Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of acute pancreatitis.

Background & Aims: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with computed tomography (CT) in assessing acute pancreatitis (AP) and to explore the correlation between MRI findings and clinical outcome.

Methods: Patients with AP were investigated by contrast-enhanced CT and MRI on admission and 7 and 30 days thereafter. MRI was performed with intravenous secretin and contrast medium.

Cholangitis caused by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy obstruction by a biliary stone after liver transplantation.

Biliary stones may occur after liver transplantation, mostly in relation with biliary strictures. We describe an unusual case of biliary stone developing 18 years after liver transplantation and biliary-enteric anastomosis for biliary atresia, responsible for an acute cholangitis caused by obstruction of the jejunal loop. Surgical exploration allowed the removal of the stone and did not reveal any enteric stricture.

Wilkie's syndrome.

A superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) was diagnosed in two young women with, respectively, a 2- and 1-year history of postprandial vomiting and epigastric pain. The patients underwent a laparoscopic duodenojejunal bypass, and resumed a normal diet on the fifth postoperative day. The patients are still symptom-free with patent anastomosis on gastrointestinal radiographic control at 24 and 6 months, respectively, following their operation.

Intestinal obstruction and portal vein gas embolism.

The presence of hepatic portal vein gas is the consequence of invasion by anaerobic bacteria originating from an intestinal tract lesion. Although this phenomenon is rare, it may result from several common intestinal pathologies. The prognosis, despite intensive treatment, is often very poor.

Cholestasis in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome: comparison between ultrasonographic and cholangiographic findings.

Cholestasis in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome was systematically investigated by ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The two procedures were found to be complementary, and showed similar results in 56.2% of the cases.

[Treatment of adenocarcinoma of Vater's ampulla].

We reviewed the records of 51 patients. In two-thirds of the cases the main symptom was icterus; one third presented with pain. The whole group underwent a retrograde choledocho-pancreatography.

Whole gut lavage for colonoscopy--a comparison between two solutions.

The clinical efficacy and patient acceptability of a new solution containing mainly sodium sulfate and polyethylene glycol (solution II) compared with a balanced standard electrolyte solution (solution I) for whole gut lavage prior to colonoscopy were evaluated in 240 ambulatory and hospital patients randomly allocated to receive either of the two solutions. On the basis of the quality and rapidity of the bowel preparation and the good results obtained by clinical and biological parameters, we found that the newly designed solution was superior.

Special catheters for E.R.C.P.

The authors present the advantages of a needle and a metallic tip catheters allowing better success in conventional E.R.C.

Insulin receptor sites as membrane markers during embryonic development. I. Data obtained with unfertilized and fertilized sea urchin eggs.

Binding of insulin to sea urchin egg plasma membrane has been studied by biochemical and immunocytochemical methods. Unfertilized and fertilized eggs as well as embryos during the first cell division have been used. 1.