Segmental and global left ventricular function assessment using gated SPECT with a semiconductor Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) camera: phantom study and clinical validation vs cardiac magnetic resonance.

Background: We evaluated gated-SPECT using a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) camera for assessing global and regional left ventricular (LV) function.

Methods: A phantom study evaluated the accuracy of wall thickening assessment using systolic count increase on both Anger and CZT (Discovery 530NMc) cameras. The refillable phantom simulated variable myocardial wall thicknesses.

Predictive factors of effectiveness of streptokinase in deep venous thrombosis.

In a prospective study, 174 patients (118 women and 56 men, average age 44 years, range 14 to 82) with proximal extensive thrombosis received streptokinase (100,000 U/hour) for an average of 2.8 days (range 0.5 to 7) through the catheter of a temporary caval filter.

Use of a new removable vena cava filter in order to prevent pulmonary embolism in patients submitted to thrombolysis.

The authors present a removable vena cava filter that may be introduced percutaneously, is atraumatic to the venous wall, and permits the simultaneous use of thrombolytic therapy. Sixty-five patients were studied: 42 cases of pulmonary embolism with threatening venous thrombosis; 23 cases of phlebitis associated with an ilio-caval thrombus without pulmonary embolism. The filter was introduced 38 times femorally and 27 times by a jugular approach.

[Scintigraphy in the diagnosis of visceral candidiasis].

From the features of two cases, the authors stress the usefulness of the scintigraphy as regards to the diagnosis of visceral candida abscesses. Such fungal localisations are not infrequent, especially in immunodeficient patients (haematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy, lupus, serious visceral illness..