PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Denk

Publications and source records attributed to S Denk.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

First results of computerised tomographic angiography using electron beam tomography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of electron beam tomography (EBT) with fast continuous volume scanning for CT angiography (CTA) in chest and abdomen. An Evolution XP EBT scanner with a new software version (12.34) was used. One hundred forty images per study can be acquired in 17 s using 3-mm collimation and overlapping image reconstruction. Study protocols for five different clinical applications of EBT CTA were established and evaluated. The EBT CTA technique was performed in 155 patients. High- and homogeneous density values were achieved along the whole course of the vessels; the mean density in the aorta was > 240 HU. Coeliac axis, superior and inferior mesenteric artery, renal and lumbar arteries were visualised in all cases. Maximum intensity projection and shaded surface display reconstruction demonstrated the relation between aneurysm and aortic branches very well due to an excellent resolution along the z-axis. In large scan volumes overlapping image reconstruction demonstrated better resolution along the z-axis than is available with helical CT. The EBT CTA technique proved to be very well suited excellent suitability for evaluation of pulmonary vessels. Compared with helical CT, EBT CTA offers a shorter scan time, which allows higher contrast enhancement in pulmonary vessels. The identification of intraluminal emboli and mural thrombi has improved. The EBT CTA technique is a very reliable tool for evaluation of aortic disease and pulmonary vessels.

Angiography↗

[The role of electron beam CT in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism--presenting a new examination protocol].

PURPOSE: To evaluate electron beam tomography in the detection of acute pulmonary embolism using a new acquisition protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 65 patients underwent electron beam tomography (EBT) and v./p. scintigraphy. According to the inclusion criteria 46 patients participated in the study. Contrast enhancement and detectability of pulmonary arteries were scored on a 4 step scale for image quality. The results of prospective detection of pulmonary embolism were compared for both modalities (blinded reading). "Embolism", "questionable embolism" and "no embolism" were used as categories. RESULTS: 22/46 patients (48%) showed acute pulmonary embolism. EBT and scintigraphy were discordant in 24% of patients. In EBT 1 false positive and 1 false negative case occurred, scintigraphy demonstrated 2 false negative and 3 false positive cases. 6/9 patients with questionable findings in scintigraphy were correctly classified by EBT to a category "embolism" or "no embolism" as "suspected embolism", EBT displayed a sensitivity of 96.3% and a specificity of 94.7%. Scintigraphy evidenced a sensitivity of 93.7% and a specificity of 84.4%. CONCLUSIONS: EBT shows better results than scintigraphy for the detection of acute pulmonary emboli. The evaluated new acquisition protocol for EBT seems to be well suited. High vessel contrast and thin slices allow a reliable detection of segmental and subsegmental pulmonary arteries.

Acute Disease↗

The exercise renogram and its interpretation.

UNLABELLED: The exercise renogram is a rarely used diagnostic procedure, but it may visualize an exercise-induced change in renal function related to the pathophysiology of essential hypertension, which could greatly increase interest in this examination. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the interpretative approach and the terminology which is used to describe results of exercise renography, using a population of hypertensives with renovascular disease. METHODS: We reviewed the examinations of 70 hypertensives who had supine renography as well as exercise renography with a 60-80 W work load. Forty-eight patients were examined with 99mTc-MAG3 and 22 with 131I hippurate. The renographic and angiography results were recorded as well as the antihypertensive drugs used and the site of vascular lesions. RESULTS: Thirty-three hypertensives developed a bilateral-abnormal exercise renogram, which appears to be associated with primary hypertension. Eight individuals responded to exercise with a unilateral-abnormal exercise renogram, in a kidney behind a stenosis. Only 19 patients had a normal exercise renogram, and 10 had only one functioning kidney. Pathology recognized but unrelated to the intervention included nonfunctioning and small kidneys and pelvic retention. CONCLUSION: Exercise renography's only indication is for recognition of pathology unique to hypertension, since other function disturbances were recognized in resting renograms.

Adult↗

Exercise activates renal dysfunction in hypertension.

A bilateral, exercise-mediated renal functional abnormality was first described more than a decade ago. The disturbance is specific for hypertension, is seen in different forms of hypertension, and has been studied most extensively in hypertensives with renovascular disease. The bilateral-abnormal exercise renogram identifies the disturbance. Hypertensives with unilateral renovascular disease were studied in the continuing evaluation of the bilateral function disturbance. We examined 31 hypertensives with documented unilateral renovascular disease, all of whom had renography at rest and during 60 to 80 W ergometric exercise. An additional seven normotensives and 17 essential hypertensives served as controls, and had the same sequence of studies. All patients reported upon continued on to an infusion clearance with 131I-hippurate and 111In-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid to determine glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) at rest, and during 25 W ergometric exercise. Eighteen of 31 hypertensives with unilateral renovascular disease were found to have a bilateral-abnormal exercise renogram. Clearance examinations in these identified a prominent reduction of the GFR and a lesser decrease in the ERPF during exercise. Hypertensives with normal exercise renograms did not have the exercise mediated abnormal clearance pattern. Similar results were observed in the control population of essential hypertensives, 65% of whom developed the functional disturbance. The seven normotensives controls did not exhibit the exercise mediated function changes. We conclude that an exercise-mediated bilaterally occurring functional disturbance exists in certain hypertensives, who then have a bilateral-abnormal exercise renogram. Associated with this is a distinctly abnormal clearance during exercise which is characterized by a low filtration fraction.

Antihypertensive Agents↗