Renal thorium deposition associated with transitional cell carcinoma: radiologic demonstration in two patients

Abdominal radiography, excretory urography, retrograde pyelography, and computed tomography were performed in two patients who had undergone retrograde pyelography with thorium dioxide (Thorotrast) approximately 40 years ago. Both patients developed a transitional cell carcinoma due to suburothelial thorium deposition. Typical thorium densities were demonstrated at CT in the peripelvicalyceal area as well as in retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Elderly patients in whom radiographic examination reveals retained Thorotrast in the kidney should be followed up because of the high risk of renal carcinoma.     

Anesthesia, Analgesia for Vaginal Childbirth Differences in Maternal Perceptions

An exploratory study of 77 primiparous women during the first 48 hours postpartum tested for differences between those who had received epidural anesthesia, those who had received analgesia during labor with local or pudendal block for delivery, and those who had received no analgesia and either no anesthesia or local or pudendal block for delivery. No group differences were found in self-esteem, feelings about the childbirth experience at the time of delivery, or maternal perception of her infant as compared to her perception of an average infant. Those receiving epidural anesthesia had less positive feelings about the childbirth experience at the time of the interview, but they described their views of their infants at birth more positively and with more identifying remarks than either of the other two groups. No differences were found in self-esteem, feelings about the childbirth experience at time of delivery or at the time of interview, or maternal perception of the newborn compared to that of an average infant by those who attended childbirth classes and those who did not.     

Ultra-high-strip-density radiographic grids: a new antiscatter technique for mammography

We conducted a comprehensive study on the application of ultra-high-strip-density (UHSD) grids to mammography for the improvement of image contrast. These UHSD grids have strip densities of 70 to 100 lines/cm. After investigating the performance of mammographic grids with various design parameters through Monte Carlo simulation studies, we made prototypes of UHSD grids having lead strip thicknesses of 20 to 37 micron, aluminum interspacer thicknesses of 80 to 120 micron, and grid ratios of 2 to 6. The UHSD grids can be placed inside the cassette without a Bucky tray and thus will not increase geometric unsharpness. The measured physical characteristics and the phantom images obtained confirmed our findings in the simulation studies. A 40 to 90% increase in contrast was achieved at Bucky factors of 2 to 3.5; these results are comparable with those from conventional antiscatter grid techniques in mammography. The potential usefulness of the UHSD grids was demonstrated in a preliminary clinical comparison of mammograms.