Challenging diagnosis: unveiling extensive multisystemic sarcoidosis with musculoskeletal involvement through a clinically ambiguous soft tissue mass in the palm.

We report about a 33-year-old man who was referred for assessment of a progressively enlarging mass of the palmar hand muscles, serving as the initial indication of extensive multisystemic sarcoidosis with musculoskeletal involvement. The case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with the indolent course of sarcoidosis, highlighting the need for recognizing seemingly benign symptoms for early detection. Musculoskeletal imaging findings presented in the case stress the importance of considering sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis of orthopedic cases.

Non-contrast free-breathing 2D CINE compressed SENSE T1-TFE cardiovascular MRI at 3T in sedated young children for assessment of congenital heart disease.

Cardiac MRI is a crucial tool for assessing congenital heart disease (CHD). However, its application remains challenging in young children when performed at 3T. The aim of this retrospective single center study was to compare a non-contrast free-breathing 2D CINE T1-weighted TFE-sequence with compressed sensing (FB 2D CINE CS T1-TFE) with 3D imaging for diagnostic accuracy of CHD, image quality, and vessel diameter measurements in sedated young children.

Longitudinal follow-up by MR angiography reveals progressive dilatation of the distal aorta after aortic root replacement in Marfan syndrome.

Objectives: To define and compare growth rates of the distal aorta in Marfan patients with and without aortic root replacement using serial MR angiography (MRA).

Methods: We retrospectively included 136 Marfan patients with a total of 645 MRAs who underwent a median of five MRAs (range: 2-13) at 1.5 T and 3 T in annual intervals.

Comparison of cine cardiac magnetic resonance and echocardiography derived diameters of the aortic root in a large population-based cohort.

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cine cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are established imaging methods of the aortic root. We aimed to evaluate the comparability of measurements in TTE and standard cine CMR sequences of the aortic root. Our study included 741 subjects (mean age 63.

Tricuspid valve prolapse as an early predictor for severe phenotype in children with Marfan syndrome.

Aim: In Marfan syndrome, various cardiovascular pathologies, such as aortic dilatation and mitral valve pathologies, already occur in childhood and determine course of the disease. This study aimed to establish additional cardiovascular risk markers for severe Marfan phenotypes. We investigated tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) and its predictive value for outcome of paediatric Marfan disease.

Magnetic resonance angiography derived predictors of progressive dilatation and surgery of the aortic root in Marfan syndrome.

Background: To identify magnetic resonance (MR) angiography derived predictors of progressive dilatation and surgery of the aortic root in Marfan syndrome.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively included 111 patients (32.7±16.

Using three-dimensional visualization as an optimal tool to plan and validate an aortopexy in a congenital heart disease patient with severe tracheal stenosis.

We present a patient with severe tracheal stenosis resulting from a compression by the innominate artery 6 months after an arterial switch operation in a dextro-transposition of the great arteries. Segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) visualization were derived from a contrast-enhanced dual-source computed tomography and post-processing was performed using a dedicated open-source platform (3D Slicer). Post-processing allowed a comprehensible visualization of the relationship of the innominate artery to the trachea when compared to standard computer tomography reformations.

Accuracy of preoperative CT staging of acute colonic diverticulitis using the classification of diverticular disease (CDD) - Is there a beneficial impact of water enema and visceral obesity?

Purpose: We evaluated the accuracy of preoperative CT in staging colonic diverticulitis (ACD) by using the classification of diverticular disease (CDD) and investigated the diagnostic impact of water enema (WE) and visceral obesity.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the radiological and hospital information system was searched for patients who underwent CT for clinically suspected ACD prior to surgery between 2009 and 2019. From the initial population (n = 164), we included 155 patients (94.

Intraindividual comparison of 1.5 T and 3 T non-contrast MR angiography for monitoring of aortic root diameters in Marfan patients.

Background: Reproducible aortic diameter measurements are crucial for assessment of aortic growth and aneurysm formation in patients with Marfan syndrome. The objective of this study was to perform an intraindividual comparison of aortic measurements at 1.5 T and 3 T using non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in pre-surgical and post-surgical Marfan patients.

Sensitivity of High-Pitch Dual-Source Computed Tomography for the Detection of Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection in Infants.

Purpose:  To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver reliability of high-pitch dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the detection of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC) in infants with congenital heart defects and to assess the associated radiation exposure.

Materials And Methods:  78 pulmonary veins in 17 consecutively enrolled patients with congenital heart defects (6 females; 11 males; median age: 6 days; range: 1-299 days) were retrospectively included in this study. All patients underwent high-pitch dual-source CTA of the chest at low tube voltages (70 kV).

Highly reduced-dose CT of the lumbar spine in a human cadaver model.

Purpose: Feasibility of a highly reduced-dose lumbar spine CT protocol using iterative reconstruction (IR) in a human cadaver model.

Materials And Methods: The lumbar spine of 20 human cadavers was repeatedly examined using three different reduced-dose protocols (RDCT) with decreasing reference tube current-exposure time products (RDCT-1: 50 mAs; RDCT-2: 30 mAs; RDCT-3: 10 mAs) at a constant tube voltage of 140 kV. A clinical standard-dose protocol (SDCT) served as the reference (reference tube current-exposure time product: 70 mAs; tube voltage: 140 kV).

Radiologic Imaging in Large and Medium Vessel Vasculitis.

Vasculitides are a complex group of diseases sharing the defining feature of inflamed vessel walls. Vasculitides can be classified depending on the size of the predominantly affected vessels. Modern cross-sectional imaging methods have become a cornerstone in the diagnosis of vasculitis and may help in narrowing down differential diagnoses.

