Variation in tube voltage for pediatric neck 64VCT: Effect on radiation dose and image quality.

Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause cancer, especially in children. In computed tomography (CT), a trade-off exists between the radiation dose and image quality. Few studies have investigated the effect of dose reduction on image quality in pediatric neck CT.

DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS OF CARDIAC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN A SINGLE MEDICAL CENTER IN TAIWAN: A 3-Y ANALYSIS.

This study aimed to establish the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and coronary arterial calcium score (CACS) owing to a large variability in patient radiation dose and the lack of dose recommendations in Taiwan. Volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product (DLP) were obtained using CCTAs and the CACS of 445 patients over a 3-y period in a single medical center in Taiwan. CCTAs were performed using routine protocols and 256-detector CT scanners.

Automatic current selection with iterative reconstruction reduces effective dose to less than 1 mSv in low-dose chest computed tomography in persons with normal BMI.

Most of the recent studies have used fixed tube current while few investigators use automatic current selection (ACS) with iterative reconstruction (IR) techniques to reduce effective dose (ED) to < 1 mSv in low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCCT). We investigated whether image quality of lungs as produced by a fixed tube current (FTC) of 35 mAs can be maintained with ED < 1 mSv produced by ACS with IR techniques in LDCCT. A total of 32 participants were included.

Extensive peritoneal calcification and small intestinal perforation in a peritoneal dialysis patient: a case report.

A 56-year-old woman was maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) for 12 years. The patient presented to our hospital with chief complaints of intermittent abdominal pain and frequent loose stool. Plain radiograph of abdomen revealed extensive peritoneal calcification.

Use of two-dimensional multiple-slice magnetic resonance hydrography for diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomas and cysts.

Background/purpose: Although hepatic hemangiomas and cysts display very high signal intensities on conventional T2 images, their appearances are quite distinct using magnetic resonance hydrography (MRH). We examined the feasibility of using MRH in distinguishing hepatic cysts from hemangiomas.

Methods: We recruited 97 patients with hepatic hemangiomas and 65 with hepatic cysts.

T2-weighted and T1-weighted dynamic superparamagnetic iron oxide (ferucarbotran) enhanced MRI of hepatocellular carcinoma and hyperplastic nodules.

Background/purpose: Iron oxide contrast medium (ferucarbotran) shortens both T1 and T2 relaxation time. We used the T2- and the T1-weighted dynamic ferucarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to predict the histologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to distinguish HCC from hyperplastic nodules.

Methods: Forty-three patients with 48 representative hepatic lesions (13 well differentiated HCC, 19 moderately differentiated HCC, 4 poorly differentiated HCC, 12 hyperplastic nodules) were included in the study.

Differentiation of soft tissue benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors with magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to differentiate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) from that of malignant PNSTs.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent MR imaging and had a histologic diagnosis of benign (schwannoma, n=16; neurofibroma, n=1) or malignant (n=9) PNST were retrospectively reviewed. The size, location, shape, margin, and signal intensities of the tumors on precontrast and gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging were analyzed.

Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We reviewed the MRI of 32 patients with 33 pathologically confirmed well-differentiated HCC. The MRI protocol included T2-weighted imaging with and without fat saturation, dual-phase T1-weighted imaging, and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic study.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei as a cause of culture-negative peritonitis for a patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Culture-negative peritonitis accounts for up to 20% of all peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis, the causes of which include culture-associated technical errors, prior use of antibiotics, infection caused by certain unusual or fastidious microorganisms, the development of abdominal or retroperitoneal organ inflammation, and the presence of malignancies. Here, we report a patient with end-stage renal disease receiving peritoneal dialysis who presented with culture-negative peritonitis and ultrafiltration failure caused by the rare pseudomyxoma peritonei. For cases of culture-negative peritonitis such as this, early imaging studies may help recognize intraperitoneal/retroperitoneal visceral inflammation and malignant conditions.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and coexisting hepatic cavernous hemangioma.

