Clinical radiology
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Comparative Study
Magnetic resonance scanning in cystic fibrosis: comparison with computed tomography.
Comparison has been made between two different spin-echo sequence MR scans and CT scans of the lungs in 17 patients with cystic fibrosis. Scans were assessed for bronchial dilation, bronchial wall thickening and mucus plugging. ⋯ Stronger background lung signal and less artefact was seen on TE7 ms scans compared with TE30 ms scans. MR is a developing technology that does not involve ionizing radiation which, with further refinement, may prove to be useful in imaging lung pathology in cystic fibrosis.
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To assess a simplified CT evaluation of otorrhagia due to condylar fracture, 16 patients with post-traumatic otorrhagia underwent axial CT of the petrous bones and coronal CT of the temporo-mandibular joints (TMJs). Bilateral high condylar fractures were demonstrated in seven patients. ⋯ Otorrhagia due to condylar fractures occurred when the fracture was bilateral and ipsilateral to a high condylar fracture. The diagnostic procedure of choice is coronal CT of the TMJs which should be carried out if axial CT of the petrous bones showed them to be intact.
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To present and to demonstrate traumatic displacement of the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage. ⋯ The inflexible ossified laryngeal cartilages in elderly patients may not return to normal alignment following traumatic displacement.
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Colour Doppler sonography (CDS) is becoming an increasingly popular method of examining the deep venous system of the lower limb, particularly in the investigation of possible deep venous thrombosis (DVT). We describe a further application of CDS observed in three intravenous (i.v.) drug abusers who presented with symptoms mimicking a DVT. All three cases had femoral vein stenosis occurring at their injection site. This was demonstrated by CDS and at the same time DVT excluded.
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Between 1987 and 1992, 54 patients (32 male, 22 female) underwent 62 attempts at pneumatic reduction of intussusception. The mean age at presentation was 12.5 months (range 2.5 to 4 years 4 months). A retrospective review of all cases was performed to identify success rate and factors affecting it. ⋯ Resection was required in three cases for non-viable bowel and in another two for the Meckel's diverticula. Pneumatic reduction of intussusception offers a high success rate with few complications. Performing an air enema earlier in the course of the disease may increase the chance of successful reduction.