Hepatic Artery Delineation on Ultrasound Volumes Comparing B-Flow and Color Doppler for Postoperative Monitoring of Pediatric Liver Transplants.

(1) Background: Accurate hepatic artery (HA) depiction following pediatric liver transplantation (LT) is essential for graft surveillance but challenging on ultrasound (US). This study assesses if improved HA delineation can be achieved by recording two-dimensional US volumes in Color Doppler (CD) and B-flow technique. (2) Methods: Of 42 consecutive LT, 37 cases were included, and HA delineation was retrospectively rated using a four-point score (0 = HA not detectable, 3 = HA fully detectable, separable from portal vein) within 48 h post-LT (U1) and before discharge (U2).

Evaluation of Artifact Appearance and Burden in Pediatric Brain Tumor MR Imaging with Compressed Sensing in Comparison to Conventional Parallel Imaging Acceleration.

Clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aims for the highest possible image quality, while balancing the need for acceptable examination time, reasonable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and lowest artifact burden. With a recently introduced imaging acceleration technique, compressed sensing, the acquisition speed and image quality of pediatric brain tumor exams can be improved. However, little attention has been paid to its impact on method-related artifacts in pediatric brain MRI.

Impact of probe-induced abdominal compression on two-dimensional shear wave elastography measurement of split liver transplants in children.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of probe-induced abdominal compression of split liver transplants (SLT) in children on 2D-shear wave elastography (SWE) values.

Materials And Methods: Data from 11 children (4.7 ± 4.

Compressed SENSE in Pediatric Brain Tumor MR Imaging : Assessment of Image Quality, Examination Time and Energy Release.

Purpose: To compare the image quality, examination time, and total energy release of a standardized pediatric brain tumor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol performed with and without compressed sensitivity encoding (C-SENSE). Recently introduced as an acceleration technique in MRI, we hypothesized that C‑SENSE would improve image quality, reduce the examination time and radiofrequency-induced energy release compared with conventional examination in a pediatric brain tumor protocol.

Methods: This retrospective study included 22 patients aged 2.

Traumatic Gallbladder Perforation in Children - Case Report and Review.

Background:  Gallbladder perforation is a very rare finding in children. Clinical and radiografic presentations are often vague. Hence it is a challenging diagnosis, often missed during initial evaluation with potentially fatal consequences.

Impact of chest wall deformity on cardiac function by CMR and feature-tracking strain analysis in paediatric patients with Marfan syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate systolic cardiac dysfunction in paediatric MFS patients with chest wall deformity using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and feature-tracking strain analysis.

Methods: Forty paediatric MFS patients (16 ± 3 years, range 8-22 years) and 20 age-matched healthy controls (16 ± 4 years, range 11-24 years) were evaluated retrospectively. Biventricular function and volumes were determined using cine sequences.

Automated age estimation of young individuals based on 3D knee MRI using deep learning.

Age estimation is a crucial element of forensic medicine to assess the chronological age of living individuals without or lacking valid legal documentation. Methods used in practice are labor-intensive, subjective, and frequently comprise radiation exposure. Recently, also non-invasive methods using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have evaluated and confirmed a correlation between growth plate ossification in long bones and the chronological age of young subjects.

Sensitivity of High-Pitch Dual-Source Computed Tomography for the Detection of Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection in Infants.

Purpose:  To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver reliability of high-pitch dual-source computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the detection of anomalous pulmonary venous connection (APVC) in infants with congenital heart defects and to assess the associated radiation exposure.

Materials And Methods:  78 pulmonary veins in 17 consecutively enrolled patients with congenital heart defects (6 females; 11 males; median age: 6 days; range: 1-299 days) were retrospectively included in this study. All patients underwent high-pitch dual-source CTA of the chest at low tube voltages (70 kV).

Intrathecal Administration of Nusinersen in Pediatric SMA Patients with and without Spine Deformities: Experiences and Challenges over 3 Years in a Single Center.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease leading to progressive muscular atrophy, respiratory failure, and premature death. Secondary thorax and spine deformities are frequent. In July 2017, the antisense oligonucleotide nusinersen (Spinraza) was approved for the recurrent lifelong intrathecal treatment of SMA in Europe.

Forensic age assessment of the knee: proposal of a new classification system using two-dimensional ultrasound volumes and comparison to MRI.

Objectives: To assess epiphyseal growth plate closure of the knee for forensic age estimation using an ultrasound (US)-based method and to compare the findings with MRI.

Methods: Thirty-three healthy male individuals (age, 14.4-19.

B-Flow Sonography vs. Color Doppler Sonography for the Assessment of Vascularity in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation.

Objective:  To compare B-flow sonography (BFS) with color Doppler sonography (CDS) for imaging of kidney transplant vascularization in children.

Patients And Methods:  All children receiving a kidney transplantation who underwent a protocol-based ultrasound examination (Loqiq 9, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA) using the BFS and CDS technique with equal settings and probe position between January 2013 and January 2016 were retrospectively assessed (n = 40). The obtained datasets were visually graded according to the following criteria: (I) delineation of the renal vascular tree (Grade 1 - clear demarcation of interlobar, together with arcuate and interlobular vessels; Grade 2 - clear demarcation of interlobar and cortical vessels, but no distinction of interlobular from arcuate vessels; Grade 3 - only clear demarcation of interlobar vessels, Grade 4 - insufficient demarcation) (II) delineation of cortical vessel density in ventral, lateral, and dorsal part of the transplant, (III) smallest vessel-capsule distance, and (IV) maximum cortical vessel count.

