Simultaneous defecography and peritoneography in defecation disorders.

UNLABELLED: A number of physiologic and radiologic investigations are used in investigating defecation disorders. Defecography is one important part of these investigations. However, a correct diagnosis of an enterocele is sometimes difficult despite use of contrast media in the rectum, vagina, and small bowel. PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to ascertain if it was technically possible to perform simultaneous defecography and peritoneography in an effort to improve the diagnostic possibilities in patients with defecation disorders. METHODS: Twelve patients with defecation disorders and an unexplained widening of the rectovaginal space at defecography were investigated. Contrast medium was introduced intraperitoneally, after which conventional defecography was performed. RESULTS: All investigations were carried out without complications and demonstrated the peritoneal outline in all patients. Simultaneous defecography and peritoneography differentiated between an enterocele and a pathologically deep pouch of Douglas--a peritoneocele. Three types of peritoneocele were visualized: vaginal peritoneocele, septal peritoneocele, and rectal peritoneocele with or without enterocele. Combinations of the three types were also found. Eight of the 12 patients had rectal intussusception or rectal prolapse. All of these eight patients had a rectal peritoneocele. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous defecography and peritoneography can be performed without technical difficulties or complications. Peritoneal outlines and pouches can, therefore, be studied directly during the act of defecation. An unexplained widening of the rectovaginal space at defecography can be clarified as a peritoneocele, with or without an enterocele. Peritoneocele can be of three different types: rectal, septal, or vaginal.

Defecography. Results of investigations in 2,816 patients.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to analyze the frequency of different findings at defecography in patients with defecation disorders and see in what way the evaluation could be improved. METHODS: The reports of investigations in 2,816 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of the investigations were considered normal. Thirty-one percent of the patients had rectal intussusception, 13 percent had rectal prolapse, 27 percent had rectocele, and 19 percent had enterocele. Twenty-one percent of the patients had a combination of two or three of these diagnoses. The combination of rectocele and enterocele was rare. The majority of patients with enterocele had other concomitant findings. Patients with or without abnormal perineal descent had similar frequencies of rectal prolapse, rectal intussusception, and enterocele. Rectocele was more common in patients with abnormal perineal descent. CONCLUSIONS: Defecography is valuable when investigating patients with defecation disorders. Pathologic findings were found in 77 percent of the patients. A standardized protocol should ensure a complete evaluation of defecography.

Radiocolloid uptake in spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. A case report.

Bone marrow scintigraphy, including radionuclide angiography in a 66-year-old woman with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle, showed a marked increase in radiocolloid uptake in the affected condyle. Radiocolloid uptake (reflecting phagocytic activity at the osteonecrotic lesion) was correlated with findings on roentgenography, three-phase bone scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Colloid scintigraphy showing red bone marrow extension in patients with prostatic carcinoma.

In 25 of 30 patients with bone metastases from prostatic carcinoma, red bone marrow extension was observed by scintigraphy of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). The degree of bone marrow extension in the lower extremities increased with increasing number of bone metastases. In 8 patients, 15 peripheral metastases were detected, all located in areas with extended red bone marrow. The distal level of bone marrow extension coincided with that of the most distal metastases. This is of importance for the detection of peripheral metastases at risk for fracture. Bone marrow extension was also seen in 5 of 8 patients with prostatic carcinoma without bone metastases and was interpreted as a paramalignant activation of RES.

Bone marrow scintigraphy in Paget's disease of bone.

Sixteen patients with 20 lesions of Paget's disease of bone were studied with bone marrow scintigraphy (colloid), bone tissue scintigraphy and radiography. Bone marrow scintigraphy showed normal or increased colloid uptake in 15 of 20 pagetic lesions, and decreased uptake in 4. Bone tissue scintigraphy showed increased metabolic activity in all lesions and was useful in detecting polyostotic disease as well as the extent of the lesions. Conventional radiography most often showed the typical appearance of Paget's disease, but the changes observed were sometimes difficult to differentiate from malignant disease. However, a preserved or increased reticuloendothelial function in the pagetic lesion contradicts metastatic disease as a differential diagnosis. Bone marrow scintigraphy with radiocolloid is a valuable method in the analysis of Paget's disease of bone.

Breast hypoplasia following irradiation of the female breast in infancy and early childhood.

The occurrence and the degree of breast hypoplasia were studied in 129 women irradiated with ionizing radiation in infancy or childhood for hemangioma located in the breast region. The patients were born between 1934 and 1943 and were treated at Radiumhemmet before 4 years of age. Dosimetry was based on treatment data. The mean absorbed dose to the breast anlage was 2.3 Gy. Breast asymmetry was estimated by a mailed questionnaire to all patients and by a clinical examination of 53 patients living in Stockholm County. Breast hypoplasia on the treated side was reported by 57% of the patients and on the contralateral side by 8%. A breast hypoplasia exceeding 10% was found in 53% of the clinically examined patients on the treated side and in 9% on the contralateral side. The frequency and the severity of impaired breast development increased with the absorbed dose. The possibility of a threshold dose for the occurrence of breast hypoplasia could neither be established nor ruled out.

Disturbances in the defecation mechanism with special reference to intussusception of the rectum (internal procidentia).

Anorectal disorders that disturb normal defecation are described, especially intussusception of the rectum (internal procidentia). A review of 190 patients, half of whom were treated operatively and the other half conservatively, is presented. Diagnostic procedures, symptoms, and indications for operations are evaluated. We believe that intussusception of the rectum is a relatively common cause of difficult emptying of the rectum and, when the correct diagnosis is established, operation presents a fair chance for improvement.