Constrictive pericarditis is caused by fibrosis of the pericardium leading to decrease in ventricular compliance. The diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific signs and symptoms. The authors experienced eight cases of constrictive pericarditis detected on chest CT scan while being treated for considerable length of time under the clinical impressions of intrathoracic tumor, tuberculous pleural effusion, liver cirrhosis, etc. Constrictive hemodynamics of these patients were confirmed by echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. Among them five cases were due to tuberculosis. In four cases with pathologically proven tuberculous granuloma, the pericardium was markedly thickened and intensely enhanced. Associated pericardial effusion (n=3), and mediastinal lymphadenitis (n=3) were present, but pericardial calcifications were not seen. On the other hand, the fibrosis group (n=3) displayed mild pericardial thickening. All the three patients showed pericardial calcifications, mild or absent enhancement of pericardium, but no mediastinal lymphadenitis. The cardiovascular changes such as inferior or superior vena caval distension, left ventricular deformity, interventricular septum angulation, and biatrial enlargements were more severe than those in patients with active granuloma. In patients with constrictive pericarditis with nonspecific signs and symptoms, CT scan is very helpful in making the diagnosis and can give informations about the evolution of the disease.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Compliance ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lymphadenitis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium ; Pleural Effusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis

Constrictive pericarditis is caused by fibrosis of the pericardium leading to decrease in ventricular compliance. The diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific signs and symptoms. The authors experienced eight cases of constrictive pericarditis detected on chest CT scan while being treated for considerable length of time under the clinical impressions of intrathoracic tumor, tuberculous pleural effusion, liver cirrhosis, etc. Constrictive hemodynamics of these patients were confirmed by echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. Among them five cases were due to tuberculosis. In four cases with pathologically proven tuberculous granuloma, the pericardium was markedly thickened and intensely enhanced. Associated pericardial effusion (n=3), and mediastinal lymphadenitis (n=3) were present, but pericardial calcifications were not seen. On the other hand, the fibrosis group (n=3) displayed mild pericardial thickening. All the three patients showed pericardial calcifications, mild or absent enhancement of pericardium, but no mediastinal lymphadenitis. The cardiovascular changes such as inferior or superior vena caval distension, left ventricular deformity, interventricular septum angulation, and biatrial enlargements were more severe than those in patients with active granuloma. In patients with constrictive pericarditis with nonspecific signs and symptoms, CT scan is very helpful in making the diagnosis and can give informations about the evolution of the disease.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Compliance ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma ; Hand ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Lymphadenitis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium ; Pleural Effusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis

Closed loop onstruction represent a surgical emergency, because this lesion leads to small boweel infarction, perforation, and peritonitis if not treated in time. We analyzed the CT and ultrasonographic findings of 4 patients prospectively and 2 patients retrospectively with surgically proven closed loop obstruction of the small boweel to evaluate the characteristic findings, the cause of the closed loop obstruction and predictive criteria for the viablity of the involved bowel loop. The characteristic CT and sonographic features of the closed loop obstruction of the small bowel included; dilated fluid-filled bowel loops, the thickened bowel wall, absence of peristalsis, and ascites. In one case, closed loop obstructio originating from umbilical hernia was documented by CT and sonography. The possible criteria for the gangrenous changes could be the maximal thickness of bowel more than 7mm, and infiltration in the mesentery/omentum.
Ascites ; Emergencies ; Hernia, Umbilical ; Humans ; Infarction ; Peristalsis ; Peritonitis ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Atelectasis*

No abstract available.
Gastric Juice* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

The skin lesions of leprosy have a great similarity to various other lesions. Fasal has called it the great imitator. Sometimes these skin lesions can b misdiagnosed because the physician does not consider leprosy. We reported a case of early lepromatous leprosy in 42 year old male. His skin lesions were similar to secondary syphilid. There were no sensory changes on the skin lesions and no enlargement of the peripheral nerves. Numerous AFB(+) bacilli from the skin smear confirmed our diagnosis of leprosy.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerves ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Syphilis, Cutaneous

Numerous experimental and clinical studies of brain metabolism have reported since last 10 years, and many authors have concentrated their efforts on the metabolism of gas, glucose, electrolytes and enzymes. Glutamic acid that is utilized in the brain is one of the most important metabolites and plays very important role in the brain to detoxify the ammonia which is toxic to the nervous tissue even with minute amount. Authors have attempted to measure the level of ammonia in the diseased brain tissue of rabbits as the first step believing that there may be some derangement in the process of production or detoxication of the ammonia in the brain. The experiments were carried out on adult rabbits weighing between 1.5 and 2.2kg. The specimens were grouped into 3:contrast group of normal rabbits compression group of animals with expanding laminaria in the intracranial epidural space and ischemic group of animals with bilateral liation of common carotid arteries. Although we could'nt find any helpful references to the study of the ammonia measurement in the rabbit's brain and were facing a little difficulty to conclude whether the result of this experiment is significant or not, it was the fact that there was a strong tendency of increase in the ammonia level at an acute stage of brain compression and ischemia and then, as the time elapsed, the decreasing, level of ammonia near the contrast group was studied. Therefore, as a second step further research on the substances which relate to the ammonia metabolism has to be done in the above mentioned experimental media.
Adult ; Ammonia* ; Animals ; Brain* ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Electrolytes ; Epidural Space ; Glucose ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Laminaria ; Metabolism ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: In patient with blunt trauma of chest, supine AP x-ray cannot differenciate the lung contusion, laceration, atelectasis, and hemothorax definitely. Therefore, computed tomographic evaluation is needed for accurate evaluation of the injuries. In our knowledge, there are few reports about CT findings of blunt chest trauma, in our country, therefore we tried to fiud the characteristic CT findings in patients with blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the plain x-ray and CT image of 4 patient with blunt chest trauma. Location and morphology of lung parenchymal contusion and laceration, hemopneumothorax, chest wall injuries and location of chest tube. RESULTS: Lung parenchymal contusion was noted in 53 segments. of 16 patiants'infiltration(n=27 segment), and multiple nodular pattern was noted in 15 segment, pattern of consolidation along the lung periphery was seen in 11 segment. Laceration was noted in 18 lesion and most commonly located in paravertebral area(b=8). CONCLUSION: CT scan of chest in patient with blunt chest trauma, provides accurate informations of the pattern of injuries, and localization, therefore, should be performed as po9ssible.
Chest Tubes ; Contusions ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Lung ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Primary success rate of endonasal DCR has been reported as lower than that of the conventional procedure. Endonasal DCR has been performed from July 1991 to October 1994, with a follow-up period of 6 to 37.3months(mean, 14.2months). According to the period of the operation, 156 eyes of 132 patients were classified into three groups: Group 1;47 eyes between July 1991 and June 1992. Group 2;44 eyes between July 1992 and June 1993, and Group 3;65 eyes between July 1993 and October 1994. Success rates of the primary operation were 68.1% in Group 1, 84.1% in Group 2, and 92.3% in Group 3 respectively. The success rate of Group 3 reached almost similar to that of the conventional procedure. Improvement of success rate may be owing to appropriate preoperative evaluation, skillful surgical technique, and careful postoperative management.
Dacryocystorhinostomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans