The authors performed a prospective study of the value of ultrasonography (US) and US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for assessment of N0 lesions in the neck. Preoperative US was performed in 107 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, who underwent 132 elective neck dissections. During the US examination of the last 54 patients, who underwent 70 elective neck dissections, US-guided FNAC was performed. US alone was found to be an unreliable method for detecting occult lymph node metastasis; the accuracy never exceeded 70% (93 of 132), with a sensitivity of 60% (32 of 53) and a specificity of 77% (61 of 79). In contrast, US-guided FNAC had an accuracy of 89% (62 of 70), a sensitivity of 76% (25 of 33), and a specificity of 100% (37 of 37). Because of the high sensitivity and specificity of US-guided FNAC for the assessment of the N0 neck, this modality may play an important role in directing treatment of these patients in the future.

To evaluate the results and clinical impact of defecography in patients with anorectal disorders, 100 results of defecographic examinations from 92 patients were reviewed. The defecographic results were screened for the anorectal angle, defined both at rest and during straining, perineal descent, and abnormalities of the rectal configuration during straining. Anal manometry, saline infusion test, rectal capacity measurement, and anal electromyography (EMG) were also performed. There was a significant difference (P less than 0.001) both at rest (22 degrees) and during straining (12 degrees) between the two anorectal angle measurements. Incontinent patients had a larger anorectal angle, both at rest and during straining, than continent patients (P less than 0.04), but with a large overlap. The anorectal angle was not influenced by gender or age. An abnormal rectal configuration was found in 62 defecographic examinations. From the 8 patients with rectopexy performed for a large rectocele or intussusception, incontinent patients with an intussusception had the best results. In four patients, anal EMG showed an increased activity of the external sphincter during straining. Two of these four patients had abnormal defecograhic results. No correlations were found between anorectal angle and the other function tests. In conclusion, the anorectal angle lacks clinical relevance. In patients with defecation problems, defecography may be indicated whenever other investigations (physical examination, anal manometry, anal EMG) have excluded local pathology or a spastic pelvic floor syndrome. In these situations, defecography could detect an intussusception, which could easily be treated with rectopexy.

This is a report of a case history of a child with cerebral Moyamoya disease and gradual development of systemic hypertension. Sodium depletion combined with enalapril induced renal failure. A bilateral renal artery stenosis was found. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was not successful and was followed by autotransplantation of both kidneys. Histopathological examination of the renal arteries revealed intimal hyperplasia.

The effect of sublingually administered nitroglycerin (0.5 mg) on distribution of blood volume in 16 patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA class II and III), randomly assigned to placebo (N = 8) or nitroglycerin (N = 8) was studied 20 minutes after in vivo labelling of red blood cells with 99m-Tc pertechnetate. Count rates over thorax, abdomen and legs were collected with a large field gamma camera and expressed as percentage changes of baseline value. Changes in count rates, averaged for 5, 10 and 15 minutes after drug administration showed a significant decrease in the nitroglycerin group as compared to the placebo group over the thorax (mean 5%, P less than 0.01) and over the liver (mean 5%, P less than 0.05) and a significant increase over the abdomen (mean 4%, P less than 0.01) and the legs (mean 9%, P less than 0.01). After nitroglycerin, the changes in pulmonary activity were variable and did not differ from the placebo group. These results indicate that nitroglycerin causes a redistribution of blood volume in patients with congestive heart failure. An increase in the vascular capacitance in the abdomen and legs may be responsible for a decrease of blood volume of the thorax and the liver in these patients.

The influence of nasolacrimal duct dissection and irradiation of the lacrimal system on lacrimal drainage were assessed. Findings at dacryocystography, in correlation with the results of dye tests and symptoms, are presented. Lacrimal drainage obstruction was demonstrated in one of 10 patients after paranasal sinus surgery not followed by irradiation and in four of 10 patients in which surgery was followed by irradiation.