The chronic pancreatitis (CP) Type Cambridge 2 as a cause of unclear upper abdominal pain: a radiologically underestimated diagnosis.

The time interval from symptom onset to the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) remains disproportionately long today due to nonspecific symptoms and the absence of a definitive laboratory marker. Nevertheless, mortality is increased by 3.6 times compared to the general population.

Magnetic Resonance Image Findings and Potential Anatomic Risk Factors for Chodromalacia in Children and Adolescents Suffering from Non-Overload Atraumatic Knee Pain in the Ambulant Setting.

Purpose: To evaluate magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings in children and adolescents suffering from knee pain without traumatic or physical overload history and to identify potential anatomic risk factors.

Material And Methods: A total of 507 MRIs of 6- to 20-year-old patients (251 males; 256 females) were evaluated with regard to detectable pathologies of the knee. The results were compared to a control group without pain ( = 73; 34 males; 39 females).

Injury Pattern and Current Early Clinical Care of Pediatric Polytrauma Comparing Different Age Groups in a Level I Trauma Center.

Pediatric polytrauma is a complex condition with unique characteristics and requirements for early clinical care. This study aimed to analyze the injury patterns, early clinical care, and outcomes of pediatric polytrauma patients in a Level I trauma center. The focus was on evaluation between different age groups and the recognition of injuries as potential factors influencing outcomes.

Subtyping of hepatocellular adenomas using Gd-EOB-DTPA: a qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Background: The goal of medical imaging is not only to identify the entity "hepatocellular adenoma," but to detect typical magnetic resonance (MR) patterns of the subtypes so that lesions with a higher malignant transformation rate could be differentiated from those that should just be controlled.

Purpose: To evaluate the differentiation between subtypes of hepatocellular adenomas using hepatobiliary specific contrast agent (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in MR imaging.

Material/methods: A total of 11 patients with 39 lesions with histologically proven hepatocellular adenomas were evaluated.

Combined Model of Quantitative Evaluation of Chest Computed Tomography and Laboratory Values for Assessing the Prognosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Purpose: To assess the prognostic power of quantitative analysis of chest CT, laboratory values, and their combination in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia and chest CT performed between March 07 and November 13, 2020. Volume and percentage (PO) of lung opacifications and mean HU of the whole lung were quantified using prototype software.

Severe COVID-19 pneumonia: Perfusion analysis in correlation with pulmonary embolism and vessel enlargement using dual-energy CT data.

Background: Gas exchange in COVID-19 pneumonia is impaired and vessel obstruction has been suspected to cause ventilation-perfusion mismatch. Dual-energy CT (DECT) can depict pulmonary perfusion by regional assessment of iodine uptake.

Objective: The purpose of this study was the analysis of pulmonary perfusion using dual-energy CT in a cohort of 27 consecutive patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

CT Features of COVID-19 Pneumonia Differ Depending on the Severity and Duration of Disease.

Background: CT is important in the care of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. However, CT morphology can change significantly over the course of the disease. To evaluate the CT morphology of RT-PCR-proven COVID-19 pneumonia in a German cohort with special emphasis on identification of potential differences of CT features depending on duration and severity of disease.

Computed tomography characterization and outcome evaluation of COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by venous thromboembolism.

Background: COVID-19 is frequently complicated by venous thromboembolism (VTE). Computed tomography (CT) of the chest-primarily usually conducted as low-dose, non-contrast enhanced CT-plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia. Performed as contrast-enhanced CT pulmonary angiography, it can reliably detect or rule-out pulmonary embolism (PE).

Changes in gadoxetic-acid-enhanced MR imaging during the first year after irreversible electroporation of malignant hepatic tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the appearance and size of ablation zones in gadoxetic-acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the first year after irreversible electroporation (IRE) of primary or secondary hepatic malignancies and to investigate potential correlations to clinical features.

Material And Methods: The MRI-appearance of the ablation area was assessed 1-3 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year after IRE. The size of the ablation zone and signal intensities of each follow-up control were compared.

Sharp margin and geographic shape: systematic evaluation of two novel CT features in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objective: CT is important in the care of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. However, specificity might be poor in the absence of a clinical and epidemiological context. The goal of this work was to systematically evaluate two novel CT features (sharp margin and geographic shape) of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Primary efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation of malignant liver tumors: comparison of stereotactic and conventional manual guidance.

In this study, we compare the primary efficacy of computed tomography-navigated stereotactic guidance to that of manual guidance for percutaneous microwave ablation of liver malignancies. In total, 221 patients (140, 17, and 64 with hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocellular carcinoma, and liver metastases, respectively) with 423 treated liver lesions underwent microwave ablation (MWA). Manual guidance (M) and stereotactic guidance (S) were used for 136 and 287 lesions, respectively.

