[The place of thoracic plain film in the assessment of left heart insufficiency]. / Zum Stellenwert der Thoraxübersichtsaufnahme bei der Beurteilung der chronischen Linksherzinsuffizienz.

The chest radiographs of 24 patients with chronic left heart failure (mean duration of cardiac disease 4.3 years) were compared with the haemodynamic findings. Before the initiation of intensive medical treatment haemodynamic parameters were measured invasively and followed up for a period of up to 16 months. The heart size and roentgenographic patterns of pulmonary congestion showed a weak negative correlation with both the ejection fraction and the cardiac index. During therapy changes of cardiopulmonary haemodynamics did not correlate with alterations of the radiographic findings. Therefore chest radiographs are not useful in the assessment of the therapeutic success in long-existing left heart failure; nevertheless, they are indicated to identify secondary pulmonary disease.

[Thoracic intervertebral disk prolapse--the place of imaging procedures]. / Der thorakale Bandscheibenprolaps--Stellenwert der bildgebenden Verfahren.

MR tomography is now considered to be the examination method of choice in diagnosis of thoracic vertebral disk prolapses, since all the other imaging methods do not lend themselves easily to this task. The advantages of MR are that it is non-invasive, that the soft parts yield strong contrasts, and that multiplanar sections are possible; sagittal section is particularly useful in the preoperatively important correct localisation of the height. CT proved of equal value only in calcified disk prolapse. However, since calcification does not entail any additional therapeutic consequences, MR can be used in this case too as a leading imaging method. If MR can be applied, myelography and myelo-CT should be set aside.

[Malignant tumors of the normotopic kidneys and ureters following kidney transplantation]. / Maligne Tumoren der normotopen Nieren und Harnleiter nach Nierentransplantation.

There is an 4.2-23% incidence of cancer in renal transplant recipients. A closely meshed radiological follow-up is important as shown in 3 patients who developed a carcinoma of the kidney or ureter within 1-5 years after renal transplantation. This includes routine sonography of the whole abdomen, in case of pathological findings CT respectively MRI, i.v. urography, retrograde urography and angiography if needed.