Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology
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Ultrasound examination of the sublingual region is a non-invasive, safe, inexpensive and widely available procedure, unaffected by the amalgam in teeth which is a source of considerable artefact on CT and MRI images. With a little practice and good understanding of the anatomy, ultrasound can be a very helpful primary examination. If the lesion is clearly seen, no further imaging may be required.
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J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol · Apr 2008
Case ReportsPercutaneous radiological management of high-output chylothorax with CT-guided needle disruption.
We present the study of a 58-year-old man who underwent percutaneous management of a high-output chylothorax following cardiac bypass graft surgery. The patient presented to a peripheral hospital 3 weeks postoperatively following cardiac bypass graft surgery with shortness of breath. ⋯ The patient was treated conservatively with no improvement until undergoing a CT-guided needle disruption of lymphatics with good effect. This case is presented to show the minimally invasive treatment methods that are available in the management of high-output chylothorax.
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J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol · Feb 2008
Lymph node enlargement in pulmonary arterial hypertension due to chronic thromboembolism.
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and location of enlarged mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (CPTE) and to identify possible causes. Thoracic CT images of 85 patients (43 men and 42 women, aged 18-80 years) with PAH in whom CPTE was confirmed at surgery (n = 75) or angiography and angioscopy (n = 10) were evaluated by two thoracic radiologists to determine the presence, size and location of lymph nodes more than 1 cm in the short axis. The presence of pleural and pericardial effusions and parenchymal abnormalities were also noted. ⋯ Pleural and pericardial effusions were more common in patients with CPTE who also had lymphadenopathy than in the group with no lymphadenopathy (P < 0.05). Lymph node enlargement is common in patients with PAH caused by CPTE. The frequent association of lymphadenopathy with pleural and pericardial effusions suggest a possible pathophysiological mechanism of increased lymphatic flow caused by right heart failure.
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J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol · Feb 2008
Case ReportsAbdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst: a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in adults.
Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is an uncommon complication of using ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Although many cases have been reported in children, abdominal pseudocysts are rare in adult patients. The purpose of this article is to describe and illustrate the findings for this condition on commonly used abdominal diagnostic imaging modalities. ⋯ Plain-film radiography was carried out in one patient, ultrasound in three and CT in all six. A fluid collection close to or associated to the VPS catheter was observed in all cases. Visualization of the distal tip of the VPS within a homogeneous intraperitoneal collection is the principal diagnostic sign of an abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst at ultrasound and CT.