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Biomedical subjects

R G Levitt

Publications and source records attributed to R G Levitt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Nonfunctioning adrenal masses: incidental discovery on computed tomography.

Sixteen adrenal masses were identified with computed tomography (CT) in patients who had no clinical or biochemical evidence of adrenal pathology. In five patients, an adrenalectomy was performed, disclosing either an adenoma or nodular hyperplasia. Autopsy disclosed a cortical adenoma in one patient who died from unrelated causes. In the remaining 10 patients, follow-up scans 4--16 months later revealed no change in the size of the masses. A management plan of nonfunctioning adrenal masses discovered incidentally on CT is proposed.

Adenoma↗

Computed tomography in the evaluation of mediastinal widening.

Computed tomography was employed in 71 patients to assess a widened mediastinum detected on plain chest radiography. In 92% of the patients, CT correctly identified normal variants, sift-tissue density masses or vascular abnormalities as the cause of mediastinal widening. In 8% of the scans, all performed early in our experience, CT diagnosis was indeterminate (4%) or incorrect (4%). In 58% of the cases, a specific and correct CT diagnosis was made, which obviated further and more invasive diagnostic evaluation. CT scanning can differentiate vascular from avascular causes of mediastinal widening, and provide a specific and conclusive diagnosis in many instances. Invasive diagnostic procedures should be reserved for the few cases in which CT is indeterminate or additional preoperative information is required.

Aged↗

Use of CT in evaluation of postcystectomy patients.

Twenty-one patients with prior cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were evaluated by computed tomography. In eight patients who developed local pelvic recurrence, CT diagnosis was correct in seven. CT also detected distant metastasis in five patients and local pelvic abscesses in two additional patients. Our data show CT to be a more sensitive means than conventional radiologic methods including gray scale sonography in the detection of local recurrence and postoperative complications. Examples of normal postcystectomy changes in the pelvis as well as recurrent disease and surgical complications are illustrated. The pitfalls and the proper role of CT in these patients are also discussed.

Adult↗

CT of anomalies of the mediastinal vessels.

Computed tomographic (CT) studies of the thorax were performed on 12 patients with congenital anomalies of the mediastinal great vessels. CT correctly identified 11 of 12 abnormalities including left superior vena cava, right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery, L- and D-transposition of the great vessels, pulmonary valvular stenosis, and truncus arteriosus. CT obviated further invasive procedures in those anomalies not associated with intracardiac defects and supplemented the angiographic findings in some patients with intracardiac defects requiring catheterization.

Adolescent↗

Traumatic fissural hemonpneumothorax.

A case of interlobar air-fluid collections following nonpenetrating chest trauma is presented. Radiographic features which suggest the diagnosis of traumatic fissural hemopneumothorax are discussed.

Aged↗

The role of pre-contrast images in computed tomography of the kidney.

Abnormal CT scans of the kidney in 176 patients were reviewed to note the contribution of pre-contrast images to the final diagnosis. Pre-contrast images added useful information only when CT was used to detect renal calcification, hemorrhage, or contrast extravasation and need not be obtained routinely.

Contrast Media↗

Comparison of computed tomography and angiography in the evaluation of renal cell carcinoma.

CT scans and angiograms in patients with renal cell carcinoma were reviewed to determine their accuracy in predicting perinephric, retroperitoneal lymph node, renal vein and inferior vena caval involvement by tumor. Results were correlated with pathologic diagnoses from open biopsy or nephrectomy specimens in 62 cases. Computed tomography was more accurate and sensitive than angiography in detecting perinephric extension, more sensitive in assessing lymph node involvement, and equally accurate in detecting main renal vein and vena caval involvement. Based upon this experience, preoperative angiography is not routinely recommended in patients with renal cell carcinoma but may be necessary in selected cases when CT is equivocal or when better definition of vascular anatomy is required.

Adenoma↗

The roles of Gallium-67 scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and computed tomography in the detection of abdominal abscesses.

