Can emergency physicians accurately rule out clinically important cervical spine injuries by using computed tomography?

Objective: Emergency physicians are expected to rule out clinically important cervical spine injuries using clinical skills and imaging. Our objective was to determine whether emergency physicians could accurately rule out clinically important cervical spine injuries using computed tomographic (CT) imaging of the cervical spine.

Method: Fifteen emergency physicians were enrolled to interpret a sample of 50 cervical spine CT scans in a nonclinical setting.

Limited-sequence magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of the ultrasonographically indeterminate pelvic mass.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of limited-sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the elucidation of ultrasonographically indeterminate pelvic masses. This study focused only on pelvic masses in which the origin of the mass (uterine v. extrauterine) could not be determined by ultrasonography (US).

Magnetic resonance imaging of scrotal diseases: when it makes the difference.

Objectives: To investigate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after inconclusive sonography in the evaluation of scrotal disease.

Methods: From 1993 to 1999, 622 patients underwent ultrasonography (US) with state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate scrotal diseases. Twenty-six patients, two with bilateral and distinct diseases (age range 1--63 years, mean 33), had an inconclusive sonogram and were sent for MRI.

MR imaging of brachial plexopathy in breast cancer patients without palpable recurrence.

Objective: To investigate the role of MR imaging in detecting brachial plexus (BP) abnormalities in breast cancer patients with plexopathy but without palpable masses.

Design: MR imaging of the BP was performed on 26 breast cancer patients with brachial plexopathy without palpable regional masses, using 0.5 T and 1.

Primary adrenal leiomyosarcoma in a man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Further evidence for an increase in smooth muscle tumors related to Epstein-Barr infection in AIDS.

We report a rare primary adrenal leiomyosarcoma in a 30-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus--positive man. This is, we believe, the third documented case in the English literature of this tumor in this site, and the first to be reported in an adult male with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The smooth muscle origin of this tumor was apparent by routine microscopy and confirmed by positive immunostaining for smooth muscle actin.

Testicular pseudotumor in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We describe a case of testicular pseudotumor evaluated with both diagnostic ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The findings were inconclusive and eventually radical orchiectomy and pathologic analysis were required to make the diagnosis. The typical US and MR findings of both inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the testis are discussed.

MR imaging of adrenal masses: value of chemical-shift imaging for distinguishing adenomas from other tumors.

Objective: CT and conventional MR imaging are helpful in characterizing adrenal tumors, but a specific diagnosis is not achieved for a substantial number of lesions. Chemical-shift imaging relies on the different resonance frequencies of protons in water and triglyceride molecules and therefore may permit a more specific diagnosis of adrenal adenomas, which are known to contain abundant lipid. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of chemical-shift MR imaging in the differentiation of adrenal adenomas from other adrenal masses.

Tumors of the adrenal gland: findings on CT and MR imaging.

Adrenal gland imaging has improved drastically since the advent of CT and MR imaging. The purpose of this essay is to illustrate findings on cross-sectional imaging of adrenal gland tumors. Emphasis is given to imaging features that help to characterize specific lesions.

MR imaging of disorders of the brachial plexus.

The authors evaluated 64 consecutive patients with suspected brachial plexus (BP) abnormalities of diverse cause with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, using the body coil and a standardized protocol. Of the 43 patients for whom follow-up was available, 25 were suspected of having neoplastic involvement of the BP, nine had sustained injuries, and nine presented with BP symptoms of uncertain cause. MR imaging was 63% sensitive, 100% specific, and 77% accurate in demonstrating the abnormality in this diverse patient population.

Conservative management of mitral valve aneurysm.

A 35-year-old woman had infective endocarditis and an aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet. The patient was managed conservatively and the mitral valve aneurysm remained stable over 3 years. Two-dimensional, color flow Doppler, and magnetic resonance images of the aneurysm are presented and features of mitral valve aneurysms are discussed.

MRI diagnosis of a ruptured breast implant presenting as an infraclavicular mass.

The authors report a case of a ruptured breast implant presenting as an infraclavicular mass lesion. The findings of film-screen mammography, plain radiography, computed tomography and initial biopsy were nondiagnostic. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the extent of the abnormality and permitted the correct diagnosis.

Are there predictors for future academic radiologists? A Canadian survey.

In 1990 the authors surveyed all members of the Canadian Association of Radiologists and all graduates of the radiology residency program at the University of British Columbia in the previous 10 years. They compared radiologists with and those without a university affiliation to determine the influences on career choice. The factors considered included teaching, research and publication experience, as well as educational background.

Thoracic outlet syndrome: evaluation with CT.

Diagnosis of the thoracic outlet syndrome is often difficult, particularly in patients without osseous abnormalities on plain radiographs. The radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) findings were reviewed from 27 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome and 21 normal subjects. The plain radiographs and CT scans were assessed by two independent observers without awareness of the clinical history.

Ultrasonography in acute appendicitis.

Although the disease is common, the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis remains difficult. Since the indications for surgery are imprecise, greater diagnostic accuracy depends on the development of other methods for detection of inflammatory changes in the appendix. During eight months, high-resolution ultrasonography (US) was used for the evaluation of 37 patients with clinically suspected appendicitis.

Localized fibrous mesothelioma of pleura following external ionizing radiation therapy.

Carcinogenesis is a well-known complication of radiation exposure. Ionizing radiation also leads to an increased incidence of benign tumors. A 36-year-old woman had a localized fibrous mesothelioma of the pleura and an ipsilateral breast carcinoma 23 years after receiving external radiation therapy for treatment of a chest wall keloid.