Ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol ablation of parathyroid hyperplasia: preliminary experience in patients on chronic dialysis.

Objective: We report on a 3-year experience using single-shot, ultrasonography-guided, percutaneous ethanol ablation (PEA) of hyperplastic parathyroid glands in chronic dialysis patients suffering from secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen uraemic patients (mean age 52 +/- 14 years) with hypercalcaemia and elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone were assessed for ethanol ablation. Ten patients did not fulfil the inclusion criteria and underwent surgical parathyroidectomy.

Proximal extent of pelvic vein thrombosis and its association with pulmonary embolism.

Objective: Conventional methods such as duplex ultrasound scanning do not provide accurate information about proximal extension of pelvic vein thrombosis. We evaluated proximal extent of thrombus toward pelvic veins with magnetic resonance imaging in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) proximal to the inguinal ligament on the basis of duplex ultrasound scans. In addition, frequency of pulmonary embolism (PE) and early (4 weeks) clinical outcome were evaluated.

Regional cerebral blood flow in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether regional cerebral blood flow in survivors of torture suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) differed significantly from that in healthy controls.

Method: We examined the cerebral regional distribution of 99m-technetium-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (HMPAO) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 8 patients and in 8 healthy controls. A semi-quantitative analysis was performed in which symmetrical regions of interest (ROI) were drawn in all subjects.

Scintimammography enhances negative predictive value of non-invasive pre-operative assessment of breast lesions.

Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a criterion with a high negative predictive value for the evaluation of breast lesions. We aimed to determine the value of combining three non-invasive tests, mammography (MM), ultrasonography (USS) and 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrite (99mTc-MIBI) scintimammography (scinti-MM).

Methods: We included 94 consecutive patients with suspected lesions detected by mammography or on physical examination.

Treatment of advanced colorectal cancer with folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil in combination with cisplatinum.

51 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (stage Dukes D) were treated with intravenous (i.v.) infusion on days 1, 3, 5, 8 and 16 with folinic acid (200 mg/m2) and 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2), and on days 1, 8 and 16 with cisplatinum (25 mg/m2 i.

Erythropoietin treatment for chronic anemia of selected hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

Background: Neoplasias, especially in their more advanced stages, are often associated with chronic anemia of malignancy which impairs the patient's physical ability and quality of life.

Patients And Methods: Forty-two patients with chronic anemia associated with hematological malignancies (18 multiple myelomas, 10 myelodysplastic syndromes) or solid tumors (9 breast cancers, 5 colon cancers) were treated with 150-300 units/kg rHuEPO for a median time period of 16 weeks. Response was defined as an increase of the initial hemoglobin level by at least 2 g/dl.

[Diagnostic value of secretory products of eosinophils and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with idiopathic lung fibrosis].

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process in the lower respiratory tract of unknown etiology and poor prognosis. There is evidence that cytotoxic mediators released by neutrophils and eosinophils, such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) play a central role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of this study was to assess disease activity in patients with IPF by measuring MPO and ECP concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).

[Vitronectin in bronchoalveolar lavage--a parameter of disease activity in sarcoidosis].

Vitronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein which is involved in several of the processes of inflammation and repair. In previous studies we demonstrated that increased concentrations of vitronectin can be detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BAL) of patients with interstitial lung disease (e.g.

Serum procollagen III peptide levels in subjects with sarcoidosis. A 5-year follow-up study.

In a prospective study, Type III procollagen N-terminal peptide was measured in the sera of 38 subjects with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis at 6-month intervals over a period of 5 yr. The subjects were divided into four groups according to their radiologic presentation and clinical course: Group A (n = 10) subjects with sarcoidosis Type I without radiologic progression over 5 yr; Group B (n = 5) subjects with sarcoidosis Type I with radiologic progression to Stage II or III; Group C (n = 9) subjects with sarcoidosis Types II and III without progression over 5 yr; and Group D (n = 14) subjects with sarcoidosis Types II and III with radiologic progression. Lung function tests (FVC, FEV1, and DLCO), chest roentgenograms, and measurements of serum angiotensin converting enzyme (S-ACE) were performed concurrently with the S-PCP-III levels.

