PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W H McCartney

Publications and source records attributed to W H McCartney.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

CSF rhinorrhea: detection and localization using overpressure cisternography with Tc-99m-DTPA.

We performed 32 overpressure radionuclide cisternography (ORNC) studies to examine 26 patients who were clinically suspected of having cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula with rhinorrhea. Fifteen (47%) of these cisternography studies were positive, and the site of the leak was identified. No leak could be demonstrated in the other 17. Of 23 examinations performed in patients who had clinically documented CSF rhinorrhea, 15 (65%) were scintigraphically positive. The rapid cephalad transit of the radionuclide bolus allowed completion of the study within 30 to 45 minutes. Seven examinations were also performed with overpressure metrizamide CT cisternography (OMCTC), and five demonstrated concordant results with the radionuclide study. Patient discomfort and side effects were minimal. We conclude that radionuclide infusion cisternography is a safe, rapid, and accurate method of investigating a suspected or proven CSF rhinorrhea and that it is complementary to metrizamide cisternography.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Bone density in women: a modified procedure for measurement of distal radial density.

This is a cross-sectional study of bone densitometry in greater than 700 normal healthy white women ranging in age from 18 to 98 years. A modified procedure for single-photon bone density analysis of the distal radius is described and compared with dual-photon densitometric measurements of the second through fourth lumbar vertebrae. The distal radial site measured was separated from the ulna by 5 mm. This "5 mm" site was characterized according to trabecular and cortical bone content, measurement reproducibility, positioning precision, and the effects of wrist pronation or supination. The radial site demonstrated a bone density loss of less than 0.1%/year for normal women 25-50 years of age, increasing to 0.7%/year after 50 years of age. In contrast to the variability and inconsistency obtained by us and others utilizing the standard "9/10" site, bone loss with age at the new "5 mm" site correlated closely with generalized bone mineral loss of the axial skeleton. We suggest that there is a unique role for single-beam densitometric measurements of the radius, permitting the rapid and relatively inexpensive evaluation of large populations of women without requiring a visit to a medical center. Such a process can select those requiring further evaluation or medical attention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Bone density in osteopenic women: a modified distal radius density measurement procedure to develop an "at risk" value for use in screening women.

This study measured radial and lumbar spine bone density in postmenopausal white female patients with nontraumatic fractures and their age-matched controls. Bone density measurements were made with a single-beam densitometer. Distal radial bone density measurements were made at the site at which the radius and ulna are separated by 5 mm, which is approximately 5 mm from the distal radioulnar joint. Lumbar spine density was obtained using a dual-beam densitometer. Density at the commonly used "2/3" site near the midradius was also measured. Forty-six crush fracture osteoporotic patients, 35 hip fracture patients, and 20 osteopenic patients referred to the clinic for back pain or excessive bone loss but with no history of nontraumatic fracture were studied. Bone density values at all sites in the patient populations were statistically reduced from control values (p less than 0.01). At a mean age of 62 years, density of the midradius was 12% below the control value. However, both vertebral and distal radial densities ("5 mm" site) were 25% below control values. The spine/distal radius ratio remained constant. It was demonstrated that bone density at the modified distal radial site could be used to predict vertebral density in osteopenic patients. An "at risk" value useful in screening procedures was determined as that distal radius density value greater than or equal to 95% of all values from fracture patients--325 mg/cm2. It is concluded that distal radial density at the new "5 mm" site can be used in conjunction with midradius density as a preliminary test for both generalized and trabecular bone mass loss in women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1984

Computed tomography in recurrent or metastatic colon cancer: relation to rising serum carcinoembryonic antigen.

Twenty patients with Stage Duke B or C adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum who have undergone radical surgical resection and demonstrated rising serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) during follow-up are the subject of this study. In all cases, while there was a continuous and progressive elevation of serum CEA, CT examination of the abdomen and pelvis was performed. Abnormal CT findings were demonstrated in 19 patients and included pelvic mass, liver metastases, and periaortic or mesenteric lymphadenopathy. There was one normal CT scan in a patient who subsequently developed metastases in the sacrum. Based on the observations in these patients, it is concluded that in routine follow-up after colorectal surgery, rising serum CEA should be considered a warning sign and warrants additional investigation by CT.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1982

Hepatobiliary scanning with 99mTc-PIPIDA in acute cholecystitis.

