Overload syndromes of the peritalar region.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to identify the diagnostic possibilities of the different diagnostic techniques in the evaluation of the pathological conditions affecting the peritalar region.

Materials And Methods: Between September 1995 and December 1996, 58 patients, with a painful syndrome at peritalar level were submitted to MRI, which was performed using a 'dedicated system' consisting of 0.2 and 0.

[Gastric adenocarcinoma: magnetic resonance versus surgical staging].

Preoperative MR staging in 34 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma was compared with postoperative histologic findings to evaluate MR sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. MR exams were carried out with an 0.5-T superconductive magnet, with SE T1- and T2-weighted sequences on axial and sagittal planes, 10-mm slice thickness and 3-mm interval.

Dedicated MR system and acute trauma of the musculo-skeletal system.

MRI diffusion in the osteoarticular field is limited by the high costs of whole-body systems. Recent technological advances have allowed the development of cost-effective and easy-to-install dedicated MRI systems. One such system, which can only be employed for the study of limbs, is based on a 0.

[Technologic advances in magnetic resonance imaging: permanent low-field magnets dedicated to the study of the joints. Clinical results].

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has had a significant impact on the diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions. Technologic advances in the last years allowed the development of cost-effective, compact and easy-to-install MR systems. After an early phase to optimize the units, a 14-month multicentric study was performed to define the possible clinical applications of the system.

[Magnetic resonance arthrography. Preliminary experience in study technic and main diagnostic applications].

In the study of osteoarticular conditions, MRI makes a definite diagnostic improvement, even though some problems are still to be solved. Thus, on the basis of their arthrographic experience, the authors experimentally applied this technique to MRI, to assess the actual feasibility of MR arthrography. Forty-three patients were selected to undergo MR examinations after the intraarticular injection of 15-20 ml paramagnetic contrast agent (Gd-DTPA), with 0.

Stress MR imaging for evaluation of popliteal artery entrapment.

The popliteal artery entrapment (PAE) syndrome has been recognized as a cause of arterial occlusion in young people. It is the result of an anomaly of the relationship between the popliteal artery and the gastrocnemius muscle. Eight young health volunteers (16 legs) and six patients (10 legs) with suspected PAE underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Three-phase radionuclide bone imaging and magnetic resonance imaging detection of occult knee fractures in athletes.

Twelve athletes presenting acute knee injury with normal radiological findings underwent both three-phase radionuclide bone imaging (TPBI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The association of these highly sensitive diagnostic procedures detected occult fractures in all patients. The areas of signal intensity alterations on MRI corresponded to those of increased radionuclide uptake in blood pool images.

[Magnetic resonance in the assessment of critical points of impingement of the shoulder].

Impingement syndrome is caused by a conflictual status between rotator cuff, subacromial bursa and anatomic and functional acro-mioclavicular arch. The clinical signs of this syndrome include pain and functional disability in abduction and extrarotation of the shoulder. This study was aimed at verifying Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) capabilities in showing the critical points of impingement and their incidence.

[Intra-osseus hidden fractures of the knee in athletes: assessment with magnetic resonance imaging].

The diagnostic capabilities of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were investigated in the study of occult intraosseous fractures of the knees in athletes; this pathologic condition is difficult to assess with conventional diagnostic techniques. Twelve athletes were considered and submitted to MR examinations 1-8 days after trauma. All patients had undergone plain films, 6 of them CT and 3 scintigraphy.

Lumbar disk herniation: MR imaging assessment of natural history in patients treated without surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of lumbar disk herniation in patients treated without surgery. Sixty-nine patients with a lumbar disk herniation proved at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging underwent a follow-up MR imaging study. The disk herniations evaluated during both MR imaging examinations were measured and classified into four categories according to the change in size that occurred.

Talocalcaneal coalition: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis.

A correct evaluation of site and extension of the talocalcaneal coalition inducing biomechanical ankle alterations is very important for planning therapy. Four male patients were submitted to computed tomography (CT) and three of them were also examined by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In one patient, studied by CT only, a bilateral talocalcaneal coalition was present, while the other three patients, controlled with CT and MRI, were affected by monolateral talocalcaneal coalition which was of osseous type in one case and fibrocartilaginous in two cases.

[Magnetic resonance in the staging of multiple myeloma].

The authors retrospectively reviewed the MR examinations of 46 patients with clinical and laboratory findings of monoclonal gammopathies (MG). All cases had been submitted to radiographic examination which had shown skeletal involvement in 22 cases and osteoporosis in 11, with rupture of the vertebral body in 3 patients. Scintigraphy had been performed on all patients and CT on 12; 36 patients were subsequently submitted to follow-up (at 6, 12 and 24 months).

