ABSTRACT
Patients with pulmonary and allergy-related diseases often suffer from osteoporosis. Deformities of the thoracic spine in the lateral view of a routine chest X-ray were evaluated in 1558 patients admitted to a chest clinic in a prospective, blinded and non-selected manner with various cardio-respiratory complaints. Signs of osteoporosis were found in 108 of 811 males and in 79 of 747 females. In 187 patients with thoracic spine compression a total of 106 had received corticosteroid medication. Only one received oestrogen and no one took calcium or D-vitamin supplementation. Conclusively we found that more attention should be paid to osteoporosis in patients with pulmonary disorders. An easy and cheap way is to look for fractures on a simple chest X-ray in a population of patients with cardiorespiratory complaints. We found a very high prevalence of thoracic spine deformities, especially in men.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging , Radiography, Thoracic , Aged , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoporosis/complications , Osteoporosis/epidemiology , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/complications , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/diagnostic imaging , Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Radiography, Thoracic/economics , Spine/diagnostic imaging , Thoracic Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Caroli's disease (CS) is a rare malformation of the bile duct with multiple segmental communicating dilatations of intrahepatic bile ducts affecting the whole of or parts of the liver. The disease is presumably of autosomal recessive hereditary character. Caroli described two types: the rare isolated variety (type 1), is characterized by recurring episodes of cholangitis. The more frequently occurring type 2 is associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis, and consequently there are also symptoms of portal hypertension. Both types may make their first appearance at a very early age. A case story is presented. In the light of the development of carcinoma in 7% of the patients, the authors recommend that patients who cannot be operated radically should have regular, clinical follow-ups including ultrasonography and biopsies if necessary.
