[Negative contrast in x-ray computed tomography. Preliminary study]. / Contraste négatif en tomodensitométrie. Etude préliminaire.

For the abdominal and pelvic CT Scan, the authors propose the filling of the bladder, the duodenal loop, the stomach and the rectum with a lipidic emulsion. The negative density of this emulsion allows a better visualization of the pancreas, the gastric wall and the bladder wall as well as the extension of pelvic and bowel tumors.

[False aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery complicating a pancreatic pseudocyst]. / Faux-anévrisme de l'artère mésentérique supérieure compliquant un pseudokyste pancréatique.

The authors report a case of false aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery, complicating acute pancreatitis. They insist on the sonographic signs of "the cyst within a cyst"; the presence of a cystic lesion located within a larger mass an US Scanning is highly suggestive of a false aneurysm included in a pseudocyst. They demonstrate the correlation between US Scanning, CT Scan and arteriogram.

[Post-traumatic L5-S1 root avulsion. Myelographic and x-ray computed tomographic study. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature]. / Avulsion radiculaire L5-S1 post-traumatique. Exploration myélographique et tomodensitométrique. A propos d'un cas. Revue de la littérature.

A patient presented an avulsion of left L5-S1 roots, with S1 meningocele, following a road accident. Saccoradiculography and CT scan imaging, even without contrast, allowed identification of total lesion in a suggestive clinical context. The characters of the CT scan images are emphasized. Images showed also the presence of pseudo-meningoceles and absence of roots.

[The silent kidney. Evolving ultrasonic picture of emphysematous pyelonephritis: the vanishing kidney. Apropos of a case]. / Le rein sourd. Aspect évolutif échographique de la pyélonéphrite emphysémateuse: l'évanescence rénale. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report the progressive disappearing of the sonographical image of a previously visualized kidney in a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis. They have called the sonographic vanishing kidney "the sign of the Deaf Kidney". The non-visualisation of a kidney with advanced emphysematous pyelonephritis is due to the infiltration of the perirenal environment by a gas envelope and the filling of the excretory cavities by gas. The perirenal gas-bag forms a shield against ultrasonic waves. The sonographer must be aware of the eventuality of not being able to individualize a renal structure when wrapped in gas. He must then ask for a zonography of the renal area in order to confirm the gas-containing collection in the kidney.

[Extension to the ultrasonic study of supra- and subphrenic spaces of plate-shaped probes initially destined for intracavitary sonography. Research on thoraco-abdominal fluid collections in non-mobilizable patients]. / Extension à l'exploration échographique des espaces suset sous-phréniques des sondes à barrette en forme de bâtonnet initialement destinées à la sonographie intracavitaire. Recherche des collections liquidiennes thoraco-abdominales chez les malades non mobilisables.

The authors describe an original application of real time transducers--initially intended for intracavitary sonography--in thoraco-abdominal scanning. The stic-form probe can be easily slipped under the patient. It is then possible to realize a scan with an upward beam. In the postero-anterior scan, the patient is placed in a supine position. He is motionless. We achieve a better visualization of the liquid collections, since their accumulation is declivious. The method allows a wider sonographic window for thoraco-abdominal and diaphragmatic investigation in sonography.

[Ultrasonography of seminal vesicles by the suprapubic approach. Value of their study in prostatic pathology]. / L'échographie des vésicules séminales par voie sus-pubienne. Intérêt de leur étude en pathologie prostatique.

The transabdominal suprapubic study of the seminal vesicles was realised in 162 cases. Their relationship with the posterior bladder wall was examined. The normal distance between distal extremity of seminal vesicles-bladder wall measures 5 mm, and the distance between proximal extremity of seminal vesicles-bladder wall measures 7 mm. In case of benign hypertrophy, the seminal vesicles are pressed back and distance proximal extremity of seminal vesicles-bladder wall gets greater than 15 mm. In malignant hypertrophy of the posterior prostatic lobe, the position of the seminal vesicles does not change although the prostate has an increased volume.

[The interparietal hepatic fat pad--a source of error in the diagnosis of a hematoma of the musculus rectus abdominis]. / Das inter-parieto-hepatische Fettpolster--Eine Fehlerquelle bei der Diagnose der Hämatome des Musculus rectus abdominis.

