Tocilizumab among patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit: a multicentre observational study.

Background: Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin-6 receptor, has been proposed to mitigate the cytokine storm syndrome associated with severe COVID-19. We aimed to investigate the association between tocilizumab exposure and hospital-related mortality among patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) support for COVID-19.

Methods: We did a retrospective observational cohort study at 13 hospitals within the Hackensack Meridian Health network (NJ, USA).

Drug smuggling by body packing: what radiologists should know about it.

Body packing is a distinct method for smuggling drugs. What radiologists need to know is discussed in this pictorial review. Radiologists are confronted with diagnostic imaging of body packers because of two main reasons: complications of body packing and identifying drug packets within the gastrointestinal tract.

[Implementation of BIRADSTM together with an organization of percutaneous breast biopsies: experiences, reactions].

Purpose: To record the acceptance and reactions of radiologists and physicians who recommend patients for mammography after simultaneous establishment of BIRADS TM and a registration of the results of percutaneous breast biopsies.

Materials And Methods: To improve clarity of mammographic reports and to provide guidance concerning any necessary percutaneous breast biopsies the Breast Imaging Data And Reporting System (BIRADS TM) has been introduced regionally together with a registration of percutaneous breast biopsies. Using a questionnaire, 25 radiologists and 230 referring physicians were asked on acceptance and reactions concerning the established system.

[Practical usage of a quality management system according to ISO 9001 : 2000 focusing on the double contrast (barium) enema].

Purpose: We describe the implementation of quality improvement measures in a quality management system.

Methods: With questionnaires for radiologists and patients, we investigated the relations between patient preparation and diagnostic quality serving the main purpose, to improve diagnostic quality with the help of more detailed patient information (e.g.

[Advanced breast biopsy instrumentation (ABBI) experiences and critical comments].

Unlabelled: Advanced breast biopsy instrumentation (ABBI) experiences and critical comments.

Purpose: To describe our three-years' experience with advanced breast biopsy instrumentation (ABBI).

Materials And Methods: Considering lesion size, type and location as well as patient specific criteria 89 patients were selected for an ABBI.

Heart luxation through a right-sided traumatic pericardial defect.

A traumatic defect of the pericardium is a rarely diagnosed entity. We present a patient with a right-sided luxation of the heart which was incidentally diagnosed during a thoracic CT performed for other reasons. Despite of the threatening strangulation of the great vessels, the patient had a stable circulation until surgical repair of the pericardial defect.

Acetabular ossicles: normal variant or disease entity?

Ossicles located in the acetabular fossa may confuse diagnostic and therapeutic work-up. An accessory ossification centre may persist unfused as an os acetabuli centrale which is surrounded by intact hyaline cartilage representing an anatomic variant. Bone islands located in the pillars of the acetabulum can project into the acetabular fossa simulating acetabular ossicles.

[Implementation of the quality management system ISO/CD2 9001-2000 in a radiology institute].

Quality assurance in health care, a relatively new discipline, has developed rapidly over the last years and is now required by law. The Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001 aims at the definition of requirements necessary in order to achieve perfect products and continuous quality improvement. Implementation of this QMS necessitates the analysis and written documentation of all working processes and modes of operation.

[Contrast-enhanced subtraction MRT in the spin-echo technic].

Purpose: The aim of the retrospective study was to determine whether subtraction of spin-echo images is useful for estimating intensity and extension of contrast enhancement when practised in daily routine diagnostic work.

Methods: 348 patients with different diseases of the musculoskeletal and neuro system were examined with MRI using a T1-weighted spin-echo sequence before and after application of 0.1 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA with subsequent subtraction of both measurements.

Postsurgical reduction of serum lipoproteins: interleukin-6 and the acute-phase response.

In a previous retrospective study, we reported a significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels following major surgery, and speculated on the possible role of cytokines in this reduction. The purpose of this article is to report a prospective study of the association of cytokines with postoperative changes in serum lipoprotein levels. Serum samples were obtained from 11 male patients before and at intervals for up to 10 days after surgery, and were assayed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

MR and CT anatomy of the axilla.

Purpose: To depict the complex anatomy of the axilla with CT and MR imaging.

Material And Methods: The axillary regions of 2 cadavers (with arms hyperabducted) were examined by means of CT and MR. In this position the cadavers were frozen and cryosectioned.

