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Biomedical subjects

W Scheible

Publications and source records attributed to W Scheible.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultrasonography of the popliteal fossa and lower extremities.

In this article, the numerous proven applications of diagnostic ultrasound to the assessment of disease processes affecting the popliteal fossa and lower extremities have been discussed. Popliteal cysts and aneurysms, hematomas, cellulitis, abscesses, soft tissue neoplasms, and other space-occupying fluid collections are readily identified using this technique. In addition, post-traumatic and inflammatory disorders affecting tendons, synovial thickening and effusion, derangement of articular cartilage, meniscal tears, and alterations in soft tissue thickness as well as foreign bodies are amenable to detection by sonography. With future technologic improvements in transducer design and computerized image reconstruction, diagnostic capabilities of this method in the lower extremities should continue to expand.

Aneurysm

Large umbilical cord: a normal finding in some fetuses.

We report two cases in which the umbilical cords of fetuses were large on prenatal ultrasound scans. The pregnancies terminated uneventfully, however, and the babies were healthy at birth and on follow-up visits. We discuss the various etiologies of a large umbilical cord and conclude that, although a large cord may suggest the presence of an underlying abnormality, in some instances it may represent a normal finding.

Adult

The subplacental complex: further sonographic observations.

The subplacental complex, which represents vascular channels at the placental-myometrial junction, is a structure that is routinely seen sonographically in patients with posteriorly placed placentas, but not in those with anteriorly placed placentas. This study shows that the subplacental complex is a constant anatomic feature of the placenta regardless of whether it develops on the anterior or posterior uterine wall, and can be visualized in most patients if the subplacental complex is in the focal plane of the transducer. This has important implications in patients with anterior placentas that are being evaluated for abruption or in patients in whom fetal parts lie just beneath the anterior myometrial wall.

Female

Neuroblastoma metastatic to the testis: ultrasonographic screening as an aid to clinical staging.

Secondary testicular tumors are rare, and to our knowledge only a few cases of metastatic neuroblastoma to the testicle have been presented in the literature. We report two cases in which high resolution ultrasonography was helpful in establishing the diagnosis of metastatic neuroblastoma. Because accurate staging is important in the choice of therapy, an aggressive search for the presence of metastatic disease is essential. The small size of the testes in young children makes physical examination difficult, and sonography can be of value.

Child, Preschool

Occult spinal dysraphism in infants: screening with high-resolution real-time ultrasound.

Spinal dysraphism refers to incomplete embryologic development of the dorsal midline. Frequently it is not clinically obvious, and lack of treatment can lead to progressive neurological damage. Early diagnosis of occult defects can allow appropriate surgical intervention and prevent neurological deficits. The authors have used high-resolution real-time ultrasound to screen infants with various cutaneous lumbosacral markers, all of whom were at risk of occult spinal dysraphism. Preliminary results suggest that ultrasound is a reliable screening procedure and could obviate the need for more costly and invasive tests.

Humans

Comparison of high resolution real time ultrasonography and high resolution computed tomography in an infant with spinal dysraphism.

An infant with a lumbosacral spinal subcutaneous and intraspinal lipoma involving the conus medullaris was studied with computed tomography and high resolution real time ultrasonography to determine the extent and location of the disease before operation. The high resolution ultrasonogram demonstrated the abnormality with good detail and the added advantage of real time display of the lack of pulsatile mobility of the neural elements, confirming spinal cord tethering. Spinal high resolution ultrasonography is a noninvasive diagnostic tool in infants with spinal abnormalities and should be an important part of a neurosurgeon's diagnostic support system.

Diagnosis, Differential

Sonography of jugular vein thrombosis.

The sonographic findings in three patients with jugular vein thrombosis are described. In each case, intraluminal clot appeared as a solid mass composed of midamplitude echoes. In one patient, near complete resolution of the thrombus was documented by serial sonograms over a 3 month period. High-resolution sonography of the neck is a reliable method to establish the diagnosis of jugular vein thrombosis.

Abscess

Intrauterine/newborn testicular torsion.

Although spermatic cord torsion in the neonate is uncommon, early recognition with prompt surgical exploration and detorsion of the cord can result in preservation of some testicular tissue. Palpation of the infantile testes can be difficult, and distinguishing testicular from extratesticular abnormalities may not be possible. High-resolution real-time ultrasonography is an effective, noninvasive method of differentiating between the two. If sonography demonstrates and abnormal testicle, prompt surgical exploration is indicated.

