Detection of liver metastases in cancer patients with geographic fatty infiltration of the liver: the added value of contrast-enhanced sonography

The aim of this study is to assess the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the detection of liver metastases in cancer patients with geographic liver fatty deposition on greyscale ultrasonography (US)

Imaging findings of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia in men and women: are they really different?

Purpose This study was undertaken to compare the imaging findings of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in men and women, as seen on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Materials and methods Two radiologists reviewed 195 imaging studies (17 MDCT, 81 MRI and 97 CEUS examinations) pertaining to 111 FNHs (mean size 3 cm) in 91 patients (mean age 39 years). For each lesion, the readers assessed size, location, echogenicity, attenuation, or signal intensity in comparison with adjacent liver parenchyma on both unenhanced and postcontrast images. Results Eighty-nine FNHs (mean size 3.1 cm) were observed in 73 women (mean age 37.9 years) and 22 FNHs (mean size 2.7 cm) in 18 men (mean age 41.2 years). No statistically significant differences were found between men and women in terms of age, FNH lesions per patient (1.22 and 1.21, respectively), size, baseline and enhancement pattern on MRI, CEUS and MDCT (p < 0.05). A central scar in FNHs was depicted in 4/18 (22.2 %) men and 16/63 (25.4 %) women on MRI (p < 0.05), and in 1/2 (50 %) men and 7/15 (46.7 %) women on MDCT (p < 0.05), whereas a spoke-wheel pattern, central scar, and/or feeding vessel were seen in 5/17 (29.4 %) men and 22/80 (27.5 %) women on CEUS (p < 0.05). Conclusions Our results did not show any differences in imaging features, age of occurrence and size of FNH between men and women

Hepatocellular carcinoma with macrovascular invasion: Multimodality imaging features for the diagnosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is frequently associated with macrovascular invasion of the portal vein or hepatic veins in advanced stages. The accurate diagnosis of macrovascular invasion and the differentiation from bland non-tumoral thrombus has significant clinical and management implications, since it narrows the therapeutic options and it represents a mandatory con-traindication for liver resection or transplantation. The imaging diagnosis remains particularly challenging since the imaging features of HCC with macrovascular invasion may be subtle, espe-cially in lesions showing infiltrative appearance. However, each radiologic imaging modality may provide findings suggesting the presence of tumor thrombus rather than bland thrombus. The purpose of this paper is to review the current guidelines and imaging appearance of HCC with macrovascular invasion. Knowledge of the most common imaging features of HCC with macro-vascular invasion may improve the diagnostic confidence of tumor thrombus in clinical practice and help to guide patients’ management

Incidence of new foci of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation: role of multidetector CT

Purpose. The authors sought to assess the incidence of new foci of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Materials and methods. Two readers retrospectively reviewed by consensus the follow-up MDCT studies of 125 patients (88 men and 37 women; mean age 68 years) with 141 HCCs (size 1\u20135.2 cm; mean 2.2 cm) treated with RFA. MDCT follow-up was performed at 1 and 3 months and every 6\u201312 months thereafter. Reviewers assessed: (1) the presence of new HCC foci in the same liver segment or in a different segment; (2) complete or incomplete tumor ablation; (3) tumour progression. Results. A total of 113 new HCCs (size 0.7\u20134.8 cm; mean 1.7 cm) were detected in 69/125 (55.2%) patients (mean follow-up 30.38\ub119.14 months). Of these, 86 (76.1%) new HCCs were multiple (p<0.0001), and 92 (81.4%) occurred in a different segment from that of the treated HCC (p<0.0001). New HCCs were observed in the first 12 months, between 12 and 24 months and after 24 months in 31/69 (44.9%), 24/69 (34.8%) and 14/69 (20.3%) patients, respectively (p=0.175). Mean diseasefree interval was 16.1\ub116.31 (range 1\u201352) months. Complete tumour ablation was achieved in 132/141 (93.6%) treated HCCs, and tumour progression occurred in 29/141 (20.6%) cases. Conclusions. In patients with RFA-treated HCCs, MDCT follow-up revealed a high incidence of new HCCs, even after 1 year of follow-up. The new foci tended to be multiple and located in a liver segment different from that of the previously treated nodules

Ocular Outcomes Comparison Between 14- and 70-day Head-down Tilt Bed Rest

No abstract availabl

70 Days of 6 Degrees-head Down Tilt Bed Rest and its Impact on Ocular Parameters

No abstract availabl

Comparison of Structural and Functional Ocular Outcomes Between 14- and 70-Day Bed Rest

To compare structural and functional ocular outcomes between14-and 70-day HDTBR in healthy human subjects

Association Between Cardiovascular and Intraocular Pressure Changes in a 14-day 6 deg Head Down Tilt (HDT) Bed Rest Study: Possible Implications in Retinal Anatomy

Mean IOP significantly increased while at 6deg HDT and returned towards pre-bed rest values upon leaving bed rest. While mean IOP increased during bed rest, it remained within the normal limits for subject safety. A diuretic shift and cardiovascular deconditioning occurs during in-bed rest, as expected. There was no demonstrable correlation between the largest change in IOP (pre/post) and cardiovascular measure changes (pre/post). Additional mixed effects linear regression modeling may reveal some subclinical physiological changes that might assist in describing the VIIP syndrome pathophysiology

Magnetic resonance imaging of the cirrhotic liver in the era of gadoxetic acid

Gadoxetic acid improves detection and characterization of focal liver lesions in cirrhotic patients and can estimate liver function in patients undergoing liver resection. The purpose of this article is to describe the optimal gadoxetic acid study protocol for the liver, the unique characteristics of gadoxetic acid, the differences between gadoxetic acid and extra-cellular gadolium chelates, and the differences in phases of enhancement between cirrhotic and normal liver using gadoxetic acid. We also discuss how to obtain and recognize an adequate hepatobiliary phase

Effects of Mild Hypercapnia During Head-Down Bed Rest on Ocular Structures, Cerebral Blood Flow, aud Visual Acuity in Healthy Human Subjects

The cephalad fluid shift induced by microgravity has been hypothesized to cause an elevation in intracranial pressure (ICP) and contribute to the development of the Visual Impairment/Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) syndrome, as experienced by some astronauts during long-duration space flight. Elevated ambient partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) on ISS may also raise ICP and contribute to VIIP development. We seek to determine if the combination of mild CO2 exposure, similar to that occurring on the International Space Station, with the cephalad fluid shift induced by head-down tilt, will induce ophthalmic and cerebral blood flow changes similar to those described in the VIIP syndrome. We hypothesize that mild hypercapnia in the head-down tilt position will increase choroidal blood volume and cerebral blood flow, raise intraocular pressure (IOP), and transiently reduce visual acuity as compared to the seated or the head-down tilt position without elevated CO2, respectively