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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Diagnosis of disorders affecting hollow intra-abdominal organs].

Modern imaging methods, including ultrasonography, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, add considerably to the information provided by the classical exploratory methods for hollow intra-abdominal viscera. They evaluate the size of these viscera and especially their wall and they are particularly useful when the lesion is transparietal, submucosal or even sub-adventitial. They also detect abscesses originating in the gastrointestinal tract, measure the extent of tumoral expansion beyond the mucosa and reveal intra-abdominal abnormalities associated with the lesions. The new methods, therefore, are very useful and often indispensable as a complement to other methods used to explore the digestive tract.

Gastrointestinal Diseases↗

Dopamine effects on diaphragmatic strength during acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of dopamine, which has an inotropic effect on the myocardium and increases renal and splanchnic blood flow, on diaphragmatic contraction. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: We studied the changes in transdiaphragmatic pressure during electrical bilateral supramaximal stimulation of the phrenic nerves in eight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during acute respiratory failure. In three patients, changes in diaphragmatic blood flow were also evaluated. METHODS: All patients were intubated and artificially ventilated. Stimulated transdiaphragmatic pressure, cardiac output, evaluated with a Swan Ganz catheter, and diaphragmatic blood flow, evaluated by timed volume collections of left phrenic venous effluent (a catheter was introduced into the right femoral vein and advanced into the left inferior phrenic vein) were measured before dopamine infusion, every 10 minutes after the onset of dopamine infusion (10 micrograms/kg body weight.min during 30 minutes) and 15 minutes after the end of dopamine infusion. Arterial blood gases and pH were measured before and at the end of dopamine infusion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Arterial blood gases and pH were maintained within normal range by mechanical ventilation throughout the study. With dopamine infusion, heart rate increased by 17% (P less than 0.001) and cardiac output by 40% (P less than 0.001) on the average. The increase in cardiac output was accompanied by a marked increase in diaphragmatic blood flow (30% on the average) in the three patients in whom it was measured (P less than 0.001). Diaphragmatic strength also increased significantly during dopamine administration. Transdiaphragmatic pressure for an identical phrenic stimulation increased by 30% (P less than 0.001) on the average. The changes in cardiac output, diaphragmatic blood flow, and transdiaphragmatic pressure persisted throughout the infusion period; all values returned to control values 15 minutes after the end of dopamine administration. CONCLUSIONS: Dopamine has a potent effect on diaphragmatic strength generation and diaphragmatic blood flow in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during acute respiratory failure. It is possible to improve diaphragmatic contraction in these patients by administering pharmacologic agents that augment diaphragmatic blood flow.

Action Potentials↗

Sonographic diagnosis of cholangitis in AIDS patients.

Eleven acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients were initially evaluated by ultrasound of the liver because of biochemical evidence of cholestasis. Sonography was very useful for demonstrating dilatation and/or wall thickening of the common bile duct associated with dilated intrahepatic bile ducts. Periportal hypo- or hyperchoic areas were also visualized. In seven patients, gallbladder walls were thickened. In six patients, the diagnosis of cholangitis was confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and/or histology. Cytomegalovirus infection or digestive tract cryptosporidiosis were often present and accounted for diarrhea in most patients. We believe the association of upper right quadrant pain and anicteric cholestasis in the course of AIDS is suggestive of cholangitis, but a disparity may exist between mild symptoms and sonographically demonstrated extensive biliary involvement.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Diagnostic quality control of hepatobiliary echography by autopsy correlation].

A methodology to evaluate routine ultrasonography performed in liver pathology is described. The results of 62 autopsies, undoubtedly the most accurate anatomical reference, were compared to those of sonographic examination of the liver performed two months before death at the most. Discordance was found in 23 cases. False negative results in the detection of metastasis and thrombosis of hepatic veins or inferior vena cava were the major pitfalls. The reasons and the consequences of each error were determined for each case.

Autopsy↗

[Value of a score using clinical and biological variables for determining the benignity or malignancy of a hepatic mass].

The purpose of this study was to show that clinical and biological data can help in the diagnosis of benignity and malignancy in liver tumors seen on ultrasound. Three hundred and ninety-four patients with liver masses detected by ultrasound (270 malignant, 124 benign) were prospectively studied. Clinical and biological data were tested by univariate and multivariate analysis. The most important variables were gamma-glutamyl-transferase, sedimentation rate, known primary cancer, proven cirrhosis, abnormal abdominal palpation, ascites and weight loss. A regression model was used and a score was defined with these variables. Using this score, 94.8 p. 100 of the liver masses were accurately classified as benign and malignant tumors.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

[Ultrasonographic and x-ray computed tomographic aspects of Mirizzi's syndrome].

