Pathophysiologic considerations in carotid artery imaging: current status and physiologic background.

Carotid endarterectomy now has an established place in the management of selected patients with carotid artery disease. This success rests in part on the invasive and non-invasive techniques available for imaging of both the pre- and postsurgical carotid artery. While contrast angiography has retained its place as a key presurgical imaging procedure, newer methods, including Doppler ultrasound, MRI angiography, SPECT, and PET scanning are providing additional anatomic, physiologic, functional, and biochemical information. An understanding of the complementary roles of these procedures is helpful to providers working to prevent strokes of carotid origin.

Physiological considerations in imaging of lower extremity venous thrombosis.

Lower extremity venous thrombosis is a major clinical problem because of its potential for pulmonary embolism and local vascular compromise. We present an anatomical and physiological overview followed by a review of current diagnostic methods and their underlying rationale.

Current status of imaging in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

The diagnosis of acute appendicitis remains a problem in clinical surgery. Negative appendectomy represents misdiagnosis, and perforation may be the result of delayed diagnosis. The accuracy of diagnosis has improved little in decades, with a rate of 20% for negative appendectomy and 21% for perforation in one large series [Lewis FR: Arch Surg 110:677-685, 1975. Clearly, the need exists for a sensitive yet specific diagnostic imaging tool. The purpose of this paper is to review the role of currently available imaging modalities in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Roentgenologic changes in pulmonary echinococcosis.

Radiologic changes seen in 420 cases of pulmonary echinococcosis are discussed. Criteria for early diagnosis of complicated, infected or ruptured cysts are described. The role and limitations of radiology in approaching the diagnosis of advanced stages of infected hydatid cysts of the lung are emphasized.