Delayed enhancement of ascites after i.v. contrast material administration at CT: time course and clinical correlation.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of delayed contrast enhancement of ascites.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, 132 consecutive patients with ascites who underwent repeated abdominopelvic CT examinations performed within 7 days of each other were identified. These patients included 112 patients who received and 20 who did not receive i.

Spectrum of CT findings in patients with atrial fibrillation and nontraumatic acute abdomen.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to review the wide spectrum of pertinent CT findings in patients with acute nontraumatic abdominal pain in the setting of atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion: Underlying embolic or hemorrhagic complications are common in patients with acute nontraumatic abdominal pain in the setting of atrial fibrillation and can be accurately seen on CT.

The equivocal appendix at CT: prevalence in a control population.

The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of appendices with an equivocal appearance at computed tomography (CT) in a control population. We retrospectively identified a control population of 150 patients who underwent CT of the abdomen and pelvis for evaluation of hematuria (without abdominal pain, fever, or colonic disease). One reader measured the diameter of the appendix and noted if the appendix was either isodense in appearance or airless and fluid filled.

Pulmonary embolism detection with dual-energy CT: experimental study of dual-source CT in rabbits.

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility and added value of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: This institutional animal experimental committee-approved study was performed in accordance with animal care guidelines. Eight New Zealand rabbits underwent standard unenhanced and contrast material-enhanced dual-source CT.

The characterization of small hypoattenuating renal masses on contrast-enhanced CT.

Purpose: To determine if small hypoattenuating renal masses can be characterized as simple cysts or renal cell carcinomas on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified 20 small ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dual-energy and low-kVp CT in the abdomen.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to discuss the influence of tube potential on CT images and explore the potential impact of dual-energy CT on imaging of the abdomen and pelvis.

Conclusion: Low peak tube voltage (kVp) settings provide high conspicuity of contrast materials at CT but may result in high image noise, particularly in larger patients. Material decomposition at dual-energy CT can differentiate renal stones by their composition, quantify tissue iron stores, improve the detection of pathologic hyperenhancement, and reduce contrast material and radiation dose compared with conventional CT.

Timing bolus dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI assessment of hepatic perfusion: Initial experience.

Purpose: To assess whether dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI timing bolus data from routine clinical examinations can be postprocessed to obtain hepatic perfusion parameters for diagnosing cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified 57 patients (22 with cirrhosis and 35 without cirrhosis) who underwent abdominal MRI, which included a low-dose (2 mL gadodiamide) timing bolus using a volumetric spoiled gradient echo T1-weighted sequence through the abdomen. Using a dual-input single-compartment model, the following perfusion parameters were measured: arterial, portal, and total blood flow; arterial fraction; mean transit time; and distribution volume.

Appendiceal wall thickening at CT in asymptomatic patients with extraintestinal malignancy may mimic appendicitis.

The purpose of this study was to describe the CT appearance and determine the prevalence of thick-walled appendices in patients with an extraintestinal primary malignancy. This potential mimic of appendicitis may occur in up to 2% of cancer patients. Awareness of this pitfall is important to avoid unnecessary laparotomy in this patient population.

In vivo monitoring of angiogenesis inhibitory treatment effects by dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography in a xenograft tumor model.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the potential of dynamic CT enhanced by iohexol or a novel macromolecular contrast agent, PEG12000-Gen4-triiodo, to monitor microvascular changes in tumors treated with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab.

Materials And Methods: Ten female nude rats with MDA-MB 435 xenograft tumors were treated with 1 mg intraperitoneal bevacizumab when tumors reached 1 cm diameter and, for 4 rats, treated again 7 days later. Just before and 24 hours after the first injection of anti-VEGF antibody, the tumors were imaged by dynamic CT scans enhanced with PEG12000-Gen4-triiodo (n = 3 rats) or iohexol (n = 3 rats).

Computed tomography of the acute abdomen in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To investigate the frequency and basis of clinically relevant computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute abdominal pain.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified 30 patients with atrial fibrillation referred for enhanced (n = 26) or unenhanced (n = 4) abdominal CT from our emergency department because of acute nontraumatic abdominal pain. All CT images were independently reviewed by a single reader who evaluated the studies for findings that might explain acute pain.

Evaluation of diffuse liver steatosis by ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging: which modality is best?

Purpose: To compare ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) determination of diffuse liver steatosis.

Materials And Methods: Quantification of liver steatosis on ultrasound, CT, and MRI was correlated with histopathology in 67 patients.

Results: Opposed-phase MRI demonstrated the highest correlation with steatosis (0.

