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[Clinical evaluation of diagnostic methods of nodular goiter].

In 47 patients who had undergone roentgenography, ultrasonography, 201 Tl-scintigraphy, and aspiration cytology and on whom a pathological diagnosis had been made, the diagnostic value of the above-mentioned 4 examinations was evaluated. The correct diagnosis rate for aspiration cytology and 201 Tl-scintigraphy was 76.6%; for ultrasonography and roentgenography it was 70.2%. The false-negative rate of cancer for aspiration cytology was 14.9%; for the other examinations it was 10.6%. The false-negative rate upon combining 3 examinations, except roentgenography (soft tissue technique), proved to be 0% and 24 patients with thyroid cancer were preoperatively correctly diagnosed as "malignant" by means of the combination method.

Adult↗

Core needle biopsy (CNB) as a diagnostic method for breast lesions: comparison with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA).

In Japan, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) of the breast has long been recognized as a useful diagnostic tool, and has been used in many institutions because it provides a rapid, accurate and cost-effective evaluation. However, the use of core needle biopsy (CNB) is increasing, and vacuum assisted biopsy devices have been developed to produce larger specimens for analysis. CNB is useful because the frequency of inadequate specimens is lower than in FNA, and it requires a less invasive procedure than open biopsy. CNB is also more widely used, compared to FNA, because it can provide a more definitive diagnosis of borderline lesions and can be used to distinguish between IDC and ILC. Therefore, the use of CNB with mammographic or ultrasonographic guidance is especially high for non-palpable tumors. FNA is a rapid and non-invasive procedure that is useful for mass lesions. The accuracy of FNA for non-palpable lesions is relatively low, and depends upon the skill of the aspirators, cytoscreeners and cytopathologists involved in the procedure. However, FNA for palpable masses, coupled with a physical and mammographic examination (the so-called triple test) is highly accurate for diagnosis of breast cancer when all three modalities indicate malignancy, and for a benign lesion when all three are negative.

Biopsy, Fine-Needle↗

Chemical assay of iron in ovarian cysts: a new diagnostic method to evaluate endometriotic cysts.

CA-125 is abundantly secreted from ovarian endometriotic cysts, but is not specific to endometriosis. In order to develop a new, more specific diagnostic marker for endometriosis, the iron concentrations in various ovarian cysts were assayed. The ovarian cysts were punctured and the contents aspirated laparoscopically, laparotomically, or transvaginally. The iron concentration in the ovarian cystic fluid was assayed using a spectrophotometer after protein precipitations and chromogen treatment. The iron concentrations in ovarian cysts were 69.5+/-10.4 micromol/l in serous cystadenomas, 73.5+/-29.3 in mucinous cystadenomas, 65.4+/-12.4 in dermoid cysts, and 92.5+/-18.2 micromol/l in adenocarcinomas. On the other hand, high iron concentrations were demonstrated in endometriotic cysts (1,749.6+/-41.5 micromol/l), a lutein cyst (1,393.8), hemorrhagic corpus luteum (1,957.5) and endometrioid adenocarcinomas (1,860.9+/-157.9 micromol/l). Cytological smear tests of the contents as well as histological examination allowed differential diagnosis between endometriosis and endometrioid adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, assay of the ovarian cystic iron concentration is a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of ovarian endometriotic cysts.

Adult↗

Urinary neopterin measurement as a non-invasive diagnostic method in pulmonary tuberculosis.

SETTING: Pulmonary department of a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of neopterin in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) as a rapid diagnostic tool. DESIGN: Neopterin concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), serum and urine were measured in patients with PTB, with lung cancer and with pneumonia and in a healthy control group. RESULTS: In the BAL of PTB patients, serum and urine levels of neopterin were significantly higher than all the other groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the lung cancer group, PTB patients had higher neopterin in BAL and urine (P < 0.05). The PTB group had higher levels not only in BAL and urine, but also in serum, than the pneumonia group (P < 0.05). Compared with the pneumonia group and the healthy controls, neopterin levels in serum and urine were significantly higher in the lung cancer group (P < 0.05). In the PTB group, patients with moderately advanced PTB according to radiographic extent had higher levels of urine neopterin than patients with minimal disease (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Neopterin levels in BAL, serum and particularly in urine may reflect PTB activity before exact diagnosis of the disease by culture results, and correlates with radiological extent.

Adult↗

Relative accuracy of diagnostic method in bronchogenic carcinoma.

