Multispectral SWIR images of the pulp-chamber of posterior teeth in vitro.

Intraoral imaging of teeth with SWIR light provides increased contrast of dental caries and restorative materials compared to visible inspection and digital radiography. The objective of this study was to investigate the SWIR optical properties of the dental pulp-chamber floor, walls and canal orifices. We imaged in vitro extracted human posterior teeth at 1300-nm and 1500-1700-nm in reflectance and transillumination and compared the tissues properties with visible light images and quantitative light fluorescence. Transillumination of posterior teeth at both 1300-nm and 1500-1700-nm yielded significantly higher contrast between the pulp-chamber floor and walls than all other methods tested.

Spinal Enumeration by Morphologic Analysis of Spinal Variants: Comparison to Counting in a Cranial-To-Caudal Manner.

Objective: To compare the spinal enumeration methods that establish the first lumbar vertebra in patients with spinal variants. Materials and Methods: Of the 1446 consecutive patients who had undergone computed tomography of the spine from March 2012 to July 2016, 100 patients (62 men, 38 women; mean age, 47.9 years; age range, 19-88 years) with spinal variants were included. Two radiologists (readers 1 and 2) established the first lumbar vertebra through morphologic analysis of the thoracolumbar junction, and labeled the vertebra by counting in a cranial-to-caudal manner. Inter-observer agreement was established. Additionally, reader 1 detected the 20th vertebra under the assumption that there are 12 thoracic vertebra, and then classified it as a thoracic vertebra, lumbar vertebra, or thoracolumbar transitional vertebra (TLTV), on the basis of morphologic analysis. Results: The first lumbar vertebra, as established by morphologic analysis, was labeled by each reader as the 21st segment in 65.0% of the patients, as the 20th segment in 31.0%, and as the 19th segment in 4.0%. Inter-observer agreement between the two readers in determining the first lumbar vertebra, based on morphologic analysis, was nearly perfect (κ value: 1.00). The 20th vertebra was morphologically classified as a TLTV in 60.0% of the patients, as the first lumbar segment in 31.0%, as the second lumbar segment in 4.0%, and as a thoracic segment in 5.0%. Conclusion: The establishment of the first lumbar vertebra using morphologic characteristics of the thoracolumbar junction in patients with spinal variants was consistent with the morphologic traits of vertebral segmentation.

Diagnostic accuracy and complications of CT-guided core needle lung biopsy of solid and part-solid lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether diagnostic accuracy and complications of CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) differ for solid and part-solid lung lesions Methods: This retrospective study included 354 consecutive patients from April 2012 to July 2016 who underwent CT-guided CNB of lung lesions by a radiologist. Patient demographics, lung lesions' characteristics; solid or part-solid, underlying pulmonary disease, distance of path, procedure time, complications (hemorrhage or pneumothorax), histopathological results of biopsy specimens and final diagnosis were reviewed. The diagnostic yields, biopsy-related factors and complications were compared for patients with solid lesions and patients with part-solid lesions. Factors related to true diagnoses and complications were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The biopsies of part-solid lesions take more time (p = 0.021). Non-diagnostic biopsies were not statistically different between solid and part-solid lesions (p = 0.804). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic yields including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for solid and part-solid lesions statistically. The occurrence of hemorrhage on postbiopy follow-up CT was significantly higher (p = 0.016) for part-solid lesions. The occurrence of symptomatic major hemorrhage (p = 0.859) and pneumothorax (p = 0.106) was not significantly different between solid and part-solid lesions. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided CNB for diagnosing malignancy was comparable for solid and part-solid lesions. The frequency of hemorrhage on the follow up CT was higher in patients with part-solid lesions, but there were no significant differences in major hemorrhage and pneumothorax for solid and part-solid lesions. Advances in knowledge: The diagnostic yield of CT-guided CNB for diagnosing malignancy is comparable for solid and part-solid lesions. Although the post procedural hemorrhage occurs more frequently in part-solid lesions, the occurrence of symptomatic major hemorrhage is not significantly different. Therefore, CT-guided CNB should be considered for histopathological confirmation of intrapulmonary lesions regardless of the presence of ground-glass opacity portion.

Absence of the subclavius muscle with contralateral subclavius posticus muscle: first imaging report.

We present a case of a 56-year-old man with pain in in his right anterior shoulder, arm, and hand. MRI studies demonstrated absence of the subclavius muscle with contralateral subclavius posticus muscle. To our knowledge, imaging of the total absence of subclavius muscle has not been previously described. Understanding and recognition of subclavius posticus muscle are important for its potential role in thoracic outlet syndrome.