The evaluation of patients with suspected abdominal abscesses begins with a history and careful physical examination. Gallium-67 (67Ga) scintigraphy, ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT) are utilized only after other routine investigations have failed to localize the abscess. All three modalities are reliable for the detection of abdominal abscesses. The decision regarding which of these three diagnostic tests to use in a particular patient rests upon clinical considerations. If the patient has acute localizing signs and symptoms, 67Ga should not be used initially. In this type of patient, rapid diagnosis is best provided by either US or CT. Further radiologic investigation may be terminated if the CT or US findings are characteristic of an abscess. A 67Ga scan should be performed in a patient with acute localizing signs and symptoms if the initial CT or US is negative. In a patient with nonlocalizing signs and symptoms, 67Ga imaging should be employed as the first procedure since the entire body is easily surveyed. If the 67Ga images are abnormal, then CT or US should be utilized for further lesion characterization. This diagnostic approach will optimize the rapidity of patient evaluation and will minimize diagnostic errors.

Abdomen↗

Oat cell carcinoma manifesting as a bronchocele.

Three cases of oat cell carcinoma appearing as a bronchocele on the chest radiograph are described. A bronchocele as the major radiologic manifestation of oat cell carcinoma has not been emphasized previously. Such a bronchocele may be filled with neoplastic cells rather than only inspissated mucus. Needle aspiration biopsy was definitive in two of the cases when conventional diagnostic methods failed.

Aged↗

Computed tomography and 67Ga citrate radionuclide imaging for evaluating suspected abdominal abscess.

A retrospective analysis of the results of 67Ga citrate radionuclide imaging and computed tomography (CT) in 45 patients with suspected abdominal abscess was conducted to determine the mertis of each method. Both techniques were highly sensitive in detecting abdominal abscesses, and often provided complementary and supplementary diagnostic information; their combined use many times offset the limitations of each method used alone. Guidelines are suggested that permit rapid evaluation, while limiting diagnostic errors, when using 67Ga citrate radionuclide imaging and CT in the presence or absence of localizing symptoms and signs.

Abdomen↗

CT of the renal cyst: is cyst aspiration necessary?

Fifty patients with a total of 56 renal masses discovered on routine excretory urography or abdominal plain films and with ultrasonographic diagnoses of definite or probable benign cysts underwent computed tomography (CT) prior to cyst aspiration with cytologic study. All lesions met strict criteria for the CT diagnosis of benign cyst and subsequently proved to be benign cysts. In addition, CT scanning detected 11 other renal masses, only one of which could be retrospectively diagnosed on the original urogram. It is suggested that renal cyst aspiration need not be performed when lesions meet all CT criteria for a benign cyst.

Aged↗

Evaluation of abdominal abscess with computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) is valuable in providing a specific diagnosis of abdominal abscess and in determining its site and extent. Computed tomography is also capable of excluding an abscess with a high degree of certainty. In 31 of 34 patients with proven abdominal abscess, CT suggested the correct diagnosis and accurately defined the extent of involvement. In nine patients, the CT findings were specific for abscess. The CT appearance of abscess is diverse, largely depending on its location. The most common appearance is a low density mass often with higher density at the periphery. The presence of gas distributed within the mass or an extraalimentary air--fluid level allows an extremely confident diagnosis of abscess. Differential diagnostic possibilities are reviewed with emphasis on interpretive problems.

Abscess↗

Utility of body computed tomography in the clinical follow-up of abdominal masses.

The value of follow-up body computed tomography was assessed in 101 patients with a known or suspected abdominal or pelvic mass. Computed tomography proved to be a useful noninvasive technique for evaluating progression, regression, or recurrence of such masses after therapeutic intervention. Computed tomography provided new or unique clinical information in 87% of these patients: it was not helpful in 2% due to technical difficulty and was misleading in 4%.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Computed tomography of the thorax.

Computed tomography (CT) provides a valuable new perspective in assessing abnormalities of the thorax. In the patient with a mediastinal mass or widening detected by plain chest radiography, a definitive diagnosis is sometimes possible which would not be obtainable by conventional noninvasive radiological techniques. In certain clinical situations, CT is a highly sensitive modality for examining the lungs. The proved and potential clinical uses of CT in solving diagnostic problems of the thorax are discussed.

Adult↗