Biomedical subjects
P Corr
Publications and source records attributed to P Corr.
Colour Doppler ultrasound assessment of the inferior vena cava in patients with Wilms' tumour.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of colour flow Doppler ultrasound in diagnosing inferior vena caval (IVC) extension of tumour thrombus in patients with Wilms' tumour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 3-year period from June 1994 to June 1997, 74 patients with Wilms' tumour were referred to our institution. In this retrospective study we reviewed the preoperative colour flow Doppler ultrasound reports of 64 of these patients and compared the reports with the intra-operative findings in 51 patients who underwent surgery. RESULTS: Vena caval extension of tumour thrombus was present in 12 patients (18.7%) and in six of these patients (9.4%) there was also atrial extension of the tumour. Colour flow Doppler ultrasound correctly diagnosed IVC extension of tumour thrombus in nine patients and correctly predicted the cranial extent of the tumour thrombus in eight patients. CONCLUSION: Colour flow Doppler ultrasound has an overall positive predictive value of 73.4% in assessing IVC patency and correctly diagnosing IVC extension of tumour thrombus, in patients with Wilms' tumour. However, non-diagnostic ultrasound examinations can occur in over 20% of patients.
The role of magnetic resonance imaging on spinal trauma.
Spinal MR has an increasingly important role in the assessment of spinal trauma. The ability to visualise clearly the spinal cord, nerve roots, ligaments, intervertebral discs and adjacent vascular structures allow a more accurate assessment of the extent of injury, and necessity for further management and provide a prognosis for recovery.
Transient osteoporosis of the hip.
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Palliative treatment of oesophageal carcinoma--efficacy of plastic versus self-expandable stents.
OBJECTIVES: A prospective randomised study of patients with irresectable oesophageal carcinoma treated with self-expandable covered metal Wallstent and plastic Procter Livingstone tubes was performed. The purpose was to compare the efficacy, cost effectiveness, ease of implantation, long-term patency and complications of the two different stents. METHODS: Data recorded included dysphagia score (0-4) the day before and after stent placement, location and length of stricture, procedural time and complications, and stent patency at 1 and 3 months' follow-up. A comparative costing of materials, theatre and anaesthetic time and hospital stay was undertaken. RESULTS: Forty patients were studied over 12 months (20 in each group). Strictures were located most commonly in the middle third of the oesophagus (75%), followed by the upper third (12.5%) and lower third (12.5%). Mean stricture length was 6 cm (2-12 cm); 10 patients (25%) had strictures 8 cm or longer. Five patients had tracheo-oesophageal fistulas (3 Wallstent; 2 Procter Livingstone tube). There was effective fistula sealing in all 3 Wallstent patients, and non-sealing in 1 of the Procter Livingstone patients. The mean pre-operative dysphagia score in both groups was 3, and immediately postoperatively the score was 0 in the Wallstent group and 2 in the plastic tube group. Initial stent placement was satisfactory in all Wallstent patients, with 2 patients requiring 2 stents each for adequate tumour coverage, and in 15 patients (75%) having plastic stents. Immediate complications were chest pain in 2 patients with Wallstents and oesophageal perforation in 2 patients (10%) with plastic stents. Wallstent patency at 1 and 3 months was 90% and 88%, respectively, and plastic stent patency was 66% and 50%. Four patients (10%), 2 in each group, died during the study from massive tumour load or metastatic disease. Comparative costing of the Wallstent versus the plastic tube stent was R4 123 versus R2 146 or a factor of 1.9. CONCLUSION: Palliation with the Wallstent is effective, with excellent 1- and 3-month patency. The Wallstent is superior to the conventional plastic stent in terms of ease of implantation, better long-term patency and fewer complications. It is particularly useful for the treatment of patients with fistulas and long strictures. Accurate placement is critical in order to prevent stent migration and tumour overgrowth. However, it costs almost twice as much to implant the Wallstent as it does to implant the plastic tube.
