Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor ofabdomen: computerized tomographic (CT) and pathological findings.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor (IMT) is the recent name of Inflammatory pseudotumor which was in intermediate group of fibrous-origin tumor. The authors retrospectively reviewed such cases in Ramathibodi Hospital from January 2001 to December 2005. There were 115 cases of fibrous-origin tumor which was IMT in 17 cases. Nine cases occurred in the abdomen and only 3 of these had complete computerized tomographic (CT) imaging. One was hypodense liver mass with thick rim enhancement. Another one in the liver presented as a liver abscess which appeared as multiloculated hypodense mass with enhanced septum. The third case was a large malignant-looking retroperitoneal mass and having a small accompanying hepatic lesion which rapidly grew in the follow up study at nine months. IMT in the abdomen was scanty. The diagnosis was done with difficulty because of different signs and symptoms such as fever and palpable abdominal mass. The laboratory findings were nonspecific or within normal limits. Tissue biopsy was the way of definite diagnosis. We reported 3 cases of abdominal IMT with variable imaging findings that may lead to inappropriate treatment. Recognization of such findings will help achieve correct diagnosis.

Cardiovascular examination with 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging: first 100 cases at Ramathibodi Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has been utilized for diagnosis in various cardiovascular diseases and most of those were performed on a 1.5 Tesla CMR system. Recently, a 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging system has been introduced into clinical practice, however the clinical experience on cardiovascular examination using this system is limited. Therefore, the authors' institution has integrated a team for developing a CMR program on this 3.0 Tesla system. OBJECTIVE: To describe the authors' experience on the 3.0 Tesla CMR system. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The data on patients referred to the authors' CMR unit between August 2004 and October 2005 were reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred patients were referred for CMR examination. The mean age was 56 years (2 month - 85 years) and 65 patients were male. The most common indication was to assess coronary artery disease (64 patients). The performed examination was divided into cardiac structure and function assessment (39%), stress testing (23%), coronary magnetic resonance angiography (13%), myocardial viability assessment (12%), magnetic resonance angiography (9%), and flow assessment (4%). CONCLUSION: The present study highlights that comprehensive assessment of various cardiovascular diseases can be performed on the 3.0 Tesla CMR system.