Cosa Nostra and the Camorra: Assessment of personality, alexithymic traits, and attachment styles.

The Mafia (Cosa Nostra) and the Camorra are criminal organizations deeply rooted in an immoral familyism in which group interests are protected to the detriment of the individual. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of personality disorders, alexithymic traits and specific attachment styles in a sample of members belonging to these two different organized crime groups. We carried out two studies adopting two different perspectives.

Non-Hypervascular Hypointense Nodules at Gadoxetic Acid MRI: Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Assessment with Emphasis on the Role of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging.

Introduction And Aim: In cirrhotic patients, the characterization of hypovascular nodules, hypointense on hepatobiliary phase gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance images (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI), is essential to look for the proper approach strategy. Our objective was to evaluate the imaging features and risk assessment of hypovascular nodules, hypointense on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, focusing on the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Material And Methods: This prospective study includes 35 patients with 50 hypovascular hypointense nodules.

Evaluation of the Relationships Between Computed Tomography Features, Pathological Findings, and Prognostic Risk Assessment in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to correlate computed tomography (CT) findings with pathology in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Methods: A retrospective evaluation of CT images of 44 patients with GISTs was performed. Computed tomography findings analyzed were location, size, margins, degree and pattern of contrast enhancement, angiogenesis, necrosis, signs of invasion, peritoneal effusion, peritoneal implants, surface ulceration, and calcifications.

Magnetic resonance enterography in Crohn's disease: new simple proposal to assess disease activity.

Purpose: The aim is to determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) in evaluating Crohn's disease (CD) activity.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-seven patients with CD underwent MRE. The primary analysis was to determine associations between MRE findings, Harvey-Bradshaw Index, and C-reactive protein (CRP), then we have created a new MRE score that it was also correlated with clinical and laboratory data.

The Clinical and Radiological Examination of Acute Intimate Partner Violence Injuries: A Retrospective Analysis of an Italian Cohort of Women.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most frequent type of violence against women. We compared clinical and radiological IPV characteristics to stranger assault (SA).

Methods: We retrospectively identified 123 women with IPV from court reports and matched them to 124 SA.

The role of contrast enhanced computed tomography in the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis and comparison with the laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC).

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in emergency departments for diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and for differential diagnosis of other musculoskeletal infections; to correlate radiological findings with the laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC).

Materials And Methods: 7 radiological parameters to be analysed on CECT scans were established, exams of 36 patients with proven diagnosis of NF (n 12) and other musculoskeletal infections (n 24) were retrospectively reviewed; LRINEC score was calculated. Fisher's test and Spearman's and Kendall's coefficients of rank correlations were performed.

Radiological contrast media in the breastfeeding woman: a position paper of the Italian Society of Radiology (SIRM), the Italian Society of Paediatrics (SIP), the Italian Society of Neonatology (SIN) and the Task Force on Breastfeeding, Ministry of Health, Italy.

Objectives: Breastfeeding is a well-recognised investment in the health of the mother-infant dyad. Nevertheless, many professionals still advise breastfeeding mothers to temporarily discontinue breastfeeding after contrast media imaging. Therefore, we performed this review to provide health professionals with basic knowledge and skills for appropriate use of contrast media.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with secretin stimulation in the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: a paradigmatic case report.

Context. One of the characteristic findings of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) is the presence of a direct communication between the lesion and the ductal pancreatic system and when magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) shows uncertain findings, it is useful to perform a MRCP after secretin stimulation (MRCP-S) which provides a better visualization of the ductal system. Case Report.

Accuracy of high-resolution MRI with lumen distention in rectal cancer staging and circumferential margin involvement prediction.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with lumen distention for rectal cancer staging and circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement prediction.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three patients with primary rectal cancer underwent high-resolution MRI with a phased-array coil performed using 60-80 mL room air rectal distention, 1-3 weeks before surgery. MRI results were compared to postoperative histopathological findings.

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for hepatocellular carcinoma and hypointense nodule observed in the hepatobiliary phase.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging both in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and precancerous lesions and in the assessment of their evolution.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken on 56 patients with chronic liver disease and suspected liver lesions. We evaluated the number, size and signal intensity of the nodules on dynamic and hepatobiliary MR images.

