R. Brooke Jeffrey

Sonourethrography in the Evaluation of Urethral Strictures: A Preliminary Report

A total of 17 patients with suspected stricture disease underwent conventional retrograde urethrography and sonourethrography. When the length of the stricture as assessed by each imaging modality was compared to measurements at open urethroplasty in 7 patients, sonourethrography was consistently more accurate. Distension of the urethra with saline during the ultrasound examination enabled classification of the degree of spongiofibrosis, which was confirmed by full depth biopsy in 5 patients. Sonourethrography cannot adequately image the posterior urethra, even when the transcrotal approach is used. However, because it is a dynamic 3-dimensional study and can be repeated without risk of radiation exposure, sonourethrography is preferable to radiographic retrograde urography to evaluate patients with suspected anterior urethral strictures.

Computerized tomographic staging of renal trauma: 85 consecutive cases.

In 85 patients with renal trauma we compared the findings on computerized tomography with those of excretory urography, renal surgery, intra-abdominal surgery and angiography. Patients underwent computerized tomography because of a suspected associated thoracic or abdominal injury, or indeterminate findings on excretory urography, nephrotomography or angiography. Blunt trauma accounted for 87.1 per cent of the renal injuries and penetrating trauma for 12.9 per cent. The most common findings on computerized tomography were perirenal hematoma in 29.4 per cent, intrarenal hematoma in 24.7 per cent and parenchymal disruption in 17.6 per cent. In 33 patients who underwent laparotomy computerized tomographic staging was confirmed. In contrast, the most common finding on excretory urography, diminished opacification (17 of 53 patients), was found to have no correlation with the severity of renal injury as assessed by computerized tomography or laparotomy. Angiography appreciably understaged 1 of 5 cases by failing to show extracapsular extravasation with parenchymal disruption. All findings on angiography were depicted by computerized tomography. We conclude that computerized tomographic staging for renal trauma is more sensitive and specific than excretory urography, nephrotomography and angiography, and that it should be used primarily when multiple traumatic injuries are suspected, when excretory urography suggests major trauma or is nonspecific and when clinical evidence of major trauma exists, regardless of what excretory urography shows.

Evaluation of Prostate Size: A Comparison of Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

To determine the relative accuracy of ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of prostate volume, we compared US and MR images with surgical findings in 15 patients.Transabdominal US was excellent for determining prostate size in patients with small to moderate enlargement. When compared with surgical specimens, the difference between the weight of the gland as predicted by US and the actual weight was 14% (SD±12). With the transabdominal approach, the length was often inaccurately imaged, but the addition of transrectal scans in the sagittal projection improved results: with combined transabdominal and transrectal US, the average difference in weight was 8% (SD±7). The MRI more accurately predicted prostatic volume (average difference, 6% (SD±6), but the difference between the latter 2 is not significant.In 5 additional patients who had undergone transurethral resection of the prostate, residual prostatic tissue was evaluated by MRI and US. In addition to demonstrating prostate size, transrectal sagittal US showed the relationship among the bladder neck, prostatic urethra, and remaining prostatic tissue. Real-time US also allowed evaluation of dynamic sphincteric contractions, which is a finding not available today with MRI.Tissue differentiation was attempted with both MRI and US. Neither imaging modality could differentiate benign from malignant disease.

Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis and Staging of Blunt Scrotal Trauma

Of 19 patients with blunt testicular trauma diagnosed and staged correctly by physical examination and ultrasonography 10 were explored surgically and 9 were managed nonoperatively (treatment was supported by ultrasonography). Fractured testicles occurred in 5 of the 10 explored patients and were repaired surgically, and in 2 of the 9 conservatively managed patients. These 2 patients refused an operation. Ultrasonography can show disruption of the testicle as evidenced by intratesticular lucencies representing hematoma, extruded testicular parenchyma or a fragmented testicle. The tunica albuginea is too thin to be defined consistently and, thus, it could not be used as a parameter for disruption in the 10 patients who were explored surgically. Ultrasonography used in conjunction with a thorough physical examination is highly accurate, readily available, noninvasive and gives minimal discomfort. This modality can be used to follow nonoperative scrotal injury to resolution. With the availability of high resolution real-time ultrasonography more rapid and reliable screening of the scrotum is possible.

