Delayed imaging in routine CT examinations of the abdomen and pelvis: is it worth the additional cost of radiation and time?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the potential benefits of delayed phase imaging series in routine CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis.

Materials And Methods: Routine contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT scans of 1000 consecutively examined patients (912 men, 88 women; average age, 60 years; range, 22-94 years) were retrospectively evaluated, and the added benefits of the delayed phase series through the abdomen were recorded for each examination. Examinations performed for indications requiring multiphasic imaging were excluded.

Magnetic resonance imaging for intratesticular and extratesticular scrotal lesions.

Introduction: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utility in intratesticular and extratesticular scrotal diseases.

Materials And Methods: Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed images of patients who underwent ultrasound followed by MRI, categorizing them as intratesticular or extratesticular and malignant, benign, indeterminate, or inadequate study. For patients who underwent surgical excision, pathologic results were also correlated to the presurgical ultrasound and MRI diagnoses.

Ureteral intussusception: a case report and literature review.

We present the case of a 64-year-old man with intussusception of the right ureter as a complication of an underlying transitional cell carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report that illustrates ureteral intussusception by both multidetector computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Although ureteral intussusceptions are thought to be associated with benign masses, our comprehensive review of the literature demonstrates that almost half of the cases are associated with underlying malignancy.

Plugoma: CT findings after prosthetic plug inguinal hernia repairs.

Background: Unrecognized CT findings of a prosthetic plug used in inguinal hernia repair can lead to incorrect diagnosis or unnecessary workup of a patient. The objective of this study is to review the expected CT findings present in patients with a history of plug repair.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study retrieving clinical and image data from a single-institution database.

MR imaging of scrotal tumors and pseudotumors.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an important imaging technique in the evaluation of scrotal masses, providing a useful adjunct to ultrasonography (US). Although US is the modality of choice for initial evaluation of scrotal pathologic conditions because of its wide availability, low cost, and high sensitivity for detection of testicular and paratesticular disease processes, US findings may occasionally be inconclusive. MR imaging may provide additional information in these cases, often affecting patient management.

Recurrent non-surgical pneumoperitoneum due to jejunal diverticulosis.

Background: The presence of free intraperitoneal gas usually warrants emergent surgery. In rare instances, however, non-surgical conditions such as jejunal diverticulosis can cause pneumoperitoneum and do not require intervention.

Objectives: The objective of this article is to provide the computed tomography (CT) scan findings of jejunal diverticulosis causing pneumoperitoneum.

Fatty liver disease: MR imaging techniques for the detection and quantification of liver steatosis.

Fatty liver disease is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States. Noninvasive detection and quantification of fat is becoming more and more important clinically, due in large part to the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Steatosis, the accumulation of fat-containing vacuoles within hepatocytes, is a key histologic feature of fatty liver disease.

Transient homogeneously enhancing hepatic masses: can size predict benignity?

Objective: The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that, in noncirrhotic livers, large size predicts benignity of masses that homogeneously hyperenhance on arterial phase CT and then fade to isoattenuation.

Materials And Methods: All multiphasic CT scans obtained at a cancer center over a 2-year period were reviewed. In consensus, three authors retrospectively identified 227 hepatic masses (> or = 5 mm) in 55 noncirrhotic patients that homogeneously hyperenhanced on arterial phase and then faded to isoattenuation: 107 masses were malignant and 120 were benign; 37 patients had benign and 18 patients had malignant masses.

Superparamagnetic iron oxides and low molecular weight gadolinium chelates are synergistic for direct visualization of advanced liver fibrosis.

Purpose: To compare the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of advanced liver fibrosis on nonenhanced (NE), gadolinium enhanced (Gd), superparamagnetic iron oxides enhanced (SPIO), and combined contrast-enhanced (CCE) spoiled gradient echoes (SGEs).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study assessed 83 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and 10 consecutive patients without fibrosis. All patients had NE, Gd, SPIO, and CCE images at 1.