UNLABELLEDWe hypothesise that correct interpretation of other diagnostic tests could reduce the use of computerised tomographic pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) examinations in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE).

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe carried out a retrospective analysis of 158 patients in a 928-bed university hospital. These consecutive patients were investigated for suspected PE from May 2001 to February 2002 using CTPA.

RESULTSThere were 74 men and 84 women with a mean (+/-SD) age of 57 (+/-19) years. Overall, 56% of patients (89/158) showed clinically significant abnormalities on the CTPA examination. The overall prevalence of PE was 15% (24/158). The D-dimers were assayed in 40% (63/158) and lower limbs were scanned with Doppler ultrasound (US) in 22% (35/158) of patients. None of the 19 patients with negative D-dimer assays had PE. Of the patients who were positively tested on Doppler US, 4 were positive and 1 was negative for PE on the CTPA. None of the patients with positive Doppler US had negative D-dimer test. In retrospect, patient management based on negative D-dimer assays and positive lower extremity Doppler US studies could have reduced the need for further investigation with CTPA by 15% (24/158).

CONCLUSIONIn patients with suspected PE, correct interpretation of D-dimer and leg Doppler US tests may reduce the demand for CTPAs.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Humans ; Leg ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Pulmonary Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Angiomyolipoma ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging

INTRODUCTIONPenile cancer is an uncommon disease affecting only about one in 100,000 men worldwide in a year. The diagnosis of the condition is frequently delayed, and the disease and its treatment frequently result in significant morbidity in patients.

METHODSWe herein describe seven cases of penile tumours: six cases of squamous cell carcinomas and one case of B-cell lymphoma that presented to our hospital's urology department between March 2011 and October 2012. We reviewed the literature to discuss the clinical presentation, natural history and current management of penile cancer.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 1-24 months. They were managed according to their disease stage and lymph node status. Four out of seven patients showed disease progression during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONThe accurate staging of inguinal nodes in cases of low-risk disease is important to prescribe appropriate surgery for the inguinal nodes. Aggressive management of inguinal and pelvic lymph nodes remains the cornerstone in the treatment of high-risk disease cases.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; secondary ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Penile Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods