[Negative contrast in x-ray computed tomography. Preliminary study].

For the abdominal and pelvic CT Scan, the authors propose the filling of the bladder, the duodenal loop, the stomach and the rectum with a lipidic emulsion. The negative density of this emulsion allows a better visualization of the pancreas, the gastric wall and the bladder wall as well as the extension of pelvic and bowel tumors.

[False aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery complicating a pancreatic pseudocyst].

The authors report a case of false aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery, complicating acute pancreatitis. They insist on the sonographic signs of "the cyst within a cyst"; the presence of a cystic lesion located within a larger mass an US Scanning is highly suggestive of a false aneurysm included in a pseudocyst. They demonstrate the correlation between US Scanning, CT Scan and arteriogram.

[Post-traumatic L5-S1 root avulsion. Myelographic and x-ray computed tomographic study. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature].

A patient presented an avulsion of left L5-S1 roots, with S1 meningocele, following a road accident. Saccoradiculography and CT scan imaging, even without contrast, allowed identification of total lesion in a suggestive clinical context. The characters of the CT scan images are emphasized.

[The silent kidney. Evolving ultrasonic picture of emphysematous pyelonephritis: the vanishing kidney. Apropos of a case].

The authors report the progressive disappearing of the sonographical image of a previously visualized kidney in a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis. They have called the sonographic vanishing kidney "the sign of the Deaf Kidney". The non-visualisation of a kidney with advanced emphysematous pyelonephritis is due to the infiltration of the perirenal environment by a gas envelope and the filling of the excretory cavities by gas.

[Extension to the ultrasonic study of supra- and subphrenic spaces of plate-shaped probes initially destined for intracavitary sonography. Research on thoraco-abdominal fluid collections in non-mobilizable patients].

The authors describe an original application of real time transducers--initially intended for intracavitary sonography--in thoraco-abdominal scanning. The stic-form probe can be easily slipped under the patient. It is then possible to realize a scan with an upward beam.

[Ultrasonography of seminal vesicles by the suprapubic approach. Value of their study in prostatic pathology].

The transabdominal suprapubic study of the seminal vesicles was realised in 162 cases. Their relationship with the posterior bladder wall was examined. The normal distance between distal extremity of seminal vesicles-bladder wall measures 5 mm, and the distance between proximal extremity of seminal vesicles-bladder wall measures 7 mm.

[The interparietal hepatic fat pad--a source of error in the diagnosis of a hematoma of the musculus rectus abdominis].

Some patients, even subjects with normal weight, have a fatty tissue pad located behind the xyphoid appendix between the peritoneum, the liver and the abdominal wall muscles. The wall fatty pad is encapsulated. It is sonographically transsonic, but with high-level internal echoes, and may deform the anterior face of the liver.

[Rhythmic echographic palpation. Echosismography. A new technic of differentiating benign and malignant tumors by ultrasonic study of tissue elasticity].

The echographic rhythmic palpation (echosismography) is a new method which completes classical sonography. It studies the elastic behaviour of the tissues after their mechanical excitation which are analysed in the T.M.

[A biopsy fitting for ductal pathology of the breast (author's transl)].

A new intragalactophoric biopsy fitting is described, which consists of a modified dilator serving as curette and a needle-curette for aspiration. The new fitting has been used successfully and without complications in 26 cases. It has the advantage of providing larger specimens for cytological examination of ductal tumours of the breast.

[Ultrasonic patterns of giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa (Ménétrier's disease) (author's transl)].

Since it can display the gastric folds, as well as the gastric wall and the exogastric area, sonography is a reliable way of diagnosing the giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa (Ménétrier's disease). The characteristic pastterns are: --a considerable thickening of the gastric folds and wall, --a high sonolucency, --the presence of the intra-mural cysts, --some "hilly" deformations in the exogastric part of the stomach, --occasionally, a mesenteric lipomatosis.

[Sonographic patterns of ascariasis and distomiasis in the biliary ducts (author's transl)].

Concerning two cases of ascariasis and one case of distomiasis in the biliary ducts the authors describe the sonographic patterns leading to the ultrasonic diagnosis of those biliary parasites.--The "strip sign" characterizing ascaridiasis.--The "olympic ring gallbladder".

[A technique for endogenous gastric and duodenal inflation: the gazeified barium (author's transl)].

Proposal for preparing bubbly barium for double contrast gastric and duodenal examination. When releasing the carbone dioxide, this technique enables these organes to be inflated after induction of pharmacodynamic hypotonia.

Ultrasonic visualization of Wirsung's duct: dream or reality?

Ultrasonic visualization of normal and pathological Wirsung's ducts has become quite common, especially with the newest gray scale units. Ductal images were studied in 17 cases of quiescent chronic pancreatitis. Duct dilatation could be identified in the majority

Ultrasonography of the normal pancreas. Success rate and criteria for normality.

Study of 135 ultrasonograms shows that it is possible to display the normal pancreas with 82% success. The pancreatic head ranges between 11 and 30/mm/in thickness, the isthmus 4-21 mm in thickness, and the corporeo-caudate area 24-32 mm in thickness. The pancreas may have a sausage, dumb-bell, or tadpole shape.

[Ultrasonic aspects of abdominal abscesses and hematomas].

Abdominal ultrasonography often enables to display the fluid collection of an abcess or haematoma. This type of diagnostic procedure is most useful in a post-operative period. The intestinal gases which stop the ultrasonic beam may be responsible for diagnostic failures.