4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance for monitoring of aortic valve repair in bicuspid aortic valve disease.

Background: Aortic valve repair has become a treatment option for adults with symptomatic bicuspid (BAV) or unicuspid (UAV) aortic valve insufficiency. Our aim was to demonstrate the feasibility of 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to assess the impact of aortic valve repair on changes in blood flow dynamics in patients with symptomatic BAV or UAV.

Methods: Twenty patients with adult congenital heart disease (median 35 years, range 18-64; 16 male) and symptomatic aortic valve regurgitation (15 BAV, 5 UAV) were prospectively studied.

MDCT in the Setting of Suspected Colonic Diverticulitis: Prevalence and Diagnostic Yield for Diverticulitis and Alternative Diagnoses.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and demographic distribution of colonic diverticulitis (CD) and alternative diagnoses (AD), as well as the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT in patients with suspected CD. This study retrospectively included 1069 patients (560 women) undergoing MDCT for the evaluation of suspected CD. The prevalence of CD and AD was determined and the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT calculated.

Reliability of non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography-derived aortic diameters in Marfan patients: comparison of inner vs. outer vessel wall measurements.

Aortic diameter measurements play a crucial role for the indication of aortic root surgery in Marfan patients. However, for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)-derived measurements, there is no consensus on whether the aortic wall should be included or excluded in the aortic diameter. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the reliability of non-contrast bright blood MRA aortic inner-to-inner and outer-to-outer edge measurements in patients with Marfan syndrome.

Feasibility of extremely reduced-dose CT of the thoracic spine in human cadavers.

Background: According to the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle, radiation exposure in computed tomography (CT) should be minimized while maintaining adequate image quality. Dedicated CT protocols combined with iterative reconstruction (IR) can reduce radiation dose and/or improve image quality.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of extremely reduced-dose (RD) CT of the thoracic spine in human cadavers using a standard-dose (SD) and three different RDCT protocols reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and IR.

Comparison of different iterative CT reconstruction techniques and filtered back projection for assessment of the medial clavicular epiphysis in forensic age estimation.

Purpose: To assess the impact of iterative reconstruction and filtered back projection (FBP) on image quality in computed tomography (CT)-based forensic age estimation of the medial clavicular epiphysis.

Methods And Materials: CT of the clavicle was performed in 19 patients due to forensic reasons (70 mAs/140 kVp). Raw data were reconstructed with FBP and with an iterative algorithm at level 4 and 6.

Feasibility of sub-milliSievert CT of the cervical spine: Initial results in fresh human cadavers.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of sub-milliSievert CT of the cervical spine in fresh human cadavers using a standard-dose (SD) and four different reduced-dose (RD) protocols reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR).

Methods: The cervical spine of 29 cadavers was examined using different RDCT protocols with decreasing reference tube currents (RDCT-1:70 mAs; RDCT-2:50 mAs; RDCT-3:30 mAs; RDCT-4:10 mAs) at 140 kV. A clinical SDCT (160 mAs, 120 kV) served as reference.

Feasibility of Submillisievert CT of the Skeletal Pelvis Using Iterative Reconstruction: A Human Cadaver Study.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of submillisievert CT of the skeletal pelvis of human cadavers using a standard-dose protocol and four different reduced-dose protocols reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR). The pelvis of 25 human cadavers was repeatedly examined using different reduced-dose CT (RDCT) protocols with decreasing reference tube current-exposure time products (RDCT protocol 1, 80 mAs; RDCT protocol 2, 60 mAs; RDCT protocol 3, 40 mAs; and RDCT protocol 4, 10 mAs) and a tube voltage of 120 kV. A standard-dose CT (SDCT) protocol (reference tube current-exposure time product, 100 mAs; tube voltage, 120 kV) used for the same cadavers served as the reference.

Current and Emerging Imaging Techniques in Patients with Genetic Aortic Syndromes.

Background:  Patients with genetic aortic syndromes such as Marfan or Loeys-Dietz syndrome have a decreased life expectancy due to the risk of aortic dissection and rupture. Imaging plays an important role in the acute setting but also in the initial diagnosis and image-based monitoring. In this article, we provide an overview of the most common genetic aortic syndromes and recommended imaging strategies.

Impact of Myocardial Fibrosis on Left Ventricular Function Evaluated by Feature-Tracking Myocardial Strain Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Competitive Male Triathletes With Normal Ejection Fraction.

Background: To analyze the effect of myocardial fibrosis on left ventricular (LV) function evaluated by feature-tracking strain analysis by cine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in competitive male triathletes with normal ejection fraction (EF).

Methods and results: 78 asymptomatic male triathletes with >10 weekly training hours (43±11 years) and 28 male age-matched controls were studied by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and cine CMR. Global and segmental radial, longitudinal and circumferential strains were analyzed using feature-tracking cine CMR.

Inter- and Intraobserver reproducibility of T2 relaxation times of the discus interpubicus: A feasibility study at 3 Tesla.

Objective: To quantify standard values of the discus interpubicus in healthy subjects and to determine reliability and repeatability using T2 relaxation time measurements at 3T.

Methods: 20 asymptomatic participants (10 male, 10 female; mean age: 27.3 years ±4.

Assessment of Congenital Vascular and Organ Anomalies in Subjects With Thalidomide Embryopathy Using Non-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

Background: To determine the type and frequency of vascular and organ malformations in adults with thalidomide embryopathy (TE) using non-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and to assess the effect of the observed malformations on renal function.

Methods and results: The institutional ethics committee approved this prospective study and written informed consent was given by all 78 subjects (50 females) with TE (mean age: 55±1.1 years), who were examined by non-contrast MRA at 3T.