Fluid collections developing after pancreatic transplantation: radiologic evaluation and intervention.

The usefulness of real-time sonography, duplex sonography, computed tomography (CT), cystography, diagnostic aspiration, and percutaneous drainage in the diagnosis and treatment of peri-pancreatic-transplant fluid collections was retrospectively assessed in 46 recipients of extraperitoneal pancreatic transplants. Forty-four abnormalities were identified in the extraperitoneal space at sonography, including four pancreatic pseudocysts associated with malfunction of the pancreatic duct, seven abscesses, six hematomas, nine urinomas, six early postoperative fluid collections that spontaneously resolved, six cases of pancreatitis, and six cases of vascular occlusion. Sonography (including pulsed Doppler sonography) was the procedure of choice in detecting fluid collections and diagnosing pancreatitis, rejection, vascular thrombosis, and pancreatic duct malfunction. CT was diagnostic in four of six hematomas; cystography was diagnostic in seven of nine urinomas. Sonographically guided percutaneous intervention enabled three patients to avoid surgery and allowed optimal surgical planning for six patients.

Needle holder for use with a biopsy gun.

The authors designed and constructed a simple needle holder device for maintaining the position of the trocar and cannula before performance of computed tomography (CT)- and ultrasonography-guided biopsies with a biopsy gun. The holder can be removed before attachment of the biopsy gun and routine obtaining of tissue. Use of the holder facilitated quicker and easier CT-guided biopsies of the liver (n = 3), pancreas (n = 1), and adrenal gland (n = 1) and of a chest wall tumor.

Teleradiology image transmission system: diagnostic accuracy at three matrix sizes for various types of images.

The interpretability of transmitted digitized radiographic images is an important factor in the operation and use of teleradiology systems. Matrix size may influence diagnostic accuracy of the interpretation. Commercially available equipment has certain built-in image enhancement controls that may increase the interpretability of the image received. Evaluation of the effect of varying the matrix size and other factors on diagnostic accuracy are described.

X-File: a program for maintaining a radiographic teaching file.

Software designed for entry, retrieval, and maintenance of radiographic case-file data on a microcomputer offers considerable help in maintaining such records in a radiology department. The case files are based on the Index for Roentgen Diagnoses, published by the AmericanCollege of Radiology. The terms and code numbers of the index are included in the software, so that the user need only enter the diagnostic term desired; the code numbers and exact terminology are assigned automatically. The software is written for an IBM-compatible microcomputer. Residents and staff radiologists have been using the program for the past two years to store and find both confirmed cases and other interesting cases. The system's capacity exceeds 70,000 entries on a 20-megabyte had disk. The program has five features not found in previous similar programs and not attainable with manual methods.

Diagnostic accuracy of a teleradiology image transmission system.

Teleradiology is the remote interpretation of digitized radiographic images by physicians. The images are usually transmitted over telephone lines, but satellite communication has also been used. The interpretability of the transmitted image is an important factor in the operation and use of teleradiology systems. Commercially available equipment has certain built-in functions that may enhance the interpretability of the image received. These functions and their usefulness in diagnosis are described. It is also possible to enhance the image for transmission, prior to digitizing, by certain manual techniques. These may be of value in situations where the first transmission is lacking in some quality. A test of these functions and techniques is reported.

Nonneural vascular smooth muscle tone in arterioles of the hamster cheek pouch.

The object of the present study was to employ specific pharmacological agents and the chemical sympatholytic drug 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to characterize the neural and adrenergic control of vascular smooth muscle tone in arterioles of the hamster cheek pouch. Arteriolar diameters were measured in the superfused cheek pouch of anesthetized male golden hamsters. All orders of arterioles constricted in response to norepinephrine (10(-7) g/ml) and increased superfusion solution PO2, and dilated in response to isoproterenol (10(-7) g/ml) and adenosine (10(-4) M). Tetrodotoxin (10(-6) g/ml), phentolamine (10(-6) g/ml), and propranolol (10(-6) g/ml) had no effect upon arteriolar diameters under resting conditions. However, phentolamine and propranolol completely blocked vessel responses to norepinephrine and isoproterenol, respectively. Arterioles dilated during superfusion with either 6-OHDA (300 micrograms/ml) or its acidic vehicle. However, vessel diameters returned toward control values during the subsequent 2-hr washout period and exhibited no net dilation following recovery from 6-OHDA or its vehicle. This study suggests that neural and adrenergic mechanisms are not the primary determinants of arteriolar tone in the hamster cheek pouch.