Prevalence and associated risk factors of coronary artery disease in patients with a zero coronary calcium score.

Purpose: A zero coronary calcium score (CCS) is not able to provide a definite exclusion for coronary artery disease (CAD). The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risk factors of CAD in patients with zero CCS.

Methods: Six hundred thirteen patients with zero CCS referred to coronary calcium score analysis (CCSA) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with suspicion of CAD were included.

Evaluation of a two-image technique consisting of an axial and a coronal image generated by using the rib-flattening application: effect on reading time and diagnostic validity.

Background/aim: When reading a chest CT, a radiologist needs to evaluate each rib one by one due to complex curvy shape, which makes reporting a tiresome and time-consuming task. A new curved planar reformat application that flattens ribs on a single plane may find a place in the radiology reporting room. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a two-image set created by using the rib-flattening application on the performance of a radiologist in detecting sclerotic rib lesions in cancer patients.

Effects of Rat Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Demineralized Bone Matrix on Cranial Bone Healing.

Background: Studies in tissue engineering about mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide promising results for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rat bone marrow-derived MSCs (rMSCs) alone and when combined with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on critical-sized cranial defects of rats.

Methods: Ten rats were used to obtain allogeneic rMSCs.

Determination of lowest possible contrast volume in computed tomography pulmonary angiography by using pulmonary transit time.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the modified test-bolus (mTB) method in computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

Materials And Methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective study. We reviewed 24 patients (nine men, 15 women; age range, 21-88 years) in whom CTPA was performed either by Bolus-Tracking (BT) (n = 12) or mTB (n = 12) methods.

Comparison of radiation-induced damage between CT angiography and conventional coronary angiography.

Objective: Both computed tomography (CTA) and conventional angiography (CCA) can provide direct visualization of the coronary arteries. The aim of the present study was to compare the radiation exposure between CTA and CCA and to search whether this amount of radiation causes significant DNA damage.

Method: Seventy-two patients who underwent CTA or CCA were enrolled prospectively.

Quantitative and qualitative comparison of standard-dose and low-dose pediatric head computed tomography: a retrospective study assessing the effect of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction.

Objectives: Our aim was to assess the effect of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) on pediatric head computed tomography (CT) examinations.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 305 pediatric head CT examinations. The study population consisted of standard dose (STD, n = 152) examinations reconstructed with filtered back projection and low dose (LD, n = 153) examinations reconstructed with 30% (LD30) and 0% (LD0) ASIR.

Reconstruction of cranial bone defects using Struthio camelus eggshell.

Background: There are many synthetic materials for the treatment of bone defects, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. We aimed to compare the efficacy of ostrich eggshell, which is cheap and easily available, and demineralized bone matrix in healing of cranial bone defects.

Methods: A full-thickness circular bone defect was created in the frontal bone of 40 Wistar rats.

Unenhanced urinary CT: value of parenchymal attenuation measurements in differentiating acute vs. chronic renal obstruction.

Objective: We aimed to search if the renal parenchymal attenuation measurements on unenhanced CT scans could be useful in differentiating acutely obstructed kidneys from chronic cases or unobstructed kidneys.

Material And Methods: Unenhanced CT scans of 101 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-two patients with unilateral acute renal obstruction, 34 patients with unilateral chronic renal obstruction due to various reasons and 35 control subjects were included in the study.

Frontal sinus osteoma associated with pneumocephalus.

The most common causes of intracranial air are head trauma and neurosurgical procedures. Less common etiologies include infection due to gas-forming organisms, mucoceles, tumours, congenital neuroenteric cysts, and dural defects. Here, we present a case of a frontal sinus osteoma associated with longstanding pneumocephalus.

The role of late-phase pulse inversion harmonic imaging in the detection of occult hepatic metastases.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of late-phase pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in detecting occult metastases and to compare the results with helical computed tomography (CT) in a group of patients whose fundamental liver sonographic results were normal.

