Quantitative blood flow evaluation of vasodilation-stress compared with dobutamine-stress in patients with end-stage liver disease using Rb PET/CT.

Background: Our aim was to determine if end-stage liver disease (ESLD) is associated with an attenuated response to vasodilator-stress or dobutamine-stress using Rb-PET MPI with blood flow quantification.

Methods And Results: Pre-liver transplant patients who had a normal dipyridamole-stress (n = 27) or dobutamine-stress (n = 26) Rb PET/CT MPI study with no identifiable coronary artery calcium were identified retrospectively and compared to a prospectively identified low-risk of liver disease dipyridamole-stress control group (n = 20). The dipyridamole-stress liver disease group had a lower myocardial flow reserve (MFR) (1.

Anatomical distribution of vertebral fractures: comparison of pediatric and adult spines.

Summary: We compared the distribution of vertebral fractures in adults and children and found that fractures occurred in different locations in the two age groups. This likely relates to the different shape of the immature spine.

Introduction: We hypothesized that the anatomical distribution of vertebral fractures (VF) would be different in children compared to adults.

The accuracy of clinical kyphosis examination for detection of thoracic vertebral fractures: comparison of direct and indirect kyphosis measures.

Objective: To compare the accuracies of two simple physical examination maneuvers for detecting the presence of thoracic vertebral fractures (VF) diagnosed by radiography: direct measurement of kyphosis angle (KA, in degrees) and indirect measurement using wall-occiput distance (WOD, in cm).

Methods: Subjects were 280 women (average age, 54.5 years; range, 18-92) referred for assessment of osteoporosis.

99mTc-WBC scintigraphy with SPECT/CT in the evaluation of arterial graft infection.

Objective: The goals of our study were to retrospectively review our experience in using Tc-white blood cell (WBC) single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging in the evaluation of possible arterial graft infection and to attempt to establish objective criteria for assessment.

Methods: Eleven Tc-WBC SPECT/CT studies performed for the evaluation of clinically suspected arterial graft infection were retrospectively reviewed and compared with reference outcomes. In an attempt to define objective criteria for interpretation, comparison was also made with background liver and bone marrow activity.

The accuracy of historical height loss for the detection of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women.

Historical height loss (HHL) can be calculated as the difference between a patient's tallest recalled height (TRH) and the current measured height (MH). We have examined the accuracy of HHL as a clinical test for the detection of prevalent vertebral fractures. Subjects were postmenopausal women aged 50 or older who had been referred for specialist assessment of osteoporosis risk (n=323; average age 66.