Uterine diverticulum mimicking endometriotic cyst of the ovary.

Uterine diverticulum is a rare congenital malformation caused by abnormal fusion of the Müllerian ducts. The diagnosis of uterine diverticulum is difficult, and it is often misdiagnosed as a Müllerian duct anomaly, degenerated uterine fibroid, or ovarian cyst. We herein report a case of uterine diverticulum mimicking an ovarian endometriotic cyst. A multiparous woman with a history of normal vaginal delivery underwent magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of lower abdominal pain and fever. A 155-mm cystic lesion was observed on the ventral side of the uterus. The content of the cyst showed high signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images with precipitates of low signal intensity on the dorsal side, suggesting an endometriotic cyst of the ovary. Surgical and pathological findings revealed that the cyst was pedunculated from the anterior uterine body and composed of 3 layers: CD10-positive endometrium, a smooth muscle layer, and serosa. A uterine diverticulum was definitively diagnosed.

Magnetic resonance elastography in the assessment of hepatic fibrosis: a study comparing transient elastography and histological data in the same patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the quantitative measurement of liver stiffness (LS), compare the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and ultrasound-based transient elastography (TE), and evaluate two different MRE-based LS measurement methods. METHODS: Between October 2013 and January 2015, 116 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease underwent MRE to measure LS (kilopascals; kPa). Of the 116 patients, 51 patients underwent both TE and liver biopsy, and the interval between the liver biopsy and both the MRE and TE was less than 90 days. MRE-derived LS values were measured on the anterior segment of the right lobe (single small round regions of interest per slice; srROIs) and whole right lobe of the liver (free hand region of interest; fhROI), and these values were correlated with pathological fibrosis grades and diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Pathological fibrosis stage was significantly correlated with srROIs (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), fhROI (r = 0.80, p < 0.001), and TE (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). For detection of significant fibrosis (≥F2), advanced fibrosis (≥F3), and cirrhosis, the area under the curve (AUC) associated with the srROIs was largest, and there was a significant difference between srROIs and TE (0.93 vs. 0.82, p = 0.006), srROIs and fhROI (0.93 vs. 0.89, p = 0.04) for detection of ≥F2. For advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis detection, AUCs were not significant (0.92-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: MRE and TE detected liver fibrosis with comparable accuracy. In particular, the srROIs method was effective for detecting of significant fibrosis.

Imaging of metastases from breast cancer to uncommon sites: a pictorial review.

There are three types of breast cancer recurrence which can occur after initial treatment: local, regional, and distant. Distant metastases are more frequent than local and regional recurrences. It usually occurs several years after the primary breast cancer, although it is sometimes diagnosed at the same time as the primary breast cancer. Although the common distant metastases are bone, lung and liver, breast cancer has the potential to metastasize to almost any region of the body. Early detection and treatment of distant metastases improves the prognosis, therefore radiologists and clinicians should recognize the possibility of metastasis from breast cancer and grasp the imaging characteristics. In this report, we demonstrate the imaging characteristics of metastases from breast cancer to uncommon sites.

Contrast enhancement of intracranial lesions at 1.5 T: comparison among 2D spin echo, black-blood (BB) Cube, and BB Cube-FLAIR sequences.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of T1W black-blood Cube (BB Cube) and T1W BB Cube fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (BB Cube-FLAIR) sequences for contrast-enhanced brain imaging, by evaluating flow-related artefacts, detectability, and contrast ratio (CR) of intracranial lesions among these sequences and T1W-SE. METHODS: Phantom studies were performed to determine the optimal parameters of BB Cube and BB Cube-FLAIR. A clinical study in 23 patients with intracranial lesions was performed to evaluate the usefulness of these two sequences for the diagnosis of intracranial lesions compared with the conventional 2D T1W-SE sequence. RESULTS: The phantom study revealed that the optimal parameters for contrast-enhanced T1W imaging were TR/TE = 500 ms/minimum in BB Cube and TR/TE/TI = 600 ms/minimum/300 ms in BB Cube-FLAIR imaging. In the clinical study, the degree of flow-related artefacts was significantly lower in BB Cube and BB Cube-FLAIR than in T1W-SE. Regarding tumour detection, BB Cube showed the best detectability; however, there were no significant differences in CR among the sequences. CONCLUSIONS: At 1.5 T, contrast-enhanced BB Cube was a better imaging sequence for detecting brain lesions than T1W-SE or BB Cube-FLAIR. KEY POINTS: • Cube is a single-slab 3D FSE imaging sequence. • We applied a black-blood (BB) imaging technique to T1W Cube. • At 1.5 T, contrast-enhanced T1W BB Cube was valuable for detecting brain lesions.

