MRI signs helpful in the differentiation of patients with anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy and optic neuritis.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to identify specific MRI characteristics of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) and optic neuritis (ON) that would aid in the differentiation between these two diagnoses.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed a consecutive case series including all patients with an MRI study of brain and orbit and the clinical diagnosis of either ON or AION. We examined the scans for restricted diffusion of the optic nerve, optic sheath diameter, enhancement and location of enhancement of the optic nerve and distribution of the white matter lesions.

Interpretation of bedside chest X-rays in the ICU: is the radiologist still needed?

Purpose: To compare diagnostic accuracy of intensivists to radiologists in reading bedside chest X-rays.

Methods: In a retrospective trial, 33 bedside chest X-rays were evaluated by five radiologists and five intensivists with different experience. Images were evaluated for devices and lung pathologies.

MR imaging of degenerative disc disease.

Magnet resonance imaging (MRI) is the most commonly used imaging modality for diagnosis of degenerative disc disease (DDD). Lack of precise observations and documentation of aspects within the complex entity of DDD might partially be the cause of poor correlation of radiographic findings to clinical symptoms. This literature review summarizes the current knowledge on MRI in DDD and outlines the diagnostic limitations.

Automated attenuation-based tube voltage selection for body CTA: Performance evaluation of 192-slice dual-source CT.

Objective: To assess radiation dose and image quality in body CT-angiography (CTA) with automated attenuation-based tube voltage selection (ATVS) on a 192-slice dual-source CT (DSCT).

Methods: Forty patients (69.5 ± 9.

Screening for interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: performance of high-resolution CT with limited number of slices: a prospective study.

Objectives: Early diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD), currently the main cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc), is needed. The gold standard is high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest, but regular screening faces the risk of increased radiation exposure. We performed a prospective validation of a dedicated, 9-slice HRCT protocol with reduced radiation dose for the detection of ILD in patients with SSc.

Graft Patency in Long-term Survivors after Renovisceral Debranching with VORTEC.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate retrospectively the long-term stent-graft patency after renovisceral revascularization with Viabahn Open Revascularization Technique (VORTEC) using computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Methods: In 34 patients (seven women; mean age 72 ± 8 years) with aortic aneurysm, 63 renovisceral vessels (i.e.

Iterative reconstructions versus filtered back-projection for urinary stone detection in low-dose CT.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate prospectively, in patients with suspected or known urinary stone disease, the image quality and diagnostic confidence of nonenhanced abdominal low-dose computed tomography (CT) with iterative reconstruction (IR) compared to filtered back-projection (FBP).

Materials And Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with suspected (n = 33) or known (n = 17) urinary stone disease underwent nonenhanced abdominal low-dose CT (120 kVp, 30 effective mAs, 1.6 ± 0.

Evaluation of calcium loss after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives: Aortic valve calcification and changes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were specifically assessed by computed tomography (CT). The main difference between TAVI and the conventional technique is the compression of the cusps of the calcified native valve against the aortic wall before implantation. The objective of this study was to quantify the segmented calcification in the area of the basal annular plane before and after TAVI.

Split-bolus dual-energy CT urography: protocol optimization and diagnostic performance for the detection of urinary stones.

Purpose: Prospective protocol optimization, determination of image quality and diagnostic performance of virtual non-enhanced images (VNEI) derived from split-bolus dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) urography in patients with urinary stones.

Methods: IRB-approved, prospective study of 100 patients who, after written informed consent, underwent single-energy, non-enhanced CT and split-bolus, contrast-enhanced DECT (30 + 50 mL of contrast media; combined nephro-urographic acquisition). DECT was performed using setting A (80/140 kVp) in the first 20, and setting B (100/140 kVp) in the second 20 patients.

Automated attenuation-based kilovoltage selection: preliminary observations in patients after endovascular aneurysm repair of the abdominal aorta.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess prospectively the impact of automated attenuation-based kilovoltage selection on image quality and radiation dose in patients undergoing body CT angiography (CTA) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of the abdominal aorta.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-five patients (five women, 30 men; mean age ± SD, 69 ± 13 years; mean body mass index ± SD, 27.3 ± 4.

Low-dose CT of the lung: potential value of iterative reconstructions.

Objectives: To prospectively assess the impact of sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) on image quality of nonenhanced low-dose lung CT as compared to filtered back projection (FBP).

Methods: Nonenhanced low-dose chest CT (tube current-time product: 30 mAs) was performed on 30 patients at 100 kVp and on 30 patients at 80 kVp. Images were reconstructed with FBP and SAFIRE.

Automated tube potential selection for standard chest and abdominal CT in follow-up patients with testicular cancer: comparison with fixed tube potential.

Objective: To evaluate prospectively, in patients with testicular cancer, the radiation dose-saving potential and image quality of contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT with automated tube potential selection.

Methods: Forty consecutive patients with testicular cancer underwent contrast-enhanced arterio-venous chest and portal-venous abdominal CT with automated tube potential selection (protocol B; tube potential 80-140 kVp), which is based on the attenuation of the CT topogram. All had a first CT at 120 kVp (protocol A) using the same 64-section CT machine and similar settings.

Thoraco-abdominal high-pitch dual-source CT angiography: experimental evaluation of injection protocols with an anatomical human vascular phantom.

Objective: To experimentally evaluate three different contrast injection protocols at thoraco-abdominal high-pitch dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA), with regard to level and homogeneity of vascular enhancement at different cardiac outputs.

Materials And Methods: A uniphasic, a biphasic as well as an individually tailored contrast protocol were tested using a human vascular phantom. Each protocol was scanned at 5 different cardiac outputs (3-5L/min, steps of 0.

Screening for interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: the diagnostic accuracy of HRCT image series with high increment and reduced number of slices.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess diagnostic accuracy for the detection of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in image series with high increment and reduced number of slices in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: 45 patients with SSc underwent high-resolution CT (HRCT). Three series of secondary captures were reconstructed as follows: series 1, series with 10 mm increment and 1 mm slices; series 2, seven axial images with baso-apical gradient; series 3, three axial images were obtained at the apical, at the level of the carina and basal.

Raw data-based iterative reconstruction in body CTA: evaluation of radiation dose saving potential.

Objective: To evaluate prospectively, in patients undergoing body CTA, the radiation dose saving potential of raw data-based iterative reconstruction as compared to filtered back projection (FBP).

Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent thoraco-abdominal CTA with 128-slice dual-source CT, operating both tubes at 120 kV. Full-dose (FD) images were reconstructed with FBP and were compared to half-dose (HD) images with FBP and HD-images with sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE), both reconstructed using data from only one tube-detector-system.

Automated attenuation-based tube potential selection for thoracoabdominal computed tomography angiography: improved dose effectiveness.

Purpose: To introduce a novel algorithm of automated attenuation-based tube potential selection and to assess its impact on image quality and radiation dose of body computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Materials And Methods: In all, 40 patients (mean age 71±11.8 years, body mass index (BMI) 25.