New packaging methods of body packers: Role of advanced imaging in their detection. A case study.

Body packing is one of the common ways to traffic illicit drugs. Drug mules usually swallow or insert drugs within the gastrointestinal tract or other orifices. Detection of such drug packets has become difficult because of the constantly improving packaging techniques and the sophistication used by traffickers.

Ruptured Berry Aneurysm as the initial presentation of Polycystic Kidney Disease: A case report and review of literature.

Intra-cranial saccular aneurysms, also known as Berry aneurysms, have a well-known association with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Aneurysmal rupture can be the initial presentation of the disease. ADPKD has two types of gene mutations: PKD1 and PKD2.

Pulmonary venous varix associated with mitral regurgitation mimicking a mediastinal mass: A case report and review of the literature.

Pulmonary vein varix is an unusual cause of a mediastinal mass on a chest radiograph. It may be found as an isolated malformation or as a sequela of pulmonary venous hypertension. We encountered a case presenting with left hemiparesis and a past medical history of rheumatic heart disease.

Bilateral symmetrical comparison of the proximal femur using 3D-CT models.

Purpose: Superimposed three-dimensional (3D)-models obtained from CT-images have been used to evaluate displacement of femoral neck fractures, but this method assumes symmetrical anatomy of normal femurs. The present study aimed to compare the spatial orientation of the left and right proximal femur, thus establishing if 3D models can be used as a reference standard for the evaluation of fracture displacement.

Methods: We generated 3D-CT-models of 20 patients with no skeletal pathology of the proximal femurs.

Intracranial Teratoma: Imaging, Intraoperative, and Pathologic Features: AIRP Best Cases in Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation.

Editor's Note.-RadioGraphics continues to publish radiologic-pathologic case material selected from the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) "best case" presentations. The AIRP conducts a 4-week Radiologic Pathology Correlation Course, which is offered five times per year.

Tuberculous spondylitis presenting as severe chest pain.

This case report describes a 32-year-old male who presented to an emergency department with severe chest pain and a history of cough, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight. Chest radiography revealed a left upper lobe consolidation and multiple compression deformities in the thoracic spine. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated significant kyphosis and vertebral plana at two thoracic levels.

MRI of the cuboid bone: analysis of changes in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients and their clinical significance.

Objectives: (1) To investigate the association between diabetes and marrow changes in the cuboid; and (2) to evaluate the influence of age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and use of insulin in the occurrence of marrow changes in the cuboid.

Research Design And Methods: MR and X-ray foot examinations of 237 patients [94 males, 143 females; mean age, 47.1 years (range 16-93 years)], five of whom underwent bilateral examinations, were reviewed.

The Guyon's canal in perspective: 3-T MRI assessment of the normal anatomy, the anatomical variations and the Guyon's canal syndrome.

Purposes: (1) To revisit the anatomical boundaries of the canal, its contents and its two channels, (2) to describe the anatomical variations of the canal's borders and the variations of its contents, and (3) to discuss the clinical relevance of the Guyon's canal syndrome.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty MR wrists examinations were reviewed. MR spin echo T1-weighted axial slices were used to analyze the Guyon's canal.

MRI spectrum of bone changes in the diabetic foot.

Purposes: (1) To assess the prevalence of bone marrow changes in the diabetic foot and (2) to discuss the clinical significance of these changes.

Methods: 85 patients with radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) foot examinations were selected. Inclusion criteria were clinical diagnosis of diabetes and bone changes on radiographs and MRI.

MRI of the Achilles tendon: a comprehensive review of the anatomy, biomechanics, and imaging of overuse tendinopathies.

The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body; it plays an important role in the biomechanics of the lower extremity. It can withstand great forces, especially during sporting exercises and pivoting. The pathologies related to the Achilles tendon are diverse and many carry undesirable consequences.

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2-induced heterotopic ossification of the retroperitoneum, psoas muscle, pelvis and abdominal wall following lumbar spinal fusion.

A 45-year-old man presented with vertebral collapse at L5 as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma and underwent spinal fusion surgery using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Subsequent computed tomography (CT) scans and X-rays revealed heterotopic ossification of the left psoas muscle, pelvis, and anterior abdominal wall. While the occurrence of heterotopic ossification has previously been reported when rhBMP-2 has been used for spinal fusion surgery, this case demonstrates that it can occur to a much greater degree than previously seen.

MRI of the median nerve and median artery in the carpal tunnel: prevalence of their anatomical variations and clinical significance.

