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Biomedical subjects

W Wiesner

Publications and source records attributed to W Wiesner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Sonography of the thyroid].

According to its superficial anatomical location the thyroid gland is easily accessible by sonography. Ultrasound is a reliable examination to detect various pathologies of the thyroid gland and it should always be combined with a sonography of the surrounding soft tissues and vessels. Sonography allows an exact documentation of the size, volume and parenchymal echostructure of the thyroid gland as well as detection of various diffuse and focal abnormalities of the gland itself and of the surrounding structures. The presented article gives an overview of the sonographic diagnoses and differential diagnoses of various diffuse and focal pathologies of the thyroid gland as well as some recommendations regarding their possible further diagnostic approach.

Acute Disease↗

Unenhanced helical computed tomography vs intravenous urography in patients with acute flank pain: accuracy and economic impact in a randomized prospective trial.

Unenhanced helical computed tomography (UHCT) has evolved into a well-accepted alternative to intravenous urography (IVU) in patients with acute flank pain and suspected ureterolithiasis. The purpose of our randomized prospective study was to analyse the diagnostic accuracy of UHCT vs IVU in the normal clinical setting with special interest on economic impact, applied radiation dose and time savings in patient management. A total of 122 consecutive patients with acute flank pain suggestive of urolithiasis were randomized for UHCT ( n=59) or IVU ( n=63). Patient management (time, contrast media), costs and radiation dose were analysed. The films were independently interpreted by four radiologists, unaware of previous findings, clinical history and clinical outcome. Alternative diagnoses if present were assessed. Direct costs of UHCT and IVU are nearly identical (310/309 Euro). Indirect costs are much lower for UHCT because it saves examination time and when performed immediately initial abdominal plain film (KUB) and sonography are not necessary. Time delay between access to the emergency room and start of the imaging procedure was 32 h 7 min for UHCT and 36 h 55 min for IVU. The UHCT took an average in-room time of 23 min vs 1 h 21 min for IVU. Mild to moderate adverse reactions for contrast material were seen in 3 (5%) patients. The UHCT was safe, as no contrast material was needed. The mean applied radiation dose was 3.3 mSv for IVU and 6.5 mSv for UHCT. Alternative diagnoses were identified in 4 (7%) UHCT patients and 3 (5%) IVU patients. Sensitivity and specificity of UHCT and IVU was 94.1 and 94.2%, and 85.2 and 90.4%, respectively. In patients with suspected renal colic KUB and US may be the least expensive and most easily accessable modalities; however, if needed and available, UHCT can be considered a better alternative than IVU because it has a higher diagnostic accuracy and a better economic impact since it is more effective, faster, less expensive and less risky than IVU. In addition, it also has the capability of detecting various additional renal and extrarenal pathologies.

Acute Disease↗

[Imaging diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease].

The term "chronic inflammatory bowel disease" represents a spectrum of diseases out of which ulcerous colitis and Crohn's disease are the far most common. Large bowel enemas have lost their relevance compared to colonoscopy over the past years and small bowel enteroclysis has also been widely replaced by CT- and especially MR-enteroclysis meanwhile. The diagnostic value of computed tomography and MR-tomography in chronic inflammatory bowel disease is based on the excellent visualization and documentation of extent and severity of bowel wall inflammation, estimation of inflammatory activity of the disease and of detection of potential extraintestinal complications and/or additional diagnoses by these two methods. Nevertheless, conventional radiological techniques as well as sonography may still be valuable under certain conditions. Furthermore, nowadays imaging of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases includes also White Blood Cell scintigraphy as well as Positrone Emission Tomography which provide informations about extent and especially activity of the disease. The presented article provides an overview of the possibilities and limitations of the available imaging modalities in inflammatory bowel diseases and helps the reader to decide under what conditions which one of the available examinations should be regarded as the most appropriate and promising one.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

Unusual cross-sectional imaging findings in hepatic peliosis.

Hepatic peliosis is a rare entity that represents focal, multifocal, segmental, or diffuse dilatation of liver sinusoids. Hepatic peliosis is often associated with chronic wasting diseases but also has been reported in association with anabolic, contraceptive, or other hormonal treatment, and even in context with HIV-related bacterial infections. Hepatic peliosis is usually clinically unapparent and mostly found only during autopsy, but occasionally it may lead to diagnostic problems if detected radiologically since the imaging findings in hepatic peliosis are quite variable according to the variety of its possible histologic features as well as the possibility of additional hemorrhage. We present a case of hepatic peliosis associated with bronchial carcinoma that showed moderate centripetal enhancement during the portal-venous phase on CT, pronounced venous pooling on contrast enhanced T1-weighted images acquired during the hepatic-venous phase, and bright signal on T2-weighted images, thus mimicking in some way a capillary hemangioma. We also discuss some not yet described CT and MR features of this rare entity which should be included into the differential diagnosis of atypical liver lesions in patients with the above-mentioned conditions.

