Search

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of preoperative computed tomography colonography (CTC) in locoregional staging in patients with abdominal pain secondary toocclusive colorectal cancer (CRC)., Materials and Methods: 80 patients with abdominal pain underwent CTC initially without contrast and after diagnosis with contrast. 47 patients had distal CRC and 33 had proximal CRC. CTimages were analyzed independently by two radiologists, using MPR reconstruction and VR images. Depending on the anatomical depth of wall invasion primary tumor (T) was classified ≤ T2, T3 and T4. The definition of node disease (N) was based on the number of involved regional lymph nodes. Metastases (M) were characterized by the presence and location of distant disease. Pre treatment stage (cT cN) was compared with pathologic stage (pT pN). Accuracy of CTC was also evaluated., Results: The overall accuracy values for T staging of reviewer 1, reviewer 2 and consensus reading were 91.6%, 86.2% and 92.8% respectively; 92.2%, 79.8% and 92.5% for T2; 88.1%, 85.5%, and 89.7% for T3; and 94.5%, 93.5% and 96.2% for T4. The accuracy values for N staging and M staging were 81,.8%, 94.0% for reviewer 1; 78.2% and 88.1% for reviewer 2; 81.8% and 94.0% for consensus reading, respectively., Conclusion: In our experience CTC is not only useful in the evaluation of the proximal bowel, but can also provide surgeons with accurate information about staging and tumor localization. CTC is recommended for better evaluation of preoperative staging., Key Words: CT colonography, Colorectal cancer, Extracolonic findings, Staging.

Objective: To analyze clinical and laboratory findings in order to find variables predictive of severity of Biliary Peritonitis (BP)., Methods: Physical findings, course of illness, imaging and laboratory data were evaluated in 22 patients with BP, and statistically analysed to assess their prognostic significance., Results: Serious illness and worse outcome were associated with: age > 60 years (P= 0.034), long time between onset of symptoms and treatment (P= 0.025), fever > 38°C (P= 0.009), WBC count > 17.000 cell/mm3 (P=0.043), diffuse abdominal pain (P= 0.034), and infected bile (P= 0.048)., Conclusions: Most patients become severely ill due to supervening infection, while early bile drainage avoids serious complications. In addition, abdominal pain, fever and WBC count are also predictive of severity of BP.

Introduction: The anatomy and physiology of the temporomandibular joint can be studied clinically and by diagnostic imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiography (X-ray) and computed tomography (CT) have thus for many years contributed to the study of the kinetics in the mandibular condyle. However, also duplex Doppler ultrasound (US) examination is widely used in the study of structures during movement, particularly vascular structures., Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients were referred by the Department of Orthodontics to the Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, University of Rome "La Sapienza". All patients underwent duplex Doppler ultrasound (US) examination of the temporomandibular joint using Toshiba APLIO SSA-770A equipment and duplex Doppler multi-display technique, which allows simultaneous display of US images and color Doppler signals. A linear phased array probe with crystal elements was used operating at a basic frequency of 6 MHz during pulsed Doppler spectral analysis and 7.5 MHz during US imaging., Results: In normal patients a regular alternation in the spectral Doppler waveforms was obtained, while in patients with temporomandibular joint meniscus dysfunction there was no regularity in the sum of the Fourier series with an unsteady waveform pattern related to irregular movements of the temporomandibular joint., Conclusions: In all cases duplex Doppler US examination proved able to differentiate between normal and pathological patients and among the latter this technique permitted identification of the most significant aspects of the dysfunctional diseases.

Objective: To analyze clinical and laboratory findings in order to find variables predictive of severity of Biliary Peritonitis (BP). Patients and methods. Physical findings, course of illness, imaging and laboratory data were evaluated in 42 patients with BP, and statistically analysed to assess their prognostic significance., Results: Serious illness and worse outcome were associated with: age ≥ 60 years (P=0.034), long time between onset of symptoms and treatment (P=0.025), fever > 38°C (P=0.009), WBC count > 17,000 cell/mm³ (P=0.043), diffuse abdominal pain (P=0.034), and infected bile (P=0.048)., Conclusions: Most patients become severely ill due to supervening infection, while early bile drainage avoids serious complications. In addition, abdominal pain, fever and WBC count are also predictive of severity of BP.

