Pectus excavatum defect on liver-spleen scintigraphy

A 58-year-old man with a pectus excavatum demonstrated a photon-deficient defect within the left lobe of the liver on liver-spleen scintigraphy using Tc-99m SCOL. Computed tomography of the liver clearly revealed the abnormal defect seen on the liver-spleen scan to be due to the pectus excavatum. This case confirms the impression that these skeletal aberrations may cause false-positive hepatic defects.     

Breast radiotherapy in women with pectus excavatum (funnel chest): is the lateral decubitus technique an answer? A dosimetric study

Breast radiotherapy is a technical challenge in women with pectus excavatum. We aim to assess isocentric lateral decubitus (ILD) technique as a means to irradiate breasts for patients with pectus excavatum. Four women presenting with left-sided breast cancers and found to have pectus excavatum were offered breast-conserving treatments. Post-operative breast radiotherapy was indicated (50 Gy) in two patients, with an additional boost to the tumour bed (16 Gy). Both ILD and supine techniques were simulated. We report the dosimetric comparison of these techniques and the acute skin toxicity of ILD radiotherapy. ILD permitted the same breast dose-homogeneity as the supine technique while decreasing breast thickness by 4.5-6.8 cm. The width of lung and/or heart receiving > 20 Gy ranged between 2.1 cm and 4.3 cm with the supine technique and between 0.5 cm and 1.1 cm with ILD. The estimated percentage of ipsilateral lung receiving > 20 Gy ranged from 21% to 34% with the supine technique and from 0% to 5% with ILD. Acute skin toxicity was scored 1 for all patients at completion of ILD radiotherapy. ILD is an effective breast radiotherapy technique for patients with pectus excavatum that preserves the underlying heart and lung from unnecessary toxicity.     

漏斗胸146例明尼苏达多项人格调查表测试结果分析

目的探讨漏斗胸患者的心理健康状况及人格特征,为建立该病的生理—心理—社会综合治疗方案提供依据。方法选取2009-07至2011-05期间入我院胸外科诊治且心理问卷有效的漏斗胸患者146例,使用心理测试软件系统中的明尼苏达多项人格调查表（MMPI）对其进行测试,并与全国成人常模进行差异性比较。结果男性患者效度量表L、F显著低于常模（P〈0.01）;临床量表Hs、Hy、Ma、Si显著高于常模（P〈0.01）;女性患者临床量表Hs、Hy、Mf、Si显著高于常模（P〈0.05）。结论漏斗胸患者的心身健康水平较低,有其固定的人格特征,术前术后心理测验对于制定合理治疗方案具有重要意义。     

螺旋CT在儿童漏斗胸合并其它先天性畸形中的应用价值

目的:探讨螺旋CT在漏斗胸合并其它先天性畸形中的应用价值.方法:回顾性分析283例手术前行螺旋CT检查并采用螺旋CT重组技术的漏斗胸患儿临床及影像资料,分类记录漏斗胸患儿合并各种其它先天性畸形的种类及分布比例.结果:本组漏斗胸病例中合并其它先天性畸形47例,占16.61%.其中合并脊柱侧弯的比例最大(4.95%).按系...     

Radioopacity of the right paracardiac lung field due to pectus excavatum (funnel chest)

Increased density of the right paracardiac lung field is frequently visible in patients with pectus excavatum. This sign is due to compression of the lungs by the bent costal cartilages of the pectus and should not be interpreted as evidence of pulmonary infiltrate.     

Variation of the spleen-liver activity ratio due to a change in position

The ratio of splenic to hepatic activity in the posterior view of a Tc-99m SC liver-spleen scan has been used as an indicator of parenchymal disease. Analysis of liver-spleen scans from a series of patients acquired in both the supine and erect positions revealed that the spleen-liver ratio varied considerably with a change in the patient position. Qualitatively there was a shift of colloid from the liver to the spleen in five of 18 supine views and ten of 18 erect views. Quantitative analysis of 37 cases showed that the median erect spleen-liver ratio was 20% greater than the spleen-liver ratio observed in supine patients. Criteria for an abnormal spleen-liver ratio need to be established in each position.     

