Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N A Ramquist.
Inflammatory polyps that arise in the maxillary antra may extend into the nasal cavity and result in nasal obstruction. In some instances a combination of roentgenographic findings is helpful in diagnosis. This combination includes diminished aeration of the involved maxillary antrum, expansion of the antrum, and a soft tissue mass within but not arising from the nasopharynx.
Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are pathologically divided into macrocystic adenomas and microcystic adenomas, the former are considered a premalignant lesion and the latter without malignant potential. Five cases of cystic neoplasms are presented and the sonographic and/or computed tomographic features of microcystic and macrocystic adenoma are compared. A specific diagnosis can at times be suggested based on the computed tomography and sonography findings. In the proper clinical setting microcystic adenoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass seen on sonography and computed tomography. Preoperative biopsy with appropriate pathologic staining can be performed and aid in directing appropriate therapy.
A study of causes of error on barium enema examinations is reported. There were 144 patients with 189 inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the large bowel examined endoscopically and with a preceding barium enema. Twelve lesions were not reported radiologically, a false negative error rate of 6.3%. Radiographic errors included 11 polyps and 1 sigmoid carcinoma. Causes for these errors were analyzed and classified into perceptive, technical, or combined categories. Ten lesions were visible in retrospect. Five lesions, clearly visible but not noted, were due to perceptive error. Five other lesions, poorly visible due to faulty studies, represented combined error. Two lesions could not be identified and represented purely technical failure. All unreported lesions were distal to the splenic flexure with the majority located in the sigmoid colon.
A case of pneumoperitoneum occurring during double-contrast barium enema is described. Cases reported to date indicate that colonic rupture during a double-contrast enema is likely to result in exit of air rather than barium from the colon. The diagnostic implicatons of this observation are considered. The potentially high pressure generated by bulb-type inflators is discussed, and caustion is advised against overdistending the colon during double-contrast enemas.