The Assessment of Cardiac Masses by Cardiac CT and CMR Including Pre-op 3D Reconstruction and Planning.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to (1) review the recent evidence examining the use of CT and CMR in the assessment of a suspected cardiac mass, (2) summarize the typical imaging features of the most common cardiac masses, and (3) examine the latest developments in the use of three-dimensional reconstructions and models in the preoperative assessment of a cardiac mass.

Recent Findings: CMR can distinguish between tumors and non-tumor masses and between benign and malignant mass with a high degree of accuracy. CT and CMR are complementary tools in the evaluation of cardiac masses.

To investigate dose reduction and comparability of standard dose CT vs Ultra low dose CT in evaluating pulmonary emphysema.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of dose reduction and comparability of standard dose CT vs Ultra low dose CT in evaluating pulmonary emphysema.

Methods: Forty-nine patients with emphysema were recruited from a tertiary referral respiratory clinic. Each patient had a non-contrast Standard Dose (SD) and Ultra Low Dose (ULD) thoracic CT.

Out of Hours Emergency Computed Tomography Brain Studies: Comparison of Standard 3 Megapixel Diagnostic Workstation Monitors With the iPad 2.

Purpose: The purpose was to compare performance of diagnostic workstation monitors and the Apple iPad 2 (Cupertino, CA) in interpretation of emergency computed tomography (CT) brain studies.

Methods: Two experienced radiologists interpreted 100 random emergency CT brain studies on both on-site diagnostic workstation monitors and the iPad 2 via remote access. The radiologists were blinded to patient clinical details and to each other's interpretation and the study list was randomized between interpretations on different modalities.

Incidental cardiac findings on thoracic imaging.

The cardiac structures are well seen on nongated thoracic computed tomography studies in the investigation and follow-up of cardiopulmonary disease. A wide variety of findings can be incidentally picked up on careful evaluation of the pericardium, cardiac chambers, valves, and great vessels. Some of these findings may represent benign variants, whereas others may have more profound clinical importance.

The relationship of body mass index and abdominal fat on the radiation dose received during routine computed tomographic imaging of the abdomen and pelvis.

Purpose: To determine the relationship of increasing body mass index (BMI) and abdominal fat on the effective dose acquired from computed tomography (CT) abdomen and pelvis scans.

Methods: Over 6 months, dose-length product and total milliamp-seconds (mAs) from routine CT abdomen and pelvis scans of 100 patients were recorded. The scans were performed on a 64-slice CT scanner by using an automatic exposure control system.

Cardiac masses, part 2: key imaging features for diagnosis and surgical planning.

Objective: The objectives of this article are to discuss key radiologic features that differentiate primary and secondary cardiac masses. Clinical scenarios are included to highlight stepwise radiologic workup of tumors of the pericardium, epicardium, myocardium, valves, and chambers. The involvement of key cardiac anatomic structures will also be emphasized to determine resectability and guide surgical planning.

Cardiac masses, part 1: imaging strategies and technical considerations.

Objective: The objective of this article is to discuss optimal imaging strategies for the evaluation of cardiac masses. The advantages and disadvantages of echocardiography, cardiac MRI, gated cardiac CT, and nuclear imaging will be discussed and specific techniques presented.

Conclusion: Multimodality imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and surgical planning of cardiac masses.

Iodinated contrast opacification gradients in normal coronary arteries imaged with prospectively ECG-gated single heart beat 320-detector row computed tomography.

Background: To define and evaluate coronary contrast opacification gradients using prospectively ECG-gated single heart beat 320-detector row coronary angiography (CTA).

Methods And Results: Thirty-six patients with normal coronary arteries determined by 320 x 0.5-mm detector row coronary CTA were retrospectively evaluated with customized image postprocessing software to measure Hounsfield Units at 1-mm intervals orthogonal to the artery center line.

Dual-source CT coronary angiography without heart rate or rhythm control in comparison with conventional coronary angiography.

To explore the value of dual-source CT angiography (DSCTA) in diagnosing coronary artery stenosis (CAS) without heart rate or rhythm control. Eighty-nine patients with different heart rates/rhythms underwent both DSCTA and conventional coronary angiography (CCA) in 1 week. The diagnostic quality of normal coronary arteries and stenosed segments using DSCTA and CCA were analyzed, respectively, with CCA as the gold standard.

Imaging features of intramural hematoma of the aorta.

Intramural hematoma (IMH) is defined as localized hemorrhage within the aortic wall and is included in the acute aortic syndrome spectrum with aortic dissection and penetrating aortic ulcer. The mortality from IMH is similar to classic aortic dissection (21%). 16% of patients with IMH will evolve to classic aortic dissection over time.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the bladder associated with neurofibromatosis I.

Neurofibromatosis is a hamartomatous disorder of autonomic peripheral nerve sheaths associated with peripheral nerve sheath tumours. Most tumours are neurofibromas; however, the genitourinary system is rarely involved. We present a rare case of a nerve sheath tumour of the bladder in a young patient, which was discovered to be malignant.