A comparison of the accuracy of ultrasound and computed tomography in common diagnoses causing acute abdominal pain.

Objectives: Head-to-head comparison of ultrasound and CT accuracy in common diagnoses causing acute abdominal pain.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients with abdominal pain for >2 h and <5 days referred for imaging underwent both US and CT by different radiologists/radiological residents. An expert panel assigned a final diagnosis.

MRI of the brachial plexus: a pictorial review.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brachial plexus is the imaging modality of first choice for depicting anatomy and pathology of the brachial plexus. The anatomy of the roots, trunks, divisions and cords is very well depicted due to the inherent contrast differences between the nerves and the surrounding fat. In this pictorial review the technique and the anatomy will be discussed.

Treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction using a detachable inflatable stent: initial experience.

Objective: We describe a new method for treating ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction using a detachable inflatable stent positioned via a cystoscopic transvesicular approach.

Conclusion: Eleven patients with UPJ obstruction were treated using a detachable inflatable stent, 64% of whom experienced complete pain relief. In 82% of patients, no obstruction was seen on renograms obtained after the procedure.

Stereotactic large-core needle breast biopsy: analysis of pain and discomfort related to the biopsy procedure.

The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of variables such as duration of the procedure, type of breast tissue, number of passes, depth of the biopsies, underlying pathology, the operator performing the procedure, and their effect on women's perception of pain and discomfort during stereotactic large-core needle breast biopsy. One hundred and fifty consecutive patients with a non-palpable suspicious mammographic lesions were included. Between three and nine 14-gauge breast passes were taken using a prone stereotactic table.

Carotid angioplasty and stent placement: comparison of transcranial Doppler US data and clinical outcome with and without filtering cerebral protection devices in 509 patients.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate emboli detected at transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (US) and outcome of carotid angioplasty and stent placement and compare these findings in patients treated with the use of filtering cerebral protection devices (CPDs) with the findings in patients treated without the use of filtering CPDs.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional human research committee. Written informed consent was obtained for all patients.