Long-term sequelae of Farmer's lung disease in HRCT: a 14-year follow-up study of 88 patients and 83 matched control farmers.

The aim of this study was to compare high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of long-term farmer's lung (FL) patients and control farmers. We studied 88 FL patients and 83 matched control farmers with a mean follow-up time of 14 years. Emphysematous, fibrotic, and miliary changes were recorded by HRCT. The pattern of emphysema and location and distribution of other findings were evaluated in detail. Emphysema was found in 20 (23%) FL patients and in 6 (7%) controls (p=0.005). Recurrences of FL attacks increased (p=0.021) the risk of emphysema. Prevalence of fibrosis (17 vs 10%, p=0.16) and miliary changes (11 vs 4%, p=0.06) did not differ significantly in patients and controls. Among FL patients, emphysematous, fibrous, and miliary changes were more pronounced at the base than in the upper parts of the lung (p<0.02). In slice analysis, the pattern of emphysema was more polymorphous (p=0.001) and the distribution of fibrotic and miliary changes was more variable among FL patients than controls. Emphysema in HRCT is more common in FL patients than matched control farmers, and the occurrence is increased by recurrences of FL. Emphysematous, fibrous, and miliary changes in FL patients HRCT are multiform and predominate in the lower parts of the lung.

Reproducibility of scoring emphysema by HRCT.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the reproducibility of three visual scoring methods of emphysema and compared these methods with pulmonary function tests (VC, DLCO, FEV1 and FEV%) among farmer's lung patients and farmers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three radiologists examined high-resolution CT images of farmer's lung patients and their matched controls (n=70) for chronic interstitial lung diseases. Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver variability were assessed for three methods: severity, Sanders' (extent) and Sakai. Pulmonary function tests as spirometry and diffusing capacity were measured. RESULTS: Intraobserver kappa-values for all three methods were good (0.51-0.74). Interobserver kappa varied from 0.35 to 0.72. The Sanders' and the severity methods correlated strongly with pulmonary function tests, especially DLCO and FEV1. CONCLUSION: The Sanders' method proved to be reliable in evaluating emphysema, in terms of good consistency of interpretation and good correlation with pulmonary function tests.

Long-term risk of emphysema in patients with farmer's lung and matched control farmers.

We evaluated the long-term outcome of farmer's lung (FL) patients and matched control farmers using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The study population consisted of 88 FL patients and 83 control farmers, matched by age, sex, and smoking habits. The mean time after the first diagnosed episode of FL was 14 yr. The great majority, 82%, of the studied subjects were nonsmokers. Clinical studies included HRCT, spirometry, and pulmonary diffusing capacity. Emphysema was found significantly more often (23%) in FL patients than in control farmers (7%) (p = 0.006). The presence of emphysema was 18% in nonsmoking and 44% in smoking FL patients, the respective values being 4% and 20% in control farmers. Patients with recurrent attacks of FL tended to have emphysema more often (p = 0. 08) than patients who had experienced only a single attack. Fibrosis was observed in 17% of the FL patients and in 10% of the control farmers (p = 0.2). Miliary changes were found in 12% of the FL patients compared with 4% of the control farmers (p = 0.07). Both emphysematous and fibrotic but not miliary changes correlated significantly with impaired pulmonary function. In conclusion, farmer's lung disease seems to be associated with an increased risk of developing emphysema.

Intraperitoneal seeding from hepatocellular carcinoma following percutaneous ethanol ablation therapy.

We present a case of intraperitoneal seeding in a 36-year-old woman with a large primary hepatocellular carcinoma located superfically in the left lobe of the otherwise normal liver. The patient was treated with percutaneous ethanol ablation therapy. Eight months after the treatment computed tomography and ultrasonography (US) revealed an intraperitoneal seeding that was confirmed with US-guided percutaneous biopsy.

Thoracic outlet syndrome: A functional dysfunction of the upper thoracic aperture?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To determine possible malfunction of the upper thoracic aperture (an upward displacement of the first rib at the costotransverse joint) as the cause of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) symptoms among consecutive TOS patients admitted for conservative treatment. BASIC PROCEDURES: Fifteen consecutive TOS patients, with a positive TOS index, admitted for conservative treatment were investigated with a three-dimensional CT scan of the upper thoracic aperture. A rehabilitation program was administered at a rehabilitation ward. The CT scans were evaluated for a possible upward displacement of the first rib at the costotransverse joint. The outcome of conservative therapy was classified as good if the patient was symptom free and poor if loading of the upper limbs still produced symptoms. Outcome follow-up time was 1 year. MAIN FINDINGS: An asymmetry of the first rib was shown on the symptomatic side, indicating an upward displacement of the first rib at the costotransverse joint, in 12 of the patients. Only three patients did not respond to therapy. Eleven patients were engaged in sedentary work. CONCLUSION: Malfunction of the upper thoracic aperture, especially among patients doing sedentary work, seems to cause TOS symptoms. A carefully planned conservative therapy program based on the functional findings of the individual patient is recommended.

A primary carcinoid tumor of the kidney: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary carcinoids are found mostly in the gastrointestinal tract. Primary carcinoid tumor of the kidney is rare; only 28 patients have been reported. Because of the rarity of the lesion, its radiological and clinicopathological features are not well characterized. At the same time, its prognosis and histogenesis is unknown. METHODS: A 62-year-old patient presented with a carcinoid tumor on the isthmus of the horseshoe kidney. Radiological, clinicopathological, and immunohistochemical tests were performed. The tumor was resected. RESULTS: Two years later, metastasis were observed in the liver. The metastasis were treated with percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy (PET). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first case of primary renal carcinoid tumor present on the isthmus of the horseshoe kidney and the first case of carcinoid liver metastasis to be treated with PET.