Methods: Thirty-two patients (21 women and 11 men; age range, 20-87 years) with a known primary malignancy were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated with conventional sonography, unenhanced PIHI, and PIHI 3 minutes after the injection of Levovist (SH U 508A; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany).

The effects of minor hip flexion, abduction or adduction and x-ray beam angle on the radiographic joint space width of the hip.

Objective: Joint pain may cause patients to hold their limbs in mild flexion, abduction or adduction to minimize pain, regardless of the extent of articular pathology, and these positional changes may have substantial effects on the interpretation of radiographic joint space. We aimed to study the impacts of minor degrees of flexion, abduction or adduction of the hip, as well as the angle of the x-ray beam on the radiographic joint space width (JSW) of the hip joint.

Methods: In the first part of the study, 65 patients (44 males, 21 females, mean+/-SD age 49+/-17) without clinical evidence of hip osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent intravenous pyelography (IVP) were studied.

Evaluation of the normal appendix at low-dose non-enhanced spiral CT.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of visualization, thickness and location of the normal appendix at non-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Low-dose spiral CT scans obtained for renal colic assessment in 243 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The frequency of visualization, thickness and location of normal appendices were recorded without knowledge of the patients' history for the appendectomy.

Characterization of hyperechoic focal liver lesions: quantitative evaluation with pulse inversion harmonic imaging in the late phase of levovist.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate hyperechoic focal liver lesions with pulse inversion harmonic imaging in the late phase of SH U 508A (Levovist; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany) and to determine whether quantitative evaluation improves the characterization of the lesions.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with hyperechoic liver lesions were enrolled in this study. Pulse inversion harmonic imaging was performed before and after administration of Levovist.

Distinguishing pelvic phleboliths from distal ureteral calculi: thin-slice CT findings.

The objective is to evaluate the appearance of phleboliths and distal ureteral stones by determining their roundness and presence of central lucency on thin-slice CT. Seventy-seven patients with pelvic radioopacities at unenhanced CT were selected. Those patients consequently underwent thin-slice CT with 1-mm collimation, a FOV of 10 cm, a pitch of 1:1 and a bone reconstruction algorithm.

[Assessment of mandibular vascular canals by dental CT].

Purpose: Sublingual artery and its branches run in the floor of the mouth and prone to substantial bleeding when injured during an implantation procedure. These branches enter the mandible from the lingual side and run through bony canals in the mandible. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the frequency, diameter, direction and position of lingual canals by dental CT.

[Case report: Complex composite odontoma: Plain radiography and computed tomography findings].

Complex composite odontoma is a rare benign odontogenic hamartoma seen in association with a primary tooth. Although it is seen most frequently between 10-19 years of age, here we present a lesion of unusual size in the mandible of a 6-year-old boy and report its clinical, radiographic, CT and histologic findings. Also, we discuss the value of three dimensional images.

Lung at thin-section CT: influence of multiple-segment reconstruction on image quality.

Purpose: To evaluate multiple-segment reconstruction to reduce cardiac-motion artifacts on thin-section computed tomographic (CT) images in the lung.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients were enrolled in the study. All images were obtained with a scanner capable of 1-second revolution time.

Clinical approach to graft hepatic artery thrombosis following living related liver transplantation.

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) has an occurrence rate of 1.7-26% following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and is one of the most common reasons for graft loss and mortality in this population. There is a higher incidence of HAT in pediatric recipients.

Detection and differential diagnosis of hepatic masses using pulse inversion harmonic imaging during the liver-specific late phase of contrast enhancement with Levovist.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether late-phase pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) increases conspicuity in hepatic masses, helps to differentiate benign from malignant lesions, and demonstrates a greater number of and smaller metastatic lesions than do conventional (fundamental) sonography and helical CT.

Methods: Thirty patients (17 women and 13 men; age range, 35-77 years; mean age, 54 years) with known or suspected liver masses were evaluated using both fundamental sonography and contrast-enhanced PIHI during the liver-specific late phase of Levovist. The patients also underwent contrast-enhanced triphasic helical CT examinations within 1 week after sonography.