The Virtual Family--development of surface-based anatomical models of two adults and two children for dosimetric simulations.

The objective of this study was to develop anatomically correct whole body human models of an adult male (34 years old), an adult female (26 years old) and two children (an 11-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy) for the optimized evaluation of electromagnetic exposure. These four models are referred to as the Virtual Family. They are based on high resolution magnetic resonance (MR) images of healthy volunteers.

Measurement of kidney perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging: comparison of MRI with arterial spin labeling to para-aminohippuric acid plasma clearance in male subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging with arterial spin labeling (MRI-ASL) is a non-invasive approach to measure organ perfusion. We aimed to examine whether MRI-ASL kidney perfusion measurements are related to measurements of renal plasma flow (RPF) by para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) plasma clearance and whether changes of kidney perfusion in response to treatment with telmisartan can be detected by MRI-ASL.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with metabolic syndrome and an estimated creatinine clearance according to Cockroft and Gault of > or =60 ml/min were included in the study.

Ultra-fast carotid CT-angiography: low versus standard volume contrast material protocol for a 128-slice CT-system.

Objectives: Noninvasive imaging is increasingly accepted for the evaluation of atherosclerotic disease of the carotid arteries. We sought to evaluate the feasibility of a low-contrast media volume protocol for carotid computed tomography angiography (CTA) using a 128-slice-spiral-computed tomography scanner with a gantry rotation time of 300 milliseconds.

Methods And Materials: Thirty consecutive patients underwent CTA for the evaluation of the carotid vessels, with a 128-section scanner.

DNA double-strand breaks and their repair in blood lymphocytes of patients undergoing angiographic procedures.

Objectives: To adapt gamma-H2AX immunofluorescence microscopy to assessment of induction and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients undergoing angiographic procedures.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. After written informed patient consents were obtained, venous blood samples were taken from 19 patients (age 23-88 years) undergoing different angiographic procedures before, during, and after (10 minutes-24 hours) the examination.

A retrospective study of enteroclysis in patients with manifest food allergy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are typical findings in enteroclysis of patients suffering from food allergy (FA).

Materials And Methods: Findings of enteroclysis of 26 FA patients were correlated with results of endoscopic and histologic examinations. In two patients allergen provocation was performed during enteroclysis.

Randomized comparison of 64-slice single- and dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography for the detection of coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of a systematic approach to lower heart rate for coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography on diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice single- and dual-source CT.

Background: Coronary CT angiography is often impaired by motion artifacts, so that routine lowering of heart rate is usually recommended. This is often conceived as a major limitation of the technique.

Nephrotoxicity of iso-osmolar iodixanol compared with nonionic low-osmolar contrast media: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To compare the nephrotoxicity of iso-osmolar iodixanol with that of nonionic low-osmolar contrast media (CM) (LOCM) in randomized clinical trials.

Materials And Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted with a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, Web of Science, ISI Web of Knowledge, Current Contents Medizin, Cochrane Library (until August 2007), trial registers, conference proceedings, and reference lists to identify studies and with requests from all manufacturers of CM for unidentified studies. Randomized controlled trials assessing serum creatinine levels before and after intravascular application of iodixanol or LOCM were included.

Impact of 131I SPECT/spiral CT on nodal staging of differentiated thyroid carcinoma at the first radioablation.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of 131I SPECT/spiral CT (SPECT/CT) on nodal staging of patients with thyroid carcinoma at the first ablative radioiodine therapy.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients were studied using SPECT/CT 3-4 d after receiving 3.96+/-0.

Functional cardiac CT imaging: a new contrast application strategy for a better visualization of the cardiac chambers.

Purpose: Evaluation of a new protocol for Dual-source CT contrast-enhanced cardiac imaging for better visualization of right ventricle structures.

Methods: A total of 106 patients were included in this prospective, controlled study. The control group (n=53) underwent our clinic's standard procedure for contrast-enhanced imaging of coronary arteries.

Direct MR galactography: feasibility study.

Purpose: To compare T1- and T2-weighted direct magnetic resonance (MR) galactography, indirect MR galactography, and conventional galactography in women with pathologic nipple discharge.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the institutional review board. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery BLADE magnetic resonance imaging of the brain: an alternative to spin-echo technique for detection of brain lesions in the unsedated pediatric patient?

Rationale And Objectives: We compared contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain using different types of data acquisition techniques: periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER, BLADE) imaging versus standard k-space sampling (conventional spin-echo pulse sequence) in the unsedated pediatric patient with focus on artifact reduction, overall image quality, and lesion detectability.

Materials And Methods: Forty-eight pediatric patients (aged 3 months to 18 years) were scanned with a clinical 1.5-T whole body MR scanner.

Right heart: split-bolus injection of diluted contrast medium for visualization at coronary CT angiography.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare a split-bolus contrast medium injection protocol with a biphasic and a monophasic protocol in terms of visualization of the right and left heart, contrast medium-related streak artifacts, and level of attenuation in the cardiac chambers and coronary arteries at coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography.

