Faculty Bibliography

Developments of MR imaging of static fluid has led to the emergence of MR urography (MRU) as a potential imaging technique of the urinary system. MRU has been shown to be highly sensitive in the diagnosis of urinary obstruction, defining the severity of dilatation, the site, and in the majority of cases, the cause of obstruction. At the current level of resolution, however, MR cannot consistently demonstrate nonobstructive or small obstructing calculi. Demonstration of perinephric and periuretic edema in obstruction helps in the differentiation of acute from nonacute urinary obstruction. MRU has shown potential in the work-up of urinary disease for which intravenous urography used to be performed, without the hazards of intravenous contrast administration.

A large ureterocele accompanying a bladder stone was vaporized with a large rollerball electrode, permitting electrohydraulic lithotripsy. Conventional endoscopic incision of this lesion had failed.

A patient had gas gangrene due to spontaneous Clostridium perfringens infection of the pancreas. He had not undergone any invasive procedure. An initial laparotomy ruled out a suspected intestinal origin of his infection; lack of evidence of pancreatitis before his acute attack indicated that no superinfection was involved. We have found no other report of primary gas gangrene of the pancreas.