PURPOSE: To determine whether there is any difference in variceal distribution between patients with and without a history of esophageal variceal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To compare the distribution of varices, abdominal CT scans of 24 patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding (hemorrhagic group) and 90 patients without a history of bleeding (non-hemorrhagic group) were retrospectively assessed. RESULTS: The most common varices in both the hemorrhagic (n = 21, 87.5 %) and nonhemorrhagic group (n = 53, 58.9 %) were coronary varices, with a statistically significant frequency (p < .01). Esophageal varices were also more common in the hemorrhagic than the nonhemorrhagic group (n=19, 79.2 % vs n = 36, 40.0 % : P < .005). Splenorenal shunts were more common in the nonhemorrhagic (n = 8, 8.9 %) than in the hemorrhagic group(n = 0, 0 %) (P < .05). Other types of varice such as paraumbilical (n = 10, 41.7 % vs n = 21, 23.3 %), perisplenic (n = 6, 25 % vs n = 15, 16.7 %) and retroperitoneal-paravertebral (n = 11, 45.8 % vs n = 24, 26. 7 %) were more common in the hemorrhagic group, but without a statistically significant frequency. CONCLUSION: The frequency of coronary and esophageal varices was significant in patients with a history of esophageal variceal bleeding. In patients without such a history, splenorenal shunts were seen.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal* ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenorenal Shunt, Surgical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Varicose Veins

To evaluate the usefulness of brain SPECT as a tool with diagnostic and prognostic values m patients with acute cerebral infarction, twenty-four patients who were diagnosed as embolic(n=12) or thrombotic(n7-12) infarction by clinical manifestation and brain CT or MRI were selected. Both 99mTc-HMPAO & 99mTc-DTPA Brain SPECT were performed for each patients within 1 week after the attack Asymmetric index(Al) in both hemispheres was calculated as 200(l(right-left)l/(right+left)). Activities of daily livmg(ADL) was scored by Barthel Index on the admission day and the 21st day after the attack. The relationshiop between ADL index and Al of two types of brain SPECT was analysed by calculating correlation coefficient. 1.In embolic infarction, the Al of 99mTc-DTPA SPECT was markedly higher than that of 99mTc-HMPAO spect, but there was no difference in thrombotic type. 2. The AI of 99m'Tc-DTPA SPECT in embohc infarction was sigiuficantly higher than that m thrombotic type(p valu=.001), but the Al of 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT was similar in both types of infarction. 3.The correlation coefficient Al of 99mTc-DTPA Brain SPECT and ADL m the 21st day after stroke was statistically significated. These results suggested that the 99mTc-DTPA brain SPECT should be useful not only for the differemtial diagnosis between thrombotic and embolic infarctions but also for the prediction of prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain* ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Stroke ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*