No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The different value of diagnostic methods in the follow-up of the two illnesses may be explained by the different tumor biologies and by distinct therapeutic strategies for the treatment of relapses in the two tumor entities. However, an ongoing evaluation of current follow-up strategies is necessary to take into account new therapeutic developments which may shift the importance of certain imaging techniques.

In the present study, several techniques for calculating cardiac output were evaluated in order to find an accurate technique suitable for on-line digital computation. The thermodilution method was evaluated by different calculation techniques and by comparing these techniques with electromagnetic flowmeter values. Comparison of thermal dilution curves, manually calculated by the log-normal and the exponential assumption, showed a correlation coefficient of 0.978 between the two methods, the former values being 11% higher. The exponential method correlated very well with the technique, using a correction factor for injection errors (r = 0.999). Since the exponential technique correlated well with the electromagnetic values (r = 0.84) and since it was less complicated than the technique, using correction factors, this technique was chosen for automation. Comparison of exponential calculated thermodilution values with a digital computer and manually, showed a correlation coefficient of 0.991. Therefore, it was concluded that on-line computation of thermodilution curves improves the applicability of the termodilution techniques as a means of measuring cardiac output.

A right atrial mass was discovered with transthoracic cardiac ultrasound in a complaint-free, 81-year-old man at his yearly cardiological checkup. Further investigation of the mass with transesophageal cardiac ultrasound showed a well-defined nodular mass of approximately 3 × 3 cm, in close proximity to the posterior wall of the right atrium. The patient underwent an 18F-FDG PET/CT, which showed a right atrial mass with very high FDG uptake, suggesting a malignant process. The mass was surgically removed, and anatomopathological assessment revealed an intimal sarcoma, which is a very malignant tumor and an extremely rare occurrence at this location.

No abstract