Computed tomography in evaluation of patients with stage III melanoma

Background: Metastatic disease is detected infrequently by computed tomography (CT) in early stage melanoma. The diagnostic yield of routine CT for stage III melanoma is less established, despite extensive use in clinical practice. Methods: Charts from 347 asymptomatic patients with stage III melanoma were reviewed. Findings suggestive of metastatic melanoma identified by head or body CT, chest radiography, bone scan, or liver function studies were confirmed histologically or by progression of disease. Results: Individual CT scans identified 33/788 (4.2%) instances of metastatic melanoma, with 66/788 (8.4%) false positive studies. No metastases were identified among 104 head CT scans. Chest CT had the highest yield in patients with cervical adenopathy (7/35, 20%), and the lowest yield with groin adenopathy (1/50, 2%). Pelvic CT diagnosed metastases in 7/94 (7.4%) patients with groin adenopathy, but no patients with palpable axillary (n=76) or cervical (n=21) nodes. Metastatic melanoma was diagnosed in 11/136 (8.1%) patients having complete body CT imaging (chest, abdomen, and pelvis), including six patients (4.4%) identified by CT alone. Conclusions: Routine CT in patients with clinical stage III melanoma infrequently identifies metastatic disease. Head CT in the asymptomatic patient, chest CT in patients with groin adenopathy, and pelvic CT in the presence of axillary or cervical adenopathy are not indicated. Selective use of chest CT in patients with cervical adenopathy or pelvic CT in the presence of groin disease may be useful. Presented at the 49th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Atlanta, Georgia, March 21–24, 1996.     

Repeat CT scan in closed head injury

BACKGROUND: Cranial CT scans are often repeated to observe the progress of an intracranial injury. This prospective observational study analyses the effect of repeat CT scans with the aim of formulating a guideline for their use. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-five patients with blunt head injury presenting to the trauma unit and undergoing CT scan were included. Unstable patients with polytrauma were excluded. There was no standard protocol for ordering the repeat cranial CT scans. This decision was purely based on the discretion of neurosurgeons. RESULTS: CT scan was repeated in 53 (30%) patients. The clinical indications for the repeat CT scan could be grouped into three: (i) clinical deterioration, (ii) failure of improvement, and (iii) as a follow-up scan. Nine underwent surgical intervention based on the repeat CT scan findings. They were associated with clinical deterioration and had a better survival after surgery. In others the repeat CT scan findings did not alter the management. CONCLUSION: When a head injured patient shows clinical deterioration, it is necessary to repeat the CT scan to pick up a surgically treatable lesion; which is likely in a significant number of patients. Repeat CT scan as a matter of "routine" follow-up when the patient is clinically status-quo or improving, is unlikely to yield any further information necessitating change in treatment. This guideline may be useful in settings where CT scan facility is not easily available or expenditure is an issue.     

Anginal chest pain in sarcoidosis.

Of 43 consecutive black patients (42 male) with sarcoidosis, 12 (28%) complained of chest pain that met the clinical criteria for typical (four patients) or atypical (eight patients) angina pectoris. These patients underwent cardiopulmonary assessment, which included exercise and redistribution thallium-201 scans and, if indicated, coronary angiography. Nine control patients with sarcoidosis matched for age and duration of disease, but without chest pain, were also studied by thallium-201 scintigraphy. Six of the 12 patients with chest pain had thallium scans indicative of myocardial ischaemia, but all had normal coronary angiograms; no patient from the control group had evidence of ischaemia on the thallium scan. Four additional patients with chest pain and one from the control group had other (non-specific) abnormalities on the thallium scan, so that scans were abnormal in 10 of the 12 patients with sarcoidosis who had chest pain. Most patients with anginal chest pain reported partial or complete relief of symptoms with nitrates. Anginal chest pain appears to be common in black male patients with sarcoidosis, is associated with abnormal myocardial perfusion scans, and may result from myocardial sarcoidosis.     

