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Purpose: To investigate the potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with nipple discharge., Materials and Methods: Between February 1992 and December 1998, 23 patients with nipple discharge underwent contrast material-enhanced MR imaging at 1.5 T. Mammographic findings were negative in 22 of 23 patients and revealed asymmetry in one patient. Galactography was attempted in two patients, with negative findings in one patient and no success in the other. Fifteen of 23 patients underwent excisional biopsy-seven of 15 with MR imaging-guided localization, and one of 15 with mammographic localization. Eight of 23 patients were followed up clinically (range, 7-24 months; mean, 20 months)., Results: In 11 of the 15 (73%) patients who underwent excisional biopsy, MR imaging findings correlated with histopathologic findings. MR imaging demonstrated four of six benign papillomas and one of two fibroadenomas as circumscribed, enhancing subareolar masses. Findings of one MR imaging examination were negative, and benign tissue was found at excisional biopsy. MR imaging findings were suspicious in six of the seven patients with excisional biopsy findings of malignancy (regional enhancement [n = 2], ductal enhancement [n = 2], peripherally enhancing mass [n = 1], and spiculated mass [n = 1]). In one of the seven patients, a benign-appearing intraductal mass was identified at MR imaging; excisional biopsy revealed a benign papilloma with an adjacent focus of DCIS., Conclusion: MR imaging can help identify both benign and malignant causes of nipple discharge. It potentially offers a noninvasive alternative to galactography.

We report the first case of an Echinococcal cyst and focal nodular hyperplasia, two usually isolated hepatic lesions, in direct contiguity. The patient presented with right upper quadrant pain and subsequent imaging studies found a cystic and solid lesion. These studies suggested that this lesion was an hepatic adenoma, which had bled forming a hematoma. Pathological examination of the surgical resection showed Echinococcus multilocularis with contiguous focal nodular hyperplasia. Because focal nodular hyperplasia is a benign hepatic lesion the etiology of which is thought to be abnormal arterial blood flow, we postulate that the parasitic hepatic infection by E. multilocularis may have incited the formation of this contiguous hepatic lesion.

We report a case of angiomyolipoma of the renal sinus discovered incidentally during an evaluation for microscopic hematuria. Diagnosis was confirmed by percutaneous aspiration biopsy performed with magnetic resonance imaging control allowing differentiation of this entity from other fatty tumors of the renal sinus including liposarcoma, lipoma, and sinus lipomatosis.

Purpose: To determine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of endometrial polyps and the accuracy of MR imaging in distinguishing endometrial polyps from endometrial carcinomas in a case-control study., Materials and Methods: Cross-referencing pathology records with MR studies from two institutions disclosed 35 patients with surgically proved endometrial polyp or carcinoma after controlling for tumor size. All MR examinations were performed at 1.5 T with T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences in multiple planes. Three independent readers blinded to histologic diagnoses and clinical data scored each image for the presence of several defined findings., Results: A central fibrous core (low signal intensity on T2-weighted images) and intratumoral cysts (high signal intensity on T2-weighted images) were seen more frequently in endometrial polyps than in carcinomas; myometrial invasion and necrosis showed high predictive value for carcinomas. The readers' responses showed a mean sensitivity of 79%, specificity of 89%, accuracy of 86%, positive predictive value of 82%, and negative predictive value of 88% for diagnosis of carcinoma. The mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the three readers was 0.87 for the diagnosis of carcinoma., Conclusion: MR images can help to distinguish most polyps from endometrial carcinomas on the basis of morphologic features. Accuracy does not appear to be sufficient to obviate biopsy, partly because carcinomas and polyps frequently coexist.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the appearance of testicular epidermoid cysts on high-resolution sonography and MR imaging and correlate imaging features with histopathologic findings., Conclusion: Intratesticular epidermoid cysts may show imaging features that correlate with their histopathologic findings. Concentric rings of alternating hypo- and hyperechogenicity on sonography and alternating high and low signal intensity on MR imaging ("onion ring" appearance) correspond to the pathologic finding of multiple layers of keratin debris. Absence of flow on color Doppler sonography and absence of contrast enhancement on MR imaging is also consistent with the avascular nature of these lesions. The ability of preoperative imaging studies to suggest the diagnosis of epidermoid cyst may prompt a testis-sparing surgery instead of an orchiectomy.