[Magnetic resonance in the study of tubercular coxitis].

The hip joint is the most common skeletal site for tuberculous disease, aside from vertebrae. Eight patients underwent MR investigations. In four cases (group A) there was suspicion of hip tuberculosis on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings, whereas the other 4 patients (group B) were known to suffer from hip tuberculosis.

Myxoid intraneural cysts of external popliteal ischiadic nerve. Report of 2 cases studied with ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Peripheral neuropathy of the external popliteal ischiadic nerve caused by intraneural cysts is a very rare and peculiar pathological phenomenon compared with diseases associated with extraneural cysts or colliquative phenomena of solid nervous lesions. Two cases of peripheral neuropathy of the external popliteal ischiadic nerve caused by intraneural cysts and evaluated with ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance are described. The diagnostic efficacy of these imaging modalities is also evaluated with particular reference to MR capability to define the morphology of such lesions and their relationships to the surrounding structures.

[Acute instability of the shoulder in athletes. The role of magnetic resonance in therapy planning].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder was performed to evaluate both the actual role of this technique in the study and staging of acute shoulder instability, and its potentials as diagnostic tool, with particular reference to treatment planning. Seventeen athletes with acute shoulder instability were examined. All MRI examinations, subsequent to plain radiographs, were performed within 48 hours from the traumatic event.

[Magnetic resonance in condylo-meniscal incoordination pathology of the temporomandibular joint. Indications, diagnostic accuracy and optimization of study techniques].

Up to 28% of the population is affected with pathologic conditions involving the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), most of them related to uncoordinated disk motion. To date, these pathologies have been evaluated by means of different diagnostic tools, the latest of which is MR imaging. The authors examined with low-field (0.

[Pathologic conditions in pregnancy. Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of magnetic resonance].

Some authors suggested that MR imaging could represent an effective diagnostic alternative in the study of pathologic conditions of mother and fetus during pregnancy. To verify the actual role of MR imaging, we examined 20 patients in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of gestation, after a preliminary US examination. Fifteen patients presented fetal or placental pathologies; in 4 patients the onset of the pathologic condition occurred during pregnancy; in 1 case of US diagnosis of fetal ascites, MR findings were normal and the newborn was healthy.

[Symptomatic and surgical results after integrated CT-MR study of a central giant cell tumor of the maxilla].

The AA. examine the possibilities of the present imaging to the diagnostic definition of the extensive and destructive forms of the Central Giant cells Tumor of the maxilla. The CT and MR studies are compared with conventional x-Ray.

Wernicke encephalopathy: MR findings in five patients.

Wernicke encephalopathy is a disease usually related to chronic alcoholism. The clinical diagnosis is often difficult to establish, and CT is unable to provide specific findings. MR follow-up studies in five patients affected by Wernicke encephalopathy were performed with the aim of establishing the sensitivity of MR in depicting the typical diencephalic/mesencephalic lesions.

Wernicke encephalopathy: MR findings in five patients.

Wernicke encephalopathy is a disease usually related to chronic alcoholism. The clinical diagnosis is often difficult to establish, and CT is unable to provide specific findings. MR follow-up studies in five patients affected by Wernicke encephalopathy were performed with the aim of establishing the sensitivity of MR in depicting the typical diencephalic/mesencephalic lesions.

[Clinically manifest or silent primary and secondary syringomyelia. The magnetic resonance findings].

The MR scans were retrospectively reviewed of 40 patients who had been diagnosed as having syringomyelia. Our results demonstrate that syringomyelia can be found in asymptomatic patients as well as in many with atypical symptomatology. Our study stresses MR efficacy in investigating this pathologic condition.

The diagnostic value of magnetic resonance in disc pathology of the lumbosacral region.

An MRI tomograph was used to examine 396 patients with suspected disc pathology of the lumbosacral region. Forty two patients in whom disc herniation was diagnosed underwent surgery. MR proved to be a reliable and accurate method for the diagnosis of disc herniation, revealing its site and size as well as compression on the neural structures.

MR imaging of degenerative disorders of brainstem and cerebellum.

In pathologies such as progressive ataxias, clinical criteria are often not enough to provide the correct diagnosis. Therefore, we studied by means of MRI 30 normal volunteers and 19 patients affected by different progressive ataxias, diagnosed by typical standards. On all the subjects measurements were performed in order to identify normal and pathological ranges.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the localization of undescended abdominal testes.

In children with nonpalpable undescended testes, preoperative localization is very helpful prior to surgical investigation both to reduce the time required for complete exploration and to plan the correct surgical procedure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was accomplished in 23 patients with a clinical diagnosis of cryptorchidism after ultrasonographic studies were inconclusive in identifying the undescended testis. An abdominal testis was correctly located in 16 cases.