螺旋CT在先天性漏斗胸中的应用价值

目的:利用螺旋CT研究Haller指数、胸骨凹陷深度和心脏旋转角在漏斗胸诊治中的价值.方法:70例漏斗胸患儿手术前后均行螺旋CT检查.Haller指数测定法:胸部最大内横径与同层面最小前后内径的比值.心脏旋转角:椎体前缘矢状线及其与心尖连线的夹角.在横轴面CT图像上测量胸骨凹陷深度(d).测量患者组和正常对照组手术前后...     

Solitary defect on liver sulfur colloid imaging secondary to focal fatty infiltration

Radionuclide liver-spleen imaging using Tc-99m SC may identify focal defects on routine examinations. Fatty infiltration has generally been described as a diffuse process in the liver that may be manifested on Tc-99m SC liver imaging as a nonhomogeneous pattern of radiopharmaceutical distribution or multiple small defects. This case demonstrates a focal defect on radionuclide imaging, simulating a space-occupying lesion that ultimately proved to be focal fatty infiltration. Although not an uncommon finding on CT, to the authors' knowledge this has not been reported in the nuclear medicine literature to date.     

Pulmonary scintigraphic findings in children with pectus excavatum by the comparison of chest radiograph indices.

Pulmonary scintigraphy, including Xe-133 ventilation combined with Tc-99m MAA perfusion scans, was performed in 23 children (3 girls, 20 boys, ages: 2-9 years) with pectus excavatum, and the indices from lateral chest radiography were used for comparison. The findings of pulmonary scintigraphy were analyzed as 1) ventilation fractions (VF), and 2) perfusion fractions (PF) between bilateral lungs; and 3) ventilation-perfusion ratios (V/Q ratio) of both lungs. The results showed that 6 of 23 cases had impaired VF, 11 of 23 cases had impaired PF, and 7 of 23 cases had an impaired V/Q ratio in the right and left lung, respectively. The severity of sternal depression in pectus excavatum was shown as certain indices that were obtained on routine lateral chest radiographs. However, no significant correlations existed between the differences in the fractions and the indices. Our results suggest that pulmonary scintigraphy is not necessary for children with pectus excavatum to predict the severity of sternal depression and pulmonary function, because 1) pulmonary scintigraphy is very difficult to perform in children; 2) unnecessary radiation exposure should be avoided; and 3) it is not well correlated with the severity of the depressed sternum.     

Chest radiography in pectus excavatum: Recognition of pectus excavatum-related signs and assessment of severity before and after surgical correction

A combined retrospective and prospective study describes findings on posteroanterior (PA) chest films and evaluates objective measurements on lateral chest films in pectus excavatum, both before and after surgical correction. Dispiacement of the heart to the left was seen in more than 50%, of patients and was significantly less predominant 1 year after operation, whereas other signs resulting from compression by the anterior chest wall remained unchanged or needed more time to be resolved. In both study groups the lower vertebral index and upper vertebral index in pectus excavatum patients was higher than predicted (P < 0.0001), reflecting smaller PA diameters of the chest. The diameters increased after operation (P < 0.0001), especially the lower. A significant relation was found between clinical severity and radiologic depth of depression. There was no significant relation between clinical operative result and radiologic postoperative changes in chest diameters.     

Pectus excavatum deformities simulating mediastinal masses.

Three patients with various pectus excavatum deformities in whom radiographic findings suggested hilar and mediastinal masses are presented. Computed tomography of the chest yielded valuable diagnostic information and made it possible to exclude the existence of these masses. Compression deformity of the heart and great vessels by the pectus deformity is the most likely explanation for these findings.     