Evaluation of Alterations to Bile Ducts and Laboratory Values During the First 3 Months After Irreversible Electroporation of Malignant Hepatic Tumors.

Purpose: To assess the incidence and evolution of biliary alterations adjacent to the ablation area in patients with hepatic malignancies during the first 3 months after percutaneous irreversible electroporation (IRE) and to investigate associated changes in laboratory values.

Material And Methods: Bile ducts located within a ≤1.0 cm radius of the ablation zone were analyzed in 45 patients by preinterventional and postinterventional MRI (1-3 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months after IRE).

Can CT performed in the early disease phase predict outcome of patients with COVID 19 pneumonia? Analysis of a cohort of 64 patients from Germany.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate if CT performed in the early disease phase can predict the course of COVID-19 pneumonia in a German cohort.

Method: All patients with RT-PCR proven COVID-19 pneumonia and chest CT performed within 10 days of symptom onset between March 1st and April 15th 2020 were retrospectively identified from two tertiary care hospitals. 12 CT features, their distribution in the lung and the global extent of opacifications were evaluated.

Improvement of the primary efficacy of microwave ablation of malignant liver tumors by using a robotic navigation system.

Background The aim of the study was to assess the primary efficacy of robot-assisted microwave ablation and compare it to manually guided microwave ablation for percutaneous ablation of liver malignancies. Patients and methods We performed a retrospective single center evaluation of microwave ablations of 368 liver tumors in 192 patients (36 female, 156 male, mean age 63 years). One hundred and nineteen ablations were performed between 08/2011 and 03/2014 with manual guidance, whereas 249 ablations were performed between 04/2014 and 11/2018 using robotic guidance.

Full-Core Biopsy Systems Take Larger Liver Tissue Samples with Lower Fragmentation Rates Than Conventional Side-Notch Systems: A Randomized Trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the histopathological quality and physical features of the specimen of a full-core end-cut biopsy system with that of the standard side-notch system for liver biopsies.

Methods: A full-core end-cut 16G biopsy device and a standard side-notch 16G needle were used to take biopsies of unclear liver lesions. Patients were randomized in two groups of 16 patients each.

Safety margin assessment after microwave ablation of liver tumors: inter- and intrareader variability.

Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the inter- and intrareader variability of the safety margin assessment after microwave ablation of liver tumors using post-procedure computed tomography (CT) images as well as to determine the sensitivity and specificity of identification remnant tumor tissue. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis of 58 patients who underwent microwave ablation (MWA) of primary or secondary liver malignancies (46 hepatocellular carcinoma, 9 metastases of a colorectal cancer and 3 metastases of pancreatic cancer) between September 2017 and June 2019 was conducted. Three readers estimated the minimal safety margin in millimeters using side-by-side comparison of the 1-day pre-ablation CT and 1-day post-ablation CT and judged whether ablation was complete or incomplete.

Psychological factors as risk factors for poor hip function after total hip arthroplasty.

Recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is influenced by several psychological aspects, such as depression, anxiety, resilience, and personality traits. We hypothesized that preoperative depression impedes early functional outcome after THA (primary outcome measure). Additional objectives were perioperative changes in the psychological status and their influence on perioperative outcome.

Reduced serum fetuin-A in nephrotic children: a consequence of proteinuria?

Background: The extracellular protein fetuin-A is a potent soluble inhibitor of calcification, and its deficiency has been associated with vascular calcification in dialysis patients. In proteinuric patients, significant urinary losses of fetuin-A may cause low serum fetuin-A levels.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, urinary/serum concentrations of fetuin-A were investigated in proteinuric children with glomerular diseases and preserved renal function (n = 58) in comparison to healthy controls (n = 246).

Serum fetuin-A and vitamin D in children with mild-to-severe chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Fetuin-A and vitamin D are significant correlates of cardiovascular morbidity in paediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. It is thus far unknown, whether or not serum fetuin-A is affected by the vitamin D status or treatment with vitamin D preparations in these patients.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, serum concentrations of fetuin-A, 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25OHD) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (calcitriol) levels were determined in 112 paediatric patients with mild-to-severe CKD (Stages 1-5) and after renal transplantation.

Fetuin-A serum concentrations in healthy children.

Background: Serum fetuin-A has been shown to be a strong risk marker for myocardial infarction/stroke in the general population, and has been associated with vascular calcifications in patients with chronic kidney disease. Although these issues are worthy of being addressed in children and adolescents as well, adequate age- and gender-related reference values are missing.

Method: Within a healthy paediatric population (n = 246), fetuin-A serum concentrations were determined (ELISA kit; Epitope Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA) essentially as described by the manufacturer.