Spontaneous ankylosis of the sacroiliac joint: prevalence and risk factors.

Purpose: Evidence on spontaneous sacroiliac joint (SIJ) ankylosis is lacking. The aim of this analysis was to assess the prevalence of spontaneous SIJ ankylosis and examined different ankylosis patterns and risk factors for spontaneous SIJ ankylosis.

Methods: Pelvic computed tomography (CT) data of 102 consecutive patients with spinal pathologies were compared to CT of a control group consisting of 102 consecutive patients without spinal pathologies.

Successful evacuation of large perirenal hematoma after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) - step 1 of the IDEAL recommendations of surgical innovation.

Larger perirenal hematomas after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) are sometimes related to the loss of renal function due to compression of the normal renal tissue. After computed tomography-guided drainage and locally applied urokinase, the hematoma was fractionally evacuated. This procedure is a save and fast way to recover normal renal function.

Covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stents maintain lower portal pressure and require fewer reinterventions than uncovered stents.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patency, functional and haemodynamic results of expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Thirteen patients with an ePTFE-covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt stent (TIPSS) were prospectively evaluated at 6 and 12 months and compared with matched controls with mesh-wire uncovered TIPSS.

Results: At 6 months, ePTFE-TIPSS showed a significantly lower porto-caval pressure gradient (PCPG) (9 (3-21) mmHg, P = 0.

Length and angle measurements of the lower extremity in digital composite overview images.

We here introduce a digital scanning method for determining leg length and angles. The leg length and angle measurements, image quality and radiation dose were evaluated. A composite overview image was reconstructed from a series of individual images.

Results of the safety and efficacy of iobitridol in more than 61,000 patients.

We present results of a postmarketing surveillance study with iobitridol (Xenetix, Sulzbach, Germany) in more than 61,000 patients from 1996 until 2000. The purpose of this study was the assessment of safety and diagnostic efficacy of the non-ionic contrast agent iobitridol in the setting of a post-marketing surveillance study. Iobitridol (Xenetix) has been registered in Germany since 1996.

Diameter changes of occluded venous coronary artery bypass grafts in electron beam tomography: preliminary findings.

Objective: To differentiate acute from chronic graft occlusions through diameter measurements by means of electron beam tomography (EBT).

Methods: Contrast enhanced EBT volume studies were carried out in 37 patients with one or more occluded venous coronary bypass grafts. Seventeen of 37 patients did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded from the assessment.

[Ultrasound at the bedside: does a portable ultrasound device save time?].

Aim: To prospectively determine whether the use of a portable ultrasound device results in a detectable reduction of the time required for acute ultrasound (US) assessment at the bedside.

Materials And Methods: A total of 125 patients underwent US at the bedside, among them 68 for abdominal assessment, 12 patients for chest or soft-tissue evaluation, and 45 patients with vascular disease. Five different US systems equipped with 3.

[Image quality and detection of pathology by ultrasound: comparison of B-mode ultrasound with photopic imaging and tissue harmonic imaging alone and in combination].

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of photopic imaging (PI) in detecting pathology by ultrasound (US) and to assess the image quality in direct comparison with conventional B-mode ultrasound and tissue harmonic imaging (THI).

Material And Methods: Fifty-two patients underwent US examination, among them 29 patients for abdominal assessment and 23 for otolaryngological assessment. A total of 208 freeze frames, 52 B-mode scans each with and without THI and 52 B-mode scans each with and without PI, were assessed by three readers, who determined the presence of pathology on a scale of 1 (definitely abnormal) to 5 (definitely normal).

[Diagnostic value of secretin injections in dynamic MR pancreatography].

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravenous injections of secretin during MRP procedures.

Material And Methods: From 1998 to 2001, 340 patients were examined with MRP. Depending on the native MRI/MRP diagnosis, 110 of them received an injection of secretin followed by multiple MRP's (every 2 minutes) up to 10 min after injection.

Diagnosis of Heerfordt's syndrome by state-of-the-art ultrasound in combination with parotid biopsy: a case report.

The parotid gland is rarely affected by sarcoidosis (6% of all cases). If there is initial parotitis, and other major symptoms include fever, uveitis, or facial paralysis, the condition is referred to as Heerfordt's syndrome. The case presented here describes the diagnostic work-up and differentiation of swelling of the parotid gland by employing state-of-the-art ultrasound techniques in a 33-year-old patient with Heerfordt's syndrome.

Optimization of contrast agent volume for helical CT in the diagnostic assessment of patients with severe and multiple injuries.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal amount of contrast agent for helical CT of the trunk during primary radiologic evaluation of polytraumatized patients.

Method: Eighty-three patients with severe and multiple injuries (mean age 36.2 years) underwent standardized helical CT examination with administration of a single contrast agent bolus of iohexol (Accupaque 300) at volumes of 120, 150, and 180 ml.

