Survey about the current use of fetal MRI in Spain.

In June 2019 in Seville, at the first course in fetal MRI, endorsed by the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM) and the Spanish Society of Pediatric Radiology (SERPE), the Spanish fetal MRI group was founded. To establish this group, a questionnaire was designed for radiologists dedicated to prenatal imaging in Spain and disseminated to the SERAM's members. The questions were related to the type of hospital, to MRI studies (magnetic field, gestational age, use of sedation, number of studies per year, proportion of fetal neuroimaging studies), and to teaching and research about fetal MRI. A total of 41 responses were received from radiologists in 25 provinces (88% working in public hospitals). Very few radiologists in Spain perform prenatal ultrasonography (7%) or prenatal CT. MRI is done in the second trimester (34%) or in the third trimester (44%). In 95% of centers, fetal brain MRI studies predominate. In 41% of the centers, studies can be done on 3 T MRI scanners. Maternal sedation is used in 17% of centers. The number of fetal MRI studies per year varies widely, being much higher in Barcelona and Madrid than in the rest of Spain.

Brain MRI without anesthesia in children less than 3 months old.

INTRODUCTION: The use of general anesthesia in infants involves both short-term and long-term risks. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of brain MRI without anesthesia in infants younger than 3-month-old immobilized with a pillow. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective case-control study was done in 2019. Cases were stable patients less than 3 months old who did not require ventilatory support for whom brain MRI was indicated. Patients were fed so they would fall asleep and placed in the scanner with an immobilizing pillow. Controls were clinically unstable patients matched for age and sex referred for brain MRI under general anesthesia. Three pediatric radiologists evaluated the success of the MRI study (whether it answered the clinical question), recorded whether it was necessary to repeat the study, and rated the presence of motion artifacts on a scale ranging from 1 to 4. RESULTS: A total of 47 cases were included (28 boys and 19 girls; mean age, 31 days). Of these, 42 (89%) MRI studies were considered successful. The proportion of successful MRI studies was lower in outpatients than in inpatients (p = 0.02). The quality of MRI in cases was considered optimal in 60% and suboptimal (motion artifacts in one or two sequences) in 30%. No safety issues related with the technique were detected. The mean duration of the studies was 16.6 min (range, 6-30 min). All of the MRI studies in controls were considered successful; quality was considered optimal in 89% and suboptimal in 11%. In the first year in which we used this technique, we avoided the use of general anesthesia in 47 MRI studies in 42 newborns. CONCLUSION: Brain MRI using the feed and sleep technique in infants younger than 3-month-old immobilized with a pillow can be done safely and efficaciously without general anesthesia.

Neuroinvasive disease due to West Nile virus: Clinical and imaging findings associated with a re-emerging pathogen.

The West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus than can infect human beings and cause severe neuroinvasive disease. Taking the outbreak that occurred in Spain in 2020 as a reference, this article reviews the clinical and imaging findings for neuroinvasive disease due to WNV. We collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging (CT and MRI) variables for 30 patients with WNV infection diagnosed at our center. The main clinical findings were fever, headache, and altered levels of consciousness. Neuroimaging studies, especially MRI, are very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients. The most common imaging findings were foci of increased signal intensity in the thalamus and brainstem in T2-weighted sequences; we illustrate these findings in cases from our hospital.

Ileocolic intussusception: Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction with sedation and analgesia.

INTRODUCTION: The first-choice treatment for ileocolic intussusception is imaging-guided reduction with water, air, or barium. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided reduction of intussusception using water in patients under sedation and analgesia. We compare this approach with our previous experience in reduction using barium under fluoroscopic guidance without sedation and analgesia and investigate what factors predispose to surgical correction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed cases of children with ileocolic intussusception treated in a third-level pediatric hospital during a 52-month period: during the first 24 months, reduction was done using barium and fluoroscopy without sedoanalgesia, and during the following 28 months, reduction was done using water and ultrasound with sedoanalgesia. A pediatric radiologist and a pediatrician reviewed the clinical history, surgical records, and imaging studies. RESULTS: In the 52-month period, 59 children (41 boys and 18 girls; mean age, 16.0 months) were diagnosed with ileocolic intussusception at our hospital. A total of 33 reductions (28 patients and 5 recurrences) were done using barium under fluoroscopic guidance, achieving a 61% success rate. A total of 38 reductions (31 patients and 7 recurrences) were done using water under ultrasound guidance with patients sedated, achieving a success rate of 76%. No significant adverse effects were observed in patients undergoing ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction under sedation, and the success rate in this group was higher (p = 0.20). The factors that predisposed to surgical reduction were greater length of the intussusception (p = 0.03), location in areas other than the right colon (p = 0.002), and a greater length of time between symptom onset and imaging tests (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction of ileocolic intussusception under sedoanalgesia is efficacious and safe.

Extrathoracic manifestations of COVID-19 in adults and presentation of the disease in children.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); epidemic conditions continue in nearly all countries today. Although the symptoms and imaging manifestations of COVID-19 predominantly involve the respiratory system, it is fundamental to know the manifestations of the disease and its possible complications in other organs to help in diagnosis and orient the prognosis. To improve the diagnostic process without increasing the risk of contagion unnecessarily, it is crucial to know when extrathoracic imaging tests are indicated and which tests are best in each situation. This paper aims to provide answers to these questions. To this end, we describe and illustrate the extrathoracic imaging manifestations of COVID-19 in adults as well as the entire spectrum of imaging findings in children.

Neuroinvasive disease due to West Nile virus: clinical and imaging findings associated with a re-emerging pathogen. / Enfermedad neuroinvasiva por el virus del Nilo Occidental: características clínicas y en neuroimagen de un patógeno reemergente.