Colour-flow ultrasound in the detection of penetrating vascular injuries of the neck.
PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity of colour-flow ultrasound in the detection of penetrating vascular injuries of the neck when compared with conventional angiography. METHOD: We prospectively imaged the neck arteries of all patients with suspected vascular injuries who were referred for angiography by the vascular surgeon over a 6-month period. All sonograms were performed by the same radiologist before angiography using a 7.5 or 10 MHz transducer on the same scanner. Data recorded were the presence or absence of vascular injury, the site of injury, and the type (intimal, dissection, false aneurysm or fistula). Angiography was performed immediately afterwards by a different radiologist. Results were correlated with the angiogram and operative findings. RESULTS: 25 patients were studied. 15 patients had normal ultrasound studies and angiograms. Ultrasound studies were positive in 10 patients (40%), with false aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas detected in 8 patients; these were confirmed on angiography and at operation. There were intimal injuries in 2 patients (4%) that were undetected on angiography but confirmed at surgery. There were no false-positive or false-negative ultrasound studies. CONCLUSION: Colour-flow ultrasound is sensitive in detecting vascular injuries and is suitable as a screening investigation in patients with penetrating neck injuries.
Ultrasound training in South Africa.
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Hypoxic encephalopathy due to near-drowning.
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The value of 201thallium-SPECT imaging in childhood brainstem gliomas.
OBJECTIVE: To compare 201thallium (T1) uptake and SPECT with MRI in children with brainstem gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten children with brainstem gliomas were prospectively evaluated by 201Tl-SPECT and MRI. Histological verification was obtained in eight children - two died prior to surgery. Quantitative thallium uptake index (UI) was obtainable in five cases and was compared to tumour grade. In addition, two patients with known benign brainstem lesions (neurofibromatosis and tuberculoma) were similarly prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: All children with brainstem glioma accumulated thallium. (Mean U1 3.23, 100% sensitivity). The single patient with brainstem tuberculoma also accumulated thallium (UI 2.80, 91.7% specificity). There was no correlation between thallium uptake and tumour grade. Uptake could not be conclusively correlated with the following MR features: gadolinium enhancement, exophytic or intrinsic gliomas, necrosis and location of glioma within the brainstem. CONCLUSIONS: 201T1-SPECT is a promising imaging adjunct in the assessment of childhood brainstem gliomas.
Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging in eclampsia: a series of 12 cases.
The object of this study was to assess the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect the cerebral abnormalities associated with eclampsia and therefore to establish its place in our management of the condition. This study was of particular relevance to our institution because eclampsia is common in our patient population. This was a prospective study in which 13 patients with an initial diagnosis of eclampsia received MRI brain scans. Of 12 patients with a final diagnosis of eclampsia, seven (58.3%) showed the typical MRI changes of eclampsia, namely cerebral hyperintensities representing focal areas of oedema. In five patients (41.6%) the scans were normal. The rate of abnormality detection was surprisingly low. We conclude that the reason for this was the time delay in obtaining the scans. The cerebral changes in eclampsia can be rapidly reversible. Future studies must aim to perform MRI within 48 hours of seizure activity. MRI is more sensitive than computed tomography scanning but has no practical advantages over computed tomography except where the diagnosis is in doubt.
Teleradiology in KwaZulu-Natal. A pilot project.
OBJECTIVE: This was a pilot teleradiology project connecting two secondary KwaZulu-Natal hospitals' radiography departments to a central Durban teaching hospital. The purpose of the study was to assess the usefulness of same-day teleradiology reports to the medical staff and whether such a service changed patient management. DESIGN: After 1 month's service at each hospital, the first 200 teleradiology reports, original radiographs and patients' case notes were reviewed to determine whether any errors in interpretation of the radiographs had been made and whether the reports had changed patient management. RESULTS: The service changed patient management in 10% of cases. Undetected pathology was recognised by the radiologist in 20 patients--pulmonary tuberculosis in 10, spinal tuberculosis in 3, miliary tuberculosis in 2 and fractures in 5. Problems were encountered with transmission of data using the current telephone network, loss of data at the receiving station and the increased workload of the radiographer transmitting the data. CONCLUSIONS: Teleradiology services do make a positive impact on patient management in rural hospitals. However, there are many technical pitfalls that must be avoided in order to establish an effective service.
