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In cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies, left ventricular systolic function is usually calculated automatically. To understand and interpret parameters of left ventricular systolic function correctly, it is fundamental to understand how each parameter is obtained and why values obtained with different techniques, for example, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, can differ. This article provides details about the usual analysis of systolic function from the quantitative and qualitative points of view; it also explains other methods that do not require specific software. Moreover, we provide a file that we designed for use with Microsoft Excel(®) to enable simple, intuitive analysis of systolic function. Readers can use this file freely., (Copyright © 2013 SERAM. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the technique of US-guided shoulder arthrography using a pediatric needle (modified Valls- Melloni technique) and to assess its efficacy., Material and Methods: Descriptive study of articular puncture for 48 magnetic resonance imaging arthrographs of the shoulder in 48 consecutive patients. The puncture was performed by a radiologist without prior experience in the technique. We used an anterior approach to the shoulder, guiding the puncture using US according to the Valls-Melloni technique; however, we used a pediatric spinal needle (Yale spinal; 22G: 0.7 x 40 mm). The efficacy of the technique was evaluated using the following variables: time employed, number of attempts, extravasation of contrast outside the joint, pain reported by the patient (on a scale from 0 to 10), and immediate or late complications of the technique., Results: The time required for the procedure was 15.2+/-2.6 min (mean+/-standard deviation). A single puncture sufficed in 45 patients (94%); two attempts were necessary in two patients (4%) and three in one patient (2%). Contrast extravasation outside the joint occurred only in two patients (4%). The mean pain reported was 3.6 points (confidence interval: 3.1-4). Three patients (6%) had a vasovagal reaction. No late complications were observed., Conclusion: US-guided shoulder arthrography using a pediatric spinal needle is fast, simple, and safe; it can be performed by any radiologist, even without prior experience in the technique.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to present a new ultrasonographic sign: the spiculated diaphragm or sun rays diaphragm, that makes it possible to suspect disease in the base of the lung, generally involving the subpleural interstitium, during abdominal ultrasound examination., Material and Methods: We present a study of seven patients in whom the diaphragm was observed as an echogenic, curvilinear, thickened image with numerous echogenic vertical lines or bands radiating from it posteriorly during abdominal ultrasound examination using a sectorial transducer. We have named this spiculated appearance of the diaphragm sun rays diaphragm. All patients underwent posteroanterior and lateral plain-film chest x-rays and high-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) with slices of the bases of the lungs., Results: The chest pathology responsible for this finding was pulmonary fibrosis (n = 2), mitral valulopathy with heart failure (n = 2), unilateral atresia of the pulmonary vein (n = 1); combined miliary tuberculosis and Pneumocystis infection in an AIDS patient (n = 1), and carcinomatous lymphangitis (n = 1)., Conclusions: When a spiculated or sun rays diaphragm is observed during abdominal ultrasonography, disease involving the base of the lung (generally the subpleural interstitium) should be suspected; thus, in the absence of prior clinical knowledge of lung disease, additional examinations such as plain-film chest x-rays or thin slice chest CT should be performed.