Prenatal planning of placenta previa: diagnostic accuracy of a novel MRI-based prediction model for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) and clinical outcome.

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) and clinical outcome prediction in women with placenta previa, using a novel MRI-based predictive model.

Methods: Thirty-eight placental MRI exams performed on a 1.5T scanner were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in consensus.

Ultra-low dose CT colonography with automatic tube current modulation and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction: Effects on radiation exposure and image quality.

Objective: To assess the radiation dose and image quality of ultra-low dose (ULD)-CT colonography (CTC) obtained with the combined use of automatic tube current (mAs) modulation with a quality reference mAs of 25 and sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE), compared to low-dose (LD) CTC acquired with a quality reference mAs of 55 and reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP).

Methods: Eighty-two patients underwent ULD-CTC acquisition in prone position and LD-CTC acquisition in supine position. Both ULD-CTC and LD-CTC protocols were compared in terms of radiation dose [weighted volume computed tomography dose index (CTDI ) and effective dose], image noise, image quality, and polyp detection.

Aortic valve bypass surgery in severe aortic valve stenosis: Insights from cardiac and brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To investigate and describe the distribution of aortic and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with severe valvular aortic stenosis (AS) before and after aortic valve bypass (AVB) surgery.

Methods: We enrolled 10 consecutive patients who underwent AVB surgery for severe AS. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and brain magnetic resonance imaging were performed as baseline before surgery and twice after surgery.

Grading of aortic stenosis severity: a head-to-head comparison between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography.

Aim: To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) imaging for the assessment of aortic valve effective orifice area (EOA) by continuity equation and anatomical aortic valve area (AVA) by direct planimetry, as compared with transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography, respectively.

Methods And Results: A total of 31 patients (21 men, 10 women, mean age 69 ± 10 years) with moderate-to-severe aortic stenosis (AS) diagnosed by TTE and scheduled for elective aortic valve replacement, underwent both cMR and TEE. AVA by cMR was obtained from balanced steady-state free-precession cine-images.

Embolization of Bleeding Pulmonary Arterial Pseudoaneurysm in a Woman With Infective Endocarditis.

Pulmonary arterial pseudoaneurysm is a rare but life-threatening complication of infective endocarditis. This report describes a case of bleeding pulmonary arterial pseudoaneurysm in a young, drug-addicted woman with tricuspid annuloplasty after infective endocarditis that was promptly identified by computed tomography pulmonary angiography and successfully treated using coil embolization. Perfusion scintigraphy at 30 days confirmed the safety of endovascular treatment.

Influence of image reconstruction parameters on cardiovascular risk reclassification by Computed Tomography Coronary Artery Calcium Score.

Objective: To investigate the influence of different CT reconstruction parameters on coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) values and reclassification of predicted cardiovascular (CV) risk.

Methods: CACS was evaluated in 113 patients undergoing ECG-gated 64-slice CT. Reference CACS protocol included standard kernel filter (B35f) with slice thickness/increment of 3/1.

A multidisciplinary group for prostate cancer management: A single institution experience.

Increased knowledge regarding the heterogeneity of Prostate Cancer (PC) and its variable outcomes has generated controversy over the best clinical approach. Nowadays, it is well-known that patient outcomes and clinical management may be improved by an efficient organization of the national health care system. The Interdisciplinary Group for Oncological Care (GICO) for PC patients was created by our healthcare management company in September 2010.

Endovascular Treatment of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis: Our Single-Center Experience.

Background: To analyze our experience in endovascular treatment as first-line approach for severe and acute hemorrhage in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: From 2010 to 2016 at our institution, 12 males (mean age 66 years) with bleeding pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) underwent urgent visceral angiography and endovascular treatment. All patients had chronic pancreatitis.

Cutting Balloon Angioplasty (CBA) for the Treatment of Renal Artery Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) in Six Patients: 5-Year Long-Term Results.

Purpose: To evaluate long-term outcomes in terms of hypertension control, recurrent stenosis, and reinterventions from patients who underwent cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA) for symptomatic renal artery fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD).

Materials And Methods: From 2011, six consecutive renal artery FMD women underwent CBA for poorly controlled hypertension, despite antihypertensive therapy. Follow-up consisted of blood pressure monitoring and duplex ultrasonography at 1, 6, and 12 months and thereafter annually for 5 years.

Aortic elasticity indices by magnetic resonance predict progression of ascending aorta dilation.

Objectives: Aortic distensibility and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) are under investigation as parameters by which to evaluate the indication for ascending aorta (AA) replacement. The maximum rate of systolic distension (MRSD) was proposed as a new index of aortic elasticity. The aim of this study was to assess the role of aortic elasticity parameters to predict AA growth rates in patients with AA dilation (AAD).

The lung in systemic vasculitis: radiological patterns and differential diagnosis.

The respiratory system may be involved in all systemic vasculitides, although with a variable frequency. The aim of our review is to describe radiographic and high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of pulmonary vasculitides and to correlate radiological findings with pathological results. Lung disease is a common feature of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated small-vessel vasculitides, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) and microscopic polyangiitis.

