Evaluation of active bleeding into hematomas by technetium-99m red blood cell scintigraphy before angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of technetium-99m red blood cell (Tc-99m RBC) scintigraphy in the diagnosis of active hemorrhage into large intra-abdominal hematomas before arteriography.

Methods: This retrospective case series describes four patients (1 man and 3 women) with large abdominal wall and retroperitoneal hematomas confirmed by computed tomography who underwent Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy before angiography. Arterial transcatheter embolization was performed if active hemorrhage was found.

Thoracic complications of illicit drug use: an organ system approach.

Illicit drug use constitutes a major health problem and may be associated with various thoracic complications. These complications vary depending on the specific drug used and the route of administration. Commonly abused drugs that may play a role in causing thoracic disease include cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamine derivatives.

Presentation, diagnosis, and management of arterial mycotic pseudoaneurysms in injection drug users.

Injection drug users frequently present with abscess, cellulitis, and endocarditis. The development of arterial mycotic pseudoaneurysm (AMP) as a sequela of injection drug use, however, is much less frequently reported. We undertook a study to determine the prevalence and presenting clinical characteristics of AMP, utilizing a retrospective review of all emergency department cases seen at one city public hospital for the 5-year period 1994-1999.

Helical CT with sagittal and coronal reconstructions: accuracy for detection of diaphragmatic injury.

Objective: The objectives of our study were to determine the accuracy of single-detector helical CT (including coronal and sagittal reconstructions) for the diagnosis of traumatic diaphragmatic injury, establish measurements for the thickness of the normal diaphragmatic crus, and describe an additional sign of diaphragmatic injury: active arterial extravasation of contrast material at the level of the diaphragm.

Materials And Methods: The CT scans of 25 patients with surgically proven diaphragmatic injury and 22 patients with surgically confirmed uninjured diaphragms were blindly reviewed by five thoracic radiologists. Sagittal and coronal reconstructions were performed for 20 of the 25 patients with a proven diaphragmatic injury and for all the patients without a diaphragmatic injury.