Normal values for thyroid ultrasonography, goiter prevalence and urinary iodine concentration in schoolchildren of the Veneto Region, Italy.

Goiter prevalence in school-age children and median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) are the main indicators of iodine deficiency in a population. In areas of mild iodine deficiency, where goiters are small, ultrasound is preferable to physical examination to estimate goiter prevalence. The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted thyroid volume ultrasonography results from a survey of European schoolchildren as an international reference, but these values have recently been questioned.

[Diagnostic imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism. Radiological techniques: US--CAT--MR].

This study aims to clarify the diagnostic value of ultrasonography, computerised tomography and magnetic resonance in adenomatous pathology of primary and persistent hyperparathyroidism. Although the diagnostic efficacy of the various imaging techniques is still the subject of current debate, the latest specific surgical techniques, require their use either individually or in association, in order to achieve faster and safer surgery. After an overview of the various methods, illustrating their indications and diagnostic limitations, the authors emphasise that the role played by ultrasonography, CAT and MR justifies their use in the preoperative localisation of parathyroid adenoma.

Clinical approach in patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma and negative 131I whole body scintigraphy: importance of 99mTc MIBI scan combined with high resolution neck ultrasonography.

Aims And Background: The aim of this study was to define the clinical impact of MIBI scan combined with neck ultrasonography on the detection of metastates in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients with elevated serum Tg levels but negative 131I scan (non-functioning DTC).

Methods And Study Design: Eighty-two patients with non-functioning DTC, 19 patients with 131I-positive metastases (functioning DTC), and 24 DTC patients who were disease free after therapy (no cancer patients) were enrolled. 131I scan was performed after administration of low diagnostic and high therapeutic tracer doses.

[Ultrasonography in the study of lesions of the menisci and the collateral ligaments of the knee. Findings in 48 surgically treated patients].

The authors report the results of the study of 48/112 patients who underwent US examination of the knee for gonalgia. Meniscopathy or capsular-ligamentous lesions were clinically suspected. US results were compared with arthroscopic or athrotomic findings; the latter two methods were considered as the reference gold standard.

[Diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis of the legs: accuracy of ultrasonography using vein compression].

We prospectively compared real-time US findings with venographic results in the legs of 171 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT). In each leg the common femoral and the popliteal veins were evaluated with venography and US. The two examinations were independently performed and reviewed.

[The side effects of phlebography of the lower extremities using iohexol. A prospective study].

In this prospective study 463 consecutive outpatients, who had undergone phlebography because of clinically suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were examined with clinical follow-up and impedance plethysmography to evaluate the rate of contrast media complications. Seventy-nine patients had immediate and mild side effects, and one had moderate side effects (bronchospasm); no patient suffered from severe life-threatening conditions. There was only one case of DVT which occurred after an initially negative phlebography.

[Meniscal injuries of the knee: arthrographic and echographic study].

In order to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of sonography (US) in meniscal lesions of the knee, 65 unquestionable cases of meniscopathy at arthrography were studied with high-resolution US. In 92% of the cases, inhomogeneous echo structure was demonstrated in correspondence with pathological meniscus, with irregular hyperechoic areas and, in some cases, with hyperechoic lines corresponding to the tear. 40% of patients presented with tumefaction and external bulging of the parameniscal region, while in 87% of the cases the articular capsule was thickened.

Detection of deep-vein thrombosis by real-time B-mode ultrasonography.

In 220 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected deep-vein thrombosis of the leg, we compared contrast venography with real-time B-mode ultrasonography, using the single criterion of vein compressibility with the ultrasound transducer probe. The common femoral and popliteal veins were evaluated for full compressibility (no thrombosis) and noncompressibility (thrombosis). Both veins were fully compressible in 142 of the 143 patients with normal venograms (specificity, 99 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, 97 to 100).

[High-resolution echography of the neck. Preoperative evaluation of lymph node metastases in patients with thyroid carcinoma].

Twenty-six patients with papillary and 4 with medullary thyroid carcinoma were examined by HRUS before surgery in order to evaluate its accuracy in detecting lymph node metastasis (N) of the neck from thyroid carcinoma. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy and nodal dissection. HRUS was accurate in 73% of cases in N staging, while clinical staging was accurate in 60% of cases only.

[A simple method of studying cruciate ligaments in arthrography].

After a review of the methods employed for arthrographic visualization of cruciate ligaments (CL), the authors present a new technique to separately study the anterior and posterior CL during traction. This technique enables to obtain a good visualization of CL and a good diagnostic accuracy; it can radiographically demonstrate a pathologic sagittal instability of the knee; it is easy to perform and is easily repeatable in different patients.

[Pathology of the residual urachus: a congenital anomality of possibly late clinical onset].

The authors report on two rare case urachal residue disease of late onset. They define the pathogenic factors contributing to the disease and describe the semeiological and radiological methods used in diagnosing the condition.

[Echography in the diagnosis of spontaneous hematoma of the rectus muscle].

After a brief explanation of the pathogenesis and of the clinical picture of spontaneous rectus muscle hematoma, the Authors describe 9 diagnosed cases by ultrasonography. The various echographic appearances of this disease are described and the importance of ultrasonography for a correct diagnosis and to avoid unnecessary laparotomy is emphasized.