Introduction: The IGF system has recently been shown to play an important role in the regulation of breast tumor cell proliferation. However, also breast density is currently considered as the strongest breast cancer risk factor. It is not yet clear whether these factors are interrelated and if and how they are influenced by menopausal status. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible effects of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio on mammographic density stratified by menopausal status., Patients and Methods: A group of 341 Italian women were interviewed to collect the following data: family history of breast cancer, reproductive and menstrual factors, breast biopsies, previous administration of hormonal contraceptive therapy, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in menopause and lifestyle information. A blood sample was drawn for determination of IGF-1, IGFBP-3 levels. IGF-1/ IGFBP-3 molar ratio was then calculated. On the basis of recent mammograms the women were divided into two groups: dense breast (DB) and non-dense breast (NDB). Student's t-test was employed to assess the association between breast density and plasma level of IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and molar ratio. To assess if this relationship was similar in subgroups of pre- and postmenopausal women, the study population was stratified by menopausal status and Student's t-test was performed. Finally, multivariate analysis was employed to evaluate if there were confounding factors that might influence the relationship between growth factors and breast density., Results: The analysis of the relationship between mammographic density and plasma level of IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and IGF-1/ IGFBP-3 molar ratio showed that IGF-1 levels and molar ratio varied in the two groups resulting in higher mean values in the DB group (IGF-1: 109.6 versus 96.6 ng/ml; p= 0.001 and molar ratio 29.4 versus 25.5 ng/ml; p= 0.001) whereas IGFBP-3 showed similar values in both groups (DB and NDB). Analysis of plasma level of IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio compared to breast density after stratification of the study population by menopausal status (premenopausal and postmenopausal) showed that there was no association between the plasma of growth factors and breast density, neither in premenopausal nor in postmenopausal patients. Multivariate analysis showed that only nulliparity, premenopausal status and body mass index (BMI) are determinants of breast density., Conclusions: Our study provides a strong evidence of a crude association between breast density and plasma levels of IGF-1 and molar ratio. On the basis of our results, it is reasonable to assume that the role of IGF-1 and molar ratio in the pathogenesis of breast cancer might be mediated through mammographic density. IGF-1 and molar ratio might thus increase the risk of cancer by increasing mammographic density.

Objective: To compare Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) features and their diagnostic potential in the assessment of Synovial Chondromatosis (SC) of the Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ)., Materials and Methods: Eight patients with symptoms and signs compatible with dysfunctional disorders of the TMJ underwent CT and MR scan. We considered the following parameters: soft tissue involvement (disk included), osteostructural alterations of the joints, loose bodies and intra-articular fluid. These parameters were evaluated separately by two radiologists with a "double blinded method" and then, after agreement, definitive assessment of the parameters was given. CT and MR findings were compared., Results: Histopathological results showed metaplastic synovia in all patients and therefore confirmed diagnosis of SC. MR resulted better than CT in the evaluation of all parameters except the osteostructural alterations of the joints, estimated with more accuracy by CT scan., Conclusions: CT scan is excellent to define bony surfaces of the articular joints and flogistic tissue but it fails in the detection of loose bodies when these are not yet calcified. MR scan therefore is the gold standard when SC is suspected since it can visualize loose bodies at early stage and also evaluate disk condition and eventual extra-articular tissues involvement. The use of T2-weighted images and contrast medium allows identifying intra-articular fluid, estimating its entity and discriminating from sinovial tissue., (Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this work was to ascertain the different kinds of insertion of the upper head of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) on the temporomandibular joint and to clarify its physiology to understand its possible role in the dysfunction at the temporomandibular joint. Magnetic resonance imaging examinations were used in this work to achieve a direct view of the LPM on a large number of selected patients with dysfunction at the temporomandibular joint.The study population was composed of 92 patients, of whom 74 were women and 18 were men. Their age range was from 19 to 53 years (mean age, 31 years). The images were analyzed using the following parameters: symmetry of morphologic insertions of the upper head of the LPM, types of muscular insertion divided into 3 groups (A, single bundle on the capsule and condyle; B, one bundle on the disk and a second bundle on the condyle; and C, one bundle only on the disk), and relationship between disk position regarding the condyle in patients with disk dislocations with or without reduction and upper head of the LPM. The chi-square test was used to measure the magnitude of the results.It is possible to impute to the C-type insertion morphology a negative prognostic value for a long-term improvement of disk pathology and to consider the possibility that this muscle may contribute to dislocating the disk when its insertion was directed only on the disk itself. When the upper head of the LPM was inserted on the disk, the percentage of disk dislocation without reduction was greater.

