[F]-FDG-PET patterns help refine the prognostic factors in MTLE and should be implemented in predictive models for epilepsy surgery.

Objectives To determine the efficacy of extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in young children and to evaluate, using renal scintigraphy, any possible adverse effects on renal parenchyma. Patients and methods From January 1991 to October 1998, 19 infants (aged 5–24 months) underwent ESWL for kidney urolithiasis using a Sonolith 3000 (14 kV, Technomed Corp, Lyon, France) or a Nova (14–20 kV, Direx Medical Systems, Paris, France) lithotripter. The treatment and its effects were evaluated using a physical examination, conventional imaging (plain abdominal X‐ray and ultrasonography) and renal scintigraphy 24 h before ESWL and again at least 6 months after the last session of treatment. Results Ten children were rendered stone‐free by ESWL after one session and 18 after two sessions. At the follow‐up (8 months to 8 years, mean 36 months) no hypertension was recorded and no acquired parenchymal damage was detected with conventional imaging. No scars or significant variation of differential function attributable to ESWL were identified on renal scintigraphy. Conclusion ESWL is clearly effective for treating infant urolithiasis. There were no renal parenchymal lesions associated with ESWL, even in previously damaged kidneys or after the treatment of staghorn calculi. A long‐term follow‐up (assessing blood pressure) is mandatory and renal scintigraphy before and 6 months after ESWL in infants is recommended to confirm these results in a larger series.

The combined use of (11)C-choline and (18)F-FDG PET/CT detected HCC with high sensitivity. This approach appears to be of potential prognostic value and may facilitate the selection of patients for surgical resection or liver transplantation.

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD), a rare form of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), requires histological proof for definitive diagnosis; however, lung biopsy is not recommended in PAH. Recent conjoint European Respiratory Society/European Society of Cardiology guidelines suggest that nonmatched perfusion defects on ventilation/perfusion (V9/Q9) lung scanning in PAH patients may suggest PVOD. The aim of our study was to evaluate V9/Q9 lung scans in a large cohort of PVOD and idiopathic or heritable PAH patients.V9/Q9 lung scans from 70 patients with idiopathic or heritable PAH and 56 patients with confirmed or highly probable PVOD were reviewed in a double-blind manner.The vast majority of V9/Q9 lung scans were normal or without significant abnormalities in both groups. No differences in ventilation or perfusion lung scans were observed between PAH and PVOD patients (all p.0.05). Furthermore, no differences were observed between confirmed (n531) or highly probable PVOD (n525). Nonmatched perfusion defects were found in seven (10%) idiopathic PAH patients and four (7.1%) PVOD patients (p.0.05).Nonmatched perfusion defects were rarely seen in a large cohort of idiopathic or heritable PAH and PVOD patients. Future recommendations should be amended according to these results suggesting that V9/Q9 lung scanning is not useful in discriminating PVOD from idiopathic PAH.

No abstract

Three labeled-antibody immunoassays of free triiodothyronine (FT3) were studied in hyperthyroid patients, patients with nonthyroidal illness, and patients being treated with amiodarone; we also studied sera presenting known interferences (n for all groups = 465). The results were compared with those of a one-step labeled-analog assay. The precision of the two automated assays were similar to that of the manual assays. The three labeled-antibody FT3 assays demonstrated a satisfactory diagnostic performance for confirming hyperthyroidism and robustness to interference; nevertheless, two assays displayed unusual behavior in some patients with nonthyroidal illness, with chronic renal failure, or after amiodarone therapy.

The aim of this study was to identify malignant thyroid nodules using iodine-123 and thallium-201 simultaneous dynamic acquisition. The image sequences acquired were processed by factor analysis of spectral and dynamic structures (FASDS). Some 49 patients were investigated, and their diagnoses were confirmed by histological examination. Data processing enables the estimation of the spectra of the two isotopes and the evaluation of the kinetics and spatial structures related to each tracer. The superimposition of thallium and iodide sum images allowed us to delineate the nodule accurately. Two groups were defined: 21 patients who had 201Tl uptake in the nodule, and 28 who had none. In the first group, 5 nodules were carcinomas, whereas all nodules in the second group were benign. The results of the 201Tl dynamic study improved the diagnosis of carcinoma as the number of false-positive cases decreased. FASDS succeeds in extracting spectral and kinetic information, proving its usefulness in clinical diagnosis.

A simple, oblique osteotomy at the distal third of the metatarsal shaft is described. It is a method of relieving the pain of prolapsed metatarsal heads incarcerated in the sole and often adherent to plantar skin. The procedure has a high success rate and has stood the test of time (over a quarter of a century).