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Biomedical subjects

A Kivisaari

Publications and source records attributed to A Kivisaari.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Intra-abdominal abscess in a patient with tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is an autoinflammatory disorder characterized by periodic attacks of fever and inflammation, due to mutations in the gene coding for the TNF type I receptor (TNFRSF1A). A 16-year-old patient with the diagnosis of TRAPS was admitted to hospital because of fever and abdominal pain. Initially, the symptoms were interpreted as manifestations of another TRAPS attack, but the patient's condition worsened, despite treatment with corticosteroids and antibiotics. A repeated computer tomography revealed an intra-abdominal abscess, which necessitated urgent surgical intervention. This case stresses the importance of differential diagnostic vigilance when dealing with patients with rare genetic diseases.

Abdominal Abscess↗

MRI abnormalities of foot and ankle in asymptomatic, physically active individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To assess MRI changes in the ankle and foot after physical exercise. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Nineteen non-professional marathon runners and 19 age- and sex-matched controls volunteered for the study. All had ankle and foot MR images (1.5 T) taken in three perpendicular planes (STIR, T2F and T1FS sequences) within 3 h of running a full-length marathon (42.125 km). Three radiologists independently analysed the groups on a masked basis using a predefined form. RESULTS: Severe bone marrow oedema was seen in one and slight bone marrow oedema in three marathon runners. Slight bone marrow oedema was found in three control subjects. Signal alteration within the soleus muscle, consistent with a grade 1 strain, was found in one marathon runner. Small punctate hyperintensities within the Achilles tendon were seen in 26% of the marathon runners and in 63% of controls (P = 0.016). An increased amount of fluid in the retrocalcaneal bursa was found in one control and in none of the marathon runners. Small amounts of fluid in the retrocalcaneal bursa were seen in 68% of marathon runners and in 53% of controls. Grade 1 or 2 peritendinous joint fluid was found around 22% of tendons, among both marathon runners and controls, most often involving the tendon sheath of the flexor hallucis longus muscle. An increased amount of joint fluid was noted in 34% of the joints of the marathon runners, and in 18% of the controls. CONCLUSION: MRI shows several abnormalities in the ankle and foot both after marathon races and in asymptomatic physically active individuals without any preceding extraordinary strain. Recreational sports may lead to a number of positive MRI findings without correlation with clinical findings.

Adult↗

Acute paediatric ankle trauma: MRI versus plain radiography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnosis of acute physeal ankle fractures on plain radiographs using MRI as the gold standard. METHODS: Sixty consecutive children, 29 with a clinical diagnosis of lateral ligament injury and 31 with physeal ankle fractures, were examined using both radiographs and MRI in the acute period. The imaging data were reviewed by three "masked" radiologists. The fracture diagnosis and Slater-Harris classification of radiographs were compared with findings on MRI. RESULTS: Plain radiography produced five of 28 (18%) false negative and 12 of 92 (13%) false positive fracture diagnoses compared with MRI. Six of the 12 false positive fractures were due to a misclassification of lateral ligament disruption as SH1 fractures, Altogether a difference was found in 21% of cases in either the diagnosis or the classification of the fractures according to Salter-Harris. All bone bruises in the distal tibia and fibula and 64% of bone bruises in the talus were seen in association with lateral ligament injuries. Talar bone bruises in association with fractures occurred on the same side as the malleolar fracture; talar bone bruises in association with lateral ligament disruption were seen in different locations. The errors identified on radiographs by MRI did not affect the management of the injury. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of false negative ankle fractures in plain radiographs was small and no complex ankle fractures were missed on radiographs. The total extent of complex fractures was, however, not always obvious on radiographs. In an unselected series of relatively mild ankle injuries, we were unable to show a single case where the treatment or prognosis based on plain radiography should have been significantly altered after having done a routine MRI examination. Plain radiography is still the diagnostic cornerstone of paediatric ankle injuries.

