Dual-energy CT with iodine quantification in distinguishing between bland and neoplastic portal vein thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with iodine quantification compared to conventional enhancement measurements in distinguishing bland from neoplastic portal vein thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Material And Methods: Thirty-four patients (26 men, eight women; mean age, 62 years) with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy MDCT during the late hepatic arterial phase for the assessment of portal thrombosis (bland, n=21; neoplastic, n=13). Datasets were analysed separately by two different readers.

CT patterns of pleuro-pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of pumice as a model of pneumoconiosis from non-fibrous amorphous silicates.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to correlate the radiological features of pleuro-pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of pumice (an extrusive volcanic rock classified as a non-fibrous, amorphous, complex silicate) with exposure conditions.

Materials And Methods: 36 subjects employed in the pumice quarries were evaluated for annual follow-up in a preventive medical surveillance program including spirometry, chest CT lasting from 1999 to 2014. They were only male subjects, mean age 56.

Nonlinear image blending for dual-energy MDCT of the abdomen: can image quality be preserved if the contrast medium dose is reduced?

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the image quality of a dual-energy nonlinear image blending technique at reduced load of contrast medium with a simulated 120-kVp linear blending technique at a full dose during portal venous phase MDCT of the abdomen.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-five patients (25 men, 20 women; mean age, 65.6 ± 9.

Iodine quantification to distinguish clear cell from papillary renal cell carcinoma at dual-energy multidetector CT: a multireader diagnostic performance study.

Purpose: To investigate whether dual-energy multidetector row computed tomographic (CT) imaging with iodine quantification is able to distinguish between clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma ( RCC renal cell carcinoma ) subtypes.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective, HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board-approved study, 88 patients (57 men, 31 women) with diagnosis of either clear cell or papillary RCC renal cell carcinoma at pathologic analysis, who underwent contrast material-enhanced dual-energy nephrographic phase study between December 2007 and June 2013, were included. Five readers, blinded to pathologic diagnosis, independently evaluated all cases by determining the lesion iodine concentration on color-coded iodine maps.

Accuracy of contrast-enhanced dual-energy MDCT for the assessment of iodine uptake in renal lesions.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess the accuracy of iodine-related attenuation and iodine quantification as imaging biomarkers of iodine uptake in renal lesions on a single-phase nephrographic image with dual-energy MDCT.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-nine patients (41 men, 18 women; age range, 28-84 years) with 80 renal lesions underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT during the nephrographic phase of enhancement. Renal lesions were characterized as enhancing or nonenhancing on color-coded iodine overlay maps using iodine-related attenuation (in Hounsfield units) and iodine quantification (in milligrams per milliliter).

Distinguishing enhancing from nonenhancing renal masses with dual-source dual-energy CT: iodine quantification versus standard enhancement measurements.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of iodine quantification and standard enhancement measurements in distinguishing enhancing from nonenhancing renal masses.

Materials And Methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective study conducted from data found in institutional patient databases and archives. Seventy-two renal masses were characterised as enhancing or nonenhancing using standard enhancement measurements (in HU) and iodine quantification (in mg/ml).

Comparison between (99m)Tc-diphosphonate imaging and MRI with late gadolinium enhancement in evaluating cardiac involvement in patients with transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy.

Objective: Cardiac involvement is not rare in systemic amyloidosis and is associated with poor prognosis. Both (99m)Tc-diphosphonate imaging and cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement are considered valuable tools in revealing amyloid deposition in the myocardium; however, to our knowledge, no comparative study between the two techniques exists. We compared findings of these two techniques in patients with transthyretin-familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP).

Single-phase dual-energy CT urography in the evaluation of haematuria.

Aim: To assess the value of a single-phase dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) urography protocol with synchronous nephrographic-excretory phase enhancement and to calculate the potential dose reduction by omitting the unenhanced scan.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-four patients referred for haematuria underwent CT urography using a protocol that included single-energy unenhanced and dual-energy contrast-enhanced with synchronous nephrographic-excretory phase scans. DECT-based images [virtual unenhanced (VUE), weighted average, and colour-coded iodine overlay] were reconstructed.

MR enterography findings in abdominopelvic extraintestinal complications of Crohn's disease.

MR of the small bowel is a useful technique for the evaluation of both intraluminal and extraluminal pathologic involvement of the small bowel in patients with Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is associated with a range of extraintestinal complications that sometimes may be the initial presenting symptoms. Some of these extraintestinal complications may not correlate with disease activity, but in general, they tend to follow the clinical course of disease and may have a high impact on life quality, morbidity, and even mortality in these patients.

CT-MR integrated diagnostic imaging of the oral cavity: neoplastic disease.

The oral cavity is a complex anatomical region consisting of different anatomical sites and subsites. Cancer undoubtedly represents the most frequent and relevant disease of this region. Clinical examination is often the first approach to oral cavity tumours.

Dual-energy CT for detection of endoleaks after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair: usefulness of colored iodine overlay.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the value of dual-source dual-energy CT with colored iodine overlay for detection of endoleaks after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. We also calculated the potential dose reduction by using a dual-energy CT single-phase protocol.

Subjects And Methods: From November 2007 to November 2009, 74 patients underwent CT angiography 2-7 days after endovascular repair during single-energy unenhanced and dual-energy venous phases.

Guide to magnetic resonance in Crohn's disease: from common findings to the more rare complicances.

