RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Heavily T2-weighted 3D FLAIR (hT2w-3D-FLAIR) sequence with constant flip angle (CFA) has been reported as being more sensitive to low concentrations of gadolinium (Gd) enabling endolymphatic hydrops (EH) visualization. The purpose of this study was to compare signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, detection rate of EH, and increased perilymphatic enhancement (PE) as well as diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing definite Menière's disease (MD), using 3D-SPACE FLAIR versus conventional 3D-TSE FLAIR. METHODS: This retrospective study included 29 definite MD patients who underwent a 4-h delayed intravenous (IV) Gd-enhanced 3D-TSE FLAIR and 3D-SPACE FLAIR MRI between February 2019 and February 2020. MR images were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed twice by 2 experienced head and neck radiologists. Qualitative assessment included grading of cochlear and vestibular EH and visual comparison of PE. Quantitative assessment of PE was performed by placing a region of interest (ROI) and ratio calculation in the basal turn of the cochlea and the brainstem. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-reader reliability for grading of EH and PE was excellent (0.7 < kappa < 0.9) for 3D-SPACE FLAIR and exceeded the values for 3D-TSE FLAIR (0.5 < kappa < 0.9) The combination of EH and visual assessment of PE has the highest diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing definite MD on 3D-SPACE FLAIR with a sensitivity of 0.91 and a specificity of 0.98 resulting in a sensitivity raise of 6% compared to 3D-TSE FLAIR. CONCLUSION: Four-hour delayed IV Gd-enhanced 3D-SPACE FLAIR sequence has a higher sensitivity and reproducibility than 3D-TSE FLAIR for the visualization of EH and increased PE in definite MD patients.
Asunto(s)
Hidropesía Endolinfática , Enfermedad de Meniere , Medios de Contraste , Hidropesía Endolinfática/diagnóstico por imagen , Gadolinio , Humanos , Imagenología Tridimensional , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Enfermedad de Meniere/diagnóstico por imagen , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
A right atrial mass was discovered with transthoracic cardiac ultrasound in a complaint-free, 81-year-old man at his yearly cardiological checkup. Further investigation of the mass with transesophageal cardiac ultrasound showed a well-defined nodular mass of approximately 3 × 3 cm, in close proximity to the posterior wall of the right atrium. The patient underwent an F-FDG PET/CT, which showed a right atrial mass with very high FDG uptake, suggesting a malignant process. The mass was surgically removed, and anatomopathological assessment revealed an intimal sarcoma, which is a very malignant tumor and an extremely rare occurrence at this location.