Prospective comparative evaluation of quantitative-elastosonography (Q-elastography) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of thyroid nodules: preliminary experience.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of semiquantitative elastosonography (Q-elastography) compared with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating the nature of thyroid nodules.

Methods And Materials: Forty-eight consecutive patients (35 males, 13 females, range: 34-69 years, mean: 49.4 years), candidate to surgery, previously detected at color-Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), were prospectively examined with elastosonography with dedicated semiquantitative software (Q-Elastography, Toshiba XG) and CEUS (Technos Mylab 70 Gold X, and Toshiba XG) before surgery.

Congenital asymptomatic diaphragmatic hernias in adults: a case series.

Introduction: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a major malformation occasionally found in newborns and babies. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is defined by the presence of an orifice in the diaphragm, more often to the left and posterolateral, that permits the herniation of abdominal contents into the thorax. The aim of this case series is to provide information on the presentation, diagnosis and outcome of three patients with late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernias.

Effect of varying contrast material iodine concentration and injection technique on the conspicuity of hepatocellular carcinoma during 64-section MDCT of patients with cirrhosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the intraindividual effects of contrast material with two different iodine concentrations on the conspicuity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and vascular and hepatic contrast enhancement during multiphasic, 64-section multidetector row CT (MDCT) in patients with cirrhosis using two contrast medium injection techniques.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups with an equal iodine dose but different contrast material injection techniques: scheme A, fixed injection duration (25 s), and scheme B, fixed injection flow rate (4 ml s(-1)). For each group, patients were randomised to receive both moderate-concentration contrast medium (MCCM) and high-concentration contrast medium (HCCM) during two CT examinations within 3 months.

Multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of the mandibular invasion by squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the oral cavity. Correlation with pathological data.

Background: To retrospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in the assessment of the mandibular invasion by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) having histopathological exams as standard of reference.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval with a waiver of informed patient consent was obtained. Of the 147 patients selected from our database who underwent surgical excision of a tumour arising into the oral cavity, thirty-six patients (26 men, 10 women; mean age, 56 years; range, 30-75 years) with hystologically proven SCC who performed both a preoperative MRI and MDCT, composed our final study population.

Is pattern III as evidenced by US color-Doppler useful in predicting thyroid nodule malignancy? Large-scale retrospective analysis.

Objective: To evaluate whether pattern III of color Doppler Ultra-sound may identify malignant nodules.

Materials And Methods: We have retrospectively analyzed data pertaining to 1090 patients of both genders (230 males, 860 females), with an average age of 53 years (min 17 years, max 81 years), who underwent thyroidectomy in Department of Surgical Sciences of Sapienza University of Rome since January 2003 through June 2009. We correlated color-Doppler characteristics and histological features through statistical analysis so as to verify statistical correlation between them.

Vascular leiomyoma presenting as medial joint line pain of the knee.

Vascular leiomyoma or angioleiomyoma is a rare benign solitary smooth muscle tumor that occurs mostly in the extremities. Most of these tumors are composed of venous vessels, but in some reports small arteries have been detected in the tumors.We present a rare case of a 60-year-old man with a subcutaneous vascular leiomyoma of the right knee.

A case of subfascial lipoma in the lateral space of neck: US and CT findings.

Lipomas in the head and neck region usually occur in the immediate subcutaneous tissue. They are extremely rare under the muscular band of neck. We present a case of a 53-year-old woman with a subfascial lipoma located in the anterior lateral space of neck.