Considering that multiple imaging examinations are often necessary for monitoring Crohn's disease (CD) activity and severity in order to guide and monitor appropriate treatment, the ideal imaging test would be reproducible, well tolerated by patients, and free of ionizing radiation. For these reasons recent studies have highlighted the role of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique optimized for small bowel imaging in the evaluation of small bowel disorders. In this regard there are two main methodological approaches represented by MR enterography, following administration of an oral contrast medium, and MR enteroclysis, following administration of contrast medium through a nasojejuneal tube.

Muscle fat fraction in neuromuscular disorders: dual-echo dual-flip-angle spoiled gradient-recalled MR imaging technique for quantification--a feasibility study.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the muscle fat fraction (MFF) measured with dual-echo dual-flip-angle spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state (SPGR) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique by using muscle biopsy as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: After ethics approval, written informed consent from all patients was obtained. Twenty-seven consecutive patients, evaluated at the Neuromuscular Disorders Center with a possible diagnosis of neuromuscular disorder, were prospectively studied with MR imaging of the lower extremities to quantify muscle fatty infiltration by means of MFF calculation.

Heart failure diagnosis: the role of echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Heart failure (HF) is the final common pathway of any heart disease, being a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography is the most useful tool in the diagnosis of HF: echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is generally associated with a dilated left ventricle (LV) and a reduced LV ejection fraction (EF). In many patients (pts) with symptoms of HF, however, EF and LV volumes are normal.

Simultaneous recognition of myocardial, pleural and pulmonary parenchyma inflammation by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high accuracy in the diagnosis of many inflammatory cardiac diseases. We report a case of a patient where cardiac MRI was able to identify inflammation of myocardium, pleura and pulmonary parenchyma.

Cerebral transient ischemic attack due to left ventricular thrombus formation in a young patient with silent myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries.

Among many cardiac diseases related to cerebral stroke, left ventricular thrombus formation due to silent myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries represents a rare cause of cerebral ischemia. We describe an unusual case of cerebral ischemia due to cardiac thrombus formation in a young patient with silent myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteries in which echocardiography and cardiac MR imaging clearly showed the embolic source.

Volume rendering based on magnetic resonance imaging: advances in understanding the three-dimensional anatomy of the human knee.

The choice of medical imaging techniques, for the purpose of the present work aimed at studying the anatomy of the knee, derives from the increasing use of images in diagnostics, research and teaching, and the subsequent importance that these methods are gaining within the scientific community. Medical systems using virtual reality techniques also offer a good alternative to traditional methods, and are considered among the most important tools in the areas of research and teaching. In our work we have shown some possible uses of three-dimensional imaging for the study of the morphology of the normal human knee, and its clinical applications.

Complex cystic renal masses: characterization with contrast-enhanced US.

Purpose: To prospectively compare contrast material-enhanced ultrasonography (US) with computed tomography (CT) in the classification of complex cystic renal masses with the Bosniak system.

Materials And Methods: Ethics committee approval and written informed consent were obtained. Forty patients (17 women, 23 men; age range, 31-77 years) with 44 complex cystic renal masses detected with conventional US were prospectively examined by using second-harmonic US with a second-generation contrast agent and multiphasic helical CT.

Ultrasonography in the early diagnosis of psoriasis-associated enthesopathy.

The aim of the present study was to detect entheseal abnormalities by means of ultrasonography (US) in patients with psoriasis. We evaluated 24 patients with psoriasis who underwent clinical and ultrasonographic examination of both lower limbs at the calcaneal insertions of the Achilles tendons and at the flexor and extensor tendons of all fingers of the hand. Fourteen patients with psoriatic arthritis were used as controls.

CT and MR imaging findings in athletes with early tibial stress injuries: comparison with bone scintigraphy findings and emphasis on cortical abnormalities.

Purpose: To prospectively compare computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and bone scintigraphy in athletes with clinically suspected early stress injury of tibia.

Materials And Methods: Medical ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. A total of 42 patients experiencing tibial pain due to early stress injuries were evaluated.

Combined magnetic resonance urography and targeted helical CT in patients with renal colic: a new approach to reduce delivered dose.

Purpose: To determine whether magnetic resonance urography (MRU), obtained before helical computed tomography (CT) in patients with acute renal colic, can help delimit the obstructed area to be subsequently examined by a targeted CT scan, thus reducing the dose of radiation.

Materials And Methods: Patients (51) with symptoms of acute renal colic underwent MRU and a total urinary tract helical CT. CT images from the 5 cm below the level of ureteral obstruction as demonstrated by MRU were selected out.

Harmonic US imaging of vesicoureteric reflux in children: usefulness of a second generation US contrast agent.

Background: Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (VUS) is largely accepted both for the diagnosis and follow-up of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced second-harmonic VUS in the diagnosis and grading of VUR, using a second-generation contrast agent.

Materials And Methods: Eighty consecutive children were prospectively studied with contrast-enhanced second-harmonic VUS.

Computed tomography in dental implantology: medico-legal implications.

Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in both the planning of dental implants and the follow-up evaluation of the procedure. It is widely known that computed tomography (CT) together with Dentascan software is the most accurate imaging technique in the planning of implant treatment. Unlike conventional radiological techniques, CT enables the three-dimensional evaluation of the bone without the overlapping of adjacent structures, as well as a precise measurement of the bone tissue available in the future implant site, contributing in this way to a significant reduction in unsuccessful treatment.

Unusual pleural involvement after exposure to amorphous silicates (Liparitosis): report of two cases.

Liparitosis is a rare pneumoconiosis determined by inhalation of pumice, an amorphous complex silicate extracted in the quarries of Lipari (Aeolian Archipelago, Italy). We describe two cases of subjects occupationally exposed to pumice dust in which high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) revealed the presence of pleural lesions without parenchymal involvement.