The differentiation of pancreatic abnormalities remains a problem. We analyzed the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease, using six radiologists who had less than six months' training in CT (resident level: inexperienced) and six who had more than 12 months' training (staff level: experienced) in order to clarify the difficulty with CT in the qualitative diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We reviewed retrospectively 100 cases: 28 cases of pancreatic cancer, 15 of chronic pancreatitis, three of acute pancreatitis, 12 of neoplastic disease that involved the pancreas, and 42 normal subjects. The average sensitivity and specificity of CT in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease were 81.3% and 84.4%, respectively, for the experienced radiologists and 64.0% and 82.1%, respectively, for the inexperienced radiologists. The averages for pancreatic cancer were 65.3% and 87.8% for the experienced radiologists and 60.7% and 87.3% for the inexperienced radiologists. We conclude that the ability to detect pancreatic abnormalities improves with training and experience, but diagnosis of pancreatic cancer does not improve after a certain level of expertise.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Scimitar syndrome associated with diaphragmatic herniation of the liver.

A rare case of scimitar syndrome associated with diaphragmatic herniation of the liver is reported. The upper lobe blood of this case drained abnormally to the inferior vena cava. Pulmonary angiography and radionuclide scintigraphy were useful in the diagnosis of the abnormal vessels and herniated liver.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Significance of postoperative irradiation for stage III lung cancer.

The significance of postoperative irradiation for stage III lung cancer was analyzed in 30 patients. Radiation was given to 15 of the patients and the remaining 15 did not receive any radiation therapy following surgical intervention. A total dose of 40 to 70 Gy was given to the radiation group with a fraction dose of 2 Gy five times a week using cobalt 60 gamma-ray or linac 10 MV X-ray. There was no significant difference of survival time between these two groups. However, in analyzing modes of operation, radiation seemed to improve the survival rate in patients who underwent curative or relatively curative operations (P = 0.1), while the patients who underwent non-curative operations did not receive any benefit from the postoperative irradiation. Some reasons for the ineffectiveness in cases of non-curative operation are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