Humans↗

[Value of radiological imaging after laparoscopic gastric banding].

Over the past years "laparoscopic gastric banding" has evolved to one of the leading surgical techniques for the treatment of patients with morbid obesity. Mainly two systems are used worldwide; the "LAP BAND" (ASGB--Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding) and the "Swedish Band" (SAGB--Swedish Adjustable Gastric Banding) which may both be implanted laparoscopically around the proximal stomach at a suprabursal position, about 2 cm distally to the cardia, with the intention to create a small pouch and, therefore, to provide an earlier satiation. Both systems show only minor differences regarding their consistency and their opacity as well as regarding the volume of the system. However, the working mechanisms and the principal techniques of surgical implantation, luminal adjustment and management of postoperative weight loss as well as the way how to perform radiological controls in these patients are quite similar in both systems. Although these patients might be managed postoperatively by the clinicians alone, it has become well accepted over the past years that radiological controls are not only important for an exact luminal adjustment but crucial for the management of an ideal postoperative weight loss and for the detection of various postoperative complications. This article describes the radiographic appearances of both systems, instructs how to perform postoperative radiological controls in these patients and provides an overview of the known postoperative complications together with some recommendations regarding their therapeutic approach.

Gastroplasty↗

Colonic involvement in non-necrotizing acute pancreatitis: correlation of CT findings with the clinical course of affected patients.

The purpose of this study was to describe CT findings of colonic involvement in acute non-necrotizing pancreatitis and to analyze the correlation between colonic wall thickening at CT and the clinical course of these patients. The CT examinations of 19 consecutive patients with acute non-necrotizing pancreatitis who were not treated with antibiotics initially were analyzed retrospectively. The severity of acute pancreatitis was categorized according to the CT severity index (CTSI) and the presence of colonic wall thickening at the initial CT was compared with the clinical course of all patients. Seven of 11 patients with a CTSI of 4 showed a colonic wall thickening, whereas the remaining patients with a CTSI of 4 (n=4), CTSI of 3 (n=5), and CTSI of 2 (n=3) showed no colonic abnormalities at CT. Patients with colonic wall thickening presented more often with fever, showed higher levels of infectious parameters, needed more often antibiotic therapy, and had more requests for additional CT examinations and CT-guided fluid aspirations as well as a longer duration of hospital stay as compared with patients without colonic wall involvement, even if the latter presented with the same CTSI initially. It is well known that translocation of the colonic flora may significantly influence the clinical course of patients with acute pancreatitis, and our results indicate that patients with acute pancreatitis who present with colonic wall thickening at CT have an increased risk for a complicated clinical course regarding systemic infection.

Acute Disease↗

Three-dimensional dynamic MR-hysterosalpingography; a new, low invasive, radiation-free and less painful radiological approach to female infertility.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to propose a new method for imaging the uterine cavity and Fallopian tube patency by three-dimensional dynamic magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography (3D dMR-HSG) and to analyse if, by using a higher viscosity contrast solution, direct visualization of the Fallopian tubes may be achieved by this new technique. METHODS: 10 consecutive infertile women underwent 3D dMR-HSG and conventional HSG as gold standard. 3D dMR-HSG consisted of injection of 20 ml of a gadolinium-polyvidone solution into the uterine cavity while acquiring five consecutive three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted MR-sequences. RESULTS: In three patients the catheter became dislodged during 3D dMR-HSG. However, in one of these patients the examination was still partially diagnostic. Imaging findings of 3D dMR-HSG showed good correlation with conventional hysterosalpingography and allowed 3D imaging of the uterine cavity and of Fallopian tube patency in 8/10 patients and direct visualization of the Fallopian tubes in 5/7 patients. CONCLUSION: 3D dMR-HSG represents a new and promising imaging approach to female infertility causing less pain and avoiding exposure of the ovaries to ionizing radiation. By using a higher viscosity MR-contrast agent it allows not only visualization of uterine cavity and Fallopian tube patency but also direct visualization of Fallopian tubes.

Adult↗

CT findings in eosinophilic enterocolitis with predominantly serosal and muscular bowel wall infiltration.

