Journal of computer assisted tomography
-
J Comput Assist Tomogr · Jan 1993
Occult pneumothorax in patients with abdominal trauma: CT studies.
Abdominal CT, which routinely includes the lower thorax, is an important adjunct to supine chest radiography in detecting chest injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. In 1,086 consecutive patients with blunt abdominal trauma, 223 of whom had both supine chest radiography and abdominal CT, 49 patients examined with both techniques had pneumothoraces, 28 of them occult (seen only on CT). ⋯ Seven of 14 cases with anterior pneumothorax were observed and resolved without complication; seven had chest tube placement. All eight patients with anterolateral pneumothoraces underwent percutaneous tube thoracostomy, regardless of proposed management.
-
J Comput Assist Tomogr · Jan 1993
Case ReportsInfrarenal vena caval injury following blunt trauma: CT findings.
Isolated infrarenal vena caval injury following blunt trauma is rare. In most patients, poor clinical status usually precludes imaging prior to laparotomy. When CT is performed, however, signs that allow a diagnosis of caval injury to be made are (a) retroperitoneal hematoma with paracaval epicenter; (b) irregular vena caval contour; and (c) extravasation of contrast-enhanced blood from the cava.
-
The imaging findings of a crack cocaine "body stuffer" are presented along with findings from in vitro experimentation with crack cocaine. It has been shown previously that contrast enhanced radiographic examinations can often outline the vessel in which ingested cocaine is contained; our work demonstrates that the crack cocaine itself may be visualized with CT performed without intravenous or oral contrast material. Due to the cost of CT, however, it is indicated only when clinically warranted to guide treatment. Positive identification of ingested crack cocaine by CT might prove helpful for both medical and legal indications.
-
J Comput Assist Tomogr · Jul 1992
Case ReportsHigh attenuation mucous plugs in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: CT appearance.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is an immunologic disease characterized by bronchiectasis and recurrent mucous plugging in asthmatics. The usual CT appearance is that of low attenuation branching structures corresponding to impacted dilated bronchi. ⋯ A follow-up examination demonstrated resolution of the mucous secretions and residual bronchiectasis. Possible etiologies for this CT appearance are discussed.
-
J Comput Assist Tomogr · Jul 1992
Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI in intracranial, extraaxial tumors and cysts.
Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI was used to assess six intracranial, extraaxial cysts and tumors including two epidermoids, two cystic acoustic schwannomas, and two arachnoid cysts. A maximum gradient strength of 0.7 g/cm was used simultaneously along all axes (maximum gradient beta value: 445 s/mm2) and comparisons were made with an external water phantom. ⋯ The ADC of arachnoid cysts was similar to that of the water phantom, indicating their fluid nature. Due to macroscopic CSF flow, cisternal CSF showed high ADC, which enabled epidermoid tumors to be highlighted.