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Two hundred abdominal CT and angiographic examinations were performed on 137 patients with portal hypertension. These patients were being evaluated before or after a distal splenorenal shunt. CT increased the detection of umbilical and retroperitoneal varices. Angiography better detected peripancreatic varices and cavernous transformation. Both modalities together added more information than either alone in identification of coronary and/or gastroesophageal, retrogastric, and perisplenic-mesenteric varices. This additional anatomic information helped in the patient's management pre- and postoperatively.

A series of 16 patients with adrenal masses were biopsied percutaneously under computed tomography (CT) guidance with 18- to 22-gauge modified Chiba needles. Adrenal adenomas, cysts, metastases, melanoma, and adrenal hemorrhage were identified. Of nine oncologic patients, four had adrenal metastases, while five had other nonmalignant adrenal masses. Thus, an adrenal mass in an oncologic patient is not always metastases. No complications occurred. The diagnostic evaluation of an adrenal mass in selected cases should include CT-guided percutaneous aspiration as a safe and reliable alternative to open surgical biopsy. CT-guided biopsy can be performed as an outpatient procedure, avoiding the cost of hospitalization and the morbidity of surgery.

The authors describe 4 patients who had functioning distal splenorenal shunts despite obstruction of the left renal vein at its insertion into the inferior vena cava. The angiographic technique and findings of left renal vein evaluation in 40 shunted patients are reviewed. There were two important findings. First, no correlation existed between the degree of portal hypertension and the degree of filling of collateral tributaries of renal veins. Second, obstruction of the left renal vein does not impair a splenorenal shunt if good collateral pathways are present.

Basal ganglia calcification following radiation therapy has rarely been documented in the literature. A case of diffuse bilateral basal ganglia calcification developing 6 years after irridiation of a hypothalamic glioma is presented. Review of previous reports and other causes of basal ganglia calcification are discussed.

An improved technique of selective cerebral angiography for infants and small chicken is described. The needle is inserted approximately 45 degrees to the skin in order to avoid subintimal placement of the tip. After good backflow is established, the guidewire is advanced to a position in the descending aorta. A No. 3 polyethylene catheter and 21-gauge scalp vein needle were most successful.

Thirteen patients with multiseptated, hepatic abscesses were initially treated by percutaneous drainage using computed tomographic guidance. One of these 13 patients required surgery because of failure of percutaneous drainage due to the viscosity of the debris within the multiseptated cavities. Another patient required a second percutaneous drainage procedure due to recurrent hepatic fluid collection. Eleven of the 12 successful drainages were accomplished with one catheter because there was communication between the multiseptated "pockets." Our approach to hepatic abscess drainage is discussed with specific attention to the multiseptated abscess. The multiseptated abscess should not discourage an attempt at percutaneous catheter drainage.

Of 84 cases with both radionuclide and computed tomographic studies of the liver, in 54 the results of the two examinations agreed, in 14 results disagreed, and in 16 cases one of the two tests gave equivocal results. Overall accuracy in detecting or ruling out focal liver disease was 79% for scintigraphy and 98% for computed tomography. In 13 of the 14 patients in whom studies did not agree, the scintigram was falsely negative. In 10 of these 13 false-negative scintigrams, small (less than 2 cm) solitary or multiple lesions were detected on computed tomography in patients who had normal liver function studies. In seven patients in whom both studies agreed, computed tomography provided additional, extrahepatic information that altered clinical management. Scintigraphy was 86% accurate in detecting liver disease when the patient had a gastrointestinal neoplasm, but only 74% accurate for nongastrointestinal neoplasm. Computed tomography was over 94% accurate in both situations. These data indicate an advantage of computed tomography as the initial screening examination for space-occupying lesions of the liver, especially in patients with a primary diagnosis of nongastrointestinal neoplasm.

A technique for computed tomography directed percutaneous liver biopsy using small gauge (18-20) needles is described. In 51 procedures performed on 50 patients tissue specimens adequate for diagnosis were obtained 49 times (96%). There was one false negative diagnosis. The correct diagnosis was made in 48 of 51 (94%) procedures on 48 of 50 (96%) patients. There were no significant complications.

