Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided chemical lumbar sympathectomy: simple, safe and effective.

Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from records of 146 cases of CT fluoroscopy-guided chemical lumbar sympathectomy for the palliation of inoperable peripheral vascular disease (PVD) between January 1997 and August 1999. Of these, 16% had claudication, 39% had rest pain and 44% had ischaemic ulcers or gangrene. Seventy-three percent of elective cases were outpatients.

CT and MRI appearances of methotrexate leucoencephalopathy.

Methotrexate is a well recognised cause of diffuse symmetrical leucoencephalopathy. The widespread use of the drug in chemotherapeutic regimes necessitates awareness of this complication. A case report and a brief literature review is presented.

False negative biliary scintigraphy in gangrenous cholecystitis.

Gangrenous cholecystitis is a serious complication of acute cholecystitis and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. We report a case in which the diagnosis was suggested by ultrasound, but cholecystectomy delayed due to atypical clinical presentation and a false negative radionuclide biliary scan.