Diffusion MR imaging: an important tool in the assessment of brain tumors.

For over 20 years, conventional MR imaging has been used for assessing brain tumors. However, conventional MR imaging tends to underestimate the extent of the tumor, perhaps leading to suboptimal treatment. New MR imaging tools have been widely used to determine the grade, heterogeneity, and extent of brain tumors. Diffusion-weighted imaging has been studied extensively, helping in tumor grading, differential diagnosis, and postoperative evaluation. Diffusion tensor imaging can apparently delineate more accurately the tumor versus the infiltrating tumor between the peritumoral edema and the normal brain parenchyma. This article shows the main clinical applications of these sequences.

Pulmonary amyloidosis with calcified nodules and masses - a six-year computed tomography follow-up: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary amyloidosis is an uncommon disease, characterized by extracellular deposition of fibrillary protein in the lungs. It appears in three forms: tracheobronchial, nodular pulmonary, and alveolar septal. There are few reports of long-term observation of primary pulmonary amyloidosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with fever, dyspnea, cough and hemoptysis. Chest radiograph and computed tomography revealed multiple pulmonary nodules and masses. The patient underwent open lung biopsy, which diagnosed pulmonary amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary nodular amyloidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules or masses.

Magnetic resonance findings of neurofibromatosis type 2: a case report.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an inherited autosomal dominant syndrome, characterized by multiple neoplasms of the central and peripheral nervous system associated with ocular abnormalities. The most common tumor associated with the disease is the vestibulocochlear schwannoma (VIII cranial nerve), and as many as 10% of patients with this tumor have neurofibromatosis type 2. In this report we aim to present a 34-year-old male who was seen for bilateral hearing loss. During his workup, which included cranial computer tomography, he was found to have multiple intracranial masses. Cranial and whole spine magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral vestibulocochlear schwannoma, multiple meningiomas, and one intramedullary tumor. Based on clinical and imaging findings the diagnostic of neurofibromatosis type 2 was made.