Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Restaging and Response to Therapy.

This article describes the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET in patients who have head and neck cancer for assessment of therapy response, detection of locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis, and surveillance.

18F-FDG PET/CT in primary central nervous system lymphoma in HIV-negative patients.

Objective: To determine the value of F-FDG PET/CT in the different manifestations of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in HIV-negative patients.

Methods: All PCNSL and HIV-negative patients referred for PET/CT in our institution from July 2001 to June 2006 were retrospectively studied. PET/CT examinations were reviewed by two experienced readers and evaluated for each possible anatomical site of nervous system involvement: cerebral, spinal/nerve and ocular.

Focal F-18 fluoro-deoxy-glucose accumulation in the lung parenchyma in the absence of CT abnormality in PET/CT.

Objective: To demonstrate 3 cases of artifactual focal F-18 fluoro-deoxy-glucose accumulation in the lung parenchyma in the absence of any computed tomographic (CT) abnormality.

Materials And Methods: Three patients were examined: a 30-year-old man who had a positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography for restaging a biopsy-proven recurrence of head and neck cancer, a 68-year-old woman who was referred for initial staging of esophageal carcinoma, and a 57-year-old man who had a PET/computed tomography for initial staging of melanoma. In each case, there was intense focal activity in the lung parenchyma with no corresponding CT abnormality.

[18F]Fluoro-L-dopa PET/CT in congenital hyperinsulinism.

Congenital hyperinsulinism can be divided into diffuse or focal form. The treatment and outcome depend on distinguishing between the 2 forms. Pancreatic venous sampling was the only method available to localize the insulin secretion.

Hibernoma: 18F FDG PET/CT imaging.

The patient was a 40-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma of the left posterior thigh. Follow-up positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) examination revealed an intensely FDG-avid lesion that predominantly contained fat in the right postero-lateral chest wall involving the latissimus dorsi. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirate and core biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of hibernoma rather than melanoma metastasis.

Clinical significance of diffusely increased 18F-FDG uptake in the thyroid gland.

Unlabelled: Our purpose was to determine the clinical significance of diffusely increased (18)F-FDG uptake in the thyroid gland as an incidental finding on PET/CT.

Methods: All patients who were found to have diffuse thyroid uptake on (18)F-FDG PET/CT in our institution between November 2004 and June 2006 were investigated and compared with an age- and sex-matched control group. The (18)F-FDG uptake in the thyroid was semiquantified using maximum standardized uptake value and correlated to the available serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody levels using regression analysis.

Contribution of F-18 FDG PET-CT in the detection of systemic spread of primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Purpose: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) accounts for approximately 3% of all primary brain tumors and 1% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Detection of systemic spread of PCNSL, although rare (4%), is very important since therapy is usually modified. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is commonly used for systemic staging of PCNSL.

Diagnosis of lower limb deep venous thrombosis in emergency department patients: performance of Hamilton and modified Wells scores.

Study Objective: We validate and compare the Hamilton score for assessment of lower limb deep venous thrombosis with the modified Wells score.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary center for suspected lower limb deep venous thrombosis were prospectively recruited. Hamilton score and modified Wells score calculations, D-dimer, and complete (calf veins included), single lower limb ultrasonographic examination were performed for all patients.

Does an immunochromatographic D-dimer exclude acute lower limb deep venous thrombosis?

Background: A pre-test probability score and D-dimer may reduce the need for ultrasound examinations for excluding lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Objective: To establish the accuracy of an immunochromatographic D-dimer assay called 'Simplify' for diagnosis of acute DVT by complete (calf veins included) lower limb ultrasound examination.

Methods: A total of 453 consecutive patients presented to the ED of a tertiary centre with suspected first episode of DVT, were prospectively recruited.

Radiology curriculum topics for medical students: students' perspectives.

Rationale And Objective: We sought to establish medical students' perspectives of a set of curriculum topics for radiology teaching.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter study was conducted in New Zealand. A modified Delphi method was adopted.

Importance of pretest probability score and D-dimer assay before sonography for lower limb deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to develop and validate a clinical score (the Hamilton score) for the assessment of lower limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and to determine the usefulness of this score and a D-dimer assay before a complete lower limb sonographic examination.

Subjects And Methods: Five hundred forty-two consecutive ambulatory patients presenting to the emergency department were prospectively recruited, of whom 16 patients were excluded from the study. Eighteen history and examination variables were collected by the emergency department physicians.

Deep venous thrombosis: withholding anticoagulation therapy after negative complete lower limb US findings.

Purpose: To establish the safety of withholding anticoagulation therapy after negative findings at a complete lower limb ultrasonographic (US) examination of the symptomatic leg for suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Materials And Methods: Regional ethics committee approval and patient consent were obtained. A total of 542 consecutive ambulatory patients presented to the emergency department and were prospectively recruited from April 2001 to May 2003.

Transverse sinus septum: a new aetiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension?

A venographic cryptic stenosis at the junction of middle and lateral third of the transverse sinus has been observed in patients suffering from idiopathic intracranial hypertension. After reviewing the anatomical and embryological literature of the transverse sinus, 20 transverse sinuses were explored (in a pilot study of 10 human cadavers) in order to determine the anatomical basis of this stenosis. The presence of septa of varying sizes was observed.

Medical student radiology training: what are the objectives for contemporary medical practice?

Rationale And Objectives: The authors attempt to provide a set of objectives for medical student training in radiology for contemporary medical practice.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire containing a list of educational objectives was sent to 32 radiologists in charge of medical student training in radiology at accredited residency programs in Australia and New Zealand. The importance of including each preselected objective in the curriculum was measured by respondents' agreement or disagreement on a scale of 1-6.

High-pressure water injection injury: emergency presentation and management.

Presentations of high-pressure water blaster injuries to the emergency department are varied. Though these injuries are sometimes described as a 'benign variant' of high-pressure injection injuries, external appearances can be deceptive. These injuries can produce an unexpected pattern of severe internal injury and infectious complications.