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Biomedical subjects

N E Watson

Publications and source records attributed to N E Watson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Use of brain biopsy for diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected herpes simplex encephalitis: a statistical model and its clinical implications. NIAID Collaborative Antiviral Study Group.

Using the decision analysis technique and multivariate regression methods, a statistical model was established to define the utility of brain biopsy for diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). Two strategies were compared: strategy I, brain biopsy with acyclovir (ACV) treatment for 10 days in biopsy-positive patients, and strategy II, ACV therapy without brain biopsy. Strategy I resulted in a greater 6-month survival rate when the likelihood of patients having HSE was less than 70%. Based on the current estimated prevalence of HSE (for patients with suspected HSE) of 35%, strategy I showed a slight advantage of a 3.2% increase in 6-month survival rate. An individual patient's chance of a positive brain biopsy can be predicted using a mathematical equation based on several important clinical assessments. This equation in conjunction with the decision analysis is a useful guide for the clinical management of patients with regard to brain biopsy.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1988

Oral cholecystography vs gallbladder sonography: a prospective, blinded reappraisal.

In a prospective, blinded study of 205 patients, oral cholecystography (OCG) and sonography were compared in terms of how well each screened patients for gallbladder diseases. Among 23 patients who had pathologic confirmation of the diagnosis at cholecystectomy, OCG correctly diagnosed 20 cases (87%) while sonography diagnosed 18 (78%). Among 54 patients with an abnormal OCG and/or sonogram, OCG detected 47 (87%) while sonography detected 44 (81%). These small differences in detection rates were not statistically significant. On the basis of these results, we cannot conclude that either sonography or OCG has a diagnostic advantage in screening patients for gallbladder disease. The large numbers of false-negative examinations found on both sonography and OCG suggest that in a patient with persistent symptoms, the alternative study should be performed if the first examination is negative.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1985

The utility of adrenal scintigraphy in Cushing's syndrome and hyperaldosteronism.

Thirty-three adrenal scintigrams in 30 patients were reviewed to determine the utility of this noninvasive imaging technique. It was found to be very accurate in distinguishing bilateral from unilateral hyperfunction in patients who have clinical and biochemical evidence of adrenal cortical hyperfunction. The technique proved correct in 12 of 12 cases of Cushing's syndrome and 14 of 19 cases of hyperaldosteronism. Specific clinical questions were also answered in three miscellaneous cases.

19-Iodocholesterol↗
PubMed1984

Bone marrow evaluation in small cell lung cancer.

The records of 87 patients with small cell lung cancer were reviewed. Patients were clinically staged with bone marrow aspirate and biopsy as well as radionuclide scans of bone, liver, and brain. Extrathoracic spread was noted in 54% (47/87) and limited disease in 46% (40/87). The bone marrow evaluation was positive in 13/62 patients (21%) and seven of these thirteen patients had normal bone scans (54%). Of these seven patients, five had no other evidence of distant metastases and their survival was 7-10 months, considerably shorter than patients found to have limited disease. Bone marrow examination appears to complement radionuclide scanning in the initial staging of patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung and provides important prognostic information.

Bone Marrow Examination↗
PubMed1984

Relative lesion detection ability of Tc-99m HMDP and Tc-99m MDP: concise communication.

To compare the efficacy of Tc-99m HMDP and Tc-99m MDP to define skeletal lesions, 28 adult patients were examined in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study. Each patient was imaged with both agents over a period of 7-14 days. Both quantitative and qualitative evaluations were performed on the resulting images. Both agents detected the same number of skeletal lesions, and the number of lesions detected was the same whether the imaging was performed 2 or 4 hr after injection. Relative uptake of the tracer in the lesion relative to normal bone was also the same for both agents. Lesions were easier to see at 4 hr after injection than at 2 hr, presumably because soft-tissue levels were lower. Retention of tracer in bone compared with soft tissue was greater, and image quality was judged to be better, with Tc-99m HMDP than with Tc-99m MDP.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Comparison of Tc-99m pyrosphosphate and Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate in acute myocardial infarction: concise communication.

A clinical comparison between a new bone seeking radiopharmaceutical, Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (TcHMDP) and the standard agent, Tc-99m pyrophosphate (TcPPi), was performed in 18 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Each patient was imaged initially with either TcHMDP or TcPPi, and imaged 24 hr later with the other tracer. All 18 patients had images positive for acute myocardial infarction with TcPPi, whereas 16 of 18 patients (89%) had positive studies with TcHMDP. The TcPPi images were graded significantly superior to those obtained with TcHMDP in 61% of the patients, and they were equal in 33%. In only one patient (6%) was TcHMDP better. The results indicate that compared with TcHMDP, TcPPi not only has a superior sensitivity for acute myocardial infarction but also has a significantly increased intensity of uptake in positive areas. TcPPi remains the agent of choice for myocardial infarct imaging.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Comparison of Tc-99m pyrophosphate and Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate in acute myocardial infarction: concise communication.

This study compared Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PPi) and Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate (MDP) for myocardial infarct imaging in 24 patients with diagnosed acute myocardial infarction. The radiopharmaceuticals were administered randomly and interpreted without knowledge of the sequence used. Twenty-three patients (96%) had positive Tc-99m PPi scintigrams, but only 17 (71%) had a positive Tc-99m MDP study (P less than 0.05). In addition, a comparison of the relative intensity with each agent revealed greater intensity with Tc-99m in 21 cases, equal intensity in two cases, and less intensity in only one case (p less than 0.001). These findings support the superiority of Tc-99m PPi as the agent of choice for myocardial scintigraphy in acute infarction.

Acute Disease↗