Noninvasive evaluation of suspected thoracic aortic disease by contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Traditionally, suspected thoracic aortic disease has been evaluated by aortography, which has associated risks because it is invasive. With the introduction of computed tomography (CT), a noninvasive alternative has become available. In the present retrospective study, the potential clinical value of CT in providing correct diagnoses and pertinent information required for current therapies is evaluated.

Computed tomography of omental pathology.

Computed tomographic scans were reviewed in 46 patients with documented omental pathology to analyze the radiographic characteristics of benign and malignant disease. The normal omentum is identified on CT of the abdomen as a homogeneous fat density anterior to the transverse colon. Four distinct patterns of omental pathology were identified: (a) omental caking, (b) finely infiltrated fat with a "smudged" appearance, (c) cystic masses, and (d) discrete nodules.

Abdominal CT in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a lethal infectious disease that has reached epidemic proportions in urban centers of the United States. Intraabdominal opportunistic infections and malignancies are common features of this syndrome. A prodromal phase or possibly milder form of infection is known as the AIDS-related complex.

The clinical impact of CT for blunt abdominal trauma.

The use of computed tomography (CT) has had a tremendous impact on the evaluation and management of blunt abdominal trauma. It is noninvasive, easy to perform, and has been shown to be highly sensitive (100%), specific (96.8%), and accurate (97.

Computed tomography of pancreatic pseudocysts of the duodenum.

The findings of computed tomography (CT) in seven patients with pancreatic pseudocysts involving the duodenum are reported. Specific CT characteristics of duodenal wall involvement by the pseudocysts are tubular configuration of the pseudocyst, extending along the wall and conforming to the course of the duodenum (seven of seven), and abrupt flattening of the otherwise tubular or spherical pseudocyst at the border of the duodenal lumen (five of seven). The second part of the duodenum was involved in all cases; in some cases the first part of the duodenum was also involved (two of seven), and in others the pseudocyst extended to the third part of the duodenum (two of seven).

Abdominal CT findings of disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare in AIDS.

Disseminated infection from Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) has recently been recognized as a common and serious complication of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The authors report the computed tomographic (CT) findings of 17 patients with AIDS and disseminated MAI referred for abdominal CT examination. Multiple large retroperitoneal and mesenteric lymph nodes were demonstrated in 14 patients (82%).

Pancreatic abscess: impact of computerized tomography on early diagnosis and surgery.

Pancreatic abscess continues to be a lethal complication of acute pancreatitis, with mortality rates of 40 percent in recent surgical series. A major factor contributing to this high mortality has been delay in diagnosis. When combined with diagnostic needle aspiration, computerized tomographic scanning has greatly enhanced the early detection of pancreatic abscesses.

Selective nonoperative management of blunt liver injury using computed tomography.

Computed tomographic (CT) scans are used to evaluate victims of blunt trauma for abdominal injury when reasons for immediate laparotomy are not present. Twenty-four patients whose CT scans showed liver injuries that were small parenchymal lacerations or intrahepatic hematomas were managed without laparotomy. Intra-abdominal blood was absent or estimated to be less than 250 mL in volume.

Computed tomography of cervical infections.

Computed tomography of 31 patients with infections of the face and neck was reviewed and correlated with the clinical and surgical results. Computed tomography was found to be valuable for (a) distinguishing cellulitis from abscess, (b) defining the precise location and extent of complex infections, (c) demonstrating secondary complications, and (d) occasionally suggesting the etiology of infection. Based on this review, we concluded that CT provides important diagnostic information that aids clinical assessment and guides medical and surgical management of cervical infections.

Chronic osteomyelitis examined by CT.

CT examination of 25 patients who had acute exacerbations of chronic osteomyelitis allowed for the correct identification of single or multiple sequestra in 14 surgical patients. Plain radiographs were equivocal for sequestra in seven of these patients, because the sequestra were too small or because diffuse bony sclerosis was present. CT also demonstrated a foreign body and five soft tissue abscesses not suspected on the basis of plain radiographs.

The computerized tomography appearance of renal pedicle injury.

The computerized tomography findings in 2 cases of traumatic renal artery occlusion are reviewed. Both patients had a nonfunctioning, normal-sized kidney with minimal or no contrast enhancement. Based on a review of 60 cases of renal trauma at our institution these findings appear to be specific for occlusion of the renal pedicle.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: assessment of resectability by computed tomography and ultrasound.