Pectus excavatum in children: pulmonary scintigraphy before and after corrective surgery

Regional distribution of pulmonary function was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively with xenon-133 perfusion and ventilation scintigraphy in 17 patients with pectus excavatum. Ventilatory preoperative studies were abnormal in 12 of 17 patients, resolving in seven of 12 postoperatively. Perfusion scans were abnormal in ten of 17 patients preoperatively; six of ten showed improvement postoperatively. Ventilation-perfusion ratios were abnormal in ten of 17 patients, normalizing postoperatively in six of ten. Symmetry of ventilation-perfusion ratio images improved in six out of nine in the latter group. The distribution of regional lung function in pectus excavatum can be evaluated preoperatively to support indications for surgery. Postoperative improvement can be documented by physiological changes produced by the surgical correction.     

A comparison of liver-spleen ratios and uptakes obtained using planar and tomographic techniques

Liver-spleen ratio, volume and uptake were measured in 20 patients undergoing routine 99Tcm-colloid examinations. Methods using planar views only were compared with results obtained using SPECT techniques and automated slice processing. The results suggest that a reasonable estimate of liver-spleen ratio may be obtained using anterior and posterior planar views only. Estimates of organ volume and absolute uptake were not reliably obtained using planar views only, and SPECT studies are required. The choice of attenuation correction technique for SPECT studies did not affect the results obtained for liver-spleen ratios and volumes, although systematic underestimation of absolute uptake occurred with simpler techniques.     

64层螺旋CT对儿童漏斗胸的心脏及小气道改变的评价

目的:通过CT观察儿童漏斗胸心脏形态及小气道改变,探讨胸廓畸形程度对心脏形态、小气道改变的影响及64层螺旋CT的价值。方法:搜集2009～2011年临床确诊漏斗胸并行胸部64层螺旋CT三维重建检查的患儿183例,测量胸廓的Haller指数、心脏旋转角度,在MPR肺窗上观察小气道改变。按Haller指数将病例分为轻、中、重度3组,比较3组间心脏旋转角、小气道改变的差异性,探讨胸骨凹陷程度对两者的影响。结果:183例漏斗胸患儿分为轻度54例(Haller指数2.86±0.31)、中度22例(3.36±0.10)、重度107例(4.61±1.27),三者间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。心脏旋转角分别为55.52°±8.76°、57.38°±5.03°和65.93°±7.67°,三者间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。随凹陷程度的增加,心脏旋转角也增加,二者有相关性(r=0.596,P<0.05)。60例患儿有小气道改变,轻、中、重度分别占22.22%(12/54)、22.73%(5/22)、40.19%(43/107),3组之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。其中53例有左肺下叶小气道的改变。结论:64层螺旋CT可准确显示漏斗胸的胸廓畸形程度、心脏受压旋转及小气道改变。随着胸廓凹陷程度的加重,心脏旋转角及小气道改变也增加。     

Cardiorespiratory outcome after corrective surgery for pectus excavatum: a case study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this case study was to examine the effect of pectus excavatum before and after surgical correction on ventilatory and cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal and maximal exercise. METHODS: The patient was a 30-yr-old longshoreman who had mild pectus excavatum since infancy that became worse during his adolescent growth years. The deformity persisted into adulthood with increasing symptoms. Although he had a history of habitual aerobic exercise, the patient experienced frequent episodes of pain in the lower anterior chest, breathlessness, and reduced stamina when performing activities of daily living. He performed pulmonary function tests, submaximal and maximal incremental exercise testing, before and 6 months after corrective surgery. RESULTS: Six months after corrective surgery, the patient demonstrated increases in FEV1 (13.0%), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV, 32.3%), maximum power output (max, 15.5%), [OV0312]O2max (7.9%), metabolic threshold ([OV0312]O2theta, 30.8%), oxygen-pulse ([OV0312]O2/fc, 14.0%), and maximal tidal volume (VTmax, 11.7%). On submaximal testing, we found that the time constant for oxygen uptake kinetics was 46.8 s for the on-transit and 46.5 s for the off-transit before surgery and 33.6 s for the on-transit and 30.3 s for the off-transit six months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The information derived from this case study supports the opinion that corrective surgery for pectus excavatum may alleviate the impaired ventilatory and cardiorespiratory performance seen preoperatively.     