Materials And Methods: The human research committee approved this HIPAA-compliant study and waived informed consent. Seventy-five patients had undergone 64-section coronary CT angiography: 25 were injected by using a monophasic, contrast-medium-only protocol with a single-syringe injector; 25 were injected by using a biphasic protocol with a dual-syringe injector; and 25 were injected by using a split-bolus protocol with a dual-syringe injector and an initial bolus of contrast medium followed by 50 mL of a 70%:30% saline-to-contrast medium mixture and a 30-mL saline chaser.

Thin-slice MDCT of the neck: impact on cancer staging.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare thin-slice multiplanar evaluation and conventional 3-mm axial evaluation of head and neck MDCT in tumor staging.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-six patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma were evaluated independently, once using 3-mm axial images and once using 1-mm interactive multiplanar reformation (MPR) images. Tumor stage was assessed with both methods; histology served as the reference.

Extraosseous manifestation of multiple myeloma with unusual appearance in computed tomography--case report.

Extramedullary Localizations at diagnosis or during the course of multiple myeloma are rare. We report on a 70 year old patient, presenting multiple hypoechoic liver lesions during an ultrasound examination. The following contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated hypodense liver Lesions with slight contrast enhancement and hyperdense polypoid masses in the wall of the gall bladder as well as a small pericostal tumor.

[Hypoxic injury of all deep nuclei of the brain--a case report from computed tomography].

Though being inferior to magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT) of the brain is the most frequently applied imaging modality in the diagnostic workup of acute cerebral Ischaemia. We report on a case of a comatose 53-year-old man who was brought to the emergency room after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The CT of the brain showed a diffuse brain oedema with an explicit hypodense demarcation of all deep nuclei.

[The von Meyenburg complex].

The von Meyenburg complex (VMC) describes bile duct hamartomas and presents a rare, benign incidental finding in liver imaging. We report on a 61-year-old man, who was referred for a follow up study 14 years after remission of Hodgkin's disease. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple hypodense lesions throughout the liver, primary suggesting recurrent Hodgkin's disease.

[Differential diagnosis of focal lesions of the kidney in CT and MRT].

The great majority of renal masses are found incidentally as a result of the use of ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If ultrasonography is not diagnostic CT or MRI should be initiated to differentiate lesions of the kidney that need surgical intervention from those that do not and from those that need follow-up examinations. Cystic renal masses are characterized by using the Bosniak classification, including category IIF.

[Diagnosis of fungal pneumonia in the thoracic CT].

The importance of fungal infection of the lung in immunocompromised patients has increased substantially during the last decades. Numerically the most patients are those with neutropenia, e.g.

[Suggestions for prevention of adverse reactions after intravasal administration of iodinated contrast media].

Iodinated contrast media are widely used in computed tomography and angiography. Adverse reactions such as contrast-medium induced nephropathy (CIN), anaphylactoid reactions and iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis are associated with intravasal administration of contrast agents. Iodinated contrast agents are generally considered to be safe, but in rare cases they can cause severe life threatening situations.

Influence of heart rate on the diagnostic accuracy of dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography.

Objectives: We evaluated the influence of heart rate on image quality and diagnostic accuracy of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography.

Background: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography has demonstrated an inverse relationship between heart rate and image quality. Dual-source CT provides a higher temporal resolution.

Reversibility and time-dependency of contrast medium induced inhibition of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) conversion in renal proximal tubular cells in vitro: comparison of a monomeric and a dimeric nonionic iodinated contrast medium.

Objectives: To evaluate the time-course and reversibility of toxicity of a low-osmolar and an iso-osmolar radiographic contrast medium on renal tubular cell cultures.

Materials And Methods: LLC-PK1-cells were incubated with iomeprol, iodixanol, and mannitol (4.7-75 mg I/mL, 2-24 hours).

Resectability of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: assessment using multidetector-row computed tomography with multiplanar reformations.

The purpose was to assess capabilities of the multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) with multiplanar reformations (MPR) for predicting of pancreatic adenocarcinoma resectability. Forty-eight patients deemed to have resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma after assessment using biphasic MDCT with MPRs underwent surgery for potential tumor resection. Imaging findings were retrospectively evaluated for tumor resectability and correlated with surgical and pathological results.

Test bolus measurement: effects of the respiratory position on bolus arrival time and signal-intensity-time curve quality.

Object: The aim of our study is to determine if the respiratory position (free breathing, end expiration) influences bolus arrival time (BAT) or the quality of the SI-time curve in the test bolus measurement.

Materials And Methods: We examined 150 consecutive patients in free breathing and end expiration with 1 mL contrast media (CM) and a flow of 3 mL/s with MRI. The BAT in the aorta and the quality of the SI-time curve were determined.