Müllerian duct anomalies: embryological development, classification, and MRI assessment.

Müllerian duct anomalies (MDA) occur due to abnormal development of the uterus, cervix, and vagina, many times affecting a woman's ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. The spectrum of possible abnormalities are related to the development of two separate Müllerian systems, which then fuse and subsequently undergo degeneration of the fused segments. This multiphasic development explains the multiple variations within the scheme of MDA classification.

MRI of pregnancy-related issues: müllerian duct anomalies.

Objective: Müllerian duct anomalies can adversely affect pregnancy outcomes and can result in clinical symptoms. This article will review the appropriate management of patients with müllerian duct abnormalities.

Conclusion: Whereas uterine and vaginal septa, vaginal agenesis, and unicornuate uterus can be managed surgically, other uterine anomalies tend to be managed clinically.

Computer-aided detection (CAD) of lung nodules in CT scans: radiologist performance and reading time with incremental CAD assistance.

Objective: The diagnostic performance of radiologists using incremental CAD assistance for lung nodule detection on CT and their temporal variation in performance during CAD evaluation was assessed.

Methods: CAD was applied to 20 chest multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) scans containing 190 non-calcified > or =3-mm nodules. After free search, three radiologists independently evaluated a maximum of up to 50 CAD detections/patient.

Split-bolus MDCT urography with synchronous nephrographic and excretory phase enhancement.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the utility of CT urography performed using a split contrast bolus that yields synchronous nephrographic and excretory phase enhancement.

Materials And Methods: Five hundred consecutive patients referred for evaluation of possible urinary tract abnormalities (327 for painless hematuria) underwent CT urography with unenhanced scanning of the abdomen and pelvis and scanning during concurrent nephrographic and excretory phase enhancement produced by administration of a split contrast bolus. The enhanced abdomen scan was obtained with abdominal compression; the enhanced pelvis scan was obtained after release of compression.

Vascular mapping of the leg with multi-detector row CT angiography prior to free-flap transplantation.

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography in determining donor- and recipient-site arterial suitability for successful vascularized free-flap transplantation.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board granted approval; informed consent was waived, and the study was HIPAA compliant. Lower extremities of 20 (12 male, eight female; mean age, 51 years; range, 10-84 years) patients undergoing vascularized free-flap procedures were examined at multi-detector row CT angiography.

Estimation of renal extraction fraction based on postcontrast venous and arterial differential T1 values: an error analysis.

An error analysis for quantifying single kidney extraction fraction (EF) via differential T1 measurements in the renal vein (RV) and renal artery (RA) is presented. Sources of error include blood flow effects, the effect of a short repetition time (TR), and the impact of uncertainties in the T1 estimates on the final EF calculations. Blood flow effects were investigated via simulation.

Measurement of renal extraction fraction with contrast-enhanced CT.

Study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed patient consent was waived. A method for minimization of sources of variability in measuring single-kidney extraction fraction (EF) was determined retrospectively with contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Ten adults underwent CT of the kidneys; precontrast scans were obtained, followed by postcontrast scanning 2 minutes after contrast material injection.

The sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinomas: pictorial essay.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy in children and adults, with an incidence of 22,000 cases per year in the United States. Differentiating PTC from more frequently occurring benign thyroid nodules has proved challenging as there may be significant overlap in their clinical presentation and sonographic appearance. That said, high-resolution ultrasound provides a safe and affordable way of identifying and characterizing thyroid nodules and guiding percutaneous biopsies.

Translation of the dizziness handicap inventory into Chinese, validation of it, and evaluation of the quality of life of patients with chronic dizziness.

The aims of this study were 1) to translate the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) into Chinese and to validate it and 2) to use the Chinese DHI and the Chinese (Hong Kong) Short Form-36 Health Survey (Chinese [HK] SF-36) to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic dizziness. Seventy-one patients with 6 months of dizziness due to vestibular dysfunction were evaluated initially, 7 days later (n = 49), and after 7 months of medical treatment (n = 17). The Chinese DHI has been shown to retain good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient range, 0.

Pulmonary nodules on multi-detector row CT scans: performance comparison of radiologists and computer-aided detection.

Purpose: To compare the performance of radiologists and of a computer-aided detection (CAD) algorithm for pulmonary nodule detection on thin-section thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scans.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board. The requirement of informed consent was waived.

Parallel imaging of the abdomen.