CT findings in acute peritonitis: a pattern-based approach.

Many inflammatory and infectious entities may acutely affect the peritoneum causing a thickening of its layers. Unfortunately, several acute peritoneal diseases can have overlapping features, both clinically and at imaging. Therefore, the awareness of the clinical context, although useful, may be sometimes insufficient to identify the underlying cause.

Reversible and Asymptomatic Gyral and Subarachnoid Contrast Enhancement after Carotid Stenting.

The presence of sulcal hyperdensity in patients after endovascular procedures is not necessarily attributable to hemorrhage. It may frequently indicate the absolute or concomitant extravasation of contrast material into the subarachnoid spaces.This case report describes the clinical case of an 84-year-old patient with 90% stenosis of the right internal carotid who presented with a diffuse gyral and sulcal hyperdensity in the right temporal-occipital and frontal lobes at routine post-carotid stenting (CAS) brain CT scan.

Delineating brachial plexus, cochlea, pharyngeal constrictor muscles and optic chiasm in head and neck radiotherapy: a CT-based model atlas.

Background And Purpose: Sparing of the organs at risk is one of the primary end-points of radiotherapy. The effects of organ-at-risk delineation on the dosimetric parameters can be critical and can influence treatment planning and outcomes. The aim of our study was to provide anatomical boundaries for the identification and delineation of the following critical organs at risk in the head and neck district: brachial plexus, cochlea, pharyngeal constrictor muscles and optic chiasm.

Spectrum of phenotypic anomalies in four families with deletion of the SHOX enhancer region.

Background: SHOX alterations have been reported in 67% of patients affected by Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD), with a larger prevalence of gene deletions than point mutations. It has been recently demonstrated that these deletions can involve the SHOX enhancer region, rather that the coding region, with variable phenotype of the affected patients.Here, we report a SHOX gene analysis carried out by MLPA in 14 LWD patients from 4 families with variable phenotype.

Data-driven grading of brain gliomas: a multiparametric MR imaging study.

Purpose: To grade brain gliomas by using a data-driven analysis of multiparametric magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, taking into account the heterogeneity of the lesions at MR imaging, and to compare these results with the most widespread current radiologic reporting methods.

Materials And Methods: One hundred eighteen patients with histologically confirmed brain gliomas were evaluated retrospectively. Conventional and advanced MR sequences (perfusion-weighted imaging, MR spectroscopy, and diffusion-tensor imaging) were performed.

Extrapleural and cardiophrenic lymph nodes: prevalence, clinical significance and diagnostic value.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical meaning and diagnostic value of extrapleural and cardiophrenic nodes occasionally observed on computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest.

Materials And Methods: We included 750 consecutive patients who underwent CT of the chest for different clinical purposes (340 nonneoplastic patients, 270 with extrathoracic neoplasms, 120 with intrathoracic neoplasms, 20 with pleural metastasis) and 91 patients with histologically proven malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). For each group of patients, we analysed the presence of extrapleural and cardiophrenic nodes, their number (single or multiple) and their size.

[Orbital non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: description of a case diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging].

Orbital non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare tumor. Correct diagnosis and accurate staging are of paramount importance for timely treatment and better outcome. We report the case of a female patient with bilateral orbital lymphoma, and describe the clinical-pathological aspects of the disease and its neuroradiological features.

[Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: description of a case in the setting of severe infection].

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a well recognized neurotoxic state coupled with a unique neuroradiological appearance. This syndrome is associated with a broad spectrum of complex conditions (preeclampsia/eclampsia, bone marrow/organ transplantation, chemotherapy, autoimmune disease). We report the case of a female patient who developed PRES in the setting of severe infection, and we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying the development of cerebral edema by describing the inherent neuroradiological features.

[Cough-induced intercostal lung herniation successfully diagnosed with imaging techniques].

We report the case of a 78-year-old man presenting with pain in right hemithorax that occurred suddenly after coughing. A palpable chest wall mass, soft in consistency, was noted on physical examination, and chest X-ray and CT allowed to make diagnosis of spontaneous lung hernia.

[Role of CT in the preoperative diagnosis of a giant benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura].

The authors emphasize the role of CT in the preoperative diagnosis of a giant benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. CT can provide evidence of complete resection of the lesion, showing a pedunculated stalk. Aspiration cytology is not a reliable diagnostic approach.

Obscure and occult gastrointestinal bleeding: comparison of different imaging modalities.

Patients with persistent, recurrent, or intermittent bleeding from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract for which no definite cause has been identified by initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, or conventional radiologic evaluation are considered to have an obscure GI bleeding (OGIB). The diagnosis and management of patients with OGIB is challenging, often requiring extensive and expensive workups. The main objective is the identification of the etiology and site of bleeding, which should be as rapidly accomplished as possible, in order to establish the most appropriate therapy.

The role of hepatocyte-specific staining in liver pathology.

The advantages of MRI in the investigation of liver disease are well documented. Recent developments, including fast scanning technique and new MRI contrast agents, enable improved detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Therefore, a definitive diagnosis can be made avoiding invasive procedures, such as liver biopsy.