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Biomedical subjects

R I Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to R I Thompson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: ventilation perfusion scintigraphy versus helical computed tomography pulmonary angiography.

The present study compared the accuracy of ventilation perfusion scintigraphy (VQS) and CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This was a prospective observational study of 112 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) who could be studied with both investigations within 24 h. Results were compared to final diagnosis at completion of 6-month follow up, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 27 referred patients (24%). The sensitivity and specificity of VQS and CTPA were similar to that reported from the literature. A normal VQ scan had the highest negative predictive value (100%), while a high-probability VQ scan had the highest positive predictive value (92%). There was no overall difference (area under the ROC curve (AUC)) between VQS (AUC (95% CI) = 0.82 (0.75,0.89)) and CTPA (AUC = 0.88 (0.81,0.94)) for the diagnosis of PE. Among patients with abnormal chest X-rays, CTPA (AUC 0.90 (0.83,0.97)) appeared somewhat better than VQS (AUC 0.78 (0.68,0.88)) but this difference did not reach statistical significance. In this instance, CTPA is at least as accurate as VQS and may provide an opportunity to make alternative diagnoses.

Adult↗

Bone density changes in Paget's disease 2 years after iv pamidronate: profound, sustained increases in pagetic bone with severity-related loss in forearm nonpagetic cortical bone.

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at three sites (forearm, spine, and hip) using dual X-ray and single-photon absorptiometry in 68 patients with Paget's disease before and after treatment with iv pamidronate. Patients were treated according to the severity of their disease; the mild category (Group I, hydroxyproline excretion (Hyp(E)) <5.0 micromol/L GF) received 120 mg, the moderate category (Group II, Hyp(E) 5.0-9.99 micromol/GF) 180 mg, and the severe category (Group III, > or = 10.0 micromol/GF) 240 mg. Group I was followed for 1 year, and both Groups II and III for 2 years. At the lumbar spine in pagetic bone there were no differences between groups in early responses, with a profound increase 6 months after treatment 20.5 +/- 2.0% above baseline values to 1.403 +/- 0.063 g/cm(2) (mean +/- SEM)(P < 0.001). This increase in BMD was sustained to 2 years (1.355 +/- 0.078 g/cm(2), P < 0.001) and was 15.0 +/- 2.2% above baseline values. The pagetic total hip BMD increased after treatment in all groups, with a mean rise of 10.4 +/- 1.4% at 1 year to 1.505 +/- 0.083 g/cm(2) (P < 0.01). At the pagetic femoral neck the response was similar, with a peak significant rise at 1 year of 10.7 +/- 1.7% to 1.403 +/- 0.097 g/cm(2) (P < 0.01). In nonpagetic spinal bone there were no differences between the group responses, with a combined mean increase of 4.3 +/- 0.7% at 1 year to 0.999 +/- 0.027 g/cm(2) (P < 0.01). In both Groups II and III the increase in BMD was significantly higher than baseline values at 1 and 2 years (P < 0.01). In the nonpagetic total hip BMD remained unchanged over the 2-year period and likewise, there were no significant changes from baseline at the nonpagetic femoral neck site. In the nonpagetic forearm we found a significant loss in BMD at the ultradistal (mainly trabecular), midregion (80% cortical), and proximal shaft (95% cortical) sites in Group III, persisting to 2 years at the latter two sites. The increase in bone density in pagetic bone, persisting at least 2 years, provides a new modality of assessment of the response of pagetic bone to treatment and suggests a mechanism for the reduction in fracture risk in such bone after effective bisphosphonate treatment. Severity-dependent nonpagetic forearm bone loss, persisting to 2 years at cortical sites, suggests a potential drug-induced fracture risk at the forearm and possibly elsewhere in the absence of appropriate preventive cotreatment.

Aged↗

Diagnosis of breast microcalcifications: a comparison of stereotactic FNA and core imprint cytology as adjuncts to core biopsy.

