Staging of rectal cancer by double-contrast MR imaging using the rectally administered superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent ferristene and IV gadodiamide injection: results of a multicenter phase II trial.

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of double-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with rectal application of the superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent (SPIO) ferristene and IV gadodiamide for preoperative staging of rectal cancer. In a randomized phase II dose-ranging trial, 113 patients were studied preoperatively with one of four different formulations of ferristene (Abdoscan) as an enema before MRI. T1-weighted spin-echo (T1w SE) and T2w turbo spin-echo (TSE) single-contrast images were obtained as well as T1w SE and gradient-echo (GRE) double-contrast images after IV gadodiamide injection (Omniscan).

Oropharynx, oral cavity, floor of the mouth: CT and MRI.

Pretherapeutic staging of tumors of the oropharynx, the oral cavity and the floor of the mouth is important and should be thorough and exact to ensure appropriate therapy. Particularly important is the assessment of infiltration of deeper compartments and the topographic relationship of tumor to vascular structures (lingual artery and vein, hypoglossal nerve), or the presence of spread of the tumor across the midline. As spread of tumor may occur to a large degree underneath normal appearing mucosa, clinical assessment of the true tumor extent is difficult.

Methods: MRT.

MRI has become the imaging method of choice in special regions of the head and neck (e.g. nasopharynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, floor of the mouth).

0.2-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging of internal lesions of the knee joint: a prospective arthroscopically controlled clinical study.

The results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared with those of arthroscopy in a prospective series of 244 patients. A dedicated system for MRI of limbs and peripheral joints--the 0.2-T Artoscan (Esaote, Italy)--was used for imaging knee joint lesions.

[Prospective comparison of ARTOSCAN-MRI and arthroscopy in knee injuries].

The results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared with those of arthroscopy in a prospective series of 276 patients. A "dedicated system" for MRI of limbs and peripheral joints--the 0,2 Tesla ARTOSCAN (ESAOTE, Italy)--was used for imaging knee joint lesions. T1-weighted spin echo sagittal images, T2-weighted gradient-echo coronal images, and axial views for lesions of bone and the femoropatellar joint were acquired.

Anatomic variants of the spermatic vein: importance for percutaneous sclerotherapy of idiopathic varicocele.

Purpose: To evaluate percutaneous sclerotherapy of idiopathic varicocele in left internal spermatic vein variants.

Materials And Methods: The left spermatic vein was embolized with a liquid sclerosing agent in 386 patients (mean age, 29.5 years) with idiopathic varicocele.

MRI of peripheral joints with a low-field dedicated system: a reliable and cost-effective alternative to high-field units?

In the age of health care cost containment new imaging technology has to meet diagnostic requirements as well as economic limitations. In the MR sector new dedicated systems promise reliable diagnostic information at considerably lower costs than whole-body imagers. Within the past 18 months we have examined 2200 patients with acute and chronic lesions of peripheral joints (knee, ankle, foot, elbow, wrist, hand) in a 0.

[MRI of the knee joint: first results of a comparison of 0,2-T specialized system and 1,5-T high field strength magnet].

Purpose: Diagnostic accuracy and image quality of a specialised system for MR examinations of peripheral joints were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: 20 patients with acute or chronic injuries of the knee were examined using a low-field MR system (0.2 T).

[Computerized tomography staging of carcinomas of the uterus].

In the staging of uterine carcinoma, CT is used for the assessment of uterus size and configuration, tumor infiltration into the pelvic soft tissues, involvement of the ureters with urine retention, and lymph node enlargement. Evaluation of parametrial infiltration, which is of utmost importance for therapeutic strategy, is less reliable. CT tends to over-stage parametrial infiltration and is thus inferior not only to MRI, but also to clinical examination if parametrial infiltration is excluded.

[The value of computed tomography in the diagnosis of the local and lymph node recurrences of head and neck tumors].

544 CT studies of 231 patients were evaluated retrospectively to assess the role of CT in posttherapeutic monitoring of patients with head and neck tumours. CT (80%) was inferior to clinical evaluation (87%) in diagnosing recurrent malignancy due to a lack of specificity (76 vs. 92%).

[The MRT of the breast with 2D-spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences in diagnostically problematic cases].

One or both breasts of 296 patients with equivocal clinical or mammographic findings were examined with MRI. T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (FFE) sequences were acquired before and after i.v.

Diagnosis and treatment of the N0 neck in carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract: current status of diagnostic procedures.

Diagnostic procedures currently utilized for determining nodal status in patients with head and neck primary carcinomas are reviewed. Diagnostic procedures include clinical palpation, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. Each technique is discussed on the basis of clinical experience at the Technical University of Munich.

Abnormalities of the pulmonary veins: evaluation with MR imaging and comparison with cardiac angiography and echocardiography.

Seventy-seven patients underwent T1-weighted spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Group 1 (n = 56) consisted of patients with various types of congenital heart disease but normal pulmonary veins. Group 2 (n = 22) consisted of patients with the following conditions: partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 11), total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 5), cor triatriatum (n = 4), or pulmonary vein stenosis (n = 2).

Imaging of the oropharynx and oral cavity.

Imaging methods play a significant role in the diagnosis of oropharynx and oral cavity lesions. Contrast-enhanced CT has been established as the baseline technique for T- and N-staging of malignomas. CT yields significant additional information to clinical methods, especially in examining large tumors.

Evaluation of surgical procedures for cyanotic congenital heart disease by using MR imaging.

ECG-gated MR imaging has been shown to be effective for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. In this study, we assessed its role in the postoperative evaluation of surgical procedures in patients with complex congenital heart disease. MR images of 26 patients with Rastelli (five), Fontan (three), Senning (three), Damus (one), Jatene (eight), Waterston (four), and Potts (two) procedures were evaluated retrospectively.