ABSTRACT
The authors describe 4 patients who had functioning distal splenorenal shunts despite obstruction of the left renal vein at its insertion into the inferior vena cava. The angiographic technique and findings of left renal vein evaluation in 40 shunted patients are reviewed. There were two important findings. First, no correlation existed between the degree of portal hypertension and the degree of filling of collateral tributaries of renal veins. Second, obstruction of the left renal vein does not impair a splenorenal shunt if good collateral pathways are present.
Subject(s)
Renal Veins/diagnostic imaging , Renal Veins/surgery , Splenic Vein/surgery , Angiography , Collateral Circulation , Female , Humans , Hypertension, Portal/diagnostic imaging , Hypertension, Portal/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Renal Artery/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
In a comparative study of the diagnostic value of epinephrine renal venography (ERV) and angiography in eight patients with severe inflammatory disease of the kidneys, the spectrum of abnormalities exhibited by ERV was more striking than the angiographic findings. Complete disorganization of the renal venous architecture with linear streaking of contrast agent is a sign of renal inflammatory disease. ERV is a useful adjunctive diagnostic procedure in cases of a nonfunctioning kidney.
Subject(s)
Epinephrine , Nephritis/diagnostic imaging , Renal Veins/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Angiography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nephrectomy , Nephritis/surgery , Renal Artery/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Carcinoma of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis may be extremely difficult to differentiate by standard diagnostic methods preoperatively as well as at the operating table. Operative pancreatic biopsy may have a high morbidity, rare mortality, and can be misleading. Percutaneous aspiration biopsy may be of great potential benefit. It provides additional histological material not usually available, and an accurate diagnosis of malignancy can be made. In select patients a needless laparotomy may be avoided. It appears to be a safe procedure that should be considered in the evaluation of the patient with suspected pancreatic malignancy in which a mass lesion is demonstrated by ultrasonography, computerized tomography, angiography, or retrograde pancreatography.