The utility of the pelvic radiograph in the assessment of pediatric pelvic fractures

BACKGROUND: Computed tomographic (CT) scanning is sensitive in detecting pelvic fractures in the pediatric patient. Pelvic fractures in the pediatric population rarely require emergent intervention, thus providing time to obtain the optimal imaging study. The objective of this study was to compare pelvic radiographs and abdominal pelvic CT scans of all pediatric trauma patients with pelvic injury to determine the role of pelvic imaging in the immediate trauma resuscitation. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of pediatric patients (age < 18 years) with a pelvic fracture identified from the registry of a Level I pediatric trauma center for the period 1993 to 2001. Patients with a documented pelvic injury and both a pelvic CT scan and pelvic radiograph available for review were extracted for analysis. For this study, all films were re-reviewed by an attending pediatric radiologist, and the abnormalities were categorized by the area of injury. The data were comparatively analyzed according to the area of injury and the soft tissue findings. RESULTS: For the 8-year period, 130 pediatric patients with a pelvic fracture were identified, including 103 patients with both a pelvic CT scan and radiographs. Of the 151 fractures identified by pelvic CT scan, 81 were also identified by the pelvic radiograph (54%). There were 38 soft tissue hematomas noted by pelvic CT scan and only 2 identified by the pelvic radiograph. The greatest discrepancy was noted in comparison of the sacral region (16 abnormal pelvic CT scans vs. 3 abnormal radiographs); the least discrepancy was noted in the evaluation of the hip (6 abnormal pelvic CT scans vs. 5 abnormal radiographs). CONCLUSION: The pelvic radiograph lacked the sensitivity of the pelvic CT scan for detecting pelvic fractures in all anatomic areas evaluated. Pelvic CT scan also offers additional information regarding soft tissue injury not available on most pelvic radiographs. In the trauma patient that will undergo abdominopelvic CT scanning as part of the trauma evaluation, a pelvic radiograph may be superfluous. Screening pelvic radiography should be reserved for the rare unstable patient or the patient in whom an abdominopelvic CT scan is not otherwise indicated.     

Accuracy of the typical computed tomographic appearances of fibrosing alveolitis.

BACKGROUND--Open lung biopsy is often performed to confirm the diagnosis in patients with suspected fibrosing alveolitis. The superior sensitivity and specificity of high resolution computed tomography (CT) over chest radiography in various diffuse lung diseases suggest that the characteristic appearance of fibrosing alveolitis on high resolution CT might render biopsy confirmation unnecessary. METHODS--The chest radiographs and high resolution CT scans of 86 patients (41 with fibrosing alveolitis and 45 with various other diffuse lung diseases) were examined individually and independently by two observers. No clinical information was given and the observers gave a level of confidence when the diagnosis was thought to be fibrosing alveolitis. RESULTS--The observers correctly and confidently discriminated between fibrosing alveolitis and other diffuse lung diseases on high resolution CT with an accuracy of 88% and on chest radiography with an accuracy of 76%. The false negative rate for fibrosing alveolitis diminished from 29% on chest radiography to 11% on high resolution CT. The false positive rate on chest radiography was 19% and on high resolution CT 13%; the false positive diagnoses on CT were the result of a few conditions (extrinsic allergic alveolitis, sarcoidosis, cryptogenic organising pneumonia, and pulmonary eosinophilia) which mimicked some of the CT features of fibrosing alveolitis. The superficial similarity of the CT patterns of these conditions are discussed. CONCLUSIONS--High resolution CT is superior to chest radiography in establishing the diagnosis of fibrosing alveolitis and the typical CT appearances are virtually pathognomonic. The diagnostic advantages of CT over chest radiography should further reduce the need for open lung biopsy in this condition.     

CT scan in the management of acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Recent studies demonstrate a 98% accuracy of a CT scan in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. We aimed to determine the accuracy and clinical value of CT scans in patients suspected of having acute appendicitis. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed outcomes of 125 patients over a 5-month period who had CT scans for the initial diagnosis of acute appendicitis. CT scan interpretations were correlated with surgical and pathologic findings. Follow-up was attempted in all patients who did not undergo appendectomy. RESULTS: CT scans and clinical courses were complete in 110 patients (88%); 14 patients were lost to follow-up and 1 was excluded. One patient had two CT scans. Thus, there were 111 CT scans available for review. Radiologic interpretation of these CT scans yielded 36 positive (33%), 67 negative (60%), and 8 indeterminate (7%), resulting in a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 89%, a PPV of 78%, and a NPV of 96%. CONCLUSIONS: CT scan may be useful in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, but the reported high accuracy rate was not reproduced at our institution. CT scan was not clinically useful in 21% of patients. We conclude that a CT scan may be beneficial in the diagnosis of appendicitis with selected patients who have equivocal findings. Thus, at our institution, the accuracy of a CT scan does not justify its routine use in patients with clinical findings of appendicitis.     