Female

High-resolution real-time ultrasonography of neonatal kidneys.

A high-resolution real-time ultrasound system was used to evaluate 43 neonates who had problems referable to the kidney. In addition to a review of normal anatomic features portrayed by this instrument, a variety of pathologic states are illustrated. The system offers the dual advantages of superior spatial resolution and rapid survey capability when compared with traditional articulated-arm contact scanners. As with all sonographic investigations, functional immaturity or depressed organ function is no hindrance to obtaining diagnostic examinations.

Humans

How accurate is ultrasonography in detecting hydronephrosis in azotemic patients?

Screening for hydronephrosis continues to be an essential part of the evaluation of patients with azotemia of unknown cause. To determine whether sonography is as reliable as nephrotomography for screening purposes, we carried out a prospective, comparative study. Sixty-two patients were evaluated. Mean serum creatinine was 4.3 mg/dl. Of 116 kidneys, 45 were obstructed according to urographic criteria and 42 of these were correctly called hydronephrotic by sonography. The 3 false negative sonographic studies occurred in 2 patients. All 3 kidneys contained radiopaque calculi visible on the plain abdominal film. Of the 71 nonobstructed kidneys, 5 were mistakenly called hydronephrotic by ultrasound, giving a false positive rate of 7%. We believe it is appropriate to use gray-scale ultrasound as a screening test for urinary obstruction in azotemic patients providing the plain abdominal radiograph shows no calcifications.

Adolescent

High resolution real-time sonography of hemodialysis vascular access complications.

Chronic hemodialysis requires an adequately functioning, surgically created vascular access. Many operative techniques have been devised, and each is subject to a variety of complications that significantly shorten the life span of any shunt. Among these are stenosis, thrombosis, aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm, and infection. High resolution sonography is a promising means to evaluate most of these complications. To determine the potential capability of the technique for detecting graft complications, a retrospective review of 30 hemodialysis patients examined with high resolution sonography is presented. Sonographic findings in normal grafts and in a variety of vascular access problems are illustrated.

Aneurysm

High-resolution real-time ultrasonography of thyroid nodules.

High-resolution real-time ultrasonography was used to evaluate 98 patients with palpable abnormalities of the thyroid and positive isotopic studies. It confirmed 37 of 73 (51%) suspected solitary nodules. Of 25 patients thought to have multinodular goiter, sonography was supportive in 21 (84%). In patients with adenoma or adenomatous nodules, characteristic features included a sonolucent "halo". Colloid nodules tended to be more sonolucent than normal thyroid tissue, whereas Hashimoto thyroiditis was characterized by an enlarged gland and decreased echogenicity.

Adenoma

Accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosis of hepatocellular disease.

Retrospective evaluations were made of abdominal echograms in 61 patients who underwent liver biopsy within 3 weeks after ultrasound study. Without knowledge of clinical or biopsy data, determinations were made by two independent observers of: (1) liver size, (2) beam penetration, (3) echogenicity, (4) vascularity, (5) ancillary abnormality, and (6) diagnostic impression. Using these parameters, the presence of generalized parenchymal disease was identified in 81% of reviews of patients with cirrhosis. Thus, in patients with known cirrhosis, there was a 19% false negative rate. In normal patients, 76% were correctly called normal by the reviewers. However, in 24% generalized parenchymal disease was suggested (24% false positive). Patients with fatty liver could not be reliably distinguished from patients with cirrhosis, nor could patients with hepatitis be easily separated from those with normal livers. In all of these determinations, the combination of several features provided more diagnostic accuracy than any single echographic finding.

Biopsy

Diagnosis of small bowel obstruction: the contribution of diagnostic ultrasound.

The hallmark of intestinal obstruction, whether due to a mechanical cause or to absence of peristalsis, is the intraluminal accumulation of fluid. The presence of air simply makes it easier to visualize dilated fluid-filled loops of plain radiographs. When gas is absent, secondary to vomiting or to cessation of air swallowing, the fluid-filled loops may be difficult to identify. In closed loop obstruction, air cannot enter the involved bowel, and in this situation sonography may provide important information concerning the status of the intestinal tract. In nonstrangulating obstruction, sonography offers confirmatory evidence of dilated fluid-filled loops of bowel. In some instances, ultrasonography may correctly identify the gastrointestinal tract origin of a problem thus enabling appropriate management of the patient. We describe three patients in whom ultrasound enabled prompt diagnosis of fluid-filled loops.

Adult