[Contribution of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to the diagnosis of biliary tract disease].

The aim of the study was to assess the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopan-creatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis of biliary tract and pancreatic duct diseases, also in relation to the data reported in the literature. Over the period from Februrary 2002 to July 2004, 252 consecutive patients, with a clinical or instrumental suspicion of biliary disease were submitted to magnetic resonance to investigate the biliary tract. The definitive diagnosis of disease was obtained by surgery and/or endoscopic retrtograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with clinical or diagnostic evidence of disease and by means of follow-up in the remaining cases.

Imaging of penile traumas--therapeutic implications.

Injury to the penis may result from penetrating or nonpenetrating trauma. Nonpenetrating injury to the erect penis can produce albugineal tear, intracavernous hematoma or extraalbugineal hematoma from rupture of the dorsal vessels. Nonpenetrating injury to the flaccid penis usually follows blunt perineal traumas producing extratunical or cavernosal haematomas, or cavernosal artery tear followed by high flow priapism.

Color Doppler US of the postoperative penis: anatomy and surgical complications.

A number of surgical procedures that significantly change the penile anatomy and vasculature can be used to manage pathologic conditions of the penis (eg, congenital and acquired deformities, erectile dysfunction, priapism). Phallic reconstruction surgery can be used for sex reassignment and after penile amputation or for correction of congenital malformations. Color Doppler ultrasonography (US) clearly depicts the normal penile anatomy and postoperative changes (eg, changes of the tunica albuginea, extraalbugineal pathologic fluid collections, cavernosal tissue changes produced by scars and fibrosis).

Pulmonary sarcoidosis: atypical HRTC features and differential diagnostic problems.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present atypical or unusual appearances of pulmonary sarcoidosis, assessed at HRCT, and to suggest some elements for the differential diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: The HRCT scans of 31 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The final diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established on the basis of clinical and laboratory data alone in one patient, of clinical and laboratory data supported by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings in 14 patients, lung biopsy in 15, and liver biopsy in one patient.

Resistive index in patients with renal colic: differences after medical treatment with indomethacin and ketorolac.

Purpose: To investigate whether colour Doppler US can demonstrate haemodynamic differences in patients with renal colic after pharmacological treatment with indomethacin and ketorolac.

Materials And Methods: We studied 180 consecutive patients with unilateral acute renal colic with colour Doppler US; 90 were treated with indomethacin, 90 with ketorolac. Furthermore, 37 consecutive patients without obstruction (17 treated with indomethacin and 20 with ketorolac) were also examined and considered normal controls.

US characterization of focal hepatic lesions with intermittent high-acoustic-power mode and contrast material.

Rationale And Objectives: This study was performed to determine whether ultrasound (US) performed with SonoVue, a contrast agent that contains microbubbles filled with sulfur hexafluoride vapor, depicts differential patterns of contrast enhancement in focal hepatic lesions.

Materials And Methods: Forty focal hepatic lesions (15 hepatocellular carcinomas [HCCs], 10 metastases, 11 hemangiomas, and four focal nodular hyperplasias) in 39 patients were evaluated by means of US, color Doppler US, and contrast-enhanced US performed by using intermittent high-acoustic-power mode. Contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography (11 patients) and US-guided fine needle aspiration (28 patients) were used as reference procedures.

Percutaneous revascularization of femoropopliteal artery disease: PTA and PTA plus stent. Results after six years' follow-up.

Purpose: To compare the long-term patency after the treatment of mild-to-moderate femoropopliteal artery disease by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone (PTA group) and PTA plus stenting (STENT group) in a non-randomised retrospective study.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six limbs in 64 patients (mean age 67+/-8 years, 47 males and 17 females) with femoropopliteal artery disease and symptomatic for mild-to-moderate intermittent claudication (Rutherford's category 1-2) were treated by percutaneous revascularization. None of the patients had critical lower limb ischaemia.

Characterization of focal hepatic lesions in cirrhotic patients by Pulse Inversion Harmonic Imaging US contrast specific technique with Levovist.

Purpose: To evaluate the capabilities of Pulse Inversion Harmonic Imaging (PIHI) with hepatospecific US contrast agent Levovist in the characterization of focal liver lesions in cirrhotic patients.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine focal hepatic lesions in 25 consecutive cirrhotic patients identified by conventional ultrasound (US), were evaluated by color Doppler (CD), power Doppler (PD) with spectral analysis of tumoural vessels and PIHI. PIHI was performed 30 seconds (vascular phase) and 3-5 minutes (late phase) after Levovist injection.