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Biomedical subjects

B H Gross

Publications and source records attributed to B H Gross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

The sensitivity of high-resolution CT in detecting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis proved by open lung biopsy. A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the sensitivity of high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) in detecting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis proved by biopsy specimen. To determine the degree of physiologic and pathologic abnormalities in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who have a false-negative HRCT. DESIGN: Prospective 2-year study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: All patients with dyspnea and suspected interstitial lung disease referred to the University of Michigan for enrollment in the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) protocol were included; 25 underwent open lung biopsy and formed the final study group. MEASUREMENTS: All patients underwent physiologic (pulmonary function, gas exchange, and exercise testing), radiologic (chest x-ray film and HRCT), and pathologic assessments (bronchoscopic and open lung biopsy). The results of HRCT were prospectively compared with results of standard pulmonary function tests, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and open lung biopsy. RESULTS: Of 25 patients who had both HRCT and open lung biopsy, 3 patients (12%) had HRCTs that demonstrated no evidence of interstitial lung disease. These three patients had less severe disease based on clinical, radiographic, and physiologic (CRP) scores, gas exchange abnormalities, and pathologic scoring of open lung biopsy specimens, compared with those with an abnormal HRCT. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in the evaluation of patients with dyspnea and abnormal results of pulmonary function studies, a normal HRCT does not exclude early and clinically significant interstitial lung disease. In our patient population, physiologic testing was more sensitive than HRCT in detecting mild abnormalities in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis proved by biopsy specimen.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Preoperative staging of non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung: imaging methods.

Preoperative tumor staging in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer is important for selecting those patients with localized disease who are likely to benefit from surgical resection. The TNM staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer is the most widely accepted and used classification system for preoperative and postoperative staging [1] (Table 1). Small-cell carcinoma has a very different biologic behavior and is classified and treated differently; it will not be discussed in this imaging review. Chest radiography is the preferred initial imaging technique for patients with known or suspected lung cancer because of its availability, low cost, low radiation dose, and sensitivity [2]. CT and MR imaging of the chest and abdomen are often used to stage a known or suspected lung carcinoma. Various nuclear medicine procedures may be used to aid in the staging process and to assess the patient's medical status for surgery, including cardiac and pulmonary function. This article reviews the major imaging techniques that are currently used to stage primary non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Although evaluation of distant metastatic disease is highly important in these patients, discussion of the imaging methods used for this purpose is beyond the scope of this article.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed1991

Seminal vesicle cysts: association with adult polycystic kidney disease.

Adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD) is associated with cyst formation in the kidney, liver, pancreas, esophagus, ovary, uterus, and brain. Four patients with APKD (aged 45-65 years) with computed tomographic evidence of seminal vesicle cysts are described. All seminal vesicles contained cystic masses with attenuation values of 0-30 HU. Seminal vesicle thickness was 3-4 cm (normal, 1.5 cm). High-attenuation walls separated the cysts, which were 3-35 mm in diameter. All patients had typical renal stigmata of APKD. None had cysts elsewhere, except one patient with hepatic cysts. Postmortem examination in one patient confirmed the seminal vesicle cysts as well as APKD. It is likely that a basement membrane defect allows cyst formation in multiple organs, presumably including the seminal vesicles. Because of the association of seminal vesicle cysts with ipsilateral urogenital anomalies, and because only 60% of patients with APKD have a relevant familial history, the kidneys of patients with cross-sectional imaging evidence of seminal vesicle cysts should also be studied.

Cysts↗
PubMed1991

Upper abdominal lymph nodes: criteria for normal size determined with CT.

Reports of the upper limits of normal for lymph node size at abdominal computed tomography have varied from 6 to 20 mm. Establishment of an upper limit for node size by specific location, analogous to that which has been reported for mediastinal lymph nodes, was sought. Short-axis diameters of the lymph nodes were measured in 130 patients who were not likely to have enlarged abdominal lymph nodes. Seven locations were defined, and the largest nodal measurement for each was recorded. Histographic analysis and nonparametric statistical methods were used to determine threshold values for the maximum node size in each region. The upper limits of normal by location were as follows: retrocrural space, 6 mm; paracardiac, 8 mm; gastrohepatic ligament, 8 mm; upper paraaortic region, 9 mm; portacaval space, 10 mm; porta hepatis, 7 mm; and lower paraaortic region, 11 mm. Lower paraaortic lymph nodes larger than 11 mm by short-axis measurement are abnormal. In other locations, nodes smaller than 1 cm may be abnormal if the determined thresholds are exceeded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Can computed tomography of the chest stage lung cancer? Yes and no.

