Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.     

A comprehensive laboratory evaluation of changes in the fibrinogen molecule in the diagnosis of acquired coagulopathy conditions

A scheme of physicochemical determination of fibrinogen and the major molecular derivatives in a single sample of plasma is suggested, available for the majority of clinical laboratories. Such determination gives valuable information for a clinician. Among other things, the level of rapidly thrombin clotted fibrinogen portion is determined, as is the content of high-molecular fibrin monomer complexes, not clotted with thrombin, and the level of fibrinogen and fibrin proteolytic degradation products. Clinical (in 42 patients with various conditions) and experimental (coagulopathy in amniotic fluid embolism) application of this scheme has confirmed its clinico-diagnostic value.