Some clear cell renal cell carcinomas contain intracellular lipid, which can be detected with chemical shift MRI. We present an example of surgically proven metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma to the pancreas, which was diagnosed using chemical shift MRI.

Purpose: To determine if quantitative and qualitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging measures can help differentiation of mucinous from nonmucinous rectal tumors., Materials and Methods: In 26 patients with pathologically proved mucinous (n = 9) and nonmucinous (n = 17) rectal tumors, MR imaging was performed with T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) and T2-weighted fast SE sequences in all patients and with a gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted sequence in 18. With use of the signal intensity (SI) measurements in the tumors and reference tissues, tumor-to-muscle, tumor-to-fat, and tumor-to-urine SI ratios were calculated. In addition, the SI and contrast-enhancement patterns in the tumors were assessed qualitatively by three blinded readers., Results: Mucinous tumors had a much higher SI on the T2-weighted fast SE images. Tumor-to-muscle, tumor-to-fat, and tumor-to-urine SI ratios were significantly higher in the mucinous compared with the nonmucinous tumors (P = .0004, P = .0008, and P = .00002, respectively). Qualitative evaluation of the SI correlated well between readers 1 and 2 (r = 0.93), readers 1 and 3 (r = 0.94), and readers 2 and 3 (r = 0.91). Agreement for the contrast-enhancement patterns was 67%, 72%, and 67%, respectively, with most mucinous tumors having predominantly high SI and a peripheral contrast-enhancement pattern., Conclusion: Mucinous and nonmucinous rectal tumors can be differentiated with MR imaging because mucinous tumors show high SI on T2-weighted fast SE images.

Leiomyomas are the most common uterine neoplasm and are composed of smooth muscle with varying amounts of fibrous connective tissue. As leiomyomas enlarge, they may outgrow their blood supply, resulting in various types of degeneration: hyaline or myxoid degeneration, calcification, cystic degeneration, and red degeneration. Leiomyomas are classified as submucosal, intramural, or subserosal; the latter may become pedunculated and simulate ovarian neoplasms. Although most leiomyomas are asymptomatic, patients may present with abnormal uterine bleeding, pressure on adjacent organs, pain, infertility, or a palpable abdominalpelvic mass. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the most accurate imaging technique for detection and localization of leiomyomas. On T2-weighted images, nondegenerated leiomyomas appear as well-circumscribed masses of decreased signal intensity; however, cellular leiomyomas can have relatively higher signal intensity on T2-weighted images and demonstrate enhancement on contrast material-enhanced images. Degenerated leiomyomas have variable appearances on T2-weighted images and contrast-enhanced images. The differential diagnosis of leiomyomas includes adenomyosis, solid adnexal mass, focal myometrial contraction, and uterine leiomyosarcoma. For patients with symptoms, medical or surgical treatment may be indicated. MR imaging also has a role in treatment of leiomyomas by assisting in surgical planning and monitoring the response to medical therapy.

Purpose: To determine the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of renal lesions in patients who undergo technically successful partial nephrectomy., Materials and Methods: Between February 1991 and September 1997, 38 patients (41 lesions) who underwent partial nephrectomy at a single institution were preoperatively evaluated with contrast material-enhanced, multiplanar, surface-coil MR imaging. Imaging findings that could affect the decision to perform partial nephrectomy were retrospectively evaluated: tumor size; tumor location; presence of pseudocapsule; suspected tumor invasion of renal sinus fat, renal collecting system, renal vein, or perinephric fat; and morphologic and physiologic status of the contralateral kidney. Correlation was made with surgical and pathologic findings., Results: Thirty-three of 41 lesions (80%) were renal cell carcinomas, five were oncocytic neoplasms (12%), two were hemorrhagic cysts (5%), and one was an angiomyolipoma (2%). Twenty-four of 41 (59%) lesions had pseudocapsules. In most cases, the perinephric fat (n = 38 [93%]), the renal sinus fat (n = 31 [76%]), and the renal collecting system (n = 39 [95%]) were correctly interpreted as being uninvolved by tumor., Conclusion: Renal neoplasms amenable to partial nephrectomy can be identified and characterized with contrast-enhanced, multiplanar, surface-coil MR imaging.