High resolution scrotal ultrasonography: a highly sensitive but nonspecific diagnostic technique.

We compared surgical and pathological findings to those of preoperative scrotal ultrasonography in 50 consecutive patients undergoing surgical exploration for testicular trauma, tumors or benign atraumatic conditions. An inhomogeneous parenchymal echo pattern was the single most reliable predictor of a parenchymal abnormality. Large scrotal hematomas may preclude adequate visualization of the parenchyma and early testicular torsion may exhibit a normal parenchymal echo pattern. Except for early torsion, no false negative predictions of the state of the parenchyma were made.

Angiographic evaluation of the ductus diverticulum

The aortic isthmus in adults has a variable appearance on thoracic aortograms. Its configuration may show a concavity, a straightening or slight convexity, or a discrete focal bulge. The latter finding represents a ductus diverticulum and, in a review of 103 aortograms, was found present in 9% of patients. At times a prominent ductus diverticulum may resemble, and be mistaken for, a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the aortic isthmus. A traumatic pseudoaneurysm may be distinguished from a ductus diverticulum on aortography by demonstration of an intimal flap and/or delayed clearance of contrast material on subtracted films. However, a ductus diverticulum will exhibit neither of these features.

Use of sonography in the early detection of suppurative flexor tensosynovitis

Eighteen patients with swollen fingers suggesting acute suppurative tenosynovitis were studied by ultrasonography. All patients received intravenous antibiotics. Twelve patients required surgical drainage. Eleven of 12 patients had sonographic evidence of both a swollen tendon and fluid in the flexor sheath. Eleven of the 12 patients operated on had purulent fluid in the flexor sheath. Four of the operative cases were culture positive and four were culture negative. All six patients treated only with antibiotics had swollen tendons, but five of the six had no sonographic evidence of fluid in the flexor sheath. All patients had a full recovery. Sonographic evidence of fluid in the flexor sheath is a useful sign in the early diagnosis of acute suppurative flexor tenosynovitis.

The Computerized Tomography Appearance of Renal Pedicle Injury

AbstractThe computerized tomography findings in 2 cases of traumatic renal artery occlusion are reviewed. Both patients had a nonfunctioning, normal-sized kidney with minimal or no contrast enhancement. Based on a review of 60 cases of renal trauma at our institution these findings appear to be specific for occlusion of the renal pedicle.

Computed tomography and plain film appearance of a bony sequestration: significance and differential diagnosis

Bony sequestration has been reported in osteomyelitis, eosinophilic granuloma, and fibrosarcoma. Thirty-eight examples of radiographically apparent bony sequestra were collected to examine the validity of this differential diagnosis. Apparent sequestra were found in osteomyelitis (59%), fibrosarcoma or fibrosarcoma-like entities (13%), eosinophilic granuloma (8%), and osteoid osteoma (21%). Although osteoid osteoma does not contain a true bony sequestrum, the partially calcified nidus was radiographically mistaken for a sequestrum in eight (21%) of our cases and, therefore, should be considered when an apparent sequestrum is visualized. Computed tomography enhanced visualization of a sequestrum in 19 of 22 cases and is recommended as an adjunct to conventional radiography when the presence of a sequestrum will alter therapy.

Noninvasive imaging of unusual regenerating nodules in the cirrhotic liver

Despite the common occurrence of regenerating liver nodules, little has been written regarding their ultrasound or computed tomographic appearance. In the great majority of cases, they have an echo texture and CT number identical to surrounding hepatic parenchyma. Exceptionally, as in the 2 cases described, they can mimic a malignant neoplasm. Because radionuclide imaging almost always demonstrates uptake over a regenerating nodule, this modality should be used in suspicious cases in conjunction with either ultrasound or computed tomography in order to exclude a malignancy.