[Associated role of surgery and antimitotic o, p'-DDD treatment in hyperfunctioning adrenal cancers with diffuse metastases]. / Il ruolo associato della chirurgia e del trattamento antimitotico con o,p'-DDD nei carcinomi surrenalici iperfunzionanti con metastatizzazione diffusa.

The observation of two cases of hyperworking corticosuprarenal carcinomata with diffuse metastases, has induced the authors to examine this problem on the base of the most actual bibliography of the last years. They explain in detail the 2 cases, that are a feminizing tumor in a 55 years old man and a Cushing syndrome with hypertension in a 18 years old women. The peculiar characteristic are in the first case the clinical rareness of feminizing syndrome from suprarenal carcinoma and in the second case the histopathological particularity of splenic metastases. In regard to therapy for this particular tumor, the AA. incline for the surgical removal of tumor, that can induce, in the most favourable cases, a partial or total reduction of endocrine symptomatology and for the giving in great doses of o,p'-DDD from the immediate post-operating period.

[Nodular lesions simulated on an anthropomorphic thoracic phantom. A comparison between analog and digital images of the thorax]. / Lesioni nodulari simulate su fantoccio antropomorfo toracico. Confronto tra immagini analogiche e digitali del torace.

Aim of this work is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of different modalities of digital radiology, compared with conventional radiology, in the detection of lung nodules. Forty images of an anthropomorphic chest phantom, on which simulated nodules had been previously set, were analyzed by 6 radiologists with 4 different viewing modalities: a) conventional radiography; b) photostimulable plates digital radiography; c) photostimulable plates digital image on dedicated monitor; d) conventional radiography digitized with Film Laser Digitizer and viewed on Display Workstation. For each image the radiologists had to transfer on a sketch the site of the detected nodules giving an opinion on their detectability (uncertain-presumable-probable-certain presence) with a 1 to 4 score. The statistical analysis of the results was made using modified ROC curves. No statistically significant difference was found between the areas under a) and c) ROC curves (p = 0.262). A statistically significant difference resulted between the areas under a) and d) ROC curves (p < 0.05) and, particularly, between the a) and b) areas (p < 0.001), in favor of a).

[Conventional radiology, digital radiology with photostimulable phosphor, laser digitalization of thoracic radiographic films at the bedside. A comparative study]. / Radiologia tradizionale, radiologia digitale con fosfori fotostimolabili, digitalizzazione laser delle pellicole radiografiche negli esami toracici dei pazienti a letto. Studio comparativo.

The bedside chest images obtained with conventional radiology and with "on line" and "off line" digital modalities were compared to evaluate the respective capabilities in visualizing chest anatomical structures. Seventy patients were submitted to bedside chest examinations with a portable unit; both a conventional film and a digital system (PCR Graphics 1, Philips) with photostimulable phosphor imaging plate were fitted in the radiographic cassette. The former was digitized using an "off line" laser beam unit (FD 2000, Dupont); the latter was subsequently postprocessed by modifying contrast, optical density and spatial frequencies. Thus, 4 different viewing modalities were obtained for each examination: a) conventional radiography; b) standard digital radiography; c) postprocessed digital radiography; d) digitized conventional radiography. Detectability rates of chest anatomical structures were analyzed by 4 independent radiologists on the different images and expressed by a score 1-4. The values were always higher with digital modalities than with the conventional one and the differences were statistically significant (Student's t-test modified by Bonferroni). In particular, the greatest difference was found between c) and a) in retrocardiac lung parenchyma and in skeletal structures, in favour of c). Concerning the comparative adequacy of the various digital modalities, higher detectability rates of chest anatomical structures were obtained with c), but also with b), than with d).

[Paranasal sinusitis: study with conventional and spiral computerized tomography]. / Flogosi dei seni paranasali: studio mediante Tomografia Computerizzata tradizionale e Tomografia Computerizzata spirale.

This study was aimed at comparing the diagnostic value of conventional computed tomography (CCT) with that of spiral computed tomography (SCT) in sinonasal structures and ostiomeatal complex in thirty patients with inflammatory disease. Ten patients were examined with CCT (3-mm slice thickness, 120 kV, 100 mA, 2-s gantry rotation) and 20 were examined with SCT (3-mm slice thickness, 120 kV, 200 mA, 1-s gantry rotation and computed image reconstruction every 3 mm); table gain was 3 mm (Pitch 1) in 10 patients and 5 mm (Pitch 1.6) in the other 10 patients. With the latter study protocol, diagnostic image quality was the same as with the other two protocols. Moreover, examination time was reduced, with increased patients' comfort; the exposure dose and X-ray tube overload were also reduced, with increased system yield.