Fluoroscopy-guided retrieval of a sheared endotracheal stylet sheath from the tracheobronchial tree in a premature infant.

Endotracheal intubation of premature infants with respiratory distress is a commonly performed procedure in the neonatal intensive care unit. We report a rare complication of this procedure, shearing of the plastic sheath that is bonded to and surrounds the stylet used to assist intubation and lodging of the sheared stylet in the tracheobronchial tree of a small premature infant. We suggest a method for removing the plastic foreign body using fluoroscopy and an Amplatz gooseneck snare directed through the existing endotracheal tube, a technique not previously reported.

Surgical clip as a nidus for a common bile duct stone: radiographic demonstration.

Surgical clips can migrate into the biliary tract and act as a nidus for stone formation. We present a case of a surgical clip within a common bile duct stone. This diagnosis was suggested by clip movement on serial abdominal radiographs and metallic density within the common duct stone on computed tomography.

Role of positron emission tomography scanning in evaluating gastrointestinal neoplasms.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is rapidly evolving into a useful imaging modality for early and accurate detection of malignant tumor sites. Several recent studies have documented improved efficacy of detecting recurrent colorectal and hepatic (primary and metastatic) tumor sites with a sensitivity ranging from 92% to 100% and an accuracy of 90% to 96%. PET-FDG imaging using 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose has been found to be superior to computed tomography (CT) in detecting recurrent colorectal, hepatic, and abdominopelvic recurrent tumor sites from different primary cancers.

In-111 monoclonal antibody versus Ga-67 citrate and Tc-99m SC subtraction in a patient with malignant melanoma.

Gallium-67 is routinely used for follow-up of patients with malignant melanoma. However, its nonspecificity for melanoma and its high rate of false-positive results have always been a matter of concern. The authors describe a patient who encountered serious problems with the use of gallium.

Thallium-201/technetium-99m-phytate (colloid) subtraction imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: This paper evaluates the clinical usefulness of 201Tl to image hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), using 201Tl, 99mTc-phytate (colloid) and a three-headed SPECT camera.

Methods: The tumor-to-nontumor ratios (T/N) of 201Tl for different categories of HCC were generated. Tumors were emphasized by image subtraction (201Tl-99mTc-colloid).

Pulmonary lavage in a case of alveolar proteinosis. The value of continuous display oxygen--haemoglobin saturation using ear-oximetry.

A case of alveolar proteinosis is reported which was treated by lung lavage. The technique requires a Robertshaw double-lumen tube to isolate each lung. Initial ventilation with 100% oxygen removes lung nitrogen and the first 500 ml of saline occupies part of the functional reserve capacity and is not recovered.