PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Virtama

Publications and source records attributed to P Virtama.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Skeletal manifestations of lysinuric protein intolerance. A follow-up study of 29 patients.

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by defective transport of the cationic amino acids lysine, arginine, and ornithine at the cell membrane. About 80 patients with LPI have been described worldwide, almost half of them in Finland. The symptoms appear in early childhood as a failure to thrive, growth retardation, muscular hypotonia, and episodes of stupor after protein-rich meals. Twenty-nine Finnish patients (current median age 24.8 years, range 3.7-47.9 years) over a mean follow-up time of 18.1 years (range 1.2-27.2 years) had 57 fractures after minor trauma, mostly in childhood. Their 440 skeletal radiographs showed severe osteoporosis (13/29), controversially abnormal thickening of cortex of the metacarpals (7/29), or thin cortices of the long bones (5/29), endplate impression of vertebrae (8/29), rickets-like metaphyses (2/29), or early destruction of cartilage (3/29). Skeletal maturation was delayed by 1-5 years in 23 of 24 patients. There was no correlation between fracture incidence, radiological bone structure, and delayed skeletal maturation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cortical thickness and trabecular pattern of the femoral neck as a measure of osteopenia.

The pelvic radiographs of 312 patients aged 18 to 92 years were reviewed to determine if the Singh index was valid or not. The cortical thickness of the lower part of the femoral calcar, the stress index (body weight, physical activity, and femoral neck angle), and the Singh Index (trabecular pattern of the femoral neck) were measured in each patient and correlated with each other and with the patient's age, sex, and dominant side. It was found that the Singh index correlates well with age but not with the cortical thickness or stress index. Thus, the Singh index is an unreliable measure of osteopenia, and we conclude that other methods should be used for screening patients with osteoporosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose: its potential in differentiating between stress fracture and neoplasia.

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulates into regions of enhanced glucose uptake and metabolism such as the brain, heart, and malignant tumors. The clinical usefulness of this positron-emitting radiopharmaceutical is illustrated in a case where the clinical picture and CT indicated a malignant bone lesion in the clavicle. Histologically a stress fracture was found secondary to chronic strain on the clavicle. On follow-up the lesion's course was benign. Planar imaging with F-18 FDG was performed twice during follow-up, and on both occasions there was no accumulation of radioactivity over the suspicious area, indicating normal glucose consumption. This case demonstrates the differential diagnostic potential of F-18 FDG and shows that clinically useful information may be obtained without a position emission tomograph.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Stress response of the tibial cortex: a longitudinal radiographic study.

The influence of physical exercise on bone tissue was studied in a sample of 30 conscripts, who served in the coast commando battalion . A repeated roentgen examination of the lower legs was performed after 10, 20 and 40 weeks' service. In the anterior cortex of mid-diaphysis of the tibia a structural change in bone could be regularly observed. In the first examination (after 10 weeks) the cortical bone was longitudinally striated. In the next control (after 20 weeks) the finding was less pronounced. After 40 weeks the bone structure was quite homogenous and solid. The cortical thickness did not change significantly during the 40 weeks follow-up. Most of the diagnosed stress lesions (73%) in bone were developed during the first 10 weeks.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1983

Double-contrast examination of the stomach: 100mm fluorography vs. full-size radiography.

Full-size radiographs and 100mm fluorographic spot views taken with an image intensifier were compared during double-contrast examination of the stomach. Differences in image quality between the two modalities were small; there was also a small decrease in absorbed dose, since fluoroscopy comprised more than half of the total dose. The authors recommend that 100mm spot views be used routinely in double-contrast examination of the stomach.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed1982

Radiologic bone changes of polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy.

More than 50 cases of polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia (PLO) with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy (SL) have been described in Finland, Sweden, Japan, and in the USA. Radiographic bone changes, including symmetrical cystic lesions in the small bones of the extremities and trabecular loss in the distal ends of the long tubular bones, represent primary abnormalities in the diagnosis of the disease. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, frontal syndrome, and pyramidal signs make the patients dangerous to themselves. They are often involved in traffic accidents and are prone to multiple spontaneous or almost spontaneous fractures. PLO usually starts with slight bone pain around the age of 20 years. Progress is very slow during the next ten years, but faster after the age of 40 years. The patients usually die before the age of 50 years having total dementia and epileptiform convulsions.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Value of high contrast medium dose in brain CT.

Fifty-five patients with brain lesions were examined by computed tomography (CT) after two doses of contrast medium: a bolus injection of 65% meglumine diatrizoate, 1 ml/kg, and a bolus injection of 65% meglumine diatrizoate, 1.5 ml/kg, in combination with an infusion of 250 ml meglumine iodamide containing 110 mg I/ml. The studies were usually performed 2 days apart and were analyzed by three radiologists. In 25 patients, one or more of the radiologists changed the diagnosis or the number or size of the lesions when the two scans were observed separately. In three patients, the primary tumor or metastases were seen in the study performed after the higher dose only, and, in two other patients having cerebral metastases, a greater number of metastases were detected in the high dose study. The lower dose containing 15 to 31 g iodine (306 mg iodine/kg) seems to be inadequate in CT of the brain.

