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F Smaltino

Publications and source records attributed to F Smaltino.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Phlebography of the cavernous and intercavernous sinuses; an investigation complementary to CT detecting intrasellar space-occupying lesions].

The technique of peri-hypophyseal phlebography is briefly described and the theoretical bases that inspire its utilizations and indications are pointed out. On the basis of 20 preliminary cases, the main applications of this investigation are illustrated, with a particular attention concerning the early diagnosis of lesions too small or too dishomogeneous to be detected with certainly on CT (i.e. intrapituitary microadenomas smaller than 5 mm; associated intrasellar lesions as empty sella + pituitary tumor).

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CT in the diagnosis of sellar and parasellar lesions.

The Authors review their recent experience in investigating 185 cases of sellar and parasellar lesions, using as preliminary procedure stratigraphy and CT; further examinations were performed only in cases with unclear diagnosis. Their data confirm the reliability of this non-invasive protocol that allowed the detection of pathological changes in nearly 95% of cases and was able to define with certainty the nature of the lesions in over 72% of cases. However, other investigations were performed in 116 cases (63%): in 57 (31%) for diagnostic purpose, in 59 (32%) as complementary pre-operative studies.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[High resolution computerized tomography: dose evaluation with an anthropomorphic phantom].

High resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT), a technique for pulmonary parenchyma studies, has been for a long time performed with only few scans with a large interval in between: the reasons were the supposed increase in the dose to the patient after kVp and mAs increase, which is necessary to reduce background noise, and the characteristic distribution of most diffuse lung diseases. Of late, HRCT skin dose has been demonstrated to be markedly lower than that of conventional CT (8/10 mm contiguous slices). To evaluate organ doses to patients during HRCT, we compared conventional CT (10 mm slices), HRCT (1.5 mm slices) and chest X-ray doses, as measured on an anthropomorphous phantom. We tested several scan protocols, with different kVp and mAs values to simulate various clinical situations for the two techniques, always with both slice thickness values and both contiguous and non-contiguous (10 mm gap) slices for HRCT scans. Doses were substantially similar for the two methods with contiguous slices in every protocol. "Clinical" HRCT dose (non-contiguous slices with 10 mm gap) is much lower than that of conventional CT--i.e., about 13% of conventional CT dose. On the other hand, HRCT dose is still two orders of quantity higher than that of standard radiography. To conclude, the importance of HRCT in pulmonary parenchyma studies is confirmed.

Models, Biological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cystic dilatation of the seminal vesicles: which diagnostic approach?].

PURPOSE: We investigated the frequency, clinical features, diagnostic course and therapy of congenital and acquired seminal vesicle cysts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven vesicular cysts were found in adult subjects in 1995-1996. All diagnoses were made with suprapubic and transrectal US, CT and MRI. Vesiculo-deferentography was never used for diagnosis. Patient age and symptoms, cyst site, structure and dysembryogenetic associations were considered for diagnosis. RESULTS: All the patients were adult and all but one fertile. Age ranges were IV (43%), III and V (28.5%) decades. The cyst was congenital in 5 patients, associated with other dysplasias in 60% of them, and acquired in 2 patients. 57% of patients had urogenital symptoms and 2 patients (28.5%) had no clinical signs. US was performed for fertility tests in one patient. The left gland was always and exclusively involved; its size ranged 3.2 to 5.8 cm and its shape was characteristic only in 2 acquired cysts. DISCUSSION: Both abdominal and rectal US examinations were always performed and always reliably showed cyst site, origin, size and components. CT confirmed local findings and was also used to study the abdomen assessing renal presence and function. MRI permitted the best anatomical study with the multiplanar demonstration of the relationships between small pelvis structures. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital cysts and acquired distension of the seminal vesicles are uncommon findings also because they are difficult to diagnose. Diagnostic imaging reliably differentiates vesicular cysts from other cystic collections in that region, providing enough information to distinguish acquired from congenital forms, the former curable with drug treatment and the latter requiring more invasive therapy. Relative to site prevalence (100% in the left gland), we do not know if this was an aleatory finding or it indicated an actual congenital predisposition. US yields the indispensable diagnostic findings, but MRI should be always performed to ensure diagnosis, to study the abdomen and to plan possible surgery.

Adult↗