Simultaneous presentation of soft tissue and bone tissue in computed tomography with combined window.

Objectives: To examine whether in computed tomography (CT) soft tissue and bone tissue can be simultaneously presented with a combined window without loss of diagnostic information compared to the separate presentations with soft tissue and bone tissue windows.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven CT examinations from different patients with pathological changes at the soft tissue or bone tissue after an accident or due to malignant tumour were evaluated. The CT data were transformed into grey level data with three different windows: (1) soft tissue window; (2) bone tissue window to show spongiosa and bone cortex; and (3) special window to show ethmoidal sinus and mastoidal cells.

Radiation exposure to patient and staff in hepatic chemoembolization: risk estimation of cancer and deterministic effects.

The purpose of the study was to determine the risks of radiation-induced cancer and deterministic effects for the patient and staff in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sixty-five patients with HCC underwent the first cycle of TACE. Thermoluminescence dosemeters and conversion factors were used to measure surface doses and to calculate organ doses and effective dose.

Intraluminal brachytherapy of de novo TIPS: a prospective randomized double-blind study.

Objective: The aim of this prospective double-blind and randomized study was to assess whether intraluminal brachytherapy of de novo transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) can prevent significant shunt stenosis.

Subjects And Methods: Forty patients with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis were enrolled. In the irradiation group of 20 patients, the gamma radiation source, iridium-192, was introduced into the shunt within a special balloon catheter that allows the radionuclide to be centered within the shunt.

Repetitive transarterial chemoembolization (rTACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparisons between an arterial port system and conventional angiographic technique.

Purpose: To compare the cost and radiation exposure of repetitive transarterial chemoembolization (rTACE) using percutaneously implantable port system with rTACE using conventional catheterization technique.

Materials And Methods: In five patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, three cycles of TACE were performed using conventional technique and six cycles using port. The cumulative cost of material and contrast agent and dose area product (DAP) were compared with the cost and DAP that would be expected if the rTACE was performed conventionally.