Evaluation of the biliary intestinal limb of a Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy using computed tomographic cholangiography.

Computed tomographic (CT) findings involving the biliary intestinal limb of a Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy may be ambiguous because oral agents frequently do not reflux into that limb. We describe 2 cases where antegrade biliary intestinal limb opacification by intravenous CT cholangiography in the left lateral decubitus position obviated the need for biopsy of an apparent enlarging mass in the biliary intestinal limb. We conclude that CT cholangiography may help clarify the status of a Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy.

A phase II trial of erlotinib in combination with bevacizumab in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of erlotinib plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway.

Experimental Design: Thirty-eight patients with MBC were enrolled and treated at two institutions with erlotinib, a small molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (150 mg p.o.

Urinary oxygen tension measurement in humans using magnetic resonance imaging.

Rationale And Objectives: Renal medullary hypoxia is frequently implicated in renal dysfunction, and urinary oxygen tension (PO(2)) in the renal pelvis can be used as a surrogate for the adjacent renal medullary oxygenation. We sought to assess the feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) quantification of urinary PO(2) in humans.

Materials And Methods: The longitudinal relaxivity (R1) of fluids is linearly related to PO(2), allowing MR quantification of urinary PO(2).

Frequency and histopathologic basis of hepatic surface nodularity in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

Purpose: To determine the frequency and histopathologic basis of hepatic surface nodularity at imaging in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

Materials And Methods: The committee on human research approved this HIPAA-compliant study and waived written informed consent. Thirty-five consecutive patients [24 female [mean age, 38 years +/- 19 (standard deviation); range, 1-67 years] and 11 male [mean age, 29 years +/- 22; range, 2-61 years]] with a mean age of 35 years +/- 20 (range, 1-67 years) who underwent liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure at our institution during a 5-year period were retrospectively identified.

An innovative approach to orotracheal intubations: the Alexandrou Angle of Intubation position.

Visualization of the vocal cords is paramount during orotracheal intubations. We employed a novel patient position in this derivation study. The Alexandrou Angle of Intubation (AAI) position is defined as a 20°-30° incline where the supine patient's head is elevated in relation to the body and legs.

SOCS3 regulates p21 expression and cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage.

Genotoxic agents such as ionizing radiation trigger cell cycle arrest at the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, allowing cells to repair damaged DNA before entry into mitosis. DNA damage-induced G1 arrest involves p53-dependent expression of p21 (Cip1/Waf-1), which inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases and blocks S phase entry. While much of the core DNA damage response has been well-studied, other signaling proteins that intersect with and modulate this response remain uncharacterized.

Subtle renal duplication as an unrecognized cause of childhood incontinence: diagnosis by magnetic resonance urography.

Urinary incontinence in young girls who have been toilet trained may be due to an ectopic ureter inserting below the urinary sphincter. This diagnosis is frequently delayed, is psychologically distressing, and may be missed at physical examination. Findings at ultrasound evaluation may be subtle and imaging with computed tomography or intravenous urography exposes young patients to ionizing radiation.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the male pelvis: findings at CT with histopathologic correlation.

We present CT imaging findings with pathologic correlation in a rare case of a solitary fibrous tumor arising in the pelvis in a 34-year-old man. This tumor presented as a hypervascular heterogeneously enhancing deep pelvic mass at CT. Although CT initially suggested the prostate as the site of origin for this tumor, no prostate involvement was found at surgery; CT accurately excluded bladder and rectal involvement.

The NDR/LATS family kinase Cbk1 directly controls transcriptional asymmetry.

Cell fate can be determined by asymmetric segregation of gene expression regulators. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transcription factor Ace2 accumulates specifically in the daughter cell nucleus, where it drives transcription of genes that are not expressed in the mother cell. The NDR/LATS family protein kinase Cbk1 is required for Ace2 segregation and function.

Diagnostic evaluation of cystic pancreatic lesions.

Background: Cystic pancreatic neoplasms (CPNs) present a unique challenge in preoperative diagnosis. We investigated the accuracy of diagnostic methods for CPN.

Material And Methods: This retrospective cases series includes 70 patients who underwent surgery at a university hospital for presumed CPNs between 1997 and 2003, and for whom a definitive diagnosis was established.

Predicting strangulated small bowel obstruction: an old problem revisited.

Background: Diagnosing intestinal strangulation complicating a small bowel obstruction (SBO) remains a considerable challenge. Despite decades of experience and numerous studies, no clinical indicators have been identified that reliably predict this life-threatening condition. Our goal was to determine which clinical indicators in patients with SBO can be used to independently predict the presence of strangulated intestine.