Practical Guide to VI-RADS: MRI Protocols, Lesion Characterization, and Pitfalls.

Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer (BC), accounting for approximately 90% of all cases. Evaluating the depth of tumor invasion in the bladder wall (tumor staging) is essential for determining the treatment and prognosis in patients with BC. Neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical cystectomy is the most common treatment of localized muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). Therefore, it is vital to differentiate non-MIBC from MIBC. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is the reference standard to determine the extent of tumor invasion into the bladder wall through tissue sampling. However, this diagnostic and therapeutic method may not adequately sample the muscularis propria, leading to a higher risk of residual disease, early recurrence, and tumor understaging in approximately 50% of patients during the initial TURBT. Multiparametric MRI can overcome some of the limitations of TURBT when evaluating BC, particularly regarding tumor staging. In this context, the Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) classification was developed to establish standards for bladder multiparametric MRI and interpretation. It uses a 5-point scale to assess the likelihood of detrusor muscle invasion. T2-weighted MR images are particularly useful as an initial guide, especially for categories 1-3, while the presence of muscular invasion is determined with diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences. Diffusion-weighted imaging takes precedence as the dominant method when optimal image quality is achieved. The presence of a stalk or a thickened inner layer and no evidence of interruption of the signal intensity of the muscular layer are central for predicting a low likelihood of muscle invasion. ©RSNA, 2024 Test Your Knowledge questions for this article are available in the supplemental material. See the invited commentary by Hoegger in this issue.

Fibrose hepática congênita e venopatia portal obliterativa sem hipertensão portal - revisão da literatura com base em um caso assintomático / Congenital hepatic fibrosis and obliterative portal venopathy without portal hypertension - a review of literature based on an asymptomatic case

ABSTRACT The disease and the case reported here are relevant especially because of their varied clinical presentation, possibility of being associated with other disorders affecting several organs and possible differential diagnoses. Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disease due to mutation in the PKHD1 gene, which encodes the fibrocystin/polyductine protein. It is a cholangiopathy, characterized by varying degrees of periportal fibrosis and irregular proliferation of bile ducts. Affected patients are typically diagnosed in childhood, but in some cases the disease may remain asymptomatic for many years. The exact prevalence and incidence of the disease are not known, but it is consider a rare disease, with a few hundred cases described worldwide. It can affect all ethnic groups and occur associated with various hereditary and non-hereditary disorders. The clinical presentation is quite variable, with melena and hematemesis being initial symptoms in 30%-70% of the cases. More rarely, they may present episodes of cholangitis. The disease has been classified into four types: portal hypertension, cholestasis / cholangitis, mixed and latent. Diagnosis begins with imaging tests, but the definition is made by the histopathological sample. So far, there is no specific therapy that can stop or reverse the pathological process. Currently, the therapeutic strategy is to treat the complications of the disease.

RESUMO A patologia e o caso aqui reportados são relevantes especialmente devido sua variada apresentação clínica, possibilidade de estar associada com outras desordens acometendo diversos órgãos e pelos possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais. A fibrose hepática congênita é uma doença autossômica recessiva, devido mutação no gene PKHD1, que codifica a proteína fibrocistina/poliductina. É uma colangiopatia, caracterizada por variados graus de fibrose periportal e proliferação irregular de ductos biliares. Os pacientes acometidos são tipicamente diagnosticados na infância, mas em alguns casos a doença pode permanecer assintomática por muitos anos. Exatas prevalência e incidência da doença não são conhecidas, mas sabe-se que é uma doença bastante rara, com algumas centenas de casos descritos no mundo. Pode afetar todos grupos étnicos e ocorrer associada com diversas desordens hereditárias e não-hereditárias. A apresentação clínica é bastante variável, com melena e hematêmese sendo sintomas iniciais em 30%-70% dos casos. Mais raramente, podem apresentar episódios de colangite. A doença tem sido classificada em quatro tipos: hipertensão portal, colestática/colangite, mista e latente. O diagnóstico inicia com exames de imagem, mas a definição é feita pela amostra histopatológica. Até o momento, não há terapia específica que possa parar ou reverter o processo patológico e a estratégia terapêutica atual é tratar as complicações da doença.

CONGENITAL HEPATIC FIBROSIS AND OBLITERATIVE PORTAL VENOPATHY WITHOUT PORTAL HYPERTENSION - A REVIEW OF LITERATURE BASED ON AN ASYMPTOMATIC CASE.

