European journal of radiology
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Comparative Study
Accuracy of transthoracic sonography in excluding post-interventional pneumothorax and hydropneumothorax. Comparison to chest radiography.
Transthoracic sonography (TS) has evolved as an important imaging technique for diagnosing pleural and pulmonary conditions. However, the value of TS in either excluding or diagnosing pneumothorax is still under debate. This study was conducted to examine whether TS could replace chest radiography for the diagnosis of post-interventional pneumothorax and hydropneumothorax. ⋯ TS is a cost-effective and safe bed-side-method, allowing for an immediate exclusion or diagnosis of post-interventional pneumothorax/hydropneumothorax in patients who have undergone TBB or U-GCTP. Thus, these preliminary results suggest that CXR may only be required in patients with pneumothorax diagnosed by TS in order to assess its extension or to exclude any discrepancy between the TS-result and the clinical presentation.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as performed according to a strict study protocol in diagnosing rupture of silicone breast implants. ⋯ We conclude that MRI is highly accurate for identification of silicone breast implant rupture, with a high sensitivity and specificity when evaluation of images are based on presence of well-defined rupture criteria.
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In the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, Gasserian block under fluoroscopical guidance may be difficult because of anatomic variability, and difficulty in identification of the foramen ovale. We introduce how to use three-dimensional CT in the preprocedural planning. We determine the skull-rotation angle in which the foramen ovale is best visualized, the relationship (distance, angle) between the virtual puncture point and anatomical landmarks, and the distance between the virtual puncture point and the foramen.
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To determine alterations of the soft tissue, tendon, cartilage, joint space, and bone of the foot using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. ⋯ In our experience, MR imaging may detect inflammatory and/or erosive bone, soft tissue, cartilage, tendon, and joint abnormalities in AS patients, even if AS patients did not have clinical signs and symptoms of foot involvement. If these data prove to be confirmed in further MR studies, MR imaging may be of importance especially in early diagnosis of inflammatory changes in the foot.
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Comparative Study
Impact of short-term hemodialysis catheters on the central veins: a catheter venographic study.
To determine the incidence of pericatheter sleeve formation, thrombus formation, and stenosis of the central veins in hemodialysis patients with temporary catheters. ⋯ This study showed that even short-term catheters result in significantly high rates of pericatheter sleeve and thrombus formation which are two of the important causes of catheter malfunction. The IJV route is known to be much safer than the SCV route with respect to stenosis formation in the vein in which the catheter is inserted; however, the result showed no differences between the two routes with respect to frequencies of pericatheter sleeve formation, thrombus formation, and BCV stenosis. These findings remind us again that we should avoid unnecessary catheter insertion even for short-term in these chronically ill patients.