Differential diagnosis of benign and malign pancreatic masses with 18F-fluordeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography recorded with a dual-head coincidence gamma camera.

Introduction: Metabolic imaging using 18F-fluordeoxyglucose and a ring-positron emission tomography camera is an established method in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses. Ring-positron emission tomography cameras, however, are expensive and available in only few specialized centres. The aim of this study was to investigate how far 18F-fluordeoxyglucose scan with a conventional dual-head gamma-camera could differentiate between benign and malign pancreatic masses.

[Euthanasia and the paradox in delegation of life assessment].

Active euthanasia, a question of individual existence, fundamentally concerns the concept of human society. Although legalizing voluntary euthanasia seems to be consequent in liberal democracy, delegation of the act of homicide leads to a paradox in liberalism: Generalization in the assessment of individual life--as it is necessary in such a context--undermines the fundamental right of the individual for social existence irrespective of any assessment whatsoever. This is reflected by the humanistic principle of human dignity as it has been described by Kant.

Findings at helical CT-enteroclysis in symptomatic patients with crohn disease: correlation with endoscopic and surgical findings.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to assess the diagnostic potential of helical CT-enteroclysis (HCTE) and to correlate our findings to endoscopic and surgical results.

Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients suffering from histologic proven Crohn disease underwent HCTE and endoscopy within 4 weeks. HCTE findings were read by two observers in consensus and compared with endoscopic and surgical results.

Autologous blood donation for surgery in inflammatory bowel disease--a report of six cases.

Background: Surgery in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated with need for perioperative blood transfusions carrying the potential risk of infection. Autologous blood donation is often limited by IBD-associated anemia which is reversible by intravenous iron and erythropoietin. We therefore tested the feasibility of autologous blood donation in IBD.