Comparison of lung scintigraphy and CT angiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

In our institution, as in others, pulmonary angiography is not used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism because of its perceived risks. We compared the results on lung scintigraphy and computed tomography angiography (CTA) in 116 consecutive patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. In 14 patients with normal lung scans 13 (93%) were also normal with CTA.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia simulating biliary tree obstruction secondary to malignant porta hepatis lymphadenopathy.

Hereditary telangiectasis is an uncommon condition and is thus not usually considered in the differential diagnosis of porta hepatis lymphadenopathy causing biliary tree obstruction. The present case illustrates a patient in whom tortuous vessels in the porta hepatis simulated masses on delayed contrast-enhanced CT with subsequent referral for biopsy.

Sonographic diagnosis of subcapsular liver hematoma mimicking tumor in a neonate.

Subcapsular hematomas of the liver in neonates uncommonly present as an abdominal mass without clinical signs of bleeding. We report a case in which sonography 10 days after birth demonstrated 2 large hepatic lesions that were initially considered to be tumors. The diagnosis of subcapsular liver hematoma was es tablished by serial ultrasound examinations, which demonstrated rapid diminution of the lesions.

Increased pertechnegas lung clearance in interstitial lung disease.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterized by inflammation within the alveolar walls and interstitium of the lungs. This causes increased alveolar-capillary membrane permeability. The diagnosis is made by clinical features, chest roentgenography, lung function tests, and high-resolution CT, and it is confirmed by lung biopsy.