Leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas.

A 45-yr-old female patient was admitted with signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis. She had no history of gallstones, alcohol, or trauma. Her CT scan was consistent with a cystic lesion of the pancreas. Because of her presenting symptoms and signs, she was initially treated as an acute pancreatitis. Followup CT scan showed absolutely no change in the cyst. Surgical consultation was requested. A diagnosis of a neoplastic cyst was made, and the patient was taken to surgery where a distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed. Pathology revealed a leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas. Only 15 other cases of leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas have been reported thus far in literature.

Validation of ultrafast computed tomographic left ventricular volume measurement.

Left ventricular volume has been measured with ultrafast computed tomography. However, the accuracy with which this can be done is unknown. We therefore imaged with ultrafast computed tomography 11 rectangular phantoms, 20 to 225 ml, and 17 left ventricular casts, 15 to 112 ml. Two observers planimetered serial tomographic images and computed volume from sequential tomograms. There was no significant inter- or intraobserver difference in measurement of phantoms. Deviation of ultrafast computed tomographic volume from true phantom volume was -0.1 +/- 3.5% SD, range 9.0 to -7.6%. Correlation of true phantom volume with ultrafast computed tomographic volume was 0.99, SEE = 1.9 ml. No significant difference was observed between merged and single ultrafast computed tomographic scanning sequences. Left ventricular cast volume determined by ultrafast computed tomography deviated from true volume by 6% +/- 20%, range 54% to -45%. Correlation of true volume with ultrafast computed tomographic volume was 0.99, SEE = 5.1 ml. There was no interobserver significant difference in measurement of left ventricular cast volume. Correlation between ultrafast computed tomographic volume and cineradiographic volume of the same left ventricular casts was 0.99, SEE = 4.4 ml. Thus, phantom volumes can be measured accurately without significant intra- or interobserver variation. Merged scanning sequences did not influence volume determination. Left ventricular cast volume determination was comparable to that obtained with cineradiography.