Rib artifacts in electron beam tomography: incidence and severity without and with the cone beam reconstruction algorithm.

Electron beam tomography (EBT) may be compromised by rib artifacts. Two hundred forty-seven abdominal studies were performed without (Group A, n = 222) or with (Group B, n = 25) the cone beam algorithm. One hundred eighty-six (83.

Focal liver lesions: evaluation of the efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine in MR imaging--a multicenter phase III clinical study.

Purpose: To evaluate gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) for dynamic and delayed magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of focal liver lesions.

Materials And Methods: In 126 of 214 patients, MR imaging was performed before Gd-BOPTA administration, immediately after bolus administration of a 0.05- mmol/kg dose of Gd-BOPTA, and 60-120 minutes after an additional intravenously infused 0.

[Value of negative oral contrast media in MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)].

Purpose: Evaluation of the use of a negative oral contrast material in MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).

Material And Methods: We performed MRCP in single-shot technique (TSE, TR = 2800 ms, TE = 1100 ms, ETL = 64) in 38 patients before and 20-30 min after oral administration of 300-600 ml of a negative oral contrast material. The visualization ducts and details important for the diagnosis was evaluated in a blinded manner.

Comparison of in-phase and out-of-phase gradient recalled echo T1-weighted pulse sequence for MR imaging of malignant liver masses following administration of paramagnetic gadolinium-chelate.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of in-phase and out-of-phase gradient recalled echo (GRE) pulse sequences on paramagnetic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of malignant liver lesions.

Methods: Fifty patients (27 women, 23 men; mean age = 50 +/- 27 years) with known or suspected focal liver lesions, nine of whom had a fatty liver, were examined at 1.5 T before and 60 min after injection of gadobenate dimeglumine at a dose of 0.

[The use of automated speech recognition in diagnostic radiology].

Purpose: Applicability and benefits of digital speech recognition in diagnostic radiology were tested using the speech recognition system SP 6000.

Methods: The speech recognition system SP 6000 was integrated into the network of the institute and connected to the existing Radiological Information System (RIS). Three subjects used this system for writing 2305 findings from dictation.

Experimental study of X-ray mammography in a fluid bath: reduced radiation dose and improved detail resolution.

Objective: To determine the effects on x-ray mammography of embedding the breast in a fluid bath.

Methods: A plexiglass phantom in the shape of a compressed breast was x-rayed in air and water with a mammography unit, and the radiation dose was measured by 20 thermoluminescence dosimeters placed in 20 representative positions on the surface of the phantom. Udders from slaughtered sheep as an animal model and phantoms were examined by mammography in identical positions surrounded by air and different fluids.

[Interventional radiology--an option in minimally invasive therapy].

Percutan transluminal angioplasty (incl. implantation of stents) in the region of pelvic arteries and renal arteries, ct-guided facet joint injections/epidural injections and ct-guided block of lumbar sympathetic chain are some examples for the possibilities of interventional radiology as minimal invasive therapy. Indications, technique, clinical correlation, results and complications are described and discussed.

MR imaging of the liver with Gd-BOPTA: quantitative analysis of T1-weighted images at two different doses.

This study evaluates the efficacy of gadobentate-dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) for enhancement of liver signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and lesion-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) on T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) and gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) images at two different doses. Fifty patients with known or suspected liver lesions were examined at 1.5 T.

Evaluation of liposomal contrast agents for liver CT in healthy rabbits.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the efficiency of two new liposomal contrast agents aimed at the reticuloendothelial system for liver CT in comparison to an extracellular contrast agent.

Methods: Two liposomal contrast agents (BR2 and BR21, respectively), containing free as well as encapsulated iomeprol at different concentrations, and commercially available free extracellular iomeprol were studied. In 60 experiments, the three contrast agents were tested at five different doses in rabbits.

Colour-coded duplex sonography in the diagnostic assessment of vascular complications after kidney transplantation in children.

Background: Vascular complications are a major cause of dysfunction or transplant loss in children. Arterial or venous occlusion, transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) and some arteriovenous (AV) fistula require rapid detection and prompt intervention. The present study was performed to determine the accuracy of colour Doppler sonography (CDS) in the early and late phase after renal transplantation and to correlate the results with angiographic and intraoperative findings.

Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the liver: comparison between Gd-BOPTA and Mangafodipir.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the MR contrast agents gadolinium benzyloxypropionictetro-acetate (Gd-BOPTA) and Mangafodipir for liver enhancement and the lesion-liver contrast on T1W spin-echo (SE) and gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) images. Fifty-one patients (three groups of 17 patients each) with known or suspected liver lesions were evaluated with T1W SE (300/12) and GRE (77-80/2.3-2.