Duodenal pseudotumor with ball-valve syndrome.

Prolapse of the gastric mucosa into the duodenum must be considered when a round soft tissue mass is seen in the right upper quadrant on scout abdominal film. Gastric prolapse may mimic tumor in the duodenum when the prolapse is large. Examination with barium meal is necessary to exclude prolapse of the gastric mucosa into the duodenum as a cause of epigastric pain and vomiting. Medical treatment is suggested for patients with mild symptoms, but patients with severe symptoms, repeated hemorrhage, anemia, severe intermittent epigastric pain and vomiting due to ball-valve syndrome should have operation.

Ultrasonography and CT scanning: a comparative study of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

CT scanning has been successfully used in the evaluation of the abdominal aorta in over 70 patients. Half of this group, with abdominal aneurysms, was also studied by ultrasonography and the results compared. Both techniques proved equally reliable in the diagnosis of this entity. Closer correlation to the aneurysmal diameter measured at surgery was obtained by CT scanning; underestimation of size by ultrasonography was a frequent finding. Aortic lumen and intra-aneurysmal thrombus were also more clearly demonstrated by CT when contrast enhancement was added. Evaluation of aneurysmal length is done more effectively by ultrasonography although sagittal reconstruction by CT has been now attempted.

Computed tomographic evaluation of aortic aneurysms.

Applications of computed tomography are being extended from the brain to other body parts. This report describes CT scanning of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms in 30 patients. CT shows greatest promise in abdominal aortic scanning, where reliable identification of the aorta can be achieved even in the absence of enlargement or calcification. However, current limitations prevent visualization of internal detail such as intimal plaques or mural thrombi. Technical advances are described which should have an important bearing on this.

Pseudomembraneous colitis associated with antibiotics.

Radiographic manifestations of the colon on barium enema examination in two cases of antibiotic-induced pseudomembraneous colitis are presented. The radiographic findings are ulcerations, shaggy edematous mucosa and excessive mucus secretion. Although these roentgenorgraphic findings could not be differentiated from other inflammatory bowel disease, the antibiotic-induced enterocolitis must be included in the differential diagnosis whenever there is a clinical history of recent antibiotic therapy.