Purpose: To determine the optimal imaging modality for diagnosis and staging of ovarian cancer., Materials and Methods: Two hundred eighty women suspected to have ovarian cancer were enrolled in a prospective study before surgery. Doppler ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were used to evaluate the mass; conventional US, CT, and MR imaging were used to stage spread., Results: All three modalities had high accuracy (0.91) for the overall diagnosis of malignancy. In the ovaries, the accuracy of MR imaging (0.91) was higher than that of CT and significantly higher than that of Doppler US (0.78). In the extraovarian pelvis and in the abdomen, conventional US, CT, and MR imaging had similar accuracies (0.87-0.95). In differentiation of disease confined to the pelvis from abdominal spread, the specificity of conventional US (96%) was higher than that of CT and significantly higher than that of MR imaging (88%), whereas the sensitivities of MR imaging (98%) and CT (92%) were significantly higher than that of conventional US (75%)., Conclusion: MR imaging is superior to Doppler US and CT in diagnosis of malignant ovarian masses. There is little variation among conventional US, CT, and MR imaging as regards staging.

Pelvic imaging techniques such as computed tomography and ultrasonography provide a limited capability for tissue characterization. Fat, fluid, and calcification, for example, can be identified on the basis of parameters such as x-ray attenuation, echogenicity, and sound attenuation. Because of the many tissue parameters, such as T1, T2, magnetic susceptibility, and chemical shift, that contribute to signal intensity, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may afford an ability to identify a wider array of specific tissues. The purpose of this article is to review the ability of MR imaging to help identify various types of soft tissue and to provide an approach to interpretation of MR images of the female pelvis through tissue characterization. Lipid, fluid, hemorrhage, smooth muscle, fibrosis, solid malignant tissue, and hydrated soft tissue (including edema, mucin, and myxomatous tissue) have typical MR imaging properties, and their presence in a mass can often be established on MR images. Consideration of the tissue composition of various pathologic processes in the pelvis can result in more systematic approaches to image interpretation and thus narrow the differential diagnosis.

Purpose: Concern about contrast- and catheter-induced complications inhibits liberal use of catheter angiography to screen for renal artery stenosis. The authors evaluated the impact on interventional practice growth of offering magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as an alternative screening test for renovascular disease., Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 339 patients with renovascular disease identified with MRA from January 1, 1993 through December 31, 1997, and the subsequent utilization of follow-up catheter angiography and/or intervention was performed. The number of patients treated per year with percutaneous techniques for renovascular disease was recorded, and was correlated with screening MRA. The impact of screening MRA on percutaneous management of renovascular disease was evaluated through comparisons of the number of percutaneous procedures performed among the individual years during the 5-year period, and with the number of procedures performed during the 5-year period (1988-1992) immediately preceding 1993, prior to the use of screening MRA., Results: The number of annual screening MRA examinations increased six-fold during the 5-year period, from 17 per year initially to approximately 100 per year for each of the last 3 years. One hundred thirty-five (40%) of screening MRA examinations were positive for renal artery stenosis or occlusion, and 111 (33%) patients had anatomy potentially suitable for percutaneous intervention. Fifty-two patients with positive screening MR angiograms underwent arteriography: 34 underwent renal angioplasty or stent placement, seven had surgery, seven with stenosis determined with MRA had occlusion on catheter angiography, and four had false-positive results of MRA (<50% stenosis). Three additional patients with negative screening MR angiograms were also referred for arteriography, which confirmed the MRA findings. The percentage of positive catheter angiograms was 50% greater among patients with a screening MRA, and the number of renal artery angioplasties performed annually doubled. Moreover, comparison with the 5-year period from 1988 to 1992 (immediately prior to the use of MRA as a screening tool), demonstrates that the average number of renal artery percutaneous procedures performed per year increased nearly 350% from an average of three per year to 15 per year. These findings are entirely attributable to referrals from screening MRA., Conclusions: Marketing of renal artery MRA as a safe, noninvasive outpatient screening technique can lead to improved utilization of catheter angiography in evaluation of renovascular disease, and can secondarily increase the volume of renal artery angioplasty and stent placement procedures for treatment of renovascular disease.

