Evaluation of an acetated Ringer-based contrast material mixture for postmortem computed tomography angiography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare an established postmortem contrast medium mixture based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) to an isotonic crystalloid with acetated Ringer solution (AR) as the base, both mixed with water-soluble iodinated contrast medium for postmortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) with the aim to avoid alterations of the corpse during autopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 20 cadavers; 10 had PMCTA with AR and 10 with PEG. PMCTA images were analyzed with respect to image quality, vascular contrast patterns and artifacts. Autopsy was evaluated for visual, organ, vessel and haptic alterations. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to search for differences in image quality between the two groups. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: AR provided excellent contrast within the right coronary artery (P<0.001) but a lack of contrast within the left coronary artery (P=0.008) whereas PEG showed the opposite. A better image quality was observed in the PEG group by comparison with the AR group for right common carotid artery (P=0.03), left common carotid artery (P=0.01) and left coronary artery (P=0.008). No differences were found for ascending aorta (P=0.65), aortic arch (P=0.09), right circle of Willis (P=0.17), left circle of Willis (P=0.08), inferior vena cava (P=0.07) and abdominal aorta (P=0.08). Severe extravasation occurred in all (10/10; 100%) cadavers in the AR group but in none (0/10; 0%) in the PEG group (P<0.001). At autopsy, visual alteration with lilac discoloration of the face was observed in 4/10 cadavers (40%) in the AR group and in 9/10 cadavers (90%) in the PEG group (P=0.057). Haptic alterations were observed in 3/10 cadavers (30%) in the AR group and 10/10 cadavers (100%) in the PEG group (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: AR results in contrast medium mixture extravasation in all cadavers, but PEG altered the autopsy more severely. Both carrier substances result in specific substance-related artifacts and dependent opacification of the coronary arteries, but PEG is recommended for PMCTA exclusively with regard to diagnostic imaging.

Contrast enhanced ultrasound eases interpretation of an unclear renal tumor in addition to CT, MRI and histological findings--a case report in a young patient.

Renal cancer represents accounts for approximately 3% of all adult malignancies with a rising incidence. Incidental diagnosis is mostly based upon ultrasound (US). US and Computed tomography (CT) are the standard imaging modalities for detecting renal cell cancer (RCC). Differentiation between malignant and benign renal tumors is of utmost importance. Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CUS) seems to be a promising new diagnostic option for diagnosis and preoperative treatment planning for patients with renal cancer. It is an additional examination to baseline ultrasound and CT. We report a case of a 37-year-old woman with a papillary renal cell cancer in which CUS helped to differentiate dignity of the tumor. CUS is an additional examination to baseline ultrasound and CT. It is a less invasive technique than contrast enhanced CT and shows even slight tumor blood flow. In addition it may allow a more rapid diagnosis, because of its bedside availability.

Cine magnetic resonance imaging vs high-resolution ultrasonography for detection of adhesions after laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair: a matched pair pilot analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intraabdominal adhesions represent nonspecific complications before or after laparoscopic or open incisional hernia repair. The objective of this matched control pilot study was to display long-term adhesions noninvasively by applying functional cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, as compared with applying high-resolution ultrasonography (US). METHODS: The study group, composed of 17 consecutive patients (12 men and 5 women; mean age, 52 years), underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) mesh. Their mean body mass index was 30 kg/m(2), and the size of the hernia was 95 cm(2). Another group, matched for age, gender, and type of hernia, was subjected to open abdominal wall repair using the preperitoneal sublay technique with a large-pore, low-weight polypropylene mesh. For cine MR imaging (1.5 T), section-by-section dynamic depiction of induced visceral slide throughout the entire abdomen was achieved by applying transverse or sagittal true fast imaging with steady-state precession sequences. The location and type of adhesions were compared with high-resolution ultrasonography using nine segments of the abdominal map. RESULTS: The patients subjected to laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair were examined 16 and 28 months after surgery. The findings showed functional cine MR imaging as superior to high-resolution ultrasonography for assessing the amount of intraabdominal adhesions (n = 53 vs n = 3; p < 0.01). Most frequently, adhesions were seen between small bowel loops and the abdominal wall (n = 22), followed by bowel-to-bowel adhesions (n = 19; p < 0.05). However, adhesions between small bowel loops and the abdominal wall occurred more frequently after open mesh repair (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between patient complaints and findings with cine MR imaging (p < 0.05). Maximum pain correlated significantly with the region of the most distinctive adhesions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Functional cine MR imaging represents a reliable noninvasive technique for detecting long-term adhesions after open and laparoscopic incisional hernia repair. The study results suggest that this approach has distinct advantages over high-resolution ultrasonography.