European journal of radiology
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Comparative Study
Comparison of findings of spontaneous splenorenal shunt in color Doppler sonography with multislice CT scan (64 slices) in liver transplant candidates.
Liver transplantation is the only definite treatment for end stage liver disease and it has high costs for the medical system so decreasing its complication and increasing its effectiveness is crucial. One of the factors that affect liver transplantation is the presence of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. Its diagnosis is mainly overlooked in pre-liver transplant patients. Main modality for its diagnosis is multislice CT scan however this is more expensive than sonography. Also, it exposes the patients to ionizing radiation. Considering the advantages of color Doppler ultrasound, studies to determine the sensitivity and specificity for detection of spontaneous splenorenal shunt is essential. ⋯ There was moderate agreement between CT scan and sonography for detection of spontaneous splenorenal shunt. CT scan is choice for detection of SSRS but sonography is somehow useful. It means that if sonograhy is positive it is sufficient, if negative, then CT should be performed. This is due to low sensitivity of sonography.
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To investigate the enhancement characteristics of liver parenchyma and portal vein as well as the portal vein-to liver contrast in Gd-EOB-DTPA- and Gd-BOPTA-enhanced abdominal MRI. ⋯ The enhancement of liver parenchyma and portal vein as well as the portal vein-to-liver contrast in the arterial and portal venous imaging phases were higher for patients receiving Gd-BOPTA compared with Gd-EOB-DTPA at the respective recommended doses. Gd-BOPTA might therefore enable better evaluation of the portal vein.
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Magnetic resonance (MR) neurography comprises an evolving group of techniques with the potential to allow optimal noninvasive evaluation of many abnormalities of the brachial plexus. MR neurography is clinically useful in the evaluation of suspected brachial plexus traumatic injuries, intrinsic and extrinsic tumors, and post-radiogenic inflammation, and can be particularly beneficial in pediatric patients with obstetric trauma to the brachial plexus. ⋯ Microstructural MR neurography depends on the diffusion tensor imaging that provides quantitative information about the degree and direction of water diffusion within the nerves of the brachial plexus, as well as on tractography to visualize the white matter tracts and to characterize their integrity. The successful evaluation of the brachial plexus requires the implementation of appropriate techniques and familiarity with the pathologies that might involve the brachial plexus.
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Clinical Trial
Coronary computer tomographic angiography for preoperative risk stratification in patients undergoing liver transplantation.
The assessment of the cardiovascular risk profile in patients with end-stage liver disease is essential prior to liver transplantation (LT) as cardiovascular diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the posttransplant course. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a 64-slice coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and coronary calcium scoring (CCS) to predict the postoperative cardiovascular risk of patients assessed for LT. In this single center, observational study we included 54 consecutive patients who were assessed for LT and consequently transplanted. ⋯ The remaining 30 patients with normal CTA findings were listed for LT without further tests. None of the 54 patients developed cardiovascular events peri- and postoperatively. This study indicated that CTA combined with CCS is a useful non-invasive imaging technique for pre-LT assessment of coronary artery disease and safe tool in the risk assessment of peri- and postoperative cardiovascular events in patients undergoing LT.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Multidetector Computed Tomography in the detection of pelvic fractures.
To compare diagnostic accuracy and interobserver reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) in the detection of acute pelvic fractures. ⋯ MRI reaches a significantly higher sensitivity than CT in the detection of acute pelvic fractures, particularly of the sacrum. Especially in elderly patients with suspicion of a sacral fracture and negative results at MDCT, MRI may be considered as the next step in diagnostic workup.