Prevalence and importance of pneumothoraces visualized on abdominal computed tomographic scan in children with blunt trauma

BACKGROUND: Chest radiographs are routinely obtained for the identification of pneumothoraces in trauma patients. Computed tomographic (CT) scanning has a higher sensitivity for the detection of pneumothoraces, but the prevalence and importance of pneumothoraces detectable by CT scan but not by chest radiography in children sustaining blunt trauma is unclear. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of children less than 16 years old with blunt trauma undergoing both abdominal CT scan and chest radiography in the emergency department of a Level I trauma center over a 28-month period. All abdominal CT scans were interpreted by a single faculty radiologist. The chest radiographs of all patients with pneumothoraces detected on CT scan as well as a random sample of chest radiographs from pediatric blunt trauma patients without pneumothoraces on abdominal CT scan (in a ratio of four normals per pneumothorax) were reviewed by a second faculty radiologist. Both radiologists were masked to all clinical data as well as to the objective of the study. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-eight children underwent both abdominal CT scan and chest radiography in the emergency department. Twenty patients (3.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-5.7%) were found to have pneumothoraces on CT scan. Of these 20 patients, 9 (45%; 95% CI, 23-68%) had pneumothoraces identified on initial chest radiography and 11 patients did not ("unsuspected pneumothoraces"). Twelve pneumothoraces were identified in these 11 patients; 6 were graded as minuscule and 6 as anterior according to a previously established scale. One patient with an unsuspected pneumothorax underwent tube thoracostomy. None of the 10 patients (0%; 95% CI, 0-26%) with unsuspected pneumothoraces who were managed without thoracostomy (including two patients who underwent positive pressure ventilation) had complications from their pneumothoraces. CONCLUSION: Less than half of pediatric blunt trauma patients with pneumothoraces visualized on abdominal CT scan had these pneumothoraces identified on initial chest radiograph. Patients with pneumothoraces identified solely on abdominal CT scan, however, uncommonly require tube thoracostomy.     

Detection of Pulmonary Embolism in the Postoperative Orthopedic Patient Using Spiral CT Scans

Orthopedic surgery is associated with a significant risk of postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study was performed to compare the clinical presentations of a suspected versus a documented PE/DVT and to determine the actual incidence of PE/DVT in the post-operative orthopedic patient in whom CT was ordered. All 695 patients at our institution who had a postoperative spiral CT to rule out PE/DVT from March 2004 to February 2006 were evaluated and information regarding their surgical procedure, risk factors, presenting symptoms, location of PE/DVT, and anticoagulation were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent samples t test with a two-tailed p value to examine significant associations between the patient variables and CT scans positive for PE. Logistic regression models were used to determine which variables appeared to be significant predictors of a positive chest CT. Of 32,854 patients admitted for same day surgery across all services, 695 (2.1%) had a postoperative spiral CT based on specific clinical guidelines. The incidence of a positive scan was 27.8% (193/695). Of these, 155 (22.3%) scans were positive for PE only, 24 (3.5%) for PE and DVT, and 14 (2.0%) for DVT only. The most common presenting symptoms were tachycardia (56%, 393/695), low oxygen saturation (48%, 336/695), and shortness of breath (19.6%, 136/695). Symptoms significantly associated with DVT were syncope and chest pain. A past medical history of PE/DVT was the only significant predictor of a positive scan. Patients who have a history of thromboembolic disease should be carefully monitored in the postoperative setting.     

Sarcoidosis as a benign cause of lymphadenopathy in cancer patients

Background

Cancer and sarcoidosis have been associated in several small case series. This association makes the cancer patient with lymphadenopathy a diagnostic dilemma: malignant involvement of the lymph nodes is common, but benign diagnoses are possible and must be considered.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis or mediastinal adenopathy who underwent mediastinoscopy at the Swedish Medical Center and Cancer Institute from 2004 to 2008.

Results

Five hundred sixty-five mediastinoscopies were performed. There were 41 cases of biopsy-proven sarcoidosis. Twenty-one cases of sarcoidosis were diagnosed after a diagnosis of cancer. No primary cancer type was predominant. Cancers were of all stages, with and without lymph node involvement. The most common positron emission tomography combined with a computed tomography scan (PET CT) finding was bilateral hilar adenopathy with symmetric standardized uptake values (SUV) in the 4 to 15 range (62%), but many other PET CT patterns were present.

Conclusions

Hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy on staging or surveillance imaging presents a diagnostic dilemma. Sarcoidosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with a history of malignancy who develop lymphadenopathy. It is imperative to obtain a tissue diagnosis before instituting therapy for presumed cancer recurrence.     