Objective: Aggressive angiomyxoma is a benign tumor affecting the pelvis and perineum, predominantly in women. Because of its variable presentation as a soft mass in the vulva, perianal region, buttock, or pelvis, the tumor is often clinically misdiagnosed and initial surgery is usually unsuccessful in extirpating it. This study describes the imaging features of these tumors., Conclusion: Aggressive angiomyxomas display unusual growth patterns of translevator extension with growth around perineal structures. Both CT and MR imaging show the transdiaphragmatic extent of these tumors. High signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images may reflect the myxomatous stroma of these tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the interobserver and intermodality variability of conventional angiography and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in the assessment of renal artery stenosis., Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients underwent conventional angiography and gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional gradient-echo MR angiography. Three angiographers blinded to each other's interpretations and the MR angiographic findings assessed the conventional angiograms for renal artery stenosis. Similarly, three blinded MR imagers evaluated the MR angiograms., Results: Interobserver variability for the degree of renal artery stenosis in the 107 kidneys evaluated was not significantly different between the two modalities. The mean SD of the degree of stenosis was 6.9% at MR angiography versus 7.5% at conventional angiography (alpha < or = .05, P > .05). In 70 kidneys (65%), the average degree of stenosis reported by the readers for the two modalities differed by 10% or less. In 22 cases (21%), the degree of stenosis was overestimated with MR angiography by more than 10% relative to the results of conventional angiography. In 15 cases (14%), the degree of stenosis was underestimated with MR angiography by more than 10%., Conclusion: Gadolinium-enhanced MR angiography permits evaluation of renal artery stenosis with an interobserver variability comparable with that of conventional angiography.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe MR findings in surgically proven solitary intraductal papillomas of the breast, including findings on MR galactography., Conclusion: Women with spontaneous nipple discharge and solitary intraductal papilloma show, on MR imaging, dilated ducts with an associated enhancing, well-circumscribed mass.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced GRE and conventional SE (CSE) fat-suppressed T1-weighted techniques in the evaluation of head and neck lesions. A hybrid, opposed phase, frequency-selective, fat-suppressed fast multiplanar spoiled GRE (FMPSPGR) sequence was compared with a fat-suppressed CSE sequence., Method: Thirty-two patients with head and neck pathology were evaluated with both fat-suppressed CSE and FMPSPGR sequences. Regions of interest obtained by two viewers in consensus were used to establish contrast-to-noise (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratios for both sequences. Three neuroradiologists also independently reviewed the images for quality of fat suppression, lesion conspicuity, and potential pitfalls., Results: The CNR of the FMPSPGR sequence was superior to that of the fat-suppressed CSE sequence. Subjectively, all three reviewers rated the FMPSPGR sequence as having fat suppression equal to or better than that in the CSE sequence in 94% of cases. Imaging times for the FMPSPGR sequence were 60-75% faster than those for the CSE sequence., Conclusion: Enhanced imaging of the head and neck region using an opposed phase, fat-suppressed GRE sequence results in improved fat suppression compared with the CSE technique, with substantial savings in imaging time.

This article reviews the currently available MR imaging techniques that are useful for the detection and characterization of focal and diffuse liver pathology. The implementation and clinical utility of various T1-weighted, T2-weighted, T2*-weighted, and MR angiographic sequences are described.

MRI is a powerful tool in the detection and characterization of both focal and diffuse liver pathology. Because of superior soft tissue characterization, direct multi-planar capabilities and lack of ionizing radiation, current state of the art MRI is useful when contrast CT is relatively contraindicated or not definitive. This article reviews the MRI findings of the most common focal and diffuse liver diseases encountered in clinical practice. Reviews of current MR techniques and MR contrast agents used in liver imaging have been recently published. For this article, discussion of specific techniques and use of contrast is addressed for each pathological entity discussed.

MRI of the pancreas and bile ducts is becoming more widely used due to recent advances in surface coils, breath-hold imaging techniques, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). MRI provides a comprehensive and accurate examination for the detection, staging, and characterization of a variety of developmental, inflammatory, and neoplastic processes that involve the pancreas.

A 45-year-old man presented with an incidentally discovered benign renal angiomyolipoma. This lesion initially demonstrated renal vein involvement. On referral to our institution 3 years later, there was interval progression of tumor thrombus to the intrahepatic inferior vena cava. Intravascular extension of benign angiomyolipoma, though rare, has been reported. We present a new example and review the literature concerning this unusual complication of a common renal neoplasm.

