Academic radiology
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Comparative Study
Quantitative and qualitative assessment of closed fracture healing using computed tomography and conventional radiography.
Development of new agents to induce fracture healing requires more sensitive methods to detect early changes in fracture repair. The aims of this study were to determine quantitative and qualitative features of fracture healing using volumetric computed tomography (CT) and to compare them with conventional radiography during the weeks following uncomplicated fractures of the appendicular skeleton. ⋯ Our methods of fracture healing assessment are reliable tools that are able to detect early changes in normal bone healing and may serve as useful additions to subjective image analysis in monitoring fracture healing in clinical trials. CT shows some advantages over conventional X-rays in evaluation of early fracture healing.
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Current imaging procedures of the lung concentrate on visualization of morphology. Computed tomography is the imaging method of choice for the majority of pulmonary diseases. Functional data are commonly obtained from arterial blood gas analysis, spirometry, and body plethysmography, which all suffer from lack of regional information. ⋯ In this article, the experience obtained at the University of Mainz, being Europe's most experienced center performing 3He-MRI in humans, is reviewed against the international background.
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The purpose of this study was (a) to demonstrate the feasibility of computing T1rho maps of, and T1rho dispersion in, human wrist cartilage at MR imaging in vivo and (b) to compare T1rho and T2 weighting in terms of magnitude of relaxation times and signal intensity contrast. ⋯ It was possible to perform T2- and T1rho-weighted MR imaging of human wrist cartilage in vivo with standard clinical imagers. The higher signal-to-noise ratio and improved contrast between cartilage and surrounding fat achieved with T1rho imaging may provide better definition of lesions and accurate quantitation of small changes in cartilage degeneration.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Evaluation of simethicone-coated cellulose as a negative oral contrast agent for abdominal CT.
Because of the increased clinical use of computed tomography (CT) for imaging the abdominal vasculature and urinary tract, there is a need for negative contrast agents. The authors undertook this study to assess the suitability of simethicone-coated cellulose (SCC), which is approved for use as an oral contrast agent in sonography, for use as a negative oral contrast agent in abdominal CT. ⋯ SCC is effective as a negative oral contrast agent for small bowel marking at CT.