PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Calliada

Publications and source records attributed to F Calliada.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Role of echo-color Doppler in the diagnosis of breast diseases. Personal experience].

The role of color-Doppler US was investigated in the diagnosis of solid focal breast lesions. The results obtained with this method over the last two years were reviewed. Seventy-two patients with solid breast lesions were considered: conventional US scans of the nodules were performed first and color-Doppler scans followed, to depict vascularization. In benign focal lesions color-Doppler US never demonstrated more than a single vascular pole afferent to the lesion. In 92.5% of histologically malignant lesions, color-Doppler US easily demonstrated two or more feeding vessels. The analysis of our series confirmed the presence of a typical vascular pattern related to breast carcinoma which is easy to depict by means of color-Doppler US: this new technique is therefore of great value in the differentiation of benign from malignant breast masses, especially in the cases where conventional US and mammography alone failed to yield unquestionable and final results.

Breast Diseases↗
PubMed1993

[Echography in the study of periskeletal soft tissues: technique, normal and pathologic pictures].

Ultrasonography (US) is the method of choice in the study of normal soft tissue patterns thanks to its intrinsic features. The exam must be performed following strict directions relative to US units (last-generation), to probes (high-frequency, high axial and lateral resolution, focusing), the type of scan (orthogonal and oblique scans), the use of silicon pads. Exam reporting and the exact knowledge of possible image artifacts are of the utmost importance. Normal patterns in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, striate muscles, tendons and bursae, nerves, vessels and bone are reported and correlated with the corresponding US patterns in pathologic conditions. In inflammatory processes, muscles and tendons exhibit blurred, irregular and poorly-defined outlines; neither the anatomical structures nor the tissues nearby are infiltrated. Similar patterns are observed in some benign tumors, while in malignant lesions soft tissue echostructure is more or less alterated and the adjacent tissues are infiltrated. Color-Doppler US yields morphologic and functional information as to pathologic vascularization; typical findings, similar to those obtained by means of angiography, are seen in malignant lesions.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

[Color-Doppler in the study of male sexual impotence].

The authors report their experience with color-Doppler US in the study of 54 male patients with sexual impotence. The examination includes two distinct phases; in between, the erection-inducing drugs is injected directly in the cavernous bodies. During the basal phase, B-mode information relative to both morphology and structure of cavernous bodies is collected. After injecting the drug, systolic and end-diastolic velocities are evaluated as flowmetric indices, together with the resistive index; these variables are derived from cavernous arteries, at scheduled time--i.e., 5, 10 and 20 minutes after the injection. Moreover, the examined patients were divided into 4 groups according to their clinical response to the pharmacologic test. Color-Doppler US proved to be quite sensitive in the identification of the patients with a vascular alteration, both venous and arterial, underlying their erectile dysfunction; as a matter of fact, venous flights are easily depicted with the use of colors. The authors believe that color-Doppler could eventually become a major exam in the diagnosis of sexually impotent patients, thus allowing the marked reduction of such invasive diagnostic techniques as selective angiography of internal pudendum arteries and dynamic cavernosography, which are poorly tolerated by the patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Echographic assessment of the hand: normal anatomy and pathologic patterns].

Ultrasonography (US) can ben used to study the hand thanks to small-parts probes whose frequency ranges 7.5 MHz to 20 MHz. Due to the complex hand anatomy, the clinician often needs further data relative to periskeletal soft tissues and vessels, which are provided by color Doppler US. Our personal series included 465 patients and a group of 20 healthy volunteers. A silicon pad was used to ensure max. adhesion to probe surface, given the uneven surface of the examined structures. Besides normal anatomic patterns, US demonstrated pathologic features in tendons, sheaths and muscles. As for tendons, stenosing and hypertrophic-exudative tenosynovites were depicted, as well as cysts and ruptures. As for muscles, the main findings were ruptures and, rarely, tumors. Relative to joints, arthrogenous ganglia and rheumatism were observed. Finally, the carpal tunnel syndrome was accurately investigated, where US revealed tenovaginalitis with sheath thickening and deformed and compressed median nerve in the carpal tunnel. Also the benign and malignant masses whose primary location is the nervous tissue are easily demonstrated on US, their typical shape being ovalar. To conclude, US proved extremely accurate in all the surgical patients, exhibiting 100% sensitivity in all of them; its specificity ranged from 84% for tendons, to 81% for muscles, 79% for nervous tissues and finally 82% for joint disorders.