Endometrial cancer: preoperative staging using three-dimensional T2-weighted turbo spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR imaging at 3.0 T: a prospective comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively assess the efficacy of 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using the three-dimensional turbo spin-echo T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted technique (3D-TSE/DW) compared with that of conventional imaging using the two-dimensional turbo spin-echo T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced technique (2D-TSE/DCE) for the preoperative staging of endometrial cancer, with pathological analysis as the reference standard. METHODS: Seventy-one women with endometrial cancer underwent MR imaging using 3D-TSE/DW (b = 1,000 s/mm(2)) and 2D-TSE/DCE. Two radiologists independently assessed the two imaging sets. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for staging were analysed with the McNemar test; the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (Az) were compared with a univariate z-score test. RESULTS: The results for assessing deep myometrial invasion, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and Az, respectively, were as follows: 3D-TSE/DW-observer 1, 87 %, 95 %, 85 % and 0.96; observer 2, 92 %, 84 %, 94 % and 0.95; 2D-TSE/DCE-observer 1, 80 %, 79 %, 81 % and 0.89; observer 2, 86 %, 84 %, 87 % and 0.86. Most of the values were higher with 3D-TSE/DW without significant differences (P > 0.12). For assessing cervical stromal invasion, there were no significant differences in those values for both observers (P > 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Accuracy of 3D-TSE/DW was at least equivalent to that of the conventional technique for the preoperative assessment of endometrial cancer. KEY POINTS: • New techniques in MR imaging help assess patients with endometrial cancer. • A 3D T2-weighted TSE sequence seems equally as accurate as conventional techniques. • Three-dimensional TSE/DW imaging does not require intravenous contrast material and is relatively quick. • Tumour extent of endometrial cancer can be clearly shown on diffusion-weighted images. • Junctional zone can be visualised well on 3D-TSE T2-weighted images.

Primary adenomyoma of the fallopian tube mimicking tubal malignant tumor.

We report a rare case of adenomyoma localized only in the left fallopian tube mimicking tubal malignant tumor. A 45-year-old woman presented with mild pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and left adnexal mass. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a solid tumor, suspected primary cancer of the fallopian tube, and serum carbohydrate antigen 125 was elevated to 72 U/mL (normal; 0-35). At surgery, the tumor was revealed as a left fallopian tube tumor without torsion. Postoperative histopathology showed that the tumor included bundle-like growing non-atypical leiomyoma cells and ectopic normal endometrium accompanied with endometrial stroma and we diagnosed primary adenomyoma of the left fallopian tube. Adenomyoma localized only in the fallopian tube is a rare entity and it can occur only in the fallopian tube.

T2* relaxometry mapping of the uterine zones.

BACKGROUND: Previous literature demonstrated that the T2* value of the uterine junctional zone was lower than that of peripheral myometrium by using BOLD MR imaging. We expect T2* mapping image may add more information to T2-weighted images of the uterine myometrium. PURPOSE: To evaluate whether T2* mapping software would reproduce the result of previous report, and to apply the software to benign uterine diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five healthy volunteers and 19 patients clinically suspected of having benign pelvic disease were imaged using a 1.5T MR system. All women were of reproductive age, and all provided informed consent. Sagittal T2* images using a multishot EPI sequence were obtained. T2* values were calculated and color T2* maps reconstructed using a T2* fitting tool. RESULTS: The uterine zones could be identified in all 24 examinations on the T2* maps. In addition, a thin "4th zone" was seen between the endometrium and the JZ (junctional zone) in 19 of 24 examinations. The T2* value of JZ was significantly lower than that of peripheral myometrium (PM) (P < 0.001). No significant difference in the T2* value of the JZ or of PM was noted between normal uterus and uterus with leiomyomas and/or adenomyosis. CONCLUSION: A quantitative T2* map can easily be obtained using the PRIDE software T2* fitting tool, and the software reproduces the result from previous report. T2* value of the junctional zone was lower than that of peripheral myometrium regardless of having benign myometrial diseases.

