High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Imaging Findings of Oval Window Atresia with Surgical Correlation.

INTRODUCTION: Isolated oval window atresia (OWA) is a rare cause of congenital conductive middle ear deafness and may be overlooked owing to the normal appearance of the external ear. This anomaly has been previously described, although the published numbers with both imaging and surgical findings are few. Our aim is to correlate the imaging features of OWA with intraoperative findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-centre retrospective evaluation of patients who were diagnosed with OWA and who received surgery from January 1999 to July 2006. No new case was diagnosed after 2006 to the time of preparation of this manuscript. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging of the temporal bones of the patients were retrospectively evaluated by 2 head and neck radiologists. Images were evaluated for the absence of the oval window, ossicular chain abnormalities, position of the facial nerve canal, and other malformations. Imaging findings were then correlated with surgical findings. RESULTS: A total of 9 ears in 7 patients (two of whom with bilateral lesions) had surgery for OWA. All patients had concomitant findings of absent stapes footplate with normal, deformed or absent stapes superstructure and an inferiorly displaced facial nerve canal. HRCT was sensitive in identifying OWA and associated ossicular chain and facial nerve abnormalities, which were documented surgically. CONCLUSION: OWA is a rare entity that can be diagnosed with certainty on HRCT, best visualised on coronal plane. Imaging findings of associated middle ear abnormalities, position of the facial nerve canal, which is invariably mal-positioned, and associated deformity of the incus are important for presurgical planning and consent.

Prognostic significance of cystic lymph nodal metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cystic lymph nodal metastasis (CLNM) and its prognostic value in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on 257 patients with NPC, analyzing the presence of CLNM on MRI or CT scans. Oncologic outcomes were performed using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: One hundred eleven patients (43.2%) had CLNM at diagnosis. Overall, patients with CLNM had a poorer disease-specific survival (DSS; P < .001) and overall survival (OS; P < .001) compared with patients without CLNM. When analyzed according to nodal status, CLNM was associated with a higher rate of distant metastasis recurrence (P = .007), a poorer DSS (P < .001), and a poorer OS (P < .001) among patients with N2 disease. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CLNM was 43.2%. In patients with N2 disease, the presence of CLNM was significantly associated with a poorer DSS, OS, and increased risk of distant metastasis recurrence.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea is a rare clinical entity. The accurate localisation of the leakage site is essential for surgical planning. Imaging techniques such as high-resolution computed tomography (CT), CT cisternography and magnetic resonance cisternography in variable combinations are performed for this purpose. This pictorial essay aims to present the spectrum of imaging findings in cases of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea, which may be useful for radiologists in the determination of the site of cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

Acute neck edema after (131)I ablation of the thyroid.

A 36-year-old woman with Graves' disease underwent thyroid ablation with oral I (20 mCi) following poor control of hyperthyroidism with carbimazole. Three days later, she presented to the emergency department with a choking sensation, shortness of breath, dysphagia, neck discomfort, and swelling. The prevertebral soft tissue was grossly thickened on the lateral neck radiograph. An urgent contrast-enhanced CT neck revealed severe neck edema and thyroiditis. TSH and free T4 levels were normal, and the neck swelling gradually resolved with corticosteroids. Acute neck edema is an infrequent complication of I ablation, and cross-sectional imaging is useful to exclude airway compromise or infection.

Accuracy of routine clinical ultrasound for staging of liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of routine clinical ultrasound in the staging of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of the ultrasound images of 156 patients with chronic viral hepatitis who underwent liver biopsy was performed. Two radiologists in consensus, blind to the biopsy results and clinical details, evaluated the ultrasound images for liver fibrosis. The readers specifically assessed three features - surface nodularity, liver edge, and parenchymal echotexture - with scores of 0 to 3 (0 = normal, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe). Accuracies of each sonographic feature for the detection of mild fibrosis and above (≥F1), significant fibrosis (≥F2), severe fibrosis (≥F3), and cirrhosis (F4) were determined with histopathology as the reference standard. RESULTS: Fibrosis was present in 99 patients (F1=34, F2=20, F3=22, and F4=23) and absent in 57 patients. The sensitivities for the detection of significant fibrosis with surface nodularity, liver edge, and parenchymal echotexture were 57%, 15%, and 41%, respectively. The accuracies for the detection of ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4 stages were 50.5%, 59%, 59%, and 65% for liver surface, 51%, 53%, 54%, and 55% for liver edge, and 58%, 59%, 63%, and 63% for parenchyma echotexture, respectively. The combined scores from all three features had accuracies of 56%, 59%, 62%, and 66% for the detection of ≥F1, ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4, respectively. CONCLUSION: Routine clinical ultrasound is a not a sensitive predictor of early fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis. Surface nodularity is the most sensitive sonographic feature for the detection of significant fibrosis and routine clinical ultrasound is the most useful for the detection of cirrhosis.