[Contributions by Austrian physicians to skeletal diseases]. / Beiträge österreichischer Arzte zu den Skleletterkrankungen.

We report about Austrian physicians who made major contributions to the scientific research of skeletal disorders. They include pathologists, radiologists, clinicians, pediatricians and surgeons. We present a short biography as well as a brief discussion of their major papers.

[Alimentary, metabolic and toxic osteopathies in adults]. / Alimentäre, metabolische und toxische Osteopathien bei Erwachsenen.

Skeletal changes in deficient or badly balanced nutrition (alimentary osteopathies) and osseous changes accompanying chronic disease of internal organs and metabolic disorders (metabolic osteopathies) are discussed. Basically, the classical generalised skeletal changes such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia, fibroosteoclacia and sclerosis of the bone can occur in their pure form or as a combination of two ore more of these disorders. Finally the exogenic toxic osteopathies are discussed, nowadays fluorosis being the most important. Other external factors may be drugs such as methotrexate and antiepileptic medications.

[Diagnosis of psoriatic osteoarthropathy: comparison of clinical, radiologic and scintigraphic findings]. / Zur Diagnose der Osteoarthropathia psoriatica: Gegenüberstellung von klinischen, radiologischen und szintigraphischen Befunden.

Among the group of seronegative spondarthritides psoriatic osteoarthropathy can be differentiated from rheumatoid arthritis as a separate disease with generalized osseous proliferation. 33 cases were evaluated and clinical data, X-ray films and nuclear bone scans were compared. Pathological alterations in the bone structure can be found by bone scintigraphy already at very early, even subclinical stages of the disease, thus allowing early diagnosis. In a high percentage of our cases pathological alterations could be demonstrated by scintigraphy long before they were revealed on X-ray films. Scintigraphic methods may help to evaluate the activity of the disease. Furthermore, in many of our cases, localization and concentration of the tracer in the skeleton were so typical, that they may be considered pathognomonic for psoriatic osteoarthropathy. Thus bone scanning appears to be a useful tool for the diagnostic evaluation and follow up in cases of psoriatic arthropathy, in particular if the low exposure to radiation is taken into account.

[Diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon from the radiological point of view (author's transl)]. / Sigma - Divertikulose - Divertikulitis aus röntgenologischer Sicht

Diverticulosis is one of the most common diseases of the colon. Its importance arises from complications. In countries of the Western hemisphere the incidence is 10-20% beyond the age of 50. Among the natives of Africa and South-Eastern Asia it is practically unknown. It is suggested that the disease is caused by low residue diet, modern living conditions. and constitutional disorders. 500 barium enemas revealed 13,4% patients with diverticula including a 5-year-old child and a 32-year-old woman. The incidence of diverticulosis among patients over 40 years of age is 19,6%. The sex distribution is 1 : 1,9 male to female. The complications are demonstrated by case histories: Diverticulitis with ileus, foreign body trap, sub-acute perforation, sigmoid-vaginal fistula, sigmoid-bladder fistula, sigmoid-uterus fistula in a 5-year-old girl.