Magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal lesions: comparison of three fat-saturation pulse sequences.

Fat-saturation (FS) pulse sequences can improve the detection of musculoskeletal lesions. We prospectively compared contrast-enhanced T1-weighted FS spin-echo (SE) images, T2-weighted FS fast spin-echo (FSE) images and inversion recovery (IR) FSE images to determine if any of these three pulse sequences is superior for depicting bone marrow and soft tissue lesions. T1-weighted FS-SE images (400-680/10-20 [TR/TE]) after intravenous injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), T2-weighted FS-FSE (2400-4200/96-112) and IR-FSE (3700-6000/12-14/170 [TR/TE/TI]) images were obtained with a 1.5-T magnet system in 35 patients. The visibility, margination and extent of 37 bone marrow and 67 soft tissue lesions, image uniformity, susceptibility and motion artefacts were qualitatively analysed by four radiologists. The number and size of lesions detected, the mean lesion signal-to-noise ration (S/N) and contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) were also statistically compared. More bone and soft-tissue lesions were detected on the IR-FSE and T2-weighted FS-FSE than the T1-weighted FS-SE images. The IR-FSE images were significantly better than the T2-weighted FS-FSE and T1-weighted FS-SE images for bone marrow lesions conspicuity (P < 0.01). The soft-tissue lesions were also more conspicuous on the IR-FSE and T2-weighted FS-FSE images than on the T1-weighted FS-SE images (P < 0.005). The lesion extent and image quality were similar on all three sequences while motion artefacts were most severe on the IR-FSE and least severe on the T1-weighted FS-SE images (P < 0.001). Fat saturation was maximal on the IR-FSE images, resulting in a significantly higher mean C/N of bone marrow lesions. The mean C/N of soft-tissue lesions was higher on the T2-weighted FS-FSE images although the differences were not significant. The T2-weighted FS-FSE and IR-FSE sequences are superior to the contrast-enhanced T1-weighted FS-SE sequence for depicting musculoskeletal lesions. Bone marrow lesion conspicuity is greater on the IR-FSE images, with comparable scan time and image quality but more motion artifacts.

Effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia in patients with and without histological gastritis: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

In the present double-blind placebo-controlled study the effect of cisapride on functional dyspepsia was evaluated in patients with and without histological gastritis. Patients with functional dyspepsia and whose symptoms persisted after a 2 week run-in period with antacid treatment were randomized to receive cisapride (10 mg) or matching placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. Symptoms of epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, belching, early satiety and heartburn were graded on a four-point scale based on patients' feedback and diary card recording. A global response was also formulated by the investigators. One hundred and four patients entered the study and 76 completed the trial, comprising 36 patients with histological gastritis and 40 patients without gastritis. Symptom scores in both gastritis and non-gastritis groups were significantly improved by both cisapride and placebo; however, the improvement was not statistically different between the two treatment groups. Cisapride produced a good or better global response in 58% of subjects with histological gastritis and in 53% of subjects without gastritis compared with 47% and 52%, respectively, of patients on placebo; this difference was not statistically significant. Gastric histology did not influence the effect of cisapride on the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

Bone changes in tuberous sclerosis mimicking metastases.

Sclerotic and lytic bone changes of tuberous sclerosis (TS) can mimic bone metastases. We report a case of bone metastases from bronchogenic carcinoma in a patient with TS bone changes. Bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging are useful in distinguishing the TS bone lesions from bone metastases.

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis using duplex ultrasonography.

Duplex ultrasonography is a safe, accurate, efficient, inexpensive, noninvasive diagnostic test for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The sensitivity and specificity of this technique is comparable to venography in symptomatic patients in many studies. The diagnostic accuracy of this test can be further enhanced by serial studies. We report our experience with the use of this technique for study of 180 patients with clinically suspected DVT. Only 55 (30.6%) patients were confirmed to have DVT on duplex ultrasonography which illustrates the inaccuracy of bedside diagnosis of this potentially life-threatening condition. Almost all our DVT patients have proximal vein involvement, indicating that venous thrombosis usually do not cause signs or symptoms until they become large, occlusive and extend into the proximal veins. It is also observed in our study cohort that half of the patients with proximal vein thrombosis has incomplete recanalisation on follow-up study. None of them with normal study developed significant sequelae of untreated DVT, suggesting that it is safe to withhold treatment based on result of this non-invasive test. Duplex ultrasonography is the diagnostic modality of choice for suspected DVT in symptomatic patients and is an excellent substitute for conventional contrast venography.