Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Delumeau.
The authors report a case of sacral pseudomeningocele discovered by chance in a 29-year old male patient presenting with Marfan's disease. In this disease, such abnormalities are common and due to excessive fragility. of the dura mater. CT and MRI provide an accurate morphological analysis and a complete evaluation of lumbosacral osteomeningeal abnormalities.
The authors compared the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation with angiography in 66 patients with congenital heart disease, to determine a diagnostic strategy in the use of these methods of cardiac imaging. The patients were 8 days to 44 years old. The congenital cardiac malformations were classified in three groups: 29 isolated vascular malformations (Group 1), 17 isolated intracardiac malformations (Group 2) and 20 complex malformations (Group 3). MRI was performed in all patients using a high field (1.5 tesla) magnet and spin-echo sequences in multiple incidences. The results were compared with those of echocardiography in 60 patients and/or cardiac catheterisation in 39 cases. Technical evaluation of MRI showed images of diagnostic quality in 62/66 cases (93.9%). MRI provided a diagnostic contribution in 56 cases (85%) which was less important in intracardiac malformations than in the other groups (p less than 0.05). In comparison with other imaging techniques, globally, the diagnostic value of MRI was lower than that of cardiac catheterisation (p less than 0.005) but there was no significant difference between MRI and echocardiography. When the type of malformation was taken into account, MRI was not as useful as catheterisation and echocardiography for the diagnosis of isolated intracardiac malformations (p less than 0.01) but gave comparable results in other malformations. On the other hand, MRI associated with echocardiography was more useful (p less than 0.05) than catheterisation in the diagnosis of complex congenital lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The most frequent benign lesions of the pleura created by asbestos are fibro-hyaline plaques, i.e. thick areas of collagen located on the parietal pleura and gradually becoming calcified. Less common is benign pleural effusion the cause of which is not always easy to determine. To these must be added an extensive pleural fibrosis with functional repercussions that are not negligible, and round pseudotumoral atelectasias. These pleural asbestos-induced lesions are often observed after a low intensity exposure, but they appear as a rule after more than 20 years of latency. While they betray a previous exposure to asbestos, they also raise the problem of possible asbestos-induced lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Three cases of compression of the right wall of the trachea by buckling of the innominate artery in childhood are described. A coarctation of the thoracic aorta is associated in two cases, and a left cervical aortic arch in the third one. In one case, a severe tracheomalacia occurs following the surgical repair of the associated coarctation. This lateral indentation of the trachea is suggestive of right aortic arch but the absence of posterior oesophageal indentation excludes the diagnosis. Angiography is helpful and echography is unable to demonstrate the vascular origin of the tracheal compression. The authors analyse the correct diagnostic approach, emphasize the risk of tracheomalacia and the high rate of associated cardio-vascular malformations.
The wide variety of definitions covering the term, left ventricular aneurysm, at the present time suggests the need for a radiological description based on pathological findings. The presence of the aneurysm on angiographic images is shown by a persistent left ventricular deformity during diastole causing a pocket separated from the contractile left ventricle by an annular constriction. A study of 42 cases of anterior apical ventricular aneurysms selected according to these criteria and investigated by multiple ventriculographic projections (LAO, RAO, anteroposterior and profile) demonstrated that the right anterior oblique projection alone is insufficient to ensure the diagnosis. An indirect sign suggestive of the diagnosis is a double outline due to the superimposition of aneurysmal and contractile zones. A complementary LAO projection, with or without a profile film, should be performed in order to confirm diagnosis and determine extent of lesion, this conditioning the result of surgery.
