Functioning and nonfunctioning cysts of the adrenal cortex and medulla.

Adrenal cysts are rare clinical and pathologic entities. The vast majority are minute in size, unilateral, and found in females at autopsy. They come to the physician's attention when they produce symptoms or are identified on x-ray studies.

An improved non-intubated cutaneous ureterostomy technique for the normal and dilated ureter.

Cutaneous ureterostomy is a simple procedure to perform but is attended by high morbidity owing to recurring abscesses, strictures and stenosis of the stoma. An improved technique applied to the diversion of 4 normal renal units and 3 dilated ureters is described. We have not experienced the complications mentioned in previous studies and none of the patients has required ureteral intubation in this small series with a 3-year followup.

Venacavography, corticosteroids and surgery in the management of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Four patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis were found to have characteristic obstruction and anterior displacement of the lumbar vena cava. Varying degrees of venous collateral circulation were present, depending on the degree of vena caval compression. All 4 patients underwent ureterolysis to relieve the hydronephrosis and to confirm diagnosis by biopsy.

B-mode nephrosonography in renal masses. Its use and some limitations.

One hundred B-mode nephrosonograms were reviewed, and 41 percent of these had a diagnosis proved by either arteriography, cyst puncture or tissue examination. There were 8 proved normal sonograms with one error, an upper pole renal cell carcinoma in a kidney badly distorted by chronic pyelonephritis and ureteral obstruction. Overlying ribs and anatomic distortion contributed to the misinterpretation.