William M. Smoak

GUIDED CATHETERIZATION OF THE BRONCHIAL ARTERIES. I. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Selective catheterization of small vascular branches is easily accomplished since the development especially constructed catheters with minute tips, optimal torque control, and tip deflection by external manipulation (5). We have called this technic “guided angiography.” Exploration of the bronchial arteries by this method has been prompted by recognition of the part these small arteries play in diseases of the bronchial tree and mediastinal organs and in abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial circulation. The procedure and preliminary findings in guided catheterization of the bronchial arteries were reported earlier (6). Our experience with a larger group of cases has enhanced our knowledge and technic, and it is the intent of this paper to expand on these technical considerations and mention some of the pitfalls encountered in the procedure and its interpretation. Technical Consderations Despite the variability in number and site of origin (Fig. 1), selective catheterization of bronchial arteries is ea...

Pulmonary meningioma: False-positive positron emission tomography for malignant pulmonary nodules

An intraparenchymal lung tumor exhibiting the histopathologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of an intracranial meningioma is described. The tumor presented as a solitary asymptomatic pulmonary nodule with increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography. After right upper lobectomy, benign psammomatous meningioma was diagnosed. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of a central nervous system tumor, suggesting that this was a primary lung tumor. The authors describe a benign tumor that can present as a false-positive finding of positron emission tomography performed to evaluate a possible malignant pulmonary nodule.

Dynamic Scintigraphy of Primary and Secondary Malignant Intracranial Neoplasms

Dynamic images and arteriograms were reviewed in patients with proved primary and secondary malignant intracranial neoplasms. In 44% of the patients with glioblastomas and 23% of those with metastatic lesions, radioactivity appeared early in the dynamic imaging sequence. This was related to the presence of arteriovenous shunting on arteriography rather than to a tumor stain. Neither characteristic dynamic imaging patterns nor rapid arteriovenous shunting was seen in patients with astrocytomas.

A new rapid technique for the localization of abnormalities in migration of the thyroid gland

Summary Three children with abnormal migration of the thyroid are presented. Anomalies of migration of the thyroid can present the physician with confusing clinical findings due to the abnormal position of the gland, which results in false 131 I-uptake results and athyroidic scans done by conventional techniques. We are introducing a new method of study called the dynamic thyroid study, utilizing 99m Tc pertechnetate and the scintillation camera; it is fast and accurate and subjects the patient to less radiation than does the conventional technique.