Steady-state MRA techniques with a blood pool contrast agent improve visualization of pulmonary venous anatomy and left atrial patency compared with time-resolved MRA pre- and postcatheter ablation in atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: To compare steady-state magnetic resonance angiography (SS-MRA), using a blood pool contrast agent, with the established technique of time-resolved MRA (TR-MRA), in pulmonary vein mapping and left atrial patency.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-one patients (12 males, age 58.3 ± 8.

Myocardial T2-mapping and velocity mapping: changes in regional left ventricular structure and function after heart transplantation.

Monitoring post cardiac transplant (TX) status relies on frequent invasive techniques such as endomyocardial biopsies and right heart cardiac catheterization. The aim of this study was to noninvasively evaluate regional myocardial structure, function, and dyssynchrony in TX patients. Myocardial T2-mapping and myocardial velocity mapping of the left ventricle (basal, midventricular, and apical short-axis locations) was applied in 10 patients after cardiac transplantation (49 ± 13 years, n = 2 with signs of mild rejection, time between TX and MRI = 1-64 months) and compared to healthy controls (n = 20 for myocardial velocity mapping and n = 14 for T2).

Accuracy of MR elastography and anatomic MR imaging features in the diagnosis of severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging elastography (MRE) and anatomic MRI features in the diagnosis of severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: Three readers independently assessed presence of morphological changes associated with hepatic fibrosis in 72 patients with liver biopsy including: caudate to right lobe ratios, nodularity, portal venous hypertension (PVH) stigmata, posterior hepatic notch, expanded gallbladder fossa, and right hepatic vein caliber. Three readers measured shear stiffness values using quantitative shear stiffness maps (elastograms).

New radiological typing system for rhinosinusitis and comparison with existing system: initial finding.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the proposed Malan radiological sinusitis typing (RST) system facilitated a level of agreement and ease of use comparable with the Lund-Mackay (LM) system for chronic rhinosinusitis. Ten observers (one otolaryngologist and nine radiologists), in two separate centres (regional and tertiary), blinded to all clinical data, used these two systems to independently and randomly score and type 15 sets of scans, recording the time to score each film. Using unweighted kappa scores, both methods facilitated a moderate level of agreement, slightly better with the LM system.

The use of Acticoat in neonatal burns.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Acticoat use in primary burn injuries and other skin injuries in premature neonates.

Procedures: An audit of eight premature neonates who sustained burn injuries and other cutaneous injuries from various agents were treated with Acticoat. Serum silver levels were measured in three neonates.