Acute mediastinitis: spectrum of computed tomography findingsExarhos, D.; Malagari, K.; Tsatalou, E.; Benakis, S.; Peppas, C.; Kotanidou, A.; Chondros, D.; Roussos, C.
doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2538-3pmid: 15627194
The objective of this study was to describe CT findings and to determine the diagnostic value of CT in diagnosis of acute mediastinitis. CT findings were retrospectively studied in 40 patients with suspected acute mediastinitis, including 28 postoperative patients, five with acute descending necrotizing mediastinitis (ADNM), and seven with suspected post-traumatic perforation of the esophagus. Findings included increased attenuation of mediastinal fat (100%), localized mediastinal fluid collections (55%), free gas bubbles in the mediastinum (57.5%), mediastinal lymph nodes (35%), pericardial effusions (27.5%), pleural effusions (85%), lung infiltrates (35%), sternal dehiscence (40%), and pleuromediastinal fistula (2.5%). The sensitivity and specificity of CT in postoperative patients in the first 17 days was 100% and 33% respectively, and after day 17, 100% and 90%. In patients with ADNM sensitivity was 100% while in patients with suspected esophageal perforation sensitivity and specificity were 100%. CT is a highly sensitive technique for the detection of mediastinitis of various causes. For the postoperative patients there is clear time dependence for CT interpretation and accuracy. In patients with suspected ADNM, and traumatic esophageal perforation CT is highly specific early after clinical presentation.
Safety of MR liver specific contrast mediaBellin, Marie-France; Webb, Judith; Molen, Aart; Thomsen, Henrik; Morcos, Sameh
doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2612-xpmid: 15627176
Over the past few years a number of magnetic resonance (MR) liver specific contrast agents have been introduced. In this report the safety issues of these agents are addressed. A literature search was carried out. Based on the available information, simple guidelines on the safety issue of liver specific contrast agents have been produced by the Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology. The report and guidelines were discussed at the 11th European Symposium on Urogenital Radiology in Santiago de Compostela. Liver specific contrast agents appear in general to be safe and well tolerated. However, the incidence of adverse reactions with iron oxides and the intravenous manganese based agent seems to be slightly higher than with gadolinium based agents. However, no safety information from comparative clinical trials has been published. Guidelines on the safety aspects are presented.
Accuracy of computed tomographic intravenous cholangiography (CT-IVC) with iotroxate in the detection of choledocholithiasisGibson, Robert; Vincent, Janette; Speer, Tony; Collier, Neil; Noack, Keith
doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2606-8pmid: 15627178
To determine the accuracy of computed tomographic intravenous cholangiography (CT-IVC) for detection of choledocholithiasis. Sixty-five patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) underwent CT-IVC prior to ERC, using a single detector helical CT following intravenous infusion of 100 ml iotroxate. Patients with bilirubin levels >3 times normal were excluded. ERC was indeterminate in three patients (4.7%) and CT-IVC in four (6.3%). Twenty-three patients had ductal calculi at ERC, and CT-IVC was positive in 22, with two false positives and one false negative: sensitivity 95.6%, specificity 94.3%. Stones were multiple in nine and solitary in 14. Of the 14 solitary stones, ten were ≤5 mm and eight were ≤4 mm. The bilirubin level in positive cases was within normal in 20. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) reformats showed stones in only 27% of cases and surface rendered (SR) reformats in none. CT-IVC is highly accurate for detection of ductal calculi, including single small calculi, with a normal or near normal serum bilirubin. Axial images should be used for interpretation rather than MIP or SR reformats.
Gyral abnormalities in the early stage of superior sagittal sinus thrombosisUchino, Akira; Eriguchi, Makoto; Sawada, Akihiro; Takase, Yukinori; Nishihara, Masashi; Kurohara, Kazuhiro; Kuroda, Yasuo; Kudo, Sho
doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2440-zpmid: 15290064
We report computed tomography (CT) features in a case of segmental thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus. On the initial cranial CT scan, both frontal cortices showed focal areas of slightly increased attenuation. The lesions were isointense on magnetic resonance (MR) images no matter what pulse sequence was used, except on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, which showed curvilinear sulcal hyperintensity. On postcontrast T1-weighted images, curvilinearly enhancing structures were apparent in both frontal cortical sulci. No lesion appeared on follow-up CT or in MR images. We speculated that the areas of slightly increased attenuation in the cortices represented blood congestion in the cortical veins, venules and capillaries without serum leakage. Cranial CT images should be carefully interpreted to avoid overlooking subtle lesions.
Synchronous gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal manifestations of different subtypes of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: CT, MRI and pathological featuresHorger, Marius; Pfannenberg, Christina; Bitzer, Michael; Wehrmann, Manfred; Claussen, Claus
doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2453-7pmid: 15322807
We describe a case of an unusual multicentric appearance of an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, consisting of multiple gastrointestinal masses with different growth patterns and simultaneous, distant, musculoskeletal manifestations. CT and MR imaging features demonstrated a different degree of lesion enhancement, which proved histologically to be related to an alternation of predominantly spindle cell areas with a myxoid-vascular IMT subtype. A clear separation of the imaging characteristics of this tumor’s subtypes by correlation with the pathology was not possible because of the mixed histologic character of the tumor in all its locations. However, MRI signal in the T2-weighted sequence was lower in the spindle cell variant localized predominantly in the musculoskeletal system, while the gastrointestinal predominantly myxoid-vascular counterparts showed slightly higher signal in the T2-weighted sequence.
Evaluation of imaging-guided fine-needle percutaneous biopsy of renal massesJaff, Ameer; Molinié, Vincent; Mellot, François; Guth, Axel; Lebret, Thierry; Scherrer, Antoine
doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2577-9pmid: 15627185
To evaluate the utility of imaging-guided fine-needle percutaneous biopsy of renal masses, we conducted a prospective analysis of our imaging-guided procedures from January 1999 to February 2003. We performed 54 percutaneous core biopsies in 46 patients. Fluoro-computed tomography and ultrasound guidance were respectively used in 48 and six cases. One to four specimens were obtained by using an 18-gauge automated coaxial biopsy system. We reviewed the patients medical records, pathology results, and imaging studies. Core biopsy results were compared with surgical pathology (n=27) or clinical follow-up (n=19). All biopsies provided sufficient material for analysis. The mean tumor size was 33 mm. Biopsy findings were positive for malignancy in 31 cases; histologic diagnoses included renal cell carcinoma (n=23), transitional cell carcinoma (n=5), and metastasis (n=3). Biopsy revealed 15 benign diagnoses: oncocytoma (n=6), hemorrhagic renal cyst (n=3), chronic nephritis (n=3), angiomyolipoma (n=2), and mycotic renal abscess (n=1). The average follow-up period for patients with benign diagnoses was 16 months. Biopsy results showed normal renal parenchyma in eight of 54 procedures, all of which had recuperated by subsequent biopsies. No immediate complications occurred after the procedures. Imaging-guided percutaneous core biopsy is a safe and accurate method for the evaluation of renal masses.