Computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A practical approach

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common head and neck cancer. This review describes the state-of-the-art computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging protocols of the neck and the normal larynx anatomy, and provides a practical approach for the diagnosis and staging of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Small solid renal masses: Characterization by diffusion-weighted MRI at 3 T

AIM: To describe the appearance of small solid renal lesions ( 643 cm) on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine whether ADC measurements may help to differentiate benign from malignant small solid renal masses. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-five patients with 47 small renal masses (23 malignant, 24 benign) who underwent 3 T MRI of the kidney using diffusion-weighted sequences (b values of 0 and 1000 s/mm(2)) were retrospectively evaluated. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of diffusion-weighted images was performed. RESULTS: Most lesions were hyperintense to kidney on high b-value diffusion-weighted images and hypointense on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. The mean ADC of the lesions was significantly lower than that of kidney (1.22 \ub1 0.3 versus 1.85 \ub1 0.12 mm(2)/s; p < 0.005). The mean ADC was significantly different between renal cell carcinomas (1.2 \ub1 0.01 mm(2)/s), metastases (1.25 \ub1 0.04 mm(2)/s), angiomyolipoma (1.07 \ub1 0.3 mm(2)/s) and oncocytomas (1.56 \ub1 0.08 mm(2)/s; p < 0.05). The mean ADC of clear cell renal cell carcinomas was significantly different from that of non-clear cell renal cell carcinomas (1.38 \ub1 0.34 versus 0.83 \ub1 0.34 mm(2)/s; p < 0.005). No significant difference was found between mean ADC of fat containing and minimal fat angiomyolipomas (1.06 \ub1 0.48 versus 1.11 \ub1 0.33 mm(2)/s). CONCLUSION: Small solid renal masses are hyperintense on high b value and have different ADC values

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in lymphoma: State of the art

The improvements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and the concern related to the increased cancer risk in patients with lymphoma, also due to radiation exposure associated with imaging examinations, have led to the introduction of whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) as a radiation-free alternative to standard imaging procedures. WB-MRI seems a less histology-dependent functional imaging test than 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/CT (18F-FDG-PET/CT). In patients with FDG-avid lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), 18F-FDG-PET/CT remains the imaging reference standard for staging, with WB-MRI potentially being a complementary modality that could replace CT, especially in young patients. On the other hand, WB-MRI is a valuable imaging procedure for lymphoma surveillance and in lymphomas with variable/low FDG avidity and nonfollicular indolent lymphomas. The aim of this paper is to discuss the current state of the art of WB-MRI in lymphoma by evaluating its diagnostic performance in different lymphoma subtypes: Hodgkin, aggressive, and indolent lymphomas

Delayed diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a 32-year-old man with knee pain

A 32-year-old Bangladeshi male was admitted at our emergency department for trauma of the left knee. The radiographs showed absence of fracture, and presence of an indeterminate oval lucency in the proximal tibia. Further examinations were suggested, but the patient refused. 6 months later, the patient re-presented at our emergency department. A CT scan showed progression of musculoskeletal involvement and spread to the liver. This case underlines the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of indeterminate bone lesions in immigrant patients

A GIANT ANEURYSM OF PROPER HEPATIC ARTERY IN A CRYOGLOBULINEMIC PATIENT ON HEMODIALYSIS: A CASE REPORT.

Introductrion. Hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) are unusual vascular lesions often associated with many different pathological conditions. Most of reported cases are described in association with connective tissue diseases, such as polyarteritis nodosa and systemic lupus erythematosus. Case report. We observed a 52-year-old man with hypertension and HCV-related cryoglobulinemia complicated by end stage renal disease on replacement therapy by hemodialysis. He was admitted to our hospital because of the worsening of blood pressure values (170/110 mmHg) associated to new onset abdominal pain. After an initial physical examination, that showed a periumbelical bruit associated to a pulsatile mass in right hypocondrium, an abdominal ultrasound was performed with evidence of aneurysms of both the right branch (diameter max 4,5 cm) and the left branch (diameter max 1.5 cm) of the hepatic artery. An abdominal CT study was also performed and it confirmed the diagnosis of right intrahepatic artery aneurysm with partially thrombosed area in its peripheral distal portion. Discussion. Many different factors can contribute to the aneurysm formation in this patient. Vasculitic involvement due to cryoglobulinemic disease, therapy with steroid drugs, inflammatory state associated to HCV-related hepatitis, chronic kidney disease and replacement therapy by hemodialysis may all be involved in the development of the aneurysmatic hepatic lesion