应用纵隔镜手术诊断Ⅰ期胸部结节病

目的 探讨纵隔镜手术在Ⅰ期胸部结节病诊断和鉴别诊断中的应用价值.方法 回顾性分析1999年11月至2007年6月60例临床拟诊Ⅰ期胸部结节病患者的临床资料.所有患者术前行胸部X线片及CT发现肺门和(或)纵隔淋巴结肿大,肺部未见异常表现.以伴有或不伴有纵隔淋巴结肿大的两侧肺门淋巴结肿大为Ⅰ期胸部结节病的典型表现.结果 本组60例患者术后均获得明确的病理诊断.影像学表现典型者33例,纵隔镜检查术后32例获得病理学证实,诊断准确率97%;1例为纵隔淋巴结反应性增生.27例根据影像学表现考虑不典型Ⅰ期胸部结节病的患者,纵隔镜检查术后病理证实17例(63%),另有纵隔淋巴结结核6例,纵隔淋巴结反应性增生2例,转移性鳞状细胞癌以及小细胞癌各1例.全组手术顺利,无手术死亡及并发症.结论 临床及影像学表现典型的Ⅰ期胸部结节病,其临床诊断准确率高,一般不需要行纵隔镜等有创检查以获得病理学证实.     

The use of chest computed tomography versus chest X-ray in patients with major blunt trauma

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography (CT) scans are often used in the evaluation of patients with blunt trauma. This study identifies the clinical features associated with further diagnostic information obtained on a CT chest scan compared with a standard chest X-ray in patients sustaining blunt trauma to the chest. METHODS: A 2-year retrospective survey of 141 patients who attended a Level 1 trauma centre for blunt trauma and had a chest CT scan and a chest X-ray as part of an initial assessment was undertaken. Data extracted from the medical record included vital signs, laboratory findings, interventions and the type and severity of injury. RESULTS: The CT chest scan is significantly more likely to provide further diagnostic information for the management of blunt trauma compared to a chest X-ray in patients with chest wall tenderness (OR=6.73, 95% CI=2.56, 17.70, p<0.001), reduced air-entry (OR=4.48, 95% CI=1.33, 15.02, p=0.015) and/or abnormal respiratory effort (OR=4.05, 95% CI=1.28, 12.66, p=0.017). CT scan was significantly more effective than routine chest X-ray in detecting lung contusions, pneumothoraces, mediastinal haematomas, as well as fractured ribs, scapulas, sternums and vertebrae. CONCLUSION: In alert patients without evidence of chest wall tenderness, reduced air-entry or abnormal respiratory effort, selective use of CT chest scanning as a screening tool could be adopted. This is supported by the fact that most chest injuries can be treated with simple observation. Intubated patients, in most instances, should receive a routine CT chest scan in their first assessment.     

Value of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of stage I thoracic sarcoidosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current role of mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of stage I thoracic sarcoidosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 60 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of stage I thoracic sarcoidosis underwent mediastinoscopy from November 1999 to June 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients had hilum of lung and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy with normal lung parenchyma on thoracic CT scan. Typical stage I sarcoidosis was defined as presence of bilateral hilum of lung lymphadenopathy with/without mediastinal lymphadenopathy. RESULTS: All the patients had definitive pathologic diagnosis. Among the 33 patients with typical presentation of stage I sarcoidosis, 32 patients were confirmed by pathology. One patient was reactive lymph node. Among the 27 patients with atypical patterns on CT, 17 patients were confirmed by pathology. No postoperative complication and mortality occurred. CONCLUSION: For the patient with a presumptive diagnosis of typical stage I thoracic sarcoidosis after clinical and radiological evaluation, confirmation of the diagnosis by mediastinoscopy and lymph node biopsy is unwarranted.     

Computed tomographic scanning reduces cost and time of complete spine evaluation

BACKGROUND: We hypothesize that data collected from computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained for workup of chest or abdominal injuries provide data that are sufficient to screen for spinal fractures and will decrease the cost and time of spine evaluation after trauma. METHODS: We reviewed plain radiographs from 55 selected trauma patients who also underwent CT scanning of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. We also timed the radiologic workup of 50 consecutive trauma patients to determine the time required to complete radiographic spine evaluation. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients had thoracolumbar fractures. Thirteen patients were found to have 33 thoracolumbar spine fractures identified by CT scan but not plain radiography. Fractures were found on initial trauma CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis obtained to evaluate for visceral injuries. No injuries seen on plain film were missed on CT scan. CONCLUSION: We recommend using the data acquired from CT scans to evaluate the spine, supplementing them with additional studies only when needed for further clarification.     

