Biomedical subjects

R Sollitto

Publications and source records attributed to R Sollitto.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Assessment of pulmonary lesions with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron imaging using coincidence mode gamma cameras.

UNLABELLED: Accurate assessment of lung carcinoma remains a significant clinical problem, often leading to surgical procedures without curative potential. PET with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has shown promise in differentiating benign from malignant lesions and in staging the extent of disease, resulting in improved treatment at a significant cost savings. This multicenter prospective study used dual-detector coincidence imaging with FDG to categorize pulmonary lesions as benign or malignant. The goal of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of dual-detector coincidence imaging of FDG in patients with pulmonary lesions who were scheduled to have a diagnostic procedure for histopathologic confirmation. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with pulmonary lesions with a lesion size ranging from 1 to 7 cm with a mean of 3.44 cm based on their chest radiograph or CT scan were studied using FDG scans with a dual-detector coincidence detection system. An additional 24 patients were entered as control subjects. The studies of 120 subjects were interpreted in random order by three physicians experienced in the use of FDG in patients with lung cancer. Surgical pathology was used as the standard for identifying malignant lesions. RESULTS: There was 94% agreement between the readers in the independent interpretation of the FDG studies. In the 96 patients with pulmonary lesions, FDG studies were 97% sensitive and 80% specific in identifying proven malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: The results of this prospective study provide evidence that dual-detector coincidence imaging with FDG provides an accurate, sensitive and specific means of diagnosing malignancy in patients with pulmonary lesions.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1986

Multifocal abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract in AIDS.

On review of 63 barium sulfate examinations in 44 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 61% of the 23 single-contrast examinations and 98% of the 40 double-contrast examinations were abnormal. Abnormalities involved all areas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and covered a wide spectrum of findings including thickened folds, nodularity, increased secretions, superficial erosions, ulcerations, plaque formation, and tumor mass. Abnormalities, when present, were most commonly multifocal (three or more sites) on upper GI study (64%) and barium enema (69%). Thirty-eight patients (86%) had at least one abnormal study; 27 of these patients had multifocal disease in either the upper or lower tract separately or combined. The most common site of abnormality was the duodenum on upper GI study and the sigmoid colon on barium enema. In 27 cases the radiographic abnormalities could be specifically correlated with a malignancy or an opportunistic infection by endoscopy, colonoscopy, culture, biopsy, or autopsy. Multifocal disease of the upper and/or lower GI tract, especially when the duodenum is involved, should suggest AIDS even in patients not thought to be at high risk for the disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1986

MRI of pulmonary airspace disease: experimental model and preliminary clinical results.

To evaluate the potential of MRI for differentiating the various causes of pulmonary consolidation, 16 patients with known airspace diseases were imaged, and T1 and T2 values were determined. Substantial overlap was encountered between different diagnostic groups of T1 and T2 mapping, although alveolar proteinosis was notable for its low T1 value. In addition, a gelatin phantom simulating consolidation with varying degrees of residual aeration was constructed and tested, demonstrating that the degree of aeration did not influence the T1 and T2 values measured.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed1986

MR characteristics of benign lymph node enlargement in sarcoidosis and Castleman's disease.

The magnetic resonance characteristics of mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy were reviewed in five patients with sarcoidosis and one with Castleman's disease. Although the T1 values of 26 nodes measured in patients with sarcoidosis ranged from 390 to 786 msec (mean 549 msec; SD 88 msec), the mean values recorded for each patient were quite similar (range 501-616 msec). T2 values ranged from 40 to 68 msec (mean 49 msec; SD 7 msec). In the patient with Castleman's disease T1 and T2 values measured 838 msec and 45 msec respectively. In comparison to T1 and T2 values we have recently measured in patients with proven mediastinal lymph node metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma, lymph nodes in the patients with sarcoidosis have significantly lower T1 (p less than .001) and T2 (p less than .05) values. However, because of significant overlap between the values recorded in these two groups, their differentiation may be difficult in individual cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography in the evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate abdominal aortic aneurysms in 27 patients. The findings were compared retrospectively with CT, ultrasound (US), and angiography in 17 cases and prospectively with US in 10 cases. MRI identified the renal arteries in all cases, demonstrated involvement at or above the origin of the renal arteries in eight patients, and showed extension of the aneurysm into the iliac arteries in 12 cases. The outer dimension of the aneurysm, the diameter of the residual lumen, and the length of the aneurysm were measured easily from the MR images. The measurements of transverse dimension of the abdominal aortic aneurysm were similar for MRI, CT, and US. MRI more accurately defined extension above the renal arteries and below the aortic bifurcation. It is concluded that MRI provides the necessary information for the surveillance and preoperative evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Aged↗

PubMed1985

Aortic dissection: magnetic resonance imaging.

