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M N Croll

Publications and source records attributed to M N Croll.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Nuclear medicine instrumentation. Historic perspective.

Recording the chronology of nuclear medicine instrumentation poses some difficult decisions as does the determination of the "father" of nuclear medicine?. Historians can agree on well-defined dates and events, but many of them are subjective and reside in the memories of those of us who were fortunate to experience the formative years of our field. We all search for the historical truth. The highlights of this story may begin with John Lawrence and phosphorus-32 therapy at Berkeley and continue with Enrico Fermi's sustained nuclear reaction, which lead to the Manhattan Project, then the Atomic Energy Commission, and finally, Sam Seidlin's treatment of thyroid metastases with iodine-131. The rectilinear scanner came to us from Benedict Cassen and was followed by Hal O. Anger and his gamma scintillation camera, one of the most pivotal developments in the field. A plethora of cameras followed: Merrill Benders's digital autofluroscope, Dave Kuhl's efforts for tomographic imaging, and then on to single photon emission computed tomography. Finally, we come back to Hal O. Anger, who suggested and worked with the idea of a positron camera, with positron emission tomography becoming commercially available in 1985. Ours is a variegated history, and I hope that this account speaks the historical truth.

History, 20th Century↗
PubMed1985

Demonstration of an infected popliteal (Baker's) cyst with three-phase skeletal scintigraphy.

A case is reported of an infected popliteal (Baker's) cyst demonstrated with triple phase skeletal scintigraphy. Although double-contrast arthrography and ultrasonography are currently the modalities most frequently employed to diagnose the presence of popliteal cysts, they may also be detected utilizing this radionuclide technique in the course of evaluation for knee joint disease or septic arthritis. Radionuclide studies may be more sensitive for the evaluation of associated inflammatory disease involving the knee joint.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Demonstration of a malignant soft-tissue lymphoma during triple-phase skeletal scintigraphy.

Malignant soft-tissue neoplasms may be demonstrated in the course of triple-phase skeletal scintigraphy due to the presence of either abnormal vascularity or calcifications. We report the unusual case of a malignant lymphoma which was detected in the vascular phases of a triple-phase skeletal scintigraphic study but was not visualized utilizing conventional radioangiographic techniques. Lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue neoplasms demonstrable by scintiangiography.

Edema↗
PubMed1984

Subcapsular splenic hematoma vs intrasplenic pancreatic pseudocyst.

An intrasplenic pancreatic pseudocyst may mimic a subcapsular splenic hematoma. Misdiagnosis of this entity may have serious consequences. Particular care should be taken when a patient presents with a cystic mass in the region of the spleen and a history of chronic alcohol abuse, regardless of the presence or absence of a history of a traumatic episode. Thin-needle aspiration is the current diagnostic modality of choice. A high fluid amylase level establishes the diagnosis of an intrasplenic pancreatic pseudocyst.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Implications of lymphoscintigraphy in oncologic practice: principles and differences vis-a-vis other imaging modalities.

The prompt availability of interstitial lymphoscintigraphy and its utilization offer significant advantages over other techniques. Computed tomography represents a highly sensitive technique that suffers from lack of specificity in detecting small lesions. The expense and accessibility of machine time limit its usefulness as a routine survey procedure. Radiographic lymphangiography represents a tedious and difficult process necessitating identification of lymphatic channels for injection of the contrast material for visualization of the lymph nodes in the region being evaluated. With these demonstrated difficulties, the lymph node scanning technique has emerged as a simple, reliable, and reproducible technique for evaluation of multiple lymph node groups.

Antimony↗
PubMed1980

Exercise myocardial scintigraphy with 201-thallium. Use in patients with mitral valve prolapse without associated coronary artery disease.

Thirty patients with angiographically documented mitral valve prolapse but without associated coronary artery disease, underwent exercise 201thallium myocardial scintigraphy. The resting ECG demonstrated ST segment abnormalities in 15 patients (50 percent). The exercise ECGs were abnormal in two patients (6.7 percent), normal in four (13.3 percent), and inconclusive in 24 patients (80 percent). Two patients (6.7 percent) had abnormal exercise myocardial scintigraphy (both patients had abnormal exercise ECGs). Two additional patients (6.7 percent) had perfusion abnormalities in the rest images that did not change with exercise. Twenty-six patients (86.4 percent) had normal scans. We conclude that the majority of patients with mitral valve prolapse have normal exercise 201thallium images in the absence of associated coronary artery disease and exercise electrocardiography is of limited value in patients with mitral valve prolapse because the results are frequently (80 percent) inconclusive.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Exercise 201thallium myocardial scans in patients with disease limited to the secondary branches of the left coronary system.