The definitive diagnosis confirming lung cancer by microscopic examination is indicated before the therapy whenever possible and particularly prior to undertaking thoracotomy in situations when tissue diagnosis is not achieved. In such situations the thoracotomy becomes diagnostic with the therapeutic procedure. In clinically suspected cancer of the lung, histological confirmation is usually available at times, and cytology confirmation must suffice. At Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer and allied diseases in Bombay, India, we analyzed retrospectively 298 cases, which were submitted for different diagnostic procedures in suspected lung cancer. The yield of positive tissue diagnosis of malignancy obtained by each method is described and discussed. We observed that transthoracic needle biopsy gives significant information on inflammatory diseases of the lung. The sputum examination makes the simplest revelation of malignant cells, to an extent of 53% at our institution for three successive samples.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Experience with spiral computed tomography as the sole diagnostic method for traumatic aortic rupture.

BACKGROUND: Spiral computed tomographic (CT) scan is an excellent screen for aortic trauma. Traditionally, aortography is performed when injury is suspected to confirm the diagnosis. We hypothesized that it is safe and expeditious to forgo aortography when the spiral CT demonstrates aortic injury. METHODS: Retrospective review of 54 patients undergoing aortic repair from July 1994 to December 1999. Spiral CT was the initial diagnostic study in 52 patients. Pseudoaneurysm or aortic wall defect in the presence of mediastinal hematoma was considered diagnostic. Angiography, initially routine, was later performed only when requested by the surgeon, and for all "nonnegative" studies (periaortic hematoma without detectable aortic injury). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients underwent angiography before operation (group 1). Nineteen group 1 spiral CTs were unequivocally diagnostic; 7 were nonnegative and angiography was required. Twenty-eight other patients underwent repair based on spiral CT alone (group 2). There was one false-positive result in both groups. There were no unexpected operative findings. Mean time from admission to diagnosis was 5.7+/-3.4 hours for group 1 and 1.7+/-1.7 hours for group 2 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Operating on the basis of a diagnostic spiral CT is safe and expeditious. Aortography may be reserved for those with equivocal studies.

Adolescent↗

Breath hydrogen as a diagnostic method for hypolactasia.

Breath hydrogen (H2), collected by end-expiratory sampling, was measured in twenty-five patients with abdominal symptoms or diarrhoea after ingesting 50 g. of lactose. This was compared with established tests of hypolactasia. Fifteen patients with a blood-glucose rise of more than 20 mg. per 100 ml. had less than 4 parts per million (p.p.m.) rise in breath H2 at 2 hours. In contrast, ten patients with blood-glucose rises of less than 20 mg. per 100 ml. had more than a 20 p.p.m. H2 rise (mean 85.8 p.p.m. plus or minus s.d. 44.3) at 2 hours. Similarly, two patients with normal jejunal lactase activity had no significant H2 production, whereas six patients with hypolactasia had more than a 20 p.p.m. rise in H2. Symptoms related to milk or lactose ingestion were found to be unreliable. End-expiratory sampling of breath H2 would seem to be a simple, non-invasive, and accurate method of diagnosing hypolactasia, which is also very acceptable to patients. This should make it a valuable tool both in diagnostic gastroenterology and in epidemiological surveys.

Biopsy↗

Comparison of different diagnostic methods for lupus pleuritis and pericarditis: a prospective three-year study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pleural or pericardial effusions, or both, are commonly encountered, but the differential diagnosis is sometimes difficult. We evaluated the diagnostic value of effusion immunofluorescent antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) latex agglutination slide test, and cytologic LE cell examination in patients with pleural and/or pericardial effusions of various etiologies. METHODS: A total of 153 pleural and/or pericardial effusion specimens were collected by aspiration from 152 patients (14 SLE and 138 non-SLE patients). All specimens were sent for routine biochemistry testing, determination of ANA titer, SLE latex agglutination slide test, and LE cell examination. RESULTS: Ten of the 14 SLE patients had lupus serositis and all of them had high ANA titers (> or = 1:160) in their effusions. SLE latex and LE cell tests were positive in seven and eight patients with lupus serositis, respectively. The remaining four SLE patients with effusion of etiologies other than lupus serositis had low or negative effusion ANA titers. Among the non-SLE patients, 29 of 112 patients (26%) with pleural effusion and six of 26 patients (23%) with pericardial effusion had positive ANA tests (> or = 1:40). None of them had a positive SLE latex or LE cell test result. Thirteen of the 138 non-SLE patients (11%) had high effusion ANA titers (> or = 1:160). Effusion in 11 of 13 non-SLE patients (85%) was due to malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Effusion ANA titer detection is a very sensitive but nonspecific test for the diagnosis of lupus serositis. SLE latex and cytologic LE cell tests can aid in the differential diagnosis as complementary tools. The specificity, positive and negative predictive values of these two tests are excellent for the diagnosis of lupus serositis.