The West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus than can infect human beings and cause severe neuroinvasive disease. Taking the outbreak that occurred in Spain in 2020 as a reference, this article reviews the clinical and imaging findings for neuroinvasive disease due to WNV. We collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging (CT and MRI) variables for 30 patients with WNV infection diagnosed at our center. The main clinical findings were fever, headache, and altered levels of consciousness. Neuroimaging studies, especially MRI, are very useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients. The most common imaging findings were foci of increased signal intensity in the thalamus and brainstem in T2-weighted sequences; we illustrate these findings in cases from our hospital.

Survey about the current use of fetal MRI in Spain. / Encuesta sobre la situación actual de la resonancia magnética fetal en España.

In June 2019 in Seville, at the first course in fetal MRI, endorsed by the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM) and the Spanish Society of Pediatric Radiology (SERPE), the Spanish fetal MRI group was founded. To establish this group, a questionnaire was designed for radiologists dedicated to prenatal imaging in Spain and disseminated to the SERAM's members. The questions were related to the type of hospital, to MRI studies (magnetic field, gestational age, use of sedation, number of studies per year, proportion of fetal neuroimaging studies), and to teaching and research about fetal MRI. A total of 41 responses were received from radiologists in 25 provinces (88% working in public hospitals). Very few radiologists in Spain perform prenatal ultrasonography (7%) or prenatal CT. MRI is done in the second trimester (34%) or in the third trimester (44%). In 95% of centers, fetal brain MRI studies predominate. In 41% of the centers, studies can be done on 3 T MRI scanners. Maternal sedation is used in 17% of centers. The number of fetal MRI studies per year varies widely, being much higher in Barcelona and Madrid than in the rest of Spain.

[Extrathoracic manifestations of COVID-19 in adults and presentation of the disease in children]. / Manifestaciones extratorácicas de la COVID-19 en adultos y presentación de la enfermedad en niños.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); epidemic conditions continue in nearly all countries today. Although the symptoms and imaging manifestations of COVID-19 predominantly involve the respiratory system, it is fundamental to know the manifestations of the disease and its possible complications in other organs to help in diagnosis and orient the prognosis. To improve the diagnostic process without increasing the risk of contagion unnecessarily, it is crucial to know when extrathoracic imaging tests are indicated and which tests are best in each situation. This paper aims to provide answers to these questions. To this end, we describe and illustrate the extrathoracic imaging manifestations of COVID-19 in adults as well as the entire spectrum of imaging findings in children.

Brain MRI without anesthesia in children less than 3 months old. / Resonancia magnética cerebral sin anestesia en niños menores de 3 meses.

INTRODUCTION: The use of general anesthesia in infants involves both short-term and long-term risks. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of brain MRI without anesthesia in infants younger than 3-month-old immobilized with a pillow. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective case-control study was done in 2019. Cases were stable patients less than 3 months old who did not require ventilatory support for whom brain MRI was indicated. Patients were fed so they would fall asleep and placed in the scanner with an immobilizing pillow. Controls were clinically unstable patients matched for age and sex referred for brain MRI under general anesthesia. Three pediatric radiologists evaluated the success of the MRI study (whether it answered the clinical question), recorded whether it was necessary to repeat the study, and rated the presence of motion artifacts on a scale ranging from 1 to 4. RESULTS: A total of 47 cases were included (28 boys and 19 girls; mean age, 31 days). Of these, 42 (89%) MRI studies were considered successful. The proportion of successful MRI studies was lower in outpatients than in inpatients (p=0.02). The quality of MRI in cases was considered optimal in 60% and suboptimal (motion artifacts in one or two sequences) in 30%. No safety issues related with the technique were detected. The mean duration of the studies was 16.6minutes (range, 6-30minutes). All of the MRI studies in controls were considered successful; quality was considered optimal in 89% and suboptimal in 11%. In the first year in which we used this technique, we avoided the use of general anesthesia in 47 MRI studies in 42 newborns. CONCLUSION: Brain MRI using the feed and sleep technique in infants younger than 3-month-old immobilized with a pillow can be done safely and efficaciously without general anesthesia.

MELAS (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke) - a Diagnosis Not to be Missed.

MELAS is a rare mitochondrial disorder. We report two cases in Irish males where the characteristics were evident, but the diagnosis not made for a considerable period of time. In one of the cases the symptoms were presumed secondary to prematurity. In the other the symptoms were presumed secondary to epilepsy and he had three respiratory arrests secondary to benzodiazepine administration. This report wishes to highlight MELAS as a differential diagnosis in paediatric patients who present with stroke.

[Prognostic factors and functional imaging in rectal cancer]. / Factores pronósticos e imagen funcional del cáncer de recto.

The outcome of treatment for rectal cancer in recent years has been improved by diverse advances in the field of surgery and in neoadjuvant oncologic therapies. Heald's introduction of the concept of the mesorectum as an anatomical unit (total mesorectal excision) in 1982 and the generalization of preoperative radiochemotherapy have improved the prognosis in a significant number of patients. Owing to these advances, it has become necessary for imaging studies to define a series of prognostic factors for tumors, both before and after neoadjuvant treatment, to make it possible to tailor treatment for individual patients with rectal tumors. On the other hand, the advent of functional and molecular imaging techniques has provided a way to study a series of distinctive tumor characteristics in vivo, including the angiogenesis, metabolism, or cellularity of rectal tumors, and these techniques are making a growing contribution to the prognosis, staging, treatment planning, and evaluation of the response to therapy in patients with rectal cancer.