Burton A. Cohen

Role of computed tomography in the diagnosis of infectious spondylitis.

Nineteen patients with infectious spondylitis were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and the results were compared with conventional radiography. In each case the diagnosis was established by biopsy. The use of CT in evaluation of the extent of bone and soft tissue involvement as well as its role in differentiating inflammatory from noninflammatory destructive processes is discussed.

Case report. Aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus in an adult.

Aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus is unusual in the adult. Computed tomography (CT) may be critical in making a preoperative diagnosis. The value of CT in the diagnosis of this entity, as well as its likely pathogenesis, is discussed.

The Nonspecificity of the Antral Bowing Sign in Maxillary Sinus Pathology

Although bowing of the posterior antral wall occurs most commonly with juvenile angiofibroma, it can occur with any slow growing noninvasive lesion involving the retromaxillary region. Cases of schwannomas, a lympho-epithelioma, and a fibrous histiocytoma are presented as examples of the nonspecificity of the antral bowing sign.

Bronchial Compression: An Unusual Manifestation of Sarcoidosis

A patient with sarcoidosis is presented, in whom computed tomography demonstrated significant compression of the bronchi by surrounding lymphadenopathy.

Computed tomography of splenic infarction.

AbstractInfarction of the spleen is a rare complication of splenic artery thrombosis. A case of splenic infarction due to occlusion of the splenic artery secondary to pancreatic carcinoma is reported.

Equivocal lymphogram and lymph node aspiration: importance in staging carcinoma of the prostate.

Lymphography is often used in staging clinically localized carcinoma of the prostate, but has been criticized for lack of specificity and sensitivity. Strict criteria for metastases eliminate some false positives but increase the number of false negatives. In 50 cases, liberal criteria were used for an equivocal interpretation, and these nodal defects as well as positive defects were biopsied percutaneously with thin-needle aspiration and cytologic evaluation. Of 37 equivocal lymphograms, 18 (49%) had a positive biopsy establishing stage D disease without pelvic lymphadenectomy. The equivocal lymphogram is a important diagnostic category when it can be further evaluated by aspiration biopsy.

CT appearance of splenosis.

Splenosis is an unusual complication of splenic trauma. The computed tomographic (CT) appearance of splenosis is described. One should consider this diagnosis when faced with a history of splenic trauma and multiple round or oval masses at CT.

Radical retroperitoneal tumor surgery with resection of the psoas major muscle

Three patients with extensive retroperitoneal cancer are presented, in whom the psoas muscle was resected as part of a radical tumor excision. The resection of the psoas muscle, including the femoral nerve, which travels in its substance, and the genitofemoral and ilioinguinal nerves, caused little morbidity (denervation weakness of the quadriceps and anterior thigh numbness) and improved the quality of the excision. Ablation of the psoas muscle is technically possible; it may improve the patients outlook both for palliation and for curative intent.

Separation of the left gastric artery from the gastric air shadow: a diagnostic sign of lesser curvature wall lesion

Separation of the left gastric artery from the gastric air shadow is a diagnostic sign of lesser curvature gastric lesions. This finding is especially helpful in patients with large exophytic wall lesions in whom barium examination, CT and ultrasound are not diagnostic. This was demonstrated in two patients with large leiomyomas of the stomach.