Acute Disease↗

Evaluation of pleural disease using MR and CT. With special reference to malignant pleural mesothelioma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate MR imaging and CT in differentiating malignant pleural mesothelioma from other malignancies or benign pleural disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients (18 pleural mesotheliomas, 9 other malignancies, 7 benign pleural diseases) were examined using enhanced CT and MR. Two radiologists reviewed the CT and two others the MR images. Comparisons were made between the diagnostic groups and the imaging methods. RESULTS: The abnormalities commonly found in malignant disease, but significantly less frequently in benign pleural disease, were focal thickening and enhancement of interlobar fissures. In mesothelioma, enhancement of interlobar fissures, tumour invasion of the diaphragm, mediastinal soft tissue or chest wall, were significantly more often observed than in other malignancies and MR was the most sensitive method. In other malignancies, invasion of bony structures was a more common finding and was also better shown by MR. The contrast-enhanced T1 fat-suppressed (CET1fs) sequence detected these features better than other MR sequences. CONCLUSION: MR, especially the CET1fs sequence in three planes, gave more information than enhanced CT. Focal thickening and enhancement of interlobar fissures were early abnormalities indicating malignant pleural disease. MR could be clinically useful for differentiating mesothelioma from other pleural diseases.

Adult↗

MR imaging in chronic rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb.

PURPOSE: MR imaging has been shown as the best radiologic method for verifying and classifying acute ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) ruptures of the thumb. Our aim was to analyse the usefulness of MR also in old ruptures and to establish the most useful sequences. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten patients with an old UCL rupture of the thumb were preoperatively imaged using 1.5 T MR. Three radiologists blinded to the findings separately analysed the MR images of these patients and of 10 age-and sex-matched voluntary controls. MR findings of the patients were compared with those of surgery. RESULTS: The consensus diagnosis of an UCL rupture was accurate in all 10 patients. All controls were classified as having no UCL rupture. In 5 of the 7 patients with a surgically defined Stener or non-Stener lesion, the consensus diagnosis was the same as the operative diagnosis. Due to excessive scarring it was not possible to verify any Stener lesion intra-operatively in 3 patients. The most informative MR sequence was T2 TSE in the coronal plane, the second most informative was T1 SE with fat suppression in the coronal plane. CONCLUSION: An old UCL rupture is well verified by MR but typing of the lesion as either a Stener or non-Stener type is not always possible.

Adult↗

MR imaging in suspected acute trauma of wrist bones.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the findings of MR imaging compared to plain radiography in acute wrist trauma. METHODS: Radiography and MR imaging (obtained at 1.5 T) of 67 patients (38 female, 29 male, aged 15-80 years) were analysed by three senior radiologists in a blinded random fashion. RESULTS: One-third (n= 13) of the 37 fractures observed on MR images were missed on the radiographs. The McNemar test indicated significant differences in diagnoses between radiography and MR. CONCLUSION: We recommend that MR imaging should be considered in the diagnosis of acute wrist trauma when: 1) There is a clear discrepancy between the clinical status and a negative radiography and when splint treatment would increase cost by causing occupational restrictions; and 2) Healing of trauma diagnosed as contusion or distension does not occur within the expected time.

Adolescent↗

MR imaging in biofix-osteosynthesis.

PURPOSE: Osteosynthesis by means of bioresorbable implants, mostly of self-reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA), has been used in humans for about 10 years. The aim of this study was to examine the controversy between histological studies confirming fragmentation of the biomaterial and radiological studies showing no breaking of the material. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six patients with displaced malleolar fractures operatively treated with biodegradable SR-PLLA screws underwent MR examinations at 1.5 T, immediately postoperatively and after one to two years. RESULTS: The biodegradable osteosynthetic screws were clearly seen on all MR images. Of 12 screws, 6 were broken at the final examination (5 syndesmotic transfixation screws and 1 screw through the growth cartilage). CONCLUSION: The breaking of a biodegradable osteosynthesis is possible to document on MR images.

Absorbable Implants↗

Five-year study of medical or surgical treatment in children with severe vesico-ureteral reflux dimercaptosuccinic acid findings. International Reflux Study Group in Europe.

UNLABELLED: The results of serial dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) imaging over 5 years are reported in 287 children with severe vesico-ureteral reflux entered into the European Branch of the International Reflux Study in Children. The children were randomly allocated to medical (n=147) or surgical (n=140) management and DMSA studies were performed during the follow up period at least 6 months after any urinary tract infection. Abnormal images were classified into four types: (1) large polar hypodensity with normal renal outline; (2) peripheral photon deficient defect(s) in a non-deformed kidney; (3) small renal image with normal contour; and (4) peripheral defect(s) with resultant irregularity of the renal outline. The DMSA findings were abnormal at entry in 235 (82%) with no difference in incidence or severity between the two treatment groups. During follow up, deterioration was observed in 25 medically and 23 surgically treated patients and comprised image deterioration alone in 17, image deterioration with corresponding reduction in differential function in 16 and reduction in relative function without image change in 15, with similar distribution between the two treatment groups. Deterioration was more frequent in children entering the study under the age of 2 years and in those with grade IV rather than grade III reflux. These findings, showing no difference in outcome between children managed surgically or medically, are consistent with the radiological results already published. CONCLUSION: In the International Reflux Study the DMSA scintigraphic data showed no difference in outcome between children managed surgically or medically.

