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A Filippone

Publications and source records attributed to A Filippone.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Magnetic resonance angiography and colour-Doppler sonography in the evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

This prospective study was aimed at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with colour-Doppler ultrasonography (colour-Doppler US) in the assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Twenty patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms underwent MRA, colour-Doppler US, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and CT. The MRA technique and colour-Doppler findings were compared with DSA as well as surgical and pathological findings, which were considered as the gold standard. In 6 patients who refused surgery, CT and DSA were considered as the gold standard. The MRA technique always correctly assessed the size and site of the aneurysms, the involvement of the renal and common iliac arteries, the course of the left renal vein, the thrombotic component and the calcifications. Colour-Doppler US always correctly assessed the size and site of the aneurysms, the thrombotic component and calcifications and the involvement of the iliac arteries. Our preliminary results suggest that MRA together with colour-Doppler US represents a valid alternative to invasive imaging in the assessment of AAA.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Angiography with magnetic resonance versus color Doppler ultrasonography].

This prospective study was aimed at comparing the diagnostic accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) with that of color-Doppler ultrasonography (color-Doppler US) in the detection and assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Twenty patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms underwent MRA, color-Doppler US, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and Computed Tomography (CT) on three consecutive days. Fourteen patients underwent surgical repair of the aneurysm. MRA and color-Doppler findings were compared with DSA, surgical and pathologic findings, which were considered as the gold standard. In the 6 patients who refused surgery, CT and DSA were considered the gold standard. MRA always correctly assessed the size and site of the aneurysm, the involvement of the renal and common iliac arteries, the retroarotic course of the left renal vein, the thrombotic component and calcifications. Color-Doppler US always correctly assessed the size and site of the aneurysm, the thrombotic component and calcifications and the involvement of the iliac arteries. In one case color-Doppler US failed to demonstrate the involvement of the renal arteries and the retroaortic course of the left renal vein. Our preliminary results suggest MRA as the best non-invasive technique to study abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[The superior and inferior venae cavae: angiography by TOF 2D magnetic resonance versus spin-echo sequences].

This work was aimed at assessing the usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the investigation and diagnosis of vena cava conditions. Forty-five subjects that is 20 volunteers and 25 patients, were examined with MRA using a 1.5 T superconductive system (SE and angiography pulse sequences). In the 25 patients, 8 cases of thrombosis were diagnosed, together with 4 cases of suspected tumor spread into either the superior or the inferior vena cava, 2 cases of inferior vena cava agenesis, 5 cases of retroaortic left renal vein and 5 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm. MRA was performed with the 2D time-of-flight (TOF) technique (FA 18 degrees, TR 30-40 ms, TE 10 ms); the images were acquired on the coronal, sagittal and axial planes with and without presaturation pulse and rotated in the post-processing according to the maximum intensity projection. In all volunteers MRA identified jugular veins, subclavian veins, anonymous veins, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and common iliac veins. The main limitation of MRA was its spatial resolution. MRA proved to be less accurate than SE sequences in the assessment of tumor spread. As for thrombotic conditions, MRA provided useful additional information and is therefore considered a complementary technique to SE MRI. As for venous anomalies (double inferior vena cava, vena cava agenesis and retroaortic left renal vein) and in the study of the relationships with abdominal aortic aneurysms, MRA proved to be the more accurate of the two techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Reproducibility of Doppler ultrasonography in the study of hepatic blood flow].

The reproducibility of hepatic blood flow measurement with pulsed Doppler US was assessed in 6 healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent two different study sessions and were examined by three different operators after overnight fasting. Each operator was blind to his measurements. Hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flow and hepatic arterial maximum velocity were measured; resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and hepatic perfusion index (HPI) were calculated. Each measurement was repeated three times per session. The data from repeated measurements were analyzed with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method to assess the intra- and intersubject variations for each variable. The Scheffe test was used to evaluate intra- and interobserver variations. Significant differences among the 6 examined subjects were found for all the variables measured, except for hepatic arterial maximum velocity. The same subject exhibited significant differences in mean velocity of the main portal vein trunk and of its right branch, in maximum hepatic arterial velocity, RI, portal vein section area and blood flow. No significant interobserver variation was observed in the same session and no intraobserver variation detected for all the measurements performed in different sessions. Thus, we conclude that pulsed Doppler US is a repeatable method for measuring hepatic blood flow and may therefore be useful to detect changes in hepatic perfusion.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1994

[Color Doppler ultrasonography in the identification and characterization of secondary focal lesions of the liver].

