For the purpose of the precise diagnosis and proper treatment planning of obstructive jaundice, various techniques to obtain tissues from biliary strictrue sites have been proposed. We performed perutaneous transcatheter biopsies of biliary strictrues with a biotome in six patients with obstructive jaundice. The sites of biliary stricture were distal common bile ducts (n=3), common hepatic duct (n=1), and confluence of both intrahepatic ducts (n=2). Their histologic diagnoses were adenocarcinoma (n=2), chronic choledochitis (n=3), and atypical cell suspicious of malignancy (n=1). False positive or false results were not documented by other means (including laparotomy),when regarding atypical cell suspicious of malignancy as true positive for malignancy. Percutaneous transcatheter biliary biopsy with biotome is easy to perform in conjunction with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedure, and can be able to obtain specific tissues for correct diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy* ; Common Bile Duct ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive

For the purpose of the precise diagnosis and proper treatment planning of obstructive jaundice, various techniques to obtain tissues from biliary strictrue sites have been proposed. We performed perutaneous transcatheter biopsies of biliary strictrues with a biotome in six patients with obstructive jaundice. The sites of biliary stricture were distal common bile ducts (n=3), common hepatic duct (n=1), and confluence of both intrahepatic ducts (n=2). Their histologic diagnoses were adenocarcinoma (n=2), chronic choledochitis (n=3), and atypical cell suspicious of malignancy (n=1). False positive or false results were not documented by other means (including laparotomy),when regarding atypical cell suspicious of malignancy as true positive for malignancy. Percutaneous transcatheter biliary biopsy with biotome is easy to perform in conjunction with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage procedure, and can be able to obtain specific tissues for correct diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy* ; Common Bile Duct ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive

PURPOSE: We studied to evaluate the effect of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in liver abscess. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data (presence of fever, WBC count), radiological findings (computed tomography, ultrasonography and abscessogram) and correlated them with treatment period. Percutaneous drainage of liver abscess were performed in 19 patients under fluoroscopy guide during recent three years. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (95%) were cured, and one patient underwent surgery because of peritonitis caused by PCD procedure. Average treatment period was 17 days. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of liver abscess, PCD is thought to be safe and effective.
Catheters* ; Drainage* ; Fever ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome*

A case of severe aseptic meningitis with communicating hydrocephalus following iotrolan myelography is presented. The patient's condition improved very quickly after corticosteroid therapy. Rapid improvement and absence of pathogenic organisms in the CSF culture strongly favor an aseptic meningitis. This is the first reported case of aseptic meningtis with the secondary development of hydrocephalus caused by iotrolan myelography.
Hydrocephalus* ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Myelography*

A case of severe aseptic meningitis with communicating hydrocephalus following iotrolan myelography is presented. The patient's condition improved very quickly after corticosteroid therapy. Rapid improvement and absence of pathogenic organisms in the CSF culture strongly favor an aseptic meningitis. This is the first reported case of aseptic meningtis with the secondary development of hydrocephalus caused by iotrolan myelography.
Hydrocephalus* ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Myelography*