Discovery of thoracic meningioma with cord compression on a screening “total body” computed tomography scan

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The use of "total body" screening computed tomography (CT)scans has increased dramatically, although the procedure is controversial, and its benefit to the patient is unproven. When a screening CT scan of the chest is performed, the major areas of interest are the heart and lungs. However, significant portions of the spinal column are also included in the examination. PURPOSE: To describe a case in which a screening CT scan of the chest revealed clinically important findings within the spinal column. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Case report. METHODS: Summary of clinical course and imaging studies, with literature review. RESULTS: A healthy 72-year-old woman without neurologic symptoms was self-referred for a screening "total body" CT examination. The chest portion of the study showed a calcified meningioma with cord compression at the T4 level. Within 2 months of the examination, the patient developed a progressive thoracic myelopathy and required excision of the tumor. Definitive management of the tumor was delayed because the patient was not referred for neurologic or neurosurgical consultation at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates two important points. First, clinically significant pathology within the spinal column may be identified on a screening CT scan of the chest. Such lesions may have major neurologic implications for the patient. Second, because most patients undergo-ing screening radiology examinations do not have a referring physician, it is critically important for the radiologist to make prompt referral to a neurologist or neurosurgeon at the time of diagnosis.     

A new cervical spine clearance protocol using computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess a cervical spine clearance protocol for blunt trauma patients using helical computed tomographic (CT) scan of the cervical spine (C-spine). METHODS: A protocol using CT scan of the C-spine was implemented and the first 6 months of use reviewed. Patients requiring a CT scan of the head had the C-spine evaluated by lateral C-spine radiography and a helical CT scan. Patients without indication for CT scan of the head had the C-spine evaluated by three-view radiography (anteroposterior, lateral, and odontoid) with selective CT scan of the C-spine for imaging areas not well visualized or those with abnormalities identified by radiography or by clinical examination alone. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-four patients were admitted to the trauma center after blunt trauma during the first 6 months of protocol implementation. Head CT scans were obtained in 158 patients and lateral cervical spine radiography in conjunction with helical CT scanning evaluated the C-spine. The other 166 patients had the cervical spine cleared by three-view radiography series or by clinical examination alone. For patients in whom a head CT scan was not indicated, CT scanning was used only when plain radiographs failed to adequately visualize the entire C-spine. A total of 15 injuries (4.6% of the group) were detected. Seven injuries were suspected or detected by lateral plain radiographs and confirmed by CT scan. Six patients had an injury not detected by radiography but diagnosed by CT scan, and one patient had a false-positive radiograph. Of the remaining two injuries, one was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and the other by CT scan outside of the protocol. Lateral plain radiographs alone failed to detect 46% (n = 6) of all injuries. CONCLUSION: In our series, the selective use of helical CT scanning with plain radiography increased the accuracy with which cervical spine injury was detected from 54% to 100%. The protocol allowed for more rapid evaluation in many patients as well. We recommend that practice guidelines include the use of helical CT scan of the entire C-spine as the diagnostic procedure for those blunt trauma patients undergoing CT scanning of the head.     

Role of computerised tomography in management of intra-articular fractures of the os calcis

This study aimed to look at the role played by the CT scan in decision making in the management of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum. Twenty-four patients with intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum were included. Their initial radiographs and CT films were blinded and assessed by three independent observers. Based on this they were selected for operative or non-operative management. The actual management was also recorded. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis to look at the association between the decision from radiograph, that from the CT scan and the actual management undertaken. Non-parametric tests for related samples were performed to look at the association between the actual management and the decisions made by assessing the radiographs and the CT scans. For all three observers, there was no significant difference between the actual management and decisions made by assessing the plain radiographs or the CT scan. There was also no significant difference between the radiograph-based and the CT-based decisions. However, the Cochran Q test showed that there was significant variation among the three observers for the CT-based assessment. Our results, show that the CT scan should only be done when a definite decision is made to operate on a patient, based on plain radiographs. Calcaneal fractures which are selected for non-operative management, based on X rays, should not have a CT scan as a routine as it provides no valuable additional information affecting the management decision.     

Problems in assessment of pulmonary parenchymal consolidation in heart transplant candidates.

