Berit Olsson

Diagnostic evaluation of planar and tomographic ventilation/perfusion lung images in patients with suspected pulmonary emboli.

Planar lung ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (V/PPLANAR) is a standard method for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). The goals of this study were to test whether the diagnostic information of ventilation/perfusion tomography (V/PSPET) applied in clinical routine might enhance information compared with V/PPLANAR and to streamline data processing for the demands of clinical routine. This prospective study includes 53 patients suspected for PE referred for lung scintigraphy. After inhalation of 99mTc‐DTPA planar ventilation imaging was followed by tomography, using a dual‐head gamma camera. 99mTc‐MAA was injected i.v. for perfusion tomography followed by planar imaging. Patients were examined in supine position, unchanged during V/P tomography. Two reviewers evaluated V/PPLANAR and V/PSPET images separately and randomly. Mismatch points were calculated on the basis of extension of perfusion defects with preserved ventilation. Patients were followed up clinically for at least 6 months. With V/PSPET the number of patients with PE was higher and 53% more mismatch points were found. In V/PSPET interobserver variation was less compared with V/PPLANAR. Ancillary findings were observed by both techniques in half of the patients but more precisely interpreted with V/PSPET. V/PSPET shows more and better delineated mismatch defects, improved quantification and less interobserver variation compared with V/PPLANAR. V/PSPET is amenable to implementation for clinical routine and suitable even when there is demand for a high patient throughput.

Ventilation/Perfusion SPECT for diagnostics of pulmonary embolism in clinical practice.

Aim.  The aim of this retrospective study is to illustrate clinical utility and impact of pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnostics of up to date Ventilation/Perfusion SPECT (V/PSPECT) applying holistic interpretation criteria.

The relationship between the bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the saliva and dental caries in children in Mozambique

Four hundred and sixty-two children, aged 10-14 years, from eight areas were examined for Streptococcus mutans in saliva and for dental caries. Strep. mutans strains from some samples were further characterized by serological and biochemical methods. Strep. mutans was identified in 98 per cent of the children and 40 per cent showed high counts. Serotypes c and d dominated among the strains. The distribution of Strep. mutans among the children varied between the eight areas but was not correlated with the difference in caries prevalence which ranged from 38 to 88 per cent. In individual children, however, there was an association between high counts of Strep. mutans and the presence of dental caries. Thus, Strep. mutans can be widely distributed and occurs in high numbers in a population with a low prevalence of caries.

Comparison of ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy and helical CT for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism; strategy using clinical data and ancillary findings

Study objective: To address the question whether ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (SCINT) or helical computed tomography (CT) should be the first hand method for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE).