Abdominal MRI after enteroclysis or with oral contrast in patients with suspected or proven Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: Diagnostic results of magnetic resonance (MR) enteroclysis correlate highly with those from conventional enteroclysis; nevertheless, intubation of the patient and positioning of an intestinal tube is still necessary for the examination, which is often remembered as the most embarrassing part of the examination by the patient. A more comfortable and highly sensitive examination of the small bowel therefore would increase patient acceptance for recurring examinations, which are often necessary, for example, in patients with Crohn's disease. This study evaluates the diagnostic efficacy of abdominal MR imaging (MRI) of the small bowel after drinking contrast agent only compared with conventional enteroclysis and abdominal MRI performed after enteroclysis in patients with suspected or proven Crohn's disease.

MRI of the abnormal cervical spinal cord using 2D spoiled gradient echo multiecho sequence (MEDIC) with magnetization transfer saturation pulse. A T2* weighted feasibility study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the potential of heavily T2* weighted 2D spoiled gradient echo multiecho sequence MEDIC (multi echo data image combination) with magnetization transfer saturation pulse (MTS) for detecting abnormality of the cervical spinal cord.

Methods: 11 patients, 5 women and 6 men aged from 14 to 79 years (mean age 51.18 years), with traumatic, hemolytic-hemorrhagic or neoplastic diseases of the cervical spinal cord were examined with MRI.

Screening for osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease by using urinary N-telopeptides.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk of osteoporosis.

Design And Methods: We carried out a prospective study of bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone metabolism like osteocalcin and urinary N-telopeptides in 72 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and evaluated if one of these markers detects osteoporosis. In addition, bone mineral density and N-telopeptides were analysed retrospectively in a second series of 93 patients with inflammatory bowel disease in order to assess predictive values found in the first patient group in an independent sample.

[Transfemoral pelvic vein angiography with CO2: experiences with pressure- and volume-controlled injections].

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of CO2 in aortobifemoral DSA with a pressure- and volume-controlled injector.

Materials And Methods: In an intraindividual prospective study, 42 patients with arterial occlusive disease underwent stepwise aortobifemoral DSA with CO2 and with iopromid 300.

Results: With Co2, diagnostic images were obtained in 74% of the iliac, 98% of the femoral, 89% of the popliteal arteries, but in only 36% of the arteries of the lower leg.

Clinical application of a flat-panel X-ray detector based on amorphous silicon technology: image quality and potential for radiation dose reduction in skeletal radiography.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare images obtained with a self-scanning, flat-panel X-ray detector based on amorphous silicon technology with conventional screen-film radiographs and to evaluate the possibility of radiation dose reduction in skeletal radiography.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred twenty patients were examined prospectively using a conventional screen-film system (speed, 400; detector dose, 2.5 microGy) and a prototype digital amorphous silicon detector (simulated speed, 400 and 800, n = 120; simulated speed, 1600, n = 40).

Dedicated head-neck coil in MR angiography of the supra-aortic arteries from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of a dedicated head-neck coil in preoperative imaging of the supra-aortic arteries.

Material And Methods: Forty consecutive patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis underwent MR angiography (MRA). Using a dedicated head-neck coil, we made a complete evaluation of the supra-aortic arteries and graded the internal carotid artery (ICA) stenoses.

Diagnosis of liver metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. Comparison of spiral-CTAP combined with intravenous contrast-enhanced spiral-CT and SPIO-enhanced MR combined with plain MR imaging.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether MR with and without SPIO (AMI-25) could replace spiral-CTAP in the staging of colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Material And Methods: Thirty-five patients were studied prospectively by means of i.v.

Spiral-CT in diagnosis of vascular involvement in pancreatic cancer.

Background/aims: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of spiral-CT for the identification of portal venous, superior mesenteric artery and celiac trunk infiltration in the staging of pancreatic (n = 29) and periampullary (n = 6) cancers.

Materials And Methods: All patients were examined by contrast enhanced spiral-CT using a total volume of 240 ml contrast medium i.v.