Objective: Our objective was twofold: to determine which architectural features revealed by high spatial-resolution MR imaging of the breast contribute to diagnostic accuracy and to evaluate the diagnostic performance characteristics of those architectural features., Materials and Methods: Eligible patients with suspicious mammographic or palpable findings or both underwent MR imaging. Ninety-three patients whose MR images revealed lesions that corresponded to the mammographically visible or palpable findings were included in the study. Patients were examined with sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo MR imaging, fat-saturated T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR imaging, and dynamically enhanced fat-saturated fast gradient-echo MR imaging. All patients underwent subsequent excisional biopsy or cyst aspiration. Lesions were identified initially by an experienced radiologist who was aware of the patient's clinical or mammographic information. Two radiologists who were unaware of the patients' histories and who had less experience in MR imaging of the breast then independently evaluated each lesion for the architectural-features and predicted each lesion's potential for malignancy., Results: Architectural features that were highly predictive of benign disease included smooth or lobulated borders (97-100%), the absence of mass enhancement (100%), and enhancement that was less than the enhancement of surrounding breast fibroglandular tissue (93-100%). Nonenhancing internal septations were specific for the diagnosis of fibroadenoma. Architectural features that were highly predictive of malignant disease included spiculated borders (76-88%) and peripheral rim enhancement in the presence of central lesion enhancement (79-92%)., Conclusion: Architectural features revealed by high spatial-resolution MR imaging of the breast can help distinguish benign from malignant disease.

Management and survival in colorectal cancer are dictated by the extent of the disease at the initial diagnosis. Technological advances over the past 25 years have improved the ability to accurately preoperatively stage these lesions and detect recurrence. This article reviews the focus on the utility of computerized tomography, magnetic resonance, endoscopic ultrasound, and newer imaging methods including PET scan and monoclonal antibodies in the management of colorectal carcinoma.

This article reviews the various disorders that result in abnormal iron and fat within the liver. MR techniques that detect and characterize fat and iron are discussed. Chemical shift images are useful in detecting intracellular lipid and can characterize diffuse hepatic steatosis as well as focal areas of fatty sparing and fatty infiltration. T2*-weighted gradient-echo sequences are useful in detecting hepatic iron. Typical imaging features of genetic hemochromatosis and hepatic iron from blood transfusions are described.

Newer magnetic resonance imaging techniques offer greater precision in diagnosing various pancreatic disorders, primarily through faster image acquisitions. These include breath-hold rapid T1-weighted images, fast spin-echo sequences, and angiographic techniques. Altered signal intensity on fat-saturated T1-weighted images is one of the principal signs of pancreatic disease, and may affect the gland diffusely with chronic pancreatitis or focally with carcinoma. T2-weighted sequences primarily characterize peripancreatic fluid, ductal obstruction, carcinoma, or cystic or mucinous tumors. Heavily T2-weighted cholangiographic reconstructions are important to evaluate ductal obstructions. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced images improve the accuracy for identifying and characterizing islet-cell tumors and pancreatic adenocarcinomas.

Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the spectrum of appearances of renal lymphoma using current MR techniques including gadolinium enhancement., Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with renal lymphoma were examined by MR imaging on a 1.5-T scanner. MR examinations included T2-weighted, breath-hold T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo, and T1-weighted fat-suppressed spin-echo imaging before and after gadolinium administration. Tumor morphology, signal intensity, and enhancement features were evaluated., Results: Three types of renal involvement were observed: large paraaortic retroperitoneal masses with extension into the renal hilum, the subcapsular space, or both (nine patients); unilateral diffuse infiltration of the renal parenchyma (one patient); and focal rounded intraparenchymal masses (two patients). Untreated lymphoma (10 patients) was slightly hypointense relative to the renal cortex on T1-weighted images and was heterogenous and slightly hypointense or isointense on T2-weighted images. Enhancement of lymphomatous tissue was mildly heterogenous and was minimal on early images after gadolinium enhancement and remained minimal on late contrast-enhanced images in most tumor masses. No central necrosis of tumor was identified, and no renal vein thrombus was present. Five patients with lymphoma that presented as a large paraaortic mass showed diminished renal cortical perfusion of the involved kidney. All of these patients also had tumor extension into the renal hilum., Conclusion: Three types of renal involvement with lymphoma were observed. The most common appearance was a large retroperitoneal mass that invaded the kidney. Tumors had low to intermediate signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images and had diffuse heterogenous enhancement that was less than that of renal parenchyma.

