Objective: The purpose of this article is to show the value of volumetric oblique coronal reformation of CT data sets for assessing the normal anatomy and abnormalities of the ampulla of Vater.
Conclusion: Volumetric oblique coronal reformations are a useful noninvasive method to provide diagnostic information about periampullary abnormalities as well as show secondary features important for local staging and management. The technique is also valuable in providing a time-efficient method to review pertinent findings with clinicians.
Objective: Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) and pioglitazone (PIO) in abdominally obese adults with impaired glucose tolerance were evaluated under the hypothesis that the combination attenuates GH-induced increases in glucose concentrations, reduces visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and improves insulin sensitivity over time.
Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 x 2 factorial design.
Setting: Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, United States.
Objective: The purpose of this pictorial essay is to showcase the use of minimum intensity projection in the imaging of low attenuation structures such as the pancreatic duct.
Conclusion: Minimum intensity projection is a valuable adjunct to other processing techniques for the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and cystic tumors of the pancreas.
Background: Our purpose was to correlate the imaging findings of small cystic pancreatic lesions to the incidence of growth on follow-up imaging and their pathologic diagnoses.
Methods: CT images for 159 patients with cystic pancreatic lesions were retrospectively evaluated and lesions were assessed for size, number, connection to the main pancreatic duct (MPD), MPD dilatation, and any presence of loculation, wall irregularity, thick septations, or solid components. A total of 86 patients had follow-up imaging with time periods of less than 6 months (n = 21), 6-12 months (n = 22), 1-2 years (n = 14), and greater than 2 years (n = 29).
Introduction: This study was designed to determine the value of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in the evaluation of metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).
Methods: Fifty-eight FDG PET scans were performed on 46 consecutive patients with TCC. Results were correlated with radiologic, pathologic, and histologic findings in these patients and the sensitivity of PET for detecting malignancy in untreated TCC patients (n = 48) was compared to the sensitivity in patients who had undergone prior chemotherapy (n = 10).
Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the negative predictive value of MDCT with curved planar reformations for detecting vascular invasion and predicting overall resectability in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Materials And Methods: Imaging findings related to vascular invasion and overall tumor resectability in 25 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced biphasic MDCT evaluation were correlated with actual vessel invasion and overall resectability determined at surgery and pathologic examination. The presence of vascular invasion was assessed in 110 major peripancreatic vessels in 22 patients who underwent resection.
Background: The formation of an intestinal stoma is very effective in the treatment of colonic dysmotility associated with spinal cord injury (SCI). Little is known about the difference in the long-term outcome among left-sided colostomies, right-sided colostomies, and ileostomies in this patient population.
Methods: The records of 45 SCI patients with intestinal stomas at our institution were reviewed retrospectively.
An important feature of multidetector-row helical computed tomography (CT) is the increased speed of scanning that permits routine use of very thin collimation and acquisition of near isometric imaging data of the abdomen within the time span of a single breath-hold. The parallel escalation in the capabilities of workstations makes feasible the practical use of advanced postprocessing techniques to create high quality volumetric imaging. This article highlights the unique contributions of multidetector-row CT and advanced postprocessing techniques to the evaluation of the pancreas and peripancreatic vascular structures and their value in the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic neoplasms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastroenterol Clin North Am
September 2002
Multidetector-row CT provides excellent visualization of the pancreas and peripancreatic structures, yielding information that is crucial for detecting pancreatic neoplasms and accurately determining their staging. This new technology enables the acquisition of large volumetric data sets to create high-quality curved planar reformations that clearly depict the common bile duct, the pancreatic duct, and the peripancreatic vasculature. Additionally, curved planar reformations highlight critical anatomic and pathologic relationships which are useful for surgical planning in patients with resectable disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the utility of curved planar reformations compared with standard transverse images in the assessment of pancreatic tumors.
Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients suspected of having pancreatic tumors underwent contrast material-enhanced biphasic multi-detector row computed tomography (CT). Curved planar reformations were generated along the pancreatic duct, common bile duct, and major mesenteric vessels.
Purpose: To determine which patients suspected of having acute appendicitis benefit from preoperative imaging.
Materials And Methods: The medical records of 462 consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy for clinically suspected acute appendicitis and underwent preoperative evaluation at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups: women (n = 166), girls (n = 46), men (n = 178), and boys (n = 72).
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of colostomy on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) by designing a questionnaire that used self-reported data and correlating these data with the clinical information obtained from patients' medical records.
Materials And Methods: A comprehensive QOL questionnaire was designed to specifically address the following 5 domains: physical health, psychosocial adjustment, body image, self-efficacy, and recreation/leisure. This questionnaire was completed during a telephone or an in-person interview.
A variety of high-resolution imaging techniques are currently available for the evaluation of patients with RUQ pain. In these patients, an imaging approach that is based on identifying the presence of certain clinical signs and symptoms can aid in choosing the appropriate imaging modality and establishing the diagnosis. For patients presenting with a positive Murphy sign, sonography and biliary scintigraphy are the most useful initial imaging techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Phys Med Rehabil
February 2001
Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) as a noninvasive method to stimulate the colon in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Design: A prospective before-after trial consisting of 2 protocols.
Setting: FMS laboratories of 2 SCI centers.
Purpose: To present our early experience with a classification scheme for categorizing focal liver lesions on the basis of the enhancement patterns that they exhibit in the arterial phase of computed tomography (CT) and to determine whether particular enhancement patterns suggest particular diagnoses.
Materials And Methods: The authors reviewed arterial phase CT images in 100 consecutive patients with focal liver lesions, excluding simple cysts. The enhancement pattern of the dominant or representative lesion in each patient was classified into one of five categories-homogeneous, abnormal internal vessels or variegated, peripheral puddles, complete ring, or incomplete ring-by three radiologists blinded to the proved diagnosis.
AJR Am J Roentgenol
November 1998
Objective: The goals of this study were to define the distinguishing characteristics and frequency of urinary bladder pseudolesions that are produced as opacified urine enters the bladder during contrast-enhanced helical CT of the abdomen and to evaluate the usefulness of delayed imaging in differentiating pseudolesions from true lesions.
Subjects And Methods: Contrast-enhanced routine CT scans of 184 patients were obtained prospectively. For each patient, we also obtained 5-min delayed images of the bladder.
J Comput Assist Tomogr
April 1998
Dual-phase helical CT permits imaging of the pancreas and the peripancreatic structures in the arterial dominant and portal venous phases of enhancement, providing information crucial in the assessment of the local extent of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This essay reviews the dual-phase helical CT findings of local extension that preclude potentially curative surgery, including vascular involvement, ligamentous or mesenteric invasion, extension of the tumor to involve the stomach or duodenum, and invasion of adjacent solid organs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Comput Assist Tomogr
April 1997
We report three patients with esophageal wall thickening, incidentally found at CT, in whom further evaluation led to the diagnosis of diffuse esophageal spasm (DES). All cases showed smooth, symmetric, circumferential wall thickening of the distal two-thirds of the esophagus with normal periesophageal fat. No lung parenchymal abnormalities suggestive of aspiration were seen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Helical CT scanners now allow sequential arterial phase and portal venous phase scans of the entire liver to be obtained during a single bolus injection of contrast material. The purpose of this study was to determine if arterial phase scans improve detection of small (< or = 1.5 cm) malignant hepatic neoplasms when compared with portal venous scans alone.
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