T-staging of gastric cancer of air-filling multidetector-row CT: comparison with hydro-multidetector-row CT.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of T-staging of gastric cancer by air-filling multidetector-row CT (air-MDCT) compared with water-filling MDCT (hydro-MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred fifteen patients with histologically diagnosed gastric cancer were included in this study. Fifty-eight patients underwent air-MDCT, and the remaining 57 had hydro-MDCT using a 64-channel scanner. Based on the volumetric data of contrast-enhanced MDCT obtained about 75 s after intravenously injecting 525 mg iodine per kilogram patients weight (525 mgI/kg) nonionic contrast material at the rate of 2 ml/s, oblique coronal and oblique sagittal multi-planar reformatted images perpendicular to the stomach wall, including the tumor, were reconstructed on a workstation. Mural invasion of gastric cancer into the gastric wall, as visualized by CT, was classified according to the TNM classification, and the results of T-staging by MDCT were compared with those by pathologic analysis after surgery. RESULTS: Correct assessment of T-staging by air-CT was achieved in 48 of 58 patients (83%), and that by hydro-MDCT was 49 of 57 patients (86%). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the technique in determining the invasion of serosa were 88%, 93%, and 91% for air-CT and 83%, 95%, and 91% for hydro-CT. There were no significant differences between hydro-MDCT and air-MDCT in sensitivity (P=0.73), specificity (P=0.71) and accuracy (P=0.98). CONCLUSION: Air-MDCT is a very valuable tool in T-staging of gastric cancer as well as hydro-MDCT.

Optimal dose of contrast medium for depiction of hypervascular HCC on dynamic MDCT.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to prospectively investigate the optimal dose of contrast medium for the depiction of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the hepatic arterial phase (HAP), portal venous phase (PVP) and delayed phase (DP) of dynamic MDCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 128 patients, out of these patients, 36 patients were found to have 56 hypervascular HCCs. Sixty-three patients were assigned to receive a dose of 525 mgI/kg with protocol A, and 62 received a dose of 630 mgI/kg with protocol B. Measurements of the attenuation values of the abdominal aorta, portal vein, hepatic vein, hepatic parenchyma and HCC during the HAP, PVP and DP were taken. Tumor-liver contrast (TLC) was calculated from the attenuation value of the hepatic parenchyma and HCC. RESULTS: The aortic attenuation value with protocol B (351, 166, and 132 HU) was significantly higher than that with protocol A (313, 153, and 120 HU) during all the phases, (P<0.01 for all phases). The hepatic enhancement from unenhanced baseline with protocol B (25.2, 63.6, 50.6 HU) was significantly higher than that with protocol A (20.2, 55.1 and 43.0 HU) during all the phases, (P<0.01 for all phases). The TLC with protocol B (37.4, -11.8 and -13.6 HU) was significantly higher than that with protocol A (28.0, -9.8 and -12.1 HU) during HAP (P=0.042). CONCLUSION: The administration of 630 mgI/kg of body weight depicts hypervascular HCC more clearly during HAP and shows sufficient hepatic enhancement of 50 HU during DP.

Carcinomatous meningitis during systematic chemotherapy in a patient with advanced small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Carcinoma meningitis with uterine cervical cancer is an extremely rare event. We present the clinicopathologic characteristics and diagnostic imaging findings of a patient with advanced small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix who had developed carcinoma meningitis during systematic chemotherapy.

