CT fluoroscopy guided transpleural cutting needle biopsy of small (≤2.5 cm) subpleural pulmonary nodules.

Purpose: Small subpleural pulmonary lesions are difficult to biopsy. While the direct, short needle path has been reported to have a lower rate of pneumothorax, the indirect path provides a higher diagnostic yield. Therefore, we tried to optimize the needle pathway and minimize the iatrogenic pneumothorax risk by evaluating a CT fluoroscopy guided direct approach to biopsy subpleural lesions.

COPD and osteoporosis: detection and grading of vertebral fractures on lateral chest radiography.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease that is highly associated with osteoporosis, which tends to be underdiagnosed and therefore, undertreated. Our purpose was to examine the interobserver variability of the detection and grading of vertebral fractures on routine chest radiographs in patients presenting with severe COPD.

Materials And Methods: Routine lateral chest x-rays from 43 patients (male=25) suffering from severe COPD (Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Diseases III/IV) were evaluated retrospectively by 2 board certified radiologists and 1 radiology resident for signs of osteoporosis and vertebral fractures by using a validated semiquantitative method according to H.

Diagnosis of thoracic splenosis by ferumoxides-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

We report on a 56-year-old woman with a history of splenectomy and surgery of the left hemidiaphragm, who presented with multiple pleural and mediastinal mass lesions. On the basis of the patient's history of splenectomy and missing Howell-Jolly bodies in peripheral blood smears, splenosis was suspected. To confirm the presumptive diagnosis, ferumoxides-enhanced magnetic resonance was performed.

Changes of coronary calcification after kidney transplantation.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with end-stage renal disease is driven by uremia and increased serum calcium and phosphate levels. Improvement in calcium-phosphate homeostasis and uremia by kidney transplantation therefore might favorably influence CAC.

Methods: We measured the extent of CAC by using multidetector computed tomography in 31 patients immediately after transplantation and at 6 and 12 months' follow-up.

From a sore throat to the intensive care unit: the Lemierre syndrome.

Lemierre syndrome is characterized by an acute oropharyngeal infection, suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and metastatic infections. The infection is usually caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. We report on a 19-year-old male patient who was admitted with a five-day history of fever, sore throat and progressive dyspnea.

Management of patients with small pulmonary nodules: a survey of radiologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons.

Objective: The objective of our study was to survey recommendations for the management of small pulmonary nodules found on helical CT from radiologists, pulmonologists, and thoracic surgeons.

Materials And Methods: We surveyed 774 radiologists, 623 pulmonologists, and 101 thoracic surgeons. All are members of an associated Austrian scientific society and were asked for their recommendations in 13 hypothetical cases.

Detectability of catheters on bedside chest radiographs: comparison between liquid crystal display and high-resolution cathode-ray tube monitors.

Purpose: To compare observer performance with a flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor and with a high-resolution gray-scale cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor in the detection of simulated support catheters on bedside chest radiographs.

Materials And Methods: The ethics committee did not require approval or patient informed consent when this study began. Because of a change in regulations, before images were acquired the nature of the study and procedures were explained to patients or their relatives, and consent was then obtained.

Ventricular fibrillation median frequency may not be useful for monitoring during cardiac arrest treated with endothelin-1 or epinephrine.

In this study, we evaluated whether median fibrillation frequency (MF) and mean fibrillation amplitude (AMP) reflect coronary perfusion pressure (CoPP) and predict successful defibrillation. MF, AMP, and CoPP were measured during prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest and resuscitation in pigs. After 5 min of VF, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started.

Comparison of liquid crystal versus cathode ray tube display for the detection of simulated chest lesions.

The purpose of the study was to compare the detection performance of a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor versus a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor for simulated subtle pulmonary lesions. Ten templates containing simulated lung lesions were superimposed on an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Posteroanterior radiographs were obtained using flat panel technology and were displayed on a CRT and an LCD monitor.

Endothelin-1 elevates regional cerebral perfusion during prolonged ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest in pigs.

Since adrenaline (epinephrine) also has negative effects during and after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) a non-adrenergic vasoconstrictor like endothelin might be an alternative to increase vital organ blood flow. We studied the effect of different doses of endothelin-1 compared with adrenaline on the ability to resuscitate, cerebral and myocardial blood flow (MBF) in a closed chest cardiac arrest pig model. After 5 min of ventricular fibrillation, CPR with a ventilator and a mechanical compression device was started.

Plasma endothelin in patients with acute aortic disease.

Purpose And Background: We investigated the plasma levels of endothelin 1/2 in patients with acute symptoms relating to a known or newly diagnosed aortic aneurysm in order to investigate the possible role of peptides in the development of the disease.

Methods: Endothelin 1/2 plasma levels were determined in patients admitted to the emergency unit with suspected acute aortic disease. The history, type of aneurysm, outcome and laboratory findings were determined and compared to endothelin 1/2 levels collected on admission.