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Biomedical subjects

D Tscholakoff

Publications and source records attributed to D Tscholakoff.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Esophageal motor disorders: videofluoroscopic and manometric evaluation--prospective study in 88 symptomatic patients.

Esophageal motor disorders are best evaluated with manometry, which, however, is time-consuming and not generally available. The authors prospectively investigated the yield of videofluoroscopy in detection of esophageal motor disorders in comparison with that of manometry. Eighty-eight patients with dysphagia, globus sensation, noncardiac chest pain, or progressive systemic sclerosis underwent both manometry and videofluoroscopy at 0-32-day intervals. Videofluoroscopy was performed with one swallowing study in the upright position and up to three swallowing studies in the prone oblique position. Manometric diagnoses of achalasia (n = 15), diffuse esophageal spasm (n = 1), nonspecific esophageal motor disorders (n = 44), and adynamic esophagus (n = 9) were made. Videofluoroscopically, 87% of the patients with achalasia, the one patient with diffuse spasms, 73% of the patients with nonspecific esophageal motor disorders, and all of the patients with adynamic esophagus received a correct diagnosis, for an overall sensitivity of 80%. The radiographic specificity was 79%. The authors conclude that videofluoroscopy is a valuable and reasonably sensitive technique for screening for esophageal motor disorders.

Adolescent

Polyetiology of renal allograft dysfunction. Does calculation of the resistive index still make sense?

In 101 consecutive patients with renal allograft dysfunction a correlation of Duplex Doppler sonography (DDS) with histopathologic reports of simultaneously performed biopsies was made. Renal vascular impedance was estimated by calculating the resistive index (RI). A total of 290 different specific histologic diagnoses (mean 2.1 +/- 0.84 diagnoses/biopsy) was noted. With increasing time interval to transplantation, single diagnoses as cause of allograft dysfunction decreased. DDS could not reliably differentiate, exclude, or grade any of the common causes of renal allograft dysfunction like vascular and/or cellular rejection, chronic rejection, acute tubular necrosis, cyclosporin nephrotoxicity, relapse of glomerulonephritis and infection. Follow-up studies after established histologic diagnosis in 19 patients with persisting allograft dysfunction demonstrated a lack of sensitivity of DDS to significant superimposed causes of transplant malfunction. We conclude that biopsy is still necessary to direct proper therapy of renal allograft dysfunction.

Adolescent

[Duplex ultrasound and color-coded Doppler ultrasound of visceral blood vessels in abdominal diseases].

Duplex Doppler sonography (DS) and color-flow Doppler sonography (FDS) are noninvasive diagnostic methods for the evaluation of a patient with suspected vascular disease of the abdomen. They represent a useful adjunct to realtime sonography in the identification of normal and variant visceral vascular anatomy. Aneurysms and pseudo-aneurysms of visceral arteries are readily differentiated from other cystic lesions. DS and FDS have a high sensitivity in the detection of portal vein thrombosis and stenosis. Both methods allow the observation and measurement of splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. Hence, DS and FDS already play an important role in the pre- and postoperative assessment of patients undergoing liver or pancreas transplantation. The possibility that DS and FDS may enable discrimination between hypovascular and hypervascular tumors is under clinical investigation. FDS facilitates an excellent anatomic display of the abdominal vasculature and allows easy placement of the Doppler sample volume. Consequently, quantitative data acquired with DS are accomplished within short scanning times. However, the diagnostic impact of both modalities depends to a great extent on the experience of the investigator.

Abdominal Pain

Contrast-enhanced MRI for the staging of bronchogenic carcinoma: comparison with CT and histopathologic staging--preliminary results.

Nineteen patients with potentially operable bronchial carcinoma were included in a prospective study to assess the staging capabilities of plain and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with computed tomography (CT) and to compare the results to post-operative histopathological staging (HS). The evaluation focused on the following T-staging criteria: (i) direct invasion of the pleura; (ii) neoplastic invasion of the mediastinum; (iii) differentiation of the primary tumour from alterations of the surrounding lung parenchyma such as inflammation or atelectasis; and (iv) intrathoracic lymph node involvement by tumour. MRI and CT produced similar results for pleural invasion (sensitivity of 0.4 and 0.75 respectively and a specificity of 0.86 and 0.93 respectively). Mediastinal invasion was overdiagnosed in four patients (no false negatives), whereas CT had only one false positive result (two false negatives). Our results showed CT to be superior to MRI for the preoperative evaluation of patients suffering from bronchogenic carcinoma.

Adult

[Sonographic detection of gas in the vascular system of the liver: an image essay].

Gas within the vascular system of the liver was demonstrated sonographically in 5 patients. In contrast, plain films of the abdomen in these patients failed to demonstrate this serious finding. 3 patients presented with gas within the hepatic portal venous system, 1 patient with gas in the liver veins. In these patients, gas formation was probably caused by sepsis with gas-producing bacteria. In the last patient, air within the hepatic arterial system was caused by insufflation of air thru a port-a-cath catheter located in the main hepatic artery. The characteristic sonographic appearance of intravascular gas are highly echogenic particles flowing within the vessels. Different pathophysiologic mechanisms of gas formation in the hepatic portal venous system include sepsis with gas forming organisms, gastrointestinal necrosis of various origin in combination with elevation of intramural pressure and alteration of gas solubility of blood. The significance of sonography as a very sensitive and specific modality is outlined.