Grain growth during annealing of cryogenically-rolled Cu-30Zn brass

The grain-growth behavior of cryogenically-rolled Cu-30Zn brass during isothermal annealing at 900 °C was examined. The observed microstructure coarsening was interpreted in terms of normal grain growth with a grain-growth exponent of ∼4. The relatively slow grain-growth kinetics was attributed to the formation of precipitates at the grain boundaries and the interaction of texture and grain growth. The development of a moderate-strength {110} α fiber texture (∼4 times random) as well as the presence of a limited number of twin variants within the grains suggested the occurrence of variant selection during annealing

Successful intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for steroid-resistant eosinophilic enteritis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare condition of unknown etiology characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of EG therapy. Although rare, steroid-resistant EG could be a life-threatening condition with tissue destructive evolution. Associations of eosinophilic gastroenteritis with systemic lupus erythematosus have rarely been reported. In this report we describe a case of successful IVIG treatment in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and steroid-refractory eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Post-operative computed tomography imaging evaluation of ascending aorta surgery

Ascending thoracic aorta disease is often a life-threatening condition. Aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection are the most frequent ascending aorta diseases requiring surgical intervention. Surgical repair techniques of the ascending aorta are various; they include reconstruction of the ascending aorta by using a graft with or without a prosthetic valve, reconstruction with a composite artificial graft or using a biological graft, and reconstruction of the ascending aorta with a composite graft preserving the native valve and arch repair. The radiologist plays a key role in the identification of post-operative complications; differentiation from normal postoperative findings is fundamental. Our aim is to discuss the main diseases affecting the ascending aorta requiring surgery and the different techniques used to treat them. We also discuss the normal computed tomography (CT) imaging findings and after-surgery complications

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Irrigation of Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinopathy (US-PICT): Patient Experience

Purpose. To assess patients\u2019experience of ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation of rotator cuffcalcific tendinopathy(US-PICT).Methods. Ninety-one patients (58 females; mean age:50:5\ub18:3years) treated by US-PICT (local anesthesia,single-needle lavage, and intrabursal steroid injection) answered to a list of questions regarding their experience of theprocedure before treatment, immediately after treatment, and three months later. The Borg CR10 scale was used toevaluate perceived pain, discomfort during anesthetic injection, and anxiety. The Wilcoxon, Spearman\u2019s rho, linearregression, and chi-square statistics were used.Results. 81/91 patients complained mild discomfort during the injection ofanesthetics (2, 1-2). Pain scores during US-PICT were very low (0, 0-1), with 70% patients having not experienced pain. Aftertreatment, we found a significant reduction of pain (before: 8, 7-8; 3-month: 3, 1-6;p&lt;:001) and anxiety (before: 5, 2-7; duringtreatment: 2, 1-7;p=0:010), with high overall satisfaction (immediately after: 10, 9-10; 3-month: 9, 7-10) and confidence in thepossibility of recovery (immediately after: 9, 8-10; 3-month: 10, 8-10), respectively. Treatments performed before US-PICT werenot statistically associated with pain relief (p=0:389) and clinical improvement (p=0:937). We found a correlation betweensatisfaction immediately postprocedure and confidence in the possibility of recovery (p=0:002) and between satisfaction threemonths after treatment and clinical improvement (p&lt;0:001) and patients\u2019reminds about the description of the procedure(p=0:005) and of the potential complications (p=0:035).Conclusions. US-PICT is a mildly painful, comfortable, andwell-tolerated procedure, regardless of any previous treatments. Patients\u2019satisfaction is correlated with clinical benefit andfull explanation of the procedure and its complications