Non-invasive evaluation of the coronary venous system in patients with chronic systolic heart failure by 64-detector computed tomography.

Background: Imaging coronary venous systems to guide transcatheter cardiac interventions are becoming increasingly important, particularly in heart failure patients who are selected for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Failure of left ventricular (LV) lead placement during the procedure has been attributed to the inability to insert catheters into the coronary sinus and the lack of suitable side branches.

Purpose: To comparatively assess the value of a 64-detector MDCT examination in visualizing the cardiac veins and evaluating the morphological characteristics of the coronary venous system in patients with and without chronic systolic heart failure (SHF).

Degeneration of the lumbar spine and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements in patients without osteoporosis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of degenerative findings on the accuracy of readings obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in patients without osteoporosis.

Methods: Twenty-four female patients who had undergone both DXA and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging were included in the study.

Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that degenerative radiologic changes, especially in the osteophyte area, affect bone mineral density measurements, so degeneration should be considered in the evaluation of this measurement.

Primary hydatid cyst in the retroperitoneal space: role of CT.

Localization of hydatid disease in the retroperitoneal space is extremely rare. We present the CT findings in a patient with echinococcal disease (E. Granulosus) in whom the cyst was localized to the retroperitoneum.

Change in retrobulbar circulation during menstrual cycle assessed by Doppler ultrasound.

Our purpose was to study the hemodynamic changes in the ophthalmic, central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries during the normal menstrual cycle and to relate the vascular changes to menstrual cycle. A total of 23 healthy women underwent serial color Doppler ultrasonography at least six times during a normal menstrual cycle, twice each in follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases. Pulsatility and resistance index and peak systolic velocity of the each arteries were assessed with color Doppler imaging.