Intraarterial ethanol as a long-term occlusive agent in renal, hepatic, and gastrosplenic arteries of pigs.

The renal, hepatic, or gastrosplenic arteries of eleven juvenile pigs were selectively injected intraarterially with 95% ethanol to evaluate its efficacy as an agent for use in permanent occlusion and infarction of the vascular bed supplied by the injected artery. A dose of 2.2 cc/5 kg (1 cc/5 lb) of 95% ethanol was injected over 30-45 sec.

Simultaneous bilateral venous sampling for adrenocorticotropin in pituitary-dependent cushing's disease: evidence for lateralization of pituitary venous drainage.

At present it is not established whether lateralization of pituitary venous drainage occurs in humans. To explore this possibility, we performed bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus sampling for ACTH in three patients with surgically proven ACTH-secreting pituitary microadenomas laterally located in the pituitary gland. In each patient, a gradient for ACTH correctly identified the location of the tumor.

Use of lumbar spine films. Statistical evaluation at a university teaching hospital.

Use of lumbar spine films was evaluated in a retrospective review of 1,095 lumbar radiological examinations in 871 patients. Patients' histories and physical examination findings were correlated with four groups of radiological findings: (1) radiologically normal, (2) incidental findings unrelated to patients' complaints, (3) diagnostic films compatible with symptoms, and (4) radiological findings of questionable clinical significance. The high percentage of nondiagnostic and questionable results suggests overuse of lumbar spine films.

An added quality-control measurement for fluoroscopic x-ray systems.

Six fluoroscopic systems were evaluated to determine if improvements in imaging could be achieved. In four of the systems, improved contrast perceptibility could be obtained through adjustment and lowering of the image-intensifier input exposure rates (IIIER). The other two systems required no change or an increase in the IIIER.

Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs: an adequate lumbar spine examination.

A retrospective study was designed to determine the diagnostic value of spot lateral and oblique lumbar spine radiographs in 782 patients. In only 2.4% of patients examined were these views uniquely diagnostic.

Burkitt's lymphoma: obstetric and gynecologic aspects.

A 17-year-old white patient with Burkitt's lymphoma occurring during pregnancy is reported. Although it is primarily a disease of children, Burkitt's lymphoma occurs in women of childbearing age. In nonendemic areas (including the United States) this disease most frequently presents as abdominal or pelvic masses, and may appear initially to be a primary gynecologic problem.

Vascular laboratory and deep venous thrombosis: impact on management.

Two hundred and twenty-nine patients with the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis admitted to the hospital prior and subsequent to the development of our vascular laboratory were reviewed. The institution of a clinical vascular laboratory improved the accuracy of diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. The percentage of patients undergoing venography increased from 34 to 110 (31%) to 70 of 119 (59%), documenting an increased demand by the clinician for objective confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.

The impact of a nuclear crisis on a radiology department.

The experiences of the radiology department at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine during the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant accident are presented. Emergency plans are reviewed.

Postmentoplasty hemorrhage from pseudoaneurysm of the inferior labial artery.

A 29-year-old woman underwent rhinoplasty and augmentation mentoplasty. She subsequently developed a pseudoaneurysm of the inferior labial artery. This was responsible for three episodes of delayed, major postoperative bleeding before the lesion was identified and the aneurysm ligated.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome is a type of acute respiratory insufficiency which is preceded by a variety of serious illnesses. The radiologic appearance ranges from scattered densities early in the course to complete consolidation later. Protein and water leak into the interstitium and alveoli.

Radionuclide pulmonary arteriography.

Radionuclide pulmonary arteriography offers a unique method for visualizing the main pulmonary artery and its major branches. Since the radioactive particles that are injected intravenously become lodged in the pulmonary capillaries and pre-capillary arterioles, there is no interference from the systemic circulation. Normally, the main pulmonary artery is visualized for no longer than 4 or 6 seconds; prolongation of the duration of visualization may be indicative of, for example, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism.

Femoropopliteal bypass grafting: predictive value of preoperative angiography.

Our experience with femoropopliteal grafting was reviewed to determine whether quantitative grading of the preoperative angiogram could be correlated with the outcome of the grafting procedure. The series consisted of 53 bypass grafts in 50 patients. The quantitative grading of the preoperative arteriogram correlated with the graft closure rate during the follow-up period of 48 months.

Radionuclide blood flow studies before and after gelfoam embolization of intracranial meningiomas.

Radionuclide blood flow studies were employed to evaluate the success or failure of preoperative Gelfoam embolization in two patients with intracranial meningiomas. In both cases, the initial radionuclide blood flow study showed tumor visualization during the arterial phase. Immediately following the embolization procedure, the radionuclide blood flow study showed no visualization of the meningioma during the arterial phase, indicating a successful embolization procedure in preparation for removal of the tumor in a relatively bloodless field.

Pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion unassociated with other radiologic evidence of disease is a challenging diagnostic problem. With small effusion, only silhouetting of the diaphragm may be noted. A lateral decubitus view will often be helpful.