Estimation of liver function using T2* mapping on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: To investigate the usefulness of T2* mapping of liver on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI for estimating liver function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 33 patients were classified into 3 groups as follows: normal liver function (NLF) (n = 7); mild liver damage (MLD) (n = 16) with Child-Pugh A; severe liver damage (SLD) (n = 10) with Child-Pugh B. T2*-weighted gradient-echo (T2*W-GRE) and T1-weighted gradient-echo (T1W-GRE) images were obtained before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration (3, 8, 13, and 18 min; 5, 10,15, and 20min; respectively). T2* mapping of liver was calculated from T2*W-GRE, then T2* values of liver and T2* reduction rates of T2* value between pre- and post-contrast enhancement were measured. The increase rates of liver-to-muscle signal intensity (LMS) ratio on T1W-GRE between pre- and post-contrast enhancement were calculated. RESULTS: T2* values on pre- and post-contrast showed no significant differences among three groups. Significant differences in T2* reduction rates were found among groups, and those of LCB were lower than those of other groups (NLF:MLD:SLD, 3.8:6.0:0.6% at 3 min, 8.2:10.3:1.0% at 8 min, 10.7:11.5:1.2% at 13 min, and 16.1:13.2:3.5% at 18 min, respectively) (P<0.05). Significant differences in increase rates of LMS ratio on T1W-GRE were identified (NLF:MLD:SLD, 1.53:1.46:1.35 at 5 min, 1.68:1.64:1.37 at 10 min, 1.79:1.76:1.44 at 15 min, and 1.89:1.78:1.49 at 20 min, respectively). CONCLUSION: T2* reduction rate and increase rate of LMS ratio on T1W-GRE may allow us estimation of liver function according to Child-Pugh score.

Unenhanced fat fraction ratios obtained by MR and enhanced T2* values with liver-specific MR contrast agents for diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive MR imaging is expected to be used for accurate diagnosis and quantification of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), because NASH is a progressive fatty liver disease. New MR techniques, such as fat fraction ratio (FFR) and T2* value measurement, have attracted an increasing attention, because those techniques can measure quantitative parameters of fibrosis, fat and iron deposition in the liver. PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of FFR and T2* value in NASH with pre-enhancement, gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) or super-paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight rats were divided equally into four groups (one control group and three NASH groups). All rats underwent unenhanced, Gd-EOB-DTPA, and SPIO-enhanced MRI. The T2* value of the liver was measured for each image sequence, and then changes in T2* values before and after each injection were analyzed using Dunnett's test. The reduction rate of T2* value before and 13 min after injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA or SPIO was analyzed using Mann-Whitney's U test. Moreover, FFR of the liver was measured before enhancement, and the relationship between fat fraction and the calculated fat area percentage on a pathological specimen was examined using Spearman's correlation test. RESULTS: On pre-enhancement, FFR and T2* value were 26.0% ± 12.0% and 21.5 ± 4.2 ms for all NASH groups, and 0.9% ± 0.5% and 30.8 ±-5.5 ms for control, respectively. Both FFR and T2* values were significantly different between the NASH and control groups. The reduction rate of T2* value was significantly lower in the NASH groups than in the control group on SPIO-enhanced MRI, though there was no significant difference on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. FFR was correlated with the calculated fat area percentage for the pathological specimen. CONCLUSION: Pre-enhancement FFR, T2* value measurement and reduction rate of T2* value on SPIO-enhanced MRI may help estimate the progress of liver fat deposition and fibrosis in NASH.

Optimal scanning protocol of arterial dominant phase for hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced MR.

PURPOSE: To investigate optimal delay time of hepatic arterial phase in Gadoxetate-enhanced MR for detecting hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with 85 hypervascular HCCs and 9 patients with 16 hypervascular HCCs underwent Gadoxetate- and Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR at 1.5 Tesla (T) system, respectively. All HCCs were analyzed 10-38 s after injection using a time-resolved dynamic MR sequence with keyhole data sampling. Seven sequential phase images (1 phase = 4 s) were obtained during a single breath hold of 28 s. Time-intensity curves of the abdominal aorta, liver parenchyma, and HCC were obtained, then aortic contrast arrival time, time of peak HCC enhancement, duration time of HCC and aortic enhancement, and time delay from aortic contrast arrival to peak enhancement of HCC were measured. RESULTS: Aortic contrast arrival time was 15.1 ± 2.9 s, time of peak HCC enhancement 29.9 ± 4.6 s, duration time of HCC enhancement 17.4 ± 6.4 s postinjection of Gadoxetate. Duration of aortic enhancement (23.6 ± 3.5 s) of Gadoxetate-enhanced MR was significantly less than that of Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR (26.3 ± 2.8 s) (P < 0.0059). CONCLUSION: Peak enhancement time of HCC on Gadoxetate-enhanced MR imaging occurred at 14.6 ± 4.6 s after aortic contrast arrival.

