[The diagnostic use of computed tomography in the management of mediastinal abscess (author's transl)].

Computed tomography (CT) is of outstanding importance in the current diagnosis of mediastinal pathology. We have recently treated a patient who underwent laryngectomy and then experienced a septic temperature pattern during the postoperative period which was suspect of mediastinal abscess. A mediastinal CT was obtained, and uncovered a lesion in the anterior mediastinum.

[Computer tomography and retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease) (author's transl)].

Four patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease) were examined by computer tomography; the appearances are described and the differential diagnosis discussed. Computer tomography clearly defines the proliferative-inflammatory process and together with conventional radiology, angiography and lymphangiography it permits a presumptive diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis. The non-invasive nature of computer tomography makes it the method of choice for follow-up of this disease.

[CT guided percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy (author's transl)].

Technical aspects of CT guided fine needle biopsy are discussed. Since CT enables the topographic-anatomical localization of even small mass lesions, the success rate of CT guided biopsy may be considerably high. The diagnostic potential of the method for the biopsy of various organs is discussed.

[Pharmacokinetics of intravascular contrast agents in computerized tomography (author's transl)].

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of intravascular renal and biliary contrast agents is being evaluated with help of CT-densitometry. Contrast enhancement is best with high-dose bolus injection and rapid sequence CT-scanning of at least 4 cuts per minute.

[The radiological diagnosis of hydatid cysts of the liver (author's transl)].

The radiological features of cystic and alveolar echinococcal disease of the liver is described, based on 17 patients. Conventional radiographs, liver ultrasound and liver angiography are described.

Effect of pyloroplasty on gastric emptying: long term results as obtained with a labelled test meal 14-43 months after operation.

The mean gastric transit time (t) and the half-time of gastric emptying (t/2) of a labelled test meal have been studied in 18 patients more than 1 year after gastric surgery for peptic ulcer and compared with those in 18 healthy controls. Of the patients, 6 had undergone proximal gastric vagotomy alone (PGV), L had had proximal gastric vagotomy and pyloroplasty (PGVP) and in 6 truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (TVP) had been performed. The t and t/2 of patients with PGV alone did not differ significantly from the values of the control group.

[Clinical evaluation of cardiovascular reactions to renal contrast media using an impedance method (author's transl)].

The hemodynamic changes during intravenous urography were studied in 120 non-selected patients (60 patients with bolus injection, 60 with infusion: 30 of each group with methylglucamine ioxitalamate, while the other 30 with sodium methylglucamine diatrizoate). There was a uniform statistically significant increase in heart rate (p less than 10(-9) as well as in cardiac output (p less than 10(-9)) (measured by means of a non-invasive impedance method). The observed changes were more marked following bolus injection than infusion.