To determine the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) of the chest in the staging of lung cancer, we studied 418 patients with primary pulmonary carcinoma between 1979 and 1986. Each had a preoperative scan performed before detailed operative staging. Each CT scan was analyzed for components of the current TNM staging system. Computed tomography sensitivity and specificity for mediastinal lymph node metastasis were 84.4% and 84.1%, with corresponding positive and negative predictive accuracies of 68.7% and 92.9%, respectively. When TNM stages were derived from CT scans, only 190 of 418 (45.4%) completely agreed with operative staging. An additional 53 of 418 (12.7%) predicted the correct stage, although components of the TNM system were incorrect. In 94 of 418 scans (22.5%) CT overestimated the stage, whereas in 81 (19.4%) CT downgraded the stage. Computed tomography suggested metastatic lesions in liver, lung, adrenal gland, bone, or abdominal lymph nodes in 40 of 373 scans (10.7%); only five of 40 (12.5%) had documented metastasis. In summary, CT of the chest cannot accurately stage primary lung carcinoma according to the TNM classification. Because the negative predictive accuracy for mediastinal lymph node metastasis remains high (92.9%), invasive staging can be deferred for definitive thoracotomy when no lymphadenopathy is evident on CT. The high negative predictive accuracy for scans of the chest and upper abdomen makes CT a useful tool for exclusion of metastatic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

A proposed exception to the AIDS confidentiality laws for psychiatric patients.

The authors offer psychotherapists a proposed exception to strict acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related confidentiality laws. The proposal is based on previously established exceptions to the psychotherapist-patient privilege. The recommended breach of confidentiality applies only to cases that meet all of the following criteria: (1) A patient knows that he or she has a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive blood test and has been informed of AIDS-related safety precautions, (2) the HIV-positive patient has a mental disorder, and (3) it is reasonable to believe that the mental disorder has significantly impaired or may significantly impair the patient's ability and behavior to follow AIDS-related safety precautions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Impact of pre-radiology clinical years on resident performance.

In 1971, the American Board of Radiology dropped the requirement for at least one pre-radiology clinical year (PRCY) of training. However, requiring a clinical year for radiology residents remains a controversial issue. We reviewed 896 rotation evaluation forms involving 62 residents to see if a difference in performance could be detected between residents who entered training without or with at least one PRCY. Forty-five residents had no previous clinical training, whereas 17 had one or more PRCYs. No significant differences were detected in resident performance between non-PRCY and PRCY residents, nor were differences found by sex, age, presence of non-medical postgraduate degrees, or scores on the first part of the National Board of Medical Examiners. No study of PRCY versus non-PRCY residents can be adequately controlled; thus the failure to show a difference in performance must be interpreted with caution.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

SPECT of the peritoneal cavity: method for delineating intraperitoneal fluid distribution.

Seventeen single-photon emission CT (SPECT) studies were performed after intraperitoneal administration of 99mTc-sulfur colloid in patients with a history of colon cancer to assess the extent of intraperitoneal fluid distribution prior to intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Planar gamma images were also obtained in all patients for correlation with the SPECT findings. Four patients had transmission CT scans of the abdomen after intraperitoneal administration of iodinated contrast material. In seven patients, repeat planar and SPECT studies were performed with the original or a different infusion volume to determine if different volumes altered the fluid distribution qualitatively or quantitatively (using a linear profile method). We found that 360 degrees peritoneal SPECT is easily performed after intraperitoneal administration of 99mTc-sulfur colloid. SPECT provides more detailed anatomic information than planar scans do. Spaces of the upper abdomen, such as the lesser sac, were resolved better with SPECT than with planar imaging. SPECT assessment of intraperitoneal fluid distribution also correlated well with transmission CT scans. Quantitative linear-profile radionuclide plots were reproducible at the same volume and showed no major differences in relative intraperitoneal fluid distribution between the 1.5- and 3.0-l infusion volumes, suggesting that the two delivery volumes were equivalent in relative distribution. SPECT appears to be a useful procedure to define the extent and location of intraperitoneally administered fluids. Thus, it may be of value in determining the intraperitoneal distribution of drugs and radiopharmaceuticals used in the treatment of intraabdominal tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The role of echocardiography and CT in the diagnosis of cardiac tumors.

A young male who presented with atypical chest pain was found to have a primary cardiac tumor. Chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and echocardiographic findings can be nonspecific. Differential diagnosis and the role of different diagnostic modalities including echocardiogram, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Bronchogenic carcinoma metastatic to normal-sized lymph nodes: frequency and significance.

CT staging of mediastinal lymph node metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma is a subject of considerable controversy. The frequency of metastases to normal-sized lymph nodes is a critical issue related to the sensitivity of CT. The authors prospectively examined 42 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma with CT; in 39, careful surgical-pathologic correlation of mediastinal lymph node status was possible. Only 7% had metastases limited to mediastinal lymph nodes that were normal-sized at CT. This reflected a low overall frequency of metastases to normal-sized nodes and several diagnostic factors that converted potentially false-negative studies into true-positive CT studies. In this small series, metastases to enlarged nodes were more likely to have extracapsular spread of tumor, a poor prognostic factor. Overall, the authors do not consider metastases to normal-sized mediastinal lymph nodes to be a major problem in CT staging of non-small cell lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Sagittal orientation of the anterior minor fissure: radiography and CT.

