Cardiac Computed Tomography-Derived Left Atrial Volume Index as a Predictor of Long-Term Success of Cryo-Ablation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) are frequently treated with catheter ablation. Cryo-ablation has been established as an alternative to radiofrequency ablation but long-term outcome data are still limited. This study aimed at elucidating the influence of the left atrial volume index (LAVI), derived from cardiac computed tomography (cCT) data, on the long-term outcome of ablation-naïve AF patients, after their first cryo-ablation.

Monocenter Investigation Micra® MRI study (MIMICRY): feasibility study of the magnetic resonance imaging compatibility of a leadless pacemaker system.

Aims: As in vivo real-life data are still scarce, we conducted a study to assess the safety and feasibility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a leadless pacemaker system.

Methods And Results: In this prospective non-randomized interventional trial, we enrolled 15 patients with an MRI conditional Micra® leadless pacemaker system to undergo either a 1.5 T or 3.

Artefacts in 1.5 Tesla and 3 Tesla cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in patients with leadless cardiac pacemakers.

Background: There are limited data on patients with leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCP) undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. The aim of this prospective, single-center, observational study was to evaluate artefacts on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) images in patients with LCP.

Methods: Fifteen patients with Micra™ LCP, implanted at least 6 weeks prior to CMR scan, were enrolled and underwent either 1.

Pediatric spine imaging post scoliosis surgery.

Many orthopedic articles describe advances in surgical techniques and implants used in pediatric scoliosis surgery. However, even though postoperative spine imaging constitutes a large portion of outpatient musculoskeletal pediatric radiology, few, if any, radiology articles discuss this topic. There has been interval advancement over the last decades of the orthopedic procedures used in the treatment of spinal scoliosis in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

Small bowel obstruction due to ingestion of rubber balls.

We report a case of a 10-month-old girl who presented with a 10-day history of emesis that became bilious on the last day. The initial evaluation suggested small bowel obstruction. An upper gastrointestinal study confirmed the normal location of the duodenojejunal junction with normal rotation and no evidence of midgut volvulus.

Ultrasonographic detection of air in the superior sagittal sinus in a neonate with transposition of the great arteries.

Cerebral venous air embolism is a relatively rare condition that arises from iatrogenic or traumatic introduction of air into the venous system. We describe the ultrasonographic findings in a 1-day-old infant with iatrogenic retrograde cerebral venous air embolism, which to our knowledge, is the earliest case reported in the literature to date. This case highlights the role of cerebral ultrasonography in the detection and surveillance of cerebral venous air embolism in neonates.

Should grade of solid organ injury determine need for hospitalization in children?

Background: Management of solid organ injuries (SOI) in children is often predicated on radiologic grade of injury. Hypothesizing that grade may not necessarily determine hospitalization need, we investigated factors associated with hospitalization in cases of isolated SOI in children.

Methods: Retrospective review of all cases admitted to one pediatric trauma centre over 10 yrs revealed 86 cases with SOI established by computed tomography (CT) scan upon admission.

Identification of blunt abdominal injuries in children.

Background: The use of computed tomography (CT) to screen for injuries in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is increasing, concurrent with increasing concern over long-term risk of radiation-associated malignancies. We proposed to determine features that could be identified in the early assessment of these patients, which can predict the likelihood of clinically important intra-abdominal injuries warranting imaging by CT. We further queried if these were discrepant from factors associated with the decision to obtain an abdominal CT.

Bilateral adrenal EBV-associated smooth muscle tumors in a child with a natural killer cell deficiency.

EBV-associated smooth muscle tumors are found in immunocompromised patients, most commonly HIV/AIDS. We present a 12-year-old girl with the first documented case of EBV-related smooth muscle tumors in the presence of a rare classic NK cell deficiency. This sheds light on the role of NK cells in controlling EBV-related smooth muscle tumors.

Identification of a variety of Staphylococcus species by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Whole-cell fingerprinting by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in combination with a dedicated bioinformatic software tool (MALDI Biotyper 2.0) was used to identify 152 staphylococcal strains corresponding to 22 staphylococcal species. Spectra of the 152 isolates, previously identified at the species level using a sodA gene-based oligonucleotide array, were analyzed against the main spectra of 3,030 microorganisms.

Radiological assessment of lumbosacral dystrophic changes in high-grade spondylolisthesis.

Objective: To analyse radiographic correlates for the clinical status of patients and the deformation reducibility of high-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis. We also clarify the clinical and radiographic correlates of a new parameter for S1 dystrophy, the "S1 index".

Design And Patients: One hundred cases of high-grade isthmic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis were reviewed.

Imaging of traumatic dislocation of the hip in childhood.

Background: Traumatic hip dislocation in childhood is a rare consequence of violent trauma. After reduction, outcome is usually favourable although epiphyseal necrosis can occur. Reduction must be carried out as soon as possible and is achieved easily, although if the labrum is involved, surgery may be required to achieve complete reduction.

Did Ramesses II really have ankylosing spondylitis? A reappraisal.

Objective: To challenge the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis in the mummy of Ramesses II that was suggested about 30 years ago and to propose a differential diagnosis for the changes that were detected in the mummy's spine and pelvis.

Methods: We read and interpreted both the published and unpublished radiographs of the mummy.

Results: Changes in the mummy's spine and pelvis included ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament at the cervical spine level, ossified enthesopathy of both the right and left rectus femoris tendons as well as the right ischial tuberosity, a large osteophyte at both acetabula margins, no ankylosis of the cervical apophyseal joints and no ankylosis of the right sacroiliac joint.

Osteomyelitis in infants and children.

Infection of the pediatric skeletal system is a dramatic diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The consequences of a missed diagnosis could lead to long-lasting functional sequelae. This disease has multiple aspects according to the clinical presentation and evolution, the causative microorganism, the site of infection, and, finally, the patient's age and immunological status.

Prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia.

Introduction: Diastematomyelia, also termed split cord malformation, is a form of occult spinal dysraphism characterized by a cleft in the spinal cord. Prenatal diagnosis of this anomaly is possible by ultrasonography (US), and fetal MRI can be used to diagnose the type of diastematomyelia precisely. Diastematomyelia can be isolated or associated with other dysraphisms, segmental anomalies of the vertebral bodies, or visceral malformations (horseshoe or ectopic kidney, utero-ovarian malformation, and anorectal malformation).