Ninety-five patients with clinically suspected acute cholecystitis underwent hepatobiliary scanning with 99mTc-PIPIDA. A positive scan (nonvisualization of the gallbladder with visualization of the common bile duct and gut) was found in 29 patients; 25 of them (86%) had surgically proven acute cholecystitis and 4 (14%) had chronic cholecystitis. Five of the 25 with acute cholecystitis had acalculous disease. A negative examination (gallbladder visualization) occurred in 63 patients; 18 (29%) had chronic cholecystitis and 45 (71%) were subsequently found to have nonbiliary disease. Three indeterminate studies (nonvisualization of both the gallbladder and gut) were obtained in patients with choledocholithiasis and chronic cholecystitis. In the evaluation of acute cholecystitis, the 99mTc-PIPIDA hepatobiliary scan was 100% sensitive and 94% specific.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

The role of noninvasive tests versus pulmonary angiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

We studied 243 patients in whom 248 pulmonary angiograms were performed because of suspected pulmonary embolism. Ventilation and perfusion lung scanning in 140 of them revealed 38 to be in low and high probability groups. Of 19 patients with subsegmental and nonsegmental perfusion defects that were matched with ventilation defects, none had pulmonary embolism. Conversely, angiography was positive in 17 of 19 patients with multiple segmental or lobar perfusion defects in areas of normal ventilation. Doppler flow examinations of the veins of the legs showed normal flow in 61 of 79 (77 percent) patients with pulmonary emboli and, therefore, were insensitive indicators of embolism. There was no mortality from angiography, and serious complications occurred in 2 percent of the patients. Anticoagulation in 83 patients was associated with bleeding in 25, two of whom died. The data indicate that ventilation-perfusion lung scanning can be used to separate many of the patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism who need anticoagulant treatment from those who do not. However, there is a considerable number of patients with nonspecific abnormalities on lung scan. For this group of patients with nonspecific abnormalities, the risk of complications from empiric treatment with anticoagulant drugs is probably greater than the risk of complications from pulmonary angiography. Further, our data show that patients with negative angiography have a very low risk of subsequent pulmonary embolism. In this group of patients, therefore, pulmonary embolism should be demonstrated by angiography before long-term anticoagulant therapy is prescribed.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1981

Dysthyroid orbital disease in Macaca fascicularis.

Fluctuating left exophthalmos in a mature male Macaca fascicularis was studied clinically utilizing the diagnostic modalities of A- and B-scan ultrasonography and computerized tomography in addition to routine ophthalmic examination and radiography. Laboratory results were suggestive of thyroid hypofunction. Clinical and histopathologic observations were consistent with a diagnosis of dysthyroid orbitopathy, a condition previously unreported in nonhuman primates and the most common cause of unilateral exophthalmos in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Liver-spleen imaging in patients with subacute hepatic necrosis and chronic hepatitis.

Tc-99m-sulfur colloid reticuloendothelial images and percutaneous liver biopsies are correlated in 54 patients who presented with signs and symptoms of subacute hepatic necrosis or chronic active hepatitis. The scored Tc-99m-sulfur colloid scan is compared to the histological severity of disease. Serial scans and biopsies are compared. In patients with significant hepatocellular disease, the liver-spleen scan did not correlate well with the histological severity of disease. Changes in the spleen-to-liver ratio are more common than those in the liver or increased bone marrow activity, and appear earlier. In serial studies, changes in the Tc-99m-sulfur colloid scans correlate weakly with changes in histology.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1979

Computerized tomography applied to gynecologic oncology.

Forty patients on the gynecologic oncology service at the University of North Carolina were evaluated with CT scans. Accuracy and clinical benefit of these scans were compared to those of manual clinical examinations. The CT scans were generally superior and had fewer (9) verified errors in the regions of the pelvic wall and para-aortic area than did the manual examinations (17). Both the CT and bimanual examinations had the same number of verified errors (3) in the central pelvic region. The authors found the CT scans to be beneficial in evaluation of pelvic wall and para-aortic regions for treatment planning of either primary or recurrent cancer.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1979

Multiple imaging modalities for the study of pancreatic disease.

Gray scale ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) have enhanced the role of various imaging modalities in the evaluation of patients with suspected pancreatic disease. When these anatomical studies are normal or equivocal, a functional, radionuclide pancreas scan may be useful. Pancreatic imaging can be achieved using ultrasound, transmission CT, single photon radionuclide imaging, and positron emission CT. A diagnostic imaging decision chart for the evaluation of patients with possible pancreatic disease is useful in choosing the correct imaging modality in a specific situation. Such a chart and its theoretic basis are described in this review. The need to optimize the pancreatic work-up with respect to cost-benefit decisions and diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are of particular concern to the physician. Of all the potential areas for disease, the pancreas has been and remains a particularly difficult diagnostic problem.

Humans↗