La Radiologia medica
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To report our experience with MRI in the preoperative evaluation of patients with traumatic penile fractures. ⋯ Many imaging methods are available to evaluate traumatic penile lesions: ultrasound, colour-Doppler ultrasound, urethrography, cavernosography, angiography and MRI. In agreement with the literature, our experience shows that MRI is useful in evaluating penile injuries owing to its multiplanar capabilities, its good spatial resolution and its excellent tissue contrast resolution. These characteristics enabled a more adequate surgical approach. In our view, MRI can be regarded as an emerging method to obtain helpful diagnostic information, with no risks for the patient.
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La Radiologia medica · Mar 2004
[Focal liver lesions: characterization with quantitative analysis of T2 relaxation time in TSE sequence with double echo time].
To evaluate the accuracy of calculation of T2 relaxation time with simplified algorithm in characterization of liver focal lesions with Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) T2-weighted sequences with double echo time (TE). ⋯ Introducing double echo time TSE sequences in the protocol of liver study concurs to obtain high diagnostic accuracy in the characterization of the hepatic lesions. The quantitative analysis of T2 represents a useful additional instrument to the morphologic analysis in discrimination between hepatic lesions and can be carried out by TSE sequences with elevated reliability reducing the imaging time compared with conventional sequences. The evaluation of hepatic lesions of less than one centimeter should always include analysis of dynamic gadolinium-contrast images.
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La Radiologia medica · Jan 2004
Comparative Study[Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of spiral CT in the diagnosis of closed loop obstruction complicated by intestinal ischemia].
To assess the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of spiral CT in the diagnosis of "closed-loop" obstruction complicated by intestinal ischaemia. ⋯ Spiral CT is a reliable imaging technique enabling the diagnosis of closed-loop obstruction with or without intestinal ischaemic complications. Any alterations detected in the trophic status of the loops or mesentery imply ischaemic complications requiring emergency surgery. On the contrary, if only CT signs of closed-loop obstruction are detected, the existence and/or development of ischaemia cannot be ruled out.
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La Radiologia medica · Jan 2004
Comparative Study[The usefulness of 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT in the detection of lung metastases from extrapulmonary primary tumors].
The appearance of pulmonary metastases in neoplastic patients previously submitted to radical operation of an extrapulmonary primary tumor and with no recurrences and/or secondary distant localizations can markedly worsen disease prognosis if the lesions are in advanced stages and no longer removable by surgical procedures. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy, both planar and SPECT, in the detection of pulmonary metastases from previously treated extrapulmonary primary tumors, comparing the results with those obtained with CT. ⋯ 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT seems to be a reliable diagnostic tool in the detection of pulmonary metastases from extrapulmonary primary tumors, in particular in the cases in which CT is indeterminate or false positive, and therefore contributes to a more correct patient classification. Moreover, SPECT image semiquantitative analysis can give additional information for a differential diagnosis between malignant and benign lesions as well as offering a more accurate selection of the lesions to be subjected to biopsy in patients with multiple metastases. However, only the combined use of CT and 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT can achieve the highest sensitivity and accuracy values and obtain the correct staging in most patients, thus suggesting that these two procedures must be employed together.