Female↗
PubMed1990

[Color Doppler in the echographic evaluation of breast nodules].

The authors report on their experience with color Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of solid breast masses. Twenty-two patients were examined; breast masses were studied with B-mode US first, and then with color Doppler US to evaluate eventual tumor vascularization. Color Doppler US demonstrated only one vascular pole in histologically confirmed benign masses. On the contrary, in 92.8% of histologically confirmed malignant masses, color Doppler easily depicted 2 or more groups of nutritional arteries. Color Doppler makes the diagnosis of malignant masses easier, thus allowing, in the author's opinion, a reduction in the number of biopsies of solid breast masses clinically/mammographically detected. The use of color Doppler US is therefore suggested: the technique is noninvasive, fast, and easy and its widespread use would translate into advantages for both the patient and the clinician.

Adenofibroma↗
PubMed1990

[Portal hypertension of hepatic origin. A qualitative assessment by color and echo Doppler US].

One hundred and twenty-eight subjects were studied: 103 of them were affected with portal hypertension diagnosed both radiologically and clinically. Twenty-five healthy subjects were studied, as a control group, by means of combined real-time US and color Doppler. US parameters were evaluated, specific to chronic hepatopathy, together with the Doppler qualitative parameters relative to splanchnic vessels hemodynamics. Our results allowed a sort of noninvasive angiogram of the portal system to be obtained, which is to be of use for diagnosing portal hypertension, and for assessing its causes, risks, and consequences. This study was also aimed at suggesting an examination protocol for portal hypertension, employing real-time and color Doppler US, which any radiologist with enough experience in abdominal US could use. Color Doppler, although not strictly necessary to obtain good results, dramatically shortens execution times. Moreover, color Doppler allows the method to be more quickly learned.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Doppler color in the echographic study of hyperplastic parathyroid glands].

The sonographic examination of hyperplastic parathyroid glands is a well-known and appreciated technique. However, its diagnostic contribution is still somehow inadequate, due to the difficult differential diagnosis of the various solid hyperechoic nodular structures in the neck and to the presence of frequently ectopic glands. The combined use of B-mode and color-Doppler US allows the vascular features of suspicious parathyroid nodules to be satisfactorily demonstrated. Higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional US are the main advantages of this technique. Still, further research is needed for B-mode color-Doppler US to actually replace fine needle biopsy in confirming the diagnosis.

Color↗
PubMed1979

[Clinico-statistical review of 74 cases of subcutaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon].

The Authors report 74 cases of subcutaneous hole of Achille's tendon that were treated surgically. 52 patients were clinically controlled at a distance from 1 to 5 years. The functional result at a distance is good in 67,3% of cases, satisfactory in 25%, insufficient in 4%. They point out an hig incidence of local post-operating complications (29,8%), especially when the paratendinea medial incision has been made. The authors suggest to opt for a paratendinea lateral incision and, experimentally, to drop the use of hemostatic string.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Topical role and future perspectives of sonographic contrast agents in the differential diagnosis of solid thyroid lesions.

Gray scale sonography and US-guided biopsy are cost-effective and reliable procedures in the differential diagnosis of focal thyroid lesions. The frequent presence of multiple foci can make multiple biopsies intolerable to the patient. The use of a sonographic contrast agent (Levovist) composed of microbubbles was evaluated in the differential diagnosis of focal solid lesions of the thyroid. Time/intensity curves after bolus injection of contrast were studied with samplings at the level of focal lesions, extranodular parenchyma and common carotid in 29 lesions of 25 patients (16 females and 9 males) ranging in age 21 to 68 years. The evaluated parameters were: the curve morphology, the time to peak value, the mean enhancement time and the wash-in/out variate gamma curve. All focal lesions underwent biopsy. No significant differences were observed as for mean enhancement time while for time to peak values only two malignant lesions seemed to show values different from those of other solid lesions. Wash-in/out variate gamma curves seemed more interesting; they presented a dual morphology: 1) parenchymal for hyperplastic areas, pseudonodular neoformations during thyroiditis and healthy thyroid parenchyma, 2) vascular for malignant lesions and carotid lumen. Autonomous nodules showed an intermediate morphology. In spite of major limitations, the results seem to pave the way for additional possibilities of noninvasive differential diagnosis in the evaluation of focal solid thyroid lesions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Doppler color-echo in the echographic evaluation of solid neoplasms of the breast: 5 years of experience].

