Using the MDCT thick slab MinIP method for the follow-up of pulmonary emphysema.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of thick slab minimum intensity projection (MinIP) as a follow-up method in patients with pulmonary emphysema. This method was used to determine the presence or absence of changes over time in the lung field based on multi-detector-row CT (MDCT) data.

Methods: Among patients diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema who underwent 16-MDCT (slice thickness, 1 mm) twice at an interval of 6 months or more, 12 patients without changes in the lung field and 14 with clear changes in the lung field were selected as subjects.

Measurements of multidetector CT surface dose distributions using a film dosimeter and chest phantom.

Purpose: This paper uses film dosimetry to investigate the relationship between multiple scan parameters of multidetector CT with automatic exposure control (AEC) and the surface dose distribution produced on a chest phantom.

Methods: The characteristics of the film used in the film dosimeter were evaluated with regard to linearity, relative film response, and directional dependence. Measurements with an ionization chamber dosimeter and a water phantom were used to evaluate the accuracy of the film dosimeter measurements and to validate the dose profile measurements while changing the tube current, detector dimensions and pitch.

Clinical Application of MR Spectroscopy and Imaging of Brain Tumor.

Advanced imaging techniques, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can provide more information than that regarding anatomy. These techniques have been commonly used in the clinical field and recently been shown useful in diagnosing brain tumors, especially in cases difficult to specify using conventional imaging. Differentiation requires more than attention to each advanced image.

Relationship between FDG uptake and the pathological risk category in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and the pathological risk category of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and to investigate the possibility of determining the pathological risk category by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Patients And Methods: We undertook 29 PET/CT studies in 20 patients with GISTs. Eleven of the 20 patients underwent PET/CT prior to therapy, with three of these also undergoing follow-up PET/CT after operation or imatinib therapy.

Non-invasive evaluation of the GABAergic/glutamatergic system in autistic patients observed by MEGA-editing proton MR spectroscopy using a clinical 3 tesla instrument.

Amino acids related to neurotransmitters and the GABAergic/glutamatergic system were measured using a 3 T-MRI instrument in 12 patients with autism and 10 normal controls. All measurements were performed in the frontal lobe (FL) and lenticular nuclei (LN) using a conventional sequence for n-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and glutamate (Glu), and the MEGA-editing method for GABA. The GABA level and [GABA]/[NAA] ratio were significantly lower (p < 0.

Measurement of variation in the human cerebral GABA level by in vivo MEGA-editing proton MR spectroscopy using a clinical 3 T instrument and its dependence on brain region and the female menstrual cycle.

The objectives of this study were to examine the reproducibility of the MEGA-editing J-difference technique and to determine the normal variation in the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level depending on the cerebral region and its fluctuation according to the menstrual cycle as baseline data for clinical application. The participants consisted of 15 normal adult volunteers (eight men and seven women), and all measurements were repeated twice in all participants. The MEGA-editing pulses were incorporated into point-resolved spectroscopy on a 3 T instrument to obtain the J-difference editing spectra from a voxel located in the lentiform nuclei (LN), left frontal lobe (FL), and anterior cingulate cortex (AC).

[Comparison of dose distribution on radiographic film and radiochromic film for intensity modulated radiation therapy].

Purpose: Radiographic film is generally used for inspection of dose distribution in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) at many institutions. However, the distribution of filmless systems can be expected to be used increasingly in the future. Therefore, we confirmed the utility of radiochromic film by comparing it with radiographic film that does not need an automatic processor.

Manifestations of the female reproductive organs on MR images: changes induced by various physiologic states.

Unlike other reproductive organs, the uterus and ovaries are known to undergo dynamic morphologic changes according to various physiologic states. It is vitally important for radiologists when diagnosing gynecologic disorders to understand how normal female reproductive organs appear on magnetic resonance (MR) images for a given physiologic state. The authors focused on the effects of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and aging on MR images of normal female reproductive organs.

Incidence and clinical correlation of intracranial hemorrhages observed by 3-tesla gradient echo T(2)*-weighted images following intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and clinical correlation of intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs) detected by 3-tesla gradient echo T(2)*-weighted images after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) administration.

Methods: We included 43 consecutive patients with anterior-circulation ischemia who underwent MRI studies before and after thrombolysis. Each hemorrhage was classified as a hemorrhagic infarction (HI) or parenchymal hemorrhage (PH) according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study definition.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of ovarian tumors: differentiation of benign and malignant solid components of ovarian masses.

Objective: We evaluated the feasibility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement in differentiating benign and malignant ovarian tumors.

Methods: Surgically proven 49 ovarian tumors (39 malignant/borderline malignant and 10 benign) were examined.

Results: The solid portion of all 39 malignant tumors showed homogeneous or heterogeneous high intensity on DWI, whereas only 3 of the 10 benign tumors (3 thecomas) showed high intensity.

Radiographic comparison between male and female patients with lumbar spondylolysis.

We studied the lumbar spines of 117 adults (39 women and 78 men) with spondylolysis unrelated to low back pain using multidetector computed tomography (CT). Of the 117 subjects with spondylolysis, including five with multiple-level spondylolysis, there were 124 vertebrae with spondylolysis. In adult lumbar spines with unilateral spondylolysis, there was no significant difference between the incidence of spondylolisthesis in female and male subjects.

Use of a diagnostic positron emission tomography-computed tomography system for planning radiotherapy positioning: distortion of the tabletop.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate distortion of the tabletop in a diagnostic positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) system to determine its suitability for planning radiotherapy positioning.

