Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of the lower spinal cord: application to diastematomyelia and tethered cord.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of routine clinical DTI of the lower spinal cord using high-field-strength MRI and parallel imaging, and to evaluate the utility of diffusion tensor imaging and tractography as tools for study of lower cord pathology.

Methods: Three patients with diastematomyelia, one patient with tethered cord, and six normal volunteers underwent MR imaging of the lower spine at 3 T. A 15-channel spine coil and parallel imaging were used with a six-direction single-shot echo-planar gradient echo technique.

Serial follow-up MRI of indeterminate cystic lesions of the pineal region: experience at a rural tertiary care referral center.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the outcomes of temporal MRI follow-up of indeterminate cystic lesions of the pineal region.

Materials And Methods: Cases of indeterminate pineal lesions were identified by a computerized search of radiology reports at our institution from 1998 to 2007. Twenty-six indeterminate pineal lesions, one each in 26 patients (six males and 20 females), were followed in the current study.

Discrepancy rates of on-call radiology residents' interpretations of CT angiography studies of the neck and circle of Willis.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the discrepancy rates of radiology residents' interpretations of emergent CT angiography (CTA) studies of the neck and circle of Willis and to assess any adverse clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Five hundred thirty-eight CTA studies (287 circle of Willis and 251 neck) ordered emergently after hours and given preliminary readings by radiology residents from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007, were retrospectively reviewed. Discrepancies between the interpretations of radiology residents and the final reports of neuroradiology attending physicians were classified as either false-negatives (failure to recognize abnormalities) or false-positives (misinterpreting normal scans as abnormal).

The misinterpretation rates of radiology residents on emergent neuroradiology magnetic resonance (MR) angiogram studies: correlation with level of residency training.

The purpose of this study was to determine the discrepancy rates of radiology residents interpreting emergent neck and Circle of Willis magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) studies and to detect any adverse clinical outcomes. Three hundred seventeen MRA studies given preliminary reading by radiology residents were retrospectively reviewed over a 2-year period. Discrepancies were classified as either false negatives (failure to diagnose abnormalities) or false positives (misinterpreting normal scans as abnormal).

Discrepancy rates of radiology resident interpretations of on-call neuroradiology MR imaging studies.

Purpose: To determine the discrepancy rates of radiology residents interpreting emergent neuroradiology magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies and to assess any adverse clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred sixty-one brain and spine MR imaging and MR angiographic examinations that were ordered emergently after hours and given preliminary interpretations by radiology residents were retrospectively reviewed from December 1, 2006 to May 31, 2007 with institutional review board approval. Discrepancies between the interpretations of radiology residents and the final reports of attending neuroradiologists were classified as either false-negative (FN, failure to recognize abnormalities) or false-positive (FP, misinterpreting normal images as abnormal).

Analysis of changes in attenuation of proven renal cysts on different scanning phases of triphasic MDCT.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to document changes in attenuation values on triphasic MDCT of histologically or surgically proven cystic renal lesions.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of all renal lesions greater than 1 cm that underwent triphasic MDCT was performed in 90 patients before partial nephrectomy. Three reviewers independently measured the mean attenuation of all lesions in three phases (unenhanced, corticomedullary, and parenchymal) in a blinded retrospective fashion.

Enhancement characteristics of papillary renal neoplasms revealed on triphasic helical CT of the kidneys.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether renal tumor enhancement or heterogeneity on triphasic helical CT scans is predictive of the papillary cell subtype or nuclear grade of renal cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the CT scans of 90 consecutive patients with renal masses who had undergone triphasic renal helical CT before a complete or partial nephrectomy (12 with papillary renal cell carcinomas, 66 with nonpapillary renal cell carcinomas, and 12 with benign lesions). Three radiologists who were unaware of the patients' diagnoses retrospectively and independently measured the attenuation of each patient's tumor, abdominal aorta, and normal renal parenchyma on the scans obtained during all three phases.