The disease and the case reported here are relevant especially because of their varied clinical presentation, possibility of being associated with other disorders affecting several organs and possible differential diagnoses. Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disease due to mutation in the PKHD1 gene, which encodes the fibrocystin/polyductine protein. It is a cholangiopathy, characterized by varying degrees of periportal fibrosis and irregular proliferation of bile ducts. Affected patients are typically diagnosed in childhood, but in some cases the disease may remain asymptomatic for many years. The exact prevalence and incidence of the disease are not known, but it is consider a rare disease, with a few hundred cases described worldwide. It can affect all ethnic groups and occur associated with various hereditary and non-hereditary disorders. The clinical presentation is quite variable, with melena and hematemesis being initial symptoms in 30%-70% of the cases. More rarely, they may present episodes of cholangitis. The disease has been classified into four types: portal hypertension, cholestasis / cholangitis, mixed and latent. Diagnosis begins with imaging tests, but the definition is made by the histopathological sample. So far, there is no specific therapy that can stop or reverse the pathological process. Currently, the therapeutic strategy is to treat the complications of the disease.

Incidence of pulmonary embolism and other chest findings in younger patients using multidetector computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has become the first-line modality for imaging patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). The disadvantages of MDCT, the use of ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast agents, are a reasonable cause of concern, especially in young patients, and therefore it is critical to understand the likelihood of PE in these patients to evaluate a risk benefit analysis. PURPOSE: To calculate the incidence of PE and other chest findings on MDCT in a young adult population investigated for PE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 387 consecutive patients (age 31.5+/-13.5 years) underwent chest MDCT for clinically suspected PE between January 2004 and August 2006. Incidence of PE and other chest findings were calculated with a confidence interval of 95% using binomial distribution. RESULTS: PE incidence was 5%; negative PE with other chest findings was 60%. In 89% of the patients with other chest findings, these included findings of the pleura and/or lung parenchyma. The main patterns of disease were lung opacification suggesting pneumonia (41%), atelectasis (12.4%), and nodular/mass findings (17.5%). In 34% of the patients, there was no PE and no other findings present. CONCLUSION: There is a low incidence of PE in young patients imaged for PE with MDCT.

Feasibility of post-gadolinium three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence to evaluate the pulmonary arterial vasculature.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of post-gadolinium three-dimensional gradient-echo (3D-GE) sequence for the evaluation of the pulmonary arterial vasculature in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and in patients with a variety of other disease processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients (18 females, 8 males; mean age+/-S.D., 46.6+/-21.1 years) who underwent chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including post-gadolinium 3D-GE sequence for the evaluation of PE (Group A, n=13) and a variety of other disease processes (Group B, n=13) were included in the study. Post-gadolinium 3D-GE MR sequences were retrospectively, independently and blindly evaluated by two reviewers for the image quality of pulmonary arterial vasculature, and findings of PE and other disease processes. Clinical and imaging follow-up data for all patients were obtained. Interobserver agreement was calculated by kappa statistics. RESULTS: All central and lobar pulmonary arteries, 71.4-89.6% of segmental arteries and 46.7-52.7% of subsegmental arterial units in both groups were visualized with sufficient diagnostic image quality on post-gadolinium 3D-GE sequences. PE involving lobar and segmental arteries was diagnosed in two patients in each group. Other disease processes including pneumonia, lung nodules, superior vena cava stenosis, lung metastases, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and aortic aneurysm were detected in 10 of 26 patients. There was good to excellent interobserver agreement (0.73 to 1.00) for all findings. CONCLUSION: Post-gadolinium 3D-GE sequence may be an alternative technique for the visualization of central, lobar and segmental arteries, and may diagnose PE and other pathologies involving the chest in different patient populations.

