Cone beam CT evaluation of skeletal and nasomaxillary complex volume changes after rapid maxillary expansion in OSA children.

Objective: The first objective of this study was to evaluate skeletal changes and changes in dimensions and volume of the upper airways before and after rapid maxillary expansion (RME) therapy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), by Cone Beam computed tomography (CBCT). The second objective was to evaluate if RME therapy could improve both the patency of the nasal airways and the Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS).

Methods: 19 children with OSA and malocclusion took CBCT scans with a Dentascan and 3D reconstruction program before (T0) and 4 months after (T1) RME.

Skeletal changes after rapid maxillary expansion in children with obstructive sleep apnea evaluated by low-dose multi-slice computed tomography.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the skeletal effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) therapy performed using teeth as anchors, in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) children, by low-dose computed tomography (CT) of the midpalatal suture opening, maxillary base width, nasal cavities width, first molar angulation and, unlike most studies in the literature, on the pterygoid processes distance.

Methods: Fourteen children (mean age 8.68 years) with OSA presenting a malocclusion characterized by upper-jaw contraction had 16-Multislice CT (MSCT) scans taken before (T0) and after (T1) RME.

Postarthroscopy Imaging in Femoroacetabular Impingement: Persistent Pain May Be Due to an Insufficient Correction of Preoperative Abnormalities.

 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of correction of abnormal radiographic parameters on postoperative pain in a group of patients treated arthroscopically for femoracetabular impingement (FAI).  A retrospective study was performed on 23 patients affected by mixed-type FAI and treated arthroscopically. There were 11 males and 12 females with a mean age of 46.

Efficacy of systemic thrombolysis within 4.5 h from stroke symptom onset: a single-centre clinical and diffusion-perfusion 3T MRI study.

Purpose: The efficacy of thrombolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) within 3 h from stroke onset has been extensively supported by randomised placebo-controlled multicentre trials. In our single-centre study, we investigated the efficacy of intravenous (IV) administration of rt-PA within 4.5 h of stroke onset, in terms of clinical and radiological outcome, using a 3T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner in a cohort of patients similar to that of multicentre clinical trials.

Three-dimensional evaluation of masseter muscle in different vertical facial patterns: a cross-sectional study in growing children.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the anatomical three-dimensional (3D) characteristics of masseter muscle in growing subjects with different vertical patterns by using an ultrasound (US) method. The sample comprised 60 prepuberal subjects (33 males, 27 females) with a mean age of 11.5 ± 1.

Diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy assessment of cancellous bone quality in femoral neck of healthy, osteopenic and osteoporotic subjects at 3T: Preliminary experience.

Unlabelled: We assessed the potential of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in combination with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), in cancellous bone quality evaluation of the femoral neck in postmenopausal women.

Introduction: DTI allows for non-invasive microarchitectural characterization of heterogeneous tissue. In this work we hypothesized that DTI parameters mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of bone marrow water, can provide information about microstructural changes that occur with the development of osteoporosis disease.

Lumbar spine MRI in upright position for diagnosing acute and chronic low back pain: statistical analysis of morphological changes.

Background: Patients with low back pain frequently demonstrate recumbent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) alterations not always related to homogeneous clinical symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and quantify the statistical significance of variations of some anatomical parameters of the lumbosacral spine and reveal occult disc pathologies from recumbent to upright position in patients with acute and chronic low back pain.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-seven patients complaining of low back pain (27 women, 30 men) underwent dynamic lumbosacral MRI with a 0.

Orthodontics and obstructive sleep apnea in children.

Children who suffer from respiratory problems and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) commonly exhibit disturbances of craniofacial morphology. A significant number have nasal obstruction associated with a narrow maxilla; maxillary constriction may increase nasal resistance and alter the tongue posture, leading to narrowing of the retroglossal airway and OSA. Sixty children with a case history of oral breathing, snoring, and night time apneas were studied.

Modifications of midpalatal sutural density induced by rapid maxillary expansion: A low-dose computed-tomography evaluation.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the density of the midpalatal suture as assessed by low-dose computed tomography (CT) before rapid maxillary expansion (RME) (T0), at the end of active expansion (T1), and after a retention period of 6 months (T2).

Methods: The study sample comprised 17 prepubertal subjects (mean age, 11.2 years) with constricted maxillary arches and unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite.

Immediate and post-retention effects of rapid maxillary expansion investigated by computed tomography in growing patients.

