Diagnostic efficacy and safety of MRI of the liver with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SH U 555 A).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of an intravenous injection of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, SH U 555 A, in adult patients with known focal liver lesions. Pre- and post-contrast image sets were obtained in 19 patients after injection of SH U 555 A as a part of a phase III clinical trial (patients <60 kg body weight received 0.9 mL and patients >60 kg received 1.4 mL). Three blinded readers evaluated the post-contrast images. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded and laboratory tests were performed at baseline, during and immediately after the procedure, and four and 24 hours after the MR procedure. On post-contrast MRI, there was statistically significant improvement in diagnostic confidence, visualization, delineation, and contrast between the lesions and the healthy parenchyma in comparison to precontrast. Twenty more lesions were detected on post-contrast images. The management in six patients (31.7%) was changed after post-contrast imaging. Changes in vital signs and laboratory tests were minimal and did not affect the patients' clinical condition. Only a moderate allergic reaction (diffuse erythematous rash) was recorded. SH U 555 A is an effective and safe contrast agent for MRI of the liver.

MR imaging of tuberculous vertebral osteomyelitis: pictorial review.

Vertebral osteomyelitis is one of the most common manifestations of tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the main imaging modality for the diagnosis, the demonstration of the extent of the disease, and follow-up studies. Vertebral destruction involving two consecutive levels with sparing of the intervertebral disc, disc herniation into the vertebral body, epidural involvement, and paraspinal abscess are the most common MRI findings suggestive of tuberculous vertebral osteomyelitis.

Graft-dependent recurrence of hyperparathyroidism: imaging with frequency amplitude and encoded Doppler sonography.

A 48-year-old woman underwent total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation into the left forearm due to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Recurrence of hyperparathyroidism was observed 5 years later. B-mode high-resolution ultrasonography of the left forearm demonstrated an ill-defined hypoechoic lesion. Frequency- and amplitude-encoded Doppler sonography revealed marked hypervascularity, which was diagnostic for graft hyperplasia in association with the history of the patient. These findings were confirmed by scintigraphy and histological examination of the excised graft.

Liver invasion by recurrent granulosa cell tumour of the ovary: imaging findings.

Granulosa cell tumour of the ovary is a rare neoplasm of low malignant potential, late recurrences, local spread and high survival rates. We report the MR imaging appearance of invasion of the liver parenchyma by recurrent granulosa cell tumour of the ovary 15 years after initial diagnosis.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: MR imaging findings.

We describe the sonographic, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of two patients with histologically proven hepatic hemangioendothelioma. Both patients presented with multiple liver nodules. Color Doppler ultrasound demonstrated moderate vascularity at the periphery of the nodules, as well as central neovascularity. On enchanced computed tomography images, the lesions showed peripheral enhancement only. On magnetic resonance images, tumor signal was low on T1-weighted and moderately high on T2-weighted images. The distinction between normal liver and tumor was difficult on all sequences. Administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles delineated well the tumor by suppressing the signal of the normal liver and better depicted areas of remaining healthy parenchyma.

Large lipoma of the vulva.

Vulvar lipoma is a rare entity. A 52-year-old woman presented with a large mass arising in the right major labium. CT scan revealed that the mass contained adipose tissue. During operation a lipomatous tumor was found which at histologic examination proved to be a lipoma.

Horseshoe kidney associated with anomalous inferior vena cava.

Horseshoe kidney associated with anomalous inferior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly. Radiological demonstration of this combined anomaly is also uncommon, with only two cases of preisthmic inferior vena cava with horseshoe kidney in the imaging literature. We report a case of simultaneous horseshoe kidney and inferior vena cava lying anterior to the right renal moiety diagnosed by ultrasound and computed tomography.

Retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma.

A case of retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma histologically confirmed in a 21-year-old woman is reported. Although ultrasound, CT and MR detected the tumor, a preoperative diagnosis could not be established by imaging methods. The cystic tumor was removed and microscopic examination revealed a mucinous cystadenoma. Mullerian mesothelial metaplasia of peritoneal invagination into the retroperitoneal space is the most likely explanation for the histogenesis of these tumors.

MRI of a giant splenic artery aneurysm.

Aneurysms of the splenic artery larger than 3 cm are very rare. We present the imaging features of a 12 cm, partially thrombosed splenic artery aneurysm. MRI was valuable in establishing the diagnosis.