Some patients, even subjects with normal weight, have a fatty tissue pad located behind the xyphoid appendix between the peritoneum, the liver and the abdominal wall muscles. The wall fatty pad is encapsulated. It is sonographically transsonic, but with high-level internal echoes, and may deform the anterior face of the liver. It can be from 8 to 13 cm wide, 5 to 10 cm high and 3 to 5 cm thick. This fatty structure may be mistaken for a parietal abscess or haematoma. The sonographical exploration of the abdominal wall with short-focussed high-frequency transducers and the knowledge of this normal variance of human anatomy should avoid such pitfalls.

[Rhythmic echographic palpation. Echosismography. A new technic of differentiating benign and malignant tumors by ultrasonic study of tissue elasticity]. / La palpation échographique rythmée. Echosismographie. Une nouvelle technique de différenciation des tumeurs bénignes et malignes par l'étude ultrasonore de l'élasticité tissulaire.

The echographic rhythmic palpation (echosismography) is a new method which completes classical sonography. It studies the elastic behaviour of the tissues after their mechanical excitation which are analysed in the T.M. mode. When displayed in classical sonographic technique the lesion is located with calipers. Calipers allow the recognizing of the tumor level at any moment in time motion mode. Vibrations are then applied on the skin as near as possible to the lesion. A regular frequency of 1,5 impulsion per second at a constant pressure of 500 gr on 4 cm2 is used. The response of resonating tissues to vibratory excitation is recorded and characterized by the amplitude of the oscillations (sinusoïdal shape). Benign tumors always gave sinusoïdal type oscillations. Most of this kind of tumors were semi-liquid or solid. Malignant tumors gave typical flat curves in 84% cases. Some malignant tumors (16%) gave benign type sinusoïdal oscillations. They had a small size, less then 2 cm diameter. Some of them where to superficial so they had easily induced oscillations over the excitation level. Echosismography enables to improve the diagnosis when compared with classical sonography in about 20% of cases.

[A biopsy fitting for ductal pathology of the breast (author's transl)]. / Curette-aspiration pour biopsie endo-galactophorique.

A new intragalactophoric biopsy fitting is described, which consists of a modified dilator serving as curette and a needle-curette for aspiration. The new fitting has been used successfully and without complications in 26 cases. It has the advantage of providing larger specimens for cytological examination of ductal tumours of the breast.

[Ultrasonic patterns of giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa (Ménétrier's disease) (author's transl)]. / Aspect échographique de la gastrite hypertrophique géante ou la maladie de Ménétrier.

Since it can display the gastric folds, as well as the gastric wall and the exogastric area, sonography is a reliable way of diagnosing the giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa (Ménétrier's disease). The characteristic pastterns are: --a considerable thickening of the gastric folds and wall, --a high sonolucency, --the presence of the intra-mural cysts, --some "hilly" deformations in the exogastric part of the stomach, --occasionally, a mesenteric lipomatosis.

[Sonographic patterns of ascariasis and distomiasis in the biliary ducts (author's transl)]. / Aspect ultrasonore des ascaridioses et distomatoses des voies biliaries.

Concerning two cases of ascariasis and one case of distomiasis in the biliary ducts the authors describe the sonographic patterns leading to the ultrasonic diagnosis of those biliary parasites.--The "strip sign" characterizing ascaridiasis.--The "olympic ring gallbladder".

[A technique for endogenous gastric and duodenal inflation: the gazeified barium (author's transl)]. / Une technique d'insufflation endogène pour l'examen gastrique et duodénal en double contraste: la baryte gazéifiée.

Proposal for preparing bubbly barium for double contrast gastric and duodenal examination. When releasing the carbone dioxide, this technique enables these organes to be inflated after induction of pharmacodynamic hypotonia.

Ultrasonic visualization of Wirsung's duct: dream or reality?

Ultrasonic visualization of normal and pathological Wirsung's ducts has become quite common, especially with the newest gray scale units. Ductal images were studied in 17 cases of quiescent chronic pancreatitis. Duct dilatation could be identified in the majority