Effectiveness of the smoothing filter in pediatric Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy.

The present study aimed to evaluate whether the use of a smoothing filter would improve the image quality in pediatric Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc-DMSA) scintigraphy. We retrospectively reviewed 31 kidneys in 16 consecutive pediatric patients aged 10 months to 14 years. The administered dose was calculated using a weight-based method.

MRI findings of dorsalgia.

We reviewed the thoracic vertebra MRI of patients whose chief complaint was dorsalgia (or + lower back dorsalgia). Thoracic vertebra MRI of 103 patients had dorsalgia as the chief complaint mainly or sometimes in 134 (man 61, woman 73) and had led them to consult an orthopaedic specialist. A difference was seen in the cavity diameter under the posterior arachnoid in 103 and 31 which led to MRI scan of the thoracic vertebra.

[Measurement of cerebral blood flow the blood sampling method using 99mTc-ECD: simultaneous scintigram scanning of arterial blood samples and the brain with a gamma camera].

To measure regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by blood sampling using 99mTc-ECD we devised a method of measuring the radioactive concentration in arterial blood sample with a gamma camera. In this method the head and a blood sample are placed within the same visual field to record the SPECT data of both specimens simultaneously. The results of an evaluation of the counting rate performance, applying the 30 hours decaying method using 99mTc solution showed that this method is not comparable to the well-type scintillation counter and in clinical cases the active concentration in arterial blood sample remained well within the dynamic range.

Degeneration of the ipsilateral substantia nigra after striatal infarction: evaluation with MR imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate the degeneration of the ipsilateral substantia nigra after striatal infarction by using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five adult patients with embolic cerebral infarction of the middle cerebral artery distribution underwent MR imaging 0-4, 5-9, 12-15, and 27-29 days after the stroke. Sixteen of them also underwent follow-up MR imaging 2-12 months after the stroke.

Filling defect sign in CT diagnosis of ruptured aneurysm.

We have encountered a ruptured aneurysm as a filling defect in cisternal blood on CT in patients with acute subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), as high-attenuation blood can act as a contrast medium. We term this finding the "filling defect sign". To evaluate the usefulness of the sign in the diagnosis of a ruptured aneurysm, we retrospectively analysed CT with 10-mm-thick slices obtained within 2 days of onset of SAH in 100 consecutive patients.