Adolescent↗

Fine-needle cytology of solid tumors: method, diagnostic accuracy, and role in management.

Fine-needle cytology was obtained from 14 solid tumors in 12 children. Both aspiration and nonaspiration techniques were used and several staining methods were applied. May Grünwald Giemsa and Papanicolaou stains were preferred. The nonaspiration method yielded a superior quality cytology smear with less blood contamination. There were no complications recorded. Confirmation of the diagnosis with cytology allowed for planned management with preoperative cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in 10 children, immediate surgery in one, and radiotherapy to a vertebral recurrence in one. Fine-needle cytology is considered a useful technique in the management of a selected group of children with solid tumors.

Biopsy, Needle↗

[Ultrasonography: the diagnostic method of choice in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Experience with 67 patients].

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is a common medical emergency in newborns and lactating infants. Ultrasonography (US) is the diagnostic imaging procedure of choice in most centers, leaving the radiological study with barium for those cases in which US is negative and clinical symptoms persist or when other causes of vomiting must be discarded. We report our experience in 67 children (58 male) with suspected HPS. The US findings were consistent with HPS in 45 patients, and the diagnosis was surgically confirmed in all. In the remaining 22 patients with negative US findings, symptoms improved during follow up, with medical treatment. In one patient US was negative for HPS but showed an antral web, that was surgically confirmed. Since there were no false positive or negative results, the specificity and sensitivity of US for HPS diagnosis was 100%. We strongly recommend the use of US in patients with suspected HPS.

Female↗

Scalene lymph node biopsy. A diagnostic method in sarcoidosis.

Right-sided scalene lymph node biopsy was performed on 167 patients with sarcoidosis. The surgical technique is described in detail. There were no complications, apart from two cases of minor postoperative haemorrhage. The diagnostic yield in sarcoidosis was 84% (140/167 patients). Scalene lymph node biopsy, performed by trained surgeons, is concluded to be a good alternative to other biopsy methods in sarcoidosis.

Adult↗

[Current diagnostic method, prognosis estimation and therapy of papillary thyroid cancer: recommendations of the medical universities and the National Oncologic Institute of Budapest].

Physical examination, cervical ultrasonography (US) and aspiration cytology are the mainstays of the preoperative diagnostics of papillary thyroid carcinoma. For the staging of suspected malignant cases, cervical and mediastinal CT (MRI for inconclusive results) is indicated before any surgery. The end-result of primary treatment is assessed by total-body iodine scintigraphy and the serum human thyroglobulin (hTG) level. For long-term follow-up, physical examination and the serum hTG level are the most reliable tools (6-monthly), supplemented by cervical US and chest X-ray (yearly), and total-body iodine scintigraphy (2-yearly). If these furnish positive results, further examinations may be indicated. In suspected relapses of hTG non-producing and iodine non-accumulating papillary carcinomas, 201thallium chloride or 99mTc-sesta-MIBI (methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile) scintigraphy, and positron emission tomography with 18fluoro-deoxyglucose or 11C-methionine may be of help. For estimation of the prognosis (cause-specific survival) of the patients, the MACIS score system of the Mayo Clinic is widely accepted, the patients being divided into low-risk and intermediate/high-risk categories. The recommended standard surgical intervention is near-total thyroidectomy (2-4 g residual glandular tissue left at the upper pole of the less-involved lobe), with a central cervical lymph node dissection for diagnostic purposes. In cases of lymph node dissemination, dissection (radical, modified radical, selective or microdissection) of any of the involved compartments (central, right or left cervical, or upper mediastinal) is indicated for therapeutic reasons, the method of which is depending on the extent of the metastatic involvement. Following adequate surgical intervention, no adjuvant radioiodine therapy is indicated for low-risk cases with a tumour of less than 1 cm diameter. For other low-risk or intermediate/high-risk patients, radioiodine ablation (R0N0M0) or a therapeutic radioiodine dosage (R2N1M1) is indicated. In cases at high-risk of local/regional relapse and in radioiodine non-accumulating tumorous cases, external radiotherapy may be applied. Thyroid hormone medication in a TSH suppressive dose is indicated during the first 5 postsurgical years: the goal is to achieve a TSH level below 0.1 (determined by a 3rd generation assay). If no relapse occurs or the case is a low-risk one, following the 5 years, it is enough to maintain the TSH level in a subnormal range (0.1-0.3).

Carcinoma, Papillary↗