Brain↗
PubMed1981

Achilles tendon thickness in hypercholesterolaemia.

The maximum thickness of the achilles tendon was measured by radiographic technique in twenty-six hypercholesterolaemic patients and thirty-four controls. There were thirteen patients with diagnostic criteria of familial hypercholesterolaemia. All achilles tendons except one of the familial hypercholesterolaemic patients were thicker than normal, but in the non familial hypercholesterolaemic group the thickness of achilles tendons was within normal limits. Achilles tendon thickness and age were positively correlated in II A familial type patients, but not in controls or in the non-familial group. A strongly positive correlation between Achilles tendon thickness and the age multiplied by the serum cholesterol level was seen in familial type II A patients. The Achilles tendon thickness and serum HDL-cholesterol concentration were not correlated. The radiographic measurement of Achilles tendon thickness seems to be a useful procedure for detecting familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1981

Late haemodynamic response to metrizamide and ioxaglate in canine renal angiography. Preliminary report.

The renal blood flow as examined in six dogs for 2 h after contrast agent injection into the renal artery using the dye dilution method. After injection of an ionic contrast agent (iodamide) there was an initial vasodilatation and later constriction, but the blood flow was back to normal after 10-15 min. Ioxaglate caused a similar initial response, but after a relatively large dose the blood flow remained below normal for 2 h. Metrizamide caused an immediate reduction in the blood flow, which remained constantly reduced for 2 h. A total cessation of the renal blood flow was seen in two cases.

Angiography↗
PubMed1980

Determining growth rates of focal lesions of bone from radiographs.

Rate of growth divides focal lesions of bone into two classes which are largely mutually exclusive. Not all focal lesions require biopsy, and grading is especially helpful in deciding which should be biopsied and which may be safely followed. The statistical proof and logic of grading as an expression of growth rate are presented with a set of rules establishing each of the five grades in the presence of bone destruction. The radiologic signs necessary to establish rates are described and illustrated.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1980

Estimating rate of growth in bone lesions: observer performance and error.

In an experimental study of reader experience in identifying the variables essential to grading bone neoplasms, reader error is measured against book grade, a human consensus of the presence or absence of key variables. The average accuracy for classifying focal lesions into slow or fast categories is 83.4% for 890 readings as compared with average diagnostic accuracy of 53.7%. Analyses of human error have provided insight into how to improve the grading algorithm without significant loss of its ability to separate lesions into meaningful categories.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

Computer aided diagnosis of bone tumors.

Four radiologists, three of whom having no special expertise in bone tumor radiology, analysed 177 bone tumors. One of the radiologists, using a computer aided bone tumor program, performed significantly better than the other two at a comparable level of training and was able to compete successfully with the fourth radiologist experienced in bone diagnosis. The results validate the assumption that computer aided diagnostic programs may improve the diagnostic accuracy of radiologists having limited experience with the problem at hand.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

Finger joint swelling: correlation with age, gender, and manual labor.

A soft tissue immersion radiography technique was used to study changes in 4,648 finger joints of 166 patients free from signs of inflammatory joint disease. An age-specific correlation was found for joint swelling, joint space narrowing, joint margin spurs, and intraarticular loose bodies. The distal interphalangeal joints were more commonly swollen in women, and the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints more commonly swollen in manual laborers. Both correlations are highly significant (P less than 0.001). The second and third digits showed a definite predilection for joint swelling. Swelling of finger joints is closely correlated with age and degenerative disease, and its occurrence in older patients is associated with degenerative changes. In manual laborers it should not be interpreted as evidence for inflammatory joint disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Computerised tomography of the pancreas with acute pancreatitis.

Twenty patients with clinically diagnosed or suspected pancreatitis were examined with computerised tomography. Five pseudocysts and one pancreatic abscess were found as a complication of the disease. Computerised tomography is a non-invasive method of diagnosis in acute pancreatitis and is especially valuable in diagnosing the complications of the disease. Slight swelling of the inflamed part of pancreas and occlusion of the peripancreatic fat were found in mild pancreatitis. Swelling of the perinephric fat and the mesenteric fat were found in five cases of severe pancreatitis. This is a new sign, as well as uneven distribution of the contrast agent in the pancreatic parenchyma.

Abscess↗
PubMed1979

Accuracy of 100 mm x 100 mm mirror optic camera technique as compared to normal chest radiography technique.

Full size and 100 mm x 100 mm mirror optic camera (photofluorographic) chest films of 121 patients were read by a team of four radiologists. Altogether 2781 diagnostic statements were reported, 968 of which were of primary importance, and only these statements were analysed. Error rates with the standard technique varied between 16 and 31% and with the 100 mm x 100 mm technique between 21 and 38%. The difference in error rates between the techniques used was not statistically significant but there were significant differences between the individual radiologists.

Clinical Competence↗