Feasibility of dynamic MR-hysterosalpingography for the diagnostic work-up of infertile women.

Background: Tubal disturbances often contribute to infertility. Conventional hysterosalpingography (HSG) is considered as standard in the assessment of the patency of the fallopian tubes, but requires ionizing radiation and is restricted to the imaging of endoluminal structures.

Purpose: To evaluate dynamic magnetic resonance-HSG (dMR-HSG) in the diagnostic work-up in patients with infertility.

Juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula: MDCT findings in 1010 patients and proposal for a new classification.

The aim of this study is to analyze the MDCT findings of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula (JPDD) and to propose a new radiological classification. CT-examinations of 1010 consecutive patients, all examined by 16-row MDCT of the abdomen over a time period of 20 months were retrospectively analyzed. All study patients were examined by triple phase CT (native, arterial and portal venous CT scan) of the abdomen and all recieved positive oral contrast prior to the examination.

Non-communicating syringomyelia: a feature of spinal cord involvement in multiple sclerosis.

In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) non-communicating syringomyelia (NCS) has been described as an incidental finding in case studies and small case series. NCS in MS patients commonly leads to uncertainty particularly as the clinical picture of NCS is variable and surgical therapy may be considered. Up to date little is known about the prevalence and clinical importance of NCS in MS.

Accuracy of chest radiographs in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure.

The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of chest radiographic findings of heart failure (HF) in current patients presenting with dyspnea in the emergency department. In a secondary analysis of the BASEL study, initial chest radiographs of 277 patients with acute dyspnea were evaluated by two radiologists blinded to the adjudicated diagnosis (56% had the final diagnosis of HF). Predefined radiographic criteria of HF were used.

[Cross sectional imaging findings in ectopic pancreatitis].

Two patients with ectopic pancreas, associated with pancreas divisum are presented. In one of these patients MDCT examination showed an island of pancreatic parenchyma, isolated from the pancreatic head and located within the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb, where ectopic pancreas could be confirmed by endoscopy. The other patient suffered from acute pancreatitis according to the clinical and laboratory findings.

[Medullary osteoidosteoma of the os pisiforme].

A case of a medullary osteoidosteoma of the pisiforme bone is presented that appeared as a light bulb on MR-Angiography while causing diffuse hypointensity of the pisiforme bone and of the surrounding soft tissue on T1- and diffuse hyperintensity of these regions on T2-w and T1- w postcontrast images. Although not surprising according to the typical appearance of osteoidostomas on triple phase scintigraphy, the light bulb sign of osteoidosteomas on MRA has not yet been reported and familiarity with this findings may be of value in order to avoid their confusion with vascular lesions such as aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms during MR-angiography.

Selective visualization of the Fallopian tube with magnetic resonance imaging.

At present, X-ray hysterosalpingography is used commonly as a screening method for testing Fallopian tube patency, but the results are often unreliable due to mucous plugs or muscular contractions. Selective catheterization of the tubes under X-ray control is feasible, but is rarely used due to exposure of young individuals aiming for pregnancy to a high ionizing dose. Here, a case is described of a patient whose Fallopian tubes were selectively catheterized and visualized three-dimensionally under contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance using a high-viscous gadoteric acid solution (Dotarem).

Blood oxygenation level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging of the skeletal muscle in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Background: Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to measure T2* changes in skeletal muscle tissue of healthy volunteers. The BOLD effect is assumed to primarily reflect changes in blood oxygenation at the tissue level. We compared the calf muscle BOLD response of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) to that of an age-matched non-PAOD group during postischemic reactive hyperemia.

[Sonography of the thyroid].

According to its superficial anatomical location the thyroid gland is easily accessible by sonography. Ultrasound is a reliable examination to detect various pathologies of the thyroid gland and it should always be combined with a sonography of the surrounding soft tissues and vessels. Sonography allows an exact documentation of the size, volume and parenchymal echostructure of the thyroid gland as well as detection of various diffuse and focal abnormalities of the gland itself and of the surrounding structures.

Focal myositis of the iliopsoas muscle--a benign pseudotumour: ultrasound appearance in correlation with CT and MRI.

Objective: Focal myositis of the iliopsoas muscle is a rare condition. A case is presented, emphasizing the value of ultrasound for detection, localisation, image-guided biopsy and follow-up in correlation with CT and MRI findings.

