MDCT imaging in Spigelian hernia, clinical, and surgical implications.

OBJECTIVE: Spigelian hernia is an uncommon congenital or acquired defect in the transversus abdominis aponeurosis with non-specific symptoms posing a diagnostic challenge. There is a paucity of radiology literature on imaging findings of Spigelian hernia. The objective of this study is to explore the role of MDCT in evaluating Spigelian hernia along with clinical and surgical implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this IRB approved, HIPAA compliant retrospective observational analysis MDCT imaging findings of 43 Spigelian hernias were evaluated by two fellowship-trained radiologists. Imaging features evaluated were: presence of Spigelian hernia, laterality, relation to "hernia belt" (between 0 and 6 cm cranial to an imaginary axial line between both anterior superior iliac spines), the hernia neck and sac sizes, hernia content, and other coexistent hernias (umbilical, incisional, inguinal). Patient's demographics (age, gender, BMI, conditions with increased intra-abdominal pressure) were also recorded for any correlation. RESULTS: 60% (26/43) of Spigelian hernias were located below the hernia belt while 33% (14/43) within the hernia belt and 7% (3/43) above the hernia belt. The most common subtype of Spigelian hernia encountered was interparietal (84%). The mean hernia neck diameter was 3.4 cm, mean hernia sac volume was 329 cc. Hernia content included: fat (43/43) bowel (23/43), fluid (3/43). 3 patients had no clinical history provided, the remaining 37 patients' clinical presentation was asymptomatic in 73% (27/37), acute abdominal pain in 5% (2/37) and chronic abdominal pain in 22% (8/37). None of the hernia were incarcerated and none of the patients underwent emergent surgery. No significant correlation was noted between Spigelian hernia and causes of increased intra-abdominal pressure. 90% of our patients had other abdominal hernias. 30.9 was the mean BMI (20.8-69.1). CONCLUSION: Most of the Spigelian hernia occurred below the traditionally described hernia belt and the majority are of interparietal subtype that can be best diagnosed with MDCT in contrast to physical examination.

Imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma and image guided therapies - how we do it.

Treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma have evolved over recent years. Interventional radiologists and surgeons can offer curative treatments for early stage tumours, and locoregional therapies can be provided resulting in longer survival times. Early diagnosis with screening ultrasound is the key. CT and MRI are used to characterize lesions and determine the extent of tumour burden. Imaging techniques are discussed in this article as the correct imaging protocols are essential to optimise successful detection and characterisation. After treatment it is important to establish regular imaging follow up with CT or MRI as local residual disease can be easily treated, and recurrence elsewhere in the liver is common.

MR imaging in the characterization of small renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MR imaging for the characterization of small (<2 cm) renal lesions described as indeterminate on prior US or CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three small renal masses in 51 patients considered indeterminate on prior ultrasound or CT scans were included in the study. A retrospective evaluation of the examinations was performed independently by two body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiologists who were unaware of the final diagnosis. A 3-point confidence scale (1: benign, 2: indeterminate, and 3: malignant) was established to determine the level of suspicion for malignancy. Interobserver agreement was determined with a weighted kappa statistic. The diagnosis was verified by imaging follow-up of at least 24 months (mean 60 months) in 53 lesions and by pathology in 10 lesions. RESULTS: MRI detected all eight malignancies in the series. There were eight malignant lesions and two benign lesions among those with pathologic follow-up. No interval growth or evidence of malignancy in the remaining 53 lesions was found for a minimum of 24 months by repeat imaging. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MRI for differentiating benign from malignant small renal lesions were 100% (62.9-100%, 95% CI), 94.5% (84.9-98.8%, 95% CI), 72.7% (39.1-93.6%, 95% CI), and 100% (93.1-100%, 95% CI), respectively. The kappa value for interobserver agreement was 0.77 (95% CI 0.59-0.96, p-value <0.001). CONCLUSION: MR imaging is an effective method for characterizing small (<2 cm) renal masses found to be indeterminate by US or CT.

Multimodality imaging of splenic lesions and the role of non-vascular, image-guided intervention.

Splenic lesions are often incidentally detected on abdominal-computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and these can pose a diagnostic challenge in patients with suspected or known malignancy. This review will discuss the multimodality imaging features of various benign and malignant splenic pathologies including trauma, infection, infarct, granulomatous disease, benign neoplasms such as hemangioma, hamartoma, and littoral cell angioma, cystic entities such as peliosis, splenic cysts, and pseudocysts, and malignant processes such as metastasis, lymphoma, angiosarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma. While several of these splenic pathologies have characteristic imaging features that are helpful in diagnosis, others have nonspecific findings. In such clinical dilemmas, image-guided intervention may be essential, and we therefore discuss the role of non-vascular, image-guided splenic interventions for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The radiologist can play a key part in the clinical diagnosis and management of splenic lesions, and therefore a thorough knowledge of the imaging features of splenic lesions and a thoughtful approach to their management is crucial.

Mimics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Several uncommon primary pancreatic tumors, inflammatory conditions, metastasis to the pancreas and peripancreatic masses can mimic the appearance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Differentiation between these lesions and PDA can be challenging, due to the overlap in imaging features; however, familiarity with their typical imaging features and clinical presentation may be helpful in their differentiation, as in some cases, invasive diagnostic tests or unnecessary surgery can be avoided. The different pathologies that can mimic PDA include inflammatory conditions such as the various forms of pancreatitis (chronic-focal mass-forming, autoimmune and groove pancreatitis), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, solid pseudopapillary tumors, metastasis (solid non-lymphomatous and hematologic), congenital variants (annular pancreas), as well as peripancreatic lesions (accessory spleen, adrenal masses, duodenal masses, lymph nodes and vascular lesions), and certain rare pancreatic tumors (e.g., acinar cell tumors, solid serous tumors, hamartoma and solitary fibrous tumors). The clinical presentation and imaging features of the most commonly encountered mimics of PDA are discussed in this presentation with representative illustrations.

Imaging effects of radiation therapy in the abdomen and pelvis: evaluating "innocent bystander" tissues.

Accurate interpretation of posttherapeutic images obtained in radiation oncology patients requires familiarity with modern radiation therapy techniques and their expected effects on normal tissues. Three-dimensional conformal external-beam radiation therapy techniques (eg, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy), although they are designed to reduce the amount of normal tissue exposed to high-dose radiation, inevitably increase the amount of normal tissue that is exposed to low-dose radiation, with the potential for resultant changes that may evolve over time. Currently available internal radiation therapy techniques (eg, arterial radioembolization for hepatic malignancies, brachytherapy for prostate cancer and gynecologic cancers) also carry risks of possible injury to adjacent nontargeted tissues. The sensitivity of tissues to radiation exposure varies according to the tissue type but is generally proportional to the rate of cellular division, with rapidly regenerating tissues such as intestinal mucosa being the most radiosensitive. The characteristic response to radiation-induced injury likewise varies according to tissue type, with atrophy predominating in epithelial tissue whereas fibrosis predominates in stromal tissue. Moreover, changes in irradiated tissues evolve over time: In the liver, decreased attenuation at computed tomography and increased signal intensity at T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging reflect hyperemia and edema in the early posttherapeutic period; later, veno-occlusive changes alter the hepatic enhancement pattern; and finally, fibrosis develops in some patients. In the small bowel, wall thickening and mucosal hyperenhancement predominate initially, whereas luminal narrowing is the most prominent feature of chronic enteropathy. Correlation of posttherapeutic images with images used for treatment planning may be helpful when interpreting complex cases.