Faculty Bibliography

Forty-nine patients with chest wall lesions were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and conventional radiography. Computed tomography was found to be indispensable for detecting and precisely localizing these lesions. It revealed unsuspected bone destruction and lung, pleural, and mediastinal involvement, as well as invasion of the spinal canal. In more than two thirds of the patients, CT provided additional information of clinical importance in management and, in one third, treatment was altered or the surgical approach modified because of the CT findings. Computed tomography is an essential diagnostic modality in evaluating chest wall lesions

Computed tomography has been found to be a useful tool in the evaluation of cardiac masses. It can be most effacious in the detection of a lesion and in the delineation of its size and location, as well as the demonstration of its relationships to intra- and extracardiac structures. It can be especially useful in areas of the heart where echocardiography can be difficult. This is particularly true for the left atrium, where lesions such as small thrombi can be missed.

The computed tomographic appearance of collapse without endobronchial obstruction is reviewed. These 57 cases were classified by the etiology of collapse. The largest group consisted of 29 patients with passive atelectasis, i.e., collapse secondary to fluid, air, or both in the pleural space. Twenty-three of 29 proved secondary to malignant pleural disease. Computed tomography accurately predicted a malignant etiology in 22 of 23 cases. The second largest group of patients had lobar collapse secondary to cicatrization from chronic inflammation. In all cases the underlying etiology was tuberculosis. Radiation caused adhesive atelectasis in six patients secondary to a lack of production of surfactant. In each case a sharp line of demarcation could be defined between normal and abnormal collapsed pulmonary parenchyma. Three cases of unchecked tumor growth caused a peripheral form of collapse (replacement atelectasis). This form of collapse was characterized by an absence of endobronchial obstruction and extensive tumor not delineated by the normal boundaries of the pulmonary lobes

The computed tomographic (CT) appearance of lobar collapse has yet to be defined. In an attempt to determine the characteristic appearance of collapse 95 cases were reviewed retrospectively in a wide variety of clinical settings over a 3 year period ending January 1983. In this report 38 cases of lobar collapse secondary to endobronchial occlusion are analyzed; the appearance of collapse without endobronchial obstruction forms the basis of a subsequent report. Computed tomography was accurate in determining the site of bronchial occlusion in all cases. In 36 of 38 cases collapse was caused by endobronchial tumors, including bronchogenic carcinoma, bronchial carcinoids, endobronchial metastases, and lymphoma. Differentiation between these tumors was not feasible with CT. Most cases of collapse were caused by central tumor. In those cases in which a bolus of contrast material was used differentiation between tumor mass and collapsed pulmonary parenchyma was possible. Two of 38 cases were found to have benign bronchial occlusion. In one case a mucous plug obstructing the left lower lobe bronchus was accurately defined. In another case a bronchial stricture occluded the right lower lobe bronchus. This represented the only false positive case in this series. It is concluded that CT is an accurate means for establishing the diagnosis of endobronchial obstruction. In most cases the diagnosis of neoplasia was possible, provided a bolus of contrast material was used to define tumor mass. The potential role of CT in evaluating patients with lobar collapse is discussed

Thirty-eight consecutive patients admitted to the hospital with pelvic and acetabular fractures underwent CT examination. The axial plane of CT is shown to be the most suitable for evaluation of these fractures. The fracture pattern is readily demonstrated, facilitating fracture classification. The degree of fracture fragment displacement and rotation, hip joint stability, and intra-articular osseous fragments can be determined. A number of unsuspected fractures were detected, including five sacral and four anterior acetabular wall fractures; the latter were due to extension of superior ramus fractures. Soft tissue injuries included several hematomas, serosanguinous cysts in one patient, and bladder laceration in one patient. It is concluded that in patients with pelvic fracture CT examination is the method of choice following preliminary radiographic evaluation, if further radiographic investigation is deemed necessary

From 275 computed tomographic (CT) examinations with positive findings of abdominal lymphoma, 26 patients were found to have gastrointestinal involvement by the disease. The stomach was most commonly involved, followed by small bowel, colon, and duodenum. CT was found to be accurate in detecting wall thickening and complications such as perforation and fistulization. False-negative examinations occurred in two patients with small submucosal gastric deposits ('bull's-eye' lesions). False-positive examinations were seen in two patients with hypertrophic gastritis. The CT manifestations of gastrointestinal lymphoma, correlated with the barium study appearance, are the subject of this report

Eighteen patients with unilateral non-metastatic, non-functioning adrenal masses were studied with computed tomography (CT). Pathological examination in 6 cases revealed benign adrenal adenoma. The others were followed up with serial CT scans and found to show no change in tumor size over a period of six months to three years. On the basis of these findings, the authors suggest certain criteria of a benign adrenal mass, including (a) diameter less than 5 cm, (b) smooth contour, (c) well-defined margin, and (d) no change in size on follow-up. Serial CT scanning can be used as an alternative to surgery in the management of many of these patients

Fifty-eight consecutive cases of peridiaphragmatic fluid collections were correctly localized by computed tomography. The key to accurate localization of peridiaphragmatic fluid is identification of the hemidiaphragms. Pulmonary consolidation and pleural fluid collections lie adjacent and peripheral to the convexity of the hemidiaphragms. Free pleural fluid distends the posterior pleural recesses, important anatomic landmarks beneath the bases of the lungs. Intra-abdominal fluid collections lie adjacent and central to the convexity of the hemidiaphragms. On the right side intraperitoneal fluid is restricted from contact with the bare area of the liver by the coronary ligaments. It is concluded that peridiaphragmatic fluid collections can generally be readily identified if one is familiar with normal cross-sectional anatomy

Computed tomographic examinations in 75 normal individuals are analyzed to define the cross-sectional anatomy of the diaphragm. Anatomic relationships among the inferoposterior portions of the lungs, the pleura, and the hemidiaphragms are clarified. The posterior pleural recess, an important potential space, is described and illustrated. The relationships of the crura, arcuate ligaments, and the hemidiaphragms are discussed as well. Awareness of these anatomic relationships forms an important basis in analyzing peridiaphragmatic fluid collections