Abdominal and pelvic complications of nonoperative oncologic therapy.

Oncologic patients are treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Advances in therapeutic options have greatly improved the survival of patients with cancer. Examples of these advances are newer chemotherapeutic agents that target the cell receptors and advanced radiation therapy delivery systems.

Common and uncommon adult unilateral renal masses other than renal cell carcinoma.

Many different masses can involve the kidney other than the commonly encountered renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The purpose of this article is to review the characteristic clinical and imaging findings of common and uncommon masses that predominantly present unilaterally in the adult patient, other than RCC. Awareness of such lesions and knowing the clinical scenario is important for appropriate diagnosis and management, especially in a multidisciplinary care setting.

Common and uncommon bilateral adult renal masses.

Masses can involve the kidney unilaterally or bilaterally. The purpose of this article is to review common and uncommon adult renal masses that present bilaterally. Clinical and imaging findings are described.

Renal cell carcinoma: diagnosis, staging, and surveillance.

Objective: This educational review focuses on the staging and radiologic evaluation of renal cell carcinoma. It includes discussion of the epidemiology, pathology, and therapeutic options of renal cell carcinoma and the implications for radiologic follow-up.

Conclusion: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma has been increasing.

The subperitoneal space: mechanisms of tumour spread in the peritoneal cavity, mesentery, and omentum.

The subperitoneal space consists of fatty tissue, blood vessels, lymphatics, and lymph nodes enveloped by a serosal lining. This provides a complex interconnecting space which is an important conduit for pathology within the peritoneal cavity. The anatomy and pathology of the subperitoneal space and the surrounding cavity is discussed in its relationship to tumor spread.

Imaging in oncology from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center: diagnosis, staging, and surveillance of prostate cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to discuss the epidemiology, risk factors, and presentation of prostate cancer. After reviewing the prostate anatomy, the article will show how imaging plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis, staging, and monitoring the therapeutic response in prostate cancer, with a focus on adenocarcinomas.

Conclusion: Imaging studies, in the appropriate laboratory and clinical context, contribute essential information that enhances the capacity to provide individualized risk stratification, a suitable treatment strategy, and monitoring for the patient with prostate cancer.

Liver metastases: imaging considerations for protocol development with multislice CT (MSCT).

Conventional, single-slice helical computed tomography (SSCT) allowed for scanning the majority of the liver during the critical portal venous phase. This was often referred to as the 'optimal temporal window'. The introduction of current day multislice CT (MSCT) now allows us to acquire images in a much shorter time and more precisely than ever before.

Spectrum of imaging findings in the abdomen after radiotherapy.

Objective: The objective of this article is to describe the imaging appearances of radiation injury to normal tissues in the abdomen that may be seen during imaging surveillance of oncology patients.

Conclusion: Therapeutic radiation is used to treat various malignant conditions in the abdomen. Radiation damages normal surrounding tissues as well as the intended tumor.

Controversies in imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma: multidetector CT (MDCT).

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant tumor worldwide and represents the most common primary hepatic neoplasm. Staging criteria are important for appreciation of timely work up of these neoplasms in contradiction with surgical colleagues. This article demonstrates the appearance of HCC on multiphasic, multidetector CT (MDCT) and relates these findings to current staging criteria.

Lymph node imaging: multidetector CT (MDCT).

Advances in cross-sectional imaging, including conventional and helical (spiral) CT and multidetector (MDCT) and MR imaging, now allow detailed evaluation of the anatomy and pathology of the neck and thoracic inlet. The major structures are identified by their appearance and that of contrasting fatty tissue planes surrounding the soft tissues. These structures include the larynx, trachea, thyroid, and parathyroid glands as well as the vessels, lymph node chains, nerves, and supporting muscles.

Impact of multislice CT on imaging of acute abdominal disease.

The increased speed, greater coverage, and thinner slices of MSCT are exciting developments in radiology, and these feature should only improve with newer generation multislice scanners. The impact of this technology on abdominal imaging has just begun.

Evaluation of the patient with flank pain and possible ureteral calculus.

Flank pain due to urolithiasis is a common problem in patients presenting to emergency departments. Radiology plays a vital role in the work-up of these patients. Many modalities can be used, including ultrasonography, nuclear medicine, and the traditionally used techniques of intravenous urography and conventional radiography.