In 1971 a prospective, randomized trial was initiated to determine efficacy of the distal splenorenal shunt in the management of cirrhotic patients who had previously bled from esophageal varices. When entry into the trial was terminated in 1976, 26 patients had received the distal splenorenal shunt (selective) and 29 had undergone a nonselective shunting procedure (18 interposition mesorenal, six interposition mesocaval, and five other nonselective shunts). Three operative deaths occurred in each group. Early postoperative angiography revealed preservation of hepatic portal perfusion in 14 of 16 selective patients (88%), but in only one of 20 nonselective patients (5%; p < .001). Quantitative measures of hepatic function (maximal rate of urea synthesis or MRUS and Child's score) were similar to preoperative values in the selective group but were significantly decreased in nonselective patients on the first postoperative evaluation (p < .001 for MRUS; p < .05 for Child's score). Eighty-seven per cent of selective and 81% of nonselective patients have now been followed for three to six years since surgery. Late postoperative evaluation of 29 survivors (12 selective, 17 nonselective) still shows an advantage to the selective group with respect to MRUS, Child's score, and incidence of hepatopetal portal blood flow, but differences are no longer statistically significant. However, if the seven patients with portal flow (five selective; two nonselective) are compared to the 20 with absent portal flow (seven selective; 13 nonselective), the former group has significantly higher values for MRUS (p < .05) and Child's score (p < .025). No patient with continuing portal perfusion has developed encephalopathy as compared to a 45% incidence of this complication in individuals without portal flow (p < .05). No significant differences between selective and nonselective groups have appeared with respect to total cumulative mortality (ten selective; 38%; eight nonselective, 28%), shunt occlusion (two selective, 10%; five nonselective, 18%), or recurrent variceal hemorrhage (one selective, 4%; two nonselective, 8%). Overall, significantly fewer selective patients have developed postoperative encephalopathy (three selective, 12%; 15 nonselective, 52%; p < .001). Therefore, we conclude that the distal splenorenal shunt, especially when its objective of maintaining hepatic portal perfusion is achieved, results in significantly less morbidity than nonselective shunting procedures.

A review was made of 365 abdominal computed tomographic (CT) examinations in 125 patients with a histologic diagnosis of lymphoma who had undergone CT before and after therapy. Clinical correlation immediately preceding the follow-up CT examination was obtained in 100 patients. In these 100 patients, five distinct subgroups emerged: (a) reduction in extent of disease without changes in internal nodal characteristics; (b) reduction in extent of disease with change in internal nodal characteristics; (c) no change in extent of disease and no change in internal nodal characteristics; (d) no change in extent of disease but change in internal nodal characteristics; and (e) disease progression. Changes in internal nodal architecture consisted of diminished attenuation or mesenteric "stranding." A 91% correlation existed between the CT findings and the clinical course. Of those patients with a worsening clinical course, and follow-up CT studies suggesting a stable or improved response to therapy, relapse in the majority (57%) involved the central nervous system. The authors conclude that limited abdominal CT examination is satisfactory in the posttherapy follow-up of lymphoma patients.

To compare the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) with conventional radiography and conventional tomography for evaluating masses in the thorax, 168 masses, 154 of which were histologically verified, which had been examined with CT were reviewed. In 74 instances (44%) CT provided important additional information compared with conventional radiography. Compared to conventional tomography, CT added important information in 15 (23%) of 65 cases. In no case did CT fail to demonstrate pathology shown with the other two methods. Average radiation dose to the chest was 1.3 rad (0.013 Gy) with CT and 0.4 rad (0.004 Gy) with linear tomography. Although CT is associated with slightly greater radiation dose and cost, this review indicates it should be performed directly after plain film examination instead of conventional tomography when further investigation of an intrathoracic mass is indicated.

A transhepatic computed-tomographic-guided biopsy of a right adrenal mass is described. This method is simpler to perform than the usual posterior biopsy carried out with the patient prone and is less likely to cause a complicating pneumothorax. In seven of eight patients with right adrenal masses, adrenal tissue was obtained and an accurate diagnosis was possible. No complications resulted.