John H. Harris

The Development of a Chest Phantom for Use in Radiologic Dosimetry

Our interest in the fabrication of a physically and anatomically realistic chest phantom was first stimulated by the work being done on supervoltage (2 mv) chest roentgenography by one of the authors (11, 12). In the course of investigations of the value of supervoltage technics in the detection of thoracic lesions, it became apparent that such a phantom was needed for two basic reasons: first, to permit the measurement of integral dose received by a patient at 2 mv compared to that absorbed during a similar examination at the usual diagnostic energy levels; second, for use in the comparative evaluation of diagnostic technics. Previous work by Weatherwax (14), Quimby (9), Granke (4), and Nahon (8) involving chest phantoms for dose measurements has contributed greatly to an understanding of intrathoracic dosage. None of the earlier phantoms, however, were suitable for use at energy levels below 200 kvp, and in none was there sufficient anatomic detail to permit the investigation of diagnostic technics. The...

Operative cholangiography in the diagnosis of prolonged jaundice in infancy.

Many contributions have appeared in the recent roentgenologic literature relative to operative cholangiography, and in many institutions it is a routine procedure during adult biliary tract surgery. In contrast, there has been no mention of the usefulness of delineating the biliary ductal system in similar circumstances arising in pediatric surgery. A review of the nonradiologic literature disclosed but two articles specifically pertaining to the application of operative cholangiography in infancy (18, 23). Several other authors mention the procedure as being of value in elucidating the etiology of obstructive jaundice in infants and in facilitating the pending surgical procedure (5–8). The purpose of this paper is to describe the technic of operative cholangiography that has been used at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, to illustrate the roentgen findings in the normal infant biliary ductal system (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5), to present illustrative cases of the more commonly encountered types of extr...

An improved method for localization of nonpalpable breast lesions.

Insertion of a hooked stylet into the region of a mammographic abnormality is a simple method of localization prior to biopsy. The hook on the stylet does not permit movement of the localization device away from the lesion during the interval between placement and surgical excision. A xeroradiograph of the biopsy specimen determines whether the suspected region was obtained surgically.

Primary Jejunal Ulcer

In 1933, Eberling reviewed the literature and reported a case of primary jejunal ulcer. He was able to find only 47 cases reported between the years 1827 and 1932. A case was recently examined in the Radiological Department of the Carlisle Hospital in which there were found two perforated primary jejunal ulcers. H. S., male, aged 48 years, was first seen by his family physician in September, 1933, suffering with upper abdominal pain accompanied by vomiting of bile-stained material. There was some radiation of the pain toward the right lower quadrant suggesting an appendiceal attack. This attack soon subsided and he was again seen in December, 1933, with symptoms suggesting the presence of a gastric ulcer. These symptoms were controlled by ulcer regime. However, on Jan. 22, 1934, he developed another attack of acute abdominal pain, this time accompanied by hiccoughs. The examination of the abdomen was negative except for vague upper abdominal tenderness. White blood count was 15,000. After a weeks stay in...

The Roentgen Diagnosis of Pelvic Extraperitoneal Effusion

Extraperitoneal, perivesical pelvic effusions may be hemorrhagic or uriniferous, the latter resulting from extraperitoneal rupture of the bladder or disruption of the posterior urethra. The effusions may be recognized on anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis by (a) displacement of the bladder (small effusion); (b) obliteration of the normal soft-tissue anatomy within the pelvis (moderate effusion); and (c) upward displacement of the pelvic ileal loops and extension of the effusion into the flank stripes (large effusion). Perivesical effusions most frequently accompany anterior pelvic arch injuries, i.e., double vertical and Malgaigne fractures and fractures involving, or separation of, the pubic symphysis.

250-Kilovolt chest roentgenography; a preliminary report.

As a part of a general research program directed at increasing the accuracy of the roentgen diagnosis of chest neoplasms, very high voltage roentgenographic technics were explored. The most fruitful voltage range appeared from initial studies to be the 1 to 2-MEV region, and “supervoltage chest roentgenography” was proposed to permit the recording of diagnostic details of the mediastinum as well as of the pulmonary parenchyma in a single exposure (3, 4). While the value of such a procedure has been confirmed by recent studies (5), the cost and scarcity of supervoltage generators preclude its general adoption at present. It is the purpose of this report, therefore, to describe a technic employing a heavily filtered 2.50-kv. roentgen beam, which appears to be a useful and generally available substitute for supervoltage roentgenography. The physical basis for the unusually great latitude which characterizes supervoltage roentgenograms is the fact that the absorption coefficient of bone approaches that of sof...