Child↗

The clinical importance of magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

There is no standard therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), but recent reports have shown that extensive surgery combined with chemo- and radiotherapy prolongs the survival of selected patients with early stage disease. This emphasises the need for accurate staging procedures at diagnosis and reliable imaging methods to assess response to treatment. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest has been the standard imaging method for these purposes for the last decade, but it is limited in its ability to demonstrate accurately the platelike growth pattern of MPM within the thorax due to the partial volume effect on curved surfaces. In order to define the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the imaging of MPM, we have compared the findings from 26 parallel paired CT and MRI scans of mesothelioma patients at various stages of the disease. MRI showed tumour spread into the interlobar fissures, tumour invasion of the diaphragm and through the diaphragm, and invasion of bony structures better than CT. Invasion of the chest wall and mediastinal soft tissue and tumour growth into the lung parenchyma were equally well seen on both imaging methods. CT was better for detecting the inactive pleural calcifications. MRI is a sensitive detector of the characteristic growth pattern and extension of MPM and we recommend its use more widely for the clinical management of MPM especially when evaluating tumour resectability and in research protocols when an accurate evaluation of disease extent is essential.

Adult↗

Renal function remains after unilateral total and contralateral partial nephrectomy: an experimental study in pigs using 99mTc-DTPA.

Twelve nephrectomies (NEs) were performed in 12 pigs (11-17 kg). Total NE was performed on the left side and partial NE on the right side (lower third of the kidney), thus two-thirds of the total kidney volume was removed. Renal function was studied with 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) renography and serum urea and creatinine levels preoperatively, and 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively. The pigs were imaged in each session for 30 min by collecting 10-s frames from a posteroanterior (PA) view of an anaesthesized animal. The injected activity was 37 MBq. Serial blood samples were taken from the subclavian vein at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, 25, 40, 60 and 120 min (six animals) after 99mTc-DTPA injection. The DTPA disappearance rate (DDR) was determined from these samples and in other cases (six animals) a blood sample at 20 min was used. The DDR was also determined from the dynamic gamma imaging data: Regions of interest (ROI) were upper body, spleen, heart and kidneys. The ROI analysis correlated well with the blood sampling data (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001). The reference values for pig DDRs were 0.99 +/- 0.08%/min. These values were 0.71 +/- 0.08%/min at 1 week postoperatively and 0.63 +/- 0.08%/min at 2 weeks. DTPA clearance rates were preoperatively 0.53 +/- 0.06 ml/s; at 1 week postoperatively 0.41 +/- 0.06 ml/s; and at 2 weeks 0.35 +/- 0.06 ml/s. There were no significant differences pre- and postoperatively in creatinine and urea concentrations. The DTPA clearance (ml/s) and disappearance rates (%/min) when determined per kidney area (cm2) increased significantly (P < 0.001 at both 1 and 2 weeks); in 11 of 12 animals the function of the resected right kidney was higher than the split function of the whole right kidney preoperatively. Unilateral nephrectomy initiates a functional adaptation or a growth response in the contralateral kidney to compensate for the loss of a renal mass. These data also indicate that two-thirds of the kidney volume in young pigs can be removed without danger.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Effect of digital edge-enhancement on the visibility of normal parenchymal lung markings.

Digital 'conventional-like' (C-L) and edge-enhanced (E-E) posteroanterior chest roentgenograms of 42 healthy individuals were ranked twice (interval of at least 5 days) in the order of increasing lung parenchymal markings (a total of four rankings). This was done by three radiologists, two residents, one medical student and one radiographer. There was a good general consistency of rankings for both the C-L and E-E images. The correlation coefficients were best (median 0.600) (P < 0.05) between the consequent rankings of C-L images compared to the subsequent rankings of E-E images (median 0.440) and to the various combinations between the rankings of both kinds of images. Subtle differences in normal lung parenchyma could, therefore, generally (five of the seven observers) best be demonstrated in C-L images, but two observers managed best with the E-E images.

Adult↗

Observed lung markings in normal chest roentgenograms.

