Frequency of anterolateral ligament tears and ramp lesions in patients with anterior cruciate ligament tears and associated injuries indicative for these lesions-a retrospective MRI analysis.

Objectives: To assess the frequency of anterolateral ligament (ALL) tears and ramp lesions (RL) detected with MRI in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and to describe associated injuries indicative for these lesions.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 164 patients with surgically verified ACL tears were included. Preoperative MRI scans were reviewed for ALL tears and different types of RL.

Food intolerance/malabsorption may occur in rare diseases.

Sugars including lactose and fructose, or proteins (gluten), or biogenic amines (histamine), and combinations thereof may cause food intolerance/malabsorption. However, in usually asymptomatic patients with rare diseases, who present with functional, non-specific, non-allergic gastrointestinal (GI) complaints the etiologic factors of food intolerance/malabsorption need to be evaluated. We summarize patients with rare diseases, such as primary epiploic appendagitis, beta-thalassemias minor, Gullo syndrome and anomaly of the inferior vena cava, who presented functional, non-specific, non-allergic GI complaints.

Heart rate-reducing therapy with add-on ivabradine and bisoprolol before coronary computed tomographic angiography in a fast-track ambulatory setting.

Objective This study was performed to determine whether add-on oral ivabradine in patients treated with beta blockers 1 hour before coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is effective in lowering the heart rate and thus improving CCTA quality. Methods In this single-center cohort study, the data of 294 patients referred for ambulant CCTA were retrospectively screened. Patients with an initial heart rate of ≥75 bpm (n = 112) were pretreated with either a combination of bisoprolol and ivabradine or with bisoprolol alone.

3 Tesla breast MR imaging as a problem-solving tool: Diagnostic performance and incidental lesions.

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic performance and incidental lesion yield of 3T breast MRI if used as a problem-solving tool.

Methods: This retrospective, IRB-approved, cross-sectional, single-center study comprised 302 consecutive women (mean: 50±12 years; range: 20-79 years) who were undergoing 3T breast MRI between 03/2013-12/2014 for further workup of conventional and clinical breast findings. Images were read by experienced, board-certified radiologists.

First pass dual input volume CT-perfusion of lung lesions: The influence of the CT- value range settings on the perfusion values of benign and malignant entities.

Objective: To assess the influence of the lower threshold for segmentation of the volume of interest on the perfusion values in first-pass dual input volume CT-perfusion of lung lesions.

Materials And Methods: Dual input maximum slope volume CT-perfusion was performed in 48 patients (mean age±standard deviation [SD], 68±10years; range, 46-87 years) who underwent subsequent CT-guided biopsy to evaluate a lung lesion. Using commercial perfusion software, a lower and upper threshold was set for determination of the CT-value range, which again determined the volume of interest for perfusion calculation.

Breast MRI used as a problem-solving tool reliably excludes malignancy.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of breast MRI if used as a problem-solving tool in BI-RADS 0 cases.

Material And Methods: In this IRB-approved, single-center study, 687 women underwent high-resolution-3D, dynamic contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 2012 and December 2012. Of these, we analyzed 111 consecutive patients (mean age, 51 ± 12 years; range, 20-83 years) categorized as BI-RADS 0.

MR arthrography of the shoulder: do we need local anesthesia?

Purpose: To assess pain intensity with and without subcutaneous local anesthesia prior to intraarticular administration of contrast medium for magnetic resonance arthrography (MRa) of the shoulder.

Materials And Methods: This single-center study was conducted after an IRB waiver of authorization, between January 2010 and December 2012. All patients provided written, informed consent for the procedure.

Rate of malignancy in MRI-detected probably benign (BI-RADS 3) lesions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the malignancy rate in MRI-detected probably benign (BI-RADS 3) lesions in women without a history of breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 1265 patients underwent breast MRI during a 7-year period. One hundred and eight (8.

Primary epiploic appendagitis and successful outpatient management.

Background: Primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA) is a rare cause of abdominal acute or subacute complaints. Diagnosis of PEA is made with ultrasonography (US) or when computed tomography (CT) reveals a characteristic lesion.

Case Report: We report on two patients with PEA.

Insights into epiploic appendagitis.

Epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of abdominal pain. Diagnosis of epiploic appendagitis, although infrequent, is easily made with CT or ultrasonography in experienced hands. As reported in the literature, most patients with primary epiploic appendagitis are treated conservatively without surgery, with or without anti-inflammatory drugs.

Multi-detector CT urography: effect of oral hydration and contrast medium volume on renal parenchymal enhancement and urinary tract opacification--a quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Objective: To assess the effect of oral hydration and contrast-medium volume on renal enhancement and urinary tract opacification in multi-detector CT urography.

Methods: A total of 192 patients were assigned to different protocols with varying doses of contrast agent with and without oral hydration. The attenuation was measured in the renal parenchyma in the unenhanced, nephrographic and excretory phase, and in the urinary tract in excretory phase imaging, respectively.

