CT and MR imaging characteristics of infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma.

AIM: This study aims to analyze computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of infantile hepatic hemangioendotheliomas before and after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and MR examinations of seven infants with biopsy proven hepatic hemangioendotheliomas were retrospectively analyzed. The distribution, number, size, imaging appearance, enhancement pattern and post-treatment changes of the tumors were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 153 hepatic hemangioendotheliomas were detected on CT (111) and MR (42) imaging. In six infants, 109/111 (98.2%) tumors were hypodense and 2/111 (1.8%) lesions contained calcification on unenhanced CT. On MR imaging, all 42 lesions in one infant were heterogeneously T1-hypointense and T2-hyperintense compared to the normal liver parenchyma. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI showed peripheral rim (51.6%), uniform (48.4%), fibrillary (33.3%), and nodular (28.8%) contrast enhancement in the hepatic arterial phase. Homogeneous (100%), rim (98.2%) and mixed enhancement patterns were noted in tumors <1.0cm, >2.0cm and 1.0-2.0cm in diameter respectively in the hepatic arterial phase. In three patients who underwent steroid therapy, follow-up CT examination demonstrated tumor size reduction and increased intra-tumoral calcification in two patients. CONCLUSION: Infantile hepatic hemangioendotheliomas show some typical imaging features and size-dependent pattern of contrast enhancement on CT and MR imaging, which allow accurate imaging diagnosis and post-treatment evaluation.

Dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion MR imaging in late radiation-induced injury of the brain.

The objective of the study was to evaluate radiation-induced cerebral injury on dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSCE) perfusion MR imaging and study its relationship with morphological severity and disease progression. Thirty-one patients with known radiation injury to the temporal lobes where studied. Gradient and spin-echo T2-weighted, gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted and DSCE perfusion MR imaging were obtained in the coronal plane through the anterior temporal lobe. Regions of interest where selected in the anterior temporal lobes and the superior frontal lobe as control for analysis of perfusion parameters. The mean transit time (MTT) was prolonged in both the High Dose Zone (HDZ) receiving from two-thirds to the total dose of 66-71.2 Gy, and the Intermediary Dose Zone (IDZ) receiving up to 87% of the total dose. The HDZ but not the IDZ showed a low relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and relative cerebral blood flow index (rCBFi). The rCBV and rCBFi were significantly lower in both HDZ and LBZ in temporal lobes with severe lesions compared to the temporal lobes with mild lesions but there was no significant difference in bolus transit parameters. The rCBV and rCBFi were significantly lower in both HDZ and IDZ of the swollen temporal lobes compared to those without swelling. It was concluded that DSCE perfusion MR imaging demonstrated a derangement in perfusion in radiation-induced cerebral injury in rCBV, rCBFi and MTT, which were related to the severity of the radiation-induced injury and the dose of irradiation delivered.

Imaging for primary hyperparathyroidism--what beginners should know.

For patients with primary hyperparathyroidism surgical removal of the hyperfunctioning parathyroid gland is curative. With advances in minimally invasive surgery, accurate pre-operative localization of the hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue is essential to aid successful surgical treatment. The onus of identifying this hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue therefore falls on imaging techniques such as high-resolution ultrasound, radionuclide imaging, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This article is not an exhaustive review, and its main aim is to familiarize the general radiologist, trainee radiologists and clinicians with the basics of various imaging techniques and their roles in practical management of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

CT evaluation of nasolacrimal relapse of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

AIM: The aim of the current study was to elucidate the anatomy of the nasolacrimal apparatus using computed tomography (CT), and to investigate the CT findings suggestive of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) involving the nasolacrimal apparatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT images of five patients with clinical or radiological findings suggestive of recurrent NPC who presented with nasolacrimal involvement were reviewed. Involvement of the lacrimal fossa, nasolacrimal canal (NLC), and adjacent anatomic structures including orbit and sinonasal cavities were noted. RESULTS: CT in all patients demonstrated findings of NLC invasion and ostiomeatal complex obliteration. Four of the five patients showed medial canthal mass or pre-septal thickening, ethmoid bulla opacification and inferior nasal meatal involvement. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the anatomy of the nasolacrimal apparatus using CT is critical for evaluating images for tumour recurrence at this site. NLC invasion, a medial canthal mass and pre-septal thickening are important primary indicators for potential involvement of the nasolacrimal apparatus by recurrent NPC. Secondary signs suggesting this distinct form of relapse are obliteration of ostiomeatal channel, ethmoid bulla opacification and inferior nasal meatus involvement.

Kuttner tumour (chronic sclerosing sialadenitis) of the submandibular gland: sonographic appearances.

