Dual-energy CT angiography in peripheral arterial occlusive disease-accuracy of maximum intensity projections in clinical routine and subgroup analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of dual-energy CT angiography (DE-CTA) maximum intensity projections (MIPs) in symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Methods: In 58 patients, DE-CTA of the lower extremities was performed on dual-source CT. In a maximum of 35 arterial segments, severity of the most stenotic lesion was graded (<10%, 10-49% and 50-99% luminal narrowing or occlusion) independently by two radiologists, with DSA serving as the reference standard.

Impact of PVCs noted during coronary calcium scan on image quality and accuracy in subsequent coronary dual-source CT angiography.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the presence of one or more premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) during coronary calcium score scan (CS) on image quality and accuracy of subsequent dual-source coronary CT angiography (DS CCTA). Fifty-three out of 502 patients showed one or more PVCs during CS and built the study group. Sixty consecutively registered patients with sinus rhythm formed the control group.

FDG PET/CT in the detection of recurrent rectal cancer.

The purpose of this study was to assess the additional value of combined fluorine 18 (18F)-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in the follow-up of rectal cancer after surgery. Forty-eight examinations in 30 patients were evaluated retrospectively. CT and PET components were interpreted separately, and this was followed by a consensus reading.

MR angiographic follow-up of intracranial aneurysms treated with detachable coils: evaluation of a blood-pool contrast medium.

Background And Purpose: Blood-pool agents are promising in the imaging of small vessels with slow or complex flow. Our aim was to compare blood-pool contrast-enhanced MR angiography (BPCE-MRA) using gadofosveset trisodium (Vasovist) with 3D time-of-flight MRA (TOF-MRA) in the follow-up of intracranial aneurysms after endovascular therapy.

Materials And Methods: We included 32 patients with a total of 37 coiled aneurysms.

Feasibility and potential value of flat-panel detector-based computed tomography in myelography after spinal surgery.

Object: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of myelography using flat-panel detector-based computed tomography (fpCT) in 5 patients in whom the image quality of multislice CT (MSCT) or MR imaging was limited by metal artifacts.

Methods: The application of fpCT to myelographic imaging of the lumbar spine and cervicothoracic junction after surgery was feasible. Multiplanar, preferably sagittal, and 3D reconstructions adequately depicted disc space implants and provided high resolution images of osseous structures.

Aortic development and anomalies.

Development of the aorta takes place during the third week of gestation. It is a complex process that can lead to a variety of congenital variants and pathological anomalies. In diagnostic and interventional radiology, knowledge of aortic abnormalities and variant branching sequence is crucially important.

[The effects of hormone replacement therapy on ovarian function in premenopausal women after hysterectomy].

Objective: Examining the consequences of temporary postoperative hormone replacement therapy following hysterectomy for the function of the ovaries and the subjective well-being of women.

Material And Methods: Hormone profiles (Estradiol, FSH, LH, Testosterone, DHEA) and typical estradiol deficiency phenomena were investigated prospectively in premenopausal hysterectomized women with intact ovaries. Group 1 (n = 21) was replaced transdermally following surgery for 3 weeks with estradiol patch 0.

[Standards for treatment and expert opinion on transsexuals. The German Society for Sexual Research, The Academy of Sexual medicine and the Society for Sexual Science].

Over the last two-and-a-half years a committee of experts, consisting of members of the three leading German sexology associations, developed guidelines for treating and assessing transsexuals. Their purpose is to improve the care for patients with sex identity disorders and to ensure that such care is of uniform quality to avoid erroneous decisions to the disadvantage of those affected. The guidelines are set out in full.

[Transsexuality--standards of care].

After the description of transsexualism as a nosological entity by Harry Benjamin standards of care emerged which are useful and protective for patients and doctors involved in treatment. The diagnosis is established by the finding of an irreversibly transposed gender identity. This has to be confirmed by an expert who is competent in counselling gender identity problems.

[Sexual function and sexual disorders after hysterectomy].

Hysterectomy leads to a temporary impairment of sexual behaviour. Discussions during pre-operative consultancy and at the time of discharge and follow-up examinations dealing with the sexual function, can in general avoid lasting or chronic sexual disturbances. The incidence of psychosomatic disturbances, which also influence sexual behaviour, is found to be under 10% and are projected onto the operation, have therefore intra-psychic or psycho-social roots, which are independent of it.

[Freedom to cure and alternative medicine].

The problem area of unconventional methods of treatment involves addressing a complex web of legal questions (constitutional law, criminal law, medical liability law, social insurance law, medical professional law). However, proceeding from the basis of statutory health insurance law, all individual questions can be resolved uniformly if the customary statutory or contractual "scientific-basis-clauses" intended to restrict the use of unconventional methods of treatment are understood merely as a criterion for a medical-acceptability test that respects the individual physician's discretion as regards treatment and appraisal. Methods of "outsiders" are then not generally excluded; rather, an individual weighing-up of the benefits has to be carried out in each case.

[Subjective complaints and hormonal reactions in the first 6 weeks after hysterectomy].

Hormone profiles (estradiol, testosterone, FSH, LH) and typical estradiol deficiency phenomena were investigated prospectively in the first 6 weeks after hysterectomy (n = 50) and after additional bilateral adnexectomy (n = 17). In the second group estradiol was replaced transdermally from the 2nd postoperative day (estradiol patch, 0.05 mg daily).

[Transsexualism].

Transsexuals correspond in terms of their chromosomes, hormones and anatomy to their phenotypic sexual characteristics, but feel, with respect to their sexual identity that they unmistakably belong to the opposite sex, and wish for this reason to be reassigned to their psychological sex by means of endocrinological and operative treatment. They have a complete and permanent transposition of their sexual identity. The cause of transsexualism is unknown.

[Evaluation of the voice as a secondary sex characteristic in transsexuals].

The secondary sex character of the voice was assessed in 15 transsexuals. They were compared to 40 people with typical normal vocal sex characteristics. The mean pitch level and the distributions of formant frequencies of the transsexuals were compared to those of the control group.

[The early diagnosis of pregnancy by the enzyme immunoassay of beta-1-glycoprotein (sp1) (author's transl)].

The enzyme immunologic determination of SP1 in the serum is suitable for the early diagnosis of pregnancy from 14 days after ovulation onwards. In the control group of 64 non-pregnant and of healthy men no SP1 was detected in the serum. At least six weeks after the cessation of trophoblast activity SP1 can still be detected in the serum.