Spleen/liver ratio in RES-scintigraphy. A comparison between posterior registration and emission computed tomography.

The relative uptake of the spleen compared with the liver in RES-scintigraphy is of diagnostic significance. The spleen/liver (S/L) ratio from a posterior registration is most often used. The high S/L ratios found in earlier reports could well be explained by splenomegaly.

Spontaneous regression of Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic venous occlusion) in a young female.

A case of occlusion of the hepatic veins in an 18-year-old girl is presented. The onset was sudden with massive ascites and markedly impaired general condition. The diagnosis was based on liver biopsy and angiograms of the caval and hepatic veins as well as of the celiac artery.

Radionuclide angiography and scintigraphy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Among 1 257 patients subjected to liver-spleen (RES) scintigraphy and radionuclide angiography (RNA), there were 13 cases of histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (1%). All 13 patients had scintigraphic findings indicating cirrhosis. Histologically, cirrhosis was present in only 9 out of 11 cases in which liver parenchyma was available for examination.

Recording of bone marrow activity in liver-spleen (RES) scintigraphy.

The bone marrow activity in the liver-spleen (RES) scintigraphy has been difficult to estimate correctly. If the activity of the bone marrow is to be decided as counts/time unit it is of importance that structures with a high activity as the liver and spleen are excluded from the registration. A dorsal registration of the pelvis during 180 s will give a rather correct information of bone marrow activity and besides an image of the pelvic bone marrow is obtained.

Reticuloendothelial function in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

The phagocytic and metabolic functions of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) were tested in seven patients with advanced cirrhosis of the liver due to excessive ingestion of ethanol. 125I-labelled microaggregated human serum albumin was used as a test substance. A group of 13 volunteers served as controls.

Distribution of the extrahepatic uptake in liver diseases as recorded by scintigraphy.

Liver scintigraphy performed with 99Tcm-S and Sn colloid ought to be named RES scintigraphy as the distribution of the colloid is mainly determined by the phagocytic capacity of the RES but also by the regional blood flow and the features of the colloid. Both diffuse hepatocellular disease and malignant disease may have decreased activity in the liver and increased extrahepatic activity: spleen, bone marrow and lungs. In liver cirrhosis at least 3 types of distribution of activity can be recognized: (a) equal increase in spleen, bone marrow and lungs, (b) mainly increase in spleen, and (c) mainly increase in bone marrow and lungs.

Splenomegaly, hyperkinetic splenic flow and portal hypertension in colitis.

Four patients with a long history of colitis, splenomegaly, hypersplenism and portal hypertension were examined with angiography, both with contrast medium and isotopes, liver-spleen scintigraphy and recording of portal pressure. At angiography hyperkinetic splenic and portal blood flow was demonstrated. The increased flow causes increased portal pressure, which probably gives rise to changes in the liver often considered as slight cirrhosis at microscopy.

Effect of somatostatin on regional splanchnic blood flows in man. Angiographic studies.

The effect of somatostatin (1 microgram/kg b.w. i.

Portal pressure correlated to visceral circulation times.

Visceral angiography was performed in 7 patients with normal portal pressure and in 10 with portal hypertension. Circulation times, size of vessels and portal pressure were determined. At celiac angiography a direct correlation was found between time for maximum filling of portal vein and portal pressure, provided no vascular abnormalities existed.

Living related kidney donors: complications and long-term renal function.

Sixty-two living related kidney donors were nephrectomized during a 10-year period. The overall complication rate was 40%, most complications being minor. Among the major complications was one patient with pulmonary embolism and three patients with hepatitis.

Stenosis following tracheostomy. A quantitative study of long term results.

Seventy out of the 320 patients treated with tracheostomy and respiratory care in an intensive care unit, were included in a follow-up study. A variety of surgical (38) and medical (32) conditions had prompted IPPV for 1-59 days; 33 had had primary and 37 secondary tracheostomies. The final study included an interview, physical examination, radiographic examination and spirometry.

Subcutaneous arteriovenous fistulas for dialysis with special emphasis on vascular insufficiency.

Ninety-four subcutaneous arterio-venous fistulas were created for haemodialysis in 83 patients. Seventy-one patients eventually received well-functioning fistulas. The most common complication was thrombosis at the suture line.