MR features of fluid-fluid levels in ovarian masses.

To evaluate retrospectively the frequency and imaging features of fluid-fluid levels (FFLs) in pathologically proven ovarian masses on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The authors reviewed the preoperative MR findings of 556 ovarian masses in 428 patients. Presence, numbers, and signal intensities (SI) of FFLs were analyzed.

Prospective analysis on the relation between pain and prostate volume during transrectal prostate biopsy.

Objective: We wanted to assess the relationship between pain and the prostate volume during transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy.

Materials And Methods: Between July and September 2006, 71 patients scheduled for TRUS biopsy of the prostate were considered for inclusion to this study. These patients underwent periprostatic neurovascular bundle block with lidocaine prior to biopsy.

Does the intrarectal instillation of lidocaine gel before periprostatic neurovascular bundle block during transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies improve analgesic efficacy? A prospective, randomized trial.

Purpose: We assessed the analgesic effect of additional intrarectal lidocaine gel instillation during transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy and identified the procedural steps that benefit from lidocaine gel instillation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 250 consecutive patients scheduled for prostate biopsy were randomized into 2 groups. In the 125 group 1 patients lidocaine gel was instilled intrarectally before periprostatic neurovascular bundle block.

Effects of blood flow and/or ventilation restriction on radiofrequency coagulation size in the lung: an experimental study in swine.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the restriction of blood flow and/or ventilation affects the radiofrequency (RF) ablation coagulation size in lung parenchyma. Thirty-one RF ablations were done in 16 normal lungs of 8 living swine with 2-cm LeVeen needles. Eight RF ablations were performed as a control (group G1), eight with balloon occlusion of the ipsilateral mainstem bronchus (G2), eight with occlusion of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery (G3), and seven with occlusion of both the ipsilateral bronchus and pulmonary artery (G4).

Experimental percutaneous extrahepatic portacaval shunt creation by transjugular approach in Swine.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of the creation of a percutaneous extrahepatic portacaval shunt (PEPS) in swine by a transjugular approach and to find a suitable stent-graft to use in PEPS. In 12 swine, the extrahepatic portal vein (PV) was entered from the inferior vena cava (IVC) by a needle system introduced from the transjugular approach. A catheter introduced through the transhepatic approach served as a target.

[The clinical usefulness of balloon occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration in gastric variceal bleeding].

Background/aims: Gastric variceal bleeding is difficult to treat endoscopically because the hemodynamics of the gastric varix are different from that of the esophageal varix. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), which has been used widely, does not always result in the regression of gastric varix and it may aggravate the hepatic encephalopathy. Balloon occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) was introduced as a new procedure for gastric variceal bleeding with minimal invasiveness.

Hypoechoic normal renal sinus and renal pelvis tumors: sonographic differentiation.

Objective: To evaluate the sonographic findings of an unusually hypoechoic renal sinus that mimics a tumor in the renal pelvis or renal sinus.

Methods: Sonographic scans of 7 patients with an unusually hypoechoic portion in the renal sinus were reviewed retrospectively. Computed tomography, excretory urography, or both confirmed all sinuses as normal.

Tubular foreign body or stent: safe retrieval or repositioning using the coaxial snare technique.

Objective: To evaluate the utility and advantages of the coaxial snare technique in the retrieval of tubular foreign bodies.

Materials And Methods: Using the coaxial snare technique, we attempted to retrieve tubular foreign bodies present in seven patients. The bodies were either stents which were malpositioned or had migrated from their correct position in the vascular system (n=2), a fragmented venous introducer sheath (n=1), fragmented drainage catheters in the biliary tree (n=2), or fractured external drainage catheters in the urinary tract (n=2).

MR findings of renal cortical necrosis.

Purpose: Evaluating the MR findings of renal cortical necrosis was the purpose of this study.

Method: Eight series of T1-/T2-weighted (n = 8) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (n = 4) MR images in six patients with renal cortical necrosis diagnosed by renal biopsy (n = 4) or on clinical grounds (n = 2) were reviewed. In those who had follow-up MRI (n = 2) or comparable CT (n = 3), interval changes of MR findings and comparison with CT images were done.