Frederick T. Borts

MR vs CT in progressive supranuclear palsy

Nine progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients were studied with computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) in order to determine the efficacy of each in detecting atrophy of the brainstem. Three additional PSP patients were evaluated with MRI for quantitative (electronic) measurements of the colliculi, pons and midbrain tegmentum. Both CT and MRI were equally effective in demonstrating midbrain atrophy. The MR was able to utilize the sagittal view to visualize thinning of the collicular (quadrigeminal) plate, a useful sign in PSP. Atrophy of the thinned collicular plate is more pronounced in the superior colliculus, one of the most common sites of pathology in PSP. The MR is able to make quantitative measurements of the degree of atrophy of the colliculi, pons and midbrain tegmentum.

Pneumobilia: A Comparison of Four Imaging Modalities

Computed tomography (CI), ultrasound, radionuclide scans, and plain abdominal radiographs of 25 patients with biliary-enteric anastomoses were reviewed for manifestations of gas in the biliary tree. Patients with biliary enteric anastomoses are frequently being followed for metastatic disease in the liver. The majority of these patients have free reflux of air into the biliary duct system (pneumobilial. The typical findings of gas in the biliary tree are discussed as seen on each of the aforementioned modalities. The differentiation between findings attributable to pneumobilia itself and those secondary to actual metastatic disease are stressed. There were no discrepancies between radionuclide. CT, and ultrasound diagnoses of liver metastases.