The pulmonary total tissue volume (blood, extravascular water, and dry tissue volume) was measured by finding the difference between the radiographic displacement volume of the thorax (RDVT) and the lung gas volume. Simultaneous determinations of RDVT and gas volume were made in 10 healthy subjects sitting upright. RDVT was determined from posteroanterior and lateral chest radiographs, a computerised modification of the Barnhard method being used; and gas volume was measured by helium dilution with each radiographic exposure. At functional residual capacity pulmonary total tissue volume was 843 + 110 ml (1 SD). The density of the lung (ml tissue per ml tissue and gas) was 0 19 + 0-03 (1 SD). This method, different in principle from indicator-dilution and acetylene rebreathing studies, provides measurements of total tissue volume.

The use of serial carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 assays was assessed by comparison with serial carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels on the plasmas of 53 patients with colorectal carcinoma. The patients had all undergone resection for their primary tumors and in six instances subsequent resections for hepatic metastases. Initial CA 19-9 levels were greater than or equal to 37 U/mL in 22 of the 53 patients (41%) and in 68% of the patients with metastatic disease. Similar trends of serial CA 19-9 and CEA levels were found in 79% of the 53 patients. One patient with initially normal CEA levels had elevated CA 19-9 levels from the start. In ten of the 53 patients (19%), serial CA 19-9 levels remained low despite tumor recurrence or progression, and despite increasing CEA levels above 5 ng/mL. The increasing serial CEA trends predicted recurrence in 88% and increasing CA 19-9 trends in 50% of cases, which was increased to 70% by including trends of CA 19-9 levels below 37 U/mL. Following hepatic lobectomy, both serial CEA and CA 19-9 levels decreased rapidly. Used alone, serial CA 19-9 levels did not appear to be as sensitive as standard CEA in this retrospective study of selected patients.

Phaeochromocytoma with ectopic calcitonin production and parathyroid cyst The triad of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, phaeochromocytoma, and hyperparathyroidism is known as Sipples's syndrome. We report a case of unilateral phaeochromocytoma, hyperparathyroidism, and increased concentrations of serum calcitonin (CT) in which medullary carcinoma of the thyroid was not found.

Regional blood flow in the areola was measured by using the non-invasive transient thermal clearance method in normal breasts and in breasts involved with cancer. Areolar blood flow (ABF) in normal breasts was almost constant for women in the age range 20-60y, but decreased at higher ages. ABF in breasts involved with cancer was higher than that in the contralateral breast, and higher than the average normal ABF in the corresponding age group. The effect was more prominent in the left breast. The transient thermal clearance method provides a potential non-invasive means for detection of breast cancer.

The steroid excretion and the plasma corticosteroids were investigated in three patients with necrosis of the brain and of the pituitary gland. The patients were kept alive by artificial ventilation. In two of the patients the neutral 17-ketosteroids and the 17-hydrocorticosteroids fell to extremely low levels. At the same time, the number of eosinophil cells showed a tendency to increase. Corticotrophin administered intravenously twice to the third patient had a stimulating effect on the adrenal cortex. The theoretical and practical significance of these findings is discussed.