Reconstruction of the superior vena cava by biologic conduit: assessment of long-term patency by magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: To assess the long-term patency of the biologic prosthetic conduit used for reconstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Patients undergoing oncologic resection and reconstruction of the SVC by a bovine pericardial prosthesis (January 2003 to April 2010) have been studied after 1 year (if surviving) by MRI for the assessment of the conduit long-term patency. Results were compared with those of a control group of patients with normal SVC.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for pain management in patients with multiple myeloma: is radiofrequency ablation necessary?

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the added role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to vertebroplasty on the pain management of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: Thirty-six patients (51-82 years) with vertebral localization of MM were randomly divided into two groups: 18 patients (group A) who underwent RFA and then vertebroplasty, and 18 patients (group B) who underwent only vertebroplasty. Primary endpoints were technical success and pain relief score rate measured by the visual analogue pain scores (VAS) and Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ); secondary endpoint was the amount of administered analgesia.

Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the follow-up of endo-vascular aortic aneurysm repair: an effective and safe surveillance method.

The treatment of Aortic Aneurysm disease is a growing procedure due to increase of life expectancy in Western Countries and relative incidence. In the past ten years we observed a progressive growth of endovascular over open surgery procedures with a related decline in rupture related deaths. Endo Vascular Aortic Repair [EVAR] is a well known technique of treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, that has changed the surgical approach to abdominal aortic aneurysms, as it is performed with low perioperative morbility and mortality rate and shorter hospital stay.

Oesophageal GIST: MDCT findings of two cases and review of the literature.

Introduction: The imaging findings of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) have been investigated in various studies; however, the features and the pattern of growth of an oesophageal GIST have been described only in a few reports. We present two cases studied by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and we review the literature.

Methods: We describe the diagnostic course and the pattern of presentation at MDCT of two GISTs arising from the oesophageal wall that show two different behaviours and prognosis.

Novel approaches for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation: time for a guideline revision?

Atrial fibrillation is a major health problem in Western countries, and is associated with considerable morbidity and resource consumption. Safe and reliable surgical techniques for the termination of this arrhythmia have been developed since the time of the original Cox "maze I" procedure. Novel equipment based on radiofrequency and microwave technologies can be employed to create transmural atrial lesions, even in the context of minimally invasive surgery to the atrioventricular valves via right minithoracotomy.

Sub-acute intramural haematoma of the ascending aorta.

We report the case of an ascending aorta aneurysm with intramural haematoma (IMH) in a patient with severe hypotension without history of thoracic pain or hypertension. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated the presence of subacute IMH and also revealed sacciform aneurysm of the aortic arch. The patient refused hospitalization and one week later he underwent emergency aortic replacement for dissection.

Dual energy CT (DECT) of the liver: conventional versus virtual unenhanced images.

Objective: To compare image quality and noise of conventional unenhanced (CU) and virtual unenhanced (VU) images in patients who underwent hepatic dual energy computed tomography (DECT) and to assess potential radiation dose reduction.

Materials And Methods: Forty consecutive patients were studied. Mean CU and VU image quality and noise were analyzed by two blinded radiologists using a five-point grade scale.

Imaging of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: comparison of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a rare tumour arising from the smooth muscle fibres of the media with a mean size at diagnosis generally around 12 cm (range 2-38 cm). This study compares a 4-cm leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava discovered incidentally with a symptomatic late stage leiomyosarcoma.

Morphological and functional evaluation of intrapericardial cyst as a cause of severe right heart failure: dual source computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

A case of an intrapericardial cyst causing heart failure due to right ventricular compression is presented. Characterization of the lesion and its repercussion on right ventricular function by means of state-of-the-art dual source computed tomography (DSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is shown. The diagnosis of intrapericardial cyst was confirmed after surgical excision and biopsy.

A large porocarcinoma of perineal region: MR findings and review of the literature.

We present the case of a 54-year-old woman affected by a large perineal region eccrine porocarcinoma, with a wide local invasion. We discuss the clinical presentation and the imaging findings and review the literature.

Endovascular exclusion of visceral artery aneurysms with stent-grafts: technique and long-term follow-up.

This paper describes four cases of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) successfully treated with endovascular stent-grafts and discusses the endovascular approach to VAAs and the long-term results. Four balloon expandable stent-grafts were used to treat three splenic artery aneurysms and one bleeding common hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. The percutaneous access site and the materials were chosen on the basis of CT angiography findings.