Stereotactic core biopsy (CB) using 14-gauge needles was adopted as the standard method of diagnosis of screen-detected breast microcalcifications (MC) at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in 1996. Fine needle aspiration (SFNA) was included as an adjunct, to optimise sensitivity and to provide immediate reporting. Recently, core imprint cytology (CI) has been shown to have a high sensitivity in diagnosing malignancy. The aims of this paper were to evaluate the accuracy of SFNA as an adjunct to CB, and whether CI could replace SFNA for immediate reporting in MC. Part A is a retrospective review of CB/SFNA of screen-detected MC from May 1998 to February 2000. A minimum of five cores was performed. SFNA samples were restricted to a maximum of three needle passes. Part B is a prospective study of CI from May to November 2000. In Part A, there were 406 MC in 353 women and 81 carcinomas were proven on excision. The complete sensitivity of CB for a diagnosis of malignancy was 97.5% and of SFNA was 65%. No false-positive diagnoses were made by either method. No extra carcinomas were detected using SFNA. In Part B, CB/CI were performed on 203 MC from 165 women. There were 38 carcinomas and 30 of these (79%) were diagnosed as malignant on CI. No false-positive diagnoses were made. The predictive value of a benign diagnosis was 95%. SFNA had little value as an adjunct to core biopsy in MC. CI promises to be useful in providing same day diagnosis for counselling purposes and for planning future surgery.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Clinical, biochemical, hematologic, and radiographic responses in Paget's disease following intravenous pamidronate disodium: a 2-year study.

An intravenous dosage schedule using pamidronate disodium, based on biochemical severity, was used to treat 71 patients with Paget's disease who had no previous bisphosphonate treatment. Disease severity was stratified by fasting hydroxyproline excretion (HypE): Group (Gp) I (mild disease; HypE < 5.0 mumol/LGF) received a total dose of 120 mg; Gp II (moderate; HypE 5.00-9.99) received 180 mg; and Gp III (severe; HypE > or = 10) received 240 mg. Within each group patients were randomly allocated to receive daily 30 mg or 60 mg infusions. Observations for 2 years included pain scores, indices of bone turnover, and radiology of lytic lesions. There was no difference in biochemical responses, or in the percentage of patients with early fever, between the 30 mg and 60 mg daily subgroups; for convenience, 60 mg infusions are recommended. Neutrophils and total white cell counts were both significantly below baseline 4 days after the first infusion; lymphocytes were significantly reduced by day 2; and all three measures had returned to within the reference range by day 6. Remission was assessed at 6 months, when both plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and HypE had reached stable nadirs. Increasing severity was associated with increasing resistance to suppression of HypE at 6 months to within the reference range: Gp I, 87%; Gp II, 44%; and Gp III, 0% (p < 0.0001 by chi-square test). Biochemical relapse at 2 years (defined as ALP 50% above the 6 month level) was also dependent on initial disease severity (Gp I, 6%; GpII, 39%; Gp III, 62%; p < 0.0005 by chi-square test). There was no association between time to relapse and either initial dose or log dose. Radiologic lytic lesions (in 22 patients) were all in remission at 3 months; however, relapse rates at 2 years appeared to be severity-dependent: Gp I, 13%; Gp II, 43%; and Gp III, 57% (n.s. by chi-square test). Remission rates based on a fall to < 50% of pretreatment of either HypE or ALP were more in accord with lytic lesion remission rates than were rates based on HypE falling to within the reference range. Pamidronate produced a significant reduction from baseline in Pagetic bone, Pagetic joint, and unrelated musculoskeletal pain in the first 6 months (p < 0.0001). From 0 months to 2 years the maintenance of improvement in bone pain (p < 0.005) and joint pain (p < 0.05) was significantly better than in unrelated pain. Pamidronate is a safe, welltolerated, and effective treatment for Paget's disease. In spite of larger dosage in severe disease, increasing severity was associated with resistance to normalization of biochemistry and a higher incidence of biochemical and radiological relapse at 2 years. Our current dosage recommendation would be for two 60 mg infusions for mild disease (Gp I); and four 60 mg infusions for moderate disease (Gp II). Severe disease (Gp III) remains a challenge; regardless of dosage, the majority of patients will be in relapse 2 years after a single course of treatment.

