The sensitivities of contrast medium-enhanced computed tomography (CT), delayed CT (DCT), CT during arterial portography (CTAP), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for detecting focal liver lesions were prospectively evaluated in eight patients who subsequently underwent hepatic lobectomy or transplantation. Pathologic evaluation of the resected liver specimens demonstrated 37 lesions. The sensitivities were 81% (30 of 37 lesions) for CTAP, 57% (21 of 37 lesions) for MR imaging, 52% (12 of 23 lesions) for DCT, and 38% (14 of 37 lesions) for contrast-enhanced CT. The difference between the sensitivity of CTAP and the sensitivities of the other imaging tests was statistically significant (P less than .004). Of the lesions smaller than 1 cm in diameter, CTAP depicted 61% (11 of 18 lesions), MR imaging 17% (three of 18 lesions), CT 0% (zero of 18 lesions), and DCT 0% (zero of nine lesions). It is concluded that for preoperative detection of focal hepatic masses, CTAP is the most accurate technique available to most radiologists. Patients with primary or secondary hepatic neoplasms who are being considered for hepatic resection should undergo CTAP as part of their preoperative examination.

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A total of 103 consecutive patients with suspected biliary obstruction were studied using both computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) to evaluate the relative accuracy of the methods. In 47 patients with confirmed obstruction, CT and US were comparable accurate in differentiating obstruction from nonobstruction. The precise level of obstruction was identified by CT in 88% and by US in 60%; the cause of obstruction was accurately predicted by CT in 70% and by US in 38%. Both methods detected useful additional information, such as cholelithiasis or retroperitoneal adenopathy. The authors use US as a screening examination; if there is doubt about the level and cause of sonographically demonstrated obstruction, CT has proved to be an accurate means of further evaluation.

Barium examination of the esophagus is often useful for evaluating the cause of dysphagia, a frequent condition in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy. The examination may be difficult to interpret, however, because a variety of anatomic changes may be produced by radiation, infection, fistula, recurrent tumor, or the operation itself. Radiographic and clinical information on 45 total-laryngectomy patients, whose follow-up periods ranged from six months to 17 years, were analyzed. A recurrent tumor was found in 15 patients and was evident radiographically as a mass deviating the neopharynx in 14. Benign strictures in 14 patients appeared either as a long symmetrical narrowing or as a very short, weblike narrowing. Fistulas were demonstrated in 13 patients and presaged the development of recurrent tumors in five. Cricopharyngeal muscular dysfunction accounted for dysphagia in five cases. An understanding of these patterns leads to more accurate interpretation of the postoperative barium examination of the esophagus, and the radiographic findings often indicate the correct diagnosis with a high degree of confidence.

The established treatment for ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures is open surgical revision. In an effort to evaluate the efficacy of endourological surgery for this problem, we compared 7 patients (9 strictures) who underwent open revision to 6 patients (7 strictures) who underwent endoscopic incision and balloon dilation of the stricture. The success rate (that is patent ureter and no stent) was 89 per cent for the open revision group and 71 per cent (5 of 7) for the endoscopic group. All open revisions required use of general anesthesia, while 3 of the endoscopic procedures were performed with the patient under assisted local anesthesia. The endoscopic group had markedly shorter hospitalization, decreased blood loss, diminished patient discomfort and no postoperative complications. While the endoscopic procedure for ureteroileal anastomotic strictures is less successful than open revision, the lower morbidity, decreased cost and shorter hospital stay associated with the endourological approach favor its use over open revision. For elderly patients who fail initial endoscopic revision and for patients with metastatic transitional cell cancer, placement of an indwelling stent is a reasonable alternative. Given these guidelines, less than 30 per cent of the patients who suffer a ureteroileal anastomotic stricture will require open surgical revision.

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Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a life-threatening infection that usually requires open surgical drainage. We report a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis treated successfully with percutaneous drainage.