Diagnosis of small-bowel disease: comparison of magnetic resonance enteroclysis and conventional enteroclysis.

In this prospective study, 32 patients with symptoms suggestive of small-bowel disease underwent conventional enteroclysis and magnetic resonance (MR) enteroclysis. Image quality, luminal distension, wall thickening, homogeneity of luminal opacification, the presence of artefacts and extraluminal changes were assessed. Small-bowel pathologies were subsequently proved surgically and by follow-up examinations in 19 (59.4%) of the patients. Abnormal findings were detected by MR enteroclysis in 11 of these 19 patients (57.9%). Normal findings on MR enteroclysis were found in eight of the 19 patients (42.1%) whereas conventional enteroclysis detected abnormal findings in these patients. Abdominal lesions outside the small bowel, comprised renal cysts, cholelithiasis, ovarian cysts and horseshoe kidney, and were detected by MR enteroclysis in two, one, four and one, respectively, of these normal patients but not by conventional enteroclysis. Excluding lesions outside of the small bowel, a higher rate of false-negative results and the missing of superficial lesions occurred with MR enteroclysis. It is, therefore, suggested that MR enteroclysis should not be used as a primary way of evaluating small-bowel disease and its use should be restricted to follow-up examinations of known disease.

Split-cord malformation and accompanying anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To present the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances of spinal split-cord malformation (SCM) and to investigate the various types of congenital spinal disorders associated with SCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR examinations of 23 patients with SCM were carried out in our hospital between June 2002 and May 2007 and retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Nineteen (82.6%) patients were diagnosed as type I SCM, while four (17.4%) were diagnosed as type II SCM. The most commonly involved site of SCM was the dorsolumbar area (47.8%) while cervical involvement was the least common (4.3%). No accompanying congenital spinal disorders were detected in four patients (17.4%). In 19 patients (82.6%), congenital spinal disorders accompanying SCM were detected, the most common of which was a low-lying cord, found in 14 patients (60.9%). Other anomalies included hydromyelia in seven patients (30.4%), lipoma in six (26%), meningomyelocele in four (17.4%), thick filum in three (13%) and dermoid cyst in three (13%). CONCLUSION: In preoperative planning for SCM, its characteristics and those of the accompanying anomalies should be determined. MRI is a valuable tool for making such determinations.

Unilateral temporalis muscle hypertrophy with contralateral masseteric hypertrophy.

We report the MRI findings of a 22-year-old woman who complained of localized swelling in the left temporal region and right side of the face. MRI revealed left temporal and right masseter muscle hypertrophy, which to our knowledge has not been reported previously. The diagnosis of benign masticatory muscle hypertrophy was confirmed by biopsy.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of adult-onset glutaric aciduria type I.

Glutaric aciduria or glutaric acidemia type I, an autosomal recessive disease, usually presents with an acute encephalopathic crisis in young children. We report the magnetic resonance (MR) and proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) imaging findings of a previously healthy 20-year-old man who presented with recurrent headaches. Organic acids from the patient's urine contained large amounts of adipate, glutarate, and 3-hydroxyglutarate consistent with glutaric aciduria type I.

Retroaortic left renal vein: multidetector computed tomography angiography findings and its clinical importance.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the appearance, type, frequency, and clinical importance of retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV) in patients examined with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1856 patients who underwent CT with urological symptoms (hematuria, flank and abdominal pain, left gonadal vein varicocele) (n = 889) or with symptoms other than urological ones (n = 967) were prospectively evaluated for the presence of RLRV. CT was performed with 110 ml of iodinated contrast material through the antecubital vein at a rate of 3.5 ml/s. Late arterial and early venous phase volumetric data sets were acquired at 30 and 65 s, respectively, from the start of the intravenous injection of contrast medium. In addition to axial images, multiplanar reconstructions (MPR), maximum-intensity projection (MIP), and three-dimensional volume-rendering (3D VR) images were used to assess left renal vein anomalies. Left renal vein anomalies were classified into four types according to their appearance: I) RLRV joining the inferior vena cava (IVC) in the orthotopic position; II) RLRV joining the IVC at level L4-L5; III) circumaortic or collar left renal vein; IV) RLRV joining the left common iliac vein. RESULTS: RLRV was detected in 68 (3.6%) of the 1856 patients, with 26, 22, 17, and three of types I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Forty-four of the 68 patients with RLRV (65%) were in the group with urological symptoms, while 24 patients (35%) were in the group without urological symptoms. Compression of the RLRV was found in 16 patients in the urological symptoms group, while compression was detected in only three patients in the other group. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The most common urological symptom was hematuria. The frequency of urological symptoms was higher in groups II and IV compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: MDCT angiography with axial, MPR, MIP, and 3D VR images is effective in the detection of vascular renal anomalies such as RLRV. Diagnosing RLRV and differentiating it from other pathologic conditions causing hematuria is important in order to avoid complications during retroperitoneal surgery or interventional procedures.

MR angiography of the anomalous branching of aortic arch and left subclavian artery arising from Kommerell's diverticulum. Case report.

We report the magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic findings of an asymptomatic case with abnormal branching of aortic arch and Kommerell's diverticulum, which to our knowledge has not been described previously.

Synovial hemangioma of the knee invading the femur.

Synovial hemangiomas of the knee joint are rare. We report on a pathologically proven synovial hemangioma of the knee that invaded the femur.

Mumps epididymo-orchitis: sonography and color Doppler sonographic findings.

Eleven cases of mumps epididymo-orchitis were examined by gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasonography. Nine cases were unilateral and two were bilateral. In the initial examination, the volume and the vascularity of the affected testis and epididymis and the thickness of the scrotal wall was greater than of the normal site, whereas the testicular echogenicity was decreased homogenously, resistivity indexes of intratesticular arteries were decreased, and spontaneous venous flow was seen in all cases. In contrast to nonspecific epididymo-orchitis, no hydrocele was seen, but minimal reactive hydrocele was found in two cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by specific immunoglobulin-G examination. Patients were given interferon and were controlled by ultrasonography and Doppler ultrasonography at the third and seventh days of treatment and 3 months after treatment. Sonographic findings began to improve by the third day and fully disappeared in seventh day. No testicular atrophy was seen in the last control. To our knowledge, this is the first report on sonographic and color Doppler sonographic findings of mumps epididymo-orchitis.