Helical CT is highly accurate and specific for the demonstration of renal arterial anatomy. Poor opacification resulted in a lower sensitivity for venous anatomy. Overall, helical CT provides essential anatomical information, and is an alternative to standard urography and arteriography.

Statistically significant differences with various biopsy devices are seen in the breast tissue yield and in fragmentation.

No abstract

Complex physiologic and neoplastic processes affect the adrenal glands. An appreciation of the gross pathologic and histologic correlates of disease aids in understanding the mechanisms by which diagnostic imaging helps characterize adrenal masses. Computed tomographic (CT) densitometry and chemical shift magnetic resonance (MR) imaging would seem to be the most reliable tools in determining whether a given adrenal mass is specifically an adenoma. Such a determination is made on the basis of the presence of substantial amounts of intracytoplasmic lipid. Thus, although a homogeneous mass with a CT attenuation of less than 10 HU or a decrease in signal intensity at opposed-phase MR imaging is diagnostic for adenoma, lesions that do not have these features are indeterminate and may necessitate biopsy. Adrenal myelolipoma also has a distinctive imaging appearance that reflects the presence of macroscopic fat deposits. Diagnosis of adenoma or adrenal myelolipoma is very helpful in the assessment and treatment of asymptomatic patients with adrenal masses and may make biopsy unnecessary. In patients with clinical or biochemical evidence of adrenal disease, MR imaging helps confirm the presence of a mass and allows localization and further characterization of the lesion.

No abstract

. Krebs T, Zimmerli S, Bodmer T & Lämmle B (Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern; Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland). Mycobacterium genavense infection in a patient with long‐standing chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (Case Report). J Intern Med 2000; 248: 343–348. We describe the first case of disseminated infection with Mycobacterium genavense in an HIV‐seronegative patient with a chronic haematological disorder. Our patient, an 80‐year‐old woman, had been under long‐term treatment with chlorambucil (partially in combination with prednisone) for B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL). When she developed general fatigue and progressive anaemia, as well as progressive lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, bone marrow biopsy revealed granulomas with acid‐fast bacilli, and cultures of both bone marrow and blood grew M. genavense. The patient’s CD4+ cell count was approximately 100 µL–1. Treatment with clarithromycin, ethambutol and rifabutin resulted in improvement of anaemia and general health as well as in regression of lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly.

OBJECTIVE.The purpose of our study was to assess the use of low-milliamperage CT

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging is highly sensitive for the detection of acute pancreatic transplant rejection. Because of overlap of cases in the normal and rejection groups, percutaneous biopsy may be needed in some cases. Pancreatic allografts with infarction can be clearly identified.