Dynamic MRI after surgical repair for pelvic organ prolapse.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to compare dynamic MRI measurement results from patients with pelvic organ prolapse before and after surgical repair and to correlate postoperative MRI findings with the results of physical examination and patients' complaints.

Materials And Methods: Thirty women were included in this prospective study. Fifteen patients with uterovaginal or vaginal vault descent and 15 asymptomatic female volunteers underwent dynamic MRI using a single-shot, fast spin-echo sequence with half-Fourier data acquisition.

Calcineurin-inhibitor induced pain syndrome (CIPS): a severe disabling complication after organ transplantation.

Bone pain after transplantation is a frequent complication that can be caused by several diseases. Treatment strategies depend on the correct diagnosis of the pain. Nine patients with severe pain in their feet, which was registered after transplantation, were investigated.

Ultrasound demonstration of mammographically detected microcalcifications.

Purpose: To evaluate the capabilities of breast ultrasound (US) for identifying microcalcifications in benign breast changes, in situ carcinomas, and small nonpalpable invasive carcinomas.

Material And Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients with 49 clustered microcalcifications detected by mammography were included in this prospective study. Patients with palpable breast lesions were excluded.

Comparison of cystourethrography and dynamic MRI in bladder neck descent.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to test whether there are statistically significant differences between dynamic MR and lateral cystourethrogram measurement results in patients with bladder neck descent.

Method: Twenty-seven women (39-83 years old, mean 60.6 years old) with urinary incontinence and bladder neck descent were examined by dynamic MRI using a single shot fast spin echo sequence with half-Fourier data acquisition.

Real-time interactive virtual endoscopy of the tracheo-bronchial system: influence of CT imaging protocols and observer ability.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of different spiral CT examination protocols suitable for clinical use on image quality and to assess the observer dependence in interactive real-time virtual bronchoscopy.

Methods And Patients: Real-time perspective volume rendering of the airways in twenty normal patients based on four different spiral CT examination protocols was evaluated by four observers in regard to the order of depictable bronchi.

Results: Best results were obtained using an examination protocol with a small beam collimation and a maximum pitch.

Chest wall infiltration by lung cancer: value of thin-sectional CT with different reconstruction algorithms.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate whether thin-sectional CT with different reconstruction algorithms can improve the diagnostic accuracy with regard to chest wall invasion in patients with peripheral bronchogenic carcinoma. Forty-one patients with intrapulmonary lesions and tumor contact to the thoracic wall as seen on CT staging underwent additional 1-mm CT slices with reconstruction in a high-resolution (HR) and an edge blurring, soft detail (SD) algorithm. Five criteria were applied and validated by histological findings.

MRI of heart morphology. Comparison of nongradient echo sequences with single- and multislice acquisition.

Rationale And Objectives: A large variety of cardiac MRI sequences have been introduced for heart morphology evaluation. The aim of this study was to establish a practicable and robust examination protocol for standard high-field systems applying nongradient echo sequences with single- and multi-slice acquisition.

Methods: Fifty-one patients received electrocardiogramgated MRI of the heart with "black-blood" preparation, comparing three single-slice and three multislice sequences with a T1-weighted turbo spin echo reference sequence.

Contrast-enhanced subtraction MR angiography in occlusive disease of the pelvic and lower limb arteries: results of a prospective intraindividual comparative study with digital subtraction angiography in 76 patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical use of MR angiography (MRA) for examining the pelvic and lower limb arteries in patients with arterial occlusive disease.

Method: Seventy-six patients with clinical signs of peripheral arterial occlusive disease were included in the study. MRA was performed using a fast contrast-enhanced high-resolution 3D technique that covered the area from the distal abdominal aorta to the distal lower limbs in two examination steps.

Indirect MR arthrography of the unexercised glenohumeral joint in patients with rotator cuff tears.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of indirect MR arthrography of the unexercised glenohumeral joint in patients with rotator cuff tears confirmed by arthroscopy or arthrotomy as the gold standard.

Methods: Twenty-six patients underwent conventional MR imaging and indirect MR arthrography of the stationary glenohumeral joint using a wrap-around surface coil. Unenhanced T1-weighted spin echo/T2-weighted fast spin echo sequences and T1-weighted gradient echo sequences, adding spectral fat suppression after intravenous administration of contrast medium, were performed in the oblique coronal and oblique sagittal planes.

Comparison between a screen-film system and a selenium radiography system. An ROC study using simulated thoracic lesions.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic image quality of the hard copies of a commercially available selenium detector-based computed radiography system compared to that of a conventional screen-film system.

Methods: Ten radiographs of an anthropomorphic chest phantom with simulated nodular and linear-reticular lesions were produced using either system. Each radiograph was subdivided into 15 fields containing zero lesions, one nodular lesion, one linear-reticular lesion, or both lesions.

[Kinematic versus static MRI study of the cervical spine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of cinematic magnetic resonance imaging with static MRI examinations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant attack of the cervical spine.

