Objective: To compare the incidence and complications of extravasation of low-osmolar nonionic contrast media, injected manually and by the automatic power injector (API). Subjects and Methods: Three thousand five hundred and sixty patients underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal and thoracic computerized tomography scan in the Department of Clinical Radiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, between June 1998 and De cember 2002. These patients were prospectively analyzed for contrast media extravasation, its relation to injection rate, cannula insertion and gauge and its complications. 920 patients were administered low-osmolar nonionic contrast media (Ultravist 300, Omni Paque 240 or 300) intravenously by manual injection and 2,640 patients by automatic power injector. Results: Of the 3,560 patients contrast media extravasation occurred in 11 (0.3%). The symptoms were observed in 9 patients (0.3%) in the API group and 2 patients (0.2%) in the manual injection group, respectively. None of the patients had any soft tissue injury. Conclusion: The incidence of contrast media extravasation is not significantly increased by the use of the API. Low-osmolar nonionic contrast media extravasation resulting from the use of API does not cause any morbidity.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the role of ultrasound (US) imaging and US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis and management of abdominal hydatid cyst disease (HCD). Subjects and Methods: The medical records of 55 diagnosed cases of HCD seen between January 1986 and December 2000 at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital and Al-Amiri Hospital in Kuwait were reviewed for demographic and clinical data, including radiology and serology. The US findings of the patients were classified into four types as follows: type I: single or multiple well-defined cysts, with or without detached or collapsed wall and with or without echogenic contents; type II: single or multiple cysts with peripheral cysts, with or without echogenic contents; type III: solid or semisolid lesions, and type IV: cysts with calcified walls. Results: The overall accuracy of US in the diagnosis of HCD was 80% (44/55 cases). US examination was suggestive of HCD type I, 16/19 (84%), type II, 21/23 (91%), type III, 3/8 (38%), and type IV, 4/5 (80%). For the 11 remaining undiagnosed cases, US was useful for localizing the lesions for US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology. It established the diagnosis in all the 11 cases, without precipitating complications. Conclusion: US alone was valuable for diagnosing and localizing HCD in the abdomen except for solid-type lesions. US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology was useful in localizing and establishing the diagnosis of HCD in the cases where US alone was ineffective.