Adult

[Papillary process of the caudate lobe--erroneous sonography interpretation as a space-occupying lesion].

The sonographic appearance of the papillary process separated from the caudate lobe of the liver by a fissure is reported. In 2 out of 5 patients, this variant anatomy mimicked a mass lesion. The papillary process is located dorsal to the left lobe of the liver and in front of the portal vein and common hepatic artery. The echogenicity of the papillary process is identical to liver parenchyma. Knowledge of the sonographic appearance and vascular relationship may help to avoid errors in diagnosis.

Aged

[The percutaneous ultrasonic-guided fluoroscopy-controlled drainage of pericardial fluids].

The results of 25 ultrasonographically guided percutaneous pericardial drainage procedures and of one pericardiocentesis performed in 25 patients with pericardial fluid collections are reported. After initial puncture of the pericardial cavity under sonographic guidance, dilatation and placement of 5F to 8.3F catheters in Seldinger technique was controlled fluoroscopically in 22 procedures. Clinical indications were emergency treatment of tamponade (n = 6) or urgent treatment of large (n = 14) pericardial effusions. The remaining 6 procedures were performed to establish specific diagnoses of small effusions. Puncture sites were subxiphoid in 23 and left parasternal in 3 cases. The volume of aspirated fluid ranged from 20 to 1710 ml (median: 615 ml). Median duration of pericardial drainage was 3 days (range less than 1 day to 21 days). A specific diagnosis was obtained in 48% of patients. 4 patients had subsequent elective surgical intervention for recurrent effusion or for pericardial biopsy. Three minor complications included one vasovagal reaction and two asymptomatic pneumothoraces. Percutaneous ultrasonically guided and fluoroscopically controlled placement of a pericardial catheter is safe and effective for treatment and diagnosis of pericardial effusions.

Adolescent

Duplex Doppler sonography in renal parenchymal disease. Histopathologic correlation.

To evaluate the histopathologic changes influencing Doppler measurements of the resistive index (RI) in renal arteries in renal parenchymal diseases, 68 kidneys in 34 consecutive patients with various forms of renal parenchymal diseases were studied by duplex Doppler ultrasound (duplex US) immediately before percutaneous renal biopsy. The RI, renal length, and renal cortical echogenicity were correlated with the amount of glomerular, interstitial, and vascular changes graded on a scale from 0 to 100. The renal vascular resistance and therefore the RI are significantly correlated with the prevalence of arteriolosclerosis, glomerular sclerosis, arteriosclerosis, edema, and focal interstitial fibrosis. There was no significant difference of the RI in five groups of different renal parenchymal diseases. Of 34 patients, 24 presented with an RI less than 0.7, which was thought to be within the normal range so far. Additionally, the RI increases as the patient's age increases, due to higher incidence of arteriosclerosis. Of our patients, 44% presented with normal cortical echogenicity. Quantitative duplex US using the RI does not reliably distinguish different types of renal medical disorders.

Adult

[Changes in the thoracic roentgen image in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome].

Since the earliest reports of what was later termed the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) appeared in 1980/81, with the recognition of opportunistic infections and Kaposi's sarcoma in homosexual men and i.v. drug abusers, more than 60% of AIDS patients develop pulmonary manifestations at some time in the course of their disease. Radiographic evaluation of the chest plays an important role in diagnosis. In fact, radiological changes are unspecific and either bacteriological proof or histological verification needs to be confirmed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: radiologic and magnetic resonance tomographic characteristics].

46 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) were investigated by chest radiographs (n = 46), plain film tomograms (n = 16), CT (n = 8) and MRI (n = 13). Radiologic characteristics of early IPA were nodular or patchy infiltrates in the upper lobes of all patients. Enlargement of the infiltrates and/or development of segmental/lobar consolidations were typical for fully developing IPA. Air crescent signs were seen in 40% of patients during or after bone marrow restitution. CT added additional information by visualisation of small pleural based infiltrates, demonstration of air crescents and identification of halo phenomena. MRI revealed the target character of nodular aspergillomas with hypointense centres and rims of higher signal intensity. A gadolinium-DTPA rim enhancement could be observed in almost all nodular lesions. Hyperintense areas in nodular and segmental infiltrates on T1-weighted images were interpreted as aging haemorrhage (methemoglobin) in aspergillus-induced haemorrhagic infarcts or in focal parenchymal bleeding.

Aspergillosis

[MRT using Gd-DTPA in the diagnosis of tumor and pseudotumor intracardiac masses].

