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Biomedical subjects

K L Hopkins

Publications and source records attributed to K L Hopkins.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Three-dimensional echocardiographic measurement of right ventricular volume in children with congenital heart disease validated by magnetic resonance imaging.

Measurement of right ventricular volume and function by two-dimensional echocardiography is unreliable because of the asymmetric shape of the right ventricle. The purpose of this study was to validate the accuracy of transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiography in assessing right ventricular volumes in children with congenital heart disease after surgical repair of the defects, by comparison with those measured by magnetic resonance imaging. We examined 13 children after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (10), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (2), or atrial septal defect (1). Each underwent magnetic resonance imaging followed by three-dimensional echocardiography done with a transthoracic 5 MHz, prototype internally rotating omniplane transducer. In both methods, endocardial borders were manually traced and volumetric slices were summated. Close correlation was observed between the two methods (R2 0.91 for end-systolic volumes, 0.90 for end-diastolic volumes, 0.64 for ejection fraction, and 0.92 for interobserver variability). A limits-of-agreement analysis showed no adverse trend between the two methods under values of 100 ml and low variation around the mean values. We conclude that three-dimensional echocardiography measurement of right ventricular volumes correlates closely with magnetic resonance imaging in children with operated congenital heart disease and may allow accurate serial evaluation in these patients.

Child↗

Fetus-in-fetu with malignant recurrence.

Fetus-in-fetu is an unusual condition in which a vertebrate fetus is enclosed within the abdomen of another fetus. These occurrences are usually benign. This report describes an instance of malignant recurrence after resection of a fetus-in-fetu.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Pediatric great vessel anomalies: initial clinical experience with spiral CT angiography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of spiral computed tomographic (CT) angiography for the diagnosis of pediatric great vessel anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Techniques used in adult CT angiography were modified to allow imaging of 15 children aged 1 month to 12 years. Two-dimensional axial images and three-dimensional shaded surface display images of the airway and great vessels were generated from volumetric CT data and evaluated prospectively. Findings were correlated with results obtained at surgery (five patients), autopsy (one patient), bronchoscopy (one patient), or other imaging studies (eight patients). RESULTS: In 14 patients, CT angiography accurately demonstrated vessel anomalies, including double or right aortic arch (seven cases), aberrant subclavian artery (six cases), innominate artery compression syndrome (one case), unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis (one case), and pulmonary artery enlargement (three cases). One patient had normal vasculature. CONCLUSION: CT angiography is feasible in children and can be used to delineate abnormal great vessel anatomy.

Angiography↗

Imaging manifestations of cat-scratch disease.

Cat-scratch disease affects an estimated 22,000 people in the United States each year, more than half of whom are children or adolescents [1]. It is caused by Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative bacillus usually introduced by the scratch of a cat [2]. In the past, diagnosis was made if three of the following four criteria were met: (1) history of cat exposure with inoculation, (2) positive skin test: (3) absent laboratory and histopathologic evidence of other diseases, and (4) biopsy findings of granulomatous inflammation [3]. Recent identification of the causative organism has led to new diagnostic tests, including serum assays for B. henselae antibodies [4]. Although response of the disease to antibiotics is poor, spontaneous recovery generally occurs within months to years [3].

Adolescent↗

Gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal infectious processes.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides diagnostic information beyond that given by nonenhanced imaging in the evaluation of musculoskeletal infectious processes and whether it can be used for differentiating infectious from noninfectious inflammatory lesions. Magnetic resonance images performed with and without intravenous gadolinium-DTPA in 34 cases in which musculoskeletal infection had been clinically suspected were reviewed. Infectious lesions--including osteomyelitis, pyarthrosis, abscess, and cellulitis--were confirmed in a total of 22 cases: in 15 by biopsy or drainage and in 7 by clinical course. Our results show that gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced MRI is a highly sensitive technique in diagnosing musculoskeletal infectious lesions. It is especially useful in distinguishing abscesses from surrounding cellulitis/myositis. Lack of contrast enhancement rules out infection with a high degree of certainty. However, contrast enhancement cannot be used to reliably distinguish infectious from noninfectious inflammatory conditions.

