Assessment of the compliance with minimum acceptable technical parameters proposed by PI-RADS v2 guidelines in multiparametric prostate MRI acquisition in tertiary referral hospitals in the Republic of Turkey.

PURPOSE: Although the clinical use of multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is increasing, the adherence to parameters for mpMRI, which had been described in the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2) for an optimum image acquisition is unknown. In this paper, we aimed to determine the compliance with the minimum acceptable technical parameters for prostate mpMRI defined by PI-RADS v2 in tertiary care centers in Turkey. METHODS: We sent a survey to all radiology departments of tertiary referral hospitals in Turkey (n=120) to evaluate their adherence to PI-RADS v2 technical specifications. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square, Fisher exact, ANOVA, and the Student t tests. The cutoff values for image acquisition times were also determined with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven clinics responded to our survey (response rate, 92.5%). Prostate MRI was reported to be performed in 61 centers, of which 26 (42.6%) used 3 T (Tesla) scanner while 35 (57.4%) used 1.5 T. The adherence to slice thickness, in-plane phase and frequency resolutions on T2-weighted imaging were 68.9%, 41%, and 9.8%, respectively. The adherence to the same parameters on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were higher compared with T2-weighted imaging (85.2%, 62.3%, and 78.7%, respectively). In comparative analysis, the adherence to slice thickness, field of view (FOV) and in-plane phase resolution on T2-weighted imaging were higher for 3 T compared with 1.5 T scanners (P = 0.004, P = 0.041, and P = 0.001, respectively). T2-weighted imaging acquisition time was significantly longer for the centers that adhered to FOV (P = 0.034) and in-plane T2-weighted imaging phase resolution (P = 0.028). The DWI scan time was significantly longer when they adhered to DWI-FOV (P = 0.014) and b value ≥1400 s/mm2 (P = 0.008). The calculated cutoff of scan times were 220 s in T2-weighted imaging and 312 s in DWI to ensure the compliance with voxel sizes and b value criteria. CONCLUSION: The tertiary referral centers in Turkey did not meet majority of the technical specifications of PI-RADS v2 during prostate MRI acquisition. Awareness to the minimum acceptable technical parameters of mpMRI should be increased to potentially improve the quality of prostate cancer imaging.

Craniometric Analysis of Skullbase With Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Chiari Malformation.

Basilar invagination, Platibasi, increased tentorium angle, and posterior fossa hypoplasia are the anomalies associated with Chiari malformation. When Chiari is symptomatic; tonsillary ectopenia appears to be a definitive criterion for diagnosis and treatment, the detection of additional anomaly may alter the surgical outcome. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between tonsillar ectopia and other anomalies.The authors retrospectively reviewed 31 cases which had Chiari Malformation at our Hospital. There were 8 men (25.8%) and 23 female (74.2%). Average age of the samples is 37.93 ±â€Š12.93 years. Seventeen patients (54.8%) had tonsillar ectopia 0 to 5 mm, 14 patients had tonsillar ectopia over 5 mm. Seven patients had syrinx (22.6%), 2 patients had mild hydrocephalus (6.5%). Six patients had surgery for the treatment. The mean length of the clivus was 39.3 mm, supraoksiput length was 40.4 mm, cerebellar hemisphere length was 61.08 mm, Mc Rae line was 33.14 mm, Twinning Line was 79.4mm, and Tentorium-Twinning line angle was 40.35°. There was no significant difference between Tonsillar ectopia, syrinks, and hydrocephalus. Basilar invagination had relationship between platibasi (6 patients had platibasi according to 2 mm criteria, 2 patients had platibasi according to 5 mm criteria (P < 0.05). Patients with syrinx had relationship between Chamberlain line (P < 0.05).In the authors' study, although there was no statistically significant difference between the tonsillary ectopia and the criteria of these anomalies, the relationship between basilar invagination and platibasi was significant.

Giant Lipomatosis of the Sciatic Nerve: Unique Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings.

Lipomatosis of the nerve, also known as fibrolipomatous hamartoma, is characterized by the infiltration of the nerve by fibro-fatty tissue. The affected nerve becomes thicker, and it simulates a mass lesion. Lipomatosis usually affects the median nerve and lipomatosis of the sciatic nerve is extremely rare. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the key to diagnosis, and it is usually pathognomonic. In this report, MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI findings of a case of a giant sciatic nerve lipomatosis without macrodactyly are presented. The MRI findings are unique, and awareness of the MRI features of this rare soft tissue mass may prevent unnecessary biopsies and surgeries.

Venous flow volume measured by duplex ultrasound can be used as an indicator of impaired tissue perfusion in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

AIM: In this study, we aimed to investigate the arterial and venous flow volume rate (FV) in order to determine the tissue perfusion using duplex ultrasonography (DU). We hypothesized that FV provides reliable information regarding tissue perfusion in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 38 patients (72 legs) with PAD. In all patients, common femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial, posterior tibial arteries and veins were examined with DU. Measurements were obtained in the supine position with 15 cm elevation of the foot to neutralise central venous pressure. The diameter, blood flow velocity, and FV of arteries and veins were measured for each patient. RESULTS: The FV of the common femoral artery and vein (p = 0.001), popliteal artery and vein (p=0.003), and posterior tibial artery and vein (p = 0.008) had statistically significant differences. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the FV of the anterior tibial vein and artery (p = 0.408). The mean FV values of all veins were significantly lower than those of homonymous arteries in patients with PAD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that venous FV measured by DU can be used as an indicator of impaired tissue perfusion in patients with PAD.

Developmental Venous Anomaly With Asymmetrical Basal Ganglia Calcification: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

Developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is a common lesion formerly known as venous angioma. DVAs drain normal brain parenchyma; however, parenchymal abnormalities surrounding DVAs have been reported. Unilateral putamen and caudate calcification in the drainage territory of DVAs has so far been reported in 7 cases, all with deep venous drainage. We present two additional cases of DVAs, one with superficial and the other one with deep venous drainage, associated with basal ganglia calcifications. We emphasize that DVAs should be in the differential diagnosis of unilateral basal ganglia calcifications.