Estimation of liver function using T1 mapping on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ability of T1 mapping of liver on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the estimation of liver function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Local institutional review board approved this study. Ninety-one patients (64 men, 27 women; mean age, 67.4 years) were classified into 4 groups as follows: normal liver function (NLF), n = 16; chronic hepatitis (CH), n = 38; liver cirrhosis with Child-Pugh A (LCA), n = 20; and liver cirrhosis with Child-Pugh B (LCB), n = 17. Look-Locker sequences (single slice multiphase imaging using gradient-echo sequence with inversion recovery pulse) were obtained before and at 3, 8, 13, and 18 minutes after Gd-EOB-DTPA administration. T1 mapping of liver parenchyma was calculated from the Look-Locker sequence. T1 relaxation time of liver and reduction rate of T1 relaxation time between pre- and postcontrast enhancement were measured. The Bonferroni t test was used for comparisons between the 4 groups. RESULTS: Precontrast T1 relaxation times were significantly longer for LCA and LCB than for NLF, and that of LCB was longer than that of chronic hepatitis (P < 0.05). Postcontrast T1 relaxation times were significantly longer for LCB than for other groups at all time points. Those of LCA were longer than those of NLF at all time points. Reduction rates were significantly lower for LCB than for the other groups at ≥8 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of hepatic uptake of Gd-EOB-DTPA using T1 mapping of liver parenchyma can help estimate liver function.

MR imaging of endometrial carcinoma for preoperative staging at 3.0 T: comparison with imaging at 1.5 T.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3.0 T and 1.5 T in the same patients for preoperative evaluation of endometrial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma underwent MRI at both 3.0 T and 1.5 T as well as surgery. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Two radiologists independently evaluated images. MR findings were compared with surgicopathologic findings. RESULTS: Image homogeneity of T2-weighted images at 3.0 T was significantly inferior to that at 1.5 T (P = 0.007). The scores of image homogeneity and susceptibility artifacts were not significantly different between 3.0 T gadolinium-enhanced imaging and 1.5 T imaging (P = 0.09 and 0.36). Kappa statistics showed good interobserver agreement between the two radiologists for local-regional staging on T2-weighted images (kappa>0.6). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (Az) values for T2-weighted imaging in terms of myometrial invasion, cervical invasion, and lymph node metastases were 0.88 (3.0 T) versus 0.91 (1.5 T), 0.84 versus 0.83, and 0.94 versus 0.95 for reader 1, respectively. There were no significant differences between imaging at 3.0 T and at 1.5 T in Az values for either reader (P > 0.35). CONCLUSION: 3.0 T MRI is an equivalent imaging modality to 1.5 T imaging for presurgical evaluation of endometrial carcinoma, although not significantly superior to 1.5 T imaging.

