Magnetic resonance bone imaging: applications to vertebral lesions.

MR bone imaging is a recently introduced technique, that allows visualization of bony structures in good contrast against adjacent structures, like CT. Although CT has long been considered the modality of choice for bone imaging, MR bone imaging allows visualization of the bone without radiation exposure while simultaneously allowing conventional MR images to be obtained. Accordingly, MR bone imaging is expected as a new imaging technique for the diagnosis of miscellaneous spinal diseases.

High-resolution computed tomography findings for patients with drug-induced pulmonary toxicity, with special reference to hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like patterns in gemcitabine-induced cases.

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) is widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, pulmonary toxicity has been rarely observed with GEM use. This article aims to determine the incidence and causes of drug-induced pulmonary toxicity, and to classify the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings for antitumor therapy-associated pulmonary toxicity based on characteristic patterns and pathological considerations, with a special focus on GEM-associated pulmonary toxicity (GAPT).

A case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma revealed with limitation of PET-CT in the diagnosis of thoracic metastasis.

A 47-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of a 2-month history of dry cough, 2-kg weight loss, and a feeling of abdominal fullness. The PET-CT scan depicts the intense standard uptake values (SUVs) of the anterior and subphrenic lymphnodes, and intraperitoneal cavity, especially in the omentum, while, no uptake was found in the pleural cavity. Based on the pathological findings of the open lung biopsy specimens, he was diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma of epithelioid type with thoracic metastasis.

High-resolution CT findings of patients with pulmonary nocardiosis.

Background: Opportunistic pulmonary infection with Nocardia species is rare in humans, and only a few studies have radiologically analyzed patients with pulmonary nocardiosis using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with pulmonary nocardiosis at our hospital between April 2006 and December 2011 to assess HRCT and clinical findings. We also searched the medical literature for pulmonary nocardiosis reported in Japan between 2002 and 2011 for comparison.