Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma of a Diffuse Sclerosing Variant: Ultrasonographic Monitoring from a Normal Thyroid Gland to Mass Formation

A diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is uncommon and has a tendency for rapid growth and a higher incidence of cervical lymph node metastases. We experienced a case of a diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a 48-year-old man. This case showed benign features on initial ultrasonography and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A new nodule was detected on follow-up ultrasonography that showed rapid enlargement. This case was confirmed by surgical excision. We herein describe the initial and follow-up ultrasonographic findings of a diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Screen-Film Mammography and Soft-Copy Full-Field Digital Mammography: Comparison in the Patients with Microcalcifications

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to compare the ability of screen-film mammography (SFM) and soft-copy full-field digital mammography (s-FFDM) on two different monitors to detect and characterize microcalcifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The images of 40 patients with microcalcifications (three patients had malignant lesion and 37 patients had benign lesion), who underwent both SFM and FFDM at an interval of less than six months, were independently evaluated by three readers. Three reading sessions were undertaken for SFM and for FFDM on a mammography-dedicated review workstation (RWS, 2K x 2.5K), and for FFDM on a high-resolution PACS monitor (1.7K x 2.3K). The image quality, breast composition and the number and conspicuity of the microcalcifications were evaluated using a three-point rating method, and the mammographic assessment was classified into 4 categories (normal, benign, low concern and moderate to great concern). RESULTS: The image quality, the number and conspicuity of the microcalcifications by s-FFDM (on the RWS, PACS and both) were superior to those by SFM in 85.0%, 80.0% and 52.5% of the cases, respectively (p 0.01). The mammographic assessment category for the microcalcifications in the three reading sessions was similar. CONCLUSION: s-FFDM gives a superior image quality to SFM and it is better at evaluating microcalcifications. In addition, s-FFDM with the PACS monitor is comparable to s-FFDM with the RWS for evaluating microcalcifications.

Comparison of Surface and Saddle Endoanal Coil to Evaluate anal Sphincter in Infants and Young Children: Experimental Study Using Phantom and Cats

PURPOSE: We designed an inside-out-type endoanal surface and saddle coil to evaluate the anal sphincter of young children who have difficulty in controlling defecation after the correction of anorectal malformation, and compared two coils using an imaging phantom and cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using two coils, T1- and T2-weighted axial and coronal images of the phantom and of the anorectal region of cats were obtained, and the results were compared in terms of changes in signal intensity and SNR according to the distance from the coil's surface. We also compared the capability of the coils to delineate the internal and external anal sphincter of cat anorectum, both of which are important in the control of defecation. RESULTS: The saddle coil was slightly superior to the surface coil in terms of SNR, but inferior in terms of the signal intensity of the region of interest of the cat's anorectum. Moreover, artifacts of low signal intensity appeared in an azimuthal direction on axial images acquired using the saddle coil and prohibited delineation of the whole of the anal sphincter. In terms of image quality, the surface coil was therefore superior to the saddle coil. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that among inside-out-type endoanal coils, the surface coil may be superior to the saddle coil in MR imaging to evaluate the anal sphincter of young children.