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A newly developed instrument based on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), Hologic QDR-1000, was evaluated fundamentally and clinically. Image quality was quite satisfactory though radiation exposure was minimal, 780.2 nC/kg (3.024 mR) for lumbar measurement. Reproducibility of the repeated measurement of a phantom was fairly good; 0.343 CV% in a same day and 0.520 CV% in a long period. Accuracy determined by measurement of potassium phosphate solution was also satisfactory. Bone mineral densities measured by this instrument were fairly correlated with those measured by single energy quantitative CT; coefficient was 0.740 for 17 patients. Mix-DP plates of more than 10 cm thick overestimated the bone mineral densities of a phantom. Bone mineral densities of Japanese normal volunteers were in the normal range (mean +/- 2SD) of the Americans though mostly lower than the mean. In patients with spondylosis deformans or prominent aortic calcification, bone mineral densities might be overestimated. Lateral view was obtainable though its reproducibility was not good. Positioning especially for measuring femoral neck was quite critical for reproducible measurement. In conclusion, this new instrument is quite accurate and satisfactory for clinical application to measuring bone mineral densities.

One-hundred and fourteen cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which underwent computed tomography (CT) and angiography at the University Hospital of Yamanashi were reviewed. These included 24 cases of HCC associated with hepatic schistosomiasis japonica. Compared with the other cases, radiological features of HCC with schistosomiasis japonica were clarified. Patients with multinodular HCC were most common (13/24), followed by those with single nodular HCC (7/24), while those with massive or diffuse HCC were few (4/24). In patients with marked CT changes (grade III or IV) of hepatic schistosomiasis japonica, most of HCC nodules were disclosed as a mass with homogenous hypodensity surrounded by "shell-like calcifications". Obstruction of the portal vein or its branches due to tumor thrombus was rarely noted (4/24). These features are presumably attributed to periportal fibrosis which is characteristic of heptic schistosomiasis japonica. Because of these features, it is expected that hepatocellular carcinomas with schistosomiasis japonica can be treated by transcatheter arterial embolization more effectively than those without schistosomiasis japonica.