Quantitative and qualitative comparison of 3.0T and 1.5T MR imaging of the liver in patients with diffuse parenchymal liver disease.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to compare signal characteristics and image qualities of MR imaging at 3.0T and 1.5T in patients with diffuse parenchymal liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 25 consecutive patients with diffuse parenchymal liver disease underwent abdominal MR imaging at both 3.0T and 1.5T within a 6-month interval. A retrospective study was conducted to obtain quantitative and qualitative data from both 3.0T and 1.5T MRI. Quantitative image analysis was performed by measuring the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and the contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) by the Students t-test. Qualitative image analysis was assessed by grading each sequence on a 3- and 4-point scale, regarding the presence of artifacts and image quality, respectively. Statistical analysis consisted of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: the mean SNRs and CNRs of the liver parenchyma and the portal vein were significantly higher at 3.0T than at 1.5T on portal and equilibrium phases of volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) images (P<0.05). The mean SNRs were significantly higher at 3.0T than at 1.5T on T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo (SGE) images (P<0.05). However, there were no significantly differences on T2-weighted short-inversion-time inversion recovery (STIR) images. Overall image qualities of the 1.5T non-contrast T1- and T2-weighted sequences were significantly better than 3.0T (P<0.01). In contrast, overall image quality of the 3.0T post-gadolinium VIBE sequence was significantly better than 1.5T (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: MR imaging of post-gadolinium VIBE sequence at 3.0T has quantitative and qualitative advantages of evaluating for diffuse parenchymal liver disease.

Rotura em alça de balde simultânea dos meniscos no mesmo joelho / Simultaneous ôbucket-handleõ tear of both menisci on the same knee

Rotura em alça de balde de ambos os meniscos do mesmo joelho é um fenômeno raro. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente em que a ressonância magnética demonstrou rotura em "alça de balde" dos meniscos medial e lateral do mesmo joelho, associada a rotura do ligamento cruzado anterior, confirmado por videoartroscopia. A ressonância magnética demonstra sinais que permitem o diagnóstico preciso.

Simultaneous bucket-handle tear of menisci on the same knee is a rare phenomenon. We describe a case of a bucket-handle tear of menisci and tear of anterior cruciate ligament of the same knee showed on magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed by arthroscopy. The magnetic resonance imaging can provide accurate diagnosis of this type of injury.

Degeneração cística maciça de leiomioma uterino em gestante simulando neoplasia ovariana: relato de caso / Degenerating cystic uterine fibroid mimics an ovarian cyst in a pregnant patient: a case report

Os autores descrevem o caso de uma gestante encaminhada por apresentar massa anexial. A ultra-sonografia demonstrou volumosa lesão sólido-cística sugestiva de neoplasia ovariana. A ressonância magnética mostrou que a lesão era recoberta pela serosa uterina, sugerindo mioma degenerado. O correto diagnóstico das massas pélvicas na gestação é fundamental para o estabelecimento da terapêutica. A ressonância magnética traz importantes contribuições no diagnóstico dessas entidades.

The authors describe the case of a pregnant woman referred to the institution to be evaluated for an adnexal mass. Ultrasonography showed a voluminous solid-cystic lesion suggestive of ovarian neoplasm. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that the lesion was located within the uterine serosa, suggesting the presence of a degenerated leiomyoma. A correct diagnosis of pelvic masses in pregnancy is essential for the definition of a therapeutic approach. Magnetic resonance imaging represents a relevant tool in the diagnosis of these abnormalities.

3.0-T MRI evaluation of patients with chronic liver diseases: initial observations.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of chronic liver diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of patients who had chronic liver diseases and underwent 3.0-T MRI for evaluation of the liver were included in the study. The first group of patients included 66 consecutive patients (33 male, 33 female; mean age+/-standard deviation, 56+/-11). The second group of patients included 30 consecutive patients (18 males, 12 females; mean age+/-standard deviation, 53+/-10) in whom Variable-Rate Selective Excitation (VERSE) pulses and improved adjustments procedure were used during the acquisitions. Imaging findings of chronic liver diseases, predetermined artifacts and image quality of all individual sequences in the first group and predetermined artifacts and image quality of T2-weighted sequences in the second group were reviewed retrospectively and independently by two reviewers. chi-Square tests were used to compare the findings between two groups of patients and individual sequences. Kappa statistics were used to determine the extent of agreement between the reviewers. RESULTS: Fifteen dysplastic nodules in 6 of 66 (9%) patients and 12 hepatocellular carcinomas in 11 of 66 (17%) patients were detected. Excluding motion artifacts, three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted gradient-echo (GE) sequence was the least affected sequence by the artifacts. Image quality of T1-weighted 3D-GE sequences was excellent in 43 of 66 (65%) patients. In-phase and out-of-phase T1-weighted spoiled GE (SGE) images were fair in 62 of 66 (94%) and 61 of 66 (92%) patients, respectively. The image quality of short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) sequences were fair in 31 of 66 (47%) and 53 of 66 (80%) patients. STIR and half-Fourier RARE sequences in the second group demonstrated significantly better image quality (P=.03 and P<.0001). CONCLUSION: 3.0-T MRI allows the acquisition of very high quality postgadolinium 3D-GE sequence, which permitted the detection and characterization of lesions in the setting of chronic liver diseases. The use of VERSE pulses and improved adjustments procedure improved the image quality of T2-weighted sequences. In-phase/out-of-phase SGE sequences are at present of fair quality.

