Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat analysis of dual-energy CT in head and neck imaging.

Technological development of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) can play an important role in head and neck area. Multiple innovative applications have evolved, optimizing images, achieving metallic artifact reduction, differentiating materials with better primary tumor delineation, thyroid cartilage and bone invasion. Furthermore, quantification algorithms allow measuring iodine concentration, reflecting the blood supply of a lesion indirectly.

Evaluation of response to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy by perfusion computed tomography in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: To evaluate changes in perfusion computed tomography (PCT) parameters induced by treatment with conventional chemotherapy (CCT) alone or with CCT and radiation therapy (RT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to determine whether these changes correlate with response as defined by the response evaluation criteria in solid tumours version 1.1 (RECIST-1.1).

Can pseudocavitation in lung tumors predict the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth?

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pseudocavitation in lung tumors and whether its presence makes it possible to predict the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed chest CT studies for 212 consecutive lung tumors included in a CT perfusion database and for 351 consecutive adenocarcinomas diagnosed between July 2007 and September 2017. Two radiologists blinded to the pathology report determined whether air cysts were present in the tumors, excluding lesions with necrosis and those surrounded by bullae or emphysema.

Incidental pulmonary nodules: characterization and management.

This update covers the management of solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules detected incidentally in imaging studies done for other reasons. It describes the most appropriate computed tomography technique for the evaluation of these nodules, how they are classified, and how the different types of nodules are measured. It also reviews the patient-related and nodule-related criteria for determining the risk of malignancy.

Perfusion defects in pulmonary perfusion iodine maps: causes and semiology.

Objective: to describe the usefulness of dual-energy CT for obtaining pulmonary perfusion maps to provide morphological and functional information in patients with pulmonary embolisms. To review the semiology of perfusion defects due to pulmonary embolism so they can be differentiated from perfusion defects due to other causes: alterations outside the range used in the iodine map caused by other diseases of the lung parenchyma or artifacts.

Conclusion: CT angiography of the pulmonary arteries is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolisms.

Characteristics of computed tomography perfusion parameters in non-small-cell-lung-cancer and its relationship to histology, size, stage an treatment response.

Objectives: To analyze computed tomography perfusion (CTP) parameters in NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: Prospective study, 152 patients with NSCLC. CTP parameters were correlated with histology, stage, size and response to conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

Quantitative myocardial perfusion with stress dual-energy CT: iodine concentration differences between normal and ischemic or necrotic myocardium. Initial experience.

Objectives: To determine whether the quantification of iodine with stress dual-energy computed tomography (DECT-S) allows for the discrimination between a normal and an ischemic or necrotic myocardium using magnetic resonance (MR) as a reference.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, with waiver of informed consent. Thirty-six cardiac MR and DECT-S images from patients with suspected coronary artery disease were evaluated.

Effects of 2-methoxyestradiol on apoptosis and HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression in lung cancer cells under normoxia and hypoxia.

Hypoxic tumor cells are known to be more resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation than normoxic cells. However, the effects of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), an anti-angiogenic, antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic drug, on hypoxic lung cancer cells are unknown. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of 2-ME on cell growth, apoptosis, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and HIF-2α gene and protein expression in A549 cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

High pitch CT in triple rule-out studies: Radiation dose and image quality compared to multidetector CT.

Objective: To compare the image quality and radiation dose from high pitch dual source CT (128-DSCT) versus those from retrospective acquisition with 64-row multidetector CT (64-MDCT) in triple rule-out studies.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively studied 60 patients with acute chest pain: 30 with a retrospective EKG acquisition with 64-MDCT and 30 with high pitch 128-DSCT. We quantitatively analyzed the image quality by calculating the vascular density, muscular density (DM), noise, vascular density/noise ratio (VDNR), and contrast/noise ratio (CNR).

Benign soft-tissue lesions of the fingers: radiopathological correlation and clinical considerations.

Soft-tissue lesions of the fingers are commonly found in daily clinical practice. A wide range of tumors and pseudotumors have been described in this location, and the majority of them are benign. Ganglion cysts are the most common entity, and the localized type of tenosynovial giant cell tumors are the most frequent solid condition.

Comparison of image quality and radiation dose in computed tomography angiography of the peripheral arteries using tube voltage of 80 kV versus 100 kV.

Objective: To compare the image quality and dose of radiation in two groups of patients undergoing CT angiography of the lower limbs, one with tube voltage of 80 kV and the other with tube voltage of 100 kV.

Material And Methods: We performed CT angiography of the lower limbs in 60 patients with suspected peripheral arterial disease. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups; in one group, CT angiography was performed using a tube voltage of 80kV, whereas in the other it was performed using 100 kV.

[Silicosis: computed tomography findings].

Silicosis is an occupational lung disease, which is caused by the inhalation of silica and affects a wide range of jobs. There are many clinical forms of silicosis: acute silicosis, results from exposure to very large amounts of silica dust over a period of less than 2 years. Simple chronic silicosis, the most common type that we see today, results from exposure to low amounts of silica between 2 and 10 years.

[Dual-energy computed tomography: what is it useful for?].

Dual-energy CT is one of the newest and most attractive fields in radiology today. New generation scanners can acquire datasets with different X-ray spectra, which facilitates the characterization of certain chemical elements, making it possible to detect functional alterations in the absence of morphologic or densitometric anomalies. The capability of characterizing these elements is enabling new applications to be developed for clinical practice and changing the way we work.

[Extraperitoneal bladder rupture coinciding with bone fragments: the case for surgical treatment].

Introduction: In closed traumatic bladder ruptures, a surgical treatment of the intraperitoneal rupture, and a conservative approach to the extraperitoneal one, with bladder catheter, antibiotics and confirmation of bladder wound closure after two to three weeks-, was recommended. Only recently, attention was paid to the importance of the presence of bone fragments of the pelvic fractures, that in the vecinity of a bladder catheter or urinary infection may give raise to either severe pelvic infection or permanent urinary fistula.

Patients And Method: The two cases of extraperitoneal bladder rupture here presented, demonstrate the difficulties of a secure diagnosis by CT, and the potential severity of the existence of bone fragments impronting the bladder disruption.

Ferromagnetic coupling in the three-dimensional malonato-bridged gadoliniumIII complex [Gd2(mal)3(H2O)6] (H2mal = malonic acid).

The novel gadolinium(III) complex of formula [Gd(2)(mal)(3)(H(2)O)(6)] (1) (H(2)mal = 1,3-propanedioic acid) has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic, space group I2/a, a = 11.1064(10) A, b = 12.

[Polymyalgia syndrome and atrial myxoma].

We present a case of polymyalgia-like syndrome in a 62-years-old woman with four month history of severe headache, muscular claudication, asthenia, normochromic, normocytic anaemia and elevation of erytrocyte sedimentation rate. A diagnosis of giant left atrial myxoma was made brought about by thoracoabdominal magnetic resonance. Their surgical exeresis was followed by gradual disappearance of symptoms and normalization of laboratory parameters.