The role of noninvasive tests versus pulmonary angiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

We studied 243 patients in whom 248 pulmonary angiograms were performed because of suspected pulmonary embolism. Ventilation and perfusion lung scanning in 140 of them revealed 38 to be in low and high probability groups. Of 19 patients with subsegmental and nonsegmental perfusion defects that were matched with ventilation defects, none had pulmonary embolism. Conversely, angiography was positive in 17 of 19 patients with multiple segmental or lobar perfusion defects in areas of normal ventilation. Doppler flow examinations of the veins of the legs showed normal flow in 61 of 79 (77 percent) patients with pulmonary emboli and, therefore, were insensitive indicators of embolism. There was no mortality from angiography, and serious complications occurred in 2 percent of the patients. Anticoagulation in 83 patients was associated with bleeding in 25, two of whom died. The data indicate that ventilation-perfusion lung scanning can be used to separate many of the patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism who need anticoagulant treatment from those who do not. However, there is a considerable number of patients with nonspecific abnormalities on lung scan. For this group of patients with nonspecific abnormalities, the risk of complications from empiric treatment with anticoagulant drugs is probably greater than the risk of complications from pulmonary angiography. Further, our data show that patients with negative angiography have a very low risk of subsequent pulmonary embolism. In this group of patients, therefore, pulmonary embolism should be demonstrated by angiography before long-term anticoagulant therapy is prescribed.

Percutaneous small bore catheter drainage in the management of lung abscesses.

For patients with pyogenic lung abscesses who do not respond to medical therapy, thoracotomy with pulmonary resection is the widely-accepted treatment of choice. Six patients with lung abscess who failed to respond to conservative medical management were treated by percutaneous catheter drainage using small catheters (10 Fr or smaller). Five patients showed prompt clinical improvement and the sixth improved after a modification in antibiotic therapy. All patients recovered with radiographic resolution of the abscess and were well at followup periods from two months to two years. In such patients, percutaneous drainage with small catheters provides an excellent clinical result with minimal risk and trauma.

MRI of Askin's tumor. Case report at 1.5 T.

This represents the first case of an Askin's tumor demonstrated on MRI. It showed a large pleural-based mass which trapped pleural fluid in large pseudotumors. The disease was unilateral and involved the mediastinum as well. Magnetic resonance imaging was helpful in demonstrating extrathoracic disease in the area of the right brachial plexus.

A multimodality projection console for the radiology conference room.

A multimodality projection console for the radiology conference room is described. The configuration of the TV camera, view boxes, switches, and adjacent lectern allows better transmission and easier manipulation of images during consultation and lecture sessions with the faculty, and house officers.

Tricuspid atresia: corrective operation without a bioprosthetic valve.

A case of successful correction of type IB tricuspid atresia is described in which the patient's own normal pulmonary valve was used in its natural location. Morphological features of tricuspid atresia suggest that use of the in situ pulmonary valve is possible in most patients with normally related great arteries. Elimination of the requirement for valved conduits and bioprosthetic valves may eventually permit corrective operation in the very young child.

Growth potential in the new aortic arch after non-end-to-end repair of aortic arch interruption in infancy.

BACKGROUND: Complete repair of infants with interrupted arch and ventricular septal defect through a midline incision has been the preferred method for more than 20 years. End-to-end anastomosis can result in restenosis if there is excess tension. Two methods of reducing this tension have been described, and the subsequent growth of the new aortic arch is demonstrated. METHODS: In 2 infants (5 and 9 months old) the duct was used to create a new aortic arch. In 3 other younger infants the left carotid artery was divided, turned down, and anastomosed to the descending aorta to form the new arch. These operations were performed through the midline at the same time as the ventricular septal defect was closed. RESULTS: All 5 patients are well now 8 to 19 years postoperatively. One patient required reoperation for stenosis at the anastomotic site, but all have subsequently shown good growth on follow-up angiographic and magnetic resonance imaging studies. CONCLUSIONS: Although end-to-end repair is best, these alternative methods have shown very satisfactory aortic growth into adult life.

