Use of goniometry to predict inadequate flexion-extension roentgenograms: a preliminary study.

Background: Flexion-extension roentgenograms (FER) of the cervical spine are often inadequate because of limited range of motion (ROM). The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of goniometry to predict a patient's ability to achieve sufficient ROM to obtain adequate FER.

Methods: We evaluated 65 consecutive blunt trauma patients undergoing evaluation by FER in the emergency department.

Contrast-enhanced MR angiography for evaluation of vascular complications of the pancreatic transplant.

Vascular complications are a common cause of postoperative dysfunction in a pancreatic transplant. Coronal three-dimensional (3D) contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography performed with high spatial and temporal resolution is a safe and effective method of assessing these vascular complications. A study was performed of selected patients who had undergone MR imaging and MR angiography during the past 6 years for evaluation of graft dysfunction following pancreatic transplantation.

Use of CT angiography to classify endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Purpose: Accurate endoleak detection and classification is critical for the follow-up of patients who have undergone endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). This determination is often made with computed tomography angiography (CTA). This investigation was performed to determine the accuracy of CTA in the classification of endoleaks in patients who have undergone EVAR.

Indirect detection of lung perfusion using susceptibility-based hyperpolarized gas imaging.

Purpose: To address the problem of inadequate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) encountered in lung perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by developing an indirect detection based on the strong hyperpolarized (HP) gas signal.

Materials And Methods: Our model is based on detecting the effects of gadolinium (Gd) flowing through lung capillaries by recording the phase of the nearby alveolar HP gas. In a HP gas 3He phantom we imaged gas phases before and after removing tubes containing paramagnetic solution away from the phantom.

Magnetic resonance angiography.

MRA and MRI have become increasingly important diagnostic modalities in vascular surgery. The ability to obtain cross-sectional and angiographic images by these noninvasive and non-nephrotoxic modalities represents one of the most significant advances in vascular surgery over the past decade. We review the current status of MRI and MRA in vascular surgical practice.