Patients with Kuttner tumours present with clinical features simulating a submandibular tumour. This article aims to familiarise sonologists with the sonographic appearances of these tumours, to help in their differentiation from other salivary lesions. In 13 patients with histologically or cytologically proven Kuttner tumours, the features evaluated on sonography included: shape and border of the gland, internal architecture, duct dilatation, presence/absence of calculi and presence and distribution of vascularity. There was diffuse involvement of the submandibular glands in 11 patients and focal involvement in 2. The majority (9 of 11) of the patients with diffuse involvement showed sonographic appearances simulating a "cirrhotic" liver; 2 showed diffuse heterogeneous involvement with duct dilatation and calculus. Doppler showed prominent intraglandular vessels, with no evidence of displacement. Focal lesions (2 of 11) were seen as hypoechoic, heterogeneous "masses," with a radial branching vascular pattern within, on Doppler. In conclusion, sonographic features may help in identifying Kuttner tumours of the submandibular glands.

Cephalometric assessment of craniofacial morphology in Chinese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in craniofacial morphology in Chinese patients with and without obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). METHOD: We performed lateral cephalometric radiographs on 94 consecutive patients (77 males) referred with snoring or other symptoms suggestive of OSA for polysomnography (PSG). Significant OSA was defined as an apneoa-hypopnoea index (AHI) > or = 10/h of sleep on overnight PSG. The cephalometric data were compared between those with and without significant OSA. RESULTS: (mean +/- SD) There were 69 (56 males) with significant OSA with mean age 53 +/- 12 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.6 +/- 5.0 kg/m2, AHI 36.5 +/- 20.6/h, and minimum SaO2 76 +/- 14%. There were 25 controls (21 males) without significant OSA with similar age and BMI. The mandibular plane to hyoid bone distance (MPH) and the perpendicular distance from hyoid bone to the line connecting C3 vertebra and retrognathion (HHI) were significantly longer in the OSA patients. The angle measurement from sella to nasion to point A (SNA) was smaller in the OSA group. MPH distance was the only independent variable for significant OSA with an odds ratio of 3.47 (95% CI 1.39-8.66). Abnormalities of the MPH and SNA were more marked in the OSA patients with BMI > or = 30 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in craniofacial morphology are noted between OSA patients and non-apnoeic controls. An inferiorly positioned hyoid bone and a retropositioned maxilla may predispose obese patients to more severe OSA.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (89). Infantile hepatosplenic haemangioendotheliomas.

The ultrasonographical and computed tomography findings of a six-month-old female infant with haemangioendotheliomas of the liver and spleen are described. The splenic lesion had an unusual ultrasonographical appearance of a well-defined isoechoic mass with a hypoechoic rim. Diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of the hepatic biopsy specimen. Hepatosplenic lesions in the first year of life may be due to a variety of pathological processes. It is important to include haemangioendotheliomas in the differential diagnosis of hepatosplenic masses in an infant.

Sonography of umbilical metastasis (Sister Mary Joseph's nodule): from embryology to imaging.

Umbilical metastases are rare occurences. We describe the sonographic features of two cases with an umbilical nodule secondary to metastatic adenocarcinoma. A review of the literature discusses the embryologic and anatomic bases, differential diagnosis, and imaging approach.

Hepatic malignant tumour versus cavernous haemangioma: differentiation on multiple breath-hold turbo spin-echo MRI sequences with different T2-weighting and T2-relaxation time measurements on a single slice multi-echo sequence.

AIM: We evaluated the signal intensity change on breath-hold turbo spin-echo (TSE) T2-weighted sequences using different echo times (TE) and T2-relaxation time measurements on a single slice eight-echo sequence in the differentiation of hepatic malignancy from cavernous haemangioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breath-hold TSE T2-weighted axial images of the liver were performed at TEs of 80, 120 and 160 ms in 34 patients with focal liver lesions (13 with cavernous haemangiomas, 14 with hepatocellular carcinomas and seven with metastases). The lesion percentage signal intensity change on the lower TE image to the higher TE image was calculated. T2-relaxation time was measured on a single slice eight-echo sequence. RESULTS: The TE pair 80/160 ms on breath-hold TSE T2-weighted sequences gave a performance (100% sensitivity, 92% specificity, 95% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value) better than other TE pairs in differentiating haemangioma from malignancy. Addition of fat-suppression compromised the diagnostic performance for all TE-pairs. The use of T2 relaxation time threshold of < 112 ms as indicative of malignant lesion achieved a 100% sensitivity, 77% specificity, 88% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: Percentage signal intensity change on breath-hold TSE T2-weighted sequences at TE 80/160 ms appears to be a quick and potentially useful means of differentiating hepatic malignancy from haemangioma.

Extranodal manifestation of Kimura's disease: ultrasound features.

We describe the imaging features of a 53-year-old Chinese patient with Kimura's disease (KD) who presented with a dominant right-cheek subcutaneous mass. The lesion appeared as an ill-defined mass within the subcutaneous tissues with a "wooly" echotexture on US. The differential diagnosis and a review of the literature are discussed.

Diagnosing paediatric mediastinal lipoblastoma using ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle biopsy: review and report.

Lipoblastoma is a rare tumor of embryonal fat occurring predominantly in the first three years of life. This benign tumor has potentials to local invasion and rapid growth. We reported a rare case of mediastinal lipoblastoma. The computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) features, and the roles of percutaneous transthoracic US-guided needle biopsy, are discussed.