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PurposeTo assess the level of agreement and interchangeability among Excel and CMRtools (2012) for calculation of T2* values in iron overload.Materials and Methods T2* images in 27 cases withβ-thalassemia major were imported into CMRtools (2012). The regions of interest (ROI) were drawn and interference signal removed to obtain T2* values. The T2* images were also measured using default MR software and manually entered into Excel to obtain T2* values after removal of the interference signal. The agreement between the two methods in calculating T2* values was compared.Results For 27 patients withβ-thalassemia major, 10 cases showed myocardial iron overload. 25 cases had liver iron overload. The T2* values from two methods were not statistically significant (t=-0.152 and-0.691,P>0.05) for the liver.Conclusion There is good agreement and interchangeability between Excel and CMRtools (2012) in calculating T2* values. Excel can be used clinically to evaluate iron overload.
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Objective To investigate the reasons of artifacts in 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography.Methods One hundred patients with diagnosed or suspected coronary artery disease underwent retrospectively ECG-gated 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiogruphy.Maximum intensity projection(MIP),muhiplanar reformation(MPR)and volume rendering technique(VRT)were reconstructed.The reasons of artifacts were assessed by two experienced radiologists.Results A total of 1347 segments(1347/1500,89.8%)were reviewed,the artifacts were found in 192 segments(14.2%).Breath movement was the moat common artifact(124/192).and the other reasons included fast rate and irregular rhythm of the heart beat (42/192).while the phase mismatch was the third reason(22/192).Conclusions The common artifacts of 64-slice spiral CT coronary angiography includes breath movement,fast rate and irregular rhythm of heart beat and phage mismatch.Breath-holding control,low rate and regular rhythm of heart beat,muhiphage reconstruction are suggested for the accurate diagnosis.
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Objective To study the value of CT and MRI in diagnosis of Caroli disease. Methods CT and MR findings in 10 patients with histologically proved Caroli disease were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent both liver plane CT and contrast-enhanced CT. Five of 10 patients underwent MR imaging with Flash 2D T_1WI(TR/TE 148/4ms), True Fisp T_2WI(TR/TE 5.8/2.9ms) and MRCP(TR/TE 1120/86ms) sequences. Results The imaging paremeters of Caroli disease were multiple saccular/columnar dilatation of intrahepatic biliary ducts and communication with each other, which only partly were depicted at CT, however, all imaging findings were depicted at MRI True Fisp and MRCP without contrast-enhanced scanning. Of 10 patients, 4 cases were type Ⅰ of Caroli disease with hepatolith, but without hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertention; 6 cases type Ⅱ,all complicated with hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Of 6 patients with type Ⅱ Caroli disease, 4 cases had not hepatolith, and 2 cases had hepatolith. Of 10 patients, 3 cases had bilateral sponge kidney. Conclusion Caroli disease could be identified by CT or MRI, but MRI was superior to CT in depicting Caroli disease.
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Objective To analyze the MRI characteristics of hematospermia seminal vesiculitis(HSV) and evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI in HSV. Methods The MRI parameters of 25 HSV patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) imaging with SE T 1WI(TR/TE 558/14ms), Flash 2D water excitement(TR/TE 18.5/5.2ms), TSE T 2WI(TR/TE 4000/99ms) and fat suppression sequences were retrospectively analyzed. Results The bilateral seminal vesicles in all 25 patients with HSV enlarged. On SE T1-weighted images, intraseminal vesicle hemorrhage appeared as high signal intensity, which appeared more bright on Flash 2D water excitement sequence. The hypointensive duct wall of seminal vesicles could be clearly seen because of hyperintensive hemorrhage. On TSE T2-weighted images, intraseminal vesicle hemorrhage appeared as relatively lower signal intensity, and the duct wall of seminal vesicles could not clearly be depicted for being covered with relatively hypointensive hemorrhage. Conclusion Hematospermia seminal vesiculitis could be identified by MRI, and MRI was the best imaging method for examining hematospermia seminal vesiculitis.