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The "shock lung syndrome," whenever associated with trauma, is probably in part the consequence of fat emboli, though aspiration, disseminated intravascular coagulation, microatelectasis, pulmonary edema, and hemorrhage due to other lung insults may be important in the etiology of many cases. When lung injury is due to fat emboli, there is an interval between the time of trauma and the onset of clinical symptoms and chest radiographic findings. The radiographic picture is that of a diffuse alveolar and interstitial lung density. In severe cases marked respiratory embarrassment requires the use of both oxygen therapy and mechanical respirators for survival.

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great vessels is an important basic anomaly of the heart which has only recently received wide clinical attention. First described by von Rokitansky in 1875 (33), the anomaly remained a clinical curiosity until modern surgical advances in the treatment of congenital heart disease made accurate diagnosis important. Less than 150 cases are described in the literature, but the condition cannot be extremely rare, since we have encountered more than 30 cases, and similar large series have been reported from other institutions (17, 27). Among our cases is the first example of congenitally corrected transposition without associated anomalies diagnosed on the basis of chest films, the second such case to be recognized in life. Basic Anatomy of Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels The aorta and pulmonary artery are transposed so that the aorta arises on the left and ventrad, in the usual position of the pulmonary artery, while that vessel arises on the right and ...

This paper reports the results of a statistically controlled study of the effectiveness of two widely used drugs on radiation sickness. The drugs tested were pyridoxine, first advocated by Maxfield and his associates in 1943 (1), and Dramamine, advocated by Beeler et al. in 1949 (2). These were selected as representative of two groups of compounds commonly used in radiation sickness, namely, antimotion sedative-type drugs and vitamins. Evaluation of whether or not a patient has radiation sickness is difficult because it is largely a subjective syndrome, the symptoms of which can be caused by many different processes, organic and psychologic, that may be active in those receiving radiation therapy. In addition, it is difficult to eliminate bias on the part of both patient and doctor in assessing the response to any medication for specific complaints. In order to minimize errors due to these factors, the drugs and placebos used in this study were made up in identical appearing capsules and all patients were...

Cardiac ultrasonography is a technique for producing motionless cross-sectional images of intracardiac anatomy by means of an electrocardiogram-gated ultrasonic contact scanner. Images obtained can demonstrate the normal spiral or crossed relationship of the ventricular outflow tracts and arterial trunks. In transposition of the great arteries the axes of the ventricular outflow tracts and arterial trunks are more or less parallel and the anterior aorta is placed variably to the left, anterior, or right of the posterior pulmonary trunk. One or both of these anatomic features were correctly demonstrated by cardiac ultrasonography in 14 of 16 patients with transposition of the great arteries. The technique holds promise for practical application in clinical diagnosis of congenital heart disease.

Comparison of left ventricular volume determinations by cross-sectional ultrasonography, single-axis echocardiography, and biplane angiography suggests that the cross-sectional technique may be able to determine left ventricular volumes within a clinically useful range of accuracy. Sources of error and means of avoiding them are discussed.

THOUGH over 500 cases of hereditary angioneurotic edema have been reported (1, 5, and 6) the subject is virtually unknown in the radiologic literature. Weare presenting the findings of marked regional edema involving the mid small intestine of a young woman with hereditary angioneurotic edema during an episode of severe abdominal pain. Since such episodes of abdominal pain are characteristic of this disorder, radiologists should be aware of the roentgenographic manifestations. Angioneurotic edema, as described by Quincke in 1882 and by others (1), is characterized by recurrent episodes or attacks of acute circumscribed noninflammatory edema (periodic edema (11)) which are of sudden onset and regional in distribution. The involved region is swollen, tense, and pale, but not red or warm. Only occasionally is there itching, and other signs of acute inflammation are typically not found. Pitting on pressure does not occur until the lesion begins to regress. This is spontaneous, usually after twelve to forty-ei...