[Crisis in medical ethics].

There is a disproportion between diagnostic and therapeutic medical achievements and the doctor/patient relationship. Are we allowed to do everything we are able to do in medicine? People are concerned and worried (genetic technology, invasive medicine, embryos in test tubes etc.).

[The value of barium double-contrast study in the aftercare of gastrectomy patients (Roux-Y)].

We evaluated 32 patients who had undergone jejuno-oesophagostomy for gastric carcinoma. Double contrast radiography was performed 3 to 36 months after gastrectomy, 3 to 14 days prior to routine endoscopy. Endoscopy is superior to double contrast radiography in detecting tumour recurrence, particularly in small tumours, due to the possibility of biopsy.

[Differential diagnosis of a low echo thyroid gland].

Hypothyrosis as a result of inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland, often is a diagnostic problem because of the insidous onset and its lack of specific symptoms. In the rather large amount of literature about sonography of the thyroid no papers with a systematic approach to this entity are found. In a prospective study we evaluated 36 proven cases and found a characteristic sonographic pattern of the thyroid with regard to its size, contour and structure.

[The physician as judicial expert witness].

Excellent special knowledge and consideration of the limits of competence in his own special field as well as in the court procedures are characteristic of a medical expert at law court. Only he provides medical expert knowledge that the court lacks in criminal, civil and social law. This must not mislead him to try to solve legal problems, ie to play the role of a "judge in white".

[Sonography of the lungs and pleura].

Diagnoses were made by ultrasound in 73 out of 80 cases with unclear thorax x-ray. One case was misinterpreted, no diagnoses were possible in 6 cases. Pleural effusion or opacities reaching the pleura are necessary to perform ultrasound examination.

[Differential diagnosis of the low-echo thyroid gland].

Hypothyrosis as a result of inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland, often is a diagnostic problem because of the insidious onset and its lack of specific symptoms. In the rather large amount of literature about sonography of the thyroid no papers with a systematic approach to this entity are found. In a prospective study we evaluated 36 proven cases and found a characteristic sonographic pattern of the thyroid with regard to its size, contour and structure.

[Hereditary onycho-osteo-arthrodysplasia (nail-patella syndrome) with progressive renal failure].

A case of a fully developed hereditary onycho-osteo-arthrodysplasia (nail-patella syndrome) is presented. The typical signs, such as the iliac horns or variations of the knees, cubitals and nails should be familiar to every radiologist. The associated nephropathy seems to be caused by typical changes in the glomerular basement membrane seen in electron microscopy.

[Noninvasive diagnosis of post-puncture vascular complications of the femoral artery: i.v. DSA and duplex sonography].

In 1200 cases of angiographic or invasive procedures with puncture of the femoral artery, vascular complications occurred in 10 patients (0.8%). In a prospective study, duplex sonography and intravenous digital subtraction angiography were used as diagnostic methods in these cases.

[Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma--the limits and advantages of sonography].

29 patients with carcinoma of the larynx and the hypopharynx were evaluated not only for staging cervical lymph nodes but also for classification of the primary tumour. With appropriate technique it is possible to assess tumour infiltration (T4) of surrounding tissue of the larynx at all levels. Tumour classification T1 to T3 is possible in patients with tumour of the epiglottis (regio supraglottis, UICC).

[Bone metastases diagnosed by ultrasound].

Osteoclastic bone metastases - mostly associated with soft tissue infiltration - but also osteoblastic metastases present a typically sonographic appearance. These patterns are discussed in two cases. Nearly 50% of skeletal metastases are located in sonographically easily accessible regions.

[Behavior of contrast media in liver tumors in computerized tomography--correlation between pharmacokinetics and histological structure].

The characteristics of contrast medium in liver tumours were studied via CT in a prospective study in 247 patients. In 30 cases, dynamic CT was performed additionally. Analysis of the time density diagrams shows the pharmacokinetics of the lesion corresponding to the histological structure classified into 4 types according to Claussen and Lochner.

[Comparison of ultrasonic and CT diagnosis of solid liver tumors].

A prospective study compares the results of ultrasound and CT diagnostics in 323 patients with liver tumours. The accuracy of both methods is high: the sensitivity of ultrasound comes up to 90.4%, of CT to 96.

[Long-term results using a nonionic contrast medium--a report of clinical experiences].

Between January 1982 and May 1986 more than 50,000 patients were examined radiologically with water-soluble (ionic and nonionic) contrast media at the Department of Radiology Rudolfsstiftung, Vienna. In 1983 only 2.2% of the contrast agents used were nonionic, in 1985 the share had increased to 53.

[Venous diagnosis using duplex sonography].

Duplex sonography is an excellent alternative in sonographically accessible regions of the venous system if i.v. administration of contrast media for opacification is not possible for technical reasons or because of medical contraindications.

[Pre- and postoperative diagnosis of an aortic aneurysm by dynamic computed tomography with omission of angiography].

A study which was prospective with regard to the method, showed 41 cases of aortic aneurysms in a collective of 3597 body-CT-examinations (1.14%). By means of CT and its possibility of reconstruction all morphological details of an aneurysm become visible.

[Comparison of the side effects of urographic contrast media (iothalamate, diatrizoate, iodamide, iopamidol) within the scope of a CT study].

In 1465 patients the side effects of urographic contrast media for enhancement in CT were compared. The results show that the reaction frequency with iotalamate is 5.1%, with diatrizoate 7.

[Sonography in the diagnosis of acute abdomen].

A prospective study with 466 patients demonstrated high value of sonography in combination with radiological methods in acute diagnosis of the abdomen. It is shown that sonography and radiology complement each other excellently. In 23% of the cases the examination, which resembles screening, indicates the quickest and most economic way through diagnostic procedures.

[Cerebral blood flow measurement by dynamic computed tomography before and after reconstructive vascular surgery].

Sequential changes of cerebral regional blood flow and parenchymal perfusion were examined with dynamic CT in 12 patients with arteriosclerotic occlusive disease before and after vascular reconstructive surgery. ROI density values were recorded bilaterally in corresponding regions of the brain tissue and vessels. Interpretation is based on transient time of the bolus (timing of peak), delay of the peak and amplitude of the change of density-time curve.

[Staging of adenocarcinoma of the kidney--CT largely replaces catheter angiography].

In renal adenocarcinoma (hypernephroma) CT as a rule provides the same information as angiography. Our experience is based on a collection of 61 tumour cases, divided in stages according to the TNM system. In retrospect, 39 of our own cases were investigated by CT as well as by angiography; the accuracy of both methods was tested on 33 operative findings.

[Testicular tumor staging: the ranking of CT and ultrasonic diagnosis].

In a retrospective study 79 patients suffering from a tumour of the testis were analysed between March 1977 and March 1983. Of these, 31 patients were examined via CT. The radiologist's task was the staging of these cases.

[Clinical significance of symmetric basal ganglia calcification].

Since CT it has been possible to detect subtle SCBG. Usually they are without any symptoms. Massive calcification is visible in conventional radiogram; it can form the patho-anatomical substrate for neuro-psychiatric defects.

[Comparative study on the effect of the dopamine receptor blockers metoclopramide and domperidone on stomach emptying and the visualization of the small intestine in monocontrast].

The effects of a new dopamine receptor blocking agent, domperidone are compared pharmacoradiographically with the well-know action of metoclopramide. The investigated parameters were pyloric muscle function, passage time through the small intestine and, in correction with this, an evaluation of barium filling of the small intestine. Our investigations show that domperidone at dosages of 0.