[Evaluation of two classifications systems for pelvic prolapse on dynamic MRI]. / Evaluation de deux systèmes de cotation des prolapsus pelviens en IRM dynamique.

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of two classification systems for pelvic prolapse on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 30 patients with symptoms of pelvic prolapse performed in a single center. All patients underwent clinical evaluation followed by dynamic pelvic MRI within 15 days. All MR examinations were reviewed by three readers using both classification systems based on different anatomical landmarks. The first used the pubococcygeal line and the second used the midpubic line. RESULTS: For prolapse detection, the correlation between clinical examination and MRI was good to very good, ranging between 74 and 89%. For prolapse staging, the correlation was poor to moderate. Inter-observer agreement was good to very good (kappa between 0.67 and 0.95). It was slightly better at the mid stage, with both systems (kappa between 0.83 and 0.97). Comparison of the inter-observer agreement between both MRI classification systems showed better results for the system using the pubococcygeal line (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: The classification system based on the pubococcygeal line appeared more reliable and simple for th eevaluation of pelvic prolapse on MRI.

[Anatomy of the female pelvis on MRI: value of intravaginal contrast]. / Anatomie pelvienne en IRM: apport du contraste vaginal.

PURPOSE: Prospective monocentric study to determine the feasibility, tolerability and diagnostic value of intravaginal contrast to assess female pelvic anatomy on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive women referred for MRI evaluation of the pelvis, irrespective of the indication, were included in this study. The MR imaging protocol consisted of axial and sagittal T2W images before and after intravaginal instillation of sterile US gel. Eight anatomical regions were analyzed and their visibility graded from 1 to 4 (1=excellent; 4=non-visualized) by 3 radiologists without and with intravaginal gel. The value of intravaginal gel was determined by calculating the difference in the visibility index for each anatomical region by the Wilcoxon and khi2 tests. Inter-observer agreement was also determined using the kappa test. RESULTS: Two women declined vaginal opacification resulting in an acceptance rate of 96%. The gel instillation procedure had a duration of less than 3 minutes on average and was well tolerated by all patients. Intravaginal gel allowed significantly improved visualization of all anatomical regions (p<0.001); improvement between 0.5 and 2.5 points on average per anatomical region. Inter-observer agreement significantly improved after gel instillation increasing from 72% to 92%. CONCLUSION: Intravaginal instillation of US gel is simple, noninvasive, well-accepted and well-tolerated by patients. It increases visibility of pelvic anatomical structures with improved inter-observer agreement.

[MR imaging evaluation of endometrial carcinoma]. / Evaluation en imagerie par résonance magnétique des carcinomes de l'endomètre.

Prognosis for endometrial carcinoma is closely related to cell type and tumor grade but also to local staging using the FIGO classification. MRI, under specific technical conditions, allows excellent depiction of the degree of myometrial tumor extension. It also has an excellent specificity for the detection of cervical extension. In addition, it allows evaluation of regional nodes, but with sensitivity values that are not perfect. The purpose of this paper is to review the MR imaging features of endometrial carcinoma along with its limitations and pitfalls.

[Deep pelvic endometriosis: MRI features]. / Endométriose pelvienne profonde en IRM.

Endometriosis is a frequent pathology of adult women. Clinical examination and US are poorly sensitive for detection of deep pelvic implants and MRI is superior for presurgical mapping of disease extent. This is important to optimize complete surgical excision, the only proven treatment to achieve symptomatic relief. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to describe the imaging features of deep pelvic endometriosis and the technical means to optimize its detection.

Incarceration of the appendix complicating a uterine perforation following surgical abortion: CT aspects.

A 39-year-old patient was evaluated for pelvic pain and infection following a surgical abortion performed via aspiration curettage. A pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed an invagination of fat in the uterine wall accompanied by an abscess in the rectouterine pouch. Laparoscopic exploration revealed an incarcerated cecal appendix within the myometrium with necrosis of the appendiceal base as the culprit. A posteriori, CT multiplanar reconstruction allowed identification of the incarcerated appendix within the myometrium. To our knowledge, this CT description is the only case described in the literature.

[Percutaneous vertebroplasty in symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: review of 50 patients]. / Résultats de la vertébroplastie percutanée dans le traitement des fractures vertébrales ostéoporotiques hyperalgiques (50 cas).