Methods: Dynamic functional MRI examinations of the cervical spine were performed one five subjects without complaints and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For the functional studies, a positioning frame was used that allowed infinitely variable forward and backward inclinations of the head.

Cartilage destruction in small joints by rheumatoid arthritis: assessment of fat-suppressed three-dimensional gradient-echo MR pulse sequences in vitro.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of different MR sequences for the detection of articular cartilage abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis.

Design And Patients: Ten metacarpophalangeal joints and 10 metatarsophalangeal joints (specimens from arthritis patients undergoing ablative joint surgery) were examined with a fat-suppressed (FS) 3D FLASH, a FS 3D FISP, a FS 2D fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and a 2D FS spin-echo T1-weighted sequence. Each cartilage lesion and each cortical lesion was graded from 0 to 4 (modified Outerbridge staging system).

Comparison of turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) with T2-weighted turbo spin-echo and T1-weighted spin-echo MR imaging in the early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis in children.

Objective: To compare turbo inversion recovery magnitude (TIRM) with standard T1-weighted (T1-W) and T2-weighted (T2-W) MR sequences in the very early detection of acute osteomyelitis in children.

Materials And Methods: In 15 children with osteomyelitis, 15 sets of T1-W spin-echo (SE) (TR/TE, 400-640/12-17), T2-W turbo spin-echo (TSE) (TR/TE/ETL, 3290-4465/112-120/11), and TIRM (TR/TE/TI, 4000-6120/60/160) images were acquired with a 1.0-T magnet.

Functional MR imaging of the cervical spine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: To evaluate functional MR imaging in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involving the cervical spine.

Material And Methods: We used a device that allows MR examination to be made of the cervical spine in infinitely variable degrees of flexion and extension. Dynamic functional MR imaging was performed on 25 patients with RA.

Human articular cartilage: in vitro correlation of MRI and histologic findings.

The aim of our study was to correlate MRI with histologic findings in normal and degenerative cartilage. Twenty-two human knees derived from patients undergoing amputation were examined with 1.0- and 1.

Magnetic resonance diagnosis of the anterior labrum and capsule. Effect of field strength on efficacy.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors compare the performance of high-field and low-field magnetic resonance (MR) systems in the evaluation of shoulder instability, 35 patients were examined at field strengths of 1.0 T and of 0.2 T.

Comparison of MR sequences in quantifying in vitro cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis of the knee.

Magnetic resonance imaging of amputated human knees was performed to determine optimal sequences for depicting articular cartilage. 24 knees were examined with eight different sequences in a 1.0 T imager.

A mild form of Proteus syndrome.

Proteus syndrome is a rare congenital hamartomatous syndrome. We report on the clinical and radiological appearances of a boy in order to illustrate the typical signs which include subcutaneous masses, in mild forms partial gigantism of hands and feet, hemihypertrophy, and bony abnormalities. We discuss how to make the definitive diagnosis on the basis of using a known rating scale, important aspects of differential diagnosis and clinical features, and diagnostic management.

[Recent developments and applications of MRI sequence technique. I: turbo spin echo, HASTE, turbo inversion recovery, turbo gradient echo, turbo gradient spin sequences].

Goal of this two-part report is to provide clinical MRI radiologists with a guide to the world of new and clinically available MRI pulse sequences. Discussed are the principles of rapid scan techniques like multiple spin-echo imaging, multiple gradient echo imaging, echo planar imaging, diffusion and perfusion imaging, and future perspectives (review article).

Cine-MR imaging of the shoulder.

Purpose: Shoulder lesions are usually examined with the joint in only one or two positions. We examined the shoulder with the joint in a variety of positions. We also assessed the application of cine-MR to the detection of instability and impingement.

Prospective evaluation of bone marrow signal changes on magnetic resonance tomography during high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with breast cancer.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors evaluate bone marrow signal changes on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging during high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).

Methods: Fourteen patients with breast cancer without bone metastases underwent four sagittal MR imaging studies with T1-weighted, T2-weighted turbo spin-echo and inversion recovery sequences with short inversion time (STIR) of the lumbar spine: (1) during initial staging, (2) prior to high-dose chemotherapy after two cycles of induction chemotherapy, (3) early after PBSCT with a leukocyte exceeding 2000/microL, and (4) 6 to 8 weeks after PBSCT. Signal intensity ratios of averaged lumbar bone marrow to nucleus pulposus were measured and homogeneity was evaluated visually using a semiquantitative score.

MR imaging of the carpal tunnel.

Objective: Investigations were conducted regarding changes of carpal tunnel shape during wrist motion and the variations of space for the median nerve as well as the preoperative signs of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and the postoperative restitution.

Methods: Axial MR images (1.0 T) were performed at the level of the distal radioulnar joint, pisiforme bone and hook of hamate level of 20 wrists of patients with clinical symptoms of CTS and further 20 wrists of volunteers.