Laser angioplasty: results of a prospective, multicenter study at 3-year follow-up.

A prospective multicenter trial was initiated to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laser angioplasty. Laser recanalization was performed in 338 patients with arteriosclerotic femoropopliteal artery occlusions (average length, 8.5 cm).

[Clinical and urodynamic results after various ileum neobladder procedures].

Urinary diversion after cystectomy in 15 male patients suffering from advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (pT-pT3b) was performed by ileal neobladder in different ways: S type n = 5, U type n = 3, J type n = 3 and W type n = 4. The perioperative mortality was nil, the overall complication rate 60%. The patients were followed up by means of regular urodynamic controls after 3, 6 and 12 months.

[Femoropopliteal laser recanalization--a multicenter study].

Laser-assisted angioplasty was performed in four different hospital centers, following the same treatment protocol and using an Nd-YAG laser with a sapphire-probe catheter. The initial recanalization rate of 259 femoro-popliteal occlusions with a mean length of 7.5 cm was 84%.

[A cerebral air embolism due to a central venous catheter in the computed tomogram].

A case of air embolism to the brain occurred via a disconnected central venous catheter. Computed tomography disclosed a number of small air bubbles in the right hemisphere. If the clinician suspects air embolism a CT scan should be obtained immediately to verify the presence of intracerebral air.

[Ultrasound controlled kidney cyst puncture: significance for diagnosis and therapy].

Renal cyst puncture under ultrasonic guidance has proved an excellent and safe method in the differential diagnosis of cystic renal masses. The use of ultrasound in the follow-up of patients with renal cyst puncture is mandatory for evaluation of complications and results. The therapeutic success of renal cyst puncture is poor and estimated at about 25%.

Adrenal cortical carcinoma: preoperative demonstration of right atrial extension by sonography and computerized tomography.

We report a case of adrenal cortical carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending to the right atrium. Tumor extension was demonstrated preoperatively with sonography and computerized tomography. We recommend that both modalities be used when evaluating masses in the suprarenal space.

[Changes in the vena cava in kidney tumors: sonography or cavography?].

In seven out of 45 cases with malignant growths in kidneys and adrenal glands, sonography presented tumor-induced changes in the vena cava. The accuracy of this technique in detecting changes in the vena cava corresponds to that of cavography. Thus, it is no longer necessary to use cavography--except as a supplementary method mainly in cases where with sonography it is difficult to differentiate between an incomplete and a complete occlusion of the vena cava or between a cone-shaped invasion of the neoplastic thrombus into the inferior vena cava and an infiltration of the tumor into the wall of the vena cava.

[Clinical significance of the dilated common bile duct in the sonogram].

The data of 34 patients with a sonographically established dilated common bile duct were analysed as to the clinical significance of these findings. Whereas it was possible to diagnose dilated proximal common bile ducts in all of the cases under examination, presentation of the distal section succeeded in only 56% of the patients involved. Thus distal concretions escaped diagnosis in seven out of 24 cases.

[Morphological liver diagnosis in radiology].

Based on the experiences incurred in the years 1970 to 1977, this thesis deals with the efficiency of sonography, scintigraphy and angiography as well as such supplementary diagnostic procedures as ERCP, hepatography and computed tomography in circumscribed hepatic processes. Based on the typical clinical findings obtained, recommendations are made on further diagnostic procedures according to the given hospital structure in Austria: 80% of liver metastases and circumscribed space-occupying primary lesions may be diagnosed by sonography in Basic Hospitals (Standardkrankenanstalten) while cystic processes may be excluded. Solitary space-occupying lesions will have to be examined further by scintigraphy and angiography on the next highest level, the General Hospital (Schwerpunktkrankenanstalt).

[Bleomycin-induced lung changes in the roentgen picture].

Amongst 25 patients treated with Bleomycin for squamous epitheliomas, irreversible pulmonary fibrosis was observed in four cases and reversible fibrosis in two others. The radiological changes in five patients consisted of linear interstitial shadows and one patient showed nodular shadowing. By means of lung biopsies, these findings were related to the pathological changes.