Materials And Methods: Distortion of the tabletop was compared among PET-CT, lineac CT, and CT simulator systems. A phantom or angiography catheter was fixed to the tabletop and imaged after iron plate weight loading.

High-dose-rate brachytherapy for patients with maxillary gingival carcinoma using a novel customized intraoral mold technique.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel customized intraoral mold treatment for maxillary gingival carcinoma (UGC).

Study Design: Two patients with UGC were treated as salvage therapy using this technique. The mold was designed to keep normal soft tissues adjacent to the tumor away from the radioactive source as much as possible, and it was shielded by lead.

Accuracy of computed tomography attenuation measurements for diagnosing anemia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine which computed tomography (CT) attenuation parameter was the most appropriate to predict the presence or severity of anemia.

Materials And Methods: The subjects of the study wer 500 patients who had undergone a peripheral blood examination within 24 h of an unenhanced CT scan. Regions of interest were placed in the left ventricular (LV) cavity, thoracic and abdominal aortic lumens, inferior vena cava, and interventricular septum.

How to manage RI venography in pre-orthopedic surgery patients.

Objective: The preoperative evaluation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is important to avoid complications, because VTE is often induced by orthopedic surgery. We focused on radioisotope venography (RIV) using 99mTc-macroaggregated human serum albumin, examining orthopedic patients.

Methods: We conducted 34 examinations in 33 patients who were referred for RIV and lung perfusion scintigraphy for the pre-orthopedic operative evaluation of VTE.

Diagnostic utility of cardiac magnetic resonance for detection of cardiac involvement in female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Background: Cardiac involvement is a recognised complication in female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Since segmental or global left ventricle (LV) wall motion abnormalities in DMD carriers can arise even without apparent muscle weakness, it is difficult to differentiate cardiac involvement of a DMD carrier from other heart diseases in a non-invasive manner. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) enables assessment of regional wall motion abnormality and myocardial damage with high spatial resolution.

A case of metastatic malignant melanoma of the ovary with a multilocular cystic appearance on MR imaging.

Ovarian metastasis from malignant melanoma is rare and usually appears as a solid ovarian mass. We report a case of ovarian metastasis from cutaneous malignant melanoma that proved to be a diagnostic dilemma. The ovarian metastasis exhibited a multilocular cystic appearance on magnetic resonance imaging, mimicking a mucinous ovarian tumor with massive ascites.

Hyperintense uterine myometrial masses on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: differentiation with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: The objective was to determine whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) might be useful in differentiating uterine leiomyomas exhibiting hyperintensity on T2-weighted images from malignant lesions.

Methods: Thirty-four uterine myometrial lesions including 7 malignant tumors and 27 leiomyomas (6 cellular leiomyomas [CLM] and 21 degenerated leiomyomas [DLM]) were evaluated. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in cellular portions of the lesions were measured (10(-3) mm2/s).

Incidence of lumbar spondylolysis in the general population in Japan based on multidetector computed tomography scans from two thousand subjects.

Study Design: Epidemiological analysis using CTs.

Objective: To investigate the true incidence of lumbar spondylolysis in the general population in Japan.

Summary Of Background Data: Although there have been several reports on the incidence of lumbar spondylolysis, they had some weakness.

Thallium-201 chloride scintigraphy in soft tissue tumors.

Objective: We report the findings of Thallium-201 chloride ((201)TlCl) scintigraphy and consider how to use this technique to evaluate the character of soft tissue lesions.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 91 consecutive patients (45 males and 46 females, age range 8-91-years-old). Nineteen patients were malignant and 72 were benign.

Risk factors for radiation pneumonitis caused by whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery.

We evaluated risk factors of radiation pneumonitis (RP) after whole breast irradiation following breast-conserving surgery. Four hundred and seventy-two cases underwent whole breast irradiation with tangential field following breast-conserving surgery in our hospital, between January 2005 and April 2007. Of these cases, we performed statistical analyses for 423 breasts of 413 patients, using a pulmonary dose-volume histogram.

Evaluation of initial diffusion-weighted image findings in acute stroke patients using a semiquantitative score.

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of rating diffusion-weighted images (DWI) using a semiquantitative score modified from the Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score (ASPECTS) to predict deterioration of neurological symptoms in patients with hyperacute ischemic stroke who had undergone thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA).

Materials And Methods: We examined 22 patients with acute stroke (14 men, 8 women, mean age 72.5 years) treated with intravenous rt-PA.

High gamma-aminobutyric acid level in cortical tubers in epileptic infants with tuberous sclerosis complex measured with the MEGA-editing J-difference method and a three-Tesla clinical MRI Instrument.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate plus glutamine (Glx) concentrations in the cortical tubers of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) using the MEGA-editing J-difference method and a stimulated echo-acquisition mode with a short echo time, and to determine which abnormality was more dominant between GABA and Glx in patients with TSC with epilepsy. This study included six patients with TSC (mean age, 4.3 years) and seven control subjects (mean age, 4.

[Comparison with bone scintigraphy and MDCT findings in patients with round focal accumulation on bone scintigraphy].

Purpose: This study aimed to compare with bone scintigraphy showed round focal accumulation and Multidetector Row CT (MDCT) findings.

Methods: We obtained 101 patients (mean age 69.2 years; 75 men, 26 women) and 186 diseases.