Chest radiographs of 12 patients revealed an oblique, predominantly cephalocaudal linear opacity in the anterior inferomedial aspect of the right lung. Correlation with high-resolution computed tomography in two patients indicated that this opacity represented a sagittal orientation of the anterior minor fissure, with resultant inferomedial curving of the right upper lobe of the lung along the right border of the heart. The sagittal anterior minor fissure may extend inferiorly to the right hemidiaphragm and merge superiorly with the horizontal minor fissure. Autopsy findings in one case showed that this anatomic variant may explain potentially confusing radiographic manifestations of disease in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe of the lung and in the medial segment of the right middle lobe of the lung.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Court-mandated community outpatient treatment for persons found not guilty by reason of insanity: a five-year follow-up.

The authors conducted a 5-year follow-up study of 79 persons found not guilty by reason of insanity who were referred to and accepted for court-mandated community outpatient treatment. This was a severely mentally ill and violent group with extensive experience in both the criminal justice and mental health systems. This program was not without risks despite a readiness to revoke the patients' conditional release status when indicated; during the 5-year follow-up period, 25 (32%) were rearrested (18 [72%] for crimes of violence), 37 (47%) were hospitalized, and 38 (48%) had their conditional releases revoked. The authors believe that members of this population need social controls and long-term treatment when they are in the community.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Court-mandated outpatient treatment for insanity acquittees: clinical philosophy and implementation.

Court-mandated outpatient treatment for offenders found not guilty by reason of insanity is an alternative form of treatment in which insanity acquittees may be released into the community after serving part of their commitment in a forensic hospital. Working with this difficult population requires a close liaison with the criminal justice system and a clearly articulated treatment philosophy. Essential elements include an emphasis on structure and supervision, recognition of the importance of neuroleptic medication, a reality-based approach to therapy and a focus on the problems of everyday living, and incorporation of the principles of case management. Treatment staff must be comfortable with giving support, enforcing limits, and recommending revocation of the patient's community status when necessary. Case illustrations of successful and unsuccessful community treatment for insanity acquittees are included.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Radiologic evaluation of the subcarinal lymph nodes: a comparative study.

Subcarinal lymph nodes are commonly involved by metastases from cancers of both the right and left lungs. No data exist on the relative accuracy of radiologic methods for evaluating subcarinal nodes. We prospectively studied lung cancer patients who were surgical candidates with CT, MR imaging (0.35 T), esophagography, and anteroposterior tomography. Forty-six patients who subsequently underwent thoracotomy had excision or sampling of subcarinal nodes at mediastinoscopy. All 46 had CT scans, 27 had MR imaging, 23 had esophagography, and 21 had anteroposterior tomography. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were constructed for each technique, and the area under each curve was calculated. MR and CT were nearly identical in subcarinal evaluation, with areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of 0.90 and 0.86, respectively; both were superior to esophagography (0.55) and anteroposterior tomography (0.61). The size threshold at which subcarinal nodes were considered abnormally enlarged in this lung cancer population was 11 mm in short axis for CT, agreeing with the size threshold previously reported for a normal population. The size threshold for abnormal nodal enlargement with MR imaging was 18 mm in short axis. We conclude that CT and MR imaging are comparable in the detection of subcarinal lymphadenopathy and are superior to both tomography and esophagography. Different size thresholds for metastatic subcarinal nodes are needed for CT and MR imaging to be comparable in overall performance.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed1987

Tetracycline pleurodesis for malignant pleural effusions. A 10-year retrospective study.

We retrospectively examined the use of tetracycline pleurodesis for the palliative treatment of malignant pleural effusions. Twenty-five patients (32 procedures) were identified for study. In contrast to higher success rates in prior reports, 13 procedures (40.6%) failed as repeated pleural drainage was required. Only five procedures (15.6%) achieved complete resolution of pleural fluid. In 14 procedures (43.8%) pleural effusions recurred but were not treated. In some of these cases the effusion may have been reduced sufficiently to relieve symptoms, while in others the high short-term mortality rate (29% in 30 days) and the development of loculated effusions (34%) may have led to the decision not to treat. Instillation of a larger dose of tetracycline (greater than or equal to 1 g) was associated with a better outcome. Although adequate pleural drainage and proper technique were used, other factors such as the presence of pleural masses, atelectasis, loculations, and patient performance status were not uniformly controlled. Greater attention to these factors and use of a larger dose of tetracycline (greater than or equal to 1 g) may increase the likelihood of a successful pleural symphysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Bolus dynamic computed tomography in the evaluation of pulmonary sequestration.

Three cases of pulmonary sequestration evaluated by bolus dynamic computed tomography are described. The computed tomography appearance and the differential diagnosis are discussed. It is important to recognize the advantages of the bolus dynamic technique in the evaluation of pulmonary sequestration as it may eliminate the need for further studies.

Adult↗