Objective: Heterotopic ossification of a midline surgical incision in a form of myositis ossificans traumatica in which osseous, cartilaginous, and, occasionally, myelogenous elements develop within an abdominal wound. When large amounts of internal ossification are present, the scar may demonstrate a complex radiologic appearance and potentially may be misinterpreted as a retained foreign body or incisional neoplastic recurrence. This report describes the CT and MR imaging findings of this entity., Subjects and Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the cross-sectional imaging findings of 11 patients with ossified midline abdominal wounds. All but one of the patients were men, and the median age at diagnosis was 40 years old (range, 20-76 years old). Initial imaging was performed 7 days to 36 months after surgery (mean, 6.7 months). CT and MR imaging scans were reviewed, and lesion size, location, distance from the xiphoid, shape, and stability were assessed. Pathologic proof was obtained in one patient., Results: CT and MR imaging examination in all patients showed ossified surgical scars, with the attenuation or signal intensity of the ossified components equivalent to that of the spine. Intralesional, fat-density components suggestive of marrow were present in two patients. All scars were located in the upper abdomen between the anterior abdominal fascia and the peritoneal surface, at the level of or inferior to the xiphoid process. Scars ranged in length from 0.7 to 13.4 cm (mean, 6.9 cm). Distances from the inferior tip of the xiphoid to the superior aspect of the ossified scar ranged from 0 to 4.9 cm (mean, 2.2 cm). Time from surgery to the initial postoperative demonstration of scar ossification ranged from 11 days to 36 months (mean, 6.8 months). None of the five patients who underwent preoperative CT examinations had abnormalities in the location of subsequent scar ossification. Of the nine patients with multiple postoperative examinations, scar size and appearance remained stable in six. In the remaining three patients, scar size was stable but showed progressive internal ossification., Conclusion: Heterotopic ossification within midline abdominal scars can be diagnosed by both CT and MR imaging examination. Recognition of the imaging appearances of such ossification should help prevent diagnostic confusion when attending postoperative patients.

Objective: Our goal was to describe the MR features of pancreatic metastases from renal cancer., Materials and Methods: Five patients with pancreatic metastases from renal cancer were imaged with MR. Imaging was performed on a 1.5 T MR imager using excitation-spoiled fat-suppressed T1-weighted SE images (all patients), T1-weighted spoiled GE images (all patients), T2-weighted fast SE (one patient) and excitation-spoiled fat-suppressed T2-weighted fast SE (one patient) images, serial postgadolinium spoiled GE images (all patients), and postcontrast excitation-spoiled fat-suppressed T1-weighted SE images (two patients)., Results: Multiple pancreatic lesions (n = 6) were present in two patients, solitary tumors in two patients, and diffuse micronodular pancreatic enlargement in one patient. All lesions were hypointense compared to normal pancreas on T1-weighted fat-suppressed SE images. Lesions were high in SI on T2-weighted images in two of two patients. All lesions demonstrated enhancement on the immediate postgadolinium spoiled GE images with the smaller tumors (<1.5 cm, three individual and the micronodular tumors) showing diffuse enhancement and the larger tumors (>1.5 cm, five tumors) showing predominantly rim enhancement., Conclusion: Pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma have distinctive MR features that include diffuse enhancement in small lesions and rim enhancement in large lesions on immediate postgadolinium images and high SI on T2-weighted images.

The staging of both bladder and prostate carcinoma is important to determine appropriate therapy. Routine clinical staging of these tumors, however, has only limited accuracy. This article reviews the literature on contrast-enhanced MR of both bladder and prostate cancer, including technique optimization and potential benefits of contrast-enhanced studies.