The digital chest posterior-anterior roentgenograms of 42 healthy individuals were ranked twice (interval of at least 5 days) in the order of increasing lung parenchymal markings. The evaluations were made by three radiologists, two residents, a medical student and a radiographer. All observers regardless of their radiological experience showed good intraobserver correlations between their two subsequent rankings (p < 0.05-0.001). The interobserver agreement on rankings was generally poor, even if the radiologists were considered. Radiologic training seemed to eliminate the influence of false leading factors (the object's respiration and body constitution). "The golden standard of evaluation" (= the added-up rankings by the radiologists) did not correlate either with the patient's ages (19-54 years) or smoking habits (0-45 pack-years, mean 4.2).

Adult↗

Renal function after partial nephrectomy with the Nd-YAG laser. Experimental study in piglets.

Twelve partial nephrectomies were performed in 12 piglets using either the combination (contact and non-contact) Nd:YAG laser technique or a steel scalpel. Additional haemostasis was attempted with ligatures. The renal artery was not clamped and renal cooling was not attempted. Total nephrectomy was performed on the contralateral side. Serum creatinine and urea levels were measured, and 99mTc-DTPA renography was performed pre-operatively and 1 and 2 weeks post-operatively. One week post-operatively the mean serum creatinine level was 35% higher than the pre-operative level in the laser group and 30% higher in the steel scalpel group. Two weeks post-operatively the respective differences were 34 and 24%. The mean urea level 1 week after operation was 50% higher than the pre-operative level in the laser group and 17% higher in the steel scalpel group. Two weeks post-operatively the respective differences were 38% in the laser group and 20% in the steel scalpel group. The mean DTPA disappearance rate was 34% lower 1 week after operation in the laser group and 23% lower in the steel scalpel group when compared with the preoperative state. Two weeks post-operatively the respective changes were 48 and 25%. These data indicate that there is no significant difference in renal function when the Nd: YAG combination laser technique is used in partial nephrectomy as compared with the steel scapel.

Animals↗

Fractures on chest radiographs in detection of alcoholism.

The prevalence of fractures seen on chest radiographs among alcoholics varies in various series from 36.0% to 8.7% while that for controls remains below 5%. The aim of our study was to find out whether the selection of the alcoholic subjects could account for this four-fold variation. We therefore chose two groups of alcoholics, group 1 consisting of 76 mainly unmarried or divorced lower class alcoholics who had attended the emergency department while intoxicated, and group 2 consisting of 108 mainly married middle class alcoholics with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The control group consisted of 98 randomly chosen hospital patients. There was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in the prevalence of fractures detectable with chest radiography (25% and 21.3% respectively). 8.2% of the controls also had fractures. The fracture prevalence did not correlate with socioeconomic group. Married alcoholics had significantly less thoracic fractures than unmarried, divorced or widowed alcoholics as a group. The sensitivity and specificity of the fractures visible on chest radiograph as a marker for alcoholism is not sufficient to warrant its use in clinical or research work.

Adult↗

99mTc-DTPA and 99mTc-DMSA renal gamma imaging in the surveillance of patients with conduit urinary diversion.

We studied renal anatomy and function using 99mTc-2-3 dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in 27 patients with conduit urinary diversion. In this condition, free ureteral reflux is often associated with bacteriuria, and these factors are thought to precipitate progressive renal deterioration. Gamma-camera images provided valuable information concerning the structure of the renal parenchyma, the function of individual kidneys and possible ureteral obstruction, thus helping us to decide whether or not to instigate further treatment. The information gained using renal gamma imaging with 99mTc-DTPA and 99mTc-DMSA was complementary and partly overlapping. We preferred the use of 99mTc-DTPA because of its ability to visualise the ureters and the region of ureteroconduit anastomosis. Using diuretic medication, we were able to differentiate true ureteral obstruction from atony in 9 patients using 99mTc-DTPA.

Adult↗

Caval ligation versus clipping to counteract pulmonary embolism.

In 1967-1983 31 patients underwent surgical interruption of the inferior vena cava (IIVC) with ligation, and in 1984-1985 five patients were treated by IIVC with clipping (Adams-de Weese clip). The early adverse effects in the legs and complications were studied, and all five IIVC patients with clipping underwent isotope phlebography. The most serious early complication was sudden death on the 9th postoperative day after ligation. In one half of the affected legs moderate or severe oedema was found after the ligation. After clipping early adverse effects in the legs were minimal, and isotope phlebography showed an open inferior vena cava in all cases; only in one patient were collateral veins found past the inferior cava. It is concluded that when IIVC is indicated clipping is the optimal surgical method. IIVC with ligation is indicated only in septic embolism.

Adult↗