Coronary Stent Artifact Reduction with an Edge-Enhancing Reconstruction Kernel - A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study with 256-Slice CT.

Purpose: Metallic artifacts can result in an artificial thickening of the coronary stent wall which can significantly impair computed tomography (CT) imaging in patients with coronary stents. The objective of this study is to assess in vivo visualization of coronary stent wall and lumen with an edge-enhancing CT reconstruction kernel, as compared to a standard kernel.

Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving the assessment of 71 coronary stents (24 patients), with blinded observers.

256-slice CT angiographic evaluation of coronary artery bypass grafts: effect of heart rate, heart rate variability and Z-axis location on image quality.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the effect of heart rate, heart rate variability and z-axis location on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) image quality using a 256-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner.

Methods: A total of 78 patients with 254 CABG (762 graft segments) were recruited to undergo CABG assessment with 256-slice CT and prospective ECG-gating. Two observers rated graft segments for image quality on a 5-point scale.

Postoperative imaging after lung transplantation.

Lung transplantation (LT) is an established procedure for chronic end-stage lung diseases. Complications are frequent and diverse and are the consequence of the complex surgical technique, the severity of the initial pathology, and the deep state of posttransplantation immunosuppression. Complications following LT include primary graft dysfunction, rejection (hyperacute, acute, and chronic), infections, posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease, pleural and airway complications, native lung complications, and recurrence of primary disease.

Right pulmonary artery torsion following surgical reimplantation.

We report the case of a 3-month-old boy with an anomalous origin of right pulmonary artery (AORPA) from the ascending aorta who presented postoperatively with torsion of the right pulmonary artery demonstrated on 3-D volume-rendered CT angiogram. To our knowledge, CT images of this entity have not been reported. This case illustrates a rare surgical complication that can be easily imaged by CT.

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in the diagnosis of osteoporosis: a practical guide.

Objective: The purpose of this essay is a quick and comprehensive review of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in the diagnosis of osteoporosis that shows how to achieve the best performance in three steps.

Conclusion: The three-step procedure for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry includes image acquisition emphasizing proper patient positioning and regions of interest; analysis, including areas to scan and detection of artifacts that should be excluded from the analysis and noted in the report because they can necessitate additional imaging; and interpretation of results.

Kidney in danger: CT findings of blunt and penetrating renal trauma.

Approximately 10% of all significant blunt abdominal traumatic injuries manifest with renal injury, although it is usually minor. However, renal imaging is indicated in cases of gross hematuria, penetrating trauma with gross or microscopic hematuria, and blunt trauma and shock with gross or microscopic hematuria. Contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation and management of renal trauma.

Role of multidetector CT in the management of acute female pelvic disease.

The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of multidetector CT (MDCT) in emergency radiology as a useful tool in the diagnosis and management of acute female pelvic disease and to describe key radiologic signs to improve differential diagnosis. We restrospectively reviewed MDCT findings of acute pelvic disease and its mimics in women reporting to the emergency room at our institution from December 2006 to August 2008. We describe MDCT findings of gynecologic and obstetric disorders such as hemorrhagic ovarian cysts, ovarian torsion, pelvic inflammatory disease, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, intravascular leiomyomatosis, blunt maternal trauma, and postpartum and post-cesarean section complications.