Abdominal imaging
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Small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for a considerable proportion of emergency room visits, inpatient admissions, and surgical interventions in the United States. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) plays a key role in imaging patients presenting with acute symptoms suggestive of SBO, which helps in establishing the diagnosis, elucidating the cause of obstruction, and detecting complications, such as ischemia or frank bowel necrosis and perforation. Recently, management of patients with SBO has shifted toward a more conservative approach with supportive care and nasogastric tube decompression, as the obstruction in many cases can resolve spontaneously without the need for operative intervention. ⋯ Thus, it is critically important for radiologists to identify imaging features that suggest or indicated high likelihood of bowel vascular compromise in order to help optimize management prior to the development of bowel ischemia and eventually necrosis. By excluding signs of potentially ischemic or necrotic bowel on MDCT, patients may be spared unnecessary surgery, thus decreasing postsurgical complications and averting potential increase for the risk of future SBO and repeated surgery. Conversely, if imaging features indicate potential vascular compromise of the bowel wall that may lead to bowel ischemia, urgent surgical intervention may prevent progression to bowel necrosis and subsequent perforation.
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Review
Beyond decreased bowel enhancement: acute abnormalities of the mesenteric and portal vasculature.
Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a potentially life-threatening condition with an associated high mortality. Prompt diagnosis is crucial to achieve a favorable outcome. ⋯ In this pictorial essay, we review the appropriate imaging evaluation of a patient with suspected AMI, and we review both the common and uncommon etiologies of mesenteric ischemia. With each etiology presented, relevant clinical and imaging findings, as well as potential treatments, are reviewed.
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We examined whether the shortened breath-hold 3-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (3D-VIBE) sequence for high acceleration factor (AF) using the controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) could substitute for the conventional sequence using generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) in patients undergoing routine gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI. ⋯ The shortened breath-hold 3D-VIBE sequence using the new CAIPIRINHA technique with a high AF of 4 was superior to the conventional GRAPPA sequence. The shortened breath-hold sequence using GRAPPA with a high AF of 4 worsened the image quality and lesion conspicuity.
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To compare radiation dose and image quality in regular, low, and ultralow-dose CT protocols, and to evaluate diagnostic performance of low-dose CT for urolithiasis. ⋯ The knowledge-based IR can provide a better quality image while reducing radiation exposure under the same protocol. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of the low-dose CT protocol is comparable to the regular dose scan.
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To investigate the feasibility, strategy, and long-term outcome of percutaneous recanalization for combined-type Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). ⋯ Percutaneous recanalization is suitable for most combined-type BCS patients. Treatment strategy can be made according to the situation of AHV. If the patient has the patent AHV, single IVC recanalization is enough. Otherwise, combined IVC and HV recanalization should be performed.