An unusual cause of haemobilia: biliary ascariasis.
A case of haemobilia following biliary ascariasis is presented. Angiography confirmed an aneurysm of the left hepatic artery, which was successfully embolised. The patient made an uneventful recovery.
Case of the season. Ileocecal tuberculosis.
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Single photon emission and cerebral computerised tomographic scan and transcranial Doppler sonographic findings in eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE: To define more clearly the neuropathophysiology of eclampsia utilising single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), cerebral computerised tomography (CT) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. DESIGN: A prospective study SETTING: The obstetric unit in King Edward VIII Hospital, a large tertiary referral centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-five women with eclampsia. INTERVENTIONS: Imaging and ultrasonographic investigations were performed within 48 hours postpartum. Unenhanced cerebral CT scans were performed in all the women and SPECT scans were performed on 63 women using Technetium-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (99mTc-HMPAO) as a tracer of regional cerebral blood flow. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity waveforms were measured using 2 MHz pulsed Doppler ultrasound via the transtemporal approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abnormalities in SPECT scan, CT scan and TCD ultrasound findings. RESULTS: SPECT scanning revealed perfusion deficits in the watershed areas in all women, 75% of whom had concomitant deficits in the parieto-occipital areas of the brain. Hypodensities (cerebral oedema) were reported in 38 CT scans (58.5%), with parieto-occipital involvement in 97.4% of cases. Increased flow velocity measurements in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries were recorded in 36 (85.7%) women in whom TCD ultrasound was performed. CONCLUSION: The pathophysiological mechanism of eclamptic seizures is primary cerebral vasospasm with resultant ischaemia and cerebral oedema involving mainly the watershed areas and parieto-occipital lobes of the brain. SPECT scanning has been shown to be superior to CT scanning and TCD ultrasonography in detecting neuropathophysiologic alterations in eclampsia. However, each of the three investigative tools provide its own unique information and all three are necessary research techniques to improve our understanding of the neuropathophysiological mechanism of eclamptic seizures.
Parotid MALT lymphoma in HIV infected children.
A retrospective review of 10 children with biopsy proved mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the parotid glands demonstrated multifocal hypoechoic intraparotid nodules and cysts with punctate calcification on sonography. This was confirmed on computed tomographic examination. All children were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus and had depressed CD4 counts. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma should be considered in the diagnosis of bilateral parotid swelling in children with acquired immunodeficiency disease-related complex.
Clinics in diagnostic imaging (26). Madura foot (or mycetoma).
A 40-year-old African man presented with a painful swollen right foot, with a plantar discharging sinus. Radiographs showed punched-out erosions of the metatarsals with surrounding sclerosis, consistent with Madura foot or mycetoma. The pathogenesis and radiological features of this entity are reviewed. Treatment is effective but the diagnosis is often considered late in the disease at the time of biopsy. Radiologists working in endemic regions must consider this condition in the differential diagnosis of chronic osteitis.
Extravascular axillary vein compression in a competitive swimmer: a case report.
An unusual case of acute axillary vein compression secondary to hypertrophy and intramuscular edema of the subscapularis muscle is described in a competitive swimmer. The signs and symptoms of this condition are similar to those of axillary vein thrombosis, including nonedematous swelling, discoloration, pain, and prominent cutaneous veins of the involved upper limb. Early recognition and diagnosis by means of venography are important to distinguish the condition from axillary vein thrombosis and to alert the practitioner to the potential of future axillary vein thrombosis in such a case. The treatment is primarily conservative.