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Biomedical subjects

R H Daffner

Publications and source records attributed to R H Daffner.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Computed tomography of fibrous dysplasia.

Skeletal fibrous dysplasia produces changes that are usually readily recognized on plain radiographs. Occasionally, routine radiography may not demonstrate the characteristic appearance of the disease. The density of abnormal bone in craniofacial fibrous dysplasia may preclude adequate assessment of areas where soft-tissue impingement may occur. Computed tomography (CT) is useful in demonstrating the amorphous "ground-glass" texture of the lesion and in defining the extent of craniofacial disease including impingement upon orbital structures. CT was useful in five patients with fibrous dysplasia in whom the nature or extent of involvement was not entirely clear.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Relevant signs of stable and unstable thoracolumbar vertebral column trauma.

One-hundred and seventeen patients with acute thoracolumbar vertebral column fracture or fracture-dislocations were analyzed and classified into stable (36%) and unstable (64%). Eight helpful roentgen signs were observed that may serve to direct attention to serious underlying. Often occult, fractures and dislocations. The changes fall into four principal groups: abnormal soft tissues, abnormal vertebral alignment, abnormal joints, and widened vertebral canal. All stable and unstable lesions showed abnormal soft tissues, while 70% demonstrated kyphosis and/or scoliosis, and an abnormal adjacent intervertebral disk space. All unstable lesions showed one or more of the following signs: displaced vertebra, widened interspinous space, abnormal apophyseal joint(s), and widened vertebral canal.

Fractures, Bone↗
PubMed1981

Pseudovacuum of the cervical intervertebral disc: a normal variant.

A lucency in the intervertebral disc space at the superior margin is a normal variant related to Mach band phenomenon. This may easily be confused with a true vacuum sign in intervertebral disc injury. Patients with the pseudovacuum have no associated radiographic findings to suggest injury about the suspected disc space. A review of a group of normal lateral cervical vertebral films showed the phenomenon to occur in 65% of adults and 50% in children.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Computed tomography of the esophagus.

CT is a rapid, accurate, and safe imaging modality for evaluating patients with esophageal disease. Thoracoabdominal CT has its greatest value in staging patients with esophageal carcinoma. In the noncachectic patient CT clearly shows the presence of periesophageal spread of the patient's tumor and identifies the presence of intraabdominal node or hepatic metastasis. For the surgeon it represents a noninvasive manner of outlining the extent of disease and will help to determine whether a palliative or curative resection should be attempted. Furthermore CT accurately outlines the extent of disease in both the thorax and the abdomen for planning radiation therapy. CT is also useful in differentiating between carcinoma and benign chronic hypertrophic reflux esophagitis with stricture when endoscopic and radiographic findings are inconclusive.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1980

Visual illusions in computed tomography: phenomena related to Mach effect.

Mach bands, a visual phenomenon resulting from lateral inhibitory impulses in the retina of the eye, are recognized under a variety of circumstances as lucent or dense lines due to overlap of radiographic shadows. A similar phenomenon, the background contrast effect, commonly occurs in computed tomography because of the effect of background density on a particular structure. This may be a source of diagnostic error. To avoid this problem, measurement of the densities of pertinent structures should be obtained using the computer, rather than relying on the observer's eyes alone.

Diagnostic Errors↗
PubMed1979

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal abscesses.

The diagnosis of intra-abdominal abscess by radiographic means often relies on combining the results of several different imaging modalities. Computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be a safe, accurate and rapid diagnostic method of diagnosing these abscesses. Five patients with a variety of intra-abdominal abscesses are presented in whom the CT scan alone provided the correct diagnosis. The various imaging modalities available for the radiologic diagnosis of intra-abdominal abscess are described and are compared to CT diagnosis regarding their pitfalls.

Abscess↗
PubMed1979

Intraabdominal abscess: current concepts in radiologic evaluation.

Forty patients with suspected abdominal abscess had computed tomography (CT) and plain film examinations; 15 also had ultrasound study. CT was found to be the most consistently accurate examination, both for the detection of abscess and evaluation of its extent. Ultrasound was positive in a high percentage of cases in which it was used. Although plain films correctly suggested the presence of an abscess in over half the proven cases, confirmatory evidence from CT or ultrasound was often required to persuade clinicians of the presence of an abscess and to provide detailed information regarding its extent and configuration.

Abscess↗
PubMed1979

CT of the esophagus: I. Normal appearance.

The thoracic esophagus is easily demonstrable throughout its entire length on thoracic computed tomography (CT). The soft tissue planes separating the esophagus from its adjacent mediastinal structures are normally distinct. Blurring or distortion of these tissue interfaces is a reliable indicator of disease. The normal CT anatomy of the esophagus and mediastinal relationships are described. Air in the esophagus is considered a normal finding.

Esophagus↗
PubMed1979

CT of the esophagus. II. Carcinoma.

Thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed prior to treatment on 30 patients with proven carcinoma of the esophagus. Operative, bronchoscopic, and/or autopsy data were reviewed and showed that CT correctly identified the extent of medistinal spread in 27 patients and intraabdominal metastases in 22 patients. The ability of CT to reliably predict the extent of disease should help the surgeon and radiation oncologist plan optimal therapy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

The use of CT scanning in resolving "pseudo" lesions of the liver.

The authors have presented three cases in which bowel, fat, or fluid interposed between the liver and abdominal wall resulted in an equivocal or abnormal radionuclide scan of the liver. Ultrasound was useful in suggesting the etiology in only one instance. In all three cases, however, computerized tomography clearly demonstrated the etiology of the defect or "pseudo" lesion seen on the radionuclide scan.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1978

Significant new observations on cervical spine trauma.

The results of a computer analysis of 399 patients with documented fractures and/or dislocations of the cervical spine are summarized. Vertebral arch fractures were present in half of all patients with radiographic evidence of cervical spine trauma. Two-thirds of the patients had two or more injuries. Isolated disk injuries were rare and, when present, were characterized by a vacuum sign. The dens fracture, with or without atlantoaxial dislocation, was rarely associated with injury elsewhere in the cervical spine. The study suggests that the routine five-film cervical spine examination is inadequate to detect the most common traumatic lesions. Thus vertebral arch views (pillar views) should be obtained if there is evidence to suggest hyperextension as the mechanism of injury. In addition, the study underscores the importance of aggressively searching for multiple abnormalities.

Axis, Cervical Vertebra↗