Scintigraphic quantitative studies in the diagnosis of congenital cardiac shunts

The last decade has witnessed great advances in cardiovascular nuclear medicine that have made dynamic imaging of the heart possible together with obtaining important haemodynamic parameters non-invasively, at times replacing cardiac catheterizafion. In this study, 50 patients with left to right cardiac shunts as well as 12 normal control subjects were examined by radionuclide angiocardiography using a rapid intravenous bolus of TC -99m pertechnetate. Immediate scintiscans were obtained by a scintillation gamma camera and data were inspected at the regions of interest to generate time activity curves. Two points were defined and measured on the curves, Cl representing the peak activity at a time Tl and C2 representing the activity at a time T2 [where T2 = Tl]. Study of the magnitude of the shunt by oximetry during cardiac catheterization was represented as Qp/Qs ratio. A correlation ratio was done for all 50 patients. The results were promising and the technique proved to be simple, quite helpful with high degree of accuracy

Comparison of colloid scintigraphy and abdominal sonography in patients with chronic liver disease

Chronic liver disease [CLD] of viral and schistosomal origin constitutes a major health problem in Egypt, with devastating effects on the individual and the national economy of the country. Nuclear medicine has become widely established in Egypt in the last several years, but the contribution of colloid scan to other diagnostic tools has not been assessed for the types of chronic liver disease. A cross sectional survey of 412 patients and 30 controls was conducted to evaluate colloid scintigraphy in assessing CLD and results were compared with those of the abdominal ultrasound scanning for evaluating these patients

Role of computed tomography in gastric neoplasms

Gastric neoplasms often form a diagnostic problem to the examining clinician.Fourty nine patients with gastric neoplasms represent the material for this study, 19 were males and 30 were females; their ages ranging between 29-66 years. CT scans and barium studies were done for all af them. Endoscopic examination was carried for 38 and surgical interferance was done for 27. CT studies have proved, from our work, to be very useful in detection and evaluation of gastric neoplasms

Role of computed tomography in ovarian cystadenoma

Ovarian cystadenomas are common ovarian neoplasms. The relatively infrequent use of computed tomography [CT] compared to ultrasound [US] in evaluating the adnexae has resulted in a paucity of information in the literature regarding the CT features of ovarian masses. This study comprised 26 female patients with ovarian cystadenomas, their ages ranging between 21 -.67 years. Pelvic CT and pelvic sonography were carried, for all of them and 19 were operated upon.The CT features we have encoutered are throughly described and so is the possible differential diagnosis. Accordingly, we state our own opinion to where CT scanning of the pelvis stands as a diagnostic tool for such lesions

Significance of computerized tomographic examination in cases of mediastinal goiter

Mediastinal thyroid is one of the most common causes of mediastinal masses. Thoracic Computerized Tomographic scans [TCTS] were performed for 17 patients with mediastinal thyroids, 11 were males and 6 were females; their ages ranging between 41 - 80 years. Radionucleide [131] I study was carried for 15 patients and thoracotomy was done for 6. We have found that CT scanning in most instances is capable of specifically identifying mediastinal goiters. This identification should eliminate diagnostic thoracotomy in these patients and minimize the neccessity for [131] I scans in patients with mediastinal masses noted on chest radiograms. CT is also capable of providing useful anatomic and physiologic information as being an accurate mean for follow up