The Mirizzi syndrome is due to common hepatic duct obstruction secondary to the impaction of a large gallstone in the neck of the gallbladder or the cystic duct. The sonographic and computed tomography features in 3 cases of Mirizzi syndrome are described and compared with percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiography findings. The Mirizzi syndrome was diagnosed preoperatively on sonography in 2 out of 3 cases and on plain computed tomography scans in all 3 cases. However pre or intraoperative visualization of the biliary tract is mandatory in suspected Mirizzi syndrome to detect the presence or absence of cholecystobiliary fistula, in order to adapt the operative strategy.

Adult↗

[Hepatic Kaposi's sarcoma and AIDS. Ultrasonographic and x-ray computed tomographic aspects].

AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma is most often multicentric and extensive. Hepatic involvement is unusual and asymptomatic. An anicteric cholestasis may exist. Ultrasonography shows a pedicular echogenic infiltration and a heterogeneous parenchyma with small hyperechoic nodules. On CT, these hypodense lesions are related to the involvement of the hepatic pedicle. This is linked to angiosarcomatous tumorous tissue infiltration of the liver evolving along portal branches. In a patient suffering from cutaneous or digestive Kaposi sarcoma lesions, these radiological aspects are suggestive of hepatic involvement.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Hepatic lipomas: ultrasound and computed tomographic findings.

Five cases of solitary hepatic lipoma are described. These rare tumors have ultrasound (US) and computed tomographic (CT) characteristics that suggest the diagnosis. As imaged by US, hepatic lipomas always correspond to a highly echogenic, well-limited lesion with posterior attenuation. Precontrast CT scans reveal a low-density lesion (-20 to -70 HU); following contrast material injection, the tumor density may either remain negative (pure hepatic lipoma) or become positive (limit, 40 HU) when there is an associated adenomatous component. Hepatic lipomas involve no risk of degeneration, and follow-up by US is sufficient. A case of lipoma of the falciform ligament and a case of a hepatic pseudolipoma are also described; sonograms were negative in both instances, and CT was required for diagnosis.

Adipose Tissue↗

Budd-Chiari syndrome: dynamic CT.

A retrospective multi-institutional study was carried out on a series of 38 patients with histologically proved Budd-Chiari syndrome: Five patients had acute disease, and 33 had subacute or chronic disease. All patients underwent dynamic CT scanning. Angiography was performed in 20 cases, inferior cavography in 22, and wedge-hepatic venography in 16. In all acute cases, CT showed global liver enlargement with diffuse hypodensity on plain scans and patchy enhancement after contrast material injection. Thrombosis of the three main hepatic veins was always demonstrated. In subacute or chronic disease, plain CT scans showed abnormalities of liver morphology and hypodensity either in atrophic areas (19 cases) or in the periphery of the liver (eight cases). With dynamic CT, patchy enhancement was present in 28 cases. Correlation with angiography in 15 cases revealed a normal portal blood flow in enhanced areas and an inversed portal blood flow in atrophic areas. Different morphologic and enhancement patterns on CT scans could be related to the direction of portal blood flow, which changes with different stages of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Acute Disease↗

Bronchiectasis: assessment by thin-section CT.

To assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of bronchiectasis, we performed thin-section CT in 36 patients with clinical findings suggestive of this diagnosis. CT was performed with 1.5-mm section thickness and 10-mm intersection spacing. Bilateral (eight patients) and unilateral (28 patients) bronchograms were obtained. CT and bronchographic findings were correlated in 44 lungs. In 15 lungs no bronchiectasis was observed on CT scans and bronchograms. In 25 lungs both examinations accurately indicated the presence and extent of bronchiectasis. In two lungs the extent of disease was underestimated on CT, which failed to indicate bronchiectasis in one segment of the affected lobe. In one case CT findings suggested focal bronchial disease, but the lung was misinterpreted as not bronchiectatic; the bronchogram showed cylindric bronchiectasis. In one case CT disclosed cylindric bronchiectasis in a lobe that was bronchographically normal, but in this case the bronchogram was probably misinterpreted as false negative. In two cases lung findings were better visualized on CT scans than on bronchograms. It is concluded that thin-section CT is an accurate procedure in the recognition of bronchiectasis.

Adolescent↗