Objective: Accuracy of T1-weighted chemical-shift MR imaging for the differentiation between benign and malignant adrenal masses was blindly assessed among three radiologists., Subjects and Methods: MR imaging was performed at 1.5 T in 50 patients with 58 adrenal masses, proved benign (n = 38) or malignant (n = 20) based on surgery or growth (malignant) or stable size (benign) for at least 1 year. In-phase spin-echo sequences or in-phase breath-hold fast multiplanar spoiled gradient-recalled echo (FMPSPGR) sequences with a TE of 4.2 msec were compared with opposed-phase breath-hold FMPSPGR sequences with a TR/TE of 35-155/2.2-2.9 and a 90 degrees flip angle for the detection of lipid in adrenal masses. Three radiologists who were blinded to diagnosis and clinical data independently rated the likelihood of a benign adrenal lesion on a five-point scale of confidence., Results: Mean sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for a definite or probable diagnosis of a benign lesion by the three readers were 87%, 92%, and 95%, respectively. At the highest (definite) confidence of a benign lesion, the mean positive predictive value was 99%, with lower sensitivity (54%). Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves for the three radiologists were .98 (95% confidence interval [CI] = .94-1.00), .96 (CI = .91-1.00), and .95 (CI = .89-1.00). Interobserver variation for the diagnosis of a benign mass was low (kappa = .79)., Conclusion: Chemical-shift imaging using breath-hold opposed-phase T1-weighted MR images is a reliable and reproducible technique for the diagnosis of most benign adrenal masses at the highest threshold of confidence.

Objective: Solid fibrotic nodules of endometriosis can simulate peritoneal metastases on imaging studies. To assist with this distinction, we analyzed the MR appearance of solid masses of pelvic endometriosis., Materials and Methods: A search of pathologic and surgical records of patients who had pelvic MR imaging with a phased-array multicoil disclosed 13 patients who had endometriosis proved at laparotomy. MR images were reviewed retrospectively by two unblinded radiologists for the signal intensity, size, and enhancement pattern of solid peritoneal masses. Eight solid masses in six patients were detected on MR images: four lesions were in the cul-de-sac, two in the bladder wall, and two in the rectal wall. Four of the masses were excised at surgery and one was sampled by surgical biopsy; microscopy showed abundant fibrosis with small clusters of endometriotic glandular tissue. Three masses were inspected at surgery and found to represent dense fibrosis caused by endometriosis., Results: Solid masses of endometriosis ranged in size from 1 to 5 cm. Seven of the eight masses had similar features on MR images: intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted spin-echo images with punctate foci of high signal intensity, low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and enhancement after administration of contrast material., Conclusion: MR imaging shows enhancing solid masses in some patients with endometriosis. These masses have MR features that might be useful in the differentiation between solid foci of endometriosis and peritoneal metastases.

Objective: Our goal was to determine the difference in iron distribution between transfusion dependent (TD) and nontransfusion dependent (NT) patients with sickle cell disease (SCD)., Materials and Methods: The T2-weighted and T2*-weighted abdominal MR images in nine cases of homozygous SCD were reviewed to determine the distribution of low signal from iron in five TD and four NT patients., Results: All eight patients with visualized spleens had decreased splenic signal intensity. One patient who had no history of splenectomy had no visualized splenic tissue. The majority of both groups had renal cortex of low signal intensity that was attributable to iron deposition from intravascular hemolysis and was not correlated with clinical renal abnormalities. None of the NT group had liver or pancreas of low signal intensity, while all five TD patients had decreased liver signal intensity and three of five had decreased pancreatic signal intensity., Conclusion: Decreased pancreatic signal intensity can occur in TD patients, perhaps suggesting total body iron overload. Nontransfusion dependent sickle cell patients usually have normal hepatic signal intensity and do not have total body iron overload, even in the presence of renal and splenic iron deposition.

Heterotopic liver transplantation involves the transplantation of an auxiliary liver into the subhepatic space while leaving the native liver intact. This procedure is a viable treatment for select patients with fulminant hepatic failure who fail medical treatment. The MR-pathologic correlation of a patient who developed graft failure and recovered full function of her native liver after heterotopic liver transplantation is presented. Based on the imaging and biopsy findings, immunosuppression was withdrawn and the patient remains asymptomatic with normal liver function. Interpreters of imaging studies in this group of patients should not restrict their attention to the heterotopic graft. The return of the native liver in both a structural and functional sense is a clinically important phenomenon that can be detected with MR imaging.

The authors interviewed 10 therapists and supervisors who had clinical experience in working with deaf patients. The responses centered on issues related to the necessity of visual rather than auditory communication, problems of diagnosis and assessment, therapist and patient expectations, special strengths of deaf patients, involvement of third parties, and modification of therapeutic technique. The authors emphasize that additional resources and research are necessary for clinicians to meet the needs of this large but still underserved population.