Preoperative Diagnostic Method Research Articles

HERNIA OF THE FORAMEN MORGAGNI

Three cases of hernia of the foramen Morgagni that is often refered as a rare type among diaphragmatic hernias are reported and examined from preoperaitve diagnostic aspect. The patients were all females aged 12, 73, and 77 years who were detected from abnormal shadow in the chest radiogram. The hernia involved the greater omentum alone in 2 cases and a part of right lobe of the liver in one case. Morgagni's foramen hernia of which content includes the greater omentum or liver is difficult to be diagnosed before surgery, successful preoperative diagnosing rate being as low as 20%. In the three patients, preoperative CT scanning could successfully detected Morgani's foramen hernia. The CT scan is extremely valuable as preoperative diagnostic method, however, consecutive through scanning from the lower part of the thoracic cavity to the upper part of the abdorminal cavity is important.

Angiographic evaluation of cystic lesions of the spleen.

When a mass of the left upper quadrant is suspected on clinical or routine roentgenographic examination, and a space-occupying lesion of the spleen is seen on isotope study, selective abdominal angiography should be the preoperative diagnostic method of choice.The stretching and compression of vessels, seen in the arterial phase, and avascular zone(s) seen in the parenchymogram, are characteristic findings for the cystic lesions in the 4 cases presented.The angiographic appearance of lymphangioma of the spleen is reported here for the first time; it is unique and should allow for accurate preoperative diagnosis.

Craniopharyngioma in aged patients.

Abstract:At Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, in the last fifteen years there have been 4 cases of craniopharyngioma in patients more than 50 years of age. The clinical picture was characterised by organic mental signs and the absence of suprasellar calcification on regular x‐ray examination. Ocular impairment was present in 3 of the 4 cases. In all 4 patients the tumor was located behind the optic chiasm, indicating that perhaps craniopharyngioma in aged patients is a different tumor from craniopharyngioma in young patients in whom it shows several specific characteristics. Air‐contrast studies of the brain ventricles were the preoperative diagnostic method of choice. Confirmation of the diagnosis was made at operation in 3 patients, and at necropsy in the fourth.