[Detection and evaluation of cartilage defects in the canine stifle joint - an ex vivo study using high-field magnetic resonance imaging]. / Ex-vivo-Untersuchungen zum Nachweis von Knorpeldefekten im Kniegelenk des Hundes mit der Hochfeld-Magnetresonanztomographie.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to implement and test an imaging protocol for the detection and evaluation of standardised cartilage defects using high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine its limitations. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 84 cartilage defects were created in the femoral condyles of euthanized dogs with a minimum body mass of 25 kg. The cartilage defects had a depth of 0.3 to 1.0 mm and a diameter of 1 to 5 mm. T1-FLASH-3D-WE-sequences with an isotropic voxel size of 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 mm and an anisotropic voxel size of 0.3 x 0.3 x 0.8 mm were used. In addition to quantitative evaluation of the cartilage defects, the sig- nal intensities, signal-to-noise ratios and contrast-to-noise ratios of the cartilage were determined. Of special interest were the limita- tions in identifying and delineating the standardised cartilage defects. RESULTS: With the anisotropic voxel size, more cartilage defects were detectable. Our results demonstrated that cartilage defects as small as 3.0 mm in diameter and 0.4 mm in depth were reliably detected using anisotropic settings. Cartilage defects below this size were not reliably detected. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: We found that for optimal delineation of the joint cartilage and associated defects, a higher in-plane resolution with a larger slice thickness should be used, corresponding to the anisotropic settings employed in this study. For the delineation of larger cartilage defects, both the anisotropic and isotropic imaging methods can be used.

[Incidentaloma of the pancreas]. / Inzidentalome des Pankreas.

The term incidentaloma refers to an asymptomatic mass detected accidentally during a technical examination, mostly by radiological methods, when performed in a patient examined for other conditions or situations. Surgery is the adequate therapy for adrenal incidentalomas with increasing size, a size bigger than 4 cm at detection, hormone-activity or malignant histology. Incidentalomas of the adrenal and thyroid gland are still often dismissed because they are common and mostly benign. Incidentalomas of the pancreas are distinct and less frequent. At present, no evidence-based guidelines exist for the management of asymptomatic pancreatic lesions. Only few clinical studies describe pancreatic incidentalomas, however these studies claim a malignant histology of up to 30 % and of up to 50 % for pre-malignant incidentalomas of the pancreas. Thus, we recommend an early resection of pancreatic incidentalomas with a size of > 2 cm, in younger patients without concomitant diseases or increased operative risk, with a malignant histology, and with mucinous cells and increased tumour markers in blood samples. Organ-saving procedures or radical pancreatectomy are possible while both methods are safe and have a very low complication risk. The surgical resection of pancreatic incidentalomas offers a significant advantage in survival when the total collective of affected individuals is taken into account.