Utility of CT scan evaluation for predicting pulmonary hypertension in patients with parenchymal lung disease. Medical College of Wisconsin Lung Transplant Group.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of CT-determined main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) for predicting pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with parenchymal lung disease. DESIGN: Retrospective review of right-heart hemodynamic data and chest CT scans in 45 patients. SETTING: Tertiary-referral teaching hospital and VA hospital. PATIENTS: Between October 1990 and December 1995, 36 patients referred for evaluation of parenchymal lung disease or possible pulmonary vascular disease were found to have PH, as defined by mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) > or =20 mm Hg. Nine control patients (mPAP <20 mm Hg) were also identified (4 from hospital records search, 5 after evaluation for possible PH). RESULTS: CT-determined MPAD was 35+/-6 mm in patients with PH and 27+/-2 mm in control subjects. In our group of patients, MPAD > or =29 mm had a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 89%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.97, and positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 7.91 for predicting PH; in the subgroup of patients with parenchymal lung disease (n=28, PH and control subjects), MPAD > or =29 mm had a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 75%, PPV of 0.95, and positive LR of 3.36 for predicting PH. The most specific findings for the presence of PH were both MPAD > or =29 mm and segmental artery-to-bronchus ratio > 1:1 in three or four lobes (specificity, 100%). There was no linear correlation between the degree of PH and MPAD (r=0.124). CONCLUSIONS: CT-determined MPAD has excellent diagnostic value for detection of PH in patients with advanced lung disease. Therefore, standard chest CT scans can be used to screen for PH as a cause of exertional limitation in patients with parenchymal lung disease. Because CT is commonly used to evaluate parenchymal lung disease, this information is readily available.

Ankle dislocation.

From 1980 to 1991, 14 patients with pure ankle dislocation unassociated with fracture were identified. All patients were young adults (18-41 years of age) with a male preponderance (11 of 14). The cause of injury in nine of the 14 cases was a motor vehicle accident and in the remainder, sporting events or fall from a height. Thirteen of the 14 injuries were open, and 12 patients underwent lateral ligamentous repair. Twelve of the 14 patients were available for follow-up, which ranged from 15 to 122 months. Two patients had poor results; the remainder (10 of 12) had good and excellent results. Interestingly, no patient had signs or symptoms of instability. One patient required immediate below-the-knee amputation for open dislocation associated with avulsion of soft tissue and neurovascular structures.