Radiologic assessment of the cause of pulmonary parenchymal consolidation in end-stage heart failure may be difficult. From August 1982 to May 1989, 22 patients being considered for orthotopic cardiac allografts had parenchymal consolidation on their chest radiographs, most commonly in the right lower lobe. Our purpose was to determine from standard radiologic studies whether this consolidation represented alveolar pulmonary edema in an atypical basal distribution, pneumonia, or pulmonary infarction. This differentiation is important because pneumonia is an absolute and infarction is a relative contraindication to surgery, whereas successful transplantation can be performed in a setting of pulmonary edema. The chest radiographs were reviewed retrospectively. When available, pulmonary angiograms, nuclear medicine ventilation/perfusion scans, and needle biopsy findings were also evaluated. The radiologic assessment was correlated with the results of surgical, autopsy, or clinical outcome. None of the conventional modalities was very accurate--the plain chest film was correct in only 63%, nuclear medicine studies in 50%. Angiography was the single most useful test, with an accuracy of 75%.     

Whole body imaging in blunt multisystem trauma patients without obvious signs of injury: results of a prospective study

HYPOTHESIS: The use of liberal whole body imaging (pan scan) in patients based on mechanism is warranted, even in evaluable patients with no obvious signs of chest or abdominal injury. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Academic level I trauma center. PATIENTS: All patients admitted following blunt multisystem trauma. INTERVENTION: Pan scan, including computed tomography (CT) of the head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, with the following inclusion criteria: (1) no visible evidence of chest or abdominal injury, (2) hemodynamically stable, (3) normal abdominal examination results in a neurologically intact patient or unevaluable abdominal examination results secondary to a depressed level of consciousness, and (4) significant mechanisms of injury. Radiological findings and changes in treatment based on these findings were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Any alteration in the normal treatment plan as a direct result of CT scan findings. These alterations include early hospital discharge, admission for observation, operative intervention, and additional diagnostic studies or interventions. RESULTS: One thousand patients underwent pan scan during the 18-month observation period, of which 592 were evaluable patients with no obvious signs of abdominal injury. Clinically significant abnormalities were found in 3.5% of head CT scans, 5.1% of cervical spine CT scans, 19.6% of chest CT scans, and 7.1% of abdominal CT scans. Overall treatment was changed in 18.9% of patients based on abnormal CT scan findings. CONCLUSIONS: The use of pan scan based on mechanism in awake, evaluable patients is warranted. Clinically significant abnormalities are not uncommon, resulting in a change in treatment in nearly 19% of patients.     

The diagnostic dilemma created by osteoid osteoma that presents as knee pain

Purpose: Osteoid osteoma is a rare benign bone lesion with a high incidence in adolescents and young people. The objective of our study was to illustrate the difficulties in diagnosis of osteoid osteoma in patients presenting with atypical knee pain. Type of Study: Retrospective case series. Methods: In 10 patients who presented to our department with atypical knee pain between 1984 and 1999, the diagnosis of an osteoid osteoma was delayed. Retrospective review of these 10 cases was performed using interviews and re-evaluation of medical histories, radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scans, isotope bone scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Initial radiographs showed features of osteiod osteoma in only 2 cases. In addition, in 1 case, not only initial but also repeated radiographs of the knee joint were still normal 10 months after the delineation of the nidus using MRI. Four unnecessary arthroscopies were performed on 4 of the 10 patients and the final diagnosis was established using MRI, CT, and isotope bone scan. The mean time interval between arthroscopy and osteiod osteoma diagnosis was 11.5 months. Conclusions: Osteoid osteoma must be included in the differential diagnosis of persistent unexplained knee pain, especially when objective findings of the knee are vague. The presence of the lesion juxta-articular to the knee joint or in the midshaft or upper end of the femur may be referred as pain to a nearby joint. Plain radiographs have a low diagnostic value in the detection of the lesion whereas isotope bone scan and MRI are reliable imaging techniques. The evaluation of the ipsilateral hip joint should not be overlooked.     

The current state of practice in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism at an academic medical center

Evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been recommended, yet the adoption of such guidelines into daily practice is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the current practices in the diagnosis of VTE. Medical records of 1161 adult patients who underwent lower extremity venous duplex scans (VDS), chest computerized tomographic (CT) angiography, or ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) scans during a 6-month period were retrospectively reviewed in an academic medical center. Patients who were first diagnosed by CT or V/Q scan still underwent a VDS. Nine patients at high risk had incomplete CT scans, yet no further tests were performed. Five pregnant patients had CT scans as the initial test instead of being screened with VDS or V/Q scanning. Inappropriate use of imaging tests was documented. The recommended guidelines of using clinical probability and D-dimer as the initial screening tests for VTE diagnosis were underused.