Accuracy of ocular axial length measurement with MRI.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed axial length measurements taken with MRI compared to A-scan ultrasonography for use in silicone-filled eyes with cataracts. METHODS: This study was a double-blinded prospective comparison study of axial length measurements made by MRI and A-scan ultrasonography. MRI scans of 20 patients undergoing MRI were reviewed to determine axial length. Standard A-scan measurements of axial length were also obtained. Axial length measurements by MRI were compared to A-scan ultrasonography measurements. RESULTS: In 36 eyes, an MRI scan was obtained in the correct plane to measure the axial length. The axial length measured by MRI was on average 0.18 +/- 0.29 mm longer (range -0.41 to +0.7 mm) than the axial length measured by A-scan, for a refractive error average of +0.28 +/- 0.58 D (SD), and a range of -1.06 to +1.52 D. CONCLUSIONS: Axial length measurements with MRI match reliably with axial lengths measured by A-scan ultrasonography.

Focal pancreatitis mimicking pancreatic mass: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) findings including diffusion-weighted MRI.

BACKGROUND: Focal pancreatitis (FP) is a confined inflammation that mimics a pancreatic mass. Its imaging diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary procedures. PURPOSE: To describe the spectrum of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) findings of focal pancreatitis mimicking pancreatic masses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Findings of MRI/MRCP including DWI with a b value of 0 and 600 s/mm(2) in 14 patients with pancreatic masses on MRI were retrospectively reviewed and compared to normal pancreas in 14 patients as a control group. RESULTS: FP revealed hypointense signal intensity (SI) (3/14), hypo- to isointense SI (7/14), or isointense SI (4/14) on T1-weighted images, and hypointense SI (1/14), isointense SI (5/14), iso- to hyperintense SI (7/14), or hyperintense SI (1/14) on T2-weighted images compared to remaining pancreas (RP). MRCP images revealed dilatation of the common bile duct (CBD) and main pancreatic duct (MPD) (5/14), dilatation of the MPD only (3/14), dilatation of the CBD only (3/14), and normal MPD and CBD (3/14). Both FP and RP revealed three types of time-signal intensity curves: 1) rapid rise to a peak, with a rapid decline (FP=2, RP=4), 2) slow rise to a peak, followed by a slow decline (FP=5, RP=4), and 3) slower rise to a peak, with a slow decline or plateau (FP=7, RP=6). Mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for FP and RP were 2.09+/-0.18 and 2.03+/-0.2 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. ADC values of FP and RP revealed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The spectrum of imaging findings of focal pancreatitis on MRI/MRCP including DWI was described. Findings of FP were not distinctive as compared to the remaining pancreas.

Rare anomaly of the aortic arch complex with extreme degenerative changes. A case report.

A forty-one-year-old woman with a rare anomaly of the aortic arch complex is described. The case closely resembles a combination of right cervical aortic arch and right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery with additional tortuous right-sided aortic arch structures, absent left common carotid artery, and right common carotid artery originating from the left side of the aortic arch.