This study was aimed at assessing the potentials of color Doppler US in the detection of hepatic metastases by measuring changes in hepatic perfusion. Color-Doppler US was performed on 40 patients with multiple metastatic lesions (mean theta: 3 cm). In each patient both smaller and bigger lesions were studied--80 lesions on the whole. Differences in flow distribution (peritumoral or intratumoral) and the highest systolic peak flow velocity were investigated on color Doppler US scans. Hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flow measured in 40 patients with hepatic metastases were compared with those in 40 healthy controls. The two groups were homogeneous relative to age, sex, height and weight. The ratio of hepatic arterial to total liver blood flow (Doppler perfusion index, DPI) and the ratio of hepatic arterial to portal venous blood flow (Doppler flow ratio, DFR) were calculated. Color flow US scans were obtained in 56 of 80 metastatic lesions. We observed peritumoral flow in 76% of the lesions, intratumoral flow in 6% and mixed peritumoral and intratumoral flow in 18% of cases. The DPI and DFR values were significantly higher in the patients with liver metastases than in the control group. The changes in DPI and DFR resulted from an increase in hepatic arterial flow; no changes in portal venous blood flow were observed. These results suggest that Doppler measurements of hemodynamic hepatic changes may be of great value for the earlier detection of hepatic metastases.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Color Doppler flow imaging of renal disease. Value of a new intravenous contrast agent: SH U 508 A (Levovist).

This study was aimed at assessing the diagnostic value of a new intravenous contrast agent SH U 508 A (Levovist) in improving color Doppler detection of renal mass vascularity. The study included 30 patients with renal masses: 22 adenocarcinomas, 1 sarcoma, 1 leiomyosarcoma, 1 urothelioma, 1 hemorrhagic cyst and 4 angiomyolipomas. The vascularization of the renal masses was investigated by means of color Doppler US, before and after the intravenous injection of SH U 508 A (Levovist), on the basis of blood flow patterns within and around the lesions. At precontrast scanning, low color Doppler signal at the periphery or within the lesions was observed in 13/30 patients only. After contrast administration, the signal-to-noise ratio increased, which allowed the visualization of tumor vessels in 26/30 patients. In 4/30 patients only no major enhancement of tumor vessels was observed. Our experience suggests that SH U 508 A (Levovist) improves color Doppler sensitivity in depicting the tumor vessels which were missed at baseline exams and in evaluating renal vein and inferior vena cava involvement.

Color↗
PubMed1993

Reproducibility of ultrasound measurement of pancreatic size with new advanced high-resolution dynamic image scanners.

The reproducibility of ultrasound measurements of the pancreas was investigated in 10 healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent three different evaluations, each consisting of three ultrasound examinations, at 8:00 after overnight fasting, at 12:00 after a solid, standard meal, and at 14:00. The longitudinal and anteroposterior (AP) diameters of the head, body, and tail, as well as the total areas of the gland, were measured in longitudinal and axial scans. Significant differences were observed in the head and body longitudinal diameters measured at 12:00 and in the tail AP diameter at 14:00. We conclude that ultrasonography of the pancreas should be performed in the morning with patients in the fasting state. In these conditions, the reliability of ultrasound measurements of the gland appears to be the highest.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Echographic evaluation of pancreatic dimensions in type 1 diabetes mellitus].

Aim of this study was to determine whether pancreatic size is altered in patients suffering from type I diabetes mellitus. Twenty-five diabetics (14 males and 11 females) and twenty-five healthy controls entered the study. All patients and controls were scanned by the same operator with the same US equipment after overnight fasting. The longitudinal and antero-posterior diameters of the head, body and tail and the transverse diameter of the head as well as the total area of the gland were measured through longitudinal and axial scans. The two groups were homogeneous relative to age, sex, distribution, height, weight and body mass index. All measured diameters as well as the total area of the gland were significantly smaller in diabetic patients than in controls (1-way ANOVA: p less than 0.001). These results may open new perspectives to US identification of possible changes in pancreatic size by a new US study including high-risk subjects without clinical signs.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Congenital luxation of the hip. Clinico-echographic correlations].

The authors report their experience with US of the hip in 1000 children aged 1 day to 8 months. US study was carried out following Graf's method. All the children were previously examined by a pediatrician, who recorded all the clinical signs on a chart. After US examination, the radiologist recorded US findings on the same chart. Thus, US findings could be compared to clinical ones: there was agreement in 71% of cases, and disagreement in the extant 29%. Furthermore, clinics exhibited a high false-negative rate (64%) and a low false-positive rate (23%). This suggests US as an useful screening method able to show early morphological and functional alterations in the infant hip. The authors also examined the incidence of the single clinical signs and risk factors, and correlated them with US findings.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Gallbladder perforation: correlation of cholescintigraphic and sonographic findings with the Niemeier classification.

