Thallium-201 scintigraphy in evaluation of breast masses

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate thallium-201 as a tumor seeking agent in patients with breast cancer. Forty-five female patients [20-67 years of age] with breast complaints were included in this study. After clinical examination, mammography and thallium-201 scintigraphy were performed and all cases were inspected pathologically to confirm the findings of both techniques. The results revealed that thallium-201 scintigraphy can reliably detect primary tumors of the breast with a high degree of sensitivity in group A which included 35 patients with no prior history of breast cancer. As 21 patients were found to have malignant breast lesions pathologically, the scintigraphic technique revealed only two false-negative cases out of them [sensitivity 90.4%, specificity 85.7% and accuracy 94.3%]

Sequential computerized cranial tomography in patients with cerebral infarction

Twenty patients with cerebral infarction were studied by computed tomography [CT]. Scanning was done for all patients on admission, after one week for 11 cases and after one month for five cases. Five of these patients had negative CT at the onset of ictus, three of them had positive CT at one week and the other two were not followed-up. Infarcts were more common in the right than on the left side. Also, superficial infarcts were commoner than deep ones. The mean volume of infarcts at the time of the first scanning, after one week and after one month was 60.69 ml, 45.49 ml and 11.59 ml respectively. Oedema started to appear in 20% of cases examined at the day of onset and reached its maximum at 72 hours [80%] up to the end of the first week, mass effect was evident in 30% of our cases and it was maximum at the first week after onset then declined where it persisted in one case after one month. Contrast enhancement was observed in three patients out of 12 who were injected with contrast at the first 72 hours from the ictus, in three of five cases after one week and in one of three patients after one month. None of our patients showed hemorrhagic infarction. Sequential CT is an important clinical tool for the diagnosis, management and prognosis of cerebral infarction

Ultrasonography in ectopic pregnancy

Ultrasonographic examination was performed in 20 cases with suspected ectopic pregnancy. 15 cases were diagnosed as extrauterine pregnancy and diagnosis was confirmed at laparotomy. 3 cases were false negative by ultrasound examination but confirmed by laparoscopy and laparotomy. 2 cases were false positive but confirmed by laparoscopy as intrauterine pregnancy in a bicornuate uterus in the first case and early missed abortion associated with a very small ovarian cyst in the second case. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 75 percent. The diagnostic criteria in ectopic pregnancy were: uterine decidual reaction, extra uterine gestation sac or fetus, free fluid in Douglas pouch and complex adnexal mass

CT in the diagnosis of diseases of the paranasal sinuses

Thirty two patients suffering from different benign and malignant lesions of the paranasal sinuses were examined by conventional radiological methods and computed tomography. In benign lesions, CT added little significant information to that obtained by conventional radiological methods. In malignant lesions, CT provided additional valuable information. It gives a clear picture of the posterior, superior and orbital extent of paranasal tumors it also shows the extent of the tumor into the infratemporal fossa

Computed tomography follow-up in cerebro-vascular haemorrhage

Sixty three patients suffering from cerebro-vascular accident were examined by C.T. scan, 20 of them with infarction were excluded and the remaining 43 were 22 males and 21 females, their ages ranging between 20-77 years. The main clinical presentation was sudden loss of conscious ness and hemiplegia. All patients were submitted to full clinical examination with special attention to the neurological manifestation. C.T. was done for all patients at the onset of the stroke, repeated after one week for 24 cases after one month for 10 cases. C.T. was found to be a rapid accurate non-invasive technique for diagnosis of the cerebro-vascular accident differentiating between haemorrhage and infarction and the follow up can judge the prognosis

Ultrasonographic evaluation of cervical changes in habitual abortion

This study included 40 pregnant women divided into two groups: Habitual abortion group: which included 25 pregnant women [13 in first and 12 in the second trimester], between 8-24 weeks gestation. All were diagnosed clinically and laboratory to be cases of habitual abortion due to incompetent os, and cervical cerclage was planned for their treatment. Control group: which included 15 pregnant women [8 in the first and 7 in the second trimester], they were within the same gestational age, and with normal obstetric history. Cases of both groups were submitted for ultrasonographic examination for cervical measurements. The diagnostic reliability of cervical incompetence by ultrasound is discussed

Role of percutaneous nephrostomy puncture in management of renal stone

Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is now widely accepted as one of the methods of managing renal stones. The success of this procedure depend on an optimally oriented, percutaneously established nephrocutaneous track. The different approaches for establishing nephrocutaneous track performed for 30 patients were discussed in detail. The procedure was successful in 28 out 30 patients and failed in the remaining two cases