In the last 5 years, 1,245 breasts have been examined with conventional and color-Doppler US. To assess color-Doppler capabilities and limitations, the results were critically reviewed only of the 311 patients who were operated and had unquestionable histologic findings. We investigated: 1) the number of "vascular poles", that is the vessels entering the examined mass from the periphery; 2) the presence of vessels with "abnormal" features, that is the vessels with varying diameters and/or with tortuous and erratic course; 3) the presence of vessels even on the mass interface only. The criterion indicated as no. 1, that is the presence of more than a vascular pole, exhibited 90.4% sensitivity and 70.7% prospective and 90.7% retrospective specificity. The criterion indicated as no. 2, that is the presence of vessels with anomalous features exhibited 75.1% sensitivity and 96.9% specificity. Using criterion no. 3 instead of no. 1, sensitivity would be increased from 90.4% to 96.5% but specificity would be decreased from 70.7% (and 90.7% retrospective specificity) to 46.9%, which was considered to be too low relative to the moderate increase in sensitivity. The positive predictive value of the presence of two vascular poles was 85% and that of the presence of vessels with anomalous course was 97.7%. Criteria no. 1 and 2 had 70.7% and 68.8% negative predictive value, respectively. In conclusion, the authors suggest the use of color-Doppler US to add further pieces of information to those obtained with conventional US.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[CT in the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoceles following gynecologic cancer surgery].

The staging of gynecologic cancers requires the knowledge of lymph node status and thus pelvic and/or lumbo-aortic lymphadenectomy remains, to date, a widely used procedure. Lymphoceles are a frequent complication of surgical lymph node dissection. They are lymph collections in the retroperitoneum following the continuous drainage of afferent lymph vessels. To assess the incidence of this complication, its CT features and the role of diagnostic imaging to treat lymphoceles, 140 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Forty of them had undergone pelvic and/or lumbo-aortic lymphadenectomy for proved endometrial carcinoma, 51/140 for proved carcinoma of the cervix uteri, and 49/140 for proved malignant epithelial cancer in the ovary. CT exams were performed during the follow-up, not on a systematic basis but only when a recurrence was clinically suspected (117 cases), or in the presence of surgery and/or irradiation complications (11 cases), or to assess the extent of residual lesion during chemo/radiotherapy (12 cases). Fifty-three lymphoceles were observed in 36 patients: they were monolateral in 18 cases and bilateral in 16; in 34 cases the lymphoceles were found in the iliac space and in 3 cases only in the median perivascular lumbo-aortic space. In the patients with clinically suspected recurrence (117 patients, 27 lymphoceles), lymphoceles were associated with the recurrence in 25 cases, while they were the only CT evidence of a mass in 2 patients. In the cases with clinically suspected complications of former irradiation and surgery (11 patients, 3 lymphoceles), lymphoceles were correctly differentiated from abscesses (2 cases), seroceles (1 case), and hematomas (2 cases). In the group of asymptomatic patients monitored for residual disease (12 patients, 5 lymphoceles), lymphoceles were an occasional finding and, since they caused no complications to the urinary and GI tracts, they were never treated. Four asymptomatic patients only, with no evidence of disease, were submitted to transcutaneous aspiration and drainage under CT-US guidance (1.7 procedures per patient), and lymphoceles resolved in 3/4 cases. The only lymphocele recurring more than once required another laparotomy. In our experience, lymphoceles appear as a common sequela of pelvic lymphadenectomy for gynecologic cancer. CT has proved to be a useful diagnostic tool to assess and characterize the lesions, which must be differentiated from other postoperative complications and from recurring tumors. Lymphoceles needed to treatment in most cases and thus only symptomatic patients, with no cancer, were submitted to aspiration and drainage under CT-US guidance; the maneuver was successful on 75% of cases.

Adult↗