Purpose: Ochronotic arthropathy is the articular manifestation of alkaptonuria, a rare hereditary metabolic disease that leads to the deposition of homogentisic acid particularly in the joints where it causes articular degeneration and inflammation. We studied the radiological patterns of the disorder using both traditional X-rays both MRI and comparing the results obtained with the two techniques., Materials and Methods: The study included five patients (4 males, 1 female, mean age 51 years); we studied the most frequently affected sites, the knee, the shoulder and the spine. As regards the conventional study we used a radiographic score which considered the state of the articular space and the presence of calcifications. MRI of the peripheral joints was performed on the most symptomatic site or, if asymptomatic, on the most severely affected site as established by radiography; in all cases T1- and T2-weighted sequences in the axial, sagittal and coronal planes were acquired., Results: Both the X-ray and MRI study revealed the typical alterations of ochronosis in the cases with a known diagnosis: articular space narrowing up to osseous ankylosis, calcifications, osteophytosis, reactive sclerosis of the articular surfaces; MRI was however more accurate in identifying the alterations and revealing lesions not visible at conventional radiology, such as ligament lesions. In the case of newly diagnosed ochronotic arthropathy MRI proved valuable for its ability to detect alterations that are poorly appreciable at conventional radiology., Conclusions: Modern diagnostic imaging, above all MRI, allowed us to identify the peculiar characteristic features of ochronosis and is fundamental both for the diagnosis and for differentiating ochronosis from other articular disorders.

Benign tumors and tumor-like lesions that involve temporo mandibular joint are very rare. Those more frequent are osteochondroma, chondroma, osteoma, pigmented villonodular synovitis and synovial chondromatosis. The Authors report six cases of patients affected by these pathologies in which imaging, such as TC, MRI and/or ortopantomography have been useful to have a diagnosis.

Aim: To study the spine alterations in alcaptonuria with traditional radiology and magnetic resonance (MR), comparing the results of the two techniques., Patients and Methods: Five patients (4 males, 1 female, mean age 51 years) underwent the examinations. For the study with X-rays we performed anteroposterior and lateral scan and the images have been studied making reference to a radiographic score; it examines the alterations of the joint space and the presence of calcifications. MR scan, oriented in the three spatial planes, were performed using spin echo T1-weighted and spin echo T2-weighted sequences., Results: Both MR and X-rays pointed out, in the cases with known diagnosis, the typical alterations of the ochronosis: narrowing of the articular spaces, even osseous ankylosis, calcifications of the discs, osteophytosis, multiple disc protrusions and reactive sclerosis of the articular surfaces, evident above all to dorso-lumbar tract; nevertheless MR has been more accurate than X-rays for individualizing the lesions and recognizing alterations, such as the thickness of the anterior longitudinal ligament. In the case of new diagnosis, the MR is fundamental to recognize typical signs of the ochronotic arthropathy not well detected by X-rays., Conclusions: Imaging techniques, first of all the MR, are essential in the differential diagnosis of ochronosis vertebral lesions with other articular diseases.