Improved detection of upper abdominal abscesses by combination of 99mTc sulfur colloid and 111In leukocyte scanning

Indium-111-labeled leukocyte scanning is an excellent technique for detecting abdominal abscesses. However, since labeled leukocytes are normally taken up by the liver and spleen, diagnosing upper abdominal abscesses can be difficult. A prospective study was undertaken to see if having a technetium-99m sulfur colloid liver-spleen scan to compare with the 111In leukocyte scan would improve the reader's ability to diagnose or exclude upper abdominal abscesses. Ninety patients with suspected upper abdominal abscesses were examined with 111In leukocyte scans followed immediately by conventional 99mTc sulfur colloid liver-spleen scans in the same projections. In 57% of patients with upper abdominal abscesses and 26% of all patients studied, the 99mTc sulfur colloid scan was essential to diagnose or exclude an upper abdominal abscess. The liver-spleen scan was considered helpful in another 13%. The addition of a 99mTc sulfur colloid liver-spleen scan to the 111In leukocyte study is useful when evaluating patients with suspected upper abdominal abscesses.     

Splenectomy for splenic metastasis from carcinoma of colon

An 81-year-old woman with carcinoma of the colon had a normal liver-spleen radiocolloid image at the time of surgery. Two years later, a defect was noted in the spleen on a follow-up radiocolloid study. A repeat examination showed that the mass was increasing in size. An abdominal CT examination also revealed an intrasplenic mass with spring of the liver. After splenectomy for a metastatic carcinoma of the colon, the patient has survived for over a year without symptoms referable to tumor spread. Mention is made of the apparent splenic "immunity" from metastases.     

Anterior chest wall: frequency of anatomic variations in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of anterior chest wall variations in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computed tomographic (CT) images of 200 consecutive infants and children (114 boys and 86 girls; mean age, 10.5 years; age range, 3 months to 19 years) who underwent chest CT during a 20-month period were evaluated for chest wall variations. Children who had undergone chest wall surgery or were suspected of having a chest wall abnormality were excluded. The frequency of chest wall anomalies was compared with age and sex (Fisher exact test). RESULTS: The CT scans of 65 children (33%) depicted one or more variations in the anterior chest wall: titled sternum (n = 29), prominent convexity of anterior rib or costal cartilage (n = 19), prominent asymmetric costal cartilage (n = 20), well-defined paracostal subcutaneous nodule (n = 4), mild pectus excavatum (n = 4), or mild pectus carinatum (n = 4). The frequency of these findings did not vary significantly with age (P = .96) or sex (P = .36). CONCLUSION: Variations in the anterior chest wall are common, occurring in one-third of children, and should be considered normal. These asymptomatic variations should not be considered alarming when palpated at physical examination.     

Overestimation of splenic size and underestimation of hepatic size by radiocolloid scintigraphy in advanced cirrhosis of the liver: an autopsy correlation

The radiocolloid liver-spleen scintigrams of seven patients with advanced cirrhosis of the liver were correlated with autopsy results. The data showed scintigraphic overestimation of splenic size and underestimation of hepatic size. The causes of underestimation of the liver size were: rotation of the liver due to ascites; photon attenuation by ascitic fluid; and/or decreased and in homogeneous distribution of radiocolloid in the diseased liver. The splenic size/weight was overestimated because of lack of the effects of ascites and the usually marked increase in splenic radioactivity. Awareness of the underestimation of the liver weight/size and overestimation of the splenic weight/size occurring on the radiocolloid liver-spleen scan of patient with advanced alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver may help avoid misinterpretation.     

Case report 496

The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of The Department of the Army or the Department of Defense