Cardiac imaging: Part 1, MR pulse sequences, imaging planes, and basic anatomy.

OBJECTIVE: MRI is a well-established modality for evaluating congenital and acquired cardiac diseases. This article reviews the latest pulse sequences used for cardiac MRI. In addition, the standard cardiac imaging planes and corresponding anatomy are described and illustrated. CONCLUSION: Familiarity with the basic pulse sequences, imaging planes, and anatomy pertaining to cardiac MRI is essential to formulate optimal protocols and interpretations.

Multi-modality imaging findings of disseminated juvenile xanthogranuloma with renal involvement in an infant.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis commonly presenting as a solitary cutaneous lesion. A small subset of patients have visceral involvement. Renal involvement is rare. Several case reports have highlighted solitary extracutaneous lesions. Few reports describe imaging findings in multiple visceral organs. We describe a unique case of disseminated JXG with involvement of the kidney as well as other visceral organs including the liver, spleen and lungs.

The ectopic appendicolith from perforated appendicitis as a cause of tubo-ovarian abscess.

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical cause of abdominal pain in the pediatric population. History and physical examination are atypical in up to a third of patients. Known potential complications of untreated or delayed management of acute appendicitis include appendiceal perforation, periappendiceal abscess formation, peritonitis, bowel obstruction and rarely septic thrombosis of mesenteric vessels. We report an unusual complication of perforated appendicitis. A tubo-ovarian abscess developed secondary to appendicolith migration into the right fallopian tube in a patient who had undergone interval laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. The retained appendicolith was visualized within the obstructed and dilated fallopian tube on contrast-enhanced CT. We discuss the CT imaging features of this unusual complication of perforated appendicitis.