A retrospective review of the CT and ultrasound scans from examinations of 30 patients who had hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) was undertaken with special emphasis placed on evaluation of hepatic distribution of tumor, vascular invasion, and extrahepatic spread. Although both CT and ultrasound detected hepatoma in 29 of 30 patients (96%), CT showed more extensive hepatic parenchymal involvement in eight of the patients. Vascular invasion was seen more frequently with ultrasound than with CT.

CT of trauma to the abnormal kidney.

Traumatic injuries to already abnormal kidneys are difficult to assess by excretory urography and clinical evaluation. Bleeding and urinary extravasation may accompany minor trauma; conversely, underlying tumors, perirenal hemorrhage, and extravasation may be missed on urography. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in eight cases including three neoplasms, one adult polycystic disease, one simple renal cyst, two hydronephrotic kidneys, and one horseshoe kidney.

Hemorrhagic pancreatic fluid collections examined by ultrasound.

Ultrasound examination of nine patients revealed that the appearance of their hemorrhagic pancreatic fluid collections varied depending on the age of the hemorrhage. Acute hemorrhage was visualized as a well-defined homogeneous mass, while subacute hemorrhage (studied about a week after the bleeding episode) appeared as a mass that contained cystic and solid elements or was septated. Remote hemorrhage, studied several weeks after the acute event, was visualized as a simple cyst.

Intestinal infarction complicating phenobarbital overdose.

Nonocclusive intestinal infarction developed in a 29-year-old man after phenobarbital overdose. He was found 72 hours after the overdose, at which time examination of the abdomen disclosed no abnormalities and he was not hypotensive. During the next ten hours, abdominal distention, ileus, and gas within the intestinal wall and portal venous system developed.

Kaposi sarcoma and lymphadenopathy syndrome: limitations of abdominal CT in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed in 31 patients with Kaposi sarcoma (KS) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), three patients with classic KS, and 12 patients with the newly described lymphadenopathy syndrome (LNS). The frequency, distribution, and appearance of lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly were similar in the AIDS-related KS and LNS groups. Rectal and perirectal disease was identified in 86% of the homosexual men studied; rectal KS could not be distinguished from proctitis on CT criteria alone.

Computed tomography of silent abdominal abscesses.

Computed tomographic (CT) findings are reviewed in nine patients with clinically unsuspected abdominal abscesses. None of the patients in this series had significant fever or leukocytosis. Localized pain or a palpable mass was the primary clinical feature in seven patients.

Renal infarction: CT diagnosis and correlation between CT findings and etiologies.

The CT scans and the clinical records of 12 patients who had renal infarction were reviewed. The renal infarcts were classified as either focal or global. The CT findings were correlated with the etiologies of renal infarction.

Magnetic resonance and CT of the normal and diseased pancreas: a comparative study.

Nineteen patients with proven pancreatic disease and 50 control subjects were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) using a variety of spin echo and inversion recovery techniques. The MR results were then compared with CT scans. The normal pancreatic head, body, and tail were identified by MR in approximately 60% of patients.

Computed tomographic findings in bowel infarction.

Findings on computed tomography (CT) were considered diagnostic or highly suggestive in seven cases of bowel infarction. Important findings were portal or mesenteric venous gas, intramural gas, focal thickening of bowel wall, focal or diffusely dilated fluid-filled bowel, and clot in the superior mesenteric artery. Only one patient had unequivocal extraluminal gas on initial abdominal radiographs, although others had equivocal findings or later developed obvious extraluminal gas.

CT diagnosis of unsuspected pneumothorax after blunt abdominal trauma.

Review of abdominal CT scans for evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma yielded 35 cases of pneumothorax, 10 of which had not been diagnosed before CT by clinical examination or plain radiographs. Of the 10 cases initially diagnosed on CT, seven required tube thoracostomy for treatment of the pneumothorax. CT detection of pneumothorax is especially important if mechanical assisted ventilation or general anesthesia is used.

Value of computed tomography in detecting occult gastrointestinal perforation.

Five patients with clinically unsuspected gastrointestinal perforation were evaluated preoperatively with computed tomography (CT). In each case the CT demonstration of pneumoperitoneum established the diagnosis of a ruptured viscus and prompted early surgical intervention. The site of perforation was apparent on CT in four of the five patients.