A 44-year-old female presented with tenderness of her abdomen, vomiting, intestinal obstruction, hypoalbuminemia and blood eosinophilia. Gastroscopy was normal and colonoscopic biopsies showed only non-specific inflammation of the colonic mucosa and submucosa. CT revealed large amounts of ascites and bilateral pleural effusions but eosinophil counts in the ascites were normal. At CT the jejunum was dilated and showed marked prominence of the valvulae whereas the ileum and the colon presented with a diffuse and hypoattenuating bowel wall thickening. The bowel wall thickening was most pronounced in the colon which especially showed also an impressive thickening and hyperenhancement mainly of its outer bowel wall layers. Parasitic infection could be excluded as well as a specific allergic response. In context with the known blood eosinophilia the diagnosis of an eosinophilic enterocolitis was suspected already by CT but finally only surgical full thickness biopsies could confirm the rare diagnosis of an eosinophilic enterocolitis with predominantly serosal and muscular bowel wall infiltration.

Adult↗

Swallowing abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: correlation between videofluoroscopy and subjective symptoms.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if subjective symptoms indicating an impaired deglutition correlate with videofluoroscopic findings in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Videofluoroscopic examinations of 18 MS patients were analyzed by a radiologist and a logopedist and compared with the symptoms of these patients. Four patients complained about permanent dysphagia. Six patients reported mild and intermittent difficulties in swallowing, but were asymptomatic at the time of videofluoroscopy. Eight patients had no symptoms regarding their deglutition. All patients ( n=4) who complained of permanent dysphagia showed aspiration. All patients ( n=6) with mild and intermittent difficulties in swallowing showed undercoating of the epiglottis and/or laryngeal penetration. Of those 8 patients without any swallowing symptoms, only 2 had a normal videofluoroscopy. Swallowing abnormalities seem to be much more frequent in patients with MS than generally believed and they may easily be missed clinically as long as the patients do not aspirate.

Adult↗

Imaging findings in idiopathic pelvic fibrosis.

Two patients presented with ureteric obstruction, and voiding symptoms and constipation, respectively, and were examined by means of intravenous urography and computed tomography. One patient was additionally examined by means of MR tomography. After CT (performed in both patients) and MRT (performed in one patient) had shown a diffuse, contrast-enhancing, infiltrating process in the small pelvis with infiltration of adjacent organs and vessels, surgical biopsy proved the diagnosis of idiopathic pelvic fibrosis. Extension of retroperitoneal fibrosis below the pelvic rim is very rare. Clinical symptoms of pelvic fibrosis are variable and imaging findings may lead to a broad list of differential diagnoses. We present two patients with idiopathic pelvic fibrosis and discuss radiological findings and differential diagnoses of this rare disease.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Spontaneous volume changes in gastric banding devices: complications of a semipermeable membrane.

The goal of this study was to prove that adjustable laparoscopic gastric banding (LAP-BAND) is semipermeable and that luminal adjustment with saline leads to spontaneous fluid loss, luminal widening, and effect loss which makes repeated readjustments necessary. In 64 patients stoma adjustment was performed with saline according to the guidelines of the manufacturer (group 1). In 32 patients hyperosmolar contrast material was used for stoma readjustments with the intention to detect a system leakage after spontaneous fluid loss and spontaneous luminal widening was observed (group 2). After spontaneous luminal narrowing had occurred in group 2, all patients from group 2 and all additional patients (n = 148) underwent stoma (re-) adjustment with iso-osmolar contrast material (group 3). Spontaneous fluid changes which led to spontaneous changes of the luminal width were then analyzed for the different filling substances in each group. Fifty-two patients from group 1 presented with effect loss because a spontaneous luminal widening had occurred secondary to a fluid loss of 0.1-0.2 ml/month. All 32 patients from group 2 presented with increasing obstruction and food intolerance because a spontaneous luminal narrowing had occurred secondary to a spontaneous fluid gain of 0.1-0.3 ml/month. In our patients from group 3, where stoma adjustment was performed with iso-osmolar contrast material, no spontaneous fluid changes were observed and luminal width/degree of obstruction did not change. The LAP-BAND is semipermeable. Stoma adjustment should not be performed with saline in order to avoid spontaneous luminal widening and the need for repeated readjustments. Stoma adjustments with hyperosmolar contrast material are clearly contraindicated since osmotic fluid gain leads to increasing obstruction. Stoma adjustments should be performed using iso-osmolar filling media which provide a stable luminal obstruction.

Contrast Media↗

Acute appendicitis in a young adult with midgut malrotation: a case report.

Midgut malrotation is defined as a developmental anomaly that may cause atypical clinical symptoms in relatively common intestinal disorders due to altered anatomy. A 27-year-old woman presented with acute left-sided abdominal pain. Underlying type Ia malrotation prevented the correct clinical diagnosis of perforated, ulcerated appendicitis. Cross-sectional imaging demonstrated all the typical signs of this type of malrotation, i.e., right-sided duodenojejunal junction, left positioned cecum and ascending colon, inverted position of the superior mesenteric vessels, and hypoplasia of the uncinate process of pancreas, and surgical treatment was initiated.

Abdominal Pain↗