We investigated the consequence of repeated transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for coexisting small hepatic hemangioma in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinomas and describe the imaging features of embolized hemangioma on the follow-up Lipiodol CT and MR. Six of 431 patients with biopsy-confirmed hepatocellular carcinomas, who underwent TACE, also had seven small hepatic cavernous hemangiomas (0.8 approximately 2.

Peritumoral fat-spared area is well correlated with the presence of temporal peritumoral enhancement in hepatic hemangioma in fatty liver.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between temporal peritumoral enhancement and peritumoral focal fat sparing adjacent to hepatic hemangiomas.

Materials And Methods: On the basis of MRI and sonographic imaging follow-up, 51 hepatic hemangiomas were identified in 37 patients, who had both hepatic hemangiomas and focal fat-sparing areas in fatty liver. Among them, 36 tumors were associated with peritumoral focal fat spares.

Metastases from gastric carcinoma to colon in the form of multiple flat elevated lesions: a case report.

Gastric carcinoma is a common malignancy worldwide. Advanced stages of the disease may result in metastases to many other organs of the body. However, colonic metastases are rare.

Relationship between vertebral bone marrow blood perfusion and common carotid intima-media thickness in aging adults.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between vertebral marrow blood perfusion and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in aging adults.

Materials And Methods: An age- and sex-matched case control study was conducted. Subjects were contacted and enrolled voluntarily according to a database containing 2,258 cases that received carotid ultrasonography examination at our hospital in the previous two years.

MRI of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a rare soft tissue tumor of low-grade malignancy. We present the case of a 32-year-old man who complained of soreness and numbness over his left arm and hand over the previous 2 months and of having a palpable mass over his left upper back for 4 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intramuscular soft tissue mass in the left scapular region.

Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report and literature review.

A case of spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma is reported and compared with the reports published in the English literature. Spontaneous regression of a histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma was observed in a 42-year-old male patient with chronic hepatitis B. The patient refused to receive any medical therapy.

Carbon dioxide-enhanced sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol injection: treatment of patients with viable and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Viable portions of tumors can persist and recurrent tumors sometimes appear in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, percutaneous ethanol injection, or a combination of the two. Some of these tumors are difficult to treat or do not respond to additional treatment using the same protocol. In this article, we examine the use of carbon dioxide (CO(2))-enhanced sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol injection to treat patients with such tumors.

Temporal peritumoral enhancement of hepatic cavernous hemangioma: findings at multiphase dynamic magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence rate of temporal peritumoral enhancement associated with hepatic cavernous hemangiomas and to correlate that with the speed of intratumoral contrast enhancement and tumor volume.

Methods: Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 69 consecutive patients with 136 hemangiomas was reviewed for peritumoral enhancement. Tumor volume was estimated by the largest diameter on T2-weighted images.

MR cholangiopancreatography: prospective comparison of 3-dimensional turbo spin echo and single-shot turbo spin echo with ERCP.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive technique for examination of the biliopancreatic tract. Respiratory-triggered 3-dimensional turbo spin echo (3DTSE RT) and breath-hold thick slab single-shot turbo spin echo (ssTSE BH) are both useful MRCP techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare these 2 sequences with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with biliary tract disease.

Blood perfusion of vertebral lesions evaluated with gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MRI: in comparison with compression fracture and metastasis.

Purpose: To investigate blood perfusion of vertebral lesions using dynamic Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI.

Materials And Methods: Dynamic MR studies were performed for cases of acute compression fracture, chronic compression fracture, metastatic vertebral lesions with or without compression fracture. A total of 42 patients (71 vertebral segments) were included.

Assessment of vascularity in hepatic tumors: comparison of power Doppler sonography and intraarterial CO(2)-enhanced sonography.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare power Doppler sonography with intraarterial CO(2)-enhanced sonography for revealing vascularity in treated and untreated hepatic tumors.

Subjects And Methods: Fifty-five patients with 93 liver tumors were prospectively examined with power Doppler sonography and CO(2)-enhanced sonography. These tumors included 29 hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with no previous treatment, 26 treated hepatocellular carcinomas, and 38 hemangiomas.