Failed temporomandibular joint prostheses: MR imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with surface coils was performed on 43 temporomandibular joints with disk prostheses in 28 patients who had pain, dysfunction, or both after implantation of the prostheses. Fracture was diagnosed prospectively as a discontinuity of the prosthesis on the MR examination; the sensitivity and specificity of MR imaging for this diagnosis was determined on the basis of these studies. All patients underwent surgery, after which the final diagnosis was made. MR imaging was found to have a sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.91. Other MR findings included an abnormal amount of soft tissue surrounding the disk, thinning of the disk, osteophytes, and erosion of the condyle. An as yet unexplained artifact was frequently seen and obscured the prostheses in four of the six false-negative studies. The one false-positive case resulted from the interpretation of a markedly thinned but intact region of the prosthesis as a fracture.     

Pterygium treatment with triethylene thiophosphoramide

In this study 146 pterygia were excised from 116 patients. The eyes were treated with Thiotepa eyedrops over four weeks to discourage regrowth. All treatment was carried out by the one surgeon on consecutive patients. The relationship between pinguecula and pterygium is explored, and the pathogenesis of pterygium growth discussed.     

Cavernous hemangioma of the liver: detection with single-photon emission computed tomography

The roles of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and planar imaging with technetium-99m-labeled red blood cells in the diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma of the liver were evaluated. The study group consisted of 26 consecutive patients referred for evaluation of liver lesions. A total of 23 cavernous hemangiomas were found, all of which showed decreased or normal flow and delayed uptake of the radiotracer. SPECT demonstrated 13 hemangiomas that were not detected with planar imaging; both modalities demonstrated the other ten lesions. Lesions that were not cavernous hemangiomas showed either normal (n = 6) or increased (n = 4) flow; none had delayed increased uptake on either planar or SPECT images. SPECT with labeled red blood cells is an accurate method for the detection of cavernous hemangiomas of the liver and is more sensitive than planar imaging in depicting small lesions.     

Choledocholithiasis: treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

In a patient with choledocholithiasis, a duodenal diverticulum precluded endoscopic retrograde bile duct cannulation. A transhepatic catheter was used to opacify the bile ducts and to guide the endoscopic sphincterotome into the major duodenal papilla. Because limited sphincterotomy did not allow extraction or spontaneous passage of the common duct stones, extracorporeal lithotripsy was performed. Following fragmentation, the stones passed spontaneously and without complications.     

CT-guided laser therapy in resistant human tumors: phase I clinical trials

Photodynamic therapy was performed on ten tumors in patients who did not respond to initial therapy and for whom no additional conventional therapy was available. A sensitizing agent (hematoporphyrin derivative [HpD]) was injected directly into each tumor under computed tomographic (CT) guidance to deliver high concentrations to the tumor and to minimize systemic toxicity. Three to 6 days after the injection, a clear Teflon sheath catheter was placed into the tumor under CT guidance. The tumor was exposed to red light (630-nm wavelength) through laser fiberoptics inserted in the sheath. The initial investigation confirmed the technical feasibility of CT-guided photodynamic therapy by means of intratumoral HpD injections and laser exposure through fiberoptics inserted in sheath catheters. The toxicity from a single treatment was minor, and the tumor response was encouraging.