Imaging techniques for assessment of inflammatory bowel disease: joint ECCO and ESGAR evidence-based consensus guidelines.

The management of patients with IBD requires evaluation with objective tools, both at the time of diagnosis and throughout the course of the disease, to determine the location, extension, activity and severity of inflammatory lesions, as well as, the potential existence of complications. Whereas endoscopy is a well-established and uniformly performed diagnostic examination, the implementation of radiologic techniques for assessment of IBD is still heterogeneous; variations in technical aspects and the degrees of experience and preferences exist across countries in Europe. ECCO and ESGAR scientific societies jointly elaborated a consensus to establish standards for imaging in IBD using magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and including also other radiologic procedures such as conventional radiology or nuclear medicine examinations for different clinical situations that include general principles, upper GI tract, colon and rectum, perineum, liver and biliary tract, emergency situation, and the postoperative setting.

Ventricular short-axis measurements in patients with pulmonary embolism: effect of ECG-gating on variability, accuracy, and risk prediction.

Objective: To assess prospectively the intra- and interobserver variability, accuracy, and prognostic value of right and left ventricular short-axis diameter (RVd and LVd) measurements for risk stratification in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) using ECG-gated compared to non-gated CT.

Materials And Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (33 women; mean age 58.7±10.

MR defecography in patients with dyssynergic defecation: spectrum of imaging findings and diagnostic value.

Objectives: We describe the spectrum of findings and the diagnostic value of MR defecography in patients referred with suspicion of dyssynergic defecation.

Methods: 48 patients (34 females, 14 males; mean age 48 years) with constipation and clinically suspected dyssynergic defecation underwent MR defecography. Patients were divided into patients with dyssynergic defecation (n = 18) and constipated patients without dyssynergic defecation (control group, n = 30).

Unenhanced versus multiphase MDCT in patients with hematuria, flank pain, and a negative ultrasound.

Objectives: To compare the impact of unenhanced and contrast-enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) for the detection of urinary stones and urinary obstruction in patients with suspected renal colic.

Methods: 95 patients with suspected renal colic underwent a three-phase MDCT for evaluation of the urinary tract. The unenhanced scan and the multiphase examination were reviewed retrospectively by two radiologists for the characterization of urinary stones and signs of obstruction.

Ex vivo evaluation of coronary atherosclerotic plaques: characterization with dual-source CT in comparison with histopathology.

Background: Identification and differentiation of coronary atherosclerotic plaques may improve risk stratification for incident coronary events.

Objective: We investigated the ability of dual-source computed tomography (CT) to depict and characterize atherosclerotic coronary plaques.

Methods: Contrast-enhanced CT was performed in 25 human heart specimens with a total of 322 histologically determined plaques.