Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with acute myocarditis and chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy : A review paper with practical recommendations on behalf of the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR).

Advanced cardiac imaging techniques such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) are widely used in clinical practice in patients with acute myocarditis and chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathies (I-CMP). We aimed to provide a review article with practical recommendations from the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology (ESCR), in order to guide physicians in the use and interpretation of CMR and PET in clinical practice both for acute myocarditis and follow-up in chronic forms of I-CMP

Simplified intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI of liver lesions: feasibility of combined two-colour index maps

Background!#!To evaluate the feasibility of two-colour index maps containing combined diffusion and perfusion information from simplified intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) for liver lesion malignancy assessment.!##!Methods!#!Diffusion-weighted data from a respiratory-gated 1.5-T magnetic resonance sequence were analysed in 109 patients with liver lesions. With three b values (0, 50, 800 s/mm!##!Results!#!For I!##!Conclusion!#!Voxel-wise combined two-colour index maps

Poly-energetic and virtual mono-energetic images from a novel dual-layer spectral detector CT: optimization of window settings is crucial to improve subjective image quality in abdominal CT angiographies

Purpose: We aimed to determine optimal window settings for poly-energetic (PolyE) and virtual mono-energetic images (MonoE) derived from abdominal angiographic studies on a novel dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) system. Methods: From 50 patients, SDCT datasets PolyE and MonoE at 70 and 40 keV levels were reconstructed and best individual window width and level (BI-W/L) manually assessed. Through regression analysis, the so-called optimized individual (OI-W/L) values were obtained. Subjective image quality parameters and vessel diameters were measured to determine influences of different W/L settings. Results: Image noise was lower and attenuation and contrast-to-noise ratio were higher in MonoE compared to PolyE (all p <= 0.002). Mean BI-W/L values for PolyE, 70, and 40 keV were 637/284, 647/291, and 1568/691, respectively. Mean OI-W/L values were 631/276, 628/286, and 1516/667, respectively. Compared to standard settings, all adjusted W/L settings varied significantly and yielded higher subjective scoring. No between-group differences were found between manually adjusted and mathematically calculated W/L settings. Conclusion: PolyE and MonoE from abdominal angiographic SDCT studies require appropriate W/L settings especially at low energy reconstruction levels. Individual adjustment reaches the best image quality but is time consuming. From our data, predefined W/L settings of 640/280 (PolyE/MonoE 70 keV) and 1570/690 (MonoE 40 keV) as a non-individualized starting point for abdominal angiographic studies from the novel SDCT system are suggested

In Vitro Evaluation of Acrylic Adhesives in Lymphatic Fluids-Influence of Glue Type and Procedural Parameters

To evaluate the embolic properties of different acrylic adhesive/iodized oil mixtures for lymphatic interventions. Polymerization of histoacryl (HA) (Bayer Healthcare) and glubran 2 (GL) (GEM) mixed with iodized oil (ratios 1:0–1:7) were investigated in lymphatic fluids with low and high triglyceride (low TG & high TG) contents. Static polymerization time and dynamic polymerization experiments with different volumes of glucose flush (1, 2 and 5 mL) were performed to simulate thoracic duct embolization. For both glues, static polymerization times were longer when the iodized oil content was increased and when performed in high TG lymphatic fluid. In the dynamic experiments, the prolongation of polymerization due to the oil content and TG levels was less pronounced for both glue types. Increased lymphatic flow rates decreased embolization times for low glue/oil ratios while preventing embolization for high glue/oil ratios. Higher glucose flush volumes increased occlusion times. Polymerization times of acrylic glue in a lymphatic fluid are prolonged by increasing the iodized oil concentration and triglyceride concentration as well as by using larger volumes of glucose flush. Increased lymphatic flow rates decrease embolization times for low glue/oil ratios and may prevent embolization for high glue/oil ratios

Risk factors for failed closed reduction in dislocated developmental dysplastic hips

Aim of the study The present study aimed to identify risk factors for unsuccessful CR. Introduction Closed reduction (CR) represents the gold standard for treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), but to a minor percentage, it fails to reduce dysplastic hips successfully. Methods Seventy-three dysplastic hips underwent closed reduction and post-interventional MRI of the pelvis. MRIs were evaluated for successful reduction of the hip, volumes of femoral heads, and acetabular diameter. Initial treatment results were correlated to AC angles at two years of follow-up. Contralateral, healthy hips served as control. Results Out of 73 instable, dysplastic hips, there were nine cases of CR failure. These cases showed significantly increased femoral head volumes (p = 0.002) and a significantly (p = 0.02) larger ratio of femoral head volume to acetabular opening area. There was no significant difference (p = 0.15) in acetabular diameter between both groups. At two years of follow-up, AC angles were significantly (p = 0.003) larger and pathologic in cases of CR failure. Conclusion Exclusive enlargement of the femoral head is a risk factor for unsuccessful reduction and its ratio to the acetabular opening surface is predictive for CR success in DDH