Adrenal masses: the value of additional fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether integrated fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) can differentiate benign from adrenal malignant lesions on the basis of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)), tumor/liver (T/L) SUV(max) ratio, and CT attenuation value (Hounsfield Units; HU) of unenhanced CT obtained from FDG-PET/CT data. METHODS: We studied 30 patients with 35 adrenal lesions (16 adrenal benign lesions, size 16 +/- 5 mm, in 15 patients; and 19 adrenal malignant lesions, 24 +/- 12 mm, in 15 patients) who had confirmed primary malignancies (lung cancer in 23 patients, lymphoma in 2, esophageal cancer in 2, hypopharyngeal cancer in 1, prostate cancer in 1, and 1 patient in whom lesions were detected at cancer screening). All patients underwent PET/CT at 1 h post FDG injection. Diagnosis of adrenal malignant lesions was based on interval growth or reduction after chemotherapy. An adrenal mass that remained unchanged for over 1 year was the standard used to diagnose adrenal benign lesions. Values of FDG uptake and CT attenuation were measured by placing volumetric regions of interest over PET/CT images. Adrenal uptake of SUV(max) >/= 2.5 was considered to indicate a malignant lesion; SUV(max) < 2.5 was considered to indicate a benign lesion. In further analysis, 1.8 was employed as the threshold for the T/L SUV(max) ratio. Unenhanced CT obtained from PET/CT data was considered positive for adrenal malignant lesions based on a CT attenuation value >/= 10 HU; lesions with a value < 10 HU were considered adrenal benign lesions. Mann-Whitney's U test was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: SUV(max) in adrenal malignant lesions (7.4 +/- 3.5) was higher than that in adrenal benign lesions (2.1 +/- 0.5, p < 0.05). The CT attenuation value of adrenal malignant lesions (27.6 +/- 11.9 HU) was higher than that of adrenal benign lesions (10.1 +/- 12.3 HU, p < 0.05). In differentiating between adrenal benign and malignant lesions, a CT threshold of 10 HU corresponded to a sensitivity of 57%, specificity of 94%, accuracy of 74%, positive predictive value of 92% and negative predictive value of 65%. An SUV(max) cut-off value of 2.5 corresponded to a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 94%, accuracy of 91%, positive predictive value of 94% and negative predictive value of 88%. The T/L SUV(max) ratio was 1.0 +/- 0.2 for adrenal benign lesions and 4.5 +/- 3.0 for adrenal malignant lesions. And T/L SUV(max) ratio cut-off value of 1.8 corresponded to a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 100%, accuracy of 91%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 83%. CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET/CT with additional SUV(max) analysis improves the diagnostic accuracy of adrenal lesions in cancer patients.

Uterine cervical carcinoma: preoperative staging with 3.0-T MR imaging--comparison with 1.5-T MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the efficacy of 3.0-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the preoperative staging of cervical carcinoma compared with that at 1.5-T imaging, with surgery and pathologic analysis as the reference standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Thirty-one consecutive patients (age range, 27-71 years; mean age, 51.1 years) underwent 3.0- and 1.5-T MR imaging. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Two radiologists independently evaluated images in terms of local-regional staging. MR findings were compared with surgicopathologic findings. RESULTS: Mean tumor signal-to-noise ratios, mean cervical stroma signal-to-noise ratios, and mean tumor-to-cervical stroma contrast-to-noise ratios at 3.0-T imaging were significantly higher than those at 1.5-T imaging (P = 9.1 x 10(-6), P = 1.8 x 10(-6), and P = .008, respectively). Image homogeneity at 3.0-T imaging was significantly inferior to that at 1.5-T imaging (P = .005). There were no significant differences in terms of the degree of susceptibility artifacts. Interobserver agreement between the two radiologists for local-regional staging was good or excellent (kappa = 0.65-0.89). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for radiologist 1 in the evaluation of parametrial invasion were (a) 75% for both 3.0- and 1.5-T imaging, (b) 70% for both 3.0- and 1.5-T imaging, and (c) 0.82 for 3.0-T imaging and 0.85 for 1.5-T imaging, respectively. Corresponding values for vaginal invasion were (a) 67% for both 3.0- and 1.5-T imaging, (b) 68% for 3.0-T imaging and 72% for 1.5-T imaging, and (c) 0.62 for 3.0-T imaging and 0.67 for 1.5-T imaging, respectively. Corresponding values for lymph node metastases were (a) 57% for both 3.0- and 1.5-T imaging, (b) 83% for 3.0-T imaging and 88% for 1.5-T imaging, and (c) 0.72 for 3.0-T imaging and 0.78 for 1.5-T imaging, respectively. Neither radiologist noted significant differences between values obtained with 3.0-T imaging and those obtained with 1.5-T imaging (P > .5 for all comparison pairs). CONCLUSION: In this study, 3.0-T MR imaging was characterized by high diagnostic accuracy in the presurgical evaluation of patients with cervical carcinoma, although 3.0-T imaging was not significantly superior to 1.5-T imaging.

