Hypervascular presentation of multiple myeloma involving the skull, demonstrated on encephaloscintigraphy.

We present two cases of myelomatous involvement of the skull. Correlative studies with routine radiography, angiography, and encephaloscintigraphy were performed. The areas of involvement of the skull were confirmed as autopsy. A mixed pattern of photon-deficient and photon-abundant lesions was noted. The clinician should be aware of such mixed patterns.

Renal cyst puncture: utilization of pediatric guide wire technique and upright radiographic changers.

After puncture of a renal cyst with a polytetrafluoroethylene needle a pediatric 0.021-inch guide wire is inserted through a polytetrafluoroethylene sheath needle. The sheath is then advanced over the wire. The technique is controlled by fluoroscopy or performed under ultrasonography. Aspiration of the contrast material is performed, and then air and diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium are injected to outline the borders of the cyst. The patient is then taken to an upright and lateral radiographic changer for routine radiography in the upright and decubitus positions.

Effects of phentolamine on coronary blood flow in patients with recent myocardial infarction.

The myocardial clearance of rubidium may be obtained by praecordial counting after intravenous injection of Rb-minus 86 Cl. Eight patients with recent myocardial infarction had this determination performed before and after the infusion of 10 mg phentolamine at a rate of 0.3 mg/minute. The average predrug myocardial clearance of Rb was 89.3 plus or minus 29.9 ml/min per 100 g myocardium. After phentolamine, the average myocardial clearance rose to 117.3 plus or minus 33.3 ml/min per 100 g myocardium (P LESS THAN 0.01). An explanation for this findings is presented as well as its possible clinical applications.

Dosimetry of portable image intensifiers in pacemaker insertions.

With the increased utilization of portable image intensifiers for pacemaker insertions, an investigation of the radiation hazards to operative personnel was undertaken. The personnel were tested first utilizing a Rando phantom and later during actual pacemaker insertions. Studies of medical personnel show the critical organs to be the thyroid (approximately 15mR per procedure) and the lens of the eye (approximately 13mR per procedure). While the MPD/week was not exceeded, the radiation dosage was substantial and could increase under operating conditions other than those measured. Recommendations to insure safer operation of this equipment are presented.