Interobserver variability in measuring the dimensions of the abdominal aorta: comparison of ultrasound and computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the interobserver variability in measuring the abdominal aorta by ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT). DESIGN: A prospective clinical study in a university hospital. MATERIALS: Thirty-three patients whose abdominal aortas were scanned both with CT and US as a part of aneurysm investigation or for a variety of other reasons. METHODS: Three radiologists measured abdominal aortic diameters by US and CT. The interobserver differences (IOD) in US and CT and intraobserver differences for CT-US-pairs were analysed by various statistical methods. A new concept of "clinically acceptable difference" (CAD) was adopted denoting differences of less than 5mm. RESULTS: The IOD in US was 2mm or less in 65% of the anteroposterior and 61% of the transverse measurements and 5mm or more in 11% of the anteroposterior and 14% in the transverse measurements in 102 observer pairs for all aortas. The IODs were significantly larger in measuring the aneurysmal aortas compared with normal aortas (p < 0.001). The CAD-value for the aneurysmal aortas was 84% in the anteroposterior and 82% in the transverse directions. In CT the IODs were 2mm or less in 62% of the anteroposterior and 66% of the transverse measurements and 5mm or more in 12% of both anteroposterior and transverse measurements in 94 observer pairs for all aortas. The CAD-value in the aneurysmal aortas was 91% in the anteroposterior and 85% in the transverse directions. There was no significant difference between the US and CT CAD-levels. The absolute CT-US difference of an individual observer was 2mm or less in 54%, 5mm or more in 17% and 10mm or more in 2% of the anteroposterior measurements in the 95 CT-US pairs. In the transverse direction the corresponding figures were: 2mm or less in 63%, 5mm or more 13% and 10mm or more in 2% of the pairs. The diameters obtained by US were smaller in 84% of the cases compared with those of CT in measuring the maximum aortic diameter in anteroposterior direction, whereas the same figure for the transverse measurements was 59%. CONCLUSIONS: Both US and CT measurements are subject to significant interobserver variability that must be taken into account in the clinical follow-up of small abdominal aortic aneurysms and in screening studies. Neither of these methods can be considered as a 'gold standard'.

Thoracic outlet syndrome--a functional disturbance of the thoracic upper aperture?

We describe a young woman with typical neurovascular symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). A three-dimensional computerized scan showed a "dislocation" of the first rib at the costotransverse joint. The patient responded to a conservative approach to treatment. The patient presented here demonstrates the functional compromise of the upper thoracic aperture that is frequently seen in young women.

Large-image intensifier photofluorography and conventional radiography in pulmonary emphysema. Correlation with computed tomography.

Large-screen image intensifier (II) photofluorography was compared with full-size screen-film chest radiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema in 84 patients. Photospot films and conventional radiographs were interpreted independently by three radiologists. Computed tomography (CT) was used as an independent reference technique, and diagnostic performance of chest radiography in various CT patterns of emphysema was evaluated. The difference in diagnostic sensitivity for emphysema in favor of conventional chest radiography over photofluorography (0.65 versus 0.56) was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Specificity of the imaging modalities was equal: 0.78 in full-size films and 0.77 in photospot films. All CT patterns of emphysema had great false negative response rates in chest radiography, which is an inaccurate technique for the diagnosis of emphysema. CT is required for reliable radiologic evaluation of emphysema.

Image-intensifier photofluorography and conventional chest radiography: comparison of diagnostic efficacy.

Photofluorography with a large image intensifier, which provides an image field of 40 x 40 cm, reduces both the radiation dose and the imaging costs in chest radiography as compared with the film-screen technique. The two techniques were evaluated in a clinical study of 135 patients with suspected chest abnormalities. Photofluorographs and film-screen chest radiographs were interpreted independently by three radiologists. The diagnoses were confirmed by CT, follow-up radiographs, and clinical records. Among the 135 patients, 75 had primary lung cancer, 39 had pulmonary nodules, 52 had hilar or mediastinal abnormalities, 17 had pleural fluid, and 45 had pneumonic or atelectatic changes. Twenty-three normal subjects were included. Differences in diagnostic accuracy, measured by sensitivity and specificity, were not statistically significant. A larger number of true-positive cases (65%) with peripheral lung nodules were found by photofluorography than by film-screen radiography (54%) (p less than .05). The results suggest that the diagnostic accuracy of chest images made by photofluorography is sufficient to warrant using it instead of the film-screen technique in routine chest radiography, especially to detect lung tumors and metastases.

Evaluation of an anatomical compensation filter for chest radiography.

An anatomical compensation filter for improving the radiographic demonstration of the mediastinal and retrocardiac areas of a chest radiograph has been evaluated. The filter, made of a transparent, light-weight lead-plastic material was attached to the X-ray collimator housing. The device reliably improved the visibility of normally underpenetrated areas without producing detectable artefacts, provided the patient was correctly positioned. Hilar structures were also slightly better visualised. At the same time there was no statistically significant deterioration in visualisation of peripheral pulmonary vessels or parenchymal structures. Rib details and pleural calcifications were less well seen, however, a result that was to be expected because of the X-ray beam hardening.

Large-screen image intensifier photofluorography compared with full-size screen-film technique in chest radiography.

Large-screen image intensifier photofluorography revealed a radiation dose and exposure time of about one third of those of a medium speed rare-earth screen/film (Trimax T4/XD) combination for full-size chest radiography. The resolving power of the former technique is somewhat poorer and there is a moderate electron-òptical distortion in the peripheral field. In clinical chest radiography photospot films showed excellent demonstration of the central areas of the image but slight deterioration in peripheral parts. The minification effect of the photofluorographic films is advantageous for visual perception of many anatomic details on chest radiographs. The type of viewing device for photospot films is important.