MR measurements of corpus callosum in normal adults

To evaluate criterial for detecting corpus callosum (CC) abnormality, measurements of CC were done in 100 Korean adults on midline sagittal T1 weighted images using the spin echo technique with a 2.0 Tesla MR unit. The mean (±SD) anteroposterior diameter of CC, and the mean (±SD) thicknesses of genu, body, transition, and splenium were 71.1±5.0, 11.2±1.6, 5.7±1.0, 3.6±10, and 11.6±1.6mm, respectively. The outlines of CC were traced directly from the scans, and the maximal anteroposterior length of the CC was divided into quartiles. Area measurements of the anterior quartile, body, splenium, and whole CC were made with a digitizer pad and computer, and the mean (±SD) areas of these were 211±36, 194±36, 205±34, and 610±90mm, respectively. The following ratios were calculated; Maximum anteroposterior diameter of CC/length of brain, area of anterior quartile/area of whole CC, area of body/area of whole CC, and area of splenium/area of whole CC. There was a statistically significant increased of maximum anteroposterior diameter of CC/length of brain by age, and a statistically significant decrease of the area of the body by age. However, there were no statistically significant differences of all measurements between males and females.

Value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

During a 12-month period high-resolution, real-time ultrasonography (US) with graded compression was performed on 268 consecutive patients with clinically suspected acute appendicitis and its complication. US visualization of a fluid-filled, non-compressed appendix or a decompressed, thick-walled appendix was the primary criterion for a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The sonographic findings were correlated with surgical-pathologic outcome in 92 cases and with the findings of clinical follow-up in the remainder. US was found to be accurate in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its complication with a sensitivity of 93.3%, a specificity of 98.9%, and an accuracy of 97%. The predictive value of a positive test was 97.7%; that of a negative test was 96.7%. There were two false-positive examination in patients with a thick-walled appendix or periapperdiceal abscess, which were surgically confirmed as appendiceal adenocarcinoma and perforated cecal diverticulitis respectively. There were six false-negative examination in patients with a sonographically no-visible appendix, which were confirmed surgically as acute appendicitis(n=5) and perforated appendicitis(n=1). Our results show that high-resolution, real-time US is an accureate imaging modality in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the evaluation of its complication.

High-resolution CT findings of pleuropulmonary involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus

To evaluate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of pleuropulmonary involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we analyzed HRCT findings of 12 patients of clinically confirmed SLE with respiratory symptoms. In four patients, HRCT findings before and after chemotherapy were compared. The common HRCT findings were ground-glass opacity (100%), bronchial wall thickening (66%), patchy parenchymal opacity (58%), septal or intralobular line thickening (58%), micronodule (58%), central core prominence (41%), small pleural effusion (91%), and pericardial effusion (33%). Follow-up HRCT obtained after treatment showed significant improvement of pleural effusion(4/4), pericardial effusion (3/3), pericardial thickening (1/1), patchy opacity (2/2), and ground glass opacity (2/4). But bronchial wall thickening (2/2) and micronodule (2/2) were not improved. Although there are no pathognomonic HRCT findings in SLE, bilateral small pleural effusion, ground glass opacity, subpleural patchy opacity, and micronodule are common and suggestive findings in the pleuropulmonary involvement of SLE.