We retrospectively analyzed the cholescintigrams and sonograms of 36 consecutive patients with gallbladder perforation to (a) determine the sensitivity of each for the preoperative detection of gallbladder perforation and (b) correlate the findings with the modified Niemeier classification. Cholescintigraphic criteria of perforation (free spill, pericholecystic hepatic activity, and scintigraphic gallstone ileus sign) were detected in 14 of 28 (50%) cases, while sonographic criteria of perforation (pericholecystic fluid or pneumobilia with gallstones) were present in 18% (4 of 22) of patients (p less than 0.05). Cholescintigraphic patterns of perforation associated with the Niemeier classification were: Type I (acute free perforation), 3 of 7 scans demonstrated free spill; Type II (subacute pericholecystic abscess), 9 of 19 scans showed pericholecystic activity; and Type III (chronic cholecystoenteric fistula), 1 of 3 scans showed a scintigraphic gallstone ileus. Thus, although cholescintigraphy appears superior to sonography, both modalities are relatively insensitive for the detection of gallbladder perforation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Software for record reporting and filing with the personal computer].

During the past four years the authors have been gaining experience in reporting radiological examinations by personal computer. Today they describe the project of a new software which allows the reporting and filing of roentgenograms. This program was realized by a radiologist, using a well known data base management system: dBASE III. The program was shaped to fit the radiologist's needs: it helps to report, and allows to file, radiological data, with the diagnostic codes used by the American College of Radiology. In this paper the authors describe the data base structure and indicate the software functions which make its use possible. Thus, this paper is not aimed at advertising a new reporting program, but at demonstrating how the radiologist can himself manage some aspects of his work with the help of a personal computer.

Database Management Systems↗
PubMed1988

Hepatoblastoma and familial adenomatous polyposis.

Eleven children have been identified as having hepatoblastoma and a family history of adenomatous polyposis, and 14 additional instances of this association have been collected from the literature. Among the 11 survivors of hepatoblastoma in the combined series, adenomatous lesions have been sought in seven and detected in six patients at ages 7 to 25 years. Five of these patients also have congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium, a marker for carriers of the polyposis gene. These findings strengthen the association between hepatoblastoma and familial adenomatous polyposis and have led to the establishment of the Hepatoblastoma-Adenomatous Polyposis Registry.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1986

Indium-111 leukocyte accumulation in intramuscular injection sites.

We report four cases of indium-111 leukocyte concentration in previous intramuscular injection sites. Three patterns were observed: small, discrete, and round; linear; irregular and large. The scintigraphic appearance did not necessarily correlate with the number of injections that the patient had received.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hepatic steatosis: combined echography-computerized tomography imaging].

The authors report their experience with the combined use of US and CT in the study of diffuse and subtotal fatty infiltration of the liver. An apparent disagreement was initially found between the two examinations in the study of fatty infiltration. Fifty-five patients were studied with US and CT of the upper abdomen, as suggested by clinics. US showed normal liver echogenicity in 30 patients and diffuse increased echogenicity (bright liver) in 25 cases. In 5 patients with bright liver, US demonstrated a solitary hypoechoic area, appearing as a "skip area", in the quadrate lobe. In 2 patients with bright liver, the hypoechoic area was seen in the right lobe and exhibited no typical US features of "skip area". Bright liver was quantified by measuring CT density of both liver and spleen. The relative attenuation values of spleen and liver were compared on plain and enhanced CT scans. In 5 cases with a hypoechoic area in the right lobe, CT findings were suggestive of hemangioma. A good correlation was found between bright liver and CT attenuation values, which decrease with increasing fat content of the liver. Moreover, CT attenuation values confirmed US findings in the study of typical "skip areas", by demonstrating normal density--which suggests that CT can characterize normal tissue in atypical "skip areas".

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessment of the therapeutic effectiveness of alcohol administration in hepatocarcinoma: comparison of spiral computerized tomography and Doppler color ultrasonography].

PURPOSE: To investigate the comparative adequacy of spiral CT and color-Doppler US versus biopsy in assessing the efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with 30 known HCCs, 2-5 cm in diameter, underwent PEI. Arterial phase spiral CT and color-Doppler US were performed before treatment in all patients. Treatment efficacy was established on the basis of color-Doppler, spiral CT and percutaneous biopsy findings; biopsy was the gold standard. RESULTS: After PEI, 22 of 30 lesions which were negative for malignant cells at biopsy were completely necrotic at spiral CT and avascular at color-Doppler US. In the extant 8 lesions, which exhibited residual tumor tissue at biopsy, spiral CT detected early enhancement of the viable tumor portion in all cases. Color-Doppler US showed residual tumor vascularization in 4 of 8 lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that spiral CT, performed in the arterial phase, can improve the depiction of residual viable tumor tissue in HCCs treated with PEI, overcoming color-Doppler limitations.

Aged↗