Aged↗

A patient dose survey for three common diagnostic radiographic examinations using a dose-area product meter.

A patient dose survey was carried out for three common diagnostic radiographic examinations: lumbar spine, abdomen and pelvis. A dose-area product meter was used to determine the dose-area product delivered to the patient. The patient dose results reported in this study are lower than the results of the dose survey for United Kingdom hospitals which was recently published by the National Radiological Protection Board. Our data were also used to calculate the mean energy imparted and the mean effective dose from the examinations.

Calibration↗

Intravenous aminobisphosphonate in Paget's disease: clinical, biochemical, histomorphometric and radiological responses.

Intravenous 3-amino-1-hydroxypropylidene-1, 1-bisphosphonic acid (APD) was used to treat 26 patients with Paget's disease. Three daily dosages were studied; 20-30 mg/day in 20 patients, 45 mg/day in three patients and 60 mg/day in three patients, by daily 4-hour infusions for 2-10 days. The fasting urinary hydroxyproline excretion (HypE) declined exponentially, reaching 50% of pretreatment values at 1.92 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- SEM) days. This initial rapid decline was complete by 4 days following treatment to a mean of 28.0 +/- 3.4% of pretreatment values. Thereafter, there was no significant decline in HypE. The initial rate of decline of HypE was unchanged by increasing the daily dose of APD. Transient non-symptomatic hypocalcaemia with secondary hyperparathyroidism occurred in all patients. No adverse changes in the renal handling of calcium or phosphate, as seen with high-dose 1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-bisphosphonate (EHDP), were seen in any patient on any daily dose. Fever occurred in 73% of patients in the first 2 days of treatment. Overall, there was a significant fall in the lymphocyte count (P less than 0.005 febrile group, n = 19; P less than 0.02 non-febrile group, n = 7) and a fever-dependent rise in the neutrophil count (P less than 0.005 febrile group only). The occurrence of fever was associated with a more rapid decline in HypE, compared to the non-febrile group, so that HypE was significantly lower in the febrile group by day 5 (P less than 0.025). Seventy-two per cent of patients with bone and/or joint pain reported a reduction in pain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Cytogenetics of juvenile type chronic granulocytic leukemia.

Cytogenetic examination of bone marrow cells from three patients with juvenile chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) showed 46,XX,3p-,11p+ ,t(11p:3p) in one case, 45XY,-E in another, and 45X(X),-C/47,XX,+G in the third. The case with the translocated chromosome originally presented like an acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). TAn overt clinical picture of juvenile CGL emerged two and a half years later. Serial study of this case revealed no cytogenetic abnormalities until two years after the diagnosis of ALL, when the translocated chromosome was first observed. Unlike the Ph1 chromosome in adult type CGL, chromosomal abnormalities in juvenile CGL lack specificity, resembling ALL in this respect.

Bone Marrow↗

Long-term cytogenetic studies in acute leukemia of children; the nature of relapse.

Sequential long-term cytogenetic studies in 71 children with acute leukemia were designed to investigate the nature of relapse after prolonged remission. In the overwhelming majority of the cases the findings suggested clonal identity of the leukemic cell population in relapse with that studied at the onset of the disease, notwithstanding considerable karyotypic instability in almost half of the patients. In a small minority an independent origin of the relapse clone could not be excluded on cytogenetic grounds but was considered unlikely, since mechanisms capable of accounting for the changes observed in these patients could be demonstrated in other cases. The persistence of diploid leukemic cells in the presence of an aneuploid subclone was demonstrated in the relapse bone marrow and/or spinal fluid in all active phases of the disease. On this basis the conversion from an aneuploid to a predominantly or exclusively diploid karyotype could be visualized, and a new model of clonal evolution, involving repetitive formation of abnormal karyotypes from a surviving diploid clone could be suggested.

Adolescent↗