Objective: Anatomical variations of the median nerve and the persistent median artery (PMA) in the carpal tunnel (CT) are important to understand for their clinical and surgical significance. The aim of this cohort retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of aberrant median nerve branches and persistent median artery in the CT in a selected population using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: MR wrist images of 194 patients, 77 males and 117 females, aged 12-80 years were randomly selected and retrieved from our clinical and radiology data base.

Congenital absence of the semimembranosus muscle: case report.

Congenital anomalies of the muscles of the lower extremity are rare. A case of complete absence of the semimembranosus muscle incidentally found with magnetic resonance imaging is reported. The patient was a 55-year-old female presenting with knee pain and no previous history of trauma.

Multiple occult wrist bone injuries and joint effusions: prevalence and distribution on MRI.

This study aims (1) to assess the prevalence and distribution of multiple occult injuries of the carpal bones and the distal forearm in patients with wrist pain and negative radiographs following trauma and (2) to evaluate the distribution and significance of joint effusions in the wrists with multiple osseous injuries. One hundred and thirty-one subjects, 74 men and 57 women, were consecutively examined in two institutions. All were acute trauma patients with negative X-rays whose clinical examination suggested possible fracture at the wrist or the distal forearm.

Bone marrow edema: pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and imaging.

Bone marrow edema (BME) has been a topic of increasing interest in the literature in recent years. BME is associated with numerous pathologies and is becoming recognized not only as a considerable pain generator, but also as an entity which is, in some cases, significantly linked to the worsening of patient prognosis. To date, no thorough imaging review of BME has been published.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the triangular fibrocartilage complex lesions: a comprehensive clinicoradiologic approach and review of the literature.

Objective: This article illustrates the frequent lesions of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) by means of magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of the magnetic resonance images of 109 patients from our database. All subjects had history of trauma, and all underwent both radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging examination of the wrist.

Osmolarity: a decisive parameter of bowel agents in intestinal magnetic resonance imaging.

The aim was to evaluate the importance of the osmolarity of different oral agents for bowel distension and the level of related adverse events. The longitudinal design included the exposition of different oral MR agents on two separate occasions. Four groups of volunteers were randomly given 350 ml gastrografin of three different concentrations and water.

Postlymphoproliferative disorder affecting bone after a renal transplantation.

Objective: To illustrate a posttransplant lymphoproliferative lymphoma presenting as a solitary osseous lesion situated in the rib.

Clinical Features: A 53-year-old man was referred to a surgical department because of persistent local pain over the lower part of his left posterior hemithorax. Due to a previous history of chronic glomerulonephritis, a renal transplant was performed 7 years previously, followed by immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine cyclophosphamide.

Deforming lipoblastomatosis of the lower extremity.

Objective: Lipoblastomatosis is a rare disorder in infants and children and nonexistent in adults. We discuss a case of a newborn child with lipoblastomatosis extensively involving the pelvis and lower extremities. The clinical and radiological characteristics of the disorder are discussed.

Clinical and radiological manifestations of the rheumatoid wrist. A comprehensive review.

Objective: The intent of this review article is to present the common clinical and radiological features of the rheumatoid wrist as seen in everyday practice. Imaging of the rheumatoid wrist is discussed with emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its current and future role in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of the disease.

Data Source: A search of the current medical literature from 1990 to present through PubMed was performed without constraints.

Pediatric excretory MR urography: comparative study of enhanced and non-enhanced techniques.

Our purpose was to compare the quality of ureteral imaging in pediatric patients using two different MR sequences: the non-enhanced heavily T2-weighted (W) turbo spin-echo sequence (TSE) and the gadolinium-enhanced T1W fast-field-echo sequence (T1 FFE). An experimental study on three pigs was first performed. The TSE, before and after furosemide injection, was followed by the T1 FFE sequence.

Magnetic resonance assessment of the double-crush phenomenon in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a bilateral quantitative study.

Our main goal was to assess the coexistence of narrowed cervical foramens and cervical canal stenosis in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We took magnetic resonance (MR) images of 120 wrists and 480 foramens in 60 age and sex matched subjects (30 patients with CTS and 30 controls). All patients had nerve conduction velocity tests before MR examination.

Does carpal canal stenosis predict outcome in women with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Objective: We investigated the role of carpal canal stenosis as a predictor of outcome in patients who underwent surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods: We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist in 31 female patients with clinically and neurophysiologically confirmed CTS. With a computerized analyser we quantitatively calculated the focal narrowest point of the tunnel.

[Carpal tunnel syndrome].

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common mononeuropathy. Typical symptoms include pain or discomfort in the hand, paresthesia, weakness and altered temperature or dryness of the skin along with neurophysiological findings. The presence of these symptoms in the area of the median nerve distribution supports the diagnosis.