The minor fissure is an important anatomical landmark in the localization of the pulmonary diseases. For the evaluation of the normal feature of the minor fissure, we analyzed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans in 51 normal patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the normal appearance of the minor fissure on high-resolution CT scans and to compare it with that on the coventional CT and chest radiographs. We analysed the morphologic feature of the minor fissure on the high-resolution CT scans in 51 normal patients, and compared it with that on the conventional CT scans. On the high-resolution CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the completeness and types according to Berkmen classification. And finally, we compared the types determined by the high-resolution CT scans with those by the plain radiographs. In most patients (n=47), the minor fissure was seen as a hyperattenuating line or hand on the high-resolution CT scans. In contrast, it was mostly seen as a lucent zone on the conventional CT scans (n=44). Of 47 patients having a hyperattenuating line or band on the high resolution CT scans, the minor fissure was considered to be complete in 17 patients (36%), and incomplete in 30 patients (64%), who had defect at medial portion of the minor fissure. The most common type of the minor fissure seen on the high-resolution CT scans was type I variety (n=23), followed by type IIa (n=10) and type II (n=8). We could not determine the type in six patients. The type determined by the high resolution CT scans was highly well correlated with that determined by the plain radiographs (p<0.05). In conclusion, the minor fissure was seen on CT studies as variable appearances and high-resolution CT scans were superior to the conventional CT scans in the evaluation of the minor fissure. The type of the minor fissure determined by the high-resolution CT scans were well correlated with those seen on the radiographs.
Classification ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The minor fissure is an important anatomical landmark in the localization of the pulmonary diseases. For the evaluation of the normal feature of the minor fissure, we analyzed the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans in 51 normal patients. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the normal appearance of the minor fissure on high-resolution CT scans and to compare it with that on the coventional CT and chest radiographs. We analysed the morphologic feature of the minor fissure on the high-resolution CT scans in 51 normal patients, and compared it with that on the conventional CT scans. On the high-resolution CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the completeness and types according to Berkmen classification. And finally, we compared the types determined by the high-resolution CT scans with those by the plain radiographs. In most patients (n=47), the minor fissure was seen as a hyperattenuating line or hand on the high-resolution CT scans. In contrast, it was mostly seen as a lucent zone on the conventional CT scans (n=44). Of 47 patients having a hyperattenuating line or band on the high resolution CT scans, the minor fissure was considered to be complete in 17 patients (36%), and incomplete in 30 patients (64%), who had defect at medial portion of the minor fissure. The most common type of the minor fissure seen on the high-resolution CT scans was type I variety (n=23), followed by type IIa (n=10) and type II (n=8). We could not determine the type in six patients. The type determined by the high resolution CT scans was highly well correlated with that determined by the plain radiographs (p<0.05). In conclusion, the minor fissure was seen on CT studies as variable appearances and high-resolution CT scans were superior to the conventional CT scans in the evaluation of the minor fissure. The type of the minor fissure determined by the high-resolution CT scans were well correlated with those seen on the radiographs.
Classification ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Although visible collateral vessels on computed tomography (CT) has been considered as an important finding in superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, there is no systematical concerning correlation between the CT evidence of collateral vessels and clinical evidence of SVC syndrome. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how accurately we predict the clinical presence of SVC syndrome by the collateral vessels in patients with apparent SVC obstruction on CT. Forty-seven patients having a CT evidence of obstruction or compression of SVC and/or its major tributaries were included in this study. Lung cancer was the most common underlying disease (n=40). The enhanced CT scans were obtained through either arm vein using a combined bolus and drip-infusion technique. Analyzing the CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the site and pattern of venous compromise, presence of collateral vessels, and if present, heir location, without knowing whether symptoms and signs were present or not, and then compared them with clinical data by a thorough review of charts. To verify the frequency of visible collateral vessels in normal subjects, we also evaluated the CT scans of 50 patients without mediastinal disease and clinical SVC syndrome as a control group. On CT, collateral vessels were found in 24 patients, among whom three patients had a single collateral and 21 patients had two or more collateral channels. There were two false positive cases, in which clinically overt SVC syndrome appeared 10days and three months after CT examination respectively, and one false negative case. The presence of collateral vessels on CT, respectively, and one false negative case. The presence of collateral vessels on CT, regardless of the number and location of collateral vessels and the pattern of venous obstruction, was a good clue for predicting the presence of clinical SVC syndrome with the sensitivity and the specificity of 95.7% and 91.7%, respectively. In control group, collateral vessels were seen in three patients (6%). We conclude that the presence of collateral vessels on CT is a highly sensitive and specific sign of clinical SVC syndrome.
Arm ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mediastinal Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior*

Although visible collateral vessels on computed tomography (CT) has been considered as an important finding in superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, there is no systematical concerning correlation between the CT evidence of collateral vessels and clinical evidence of SVC syndrome. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how accurately we predict the clinical presence of SVC syndrome by the collateral vessels in patients with apparent SVC obstruction on CT. Forty-seven patients having a CT evidence of obstruction or compression of SVC and/or its major tributaries were included in this study. Lung cancer was the most common underlying disease (n=40). The enhanced CT scans were obtained through either arm vein using a combined bolus and drip-infusion technique. Analyzing the CT scans, we particularly paid attention to the site and pattern of venous compromise, presence of collateral vessels, and if present, heir location, without knowing whether symptoms and signs were present or not, and then compared them with clinical data by a thorough review of charts. To verify the frequency of visible collateral vessels in normal subjects, we also evaluated the CT scans of 50 patients without mediastinal disease and clinical SVC syndrome as a control group. On CT, collateral vessels were found in 24 patients, among whom three patients had a single collateral and 21 patients had two or more collateral channels. There were two false positive cases, in which clinically overt SVC syndrome appeared 10days and three months after CT examination respectively, and one false negative case. The presence of collateral vessels on CT, respectively, and one false negative case. The presence of collateral vessels on CT, regardless of the number and location of collateral vessels and the pattern of venous obstruction, was a good clue for predicting the presence of clinical SVC syndrome with the sensitivity and the specificity of 95.7% and 91.7%, respectively. In control group, collateral vessels were seen in three patients (6%). We conclude that the presence of collateral vessels on CT is a highly sensitive and specific sign of clinical SVC syndrome.
Arm ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mediastinal Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior*