Hepatic CT Enhancement: Comparison between Dimeric and Monomeric Nonionic Contrast Agents in Rabbits

PURPOSE: To determine the hepatic and vascular enhancement profiles with nonionic dimeric, iodixanol, contrast agent in the rabbit and to compare them with nonionic monomeric, ioversol, contrast agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven rabbits initially underwent hepatic dynamic CT scan with either iodixanol or ioversol, followed by repeated CT scan with other unused contrast agent with one week interval between scans. Pre and post contrast attenuation values of hepatic parenchyma, aorta and portal vein were measured sequentially. The mean enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma, aorta and portal vein were compared between two agents. The mean peak enhancement and peak enhancement time of the liver, aorta, and portal vein were also compared. RESULTS: The attenuation values of ioversol showed a greater mean hepatic enhancement than iodixanol from 18 seconds to 39 seconds after injection (from late arterial phase to early portal venous phase) with a statistical significance (p<0.05). The mean peak enhancement of hepatic parenchyma, aorta and portal vein was also greater using ioversol than iodixanol, but the mean peak enhancement times of ioversol and iodixanol were nearly identical. CONCLUSION: Ioversol may have the greater effects than iodixanol on hepatic tumor conspicuity, especially from late arterial phase to early portal veneous phase.

High Grade MALT Lymphoma of the Ileum in a Child Presenting as Intussusception: A Case Report

Lymphoma is the third most common childhood malignancy after leukemia and brain tumor. In contrast to adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, that occurring in children is usually found extranodally. The most common site is the abdomen, including the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and pancreas, and the next most common is the extranodal head and neck. Gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults is usually considered to be MALT lymphoma, a distinct B-cell type, but the occurrence of this variety in the small bowel of children is relatively rare. We report a case of high-grade MALT lymphoma occurring in a nine-year-old boy who presented with ileoileal intussusception.

US and MR Imaging of Candidiasis of the Nervous System in Premature Infants: Two Case Reports

Candidiasis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare condition and like other opportunistic fungal infections, most commonly occurs in immune-compromised patients. Because of the increasing use of antibiotics and the improving survival rate of premature infants requiring intensive care, the incidence of fungal infections in the brain has increased. We report the findings of ultrasonography and MR imaging in two cases of candidiasis of the CNS in premature infants.

MR Findings of Septic Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MR findings of septic thrombosis of the cavernous sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven MR images of six patients with septic cavernous sinus thrombosis obtained over a five-year period and proven clinically or radiologically were retrospectively reviewed. The contour and enhancement pattern of the cavernous sinus, changes in the internal carotid artery, orbit, pituitary gland and sphenoid sinus, and intracranial abnormalities were analyzed and compared with the findings of follow-up studies. RESULTS: In all six patients, contrast study revealed asymmetrical enlargement of the ipsilateral cavernous sinus and multiple irregular filling defects within it. Narrowing of the cavernous portion of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery was noted in five patients, upward displacement of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery in four, ipsilateral proptosis with engorgement of the superior ophthalmic vein in two, pituitary enlargement in five, and inflammatory change in the sphenoid sinus in six. Associated intracranial abnormalities included edema and enhancement in the meninx, temporal lobe, or pons adjacent to the cavernous sinus in four patients, hydrocephalus in one, and cerebral infarction in one. Follow-up MR imaging indicated that the extent of asymmetrical enlargement of the cavernous sinus, filling defects within it, as seen on contrast study, and enlarged pituitary glands had all decreased, without significant interval change. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is useful in the diagnosis of septic cavernous sinus thrombosis. Asymmetrical enlargement of the cavernous sinus, multiple irregular filling defect within it, as seen on contrast study, and changes in the internal carotid artery are characteristic findings.

Perianal Episiotomy Scar Endometrioma: A Case Report

Endometrioma is a common clinical condition, but cases in which an episiotomy scaris present are, however, rare: only two cases have been reported in obstetric journals, and one other in a radiologic journal. All three were in English. We encountered a case in which a solitary endometrioma was present in the perineal region beneath an episiotomy scar. An irregularly marginated hypoechoic mass was revealed by US, and a discrete homogeneous enhancing mass by CT.

Tuberculous Aneurysm of the Abdominal Aorta: Endovascular Repair Using Stent Grafts in Two Cases

Tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta is exceedingly rare. To date, the standard therapy for mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta has been surgery involving in-situ graft placement or extra-anatomic bypass surgery followed by effective anti-tuberculous medication. Only recently has the use of a stent graft in the treat-ment of tuberculous aortic aneurysm been described in the literature. We report two cases in which a tuberculous aneurysm of the abdominal aorta was success-fully repaired using endovascular stent grafts. One case involved is a 42-year-old woman with a large suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and a right psoas abscess, and the other, a 41-year-old man in whom an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptured during surgical drainage of a psoas abscess.

Ultrasonography and CT Findings of Abdominal Wall Endometrioma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the US and CT findings of abdominal wall endometrioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We respectively reviewed nine patients with abdominal wall masses diagnosed as endometrioma during a recent three-year period. Both US and CT scans were performed in six cases, only ultrasound in one, and only CT scans in two. The location, size, shape, margin, internal echo or density, enhancement patterns, and relation to adjacent masses, as seen on US and CT images, were reviewed. RESULTS: All patients had a previous history of deliveries by caesarian section. All masses were 2-4.5cm in size ; five were located in subcutaneous layers and four in musclel ayers. In all cases, sonographic findings were low echoic masses with irregular margins(7/7). Internal echotextures were inhomogeneous in five cases and homogeneous in two. On CT, masses in subcutaneous layers(5/8)showed spiculated margins and linear enhancement of the rectus muscle fascia. In cases of lesion located in muscle(3/8), slight thickening of the rectus muscle was visible on precontrast CT scans, but on postcontrast CT scans, well-defined enhancing masses, separate from the rectus muscle were seen. CONCLUSION: When patients with a previous history of caesarian section present palpable abdominal wall masses, with cyclic pain, sonographic findings of a low echoic mass separated from the internal organs, and CT findings of a strongly enhanced mass are useful for the diagnosis of endometrioma.

Arterio-venous malformation in the chest wall: a case report

No abstract available.