Optimized imaging of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common disease with considerable mortality. There are no specific signs or symptoms of PE; the diagnosis relies on imaging tests. The development of multi-detector computed tomography has led to an improvement in the diagnosis of PE due to faster scanning and improved spatial resolution along the longitudinal axis of the patient.

MDCT angiography of the pulmonary arteries: influence of body weight, body mass index, and scan length on arterial enhancement at different iodine flow rates.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether body weight, body mass index, and scan length influence arterial enhancement during CT angiography (CTA) of the pulmonary arteries at different iodine flow rates.

Materials And Methods: CTA examinations of the pulmonary arteries performed for routine clinical care of 120 patients between March and December 2003 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients had received either 120 mL of contrast medium with an iodine concentration of 300 mg I/mL (group A) or 90 mL of contrast medium with an iodine concentration of 400 mg I/mL (group B).

Routine use of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced moving-table MR angiography in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease: comparison with selective digital subtraction angiography.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced (CE) three-dimensional (3D) moving-table magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with that of selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for routine clinical investigation in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients underwent CE 3D moving-table MR angiography of the pelvic and peripheral arteries. A commercially available large-field-of-view adapter and a dedicated peripheral vascular phased-array coil were used.

Multiphasic multidetector-row CT (MDCT) in detection and staging of transitional cell carcinomas of the upper urinary tract.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of multiphasic multidetector-row CT (MDCT) in the detection and staging of transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the upper urinary tract. We performed a retrospective chart review of 39 consecutive patients with 41 histologically verified TCC of the renal pelvis and/or the ureter. The urinary tract was examined using MDCT performing unenhanced and contrast-enhanced scans during the corticomedullary (CMP), nephrographic (NP) and pyelographic phase (PP).

High-concentration contrast media in multiphasic abdominal multidetector-row computed tomography: effect of increased iodine flow rate on parenchymal and vascular enhancement.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the iodine flow rate on parenchymal and vascular enhancement during multiphasic abdominal multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: Fifteen patients underwent MDCT at an iodine flow rate of 1.2 g/s as well as 1.

MDCT angiography of the pulmonary arteries: influence of iodine flow concentration on vessel attenuation and visualization.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the influence of iodine flow concentration on attenuation and visualization of the pulmonary arteries in thoracic MDCT angiography.

Materials And Methods: One hundred consecutive patients who were referred to our department with suspected acute pulmonary embolism underwent MDCT angiography of the pulmonary arteries either with 120 mL of standard contrast medium (300 mg I/mL) (group A) or with 90 mL of high-concentration contrast medium (400 mg I/mL) (group B). The contrast medium was injected at a flow rate of 4 mL/sec.

Surgical therapy options in polycystic liver disease.

Introduction: Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a rare affliction frequently observed in association with polycystic kidney disease. Only symptomatic patients require treatment, which can be conservative or surgical, i.e.

Minimally invasive management of dysontogenetic hepatic cysts.

Background: Liver cysts occur with a prevalence of 4%-7% in the general population. Laparoscopic surgery is effective for solitary cysts and in selected patients with polycystic liver disease (PLD). We present our experience in the laparoscopic management of dysontogenetic cysts.

Aortoiliac enhancement during computed tomography angiography with reduced contrast material dose and saline solution flush: influence on magnitude and uniformity of the contrast column.

Rationale And Objectives: To compare the magnitude and uniformity of aortoiliac contrast enhancement obtained from uniphasic contrast material injections versus contrast material injections with reduced iodine dose followed by a saline flush in aortoiliac multislice CT angiography (CTA).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms underwent aortoiliac CTA using protocols A and B. With protocol A, 120 mL contrast material (300 mgI/mL), and with protocol B, 100 mL contrast material followed by a 40-mL saline solution flush were administered at a flow rate of 4 mL/s.

Abdominal multidetector row computed tomography: reduction of cost and contrast material dose using saline flush.

Objective: To evaluate the potential of a saline solution flush after the contrast material bolus in abdominal multidetector row CT (MDCT) in contrast material dose and cost reduction.

Methods: Abdominal MDCT was performed in 78 patients who were assigned randomly to 2 groups receiving 120 mL nonionic contrast material (300 mgI/mL) alone or 100 mL of the same contrast material pushed with 40 mL of saline solution. Mean attenuation values for both groups were measured in the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, the portal vein, the inferior vena cava, and the abdominal aorta.

Improvement of parenchymal and vascular enhancement using saline flush and power injection for multiple-detector-row abdominal CT.

The aim of this study was to determine if a saline solution flush following low dose contrast material bolus improves parenchymal and vascular enhancement during abdominal multiple detector-row computed tomography (MDCT). Forty-one patients (24 men and 17 women; mean age 49 years, age range 27-86 years) underwent abdominal MDCT (collimation 4x5 mm, 15-mm table increment, reconstruction interval 5 mm, gantry rotation period 0.8 s) with a single- as well as with a double syringe power injector.