Persistence of post-operative color Doppler abnormalities is linked to reduced graft survival in pediatric patients after liver transplantation.

Color Doppler US is a readily available imaging modality for the evaluation of liver transplants. The aim of our study was to evaluate the temporal course of color Doppler US findings in children after LTX and to investigate the effect of resolving and persisting abnormalities during follow-up on long-term outcome. All children who underwent LTX during January 2000 until December 2003 (155 LTX in 137 patients, 75 male and 62 female; mean age at LTX 4.

Automated segmentation of the knee for age assessment in 3D MR images using convolutional neural networks.

Age assessment is used to estimate the chronological age of an individual who lacks legal documentation. Recent studies indicate that the ossification degree of the growth plates in the knee joint correlates with chronological age of adolescents and young adults. To verify this hypothesis, a high number of datasets need to be analysed.

A 2-year follow-up MRI study for the evaluation of an age estimation method based on knee bone development.

Age estimation is an actual topic in the area of forensic medicine with a special focus on the age limits of 16 and 18 years. Current research on this topic relies on retrospective data of inhomogeneous populations relating to sex, age range, and socioeconomic status. In this work, we present a 2-year follow-up study for the evaluation of an age estimation method on a prospective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) knee data collective of a homogeneous population.

Critical Analysis of an e-Learning and Interactive Teaching Module with Respect to the Interpretation of Emergency Computed Tomography of the Brain.

Purpose:  To compare the learning benefit of three different teaching strategies on the interpretation of emergency cerebral computed tomography (CT) pathologies by medical students.

Materials And Methods:  Three groups of students with different types of teaching (e-learning, interactive teaching, and standard curricular education in neuroradiology) were tested with respect to the detection of seven CT pathologies. The test results of each group were compared for each CT pathology using the chi-square test.

Early time-related course of image findings in postmortem MRI: Typical findings and observer agreement in a porcine model.

Purpose: To assess early time-related image findings in postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate observer agreement in a porcine model.

Material And Methods: Three pigs were examined by MRI at 15 different time points in the first 36h after death. Two observers independently recorded the postmortem interval (PMI) to the appearance of fluid collection (pleural space, interlobar and interlobular pulmonary fissures and hepatic interlobar fissures), gas accumulation (intrahepatic and intracardial) and blood clotting (aorta and intrahepatic venous vessels).

Comparison of B-Mode with B-Flow Sonography for the Evaluation of Femoral Arteries in Infants.

 To evaluate femoral arteries (FAs) in infants in the context of catheter angiography with B-mode (BMS) and B-flow sonography (BFS) and to compare both methods for vessel delineation and reliability of vessel diameter measurements.  21 consecutive infants who underwent ultrasound for the evaluation of FAs before or after cardiac catheterization were retrospectively included in this study. The diameter of the FAs and the maximum length of the vessel section displayed on a single ultrasound plane were recorded by two radiologists for BMS and BFS.

Hepatic shear wave elastography in children under free-breathing and breath-hold conditions.

Objectives: To compare hepatic 2D shear wave elastography (2D SWE) in children between free-breathing and breath-hold conditions, in terms of measurement agreement and time expenditure.

Methods: A cohort of 57 children (12.7±4.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the kidneys in haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the kidneys of patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and Doppler ultrasound (US) compared with healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen patients (mean age 33.3 years; three male; 12 female) with diarrhoea-positive HUS and 15 healthy volunteers were prospectively evaluated with DWI and Doppler US.

Functional assessment of the kidneys in a 10 month-old child with renal artery stenosis by intravoxel incoherent motion.

Renovascular stenosis is an important cause for arterial hypertension in childhood. We report a 10-month-old girl with arterial hypertension caused by right-sided renal artery stenosis detected by Doppler ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before renal artery angioplasty to depict vascular anatomy in detail and to retrieve additional functional information of the kidneys by analysis of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM).

The Downside of Fat: Avoiding and Treating Complications.

Three-dimensional facial volume restoration using fat has become widely accepted as an essential component of facial rejuvenation. Transplanted fat has benefits due to its inherently nonallergenic nature. The versatility of fat grafts allows for their use in all types of facial enhancement-improving the appearance of nasolabial folds, mesolabial grooves, flattened cheeks and upper lips, glabellar furrows, lipoatrophy, acne scars, and temporal hollowing.

Intraindividual comparison of image quality using retrospective and prospective respiratory gating for the acquisition of thin sliced four dimensional multidetector CT of the thorax in a porcine model.

Purpose: To intraindividually compare image quality and anatomical depiction of the lung and mediastinum using retrospective and prospective respiratory gating techniques for the acquisition of 4D-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the chest in a porcine model.

Materials And Methods: Twelve trachealy intubated domestic pigs underwent 64-row MDCT of the thorax. For retrospective and prospective gating the automated respiratory frequency was adjusted to 10, 14, 18, and 22 respiratory cycles per minute.

Sensitivity of Hyperdense Basilar Artery Sign on Non-Enhanced Computed Tomography.

Purpose: The hyperdense basilar artery sign (HBAS) is an indicator of vessel occlusion on non contrast-enhanced computer tomography (NECT) in acute stroke patients. Since basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is associated with a high mortality and morbidity, its early detection is of great clinical value. We sought to analyze the influence of density measurement as well as a normalized ratio of Hounsfield unit/hematocrit (HU/Hct) ratio on the detection of BAO on NECT in patients with suspected BAO.