[Comparative analysis of modern combined methods in diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma].

To ascertain the role of multispiral computed tomography (MSCT) in diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and to propose optimal diagnostic policy in RCC patients, we examined 63 patients with suspected renal tumor: 37 (59%) males and 26 (41%) females, age 47-77 ages, mean age 54.2+/-1.5 years, duration of the disease from 1 month to 7 years. The following diagnostic methods were imployed: ultrasonography of the kidneys, plain and excretory urography, spiral computed tomography, angiography, MSCT, MRT, thin-needle aspiration biopsy. By the results of a combined examination and operation on the kidney lesion, the diagnosis of RCC was made in 45 (80.3%) patients including stage I in 21 (46.7%), stage II in 9 (20%), stage III in 13 (28.9%), stage IV in 2 (4.5%) patients. Benign renal tumors were detected in 8 (14.2%) patients, giant cysts of the kidneys--in 5 cases, benign renal tumors--in 3 cases, adenoma--in 2 cases, angiomyolipoma--in 1 case. Detected were also renal malformations in 3 cases, a distant retroperitoneal metastasis of RCC in 1 case, adrenal tumors in 6 (9.5%) cases. We suppose that MSCT enables multiplanar and 3-dimentional reconstruction of the images, staging of RCC, planning of surgical treatment. MSCT should be conducted after standard ultrasound examination.

[Effects of alfacalcidol on mineral density of bone tissue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Vliianie al'fakal'tsidola na mineral'nuiu plotnost' kostnoi tkani u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

The analysis of antiosteoporotic efficacy of alphacalcidol was made in 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 30 RA patients received alphacalcidol in a dose 0.75-1.0 mcg/day for 12 months. 20 control RA patients did not receive the drug. Mineral density of the bone tissue (MD) of the proximal femur and low back spine was studied using double x-ray absorptiometry at the start of the treatment and 12 months after it. It was established that alphacalcidol stabilizes MD of the neck of the femur and low spine. A significant MD increase was observed in those areas of the proximal femur where cortical bone tissue prevails.

[Age-related changes of vertebral bone mineral density in Russian population]. / Vozrastnye izmeneniia mineral'noi plotnosti pozvonkov v norme u rossiiskoi populiatsii.

Vertebral trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in 1061 subjects (610 females and 451 males aged from 7 to 91 and from 12 to 89, respectively) with known history of diseases or taking medicines affecting bone metabolism. Peak BMD values in our patients were observed at the age of 20-29 years with further gradual decrement in men and more steep in women. Negative relationship between BMD and age was r = -0.991 for men and r = -0.968 for women. Analyzing BMD changes by decades we observed the largest decrement in men after 60 (13.1% for 60-69 and 14.1% for 70-79 years of age) and in women after 50 (22.5% for 50-59, 22.1% for 60-69 and 20.8% for 70-79 years) which was most probably due to decline in sex hormones production that is known to significantly influence bone metabolism. This was confirmed by BMD values three-phase approximation in women showing the lowest rate of calcium loss by trabecular bone in reproductive period (1.9 mg/cm3/yr) and the highest in perimenopause (3.98 mg/cm3/yr). Annual calcium loss in postmenopause was 2.22 mg/cm3.

[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of diffuse diseases of the liver]. / Komp'iuternaia tomografiia v diagnostike diffuznykh zabolevanii pecheni.

Methods of CT, echotomography and scintigraphy of the liver were used to investigate 95 patients with diffuse liver diseases (fatty dystrophy, hepatitis, cirrhosis, hemosiderosis and amyloidosis). CT changes in these diseases were described. A high efficacy of CT was established in the detection of diffuse liver lesions and portal hypertension permitting one to give up in some cases invasive puncture biopsy of the organ.