[Assessment of compatibility between the results of standard abdominal CT and liver window CT in the diagnosis of liver space occupying lesion]

CT scan has a primary role in the imaging of the liver. CT images can be viewed with different regulations or the so called windows. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of consistency of the results of the liver window settings with those of standard abdominal CT in the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions in the liver. This was a cross-sectional study and included 162 patients who had been followed up for cancer, or had abdominal trauma or any abdominal symptoms. Standard abdominal CT scan with contrast injection was performed. Then the results of the scans were reviewed by two experienced radiologists for the presence or absence of liver lesions. Using SPSS 20 software, data analysis was performed by statistical tests. Because of the lack of agreement between our radiologists on the detection of lesions in 10 patients, the analysis was performed on 152 patients. According to the liver standard window settings 27.6% and 32.2% of the patients had liver lesions, respectively. Use of liver window settings resulted in the detection of increased number of lesions in 10.5% of the patients. Also, there was a significant difference between the number of liver space occupying lesions in the liver window settings and standard abdominal CT. The compatibility between the results of the two window settings was 0.78. The results of this study showed that the number of detected lesions in the CT of liver window was more than those in the CT of standard window settings, and this difference was significant. Therefore, liver window settings can be a useful measure to determine the number of liver lesions

[Comparison of diagnostic value of fetal cerebellar hemisphere circumference measurement and routine ultrasonography parameters for determination of the gestational age]

Recently, ultrasonographic assessment of gestational age has assumed an integral role in prenatal care. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of fetal cerebellar hemisphere circumference measurement with those of other parameters of routine ultrasonography for estimation of gestational age. This was a descriptive and analytical study and included318 pregnant women with gestational ages of 14 to 41 weeks and distinct LMP in Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah. The parameters of BPD, HC, AC, FL, TCD and CHC were measured by Siemens G50 ultrasound system, and gestational age was estimated. Data were analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficient. SPSS 20 software was used for statistical analysis. Based on LMP, mean +/- SD of gestational age was 29.18 +/- 8.86.But considering the parameters of BPD, HC, AC, FL, TCD and CHC we found mean +/- SD of 28.94 +/- 8.96, 28.93 +/- 9.01, 28.76 +/- 8.96, 28.87 +/- 8.98, 28.88 +/- 9.01 and 28.76 +/- 8.99 weeks respectively. Spierman correlation coefficients between LMP and other parameters of routine ultrasonography were more than 0.99 and significantly were correlated with one another. Comparison of the diagnostic value of fetal cerebellar hemisphere circumference measurement with those of other parameters of routine ultrasonography for estimation of gestational age did not show any significant differences. We can use measurement of fetal cerebellar hemisphere circumference with other parameters of routine ultrasonography

[Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan to diagnose the vertebral metastases]

The vertebra is the most common site of bone metastases. Diagnosis of metastases particularly in the early stages can improve patients' prognosis and therapy. This study was done to compare the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging and bone scan for the diagnosis of vertebral metastases. This descriptive study was done on 43 patients with any types of primary cancer. Patients underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear scan. Bone scan results were considered as the gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated for magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear scan. The magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 19 cases of thoracic vertebral metastases which previously diagnosed as negative by bone scan. Sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging compared to bone scan was 90.7% and 95.6%, respectively. The magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 4 cases of lumbar vertebral metastases which were reported negative in bone scan. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in compare to bone scan were 97.6%, 97% and 97.2%, respectively. In diagnosis of vertebral metastases, the magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive than bone scan

Signal intensity of basal ganglions in T2 magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis

Although multiple sclerosis is a disease affecting white matter of brain and spinal cord, but involvement of basal ganglions in some studies demonstrated a decrease in T2 sequence signals. This study was done to assess signal intensity of basal ganglions in T2 magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] in multiple sclerosis. This case - control study was done on 30 multiple sclerosis patients and 30 controls in Imam Reza hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, during 2010. MRI images of multiple sclerosis of patients and control group were matched according to age and sex. The basal ganglia signals were identified based on involvement areas, number of plaques, and brain atrophy in T2 and flair sequences. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, Chi-Square, Fisher exact test and independent t-tests. Among the case group, 10 patients [33.3%] demonstrated low signals in right thalamus and 14 patients [46.7%] in left thalamus, which was statistically significant compared with control group [P<0.001]. The presence of plaques in right and left globus pallidus was observed in 4 [13.3%] and 7 patients [23.3%] respectively. The presence of plaques in right and left thalamus was observed in 10 patients [33.3%] and 14 patients [46.7%] respectively, which was significant compared with control group [P<0.001]. The presence of brain atrophy was observed in 18 patients [60%] in case groups and in one patient [3.3%] in control group [P<0.001]. This study indicated that reduction of T2 signals in thalamus is a valuable finding in multiple sclerosis patients and it may facilitate the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

[Diagnostic values of fibrosis index in ultrasonography for differentiation of chronic viral hepatitis from liver cirrhosis]

Fibrosis index is a new index used for differentiation of cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis. If fibrosis index appears efficient in Doppler ultrasonography, it can be considered a good alternative for liver biopsy. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the diagnostic values of fibrosis index in ultrasonography for differentiation of chronic viral hepatitis from hepatic cirrhosis. This cross-sectional study included 104 patients, 19 patients with cirrhosis and 85 patients with chronic hepatitis. The diagnoses of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis had been confirmed by biopsy. PSV, RI, EDV, PPFV and FI indices were calculated and compared between the two groups. Then, using ROC curve, we determined the cut-off-point for FI. The median of PSV and RI in the cirrhosis group was significantly higher than those in the chronic hepatitis group [p<0.05] but EDV median did not show any difference and PPFV was significantly lower in the cirrhosis group in comparison to the hepatitis group [p<0.001]. A fibrosis index of 3.365 or higher with a sensitivity of 94.7% and a specificity of 83.5% was the best cut-off-point for differentiating cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis. The area under curve was estimated at 0.948. Based on the results of this study, fibrosis index in the above- mentioned method could be a highly efficient index for differentiation of cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis and its sensitivity and specificity were higher than those of previously used indices.