A survey on critical qualities and information sources on products purchased to the radiology department.

A survey on critical product qualities and sources of information on contrast media, CT and ultrasound machines, X-ray laboratories, angiography catheters and film was completed by 79% of the heads of radiology departments at Swedish hospitals. The respondents were asked to rank in order of preference as important information sources; own experience, opinions of colleagues, influence by sales representatives at the hospital or outside, fairs, congresses and scientific articles. The qualities of contrast media to rank were; low frequency of serious side-effects, low frequency of patient discomfort, easiness to handle, package size and price.

CT attenuation of normal liver parenchyma on delayed scanning with iohexol.

Twenty patients were examined with CT of the liver before, during, and 4 to 6 hours after i.v. administration of 60 g iodine (200 ml iohexol).

Combined angioplasty with the Kensey catheter and balloon angioplasty in occlusive arterial disease. A preliminary report.

The Kensey dynamic angioplasty catheter is an instrument for mechanical intravascular atherectomy using a rotating cam to recanalize occluded arteries. Twelve dynamic angioplasties were performed in 11 patients. The procedure was followed by an additional balloon dilatation in all cases.

Demonstration of hepatic veins by computed tomography using axial and angulated scanning.

The main hepatic veins run obliquely into the inferior caval vein. They are often poorly demonstrated on conventional axial computed tomography (CT) performed with a vertical gantry. In order to determine whether CT with caudal tilting of the gantry could improve demonstration of the hepatic veins, 30 consecutive patients of whom 20 had focal lesions in the liver were examined with both a vertical and a 20 degree caudally tilted gantry.

Evaluation of percutaneous cholangiography and percutaneous biliary drainage in obstructive jaundice.

104 patients with obstructive jaundice were referred for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). The effects of PTBD on postoperative morbidity and mortality were evaluated as well as the occurrence of complications. The results were compared to a group of 33 patients with malignant bile duct obstruction operated without preoperative bile drainage.

Acute radiorenography during attacks of renal colic.

Acute radiorenography was compared to emergency excretory urography to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy in 22 patients with clinical signs of renal colic, including erythrocytes in the urinalysis. All 16 patients with delayed excretion and/or dilated renal pelves on excretory urography had delayed excretion of radioactivity on renography. Furthermore, 6 patients with reduced renal function judged by renography had marked or slight delay in excretion on excretory urography.

Transcatheter occlusion of an intrarenal arteriovenous fistula.

A patient with a large intrarenal arteriovenous fistula in the left kidney is presented. Successful transcatheter occlusion of the fistula was performed and the patient followed angiographically. The diagnostic value of angiography and its therapeutic potential is discussed.

Percutaneous drainage of intraabdominal fluid collections.

Nine cases of percutaneous drainage of intraabdominal fluid collections in eight patients are reported. Ultrasonography and conventional radiography was utilized to make the diagnosis and to plan and perform puncture and drainage. In one case of subhepatic abscess only punction and aspiration was performed.

Film quality in image intensifier photofluorography.

Three films of different sensitivity and grain size were tested in 70 mm image intensifier photofluorography. The radiographic exposure was kept constant, adaptation to the different film speeds being achieved by different settings of the camera diaphragm. Reduced film speed implied a greater number of object details being recorded.

Ultrasound and hypotonic duodenography in biliary obstruction.

Ultrasound examination and hypotonic duodenography were performed in 25 patients with obstructive jaundice. The diagnostic value of both methods with special reference to tumors in the head of the pancreas is discussed.

Ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of jaundice.

Ultrasound examination was performed in 53 jaundiced patients; successful examination was accomplished in 48. Ultrasonography revealed mechanical biliary obstruction in 34 of 35 patients with obstructive jaundice. Dilatation of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary ducts or the gallbladder was not present in any patient with non-obstructive jaundice.