity variables. For PD signal, p < 0.002; VAS, p < 0.0016; ESR, p < 0.031; PAS, p < 0.008. CONCLUSION: PD quantifies synovitis and may be a useful adjunct to disease assessment and the response to treatment in RA.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

MR imaging of bone tumors of the cervical spine.

MR Imaging has altered radically the detection, characterization, and the staging of bone tumors. This article reviews MR imaging techniques and appearances of benign and malignant bone tumors that are encountered in the cervical spine.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1990

An immunohistochemical study of papillary tumors in the central nervous system.

An immunohistochemical study was performed on the paraffin sections of 25 tumors in the central nervous system (CNS) with prominent papillary configurations. These tumors included seven metastatic papillary carcinomas, six choroid plexus tumors, four papillary ependymomas, two myxopapillary ependymomas, two papillary pituitary adenomas, two astroblastomas, one papillary meningioma, and one anaplastic astrocytoma with significant papillary changes. The panel of antibodies applied included anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), anti-vimentin (VM), anti-S-100 protein (S-100 P), anti-cytokeratin, and anti-prealbumin antisera. All ependymomas and astroblastomas examined expressed both VM and GFAP, which were either absent or focally expressed in choroid plexus tumors. In contrast, all choroid plexus tumors showed anti-cytokeratin immunoreactivity that was absent in the ependymomas and astroblastomas. Five choroid plexus tumors also expressed S-100 P, thus differentiating them from metastatic carcinoma that showed negative immunostaining. Anti-CEA antisera immunoreactivity was seen in six metastatic tumors, whereas none of the primary CNS tumors expressed CEA. Prealbumin was expressed in four choroid plexus tumors and two metastatic tumors. Immunohistochemical typing using a panel of antibodies has allowed the differentiation of most of the papillary tumors in the CNS examined in this study.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed1974

The use of propoxyphene napsylate in the treatment of heroin and methadone addiction.

The use of methadone in the treatment of heroin addiction continues to be controversial. Propoxyphene napsylate (Darvon N(R)) is a possible alternative and a pilot study was conducted to test its acceptability, safety and clinical efficacy in treating long term, "multi-relapse" heroin addicts. Findings indicate that propoxyphene napsylate suppresses many of the symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal phenomena. It should be viewed as a very promising therapeutic tool to be used in conjunction with psychological counseling and socio-vocational rehabilitation in detoxification and maintenance therapy for heroin or methadone addiction.

Adolescent↗