Pitfalls in sonography of the Gamekeeper's thumb.

The gamekeeper's or skier's thumb is a very common injury. Nondisplaced tears of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb (UCL) may be treated conservatively. For that reason an accurate diagnosis is mandatory for choosing the correct therapy.

[Preoperative axillary ultrasound in breast carcinoma: value of the method in routine clinical practice].

Aim: To evaluate the significance of routinely performed preoperative axillary sonography in breast cancer patients.

Method: 191 patients with surgical treated breast cancer were analysed retrospectively. 74 patients of these had an axillary sonography done by 5 different examiners.

[Value of preoperative axilla ultrasound in breast carcinoma].

Preoperative axillary sonography is a superior method in predicting axillary lymph node status than clinical examination in patients with breast cancer. However, the results depend on the skills and care of the examiner, metastases less than 3-5 mm are hardly visible.

Effects of iodinated contrast agents in MR imaging.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of iodinated contrast agents in MRI.

Material And Methods: Twenty patients were examined with MRI immediately, 8 and 24 h after lumbar myelography. Signal intensities and calculated T1- and T2-relaxation times of different iodinated contrast agents, a dilution row of iopamidol, and a mixture of CSF and iotrolan were compared with physiological saline solution using different T1- and T2-weighted sequences.

Ulnar collateral ligament: differentiation of displaced and nondisplaced tears with US and MR imaging.

Purpose: To compare the usefulness of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the differentiation of displaced and nondisplaced tears of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients (eight female and nine male, aged 14-70 years) with clinically diagnosed tears underwent examination with US and MR imaging. T1-weighted, spin-echo (SE) and T2-weighted, turbo SE sequences were used.

[The normal CT and ultrasonic findings after a laparoscopic inguinal hernia operation].

Common surgery has been revolutionised by minimal invasive surgery in a very short period of time. Laparoscopic operations of inguinal hernias are routinely done by many surgeons. For interpreting correctly postoperative complications with radiological techniques it is necessary to know the sonographical and CT changes of the normal postoperative situs.

[Ultrasound pathology of the axilla. Part II].

In comparison with other diagnostic modalities axillary sonography undoubtedly is highly valuable examining unclear palpation findings, in the staging of tumours with lymphatic drainage to the axilla and in posttherapeutic screening of cancer patients. Usually pathologic changes of the axilla are due to diseases of the lymph nodes. Infrequently there are soft tissue tumours, inflammations, diffuse changes of the axillary soft tissue, vascular diseases and pathologic findings of the shoulder joint.

[Sonographic pathology of the axilla. Part I].

In comparison with other diagnostic modalities axillary sonography undoubtedly is highly valuable in when examining unclear palpation findings, in the staging of tumours with lymphatic drainage to the axilla and in post-therapeutic screening of cancer patients. Usually pathologic changes of the axilla are due to diseases of the lymph nodes. Infrequently there are soft tissue tumours, inflammations, diffuse changes of the axillary soft tissue, vascular diseases and pathologic findings of the shoulder joint.

[Sonographic anatomy of the axilla].

The axilla represents a region of special interest for small-part sonography. It is easy to demonstrate musculocutaneous, osseous, neurovascular and lymphatic structures. Especially in the presence of breast malignomas with lymphatic drainage to the axillary region sonography of the axillary lymphatic tracts and nodes is essential.

Aneurysm of the proper hepatic artery as a rare source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

The rare case of the penetration of a partially thrombosed aneurysm into the duodenal bulb causing acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding is described. Besides angiography and CT, ultrasound is the method of choice for early detection. In any case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding of unclear origin the existence of an arteriointestinal fistula should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Experience with the AURA free-text documentation system.

AURA is a free-text system designed to facilitate automatic documentation of radiological reports, with the goal of making the information in the reports accessible for case location, feedback, and statistical evaluation without changing the regular routine of the radiologist. A simple interactive search language makes retrieval easy. Search criteria can be formulated in medical terms and do not require programming ability.

[Angiographic diagnosis of a carcinoma of the renal pelvis due to thorotrast (author's transl)].

Angiographic and histologic findings of a carcinoma of the renal pelvis of low vascularity. Angiography succeeds in demonstrating the tumor, the site of its origin and spatial relationship to the escape of contrast-medium.