Radiologic findings in tsunami trauma: experience with 225 patients injured in the 2004 tsunami

The objective of this study was to determine the spectrum of radiographic findings, frequency, and type of injuries in tsunami victims. From December 2004 to May 2005, all tsunami victims admitted to our hospital were retrospectively identified by a search of medical records. Patients who received radiologic examinations were reviewed for their radiographic findings. The authors identified 225 tsunami victims. One hundred eight victims received radiologic evaluations on admission that included 350 plain radiographs, 19 ultrasound exams, 18 computed tomography (CT) scans and 3 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Overall positivity rate was 48% (187/390). Most common trauma involved musculoskeleton (102/187, 54.5%). Retained foreign bodies in soft tissues, pneumonia/aspiration, and tsunami sinusitis were found in 22, 28, and 31 patients (9.8, 12.4, and 13.8%), respectively. These were unique findings in tsunami trauma. Imaging played an important role in detection of these abnormalities.

Case 117: Actinomycosis of Left Kidney with Sinus Tracts

A 39-year-old Samoan man presented to the emergency department with fever, progressive weakness, and left flank pain of 1-month duration. For several months, he had also experienced progressive weight loss. There was no history of recent trauma, and he was not taking any medication. His medical history was notable for a large left groin abscess and left lower lobe pneumonia of unknown cause 1 year prior to the current admission. Furthermore, he had undergone exploratory laparotomy and gastric surgery for peptic ulcer disease approximately 10 years ago. Physical examination findings were positive for a tender firm mass in the left flank with no associated skin changes. Laboratory findings revealed an elevated white blood cell count of 18 x 10(9)/L. The urine cultures were negative. A computed tomographic (CT) image obtained 1 year prior to the current admission was unremarkable. CT of the abdomen and pelvis (section thickness, 5 mm) was performed after ingestion of 900 mL of 2% diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium (Gastrografin; Bracco Diagnostics, Princeton, NJ). A 150-mL dose of iohexol (300 mg of iodine per milliliter) (Omnipaque; Nycomed, New York, NY) was administered intravenously at a rate of 4 mL/sec with a 70-second scan delay. Unenhanced CT images (not shown) did not reveal any areas of high attenuation.

Evaluation of the necessity of the three-film abdominal series in the diagnosis of abdominal pain

The routine plain-film abdominal series, consisting of supine and upright abdominal radiographs and upright chest radiograph of 246 patients, who presented with abdominal pain from the emergency room of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital from January 2000 to May 2001 were reviewed. Each radiograph was independently interpreted to detect any radiographic abnormality. Radiographic abnormalities were detected in 35 per cent on abdominal films and 13 per cent on chest films. The supine abdominal views could diagnose abnormalities in 84 per cent of these patients while the upright views diagnosed abnormalities in only 16 per cent of these cases. Most of the detectable abnormalities in the upright views were pneumoperitoneums that were clearly demonstrated on the upright chest radiographs. So elimination of the upright abdominal view from the routine plain-film abdominal series in the screening of surgical cases from medical cases could result in cost-saving and a decrease in radiation exposure without significant loss of diagnostic information.