Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and CT for N staging of non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim The aim of this study is to investigate the possibilities of non-invasive diagnostic imaging methods, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and CT, in clinical N staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Retrospective clinical study included 50 patients with diagnosed NSCLC who have undergone PET/CT for the purpose of disease staging. The International association for the study of lung cancer (IASLC) nodal mapping system was used for analysis of nodal disease. Data regarding CT N-staging and PET/CT Nstaging were recorded. Two methods were compared using χ2 test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results Statistical analysis showed that although there were some differences in determining the N stage between CT and PET/CT, these methods were in significant correlation. CT and PET/CT findings established the same N stage in 74% of the patients. In five patients based on PET/CT findings the staging was changed from operable to inoperable, while in four patients staging was changed from inoperable to operable. Conclusion PET/CT and CT are noninvasive methods that can be reliably used for N staging of NSCLC.

Use of multislice computed tomography in radiological treatment of patients with hip pathology.

In this paper we are presenting the application of Multislice CT Scan (MSCT) as a part of radiological treatment in a female patient with avascular necrosis of head and neck of the right femur, which occurred as a consequence of developmental hip dysplasia. The left hip joint of the patient was previously replaced by a prosthetic implant.

Treatment of rare posttraumatic false aneurism and A-V fistula of the deep femoral artery and vein.

UNLABELLED: Article presents a rare case of posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm and A-V fistula between deep femoral artery and vein in 16 year old patient with stab wound in middle third of the lateral side of left femoral region. There were no signs of arterial injury on initial angiogram. During the observation we noticed subcutaneous bruise on the posterior side of the femoral region, and strong systolic murmur by ordinary auscultation over the involved region as a significant sign of the A-V fistula. At day 3, CT angiogram and Doppler analysis showed 4 cm sized false aneurysm combined with A-V fistula between distal portion of the deep femoral artery and vein. We made ipsilateral transfemoral catheterization and coiling of the feeding arterial branch with good immediate result, but at next Doppler checking, appearance of the same picture was disappointing. After we recognized retrograde filling through distal collateral artery, technically unsuitable for endovascular procedure, conventional surgery with posterolateral approach was indicated. An excision of the pseudoaneurysm, and ligation of the A-V fistula was done with good postoperative result. CONCLUSION: Obliterative endovascular procedure is a method of choice, but sometimes can not guarantee satisfactory result. In those cases conventional surgery is recommended.

[Interinnominate abdominal amputation (hemipelvectomy) in treatment of pelvic malignancy]. / Interinominoabdominalna amputacija (hemipelvektomija) u lijecenju malignoma karlice.

Cancers of rectum and anus are among most frequent cancers with a tendency of increasing frequency. According to available data, the percentage of surgeries performed during period 1973-1977 was 61%, and during period 1991-1993 78%. From those data it can be seen that the frequency of performed surgical treatments is evidently increasing lately. High percentage of patients suffer from the process that is involving neighbouring organs and tissues, therefore declared as inoperable. In this study we present five cases with malignant tumors of pelvis who were treated during period 1990-2002 with mutilating surgical technique--chemipelvectomy. In all surgical procedures we have used King's and Steelquist's methods. At the same time, these surgical procedures are moving the limits of tumors' inoperability. The survival period for 4 patients was over one year, and 1 patient died due to postoperative embolism. In 1 patient, the wound has healed per secundam. We registered no cases of local recurrence. The new possibilities in the treatment of pelvic tumors which are often declared as inoperable are opened due to the fact that chemipelvectomy is moving the limits of so-called inoperable types of tumors. We believe that it is necessary to open new discussions on this issue because the coming time will offer new possibilities in the surgical treatment of pelvic tumors.