Objective: To determine by low-dose computed tomography (CT) protocol the dental and periodontal effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Materials And Methods: The sample comprised 17 subjects (7 males and 10 females), with a mean age at first observation of 11.2 years.

Role of computed tomography in the evaluation of orthodontic treatment in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA).

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate pharyngeal size differences between pre- and posttrials of a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), using a computed tomography (CT),in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) adult patients.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients with mild to moderate OSA (mean Apnea/Hypopnea Index, AHI, of 16.7) were treated with a MAD to wear at night only.

Whole body 16-row multislice CT in emergency room: effects of different protocols on scanning time, image quality and radiation exposure.

The objective of this study was to compare two different scanning protocols in patients suspected to have multiple trauma using multidetector 16-row computed tomography (CT) to better define scanning time, imaging quality and radiation exposure. Forty-six patients, between March 2004 and March 2005, with suspected multiple trauma (cerebral, spine, chest, abdominal and pelvis) were evaluated with two different protocols: Protocol "A" 26 patients; Protocol "B" 20 patients. Protocol A consists of a single-pass continuous whole-body acquisition (from vertex to pubic symphysis), whereas Protocol B of conventional segmented acquisition with scanning of body segments individually.

Virtual endoscopy in odontogenic sinus disease. Study technique and main pathological findings.

The use of CT scans in dental pathology is an established technique. The potential applications of Dentascan are further enhanced by the use of virtual navigation software, resulting in endoscopy-like imaging of the maxillary sinus, thus optimising both the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to sinus pathology of dental origin. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the technical-methodological aspects of maxillary sinus virtual endoscopy with Dentascan software and to document the most important and frequent diseases.

Treatment of intermetatarsal Morton's neuroma with alcohol injection under US guide: 10-month follow-up.

Morton's neuroma (MN) is a frequent cause of metatarsalgia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of neuroma alcohol-sclerosing therapy (NAST) under US guide in MN after a 10-month follow-up. Forty intermetatarsal neuromas underwent alcohol-sclerosing therapy after sonographic evaluation of their dimensions and echotexture.

Vascular involvement in pancreatic neoplasm: a comparison between spiral CT and DSA.

The principal criterion for resectability of pancreatic carcinoma is the assessment of vascular involvement. In a prospective evaluation the ability of Spiral CT Angiography (CTA) to detect vascular involvement in 50 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, was proved; DSA was performed later in all patients. In 20 patients, without vascular involvement, a complete concordance was obtained.

Pyriformis muscle syndrome: CT/MR findings in the percutaneous therapy with botulinic toxin.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in pyriformis syndrome (PS) and the long-term outcomes of CT-guided percutaneous treatment with botulinum. PS is a cause of sciatica and disability. The pain is usually increased by muscular contraction, palpation or prolonged sitting.

Cineradiographic study of spine during cycling: effects of changing the pedal unit position on the dorso-lumbar spine angle.

Purpose: Low back pain is a frequent pathology among bicyclists, probably due to unappropriate saddle position. This radiographic study was conducted to evaluate dorso-lumbar angular values in two different pedal unit positions; the first one in a bicycle frame type with pedals in front of the saddle axis and the second one with the pedals behind the saddle axis, in order to define the most physiological sitting position.

Materials And Methods: Ten voluntary healthy adults, ranging in age between 21 to 45 years, were randomly choosen among a group of cyclist not involved in competition and underwent serial fluoroscopic studies while cyclists sit on two different saddles of a prototype cyclette; dorso-lumbar angles at both different sitting positions were measured on film according to modified Lippmann-Cobb method using as reference the upper somatic limitant of the eleventh or twelth dorsal vertebra and the lower somatic limitant of the third lumbar vertebra.

A comparison between two different concentration of contrast media with multidetector CT for the study of abdominal vascular system.

Purpose: To evaluate two different concentrations of contrast medium (CM) and two different acquisition techniques to obtain vascular images with multislice spiral CT (msCT).

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients referred for msCT examinations of the kidney or upper abdomen underwent evaluation of the abdominal aorta during the arterial phase, after giving their consent (GE Light Speed Plus). In the first part of the study (20 patients) the enhancement values measured at six different levels of the aortoiliac axis (celiac trunk, suprarenal aorta, subrenal aorta, aortal bifurcation, right iliac and left iliac) were compared after administering two different concentrations of iodinated contrast medium (300 and 370 mgI/ml) with two different acquisition techniques (HQ and HS).