The role of transbronchial lung biopsy in diffuse pulmonary disease.

Forty consecutive patients underwent flexible fiberoptic transbronchial lung biopsy for diagnosis of diffuse nodular or infiltrative lung disease. Biplane fluoroscopic examination with image intensification greatly facilitated accurate placement of the biopsy forceps near the pleura; Specimens of lung parenchyma were obtained for culture and histological study in every case. A pathological diagnosis was correctly established in 34 of 40 patients. Transbronchial biopsy was helpful in the clinical management of an additional 4 patients. Biopsy results were not accurate in 2 patients. No significant morbidity was associated with the procedure. Fiberoptic transbronchial lung biopsy is a safe and useful adjunct to the diagnosis of parenchymal lung disease.

A clinical review of patients undergoing resection for pulmonary hamartoma.

Both the radiology and surgery literature mention "popcorn calcification" as a diagnostic aid in identifying pulmonary hamartomas. Nineteen patients underwent resection of pulmonary hamartomas at North Carolina Memorial Hospital between January 1969 and February 1983, representing 1.9 per cent of all thoracotomies performed for pulmonary disease. Of the 19 patients, there were 12 men (63%) and 7 women (37%), and most were asymptomatic. Chest x-ray demonstrated 12 right-sided and 7 left-sided lesions. All masses were located peripherally in the lung parenchyma and in no instance was calcification present. Fourteen wedge resections and 5 lobectomies were performed. Pathologic examination confirmed the absence of calcification; however, in two cases (11%) an associated malignancy was present. There were no operative deaths and only minor postoperative complications. All problems resolved without difficulty. These data show that pulmonary hamartomas are not commonly associated with calcification, and there may be an increased association with carcinoma of the lung. Excision can be performed with minimal morbidity and is necessary to distinguish hamartomas from malignant lesions.

The clinical recognition of congestive heart failure.

The recognition of early or mild congestive heart failure in the ambulatory patient is a common clinical challenge in everyday practice. Early diagnosis requires attention to symptoms, signs, and radiographic changes which may be minimal. This paper reviews basic pathophysiological principles involved in congestive heart failure and summarizes etiological factors which may cause or precipitate congestive heart failure. The symptoms, signs, and subtle radiological findings of early congestive heart failure are also described in some detail.

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum: predictors of early and medium-term outcome in a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is a form of congenital heart disease usually associated with right-heart hypoplasia, with considerable morphologic heterogeneity and often poor outlook. Ascertainment of risk factors for poor outcome is an important step if an improvement in outcome is to be achieved. METHODS: The UK and Ireland Collaborative study of Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum is an ongoing population-based study of all patients born with this disease from 1991 through 1995. All available clinical, morphologic, and investigative variables were directly reviewed, and risk factor analysis was performed for poor outcome. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-three patients presented with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Fifteen underwent no procedure, and all died. Of the remainder, 67 underwent a right ventricular outflow tract procedure (catheter or surgical), 18 underwent an outflow tract procedure with shunt, and 81 underwent a systemic-to-pulmonary shunt alone. One- and 5-year survival was 70.8% and 63.8%, respectively. Results from Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that low birth weight (P = .024), unipartite right ventricular morphology (P = .001), and the presence of a dilated right ventricle (P < .001) were independent risk factors for death. The presence of coronary artery fistulae, right ventricular dependence, or the tricuspid valvar z score did not prove to be risk factors for death. After up to 9 years of follow-up, 29% have achieved a biventricular repair, 3% a so-called one-and-a-half ventricular repair, and 10.5% a univentricular repair, with 16.5% still having a mixed circulation (41% died). CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study has shown which features at presentation place an infant in a high-risk group. This is important information for counseling in fetal life and for surgical strategy after birth.

The role of computed tomography in acute and subacute mediastinitis.

