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OBJECTIVE. We describe a networked database system to implement a departmental list of International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9) codes for use by reporting radiologists. CONCLUSION. Our system is reliable, easy to use, and has increased coding accuracy and speed. In-house development allowed designing a system to specifically address the needs of the radiology group. The resulting list of codes accurately reflects the current practice environment and grows dynamically to suit changing needs.

Objective: We prospectively compared the ability of two techniques--bone scintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the chest and CT of the chest--to reveal potential osteosarcoma metastases of the lung., Subjects and Methods: Our study included 27 patients with osteosarcoma who prospectively underwent both bone scintigraphy with SPECT of the chest and CT of the chest. The imaging results were compared with outcome or pathologic analysis of any lung lesions found., Results: Eight (30%) of the 27 patients had pulmonary metastases. Four of these eight patients had positive results on both CT studies and bone SPECT studies, with additional lesions detected with bone SPECT in two of these four patients. The other four patients with pulmonary metastases had positive results on CT studies, whereas the results of bone SPECT studies remained negative. The results of bone SPECT studies were negative in the 19 patients without pulmonary metastases. CT, however, showed abnormalities in seven (37%) of the 19 patients, which were eventually attributed to benign conditions., Conclusion: Negative results on a bone SPECT study of the chest should not be used to exclude the possibility of lung metastases. However, if the results are positive, a bone SPECT study can be used to confirm abnormalities seen on CT scans and may also reveal subtle lesions missed on CT scans.

Using radionuclide gastroesophageal reflux techniques, the effect of glucagon on the occurrence of spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux was tested in 24 normal, asymptomatic volunteers, who served as their own controls. Before glucagon administration, spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux did not occur in any of the volunteers. After 1 mg of glucagon was given, gastroesophageal reflux occurred in two (8%) of the 24 volunteers. Gastroesophageal reflux did not occur after the administration of high-density barium sulfate and an effervescent agent to simulate the circumstances of a routine double-contrast upper gastrointestinal examination. Although the effect of glucagon may facilitate gastroesophageal reflux in a small percentage of normal individuals, most do not exhibit spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux, either before or after glucagon administration.