Patients with suspected bladder abnormalities were examined by noninvasive suprapubic sonography to define the accuracy of ultrasound for detecting and staging bladder carcinomas. In 103 patients, 65 tumors were found by cystoscopy, of which sonography detected 61 (94%). Four lesions less than 2-3 mm were missed at the bladder dome, the ventral wall, and side wall. The sonographic staging was correct in 83% of all tumor stages with the lowest value of 69% for T2/T3a tumors; excluding recurrent tumors, the overall accuracy increased. From these results, suprapubic sonography is considered to be a reliable noninvasive technique for detecting bladder tumors and for preoperative local staging. The staging results are comparable with reports in the literature on the accuracy of intravesical sonography.

In 17 patients with histologically proven histiocytosis X radiographs and bone scans were compared. The radiographic skeletal survey is superior to bone scanning for the primary detection of bony lesions. In contrast, skeletal scans are more reliable in follow-up examinations and for the detection of recurrences.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate Spiral CT in the primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary emboli and for follow-up after thrombolytic treatment. Digital subtraction angiography of the lung was used as the reference method. 38 patients were subjected to both procedures. 79% of Spiral CT and 63% of DSA examinations were optimal. The two methods agreed in the diagnosis of thrombo-embolism in 30 patients and excluded it in eight patients. Spiral CT verified thrombi in a total of 213 cases; of these 23 were in a main pulmonary artery (11%), 88 in lobar arteries (41%), and 102 in segmental arteries (48%). DSA demonstrated 180 thrombi. 17% of the adherent and partially occlusive thrombi were not shown. 38 pulmonary infarcts were found in 18 patients. In 15 patients resolution of thrombi following thrombolytic treatment was shown by Spiral CT. Spiral CT is an excellent alternative to DSA and its use in the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli is entirely appropriate.

This paper presents a comparison of the diagnostic value of CT studies and conventional radiological diagnosis, based on 46 CT studies, in patients with inflammatory bone lesions of the spine (n = 20) before and after surgical interventions (n = 12). In cases with a tentative clinical diagnosis of an inflammatory bone lesion, CT will not supplant conventional radiological diagnosis as the roentgenologic method of first choice. The superiority of CT is based on its ability to demonstrate intraspinal, paravertebral, and intervertebral complications. Osseous incorporation of spongiosa parts and the healing of paravertebral and intraspinal complications can be assessed more easily and accurately with CT.