Abscess↗

Magnetization transfer contrast MRI of musculoskeletal neoplasms.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed in 15 patients with musculoskeletal neoplasms to assess the value of magnetization transfer contrast in tumor characterization. Multiplanar gradient-recalled echo sequences (TR 500-600/TE 15-20/flip angle 20-30 degrees) were performed first without and then with magnetization transfer contrast generated by a zero degree binomial pulse (MPGR and MTMPGR). Standard T1-weighted spin echo images (SE; TR 300-400/TE 12-20) and either T2-weighted SE (TR 2000-2900/TE 70-80) or T2-weighted fast spin echo (FSE; TR 4000-5000/TE 100-119 effective) images were also obtained. Signal intensities on MTMPGR scans were compared to those on MPGR scans for both tumors and normal tissues. Signal intensity ratios (SIR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were also compared for all sequences. MTMPGR images provided better contrast between pathologic tissues and muscle than did standard MPGR images, increasing both conspicuity of lesions and definition of tumor/muscle interfaces. Benign and malignant tumors, with the exception of lipoma, underwent similar degrees of magnetization transfer and could not be distinguished by this technique.

Adipose Tissue↗

Simultaneous measurement of flow in the superior mesenteric vein and artery with cine phase-contrast MR imaging: value in diagnosis of chronic mesenteric ischemia. Work in progress.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of measurements of blood flow in the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) simultaneously acquired with phase-contrast cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for diagnosing chronic mesenteric ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Simultaneous measurements of flow in the SMV and SMA were obtained in six healthy volunteers and eight patients with angiographically proved SMA stenosis (six asymptomatic, two symptomatic). Flow dynamics in both vessels were correlated with the degree of arterial disease seen at angiography and with the presence or absence of ischemic symptoms. RESULTS: Postprandial SMV and SMA flow increased substantially less in patients with atherosclerosis than in volunteers. Comparison of simultaneous SMV and SMA flow measurements provided more information about collateral flow to and from the mesenteric circulation than did either the SMV or SMA flow measurement alone. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous SMV and SMA flow measurement with cine phase-contrast MR imaging may be useful in diagnosing and understanding chronic mesenteric ischemia.

Adult↗

Computed tomography assessment of splenic size as a predictor of splenic weight and disease involvement in laparotomy staged Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate how well splenic size predicts the risk of splenic Hodgkin's disease and to assess how accurately splenic dimensions on computerized tomographic scans predict spleen size and involvement by Hodgkin's disease. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Splenic weights were obtained from laparotomies performed on 897 patients who presented with Hodgkin's disease and were compared with histologic involvement using logistic regression. Splenic dimensions were measured from preoperative computerized tomographic scans in 94 of these patients, and unidimensional splenic measurements [length (L), width (W), thickness (T)] and their products were compared with splenic weight at laparotomy using linear regression. RESULTS: Hodgkin's disease involved 42% of the spleens at laparotomy and 31% of those assessed by computerized tomography. Splenic weight averaged 198 +/- 5 g (range 40-2000 g). Weight and involvement were greater with "unfavorable" histologies (mixed cellularity, lymphocyte depletion, and unclassified Hodgkin's disease: 229 +/- 12 g; 62.7% involved) than with "favorable" histologies (nodular sclerosing, lymphocyte predominant, and interfollicular Hodgkin's disease: 191 +/- 5 g; 37.8% involved). Splenic weight was the strongest independent risk factor correlated with Hodgkin's disease in univariate and multivariate analyses in all patients and the only identifiable univariate risk factor among those with computerized tomographic scans. For most patients, however, splenic weight poorly predicted involvement: The probability of involvement never fell below 20% and exceeded 80% when splenic weight exceeded 270 g with unfavorable histologies or 685 g in favorable histologies. Spleens of average weight had a probability of involvement of 36% with favorable histologies, 70% with unfavorable histologies. Unidimensional measurements of the spleen on computed tomography correlated poorly with splenic weight, but their product correlated well (Correlation coefficients: L: 0.73; W: 0.65; T: 0.78; [0.344485 x L x W x T]: 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Splenic weight is the strongest factor correlating with the risk of splenic involvement by Hodgkin's disease and can be accurately estimated from three-dimensional measurements on computed tomographic scans, but not from unidimensional measurements. However, splenic weight is not a sensitive predictor of involvement of the spleen by Hodgkin's disease. Therefore, treatment approaches to Hodgkin's disease must be based upon intermediate risks of splenic involvement for most clinically staged patients.

Adolescent↗

Adnexal torsion: color Doppler diagnosis and laparoscopic treatment.

The present case documents normalization of ovarian perfusion after conservative laparoscopic treatment of adnexal torsion. At our institution, Doppler flow assessment in cases of suspected torsion represents an important element of diagnosis and, in this case, allowed for early diagnosis with conservative laparoscopic treatment with documented normalization of ovarian flow postoperatively.

Adnexal Diseases↗