Pancreatic cancer: correlation of MR findings, clinical features, and tumor grade.

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of occurrence of poorly-marginated and focally-defined pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by MRI and to determine whether these appearances correlate with clinical features and histopathological grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board with waiver of informed consent was obtained for this HIPAA compliant study. A total of 33 patients (16 female, 17 male, mean age = 63.5 +/- 12.8, ranging from 41 to 80 years) with histopathologically-proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent MR examination between August 2000 and February 2005 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical data and histopathological tumoral grade were obtained from clinical charts; nine of 33 patients were excluded of the histopathological evaluation since their diagnosis was performed by fine needle aspiration biopsy and it was not possible to obtain the histopathological grade. Two radiologists reviewed all cases independently to identify whether cancers were poorly-marginated or focally-defined. Agreement between radiologists was assessed using the kappa coefficient. The overall correlation between imaging findings, clinical features, and histopathological grade was assessed with contingency tables using the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 33 patients, nine (27.2%) were classified as poorly-marginated and 24 (72.8%) as focally-defined. Agreement between the two reviewers was excellent (k = 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78-1.0). Poorly-marginated cancers exhibited well- to moderately-differentiated histopathology in 71.4% of cases, while focally-defined cancers had well- to moderately-differentiated histopathology in 17.6% of cases, P = 0.02. CONCLUSION: A poorly-marginated appearance of pancreatic ductal carcinoma on MRI is not uncommon. These cancers exhibited statistically significant moderate- to well-differentiated histopathology compared to focally-defined cancers.

Liver MR imaging: 1.5T versus 3T.

This article focuses on technical challenges in transferring 1.5T liver protocols to 3T systems and the overall comparison of MR sequences, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of imaging at the higher field strength. An important benefit is the capacity of acquiring high-quality, thin-section postgadolinium T1-weighted three-dimensional gradientecho sequences, most clinically relevant for the detection and characterization of small hypervascular malignant diseases. Further research and development is necessary to overcome disadvantages, such as with in- and out-of phase T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences, and to minimize artifacts that appear at 3T.

A ecografia no diagnóstico das lesões músculo-tendinosas do ombro / Ultrasonography findings of musculotendinous lesions of the shoulder

Este estudo propôs-se a revisar os aspectos relevantes da anatomia, técnica de exame e achados de imagens, com o objetivo de auxiliar o radiologista no diagnóstico diferencial frente às afecções músculo-tendinosas do ombro. Foram realizadas 34 ultra-sonografias da região do ombro, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2001. A avaliação foi realizada com transdutores de alta freqüência (7,5-10 MHz). O exame foi normal em 23 por cento dos pacientes (oito casos). Dos 26 casos alterados, observaram-se oito com ruptura total (30 por cento), cinco com ruptura parcial (19 por cento), dez com tendinopatia (38 por cento), um com tendinopatia calcificada (3 por cento), um com tenossinovite bicipital (3 por cento) e um com tendinopatia associada a artrite gotosa (3 por cento). A falta de experiência e de conhecimento das principais alterações que acometem o ombro é um dos principais pontos limitantes do diagnóstico ultra-sonográfico das lesões do ombro. Portanto, o estudo dessas alterações deve ser realizado amplamente.

The purpose of this study is to review the anatomical structures, ultrasonography examination technique and imaging findings in patients with musculotendinous lesions of the shoulder with the aim of helping the radiologist in the differential diagnosis of these lesions. We performed ultrasonography examinations of the shoulder using high-resolution probes (7.5–10 MHz) in 34 patients from January to December, 2001. The examination was normal in eight patients (23%) whereas 26 patients presented abnormalities: eight patients had total rotator cuff tears (30%), five had partial rotator cuff (19%), ten had tendinopathy (38%), one had calcified tendinopathy (3%), one had biceps tendinitis, one had biceps tendon luxation (3%) and one had tendinopathy associated to crystal arthropathy (3%). The lack of experience and the insufficient knowledge about the main diseases of the shoulder are limiting factors for the diagnosis of these lesions. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the abnormalities of the shoulder should be carried out.