In 1956, LIEBOW and HUBBEL defined pulmonary fibrosing haemangioma as a marked vascular proliferation with a marked tendency to fibrosis, papillary vegetations, extensive histiocytic infiltration and haemorrhages at various stages of organisation. More than 70 cases have been reported since. This lesion occurs most often in the middle aged woman. It is usually asymptomatic or may present as haemoptysis. Radiologically, it takes the form of a well-limited round homogeneous opacity and the prognosis is excellent after excision. The case reported here fell fully within this context and had the special feature of intrascissural tumour development resulting in an unusual radiological appearance which initially suggested a diagnosis of encysted pleural effusion. However the solid nature of the opacity being confirmed by CT scan, it was excised surgically. Its nature was revealed by histological examination. A detailed review of the literature is undertaken and changes in the histopathological concept of this type of lesion discussed. Previously classified amongst inflammatory pseudo-tumours, it is now considered to be a tumour proliferation which, on the basis of current data from electron microscopy and histochemistry, is felt by some to be of vascular origin but by the majority to be of epithelial origin, apparently developing from immature type II pneumocytes. The name "benign fibrosing pneumocytoma" suggested by CHAN would seem now more appropriate.
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Correlations between calcifications and stenoses observed on coronarography were studied in 200 patients with coronary heart disease and calcifications in the coronary arteries. There was a very close relationship (p less than 0.0005) between the number of calcified and stenosed main coronary vessels. Calcification in the circumflex and right coronary vessels is a specific sign of stenosis. There was a high frequency of poor arterial beds distal to the stenoses when these were calcified. It is considered that the detection of coronary calcification by means of a brilliance amplifier constitutes one of the most effective non-invasive methods for assessing coronary artery disease.
The authors report their experiences with computed tomography (CT) in 17 patients suffering from histologically proven pleural mesothelioma. The examination has two particular values. First the extent of the lesions can be assessed, in particular the retraction of the hemithorax, the detection of mediastinal involvement (which would be invisible to all other methods of examination including thoracoscopy), the exploration of the adjacent lung and the fissures, as well as the diaphragm. Secondly CT appears to be the only objective and reproducibly examination for the surveillance of lesions under treatment.
A new method is proposed for calculating the enlargement factor in order to measure left ventricular volume. It is based on the grid method of Kasser and Kennedy, modified and simplified by making use of the technical possibilities of their apparatus. The enlargement factor is measured from a graduated scale and reference to a pre-established graph.
The authors stress the difficulty of detecting pleural thickenings due to asbestos by radiography, before the late stage when calcification appears. Using Mackenzie and Harries's technique, they radiographed 64 subjects working in the naval shipbuilding yard in Nantes, who had previously been examined by radiophotography. Their results confirmed the superiority of the 45 degrees oblique incidence for demonstrating patches of pleural thickening in those areas where they occur most frequently. The value of this early detection is purely social and occupational at the present time, as it cannot be used to give a prognosis as to the possible appearance of a more serious lesion such as mesotheliomas.
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Preliminary results are reported of a prospective multicenter trial of a new caval filter (LEM*) implanted by the percutaneous jugular route in 100 patients, 55 men and 45 women, mean age 67 +/- 13 years, to produce partial interruption of inferior vena cava (IVC). Of the 100 attempts to insert the LEM* filter, 2 failures to catheterize the jugular vessel were reported, 98 filters being placed in the IVC with 82 implantation considered adequate. Of the remaining 16 cases, the filter was inclined (7 cases) or incompletely open (9 cases) with total lack of success in 3 cases. Overall efficacy was obtained therefore in 95 cases. Follow up included 94 patients seen after one week, 63 after 3 months and 10 after 6 months: 3 embolic recurrences were noted (3.2%) of cases. None of the 8 deaths reported was related to the thromboembolic disease. Standard frontal abdominal radiographic images showed migration of filter in 13 cases (13.7%) not exceeding the height of a vertebral body: 9 were caudal and 4 proximal, the LEM* filter remaining within the IVC. Phlebocavography in 90 cases showed the IVC to be permeable in 84 cases (93.3%). Incomplete opening or inclination of filter had no effect on the course. These findings demonstrate that the advantages of the LEM* filter include: a percutaneous introduction allowing rapid, certain insertion, and a form studied for limitation of inclination and avoidance of perforation of the IVC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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