Cervical spine radiographs of 33 patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome were studied for patterns of bony fusion and presence of wasp-waist sign. Five patients were found to have the classic features of massive cervical fusion. Two patients with two adjacent levels of bony fusion showed a wasp-waist sign. Fusion at one level of the cervical spine accounted for 26 remaining cases. The wasp-waist sign was observed in 14 of the cases in which there was complete vertebral interbody fusion, making this finding a valuable radiologic sign. Partial anterior or posterior vertebral interbody fusion, or isolated fusion of the neural arch, however, may or may not be associated with the wasp-waist sign. Klippel-Feil syndrome, easy to recognize when presenting with classic features or when associated with the wasp-waist sign, may be confused with a variety of other entities.

No abstract

The results of computed tomographic (CT)-guided percutaneous drainage in eight patients with tubo-ovarian abscesses are reported. Seven patients (88%) recovered without surgery and required no further treatment. One patient had marked clinical improvement but still required a posterior colpotomy. No complications occurred. One patient had a recurrence of symptoms 20 months after the procedure that represented a new infection. The role of CT-guided percutaneous drainage in tubo-ovarian abscesses as well as an analysis of the technical aspects associated with a successful procedure are discussed.

The computed tomographic (CT) angiograms of 44 patients who were being evaluated for possible hepatic surgery were studied. All patients were imaged with CT arterial portography (CTAP), delayed CT of the liver, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. All CTAP studies were evaluated for a "straight line," a linear variation in contrast within the liver. Sixteen patients (36%) demonstrated the straight line sign. All 16 had a mass at the proximal portion of the defect. Nine of 16 had defects that clearly correlated with portal venous distribution seen at limited digital angiography. Fourteen of the 16 patients showed loss of the straight line sign at delayed CT and/or MR imaging of the liver. These defects are thought to be due to vascular obstruction. The straight line sign will probably be seen more frequently as CTAP is more commonly used. Recognition of the sign is important in the evaluation of primary liver carcinomas, since it signifies that the tumor may be inoperable. Also, if metastatic disease is present, it alerts the surgeon to the proximity of the portal vein to the neoplasm.

No abstract