Angioleiomyoma of the Larynx: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Angioleiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle and vessel tumor; laryngeal localization is extremely rare with only 24 cases described in the literature; moreover, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal mass. Endoscopic complete surgical excision with dissection along capsule is now considered the gold-standard treatment for small and well-circumscribed laryngeal angioleiomyoma. We present a case of laryngeal angioleiomyoma successfully treated with carbon dioxide laser technology which resulted in a bleeding reduction and adequate hemostasis with less tissue damage and good functional outcome.

[Cardiac MRI with SENSE technology: study of ventricular and valvular functionality in 30 patients].

PURPOSE: The latest innovation in MR imaging is SENSE (SENSitivity Encoding), a technology providing an important solution for the time necessary for signal encoding. In the SENSitivity Encoding (SENSE) approach, an array of multiple, simultaneously operated receiver coils is used for signal acquisition. In particular, the efficacy of SENSE technology is able to reduce the number of phase encodings by a factor (named R factor or Reduction factor) and to evaluate the same k space with fewer readout lines obtaining higher spatial and temporal resolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An heterogeneous group of 30 patients with a variety of clinically proven diagnoses underwent Cardiac MR with SENSE technology to evaluate the technique's diagnostic efficacy. The sequences used were "Balanced" Ultrafast Gradient Echo (B-FFE) characterised by a hyper-intense blood signal with multislice multiphase and single slice multiphase acquisitions. RESULTS: In addition to reducing scan times, SENSE technology improved spatial and temporal resolution (40 frames/cardiac cycle) providing optimal dynamic evaluation of valve structures and wall kinesis. Furthermore, the use of the SENSE technique with B-FFE sequences (sB-FFE) enabled the qualitative evaluation of abnormal blood movements and transvalvular flows. CONCLUSIONS: The considerable time savings allowed by SENSE technology and the clear improvement in image quality constitute a step forward in cardiac MR imaging. The possibility of executing morphologic, dynamic, perfusional and spectroscopic studies in the same MR examination session with short acquisition times and good image quality are becoming more feasible.

Vascular involvement in pancreatic neoplasm: a comparison between spiral CT and DSA.

The principal criterion for resectability of pancreatic carcinoma is the assessment of vascular involvement. In a prospective evaluation the ability of Spiral CT Angiography (CTA) to detect vascular involvement in 50 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, was proved; DSA was performed later in all patients. In 20 patients, without vascular involvement, a complete concordance was obtained. Of 30 patients with vascular involvement, there was complete concordance between CTA and angiography in 22 patients and discordance in 8 patients. CTA was superior in 2 cases with periadventitial infiltration and in 5 patients with splenoportal confluence thrombosis. DSA was superior in 1 case with infiltration of the superior mesenteric vein. After surgical evaluation, sensitivity of CTA and DSA was 97% and 77%, respectively, and the negative predictive values were 95% and 74%. As compared to DSA, CTA is more rapid and less invasive and can be considered the modality of choice for preoperative work-up of pancreatic neoplasm.