Material And Methods: A 58-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with strong left sided inguinal pain, which radiated to the thigh and had lasted for four days.

[Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH): an underestimated pulmonary complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

Diffuse alvedar haemorrhage (DAH): a severe complication post haematopoietic stemcell transplantation (HSCT) with high mortality. Early diagnose and distinction from other pulmonary complications is essential. Radiologic imaging provides first cues to diagnose.

Image quality from high-resolution CT of the lung: comparison of axial scans and of sections reconstructed from volumetric data acquired using MDCT.

Objective: Our objective was to compare the image quality of reconstructed thin sections obtained from a 16-MDCT scanner with that of axial high-resolution CT scans of the same patient.

Subjects And Methods: Fifty consecutive patients referred for CT of the chest underwent 16-MDCT and, subsequently, axial high-resolution CT. The volumetric raw data from the MDCT scans were reconstructed into slices 2-mm thick using a high-spatial-frequency reconstruction algorithm.

Direct detection of angioinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunosuppressed patients: preliminary results with high-resolution 16-MDCT angiography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to optimize detection of angioinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis by showing direct vessel involvement at a peripheral level with high-resolution MDCT angiography in patients with antibiotic-resistant fever of unknown origin under immunosuppression. Twelve CT angiographic examinations were prospectively performed in 10 patients with an optimized CT angiography protocol with 16-MDCT after IV administration of contrast agent using care bolus (Siemens Medical Solutions). Axial images and maximum intensity projections were evaluated for vascular occlusion by an experienced radiologist blinded to the clinical histories.

Displaced anterior column acetabular fracture: closed reduction and percutaneous CT-navigated fixation.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of computer-tomography-navigated closed reduction and percutaneous fixation (CRPF) in a patient with an externally rotated left acetabular fracture. After a follow-up of 18 months the patient was pain-free and had a normal range of motion in both hip joints. Radiologically, the fracture was fully consolidated, remodelled, and there were no signs of osteoarthritis.

Accuracy of multidetector row computed tomography for the diagnosis of acute bowel ischemia in a non-selected study population.

The diagnostic accuracy of multidetector row computed tomography for the prospective diagnosis of acute bowel ischemia in the daily clinical routine was analyzed. Two hundred ninety-one consecutive patients with an acute or subacute abdomen, examined by MDCT over a time period of 5 months, were included in the study. All original CT diagnoses made during the daily routine by radiological generalists were compared to the final diagnoses made by using all available medical information from endoscopies, surgical interventions, autopsies and follow-up.

[Imaging diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease].

The term "chronic inflammatory bowel disease" represents a spectrum of diseases out of which ulcerous colitis and Crohn's disease are the far most common. Large bowel enemas have lost their relevance compared to colonoscopy over the past years and small bowel enteroclysis has also been widely replaced by CT- and especially MR-enteroclysis meanwhile. The diagnostic value of computed tomography and MR-tomography in chronic inflammatory bowel disease is based on the excellent visualization and documentation of extent and severity of bowel wall inflammation, estimation of inflammatory activity of the disease and of detection of potential extraintestinal complications and/or additional diagnoses by these two methods.

Colonic involvement in non-necrotizing acute pancreatitis: correlation of CT findings with the clinical course of affected patients.

The purpose of this study was to describe CT findings of colonic involvement in acute non-necrotizing pancreatitis and to analyze the correlation between colonic wall thickening at CT and the clinical course of these patients. The CT examinations of 19 consecutive patients with acute non-necrotizing pancreatitis who were not treated with antibiotics initially were analyzed retrospectively. The severity of acute pancreatitis was categorized according to the CT severity index (CTSI) and the presence of colonic wall thickening at the initial CT was compared with the clinical course of all patients.

Swallowing abnormalities in multiple sclerosis: correlation between videofluoroscopy and subjective symptoms.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if subjective symptoms indicating an impaired deglutition correlate with videofluoroscopic findings in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Videofluoroscopic examinations of 18 MS patients were analyzed by a radiologist and a logopedist and compared with the symptoms of these patients. Four patients complained about permanent dysphagia.

Pseudotumor of the pancreatic head associated with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

A 68-year-old male presented with abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice. CT revealed a large mass in the pancreatic head that was initially interpreted as pancreatic carcinoma. Needle biopsy revealed only fibrous tissue with signs of chronic inflammation.