Carol A. Mittelstaedt

Torsion of a wandering spleen: CT appearance.

A case of wandering spleen with torsion of the splenic vascular pedicle and pancreatic tail is presented. The entity was diagnosed and evaluated preoperatively with various imaging modalities (ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and CT) as well as visceral angiography.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Unilateral Hydronephrosis with Early Postnatal Reconstruction

Real-time ultrasound systems, being used extensively now in obstetrical practice for fetal monitoring, are providing the urologist with more opportunities for early recognition and intervention of congenital hydronephrosis. Thorough postnatal investigation to confirm a diagnosis is advocated. An early postnatal surgical repair can be performed successfully.

Real-time radiologist review of remote ultrasound using low-cost video and voice

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES.A radiologist practicing remote ultrasound occasionally needs to review a case in real time before releasing the patient. The authors conducted a pilot study to evaluate one solution in which the radiologist views real-time images on a video monitor while conversing with the technologist via a headset telephone. METHODS.Two experienced ultrasonographers and five technologists participated in a 5-week pilot study in adjacent rooms. RESULTS.Subjective assessment indicated that the system could function well enough for use at a remote site. CONCLUSIONS.Although this technology appears effective, an ongoing training environment is recommended.

Renal Sonography in the Intensive Care Unit When Is It Necessary

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of renal sonography performed in intensive care units on patients with the diagnosis of acute or acute‐on‐chronic renal failure. Methods. We reviewed all renal sonograms performed in our institution during 1 year on critically ill patients for evaluation of renal failure. Renal failure was defined as a serum creatinine level greater than 1.5 mg/dL or an increase of greater than 20% from the baseline creatinine level. Exclusion criteria included patient age younger than 18 years and signs or symptoms of obstructive uropathy. Using the electronic medical record, we recorded patient age, sex, blood urea nitrogen level, serum creatinine level, blood urea nitrogen–creatinine ratio, and clinical indication for intensive care unit admission. Sonographic reports were reviewed for the presence or absence of hydronephrosis. The total cost of these examinations was estimated with the use of Medicare reimbursement rates for 2000. Results. One hundred five renal sonographic examinations were performed on 104 patients meeting all inclusion criteria. Only 1 study had positive results for hydronephrosis, which was graded as mild. Incidental findings not immediately affecting patient care and including ascites and simple renal cysts were identified in 91 patients. The estimated total cost of the examinations was

Mesenteric cyst: sonographic appearance with CT correlation

13,350.75. Conclusions. In critically ill patients with acute renal failure and no physical findings suggesting obstructive uropathy, renal sonography to evaluate for hydronephrosis is probably not indicated. This holds true regardless of patient age, sex, medical or surgical disposition, and blood urea nitrogen–creatinine ratio.

Intraoperative ultrasonography evaluation of the gallbladder in morbidly obese patients.

Two cases of mesenteric cysts are reported. Realtime ultrasound demonstrated the typical appearance of well-defined, anechoic masses. In addition, a solid appearance with a honeycomb pattern of internal echos was observed in one case. The other case had the appearance of loculated, septated ascites. Ultrasound and CT correlation are discussed.

Sonographic features of benign thyroid nodules: Interobserver reliability and overlap with malignancy

Intraoperative ultrasound evaluation of the gallbladder was performed in 55 morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric bariatric surgery. Cholecystectomy was performed in the presence of any physical or ultrasonographic abnormality. Eighteen patients (33%) had cholecystectomy. Nine patients had palpable gallbladder disease confirmed by ultrasound. Nine patients had abnormalities detected by ultrasonography only. There was no false-negative ultrasonographic exam compared to physical exam. Pathologically, all specimens but one showed evidence of disease, thus there was a false-positive incidence of 1.8%. None of the 37 patients with normal physical and ultrasonographic examination have returned with gallbladder disease following the bariatric surgery. Intraoperative ultrasonography shows promise in detecting nonpalpable gallbladder disease and decreasing the incidence of delayed cholecystectomy.