Anterior shoulder instability: diagnostic criteria determined from prospective analysis of 121 MR arthrograms.

Purpose: To determine magnetic resonance (MR) arthrographic criteria in the diagnosis of anterior glenohumeral instability.

Materials And Methods: In 121 patients with diagnoses proved surgically, the labrum, glenohumeral ligaments, and capsular insertion types were assessed prospectively with gadolinium-enhanced MR arthrography. Findings were compared in stable and unstable shoulders.

MR arthrography of the shoulder: normal intraarticular structures and common abnormalities.

MR imaging with gadopentetate dimeglumine (MR arthrography) is a new technique for evaluating the shoulder. Early clinical experience indicates that MR arthrography improves the visualization of intraarticular structures [1-3]. On T1-weighted images, high-signal contrast solution outlines the low-signal surface of the cuff tendons, the contour of the glenoid labrum, and the course of the glenohumeral ligaments.

Early gallbladder visualization during Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy.

Gallbladder visualization has been described during delayed Tc-99m RBC blood pool imaging in patients with some combination of anemia, renal disease, and multiple recent blood transfusions. The authors present two cases of gallbladder activity that appeared 1 hour after the injection of Tc-99m RBCs in patients without renal or hematologic abnormalities.

Computed tomographic evaluation of gallstone calcification for biliary lithotripsy.

As the Food and Drug Administration trials for biliary lithotripsy in the United States near completion, future criteria for patient eligibility remain to be defined. Gallstone calcification greater than 3-mm partial rim on plain film (KUB) or oral cholecystogram (OCG) has excluded patients thus far, since early results of gallstone clearance (lithotripsy plus chemodissolution) were suboptimal with calcified stones. To evaluate the usefulness of these criteria for gallstone fragmentation, computed tomographic (CT) scans were performed on 20 patients immediately prior to lithotripsy to evaluate gallstone density and 24 hours after lithotripsy to observe the CT appearance of fragmentation.

Experimental treatment of thrombotic vascular occlusion.

The role of laser energy in the treatment of thrombotic vascular occlusion was evaluated in two sets of experiments. First, 10 polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were used to replace segments of the superficial femoral arteries in dogs and were thrombosed by distal ligation. Occlusion was maintained for one hour, or for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in each of two grafts.