Graft patency and late outcomes for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent coronary surgery.

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the long-term clinical outcomes and the grafts patency rates of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent urgent or emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Materials: Participants in two previous studies comprising 207 STEMI patients undergoing on-pump (145 patients) or off-pump (62 patients) coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in our institution were prospectively followed to assess late mortality, graft patency, and major adverse cardiac-related event (MACE) rates. Graft patency was evaluated by multi-detector computed tomography angiography 64-slice scan.

Characterisation of indeterminate focal breast lesions on grey-scale ultrasound: role of ultrasound elastography.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of ultrasound (US) elastography in characterising focal breast lesions classified as indeterminate on B-mode US.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-four focal breast lesions, 64 benign and 20 malignant (mean diameter, 15.1 mm), detected but not characterised on B-mode US in 72 women, Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) US category 3 (n=56) or category 4 (n=28), were studied with US elastography and classified in consensus by two radiologists according to a five-point colour scale.

Prognostic outcome of routine clinical noninvasive multidetector-row computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease: a 2-year follow-up study.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of multidetector-row CT coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in a routine clinical context.

Materials And Methods: A total of 125 patients (82 men, age 57.4±10.

Atherosclerotic pattern of coronary myocardial bridging assessed with CT coronary angiography.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the atherosclerotic pattern of patients with coronary myocardial bridging (MB) by means of CT Coronary Angiography (CT-CA). 254 consecutive patients (166 male, mean age 58.6 ± 10.

Imaging findings of liver resection using a bipolar radiofrequency electrosurgical device--initial observations.

Objective: To assess contrast-enhanced US (CEUS), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings and serial changes of the treated area at follow-up in patients who underwent liver resection using a bipolar radiofrequency electrosurgical device.

Methods: Imaging findings of 27 patients with resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) (n=24) and metastases (n=3) (mean size: 2.6cm), were retrospectively evaluated.

Incremental value and safety of oral ivabradine for heart rate reduction in computed tomography coronary angiography.

Background: Heart rate (HR) reduction is essential to achieve optimal image quality and diagnostic accuracy with computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). Administration of ivabradine could be an attractive alternative to beta-blockade to reduce HR.

Methods: One-hundred-twenty-three patients referred for CTCA were prospectively enrolled.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients at multidetector CT: hepatic venous phase versus delayed phase for the detection of tumour washout.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare retrospectively hepatic venous and delayed phase images for the detection of tumour washout during multiphasic multidetector row CT (MDCT) of the liver in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: 30 cirrhotic patients underwent multiphasic MDCT in the 90 days before liver transplantation. MDCT was performed before contrast medium administration and during hepatic arterial hepatic venous and delayed phases, images were obtained at 12, 55 and 120 s after trigger threshold.

Indeterminate focal liver lesions incidentally discovered at gray-scale US: role of contrast-enhanced sonography.

Objectives: to assess the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) incidentally discovered but indeterminate at gray-scale ultrasound (US).

Materials And Methods: one hundred forty-two consecutive patients with 174 FLLs (169 benign and 5 malignant) incidentally discovered but indeterminate at gray-scale US, underwent CEUS after the administration of SonoVue. Two readers independently reviewed CEUS scans and: (1) classified each lesion as malignant or benign on a 5-point scale of confidence by means of definite diagnostic criteria; (2) provided if possible a specific diagnosis; (3) were requested if further imaging was needed for lesion characterization.

Deferasirox, deferiprone and desferrioxamine treatment in thalassemia major patients: cardiac iron and function comparison determined by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Oral deferiprone was suggested to be more effective than subcutaneous desferrioxamine for removing heart iron. Oral once-daily chelator deferasirox has recently been made commercially available but its long-term efficacy on cardiac iron and function has not yet been established. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of deferasirox, deferiprone and desferrioxamine on myocardial and liver iron concentrations and bi-ventricular function in thalassemia major patients by means of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging.

Sonographic examination of epiaortic vessels in patients with peripheral vertigo.

Introduction: To evaluate the utility of echo-color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) of extracranial brain-supplying vessels in patients with peripheral vertigo of unknown origin.

Materials And Methods: One-hundred-fifty-six patients (study group; 42 male and 114 female; mean age 61.86 ± 14.

Preferential patterns of myocardial iron overload by multislice multiecho T*2 CMR in thalassemia major patients.

T*(2) multislice multiecho cardiac MR allows quantification of the segmental distribution of myocardial iron overload. This study aimed to determine if there were preferential patterns of myocardial iron overload in thalassemia major. Five hundred twenty-three thalassemia major patients underwent cardiac MR.

Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings with emphasis on lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity.

Objective: To correlate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) with lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity and to compare CEUS with baseline US.

Methods: Two radiologists evaluated baseline US and CEUS examinations of 92 FNHs (mean size: 3.1 +/- 1.

Gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography for the noninvasive detection of an active bile duct leak after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

We report a case of an endoscopically confirmed biliary leak of the common hepatic duct after laparoscopic cholecystectomy that was prospectively diagnosed on gadoxetate disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography. Whereas dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images during the early vascular phases helped to rule out the causes of possible complications such as seroma, hematoma, or abdominal abscess, delayed hepatobiliary phase imaging was crucial for unequivocal diagnosis and location of the biliary leak. The diagnosis prompted therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiography whereby a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered nitinol stent graft was successfully placed to repair the biliary injury.

MR Imaging of Bilateral Paramedian Thalamic and Mesencephalic Infarcts. A Case Report.

We describe MR imaging of bilateral infarction of the paramedian portion of the mesencephalus and thalamus due to an occlusion of the Percheron artery. This entity is due to one of the anatomic variants of the perforating arteries supplying the thalamus and mesenchephalus. Clinically this kind of infarction presents with neurologic impairment as a disorder of consciousness, memory dysfunctions, various types of vertical gaze palsy and psychic changes, which need to be differentiated from delirium and coma.

Anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary tree studied with MDCT coronary angiography.

Anomalies of the coronary arteries are congenital and in most of the cases asymptomatic, although they may present with severe symptoms such as angina pectoris or cardiac arrest. Multidetector CT coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) permits, through curved multiplanar reconstructions and three-dimensional reformatting, noninvasive visualisation of the coronary tree and its variants and anomalies, providing a more accurate alternative to conventional coronary angiography (CCA). The purpose of this pictorial essay is to describe the main variants and anomalies of the coronary arteries using MDCT imaging with multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions.

Plantar fascia evaluation with a dedicated magnetic resonance scanner in weight-bearing position: our experience in patients with plantar fasciitis and in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: This study assessed the usefulness of upright weight-bearing examination of the ankle/hind foot performed with a dedicated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scanner in the evaluation of the plantar fascia in healthy volunteers and in patients with clinical evidence of plantar fasciitis.

Materials And Methods: Between January and March 2009, 20 patients with clinical evidence of plantar fasciitis (group A) and a similar number of healthy volunteers (group B) underwent MR imaging of the ankle/hind foot in the upright weight-bearing and conventional supine position. A 0.

Characterisation of focal liver lesions undetermined at grey-scale US: contrast-enhanced US versus 64-row MDCT and MRI with liver-specific contrast agent.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the characterisation of focal liver lesions in comparison with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with liver-specific contrast agent.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven focal liver lesions, 91 malignant and 96 benign (mean size 3.2 cm) - proved by biopsy (n=12), histology (n=4), MDCT (n=108), MRI (n=44) MDCT/MRI (n=19) - in 159 patients were studied by CEUS.

Visceral Adiposity Index: a reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk.

Objective: To individuate a novel sex-specific index, based on waist circumference, BMI, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol, indirectly expressing visceral fat function.

Research Design And Methods: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) was first modeled on 315 nonobese healthy subjects. Using two multiple logistic regression models, VAI was retrospectively validated in 1,498 primary care patients in comparison to classical cardio- and cerebrovascular risk factors.

Bladder tumor staging: comparison of contrast-enhanced and gray-scale ultrasound.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced sonography in comparison with conventional sonography in differentiating muscle-infiltrating and superficial neoplasms of the urinary bladder.

Subjects And Methods: Conventional and contrast-enhanced sonography were performed on 34 consecutively registered patients with bladder tumors. All examinations were reviewed by two independent sonologists.

Diagnosis and definition of biventricular non-compaction associated to Ebstein's anomaly.

Background: Non-compaction of ventricular myocardium is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by the presence of an extremely thickened endocardial layer with prominent trabeculations and deep recesses in communication with ventricular chamber and determining the typical spongeous aspect. The diagnosis of non-compaction of ventricular myocardium is possible through the identification of morphological alterations by echocardiographic evaluation. Ebstein's anomaly is a rare congenital cardiac disease, defined as the significant apical displacement of the part of the tricuspid valve causing significant tricuspid regurgitation and reduction of the functional right ventricle, right atrial and right ventricular dilatation and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Coronary calcium score and computed tomography coronary angiography in high-risk asymptomatic subjects: assessment of diagnostic accuracy and prevalence of non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for the assessment of non-obstructive/obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in high-risk asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: Two hundred and thirteen consecutive asymptomatic subjects (113 male; mean age 53.6 +/- 12.

Prevalence of myocardial bridging and correlation with coronary atherosclerosis studied with 64-slice CT coronary angiography.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) and to evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 277 patients (mean age 60+/-11 years) we consecutively examined with 64-slice MSCT-CA for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis were retrospectively reviewed for myocardial bridging. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for atherosclerotic plaque, as were the remaining coronary segments.

Videofluorography swallow study of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of the videofluorographic (VFG) swallow study in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Materials And Methods: Over a 23-month period, 45 women (mean age 58 years, range 27-76 years) with a known diagnosis of systemic sclerosis and a history of dysphagia underwent a dynamic and morphological study of the oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal phases of swallowing with videofluorography. All examinations were performed with a remote-controlled digital C-arm device with 16-in image intensifier, 0.