Ring-shaped lateral ventricular nodules: an incidental finding on brain magnetic resonance imaging.

INTRODUCTION: We have occasionally seen ring-shaped lateral ventricular nodules <1 cm in diameter during routine brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We investigated retrospectively clinical and MRI findings of the nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of radiological records was performed for 39,607 patients who underwent brain MRI between January 2001 and April 2008. Nodules were assessed for number, location, shape, and signal intensity, which was determined based on the range of signal intensity from gray to white matter on T1- and T2-weighted imaging. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), contrast enhancement characteristics, and serial MRI changes of nodules were assessed when available. RESULTS: Nine of 39,607 patients (0.023%) showed the nodules. No symptoms associated with the nodules. Among the nine patients, 11 nodules were identified (one nodule in seven patients (77.8%) and two nodules in two patients (22.2%)). Location was limited to the roof of the body for six nodules (54.5%) and the frontal horn for five patients (45.5%). All nodules (100%) were round and isointense on T1- and T2-weighted imaging. On FLAIR imaging of eight nodules, six (75%) were hyperintense, and two (25%) were isointense. On DWI of seven nodules, all nodules (100%) were isointense. None of seven nodules (0%) examined using postcontrast MRI showed enhancement. None of eight nodules (0%) examined using serial MRI (range, 4-60 months) showed changes in morphology over time. CONCLUSION: These nodules were incidentally encountered and shared similar MRI features. Although pathological confirmation was lacking in our cases, these nodules may be of nonaggressive nature.

Discordance of motion artifacts on magnetic resonance imaging in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: comparison of diffusion-weighted and conventional imaging sequences.

PURPOSE: Motion artifact is problematic in the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) because of dementia. The purpose was to compare the occurrence of this artifact between a diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence and conventional sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten MR examinations comprising T2-weighted, T1-weighted, DW, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging in seven CJD patients were retrospectively evaluated. The occurrence of motion artifacts on each sequence were assessed, and the examination was classified into four groups as follows: group A, motion artifact not revealed on DW imaging but revealed on one or more other sequences; group B, revealed on DW imaging and one or more other sequences; group C, not revealed on any sequences; and group D, revealed on DW imaging but not on any other sequences. RESULTS: The 10 MR examinations were classified as eight group A (80%), one B (10%), one C (10%), and zero D (0%). CONCLUSION: Motion artifacts are likely to occur in any conventional imaging sequences in CJD, but the fast-imaging ability of DW imaging can reduce this artifact. The combination of an absence of motion artifact on DW imaging and the presence on conventional sequences may be one of the frequent findings of CJD.

T2*-sensitized high-resolution magnetic resonance venography using 3D-PRESTO technique.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the ability of the PRESTO (principles of echo shifting with a train of observations) technique to reveal small veins and microbleeds in the human brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an experimental study, we calculated contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between a cerebral parenchymal phantom and human venous blood using 3 sequences of 3-dimensional (3D)-PRESTO, 3D-gradient recalled echo (GRE), and 3D-GRE echo-planar imaging (EPI). Then, we examined 7 healthy volunteers and 5 patients with venous angiomas or traumatic brain injuries using the 3D-PRESTO technique. In volunteer studies, MR venographies were reconstructed from 10-mm, 15-mm, and 20-mm thickness data using the minimum-intensity-projection (MinIP) technique. Three radiologists identified deep brain venous anatomy and counted the visible left medullary veins. In clinical studies, we evaluated the lesion conspicuity of small venous diseases and microbleeds. RESULTS: In the phantom study, 3D-PRESTO showed the highest CNR. In all volunteer studies, the deep brain venous anatomy was readily identified in the MinIP images at each thickness. The mean numbers of counted left medullary veins were 5.1 for 10 mm, 5.9 for 15 mm, and 6.7 for 20 mm in the MinIP images. The difference was significant between 10-mm and 20-mm MinIP images (P=0.02). In patient studies, abnormal small veins and microbleeds were clearly revealed. CONCLUSION: High-resolution MR venography using 3D-PRESTO technique can clearly depict small veins and microbleeds in the human brain.