Makoto Furuse

CT findings of pulmonary parenchyma in Takayasu arteritis

PURPOSE Our goal was to describe the pulmonary parenchymal manifestations of Takayasu arteritis visualized on CT. METHOD We assessed the CT findings for the pulmonary parenchyma in 25 patients with Takayasu arteritis and compared them with those visualized by pulmonary angiography (n = 20) and radionuclide perfusion scintigraphy (n = 19). RESULTS A review of the CT scans revealed a total of 33 low attenuation areas in the lung (11 patients), subpleural reticulolinear changes (12 patients), and pleural thickening (9 patients). The low attenuation areas were preferentially seen in patients with pulmonary arteritis and corresponded to pulmonary angiographic staining and scintigraphic perfusion defects. No significant correlation was found between other CT findings and pulmonary arteritis. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that pulmonary low attenuation areas observed on CT represent regional hypoperfusion due to pulmonary arteritis. We speculate that pulmonary thromboembolism may contribute to other CT findings for the pleura and adjacent lung.

Adrenoleukodystrophy. A correlative analysis of computed tomography and radionuclide studies.

A discrepancy in location of abnormality has been noted between computed tomography (CT) and radionuclide studies in patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Radionuclide concentration occurs only in the periphery of the lesion or area of acute demyelinating process and no concentration is seen in the area af gliosis whereas gliosis appears as a low-density lesion in the CT scan. Forward migration of radionuclide uptake in the follow-up study is another characteristic feature of this disease.

Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography in detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

To evaluate the usefulness of intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in hepatocellular carcinoma, IADSA was prospectively performed, combined with conventional film-screen angiography, in 40 patients in whom the tumor was histologically proven or highly suspected. Of the 16 main tumors less than 2 cm, IADSA detected 7 that were missed by film-screen angiography; 6 of these were less than 1 cm in size. With other diagnostic modalities including ultrasound; routine CT study, and CT after intraarterial Lipiodol injection, the detection rate of these tumors was low. IADSAs contribution is important in the detection of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Orthopantomography of the Cervical Spine

The authors describe the application of orthopantomography to study of the intervertebral foramina of the cervical spine in patients with cervical spondylosis. Other structures such as the lateral mass of the cervical spine can be studied by altering the speed of the rotating film holder, which in two changes the width of the arch of the focal layer.