Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Pfleger.
Post-traumatic rupture of UPJ obstruction is a rare event, with few reported cases in the literature. Diagnosis is suggested on imaging studies, especially US and CT findings. The presence of an anterior pelvic hematoma associated with thinning of kidney parenchyma, very distended pelvis and non dilated ureter is suggestive of pre-existing pathology.
Three unusual cases of small-size leiomyosarcoma of the perirenal space were studied with CT. The renal capsule has been proved to be the origin of this type of tumor. A CT examination is accurate in suggesting the site of origin and excluding a renal cell carcinoma. However, unless evidence of invasion is noted, it is impossible on CT features to discriminate leiomyosarcoma from a benign leiomyoma.
In this work the imagery of non-small cell primary bronchial cancers are reviewed. The standard chest x-ray of the thorax remains irreplaceable for the early detection of these pathologies. On the other hand, progress in imagery has propelled thoracic computed tomographic scanning to the pole position for assessing the local and regional extension of the disease as well as for distance spread of these cancers. The latest developments with spiral CT have again improved the performance of CT scanning. Magnetic resonance imaging has a few precisely defined roles in assessing the extension of bronchopulmonary cancers. In particular with involvement of the apices, the chest wall and in the extension into the cardiovascular system. In this article the emphasis is on the illustration of non-small cell bronchial cancers on computed tomography and on magnetic resonance imaging.
The purpose of this study was to determine if lymph node asymmetry in small (< 1.0 cm) pelvic lymph nodes was a significant prognostic feature in determining metastatic disease. Two hundred and sixteen patients who presented with pelvic carcinoma underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They were correlated with pathological findings obtained at surgery. We considered the maximum diameter (MAD) of both round- or oval-shaped suspicious masses seen in the axial plane. Two different cut-off values were determined: lymph node diameter greater than 1.0 cm (criterion 1) and lymph node diameter greater than 0.5 cm with asymmetry relative to the opposite side for lymph nodes ranging from 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm (criterion 2). With criterion 1, MRI had an accuracy of 88%, a sensitivity of 65%, a specificity of 96%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 88% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 88% in the detection of pelvic lymph node metastasis. By considering criterion 2, MRI had an accuracy of 85%, a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 91%, a PPV of 71% and a NPV of 91%. Normal small asymmetric lymph nodes were present in 5.6% of cases. Normal asymmetry of pelvic lymph nodes is not uncommon. It cannot be relied on to diagnose metastatic involvement in cases of small suspicious lymph nodes.
PURPOSE: We assessed the value of renal duplex Doppler sonography in diagnosing obstruction in patients with acute renal colic. METHODS: We compared the results of renal duplex Doppler sonography with those of intravenous urography (IVU) in 65 patients presenting with symptoms of renal colic. The Doppler spectral waveforms were used to calculate the resistance index (RI). The difference between the mean RIs (delta RI) in the 2 kidneys was calculated for each patient. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of delta RI for the diagnosis of obstruction were calculated with several discriminatory thresholds. RESULTS: All patients had an obstruction on IVU. When a high delta RI threshold for obstruction (delta RI > or = 0.1) was applied, the sensitivity and specificity of duplex Doppler sonography were 10% and 80%, respectively. When the delta RI threshold was decreased, the sensitivity increased but the specificity decreased, and both remained quite low. Twelve patients had a lower mean RI in the obstructed kidney than in the normal contralateral kidney. Among 14 patients without pyelocaliceal dilatation, the sensitivity of duplex Doppler sonography was 70% with a delta RI threshold of 0.03. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex Doppler sonography is not sensitive enough to diagnose obstruction in patients with acute renal colic.
The lumbosacral spine is the source of pain, suffering, and disability more frequently than any other part of the body. Pain in the lower back can be managed with computed tomography-guided analgesic interventional procedures, such as periradicular infiltration, percutaneous laser disk decompression, facet joint block, and percutaneous vertebroplasty. Periradicular injection of steroids provides short-term and sometimes even long-term relief of low back pain. Percutaneous laser disk decompression is used to treat radiculalgia caused by disk herniation. Facet joint block is useful in diagnosis and treatment of facet syndrome. Percutaneous vertebroplasty provides short- and long-term pain relief in patients with vertebral body disease. However, precise patient selection is essential to the success of each of these techniques. The interventional radiologist has an active role to play in minimally invasive management of lower back pain and should be part of an interdisciplinary team that determines the appropriate therapy.