Limited ARSAC licence acquisition for radionuclide radiology.

Radionuclide radiology faces a potentially crippling future manpower shortage. A combination of future retirement, few trainees and many currently unfilled posts threatens to limit future service delivery. The case is made for in-house modular training of existing consultants as the way forward for radionuclide radiology, allowing limited ARSAC licence acquisition. We propose this as a viable solution to the manpower problem in radionuclide radiology.

Stripping of failing haemodialysis catheters using the Ampltaz gooseneck snare.

The development of a fibrin sheath at the tip of a long-term haemodialysis catheter may lead to deteriorating blood flow rates, resulting in inadequate haemodialysis. Restoration of functional patency has been described using the technique of percutaneous fibrin sheath stripping (PFSS) using a wire snare device. Our purpose was to assess this technique within an established renal vascular access service. All catheters referred for the assessment of low blood flow rates on dialysis were considered for the procedure. Initial fluoroscopic assessment of the catheter was followed by stripping of the tip of the catheter using a gooseneck snare. Seventeen of 22 well-positioned catheters undergoing a single PFSS attempt were restored to function with a median prolongation of patency of 4.25 months. Two catheters underwent a second PFSS procedure providing additional patency. Nineteen of a total of 24 (79%) PFSS procedures successfully restored catheter function. Seven catheters with poorly positioned tips or a kink were not restored to functional patency using PFSS. Two patients developed a puncture site haematoma. No patient developed symptoms of pulmonary emoblism. In conclusion, PFSS restored function in 79% of attempts in well positioned catheters. The method is technically straightforward, with a low complication rate and has become a routine part of the renal vascular access service.

A three centre audit of IVU referrals in patients with asymptomatic microscopic haematuria.

There is considerable debate concerning the investigation of patients with asymptomatic microscopic haematuria. Urine dipstick testing is a sensitive screening test but may be positive in some normal individuals. The present consensus is that urine microscopy should be performed to confirm haematuria prior to further investigation. We have performed a retrospective study to establish whether urine microscopy was used in addition to dipstick testing before a request for intravenous urography (IVU) in three centres. IVU request forms from a District General, a Teaching Hospital and a Uroradiological Referral Centre were audited over a 9-month-period. Patients referred with asymptomatic microscopic haematuria were selected. The case notes and urine microscopy results were reviewed. The date of microscopy and its result and the interval between the result and the IVU request were established. One hundred and two cases have been examined, 17 (16.7%) of which were under the age of 40. Only 37 in total had significant haematuria on microscopy and of these, 32 results (31.4% of all cases) were available before the IVU request. In eight patients there was no evidence that urine microscopy had been performed. Fourteen patients had a urinary tract infection. Our findings show that IVUs are often requested on the basis of dipstick testing alone. Only one third of patients had confirmed significant haematuria at the time of IVU request and in some patients infection had not yet been excluded. Although prompt investigation of microscopic haematuria is important, it is essential that the diagnosis is established by microscopy before an IVU is requested.

A sonographic-pathological correlation of liver biopsies in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The liver is commonly involved in patients with AIDS and a first line investigation for hepatic dysfunction is liver ultrasound (US) which is often abnormal. It is unclear how these US abnormalities correlate with the underlying pathological processes. A retrospective study was performed in 48 patients with HIV disease who had undergone both liver biopsy and hepatic (US), correlating the findings. Only 25% of patients had an entirely normal liver (US) examination and only 10% patients had a normal liver biopsy. The commonest sonographic abnormalities was a diffusely hyperechoic liver seen in 46% of patients and this correlated with steatosis. Forty-four percent of biopsies contained more than one histological abnormality including granulomas, inflammation, steatosis or siderosis. In addition clinically unsuspected pathology was revealed in five of the cases of mycobacterial infection and in three cases of lymphoma. The combination of multiple histological abnormalities, unsuspected pathology, and the altered immune response in this group makes the US findings even less specific than in non-AIDS patients. We recommend that liver biopsy should remain an essential and early part of the management of AIDS patients.

The use of air or CO2 as insufflation agents for double contrast barium enema (DCBE): is there a qualitative difference?

One hundred consecutive out-patients referred for double contrast barium enema (DCBE) were randomized in a double-blind prospective study to receive either air or CO2 as an insufflation agent. Each examination was performed by the same radiologist and radiographer. The two groups were equally matched for age and sex. Each completed examination was independently assessed by three radiologists for a variety of parameters. The results show that the patients receiving air as an insufflation agent had better overall colonic distension than the group receiving CO2 and that this was statistically significant (P = 0.0004). There was no significant difference in the mean time taken to perform the examination in the two groups nor was there any significant difference in mucosal coating or preparation. In conclusion, our results suggest that poor colonic distension is a potential problem when CO2 is used for DCBE and that this cannot be solely attributed to the time taken to perform the examination. Poor distension could lead to diagnostic errors and this may outweigh the advantages in patient acceptability when using CO2 as an insufflation agent.

Retrograde radiological retrieval and replacement of double-J ureteric stents.

Internal double-J stents are used to maintain ureteral patency and require replacement within 4-6 months. We present our experience with 15 consecutive patients who had 35 internal ureteral stents retrieved and in whom 27 were successfully replaced, retrogradely under fluoroscopic control. The double-J stents were retrieved using an Amplatz gooseneck snare. Replacement was more successful in female patients, and was technically more difficult via an ileal conduit or transplant ureter. We found this new technique to be straightforward and well tolerated by the patients. The procedure was performed on an outpatient basis, and no serious complications were reported. This technique is considerably cheaper than cystoscopic replacement under epidural or general anaesthesia, and is recommended for the retrieval and replacement of internal ureteral plastic stents in most patients.

Case report: splenic infarct in sickle cell disease.

It is well recognized that patients with sickle cell disease are susceptible to splenic infection and infarction. A case of total splenic infarction is presented in which the ultrasound and CT features are atypical.

Periportal fibrosis secondary to transfusion siderosis in two patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) treated with zidovudine--a confusing ultrasound appearance.

We present the confusing sonographic features of periportal fibrosis in two AIDS patients who had zidovudine-induced transfusion siderosis of the liver. To our knowledge this has not been previously reported in the literature. The clinical, pathological and sonographic features are described.

Ultrasound findings in hepatic mycobacterial infections in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Ultrasound findings in 12 AIDS patients with abdominal mycobacterial infections were reviewed and correlated with liver histology. Liver ultrasound abnormalities were common--present in 4/5 patients with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) and 7/7 patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The commonest ultrasound abnormality of the liver was a generally 'bright' liver, seen in 7/12 patients. Focal liver lesions were seen in 5/7 patients with MTB but were not seen in any patients with MAI infection. Both hyperechoic (two patients) and hypoechoic (three patients) lesions were seen. Lymphadenopathy as demonstrated on abdominal ultrasound was a relatively infrequent finding--only seen in three patients with MTB, all of whom also had focal liver lesions. On histology, 8/12 patients showed fatty infiltration and 8/12 showed granuloma. Abnormalities are commonly seen on ultrasound examination of the liver in AIDS patients with abdominal mycobacterial infections but are non-specific and ultrasound guided biopsy is indicated to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other disease.