Magnetic resonance examinations were performed in 15 patients suffering from echocardiographically detected intracardiac masses. All patients were examined with a 1.5 T superconducting machine, using spin echo technique, including Gd-DTPA, and gradient echo sequences. The MR findings were confirmed partially by histology and angiography, otherwise by good correlation to clinical findings. MR results were divided into three groups: 1. tumour, 2. thrombosis, 3. pseudotumorous mass, and corresponded well with the final diagnosis: in 8 patients tumour, in 5 patients thrombosis, and in two patients pseudotumorous masses, including one hydatid cyst and one case of lipomatosis. Tumours showed in contrast to thrombosis marked enhancement after gadolinium injection, whereas the hydatid cyst and the lipomatosis demonstrated characteristic signal behaviour. Problems existed in differentiation mass vs slow flow, in the detection of very small masses, and in the assessment of wall-fixation and motion of a mass during cardiac cycle. The results demonstrate that MRI with Gd-DTPA can give important additional information in the differential diagnosis of echocardiographically detected intracardiac masses.

Adolescent

[Vascular kidney transplant rejection--is a duplex sonographic diagnosis possible?].

The diagnostic value of quantitative Duplex Doppler sonography (DS) in renal allograft evaluation is being viewed increasingly critically. We undertook a retrospective analysis of DS in 51 consecutive patients to assess the capability of DS in the diagnosis of vascular rejection. At the time of renal allograft biopsy, a mean resistive index (RI) was calculated from Doppler measurements within main, segmental, interlobar and arcuate arteries and correlated with histological diagnosis. Our results indicate a low specificity (36% for RI greater than 0.7), low sensitivity (35% for RI greater than 0.9) as well as a low positive predictive value (54% for RI greater than 0.7) for the diagnosis of vascular rejection. Therefore, elevation of the RI is an unspecific finding in different causes of allograft dysfunction. Thus, renal biopsy to establish specific histologic diagnosis of allograft dysfunction remains mandatory.

Adolescent

Effect of heart rate on Doppler measurements of resistive index in renal arteries.

The effect of heart rate on Doppler measurements of the resistive index (RI) in renal arteries was studied in eight patients by varying paced heart rate to eliminate intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing renal vascular resistance. A Doppler spectrum was obtained in renal segmental arteries. The RI was calculated at increasing heart rates from 70 to 120 beats per minute. There was a statistically significant decrease in RI with increasing heart rate (heart rate of 70: RI = 0.7 +/- 0.06; heart rate of 120: RI = 0.57 +/- 0.06; P less than .001), while blood pressure and cardiac output remained constant. To overcome this source of variance, the observed RI can be corrected for heart rate by using the following regression equation. For a heart rate of 80 beats per minute, corrected RI = observed RI - 0.0026(80 - observed heart rate). In interpreting the RI in renal allograft examinations, the actual heart rate of a patient must be taken into account. However, the clinical significance of standardizing the RI for heart rate requires further investigation.

Adult

Interstitial lung disease in progressive systemic sclerosis: high-resolution CT versus radiography.

High-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scans and chest radiographs were obtained in 23 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) to assess the diagnostic merits of HRCT compared with chest radiography in detecting interstitial lung involvement in these patients. HRCT scans showed interstitial disease in 21 patients (91%). The most frequent finding was the so-called subpleural lines, which were demonstrated in 17 patients (74%). Honeycombing was seen in seven patients (30%), while parenchymal bands were seen in six patients (26%). Chest radiographs, on the other hand, showed definite interstitial opacification patterns in only nine patients (39%); six patients (26%) had equivocal reticular areas of attenuation, while eight patients (35%) had normal chest radiographs. Thus, HRCT is much more sensitive than chest radiography when assessing minimal interstitial lung involvement in patients with PSS.

Female

[Duplex sonography: a highly echogenic splenic cyst or splenomegaly?].

A 27-year old woman presented sonographically with a highly echogenic mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen measuring 22 cm in diameter, initially interpreted as splenomegaly. Movement of internal echoes by application of pulsed doppler and by postural change of the patient revealed this mass as a cystic lesion with highly echogenic fluid. At surgery, a pseudocyst of the spleen containing detritus and cholesterol crystals was found.

Adult

[A posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery. Duplex sonographic diagnosis and follow-up in spontaneous thrombosis].

Guided percutaneous biopsy represents a standard procedure in establishing specific diagnosis of focal liver lesions. We report a case of left hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm diagnosed by means of Duplex Doppler sonography (DS) immediately before percutaneous biopsy should be performed. Selective hepatic artery embolization was planned, but spontaneous thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm was documented by DS and angiography, respectively. DS is able to identify the vascular nature of a lesion and is helpful to avoid puncture of an aneurysm.

Abdominal Injuries

Course of cerebral lesions in a patient with periarteritis nodosa studied by magnetic resonance imaging.

The course is reported of a patient with periarteritis nodosa who initially presented with neurological symptoms. Multiple cerebral lesions were documented by the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation. The majority of these had disappeared completely in the follow-up MRI studies. In contrast to neurological improvement the patient eventually died due to multiorgan failure. Postmortem histological examination revealed no pathological findings in the brain except one single necrotic area already known from MRI. Remissions of histological and angiographic alterations in periarteritis nodosa have been described as "local healing" leading to fibrosis and scarring. Our findings suggest that restitutio ad integrum may occur, at least in cerebral lesions.

Adult