Upper gastrointestinal radiology under threat.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D D Maglinte.
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Retroperitoneal abscess as an initial manifestation of carcinoma of the colon is unusual. Inappropriate management of an unrecognized lesion is invariably fatal. Awareness of this uncommon presentation can lead to a precise preoperative diagnosis and appropriate therapy. The possibility of a perforated colon carcinoma should be considered in instances of unexplained retroperitoneal mass and infection, and a barium enema performed on all such patients. The authors report 3 cases and illustrate the radiological features of retroperitoneal abscesses due to perforated colon carcinoma.
Twelve mongrel dogs had superficial and deep colon biopsies above and below the peritoneal reflection. Six of the animals were given a barium enema; two had a barium enema immediately, two in three days, and two in six days. The animals were sacrificed 48 hours after the barium enema; the sigmoid was removed and tissue was examined macroscopically and microscopically. When healing rates of the biopsy sites were compared with those of control animals, there was no difference. The results suggest that barium has no deleterious effect on the healing of superficial or deep colorectal biopsies.
Of 500 patients referred for an examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, 15% were found to have radiographic evidence of esophageal disease. A cursory esophageal survey appears to be insufficient. Thorough evaluation should consist of a minimal multiphasic approach involving double- and single-contrast radiography, fluoroscopic studies of motility, and a mucosal relief study.
Recent studies have challenged the concept that 50% of colon cancers are detectable by digital examination and two-thirds are within reach of the rigid sigmoidoscope. This is an important consideration because of the potential for failure of an otherwise appropriate screening method when evaluating a patient for carcinoma of the colon. An analysis of 2,298 cases of colorectal carcinoma diagnosed over 20 years showed that the most common sites were the rectum (34%) and sigmoid (25%). Over the 20 years, the incidence of cancer in the cecum increased and that in the rectum decreased. Cecal, ascending, and transverse colon cancers accounted for 34% of lesions - all beyond the range of the flexible sigmoidoscope. The changing site distribution emphasizes the need for an accurate and inexpensive technique to evaluate the entire colon. These data suggest that the barium pneumocolon examination should be included in the screening of high-risk patients.
Nineteen patients who had foreign bodies in the distal esophagus were examined prospectively to determine the efficacy of intravenous glucagon in relieving the obstruction. The administration of glucagon resulted in clearance of the impacted food in seven patients. Although the success rate is relatively low, the risk is minimal and justifiable. Use of intravenous glucagon is a safe, worthwhile initial step in the treatment of distal esophageal foreign bodies.
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The effect of small intravenous doses (0.025 and 0.05 mg) of glucagon was evaluated in 22 patients. All 12 patients given 0.05 mg demonstrated by hypotonicity of the stomach and duodenum at 1 min and beginning return of peristalsis at 2 1/2 min. Subsequently, 100 patients with radiographically normal upper gastrointestinal examinations who received 0.05 mg of glucagon intravenously were compared to 100 patients with normal examinations without it. Comparison was made to determine the effect of glucagon on gastric mucosal coating and distention of the stomach and duodenum. In all areas of the stomach, mucosal coating was significantly improved in the glucagon group. There was also increased distention of the distal antrum, duodenal bulb, and duodenal loop. No adverse effects were reported. Because of the short duration of action of glucagon, the examination needs to be coordinated and done rapidly. The routine use of a small dose of glucagon increased the performance time slightly with small additional cost but was compensated for by the increased diagnostic quality of the examination.
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Small doses of glucagon are effective when performing a biphasic gastrointestinal (GI) examination. The authors conducted a controlled double-blind crossover study to determine the optimum and smallest effective doses and the onset and duration of drug action. Fifteen men received a placebo and 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg of glucagon intravenously. Hypotonicity of the stomach, duodenum, and small bowel was adequate with 0.1 mg of glucagon. Low-dose glucagon makes the biphasic upper GI examination short and practical. There is no need to delay the second phase of the examination or the small-bowel follow-through.
Forty-two surgically confirmed small-bowel lesions that were not detected by small-bowel follow-through but were demonstrated by enteroclysis were analyzed to determine why small-bowel follow-through had failed to detect them. Thirty lesions (71%) were not seen in retrospect; this was attributed to technical inadequacies. Twelve lesions (29%) were seen in retrospect. Of these, two (17%) of the lesions had been missed originally because of perceptive errors, seven (58%) because of combined perceptive and technical errors, and three (25%) because of interpretive errors. The preponderance of technical errors emphasizes the need for improvements in the small-bowel follow-through technique. More frequent fluoroscopy and more thorough compression of all filled segments, as is performed in enteroclysis, and a decreased reliance on overhead radiographs should decrease the error rate in the routine small-bowel follow-through examination.
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The appropriate interval between a colorectal biopsy and a barium enema is controversial. Superficial and deep biopsies, above and below the peritoneal reflection, were performed on 12 dogs. Six control dogs did not have a barium enema. Six study dogs had a barium enema at different postbiopsy time intervals: immediately, 3 days, and 6 days. After superficial biopsies, there was no barium extravasation in any study animal. Histological examination, 48 hr after enema, showed complete epithelialization of all superficial sites on both study and control dogs. When the barium enema was done after a deep biopsy, there was intramural extravasation of barium immediately after biopsy but not after 3 or 6 days. Focal ulcerations were seen microscopically at sites of deep biopsies when the barium enema was performed immediately and 3 days after the diagnostic procedure. All deep biopsy sites were reepithelialized in 6 days. There was no evidence of intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal perforation and no difference in healing of biopsy sites in subjects and control animals. This study in dogs suggests that a barium enema may be performed without hazard immediately after a superficial biopsy of nondiseased colon and 6 days after a deep biopsy.
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