Acute and subacute infection in the mediastinum, though rare, is associated with a substantial mortality which increases with delay in diagnosis. The conventional radiographic and computed tomographic studies of 14 patients with proven infective mediastinitis were reviewed in an attempt to identify their relative roles in its diagnosis. Signs of infection demonstrated by computed tomography (CT) included abscess formation, mediastinal masses, soft tissue collections contiguous with other infected compartments and areas of diffuse mediastinal infiltration with fat plane loss without prominent lymphadenopathy. The anatomy and extent of the infection was well delineated by CT in all patients. In nine cases this information affected clinical management, facilitating percutaneous drainage of the abscess in three. In five patients, information from CT did not alter clinical management.

CT demonstration of central pulmonary venous and arterial occlusive diseases.

Computed tomography was used to evaluate three patients with complicated pulmonary vascular patterns. The physiologic and anatomic changes seen on chest radiography were well defined by CT and in each case CT suggested the correct diagnosis.

"Pigtail" catheter drainage in thoracic surgery.

Small-bore percutaneous drainage catheters have been used extensively in the management of abdominal disorders and are gaining acceptance in thoracic problems. The records have been reviewed in 44 consecutive patients in whom 53 small-bore catheters were placed for thoracic disease, including empyema, 20; effusion, 9; pneumothorax, 10; lung abscess, 4; and mediastinal cyst, 1. Insertion was performed under fluoroscopy in 88%, computed tomography in 6%, and ultrasonography in 6%. Catheters ranged in size from 6.5F to 12F, but catheter size did not seem to influence outcome (p = 0.6). There was complete resolution of the problem in 75% (33 of 44) of the patients, although 20% of them required more than one catheter. Treatment was successful in all cases of lung abscess. These patients had been previously treated with standard medical therapy for 12 to 53 days without significant improvement in their clinical condition. Patients with empyema composed the largest group treated. Eighty percent (16 of 20) of them had a loculated (LOC) process. The LOC group appeared to have a slightly better success rate than did the non-LOC group (75 versus 50%, p = 0.33). When the catheters failed to resolve the problem (empyema, 6; chylous effusion, 1; malignant effusion, 3; and spontaneous pneumothorax, 1, either operation (9.1%) or a standard thoracostomy tube (13.6%) was required. The complications rate was 20%, but most of these were minor problems including pneumothorax, 5; catheter occlusion 3; fractured catheter, 1; infection, 1; and significant subcutaneous emphysema, 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Small bore catheter drainage and sclerotherapy for malignant pleural effusions.

The accumulation of large amounts of fluid in the pleural space is a common sequela of disseminated carcinomatosis. Traditional management has included therapeutic thoracentesis or the placement of a large bore chest tube for drainage with the subsequent installation of a sclerosing agent in an attempt to achieve pleural symphysis. An evaluation of all patients treated in this manner during a 4-year period was undertaken to assess the degree of success obtained with a large bore standard chest tube versus a small pigtail catheter. A study group consisting of 20 patients with a total of 24 pleural effusions was treated with drainage and sclerotherapy. In this group, eight of 13 effusions were adequately treated with pigtail catheter drainage and sclerotherapy, compared with four of 11 effusions adequately treated with standard chest tube drainage and sclerotherapy. Although the numbers are small, it appears that pigtail catheter drainage and sclerosis is at least as successful as the more traditional drainage with the standard chest tube.

Magnetic resonance angiography in subclavian steal syndrome.

A case is reported of a patient with the subclavian steal syndrome in whom the reversed blood flow of the vertebral artery was shown by phase encoded magnetic resonance angiography.

Evaluation of T1N0M0 lung cancer with CT.

Medical records and radiologic studies of 238 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had preoperative evaluation by chest radiography and CT were reviewed. Thirty-six patients were staged as T1N0M0 by chest radiograph. Of this group, 18 (50%) had abnormalities on CT requiring additional evaluation. Confirmation of abnormalities was by tissue sampling or clinical follow-up. Evidence for unresectable spread of disease was obtained in 12 (33%). We conclude that routine preoperative staging of T1N0M0 lung cancer with CT has a positive impact on patient management.