Parallel imaging holds great potential for improving the quality of diagnostic abdominal MRI. The increased imaging speed afforded by parallel imaging can be translated into the obvious benefits of reduced scan time with set resolution and coverage, improved spatial resolution with set imaging time and coverage, increased anatomic coverage for a set imaging time and resolution, or some combination of the above. Additionally, the reduction in scan time can also allow some sequences that normally require multiple breath-holds to be performed with only one, or simply make breath-hold imaging possible for more patients.

[Radiological study of temporal bone in children with profound deafness before cochlear implant: CT vs magnetic resonance imaging].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT in children with profound deafness before cochlear implant and their impact on surgical decision.

Methods: The pre-operative CT and MRI data from 71 children with bilateral profound deafness planned for cochlear implant were studied.

Results: 12 patients showed enlarged vestibular aqueduct (16.

Single breath-hold diffusion-weighted imaging of the abdomen.

Purpose: To generate high quality diffusion-weighted images (DWI) and corresponding isotropic ADC maps of the abdomen with full organ (kidneys) coverage in a single breath-hold.

Materials And Methods: DWI was performed in 12 healthy subjects with an asymmetric, spin-echo, single-shot EPI readout on a system with high performance gradients (40 mT/minute). The isotropic diffusion coefficient was measured from maps and SNR was determined for both diffusion-weighted and reference images in the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys.

Massive epistaxis related to petrous carotid artery pseudoaneurysm after radiation therapy: emergency treatment with covered stent in two cases.

Two patients had acute left carotid rupture from radiation therapy-induced pseudoaneurysms, resulting in hemodynamic collapse. Because the patients were semicomatose and in shock, an immediate salvage procedure was needed. Location of the pseudoaneurysm at the skull base made surgical treatment less possible.

Early experience with computed tomographic angiography in microsurgical reconstruction.

Preoperative angiography is frequently used in the planning of microsurgical reconstruction. However, several potentially devastating complications can result from angiography, including arterial occlusion and pseudoaneurysm. Computed tomographic angiography is a relatively new technique that can provide detailed information about vascular anatomy as well as soft and bony tissue without the risks of traditional angiography.

Multidetector CT of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: diagnostic advances and therapeutic relevance.

Detection and staging of pancreatic malignancies remains a challenge for radiologists. Considering the poor prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, accurate preoperative staging is the key to a possibly curative surgical treatment. Contrast-enhanced helical CT has been the most commonly used for evaluation of pancreatic cancer in many institutions, although it suffers from many limitations.

Local staging of pancreatic carcinoma with multi-detector row CT: use of curved planar reformations initial experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of curved planar reformations compared with standard transverse images in the assessment of pancreatic tumors.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients suspected of having pancreatic tumors underwent contrast material-enhanced biphasic multi-detector row computed tomography (CT). Curved planar reformations were generated along the pancreatic duct, common bile duct, and major mesenteric vessels.

Isoattenuating pancreatic adenocarcinoma at multi-detector row CT: secondary signs.

Purpose: To assess the frequency of isoattenuating pancreatic adenocarcinoma with multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) and determine whether there are specific secondary signs that aid in detection.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-three patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent contrast material-enhanced biphasic multi-detector row CT with curved planar reformation. Tumors were initially deemed isoattenuating or hypoattenuating to normal pancreatic parenchyma on the basis of visual inspection, and the degree of attenuation was confirmed by calculating the mean attenuation differences between normal pancreatic parenchyma and tumor (tumor-pancreas contrast) during the pancreatic phase.

CT angiography of the arterial system.

CTA has become an important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of vascular diseases in virtually all parts of the body. Whereas CTA is able to provide images depicting exquisite anatomic detail, careful scanning technique and selection of scan parameters are critical for high quality studies. The choices to be made when prescribing a scan can seem daunting at first, but if one applies the principles outlined previously, CTA can be a relatively easy, fast, and safe diagnostic technique that is effective in the majority of patients with vascular disease.

Use of electroneurography as a prognostic indicator of Bell's palsy in Chinese patients.

Objective: To evaluate the use of electroneurography (ENOG) as a prognostic indicator in Bell's Palsy for Chinese patients in Hong Kong.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral outpatient center.

CT angiography of the subclavian artery: utility of curved planar reformations.

Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral vascular occlusive disease, an ever-aging population continues to provide scores of new cases requiring medical care. While traditional angiography has been the mainstay of diagnosis for many years, newer, less invasive techniques such as CT angiography with three-dimensional reformation are rapidly establishing themselves as first-line diagnostic modalities. We present a case of severe left subclavian artery stenosis that demonstrates the utility of curved planar reformation in providing a concise visual summary of the pertinent anatomy and abnormalities.