Fifteen patients with suspected or known aortic dissection were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR). Thirteen of these patients were eventually shown to have dissection. In most instances the diagnosis was established by aortography and/or computed tomography (CT) prior to the MR study. Surgical proof (6/13) and/or aortographic proof (10/13) were available in 11/13 patients with aortic dissection. MR demonstrated the intimal flap and determined whether the dissection was type A or type B. In addition, MR: differentiated between the true and false lumens; determined the origins of the celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries from the true or false lumen in the cases where the dissection extended into the abdominal aorta (8/12); allowed post-surgical surveillance of the dissection; and identified aortoannular ectasia in the three patients who had Marfan syndrome. In addition to the 13 cases with dissection, there were two cases in whom the diagnosis of dissection was excluded by MR. Our early experience suggests that MR can serve as the initial imaging test in clinically suspected cases of aortic dissection and that the information provided by MR is sufficient to manage many cases. Additionally, MR obviates the use of iodinated contrast media.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Bronchogenic carcinoma: staging with MR compared with staging with CT and surgery.

Thirty-three patients suspected of having bronchogenic carcinoma were studied prospectively using magnetic resonance (MR). In this group, 30 underwent examination with computed tomography (CT), 15 underwent thoracotomy, six had mediastinal biopsy procedures performed, and eight underwent bronchoscopy. MR studies, which included transaxial spin-echo imaging (TR, 0.5 and 2.0 sec; TE, 28 and 56 msec) of all patients and sagittal or coronal imaging of 18, were performed without knowledge of CT findings, using only plain radiographs as a guide. CT and MR studies were interpreted separately. CT and MR provided comparable information regarding the presence and size of mediastinal lymph nodes. MR better discriminated mediastinal nodes from vascular structures. However, in two of 11 patients who had multiple mediastinal lymph nodes that were normal in size at CT examination and surgery, MR suggested a confluent abnormal mass, probably because of its poorer spatial resolution. MR was superior to CT in showing enlarged hilar lymph nodes, but CT was better for demonstrating bronchial abnormalities. In three of four patients who had a proved hilar mass with distal obstructive pneumonia, MR (TR, 2.0 sec) helped distinguish between the mass and collapsed lung.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Coronal magnetic resonance imaging of the chest: normal and abnormal.

In order to determine the value of coronal magnetic resonance (MR) in diagnosing thoracic abnormalities, the multisection coronal spin echo MR images were reviewed of 10 normal subjects and 20 patients with thoracic abnormalities. In the abnormal patients, coronal images were compared with transaxial MR images obtained with TR values of 0.5 and 2.0 sec. In general, coronal imaging was of value in several situations. It allowed structures oriented in the coronal plane to be imaged along their longitudinal axes, provided an additional perspective and increased the confidence of diagnosis, and helped clarify anatomic relationships difficult or impossible to resolve on transaxial images because of volume averaging. Specifically, coronal images were sometimes superior to transaxial images in evaluating the aorticopulmonary window and masses at the lung apex or base. Transaxial images were often superior in evaluating the pretracheal space, subcarinal space, and hili. Within the pulmonary hili, lateral hilar masses were better defined on coronal images than were anterior or posterior hilar masses. Coronal images obtained with a TR of 1.0 sec (10 sections) allow evaluation of most node-bearing mediastinal compartments and provide adequate mass/fat contrast.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sagittal MR imaging of the chest: normal and abnormal.

To determine the value of sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) in diagnosing thoracic abnormality, we reviewed the multisection sagittal spin-echo MR images of 13 normal subjects and 23 patients with a variety of thoracic abnormalities. In the abnormal subjects sagittal images were compared with transaxial MR performed with repetition time values of both 0.5 and 2.0 s. Sagittal images were most helpful in the evaluation of structures lying in the sagittal plane such as the thoracic aorta. Mediastinal masses in most locations were better seen and evaluated in the transaxial plane. However, the relationship of subcarinal masses to the trachea, left atrium, and pulmonary artery was better appreciated in the sagittal plane. The relationship of hilar masses to hilar vessels, bronchi, and the mediastinum was usually better seen on transaxial images. Also, the relationship of paramediastinal masses to the mediastinum was difficult to evaluate with sagittal scans.

Adolescent↗