Radiology
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Comparative Study
Screening of illegal intracorporeal containers ("body packing"): is abdominal radiography sufficiently accurate? A comparative study with low-dose CT.
To evaluate the diagnostic performance of abdominal radiography in the detection of illegal intracorporeal containers (hereafter, packets), with low-dose computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard. ⋯ Abdominal radiography is mainly limited by low sensitivity when compared with low-dose CT in the screening of people suspected of carrying drug packets. Low-dose CT is an effective imaging alternative to abdominal radiography.
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To assess the value of arterial spin-labeling (ASL) perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the characterization of solid renal masses by using histopathologic findings as the standard of reference. ⋯ ASL MR imaging enables distinction among different histopathologic diagnoses in renal masses on the basis of their perfusion level. Oncocytomas demonstrate higher perfusion levels than RCCs, and papillary RCCs exhibit lower perfusion levels than other RCC subtypes.
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To investigate the integrity of the default-mode network (DMN) by using independent component analysis (ICA) methods in patients shortly after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and healthy control subjects, and to correlate DMN connectivity changes with neurocognitive tests and clinical symptoms. ⋯ These results showed abnormal DMN connectivity patterns in patients with MTBI, which may provide insight into how neuronal communication and information integration are disrupted among DMN key structures after mild head injury.
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To retrospectively determine the incremental diagnostic value of adding single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) to whole-body scintigraphy with iodine 131 ((131)I) compared with scintigraphy alone after radioiodine therapy in patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. ⋯ SPECT/CT improved detection and localization of (131)I accumulation in lymph node metastases and distant metastases, compared with whole-body scintigraphy.
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To evaluate the accuracy of the size and location of the ablation zone produced by volumetric magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of uterine fibroids on the basis of MR thermometric analysis and to assess the effects of a feedback control technique. ⋯ Sonication accuracy of volumetric MR imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of uterine fibroids appears clinically acceptable and may be further improved by feedback control to produce more consistent ablation zones.