P Peene

The angiographic incidence of renal artery stenosis in the arteriosclerotic population

The incidence of renal artery stenosis was evaluated with intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography in 100 consecutive patients referred for peripheral arteriopathy. Fifty-seven patients were normotensive, 43 were hypertensive. In the normotensive group, renal artery stenosis was found in ten patients (17.5%). In the hypertensive group renal artery stenosis was found in twelve patients (28%). It is concluded that the incidence of renal artery stenosis is high in an arteriosclerotic population both in normotensive and hypertensive patients.

Resorption of the lateral maxillary incisor : assessment by CT

Computed tomography of the maxillary alveolar arch was performed in three children with delayed eruption of one or both maxillary cuspids. Computed tomography demonstrated close contact between the ectopically localized and nonerupted canine and the lateral incisor. The lesion was unilateral in two patients and bilateral in one. In two patients resorption of the lateral incisor root was demonstrated. Moreover, CT permitted exact determination of the extent of the lesion by differentiating between superficial cementodentine resorption limited to the cementodentine (superficial resorption) and resorption extending into the pulpal canal (pulpal canal involvement).

EMBOLIZATION OF IATROGENIC RENAL HEMORRHAGE FOLLOWING PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOMY

Renal bleeding of iatrogenic origin was diagnosed in three patients with massive hematuria. Although percutaneous nephrostomy was the initial injury in all cases, the angiographic presentation was very variable. All cases were successfully managed with arterial embolization, using different techniques. Symptoms regressed totally in all patients avoiding surgical intervention.

Solitary or predominantly right-sided varicocele: A possible sign of situs inversus

Among more than 850 patients undergoing outpatient sclerotherapy of the internal spermatic vein, only 1 unilateral and 1 predominantly right sided varicocele were encountered. In both patients with this finding a total situs inversus was present, with inversion of normal anatomy, enlarged “right” internal spermatic vein draining into the renal vein, and the “left” internal spermatic vein entering the inferior vena cava directly. Total situs inversus should be considered whenever right-sided varicocele is solitary or predominant.

Unilateral congenital nasolacrimal mucocele

A case of a congenital nasolacrimal mucocele is reported. This very uncommon finding presents usually with a diagnostic triad on CT: an intranasal cystic mass, a dilated nasolacrimal duct and lacrimal sac.

Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy: preliminary results

Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy with the Simpson atherectomy catheter was performed in 10 patients with 14 severe atheromatous stenoses of the femoropopliteal arteries. Removal of plaque material with restoration of vessel patency was successful in all patients without complication. Further clinical follow-up will have to determine whether the recurrence rate of stenoses will be lower with this method than with conventional balloon angioplasty.

Intravascular ultrasonography, a new alternative for the assessment of vascular lesions

Intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) was performed in ten patients undergoing a diagnostic or therapeutic angiography. The ultrasound probe was inserted in a 6 French catheter and introduced through a 7 or 8 French sheath. Exact information was yielded about the extent of arteriosclerosis, the stenotic process and the composition of the atheromatous plaque (soft plaque or presence of calcifications). In the patients undergoing a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, the status after dilation was also assessed, and intimal tears and residual atheromatous plaques could well be evaluated.

Intracavernosal injection of prostaglandin E1 as an alternative for papaverine in penile angiography

Arteriography of the penile vasculature was performed after intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1 in five patients. Penile tumescence was obtained in three patients with a dose of 10µg and in the other two patients with a dose of 20µg. Mean duration of penile tumescence was 1 h 36 min. Visualization of the penile vasculature was adequate in all patients. Local pain was a minor side effect in one patient. These preliminary results suggest that prostaglandin E1 might represent an alternative for papaverine in the angiographic study of male impotence.