Emergency radiology
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Emergency radiology · Jun 2011
Case ReportsEagle syndrome presenting with external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.
Eagle syndrome refers to a clinical syndrome caused by the abnormal elongation of the styloid process with calcification/ossification of the stylohyoid ligament. We present the first reported case of Eagle syndrome resulting in an external carotid artery (ECA) pseudoaneurysm. A patient presented to emergency room with an expanding, painful right-neck mass. ⋯ Local resection of the styloid process with a rotational sternocleidomastoid flap was performed. The pathology report was consistent with a diagnosis of a pseudoaneurysm. A six-month clinical follow-up confirmed the complete resolution of symptoms with no neurological deficits.
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Emergency radiology · Jun 2011
Case ReportsMyocardial infarction after blunt chest trauma: usefulness of cardiac ECG-gated CT and MRI for positive and aetiologic diagnosis.
Myocardial infarction after blunt chest trauma has been reported in only few cases, and mechanisms of this complication have rarely been described. We report two cases of coronary artery lesions, one parietal hematoma of right coronary artery and one dissection of the left main coronary artery, which resulted in acute myocardial infarction following a blunt chest trauma. In these two cases, cardiac CT and MRI were useful to noninvasively explore these lesions.
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Emergency radiology · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyIntraindividual comparison of gadolinium- and iodine-enhanced 64-slice multidetector CT pulmonary angiography for the detection of pulmonary embolism in a porcine model.
This study is an evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of gadolinium-enhanced computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) in comparison with iodine-enhanced CTPA. PE was induced in five anesthetized pigs by administration of blood clots through an 11-F catheter inside the jugular vein. Animals underwent CTPA in breathhold with i.v. bolus injection of 50 ml gadopentetate dimeglumine (0.4 mmol/kg, 4 ml/s). ⋯ The interobserver agreement was excellent on lobar and segmental level (қ = 1.0 and 0.93, respectively), whereas readers only reached moderate agreement for PE evaluation on subsegmental level (қ = 0.56). Compared to conventional CTPA with iodinated contrast media, gadolinium-based contrast agents achieve an equivalent diagnostic accuracy in detection of PE down to segmental level. Gadolinium-enhanced CTPA may be considered as an alternative for the diagnostic workup of acute pulmonary embolism in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast agents.
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Emergency radiology · Apr 2011
ReviewPictorial review: computed tomography features of cardiovascular emergencies and associated imminent decompensation.
Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scanner is available in most hospitals and is increasingly being used as the first line imaging in trauma and suspected cardiovascular emergencies, such as acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary artery thrombo-embolism, abdominal aortic aneurysm and acute haemorrhage (Ryan et al. Clin Radiol 60:599-607, 2005). ⋯ Recognition of computed tomography (CT) signs of imminent cardiovascular decompensation will alert the clinical radiologist to the presence of shock. In this review, the imaging findings of cardiovascular emergencies in both acute traumatic and non-traumatic settings with associated signs of imminent decompensation will be described and illustrated.
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Emergency radiology · Apr 2011
ReviewHighlights from the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the ASER 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course.
The American Society of Emergency Radiology 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course encompassed a wide range of topics: traumatic and non-traumatic emergencies, radiation dose management, technical innovations and advancements, emergency preparedness, mass casualties, military radiology, and teleradiology. This article highlights the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the meeting (Emerg Radiol 17:517-551, 2010).