Coronary disease (greater than or equal to 50% narrowing) confined to only the diagonal branch of the left anterior descending artery or to the marginal branch of the left circumflex artery, or both, is uncommon. Only 19 patients with disease as defined above were identified in a group of 1000 consecutive patients with an angiographic diagnosis of coronary heart disease. All 19 patients were studied because of angina pectoris and all underwent stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with 201Tl (201thallium) during maximal treadmill exercise testing (exercise electrocardiogram: E/ECG). Ten patients (52%) had positive E/ECG's; seven patients (36%) had positive 201Tl and 13 patients (68%) had one or both tests positive. In 12 patients, the diseased branch was small, i.e. it supplied a comparatively small portion of myocardium, and in seven patients it was determined to be large. The 201Tl test results were positive in four out of seven patients (57%) with large diseased branches, as compared with three out of 12 (25%) with small diseased branches (p: NS). Also, three out of seven patients (42%) with large diseased branches had positive E/ECG's as compared with seven out of 12 patients (58%) with small diseased branches (p: NS). Patients with branch disease may present with typical angina pectoris, however, they are rare and thus not likely to account for the majority of false-negative 201Tl test results among symptomatic patients with CHD. Approximately one-third of the patients with branch disease have positive 201Tl test results, one-half have positive E/ECG's, and in two-thirds, one or both tests are positive.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Intracavitary uses of colloids.

Pleural and peritoneal effusion secondary to primary malignancy is a significant problem in the management of the cancer patient. Respiratory embarrassment and discomfort associated with the formation and collection of fluid in the chest and abdomen are among the most distressing symptoms encountered as a result of malignant disease. The guidelines for treatment should be based on respiratory symptoms, and with the understanding that the procedure is palliative. Both surgical and medical forms of treatment have been used. These include thoracostomy-tube drainage alone or with the instillation of antimicrobial agents. Pleurectomy is effective but should be reserved for situations in which conservative approaches have failed. Antitumor agents, such as nitrogen mustard, are effective but toxic. The mode of action of antineoplastic agents is related to their ability to cause pleural sclerosis and obliterate the pleural space. Systemic chemotherapy and external beam radiation are rarely effective. The intracavitary application of radioactive colloids has been used since 1945. Colloidal radioactive gold Au 198 has been replaced by the pure beta emitter, colloidal chromic phosphate P 32. Instillation of a colloidal suspension of radioactive phosphorus represents a significant and effective palliative therapeutic modality for malignant effusion.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Bone scanning in carcinomas of the colon and rectum.

Bone scanning has been shown to have a higher rate of accuracy in diagnosing osseous metastatic lesions from carcinomas of the lung and breast. In the present report, we have demonstrated this to be true for osseous metastases from carcinomas of the colon and rectum. We found that a high percentage (75%) of patients who have pelvic or back pain have positive 99mTc bone scans for metastases in spite of the negative radiographs. The previously reported incidence of 5-6% of osseous involvement from these tumors is probably lower than the actual incidence, as these studies were reported without the benefit of bone scanning.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Serial liver and spleen scanning in patients with malignant lymphomas.

Spleen and liver represent target organs for involvement in patients with Hodgkin's disease and with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Although histological examination remains the most reliable method in diagnosing the presence of disease in these organs, particularly during the early phases, exploratory laparotomy and liver biopsy cannot be repeated, for practical purposes, on a regular basis. As the incidence of splenic and hepatic involvement continues to rise in the years following the initial diagnosis, we have found that liver and spleen scans performed in a serial manner are helpful in establishing the diagnosis during the follow-up period. By comparing the later studies to the earlier ones, interval changes as related to the size, contour, homogeneity and to the presence or absence of filling defects, become apparent. These changes, should they occur, are related, in our experience to the underlying lymphoma. Conversely, through serial scanning, improvement under treatment of a previously involved organ, is well demonstrated by this noninvasive technique. The limitations imposed by the resolving power of the imaging system must be taken into consideration when interpreting the results.

Hodgkin Disease↗