Biomedical subjects

W H McCartney

Publications and source records attributed to W H McCartney.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Radionuclide genital imaging.

Despite the emergence of newer cross-sectional imaging approaches, radionuclide techniques have maintained a significant role in genital imaging. While ultrasound is clearly superior for evaluation of scrotal anatomy, radionuclide scrotal imaging remains the most effective method for differentiating between testicular torsion and epididymitis. Labeled red blood cells have been used for varicocele detection in infertile men. Since radionuclide techniques can demonstrate the physiologic status of organs, they play a useful role in evaluating men with impotence (penile scan) and infertile women whose tubal patency is in question (radionuclide hysterosalpingogram).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

Computerized tomography applied to gynecologic oncology.

Forty patients on the gynecologic oncology service at the University of North Carolina were evaluated with CT scans. Accuracy and clinical benefit of these scans were compared to those of manual clinical examinations. The CT scans were generally superior and had fewer (9) verified errors in the regions of the pelvic wall and para-aortic area than did the manual examinations (17). Both the CT and bimanual examinations had the same number of verified errors (3) in the central pelvic region. The authors found the CT scans to be beneficial in evaluation of pelvic wall and para-aortic regions for treatment planning of either primary or recurrent cancer.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed1979

Multiple imaging modalities for the study of pancreatic disease.

Gray scale ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) have enhanced the role of various imaging modalities in the evaluation of patients with suspected pancreatic disease. When these anatomical studies are normal or equivocal, a functional, radionuclide pancreas scan may be useful. Pancreatic imaging can be achieved using ultrasound, transmission CT, single photon radionuclide imaging, and positron emission CT. A diagnostic imaging decision chart for the evaluation of patients with possible pancreatic disease is useful in choosing the correct imaging modality in a specific situation. Such a chart and its theoretic basis are described in this review. The need to optimize the pancreatic work-up with respect to cost-benefit decisions and diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are of particular concern to the physician. Of all the potential areas for disease, the pancreas has been and remains a particularly difficult diagnostic problem.

Humans↗

PubMed1979

Brain scan abnormalities in intracerebral sarcoidosis.

We present a case in which dramatic anterior midline uptake of 99mTc-pertechnetate simulated a suprasellar tumor in a patient with sarcoid. The brain scan abnormalities proved to represent extensive hypothalamic and basal ganglia involvement by sarcoidosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

Technical note. Optimal computed tomography technique for bone evaluation.

Various combinations of window settings and displays were evaluated to determine the optimal photographic reproduction of images obtained from the Ohio-Nuclear Delta scanner to best demonstrate bony structure by computed tomography. A combination of wide window and negative images will produce better bony structure detail than various other settings. The physical basis of this technique will be described along with several cases to illustrate the conclusion. Although no one combination was universally adequate, the best in our experience was a wide window with negative images.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Carcinoembryonic antigen assay: an adjunct to liver scanning in hepatic metastases detection.

The radionuclide liver scan is a valuable study for detection of hepatic metastases; however, it has a false-negative rate of between 10 and 30%. In a double-blind study involving 377 patients, we assessed the value of CEA assay as an adjunct to liver scanning for detection of hepatic metastases. Fifty-seven patients studied by both methods were ultimately proven to have liver metastases. All patients with CEA levels above 9 ng/ml and focal defects on liver scan had hepatic tumor involvement, while only 4 of 291 patients with CEA values less than 9 ng/ml and negative scans were later shown to have liver metastases. CEA and liver scan results were discordant for 29 patients with proven hepatic metastases: the radionuclide study was positive in 21 cases with false-negative CEA results, while the CEA assay suggested the presence of metastatic disease in eight of the 12 patients with false-negative liver scans.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed1978

Role of gallium 67 in inflammatory disease.

Gallium 67 has been found to be extremely useful for detection of inflammatory disease. In the skeletal system it complements the 99m Tc-phosphate compounds in differentiating periatricular osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and cellulitis. Gallium is particularly useful in documenting successful treatment of bone infection because the phosphate scan remains positive for much longer periods of time. In a variety of chest disorders gallium uptake has been found to correlate well with the active inflammatory state. One of the most frequent uses of gallium imaging has been for localization of inflammatory foci in postoperative patients as well as in patients who present with fever of undetermined origin. Neutrophilic labeling followed by migration to the inflammatory area appears to be the major mechanism of localization of radiogallium. For this reason leukopenic patients constitute a group in which false negative results may be encountered.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1977

Scintigraphic findings in stress fractures.

Forty-two patients suspected of having stress fractures were evaluated by serial roentgenograms and by one total-body scan with detailed views of suspicious areas. Stress fracture was the ultimate clinical diagnosis in twenty-one patients, and in fifteen of them the roentgenograms were normal while the scintigram was positive. The false negative rate for the roentgenograms was 71 per cent. In eleven of the fifteen patients, the roentgenograms eventually became positive. There were five positive scintigrams from causes other than stress fracture, giving a false positive rate for scintigraphy of 24 per cent. The bones with stress fractures included the metatarsals, calcaneus, tibia, femur, and fibula.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

Carcinoembryonic antigen assay in hepatic metastases detection. An adjunct to liver scanning.

In a double-blind study involving 377 patients, we assessed the value of the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay as an adjunct to the radionuclide liver scan for detection of liver metastases. Fifty-seven patients studied by both methods were ultimately proved to have liver metastases. In 28 instances in which the results of both tests were in agreement, these results were diagnostic with regard to presence or absence of hepatic involvement. The CEA assay suggested the presence of metastatic tumor in eight of the 12 patients with false-negative liver scans, thus proving to be a very useful adjunct to liver scanning in the detection of hepatic metastasis.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