FDG-PET/CT characterization of adrenal nodules: diagnostic accuracy and interreader agreement using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Purpose: To determine interreader agreement and diagnostic accuracy across varying levels of reader experience using qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluating adrenal nodules using ((18)F)-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Methods: 132 adrenal nodules (96 adenomas, 36 metastases) were retrospectively identified in 105 patients (49 men and 56 women, mean age 66 years, age range 45-85 years) with a history of lung cancer who underwent ((18)F)-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. For each nodule, three readers independently performed one qualitative and two quantitative measurements: visual assessment, standardized uptake value (SUVmax), and standard uptake ratio (SUVratio).

Abdominopelvic and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis: evaluation with contrast-enhanced MR venography with a blood-pool agent.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to evaluate contrast-enhanced (CE) MR venography (MRV) with a blood-pool agent for detection of abdominopelvic and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) compared with a conventional unenhanced gradient-recalled echo (GRE) MRV technique.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 30 patients (mean age, 52.7 years; 15 men and 15 women) referred for MRV between March 2010 and November 2010 for evaluation of lower extremity or abdominopelvic DVT.

Defoliation increases nutritional quality and allelochemics of pine seedlings.

The concentration of phenols, procyanidins, and protein in pine foliage was determined at two and eight weeks following mechanical defoliation of 0, 25, 50, and 75%. Changes in both mature and immature ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws, foliage were monitored.