Role of radionuclide imaging in hyperthyroid patients with no clinical suspicion of nodules.

The purpose of the study was to assess the role of radionuclide imaging of hyperthyroid patients with no suspicion of nodules. (99)Tc(m) radionuclide scans performed on all 190 patients referred over a 2-year period with symptoms and thyroid function tests compatible with thyrotoxicosis were retrospectively reviewed. 73% of patients were referred by a hospital clinician and 27% were referred direct from the general practitioner. Referral letters and, where applicable, the clinical notes were reviewed and patients with suspected thyroid nodules were excluded. The results of (99)Tc(m) thyroid scans of the 190 patients (age range 23-93 years, mean 48 years) were reviewed. 152 (80%) patients had Graves' disease, 10 (5.3%) had Graves' disease with nodules, 6 (3.2%) had Graves' disease with non-functioning nodules, 5 (2.6%) had viral thyroiditis, 5 (2.6%) had autonomously functioning nodules and 12 (6.3%) were normal studies. Therefore, 20% of patients had a diagnosis other than solely Graves' disease. These diagnoses are important with respect to clinical management. In conclusion, routine radionuclide imaging is worthwhile, as a significant proportion of patients with clinical "Graves' disease" in this study would have received incorrect treatment without the result of this scan.

Use of helical CT in assessment of crossing vessels in pelviureteric junction obstruction.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to confirm the accuracy of non-invasive helical computed tomography (CT) with multiplanar reformatting in the diagnosis of crossing vessels in patients with pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with confirmed PUJ obstruction underwent CT of the renal area with intravenous contrast medium. Patients shown to have crossing vessels had to undergo a pyeloplasty by open surgery or laparoscopy. Patients with no vessels could have their PUJ obstruction safely treated with less invasive techniques such as balloon dilatation. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were shown to have crossing vessels. Of these, 10 had their relationship to the PUJ confirmed at a subsequent laparotomy. Of the remaining four patients, one was lost to follow-up and two were unwell due to unrelated disease. The other patient had already had a vessel moved at a previous laparotomy. Of the five patients without obstructing vessels, two were confirmed not to have a related vessel at laparotomy, one has undergone balloon dilatation and the other two were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Helical CT is an accurate and non-invasive method of demonstrating crossing vessels in PUJ obstruction. Diagnosis of these vessels has a major role in the choice of therapeutic treatment.