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Purpose: To evaluate the contribution of hepatic veins to the dual blood supply in the liver under temporary hepatic venous occlusion., Materials and Methods: Selected hepatic veins in 23 patients with liver tumors were temporarily occluded with a balloon catheter. Computed tomography (CT) arteriography, CT during arterial portography (CTAP), or both were performed with a spiral technique with and without temporary occlusion of a hepatic vein., Results: After hepatic vein occlusion, a well-demarcated, wedge-shaped area of hypoattenuation was seen at CTAP and/or hyperattenuation was seen at CT arteriography in the following regions: left lobe (left hepatic vein), ventral part of the anterior segment and the medial segment except for the ventromedial part (middle hepatic vein), dorsal part of the anterior segment and the ventral part of the posterior segment (right hepatic vein), and dorsocaudal part of the right lobe (inferior right hepatic veins)., Conclusion: After hepatic venous occlusion, the portal veins become draining veins and the occluded area is supplied with arterial blood alone.

Purpose: To describe the features of congenital ossification of the stapedius tendon at thin-section computed tomography (CT)., Materials and Methods: Thin-section CT scans, clinical records, and surgical findings were retrospectively evaluated in nine ears of five patients with surgically proved congenital ossification of the stapedius tendon. Thin-section CT scans of 50 control ears were also reviewed., Results: On thin-section CT scans, a linear area of soft-tissue attenuation was demonstrated between the monopod stapes and the pyramidal eminence (nine ears), as well as thickening of the stapes footplate (two ears). In the 50 control ears, the normal stapes tendon was not clearly seen on thin-section CT scans., Conclusion: At CT, a linear area of soft-tissue attenuation that extends from the pyramidal eminence to the monopod stapes is suggestive of congenital ossification of the stapedius tendon or a bony bar adjacent to it.

Purpose: To determine the factors that may be used to predict outcome of stent placement in patients with malignancies obstructing the superior or inferior vena cava., Materials and Methods: Gianturco stents were placed in 39 patients with malignant obstruction of the superior (n = 16) or inferior (n = 23) vena cava. Thirteen patients with obstruction of the superior vena cava received radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy at some time in their course of treatment. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained in all patients. The authors analyzed treatment outcome with the location, length, and CT appearance of obstruction., Results: Venous congestive symptoms disappeared after stent placement in 35 patients and remained in four. Symptoms did not recur during 1-13-month follow-up in 32 of the 35 patients in whom the symptoms disappeared. Nonfatal complications were observed in nine patients. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the outcome of stent placement is best predicted by the appearance of obstructions on CT scans irrespective of the location and length of the lesions., Conclusion: Good results can be expected from placement of Gianturco stents except when CT shows the obstruction to be totally enveloped by tumor.

Thirty-seven patients with peripheral vascular disease involving the legs were studied with first-pass peripheral radionuclide arteriography (RNA) and contrast arteriography to determine whether RNA could be used to evaluate perfusion of the toes. Data were acquired for 100 seconds using a multicrystal gamma camera following bolus injection of 30-35 mCi (1,110-1,295 MBq) of Tc-99m-labeled albumin during reactive hyperemia. Peripheral time-activity curves were examined and the time required for activity to decline to 75% of peak activity ( T75 ) was recorded. When an abnormal RNA was defined as T75 greater than or equal to 50 seconds, sensitivity was 92%, positive predictive accuracy 100%, and negative predictive accuracy 75%. These data suggest that peripheral RNA of the toes is a reliable, noninvasive procedure for evaluation of peripheral arterial disease; it can be valuable as a screening test prior to contrast arteriography as well as for follow-up.