PURPOSE: Evaluation of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures after failure of conservative management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of cases performed between 2002 and 2005 in a single institution. Outcome was measured using Huskisson's visual analogue scale. RESULTS: A total of 77 vertebrae in 50 patients were treated. Mean follow-up was 12.9 months (1-36 months). Significant symptomatic improvement (p<0.001) was noted with pre PVP pain score of 7.4 (+/-0.99), 24 hour and 1 month post PVP score of 2.31 (+/-2.65), 6 month post PVP score of 2.4 (+/-2.7) and 18 month post PVP score of 2.91 (+/-2.91). Seven patients presented with a new symptomatic vertebral compression fracture, with 5 cases adjacent to the treated level. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is reliable and effective in the treatment of symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

[Imaging of inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver]. / Imagerie des pseudo-tumeurs inflammatoires hépatiques.

PURPOSE: To describe the imaging features of inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver. INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver are rare benign lesions that may simulate malignancy on imaging studies. Diagnosis is most frequently confirmed after surgical resection of the lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study from 1998 to 2006 of histologically proven cases of inflammatory pseudotumors of the liver. A combination of the following imaging modalities were utilized: US, contrast enhanced US, helical CT and MRI. RESULTS: A total of seven lesions (mean diameter of 61.4 mm) were detected in 6 patients (mean age of 66 years). Clinical and laboratory results were non-specific. The following imaging studies were available: US in 5 cases, including one with contrast material, CT in 5 cases and MRI in 3 cases. All tumors were hypoechoic on US, with no enhancement after injection of Levovist. The tumors were generally hypodense on noncontrast CT and enhancement, when present, was delayed and moderate. On MRI, the tumors were iso- or slightly hyperintense on T2W images and iso- or slightly hypointense on T1W images with subtle peripheral enhancement on delayed imaging. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver should be known to radiologists and could be suggested in a clinical context of chronic inflammatory process in patients with non-specific liver mass showing imaging features of partial fibrosis with delayed enhancement.

[Ultrasound examination of breast microcalcifications: luxury or necessity?]. / Voir les microcalcifications mammaires en échographie: luxe ou nécessite?

PURPOSE: Determine the value of ultrasound for the diagnosis of isolated breast microcalcifications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty clusters of microcalcifications, including 25 smaller than 10 mm, were examined by ultrasound (5-13 MHz) prior to stereotactic aspiration macrobiopsy (30 benign lesions, three borderline lesions, and 17 malignant lesions, including ten in situ lesions and seven invasive lesions). Mammography had placed 13 of these cases in BI-RADS 3, 24 in BI-RADS 4, and 13 in BI-RADS 5. The BI-RADS classification was also used for ultrasound assessment. RESULTS: Six of the 18 microcalcifications that were not seen by ultrasound were malignant (two invasive ductal cancers [IDC] and four ductal carcinomas in situ [DCIS]). Two of the four cases with no sonographically visible tissue mass proved to be malignant (one IDC, one DCIS); these two lesions had been classified BI-RADS 4 and 5 by mammography and were larger than 10 mm. Ultrasound visualized 16 masses classed BI-RADS 3, ten masses classed BI-RADS 4, and two masses classed BI-RADS 5. One of the lesions classified as BI-RADS 3 by mammography was an IDC that was classed BI-RADS3 by ultrasound. Four of the lesions classed BI-RADS 4 by mammography were malignant (three were classified BI-RADS3 by ultrasound while one was classed BI-RADS4). One benign lesion was classified BI-RADS 5 by ultrasound. Four cancers were mammographically classed BI-RADS 5; ultrasound was in agreement in one case but classed three of the cases as BI-RADS 4. In one case, ultrasound gave a diagnosis of benignity (BI-RADS 3 classification). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is unsuited for the diagnosis of microcalcifications because it fails to visualize a mass in one-third of cancers and the existence of a mass is correlated with malignancy in one-third of cases. Furthermore, US does not correct the false-negative errors of mammography, and it underestimates the rate of malignancy by ascribing a benign appearance to 50% of cancers, which mammography correctly classifies BI-RADS 4 or 5.