CT and MR Imaging of Gynecologic Emergencies.

Gynecologic emergencies include various diseases that result from adnexal and uterine disorders. Adnexal disorders may be classified into the following three categories: (a) disorders that cause hemorrhage (hemorrhagic ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancies); (b) disorders related to adnexal tumors (adnexal torsion and rupture of ovarian tumors); and (c) disorders related to pelvic inflammatory disease, such as tubo-ovarian abscesses. Unusual adnexal torsion, such as massive ovarian edema, isolated fallopian tube torsion, and paraovarian cyst torsion, has also been described. Uterine disorders in gynecologic emergencies may be classified into two categories: (a) acute fibroid complications, including red degeneration of a uterine leiomyoma, torsion of subserosal myomas, and torsion of the uterus; and (b) causes of acute uterine bleeding, including retained products of conception and uterine arteriovenous malformations. Some gynecologic diseases are self-limited, while others cause infertility or life-threatening infection or bleeding if left untreated. Therefore, prompt and accurate diagnosis is important for appropriate life-saving treatment and for the preservation of fertility. The imaging findings are important when evaluating acute gynecologic diseases because the symptoms and physical examination findings are often nonspecific and limited. Ultrasonography is the first-line imaging modality; however, when a definitive diagnosis cannot be established, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may narrow the differential diagnosis. Appropriate management requires radiologists to be familiar with the CT and MR imaging features of gynecologic emergencies. With respect to rare conditions, radiologists should take into account the representative findings presented in this article to increase diagnostic accuracy. ©RSNA, 2017.

Can Peripheral Bronchopleural Fistula Demonstrated on Computed Tomography be Treated Conservatively? A Retrospective Analysis.

PURPOSE: Peripheral bronchopleural fistulas (BPF) are communications between a peripheral bronchus or the lung parenchyma and the pleural space. Although reported cases with peripheral BPF might have typical symptoms, we postulate that there may be BPF patients without typical symptoms who are diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched retrospectively for how frequently BPF is found on CT in cases with known or suspected empyema or hydropneumothorax. Also, we examined the clinical charts to ascertain if a diagnosis of BPF was suspected in the CT reports or clinically, and to determine the outcome of each case. RESULTS: Thirteen thoracic cavities of 12 patients were included in this study. Of these, BPF was suspected clinically in only 1. Mention in the CT report about the presence of BPF was found in 2 cases. An apparent finding of BPF on CT was found in 7 of 13 (53%) thoracic cavities of 6 cases. The outcomes were that 1 patient died 1 month later due to multiple organ failure, and 1 patient was discharged subsequently after CT. In the other 10 cases, there was no exacerbation of the symptom regardless of definite evidence of BPF on CT. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, when there is hydropneumothorax on CT, it is important for radiologists to diligently search for findings of peripheral BPF and to document it. However, a reference about the need for a surgical approach for BPF may not be required.

Reproducibility of pulmonary blood flow measurements by phase-contrast MRI using different 1.5 T MR scanners at two institutions.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be beneficial for diagnosis of disease by offering quantitative information. However, reproducibility can be a major problem when there is a numerical threshold in multi-institution, multi-vendor situations. PURPOSE: To measure pulmonary blood flow with phase-contrast (PC) imaging using two different MR scanners (1.5 T) at different institutions in the same participants and to examine the reproducibility of the measurements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants were 10 healthy volunteers (5 men; age range, 27-36 years). The measurements included the mean and maximal blood velocities, the mean blood flow volume, and the acceleration time and volume (AT and AV), derived from the time-flow curve of the PC-MRI. Simultaneously obtained maximal, minimal, and mean areas from regions of interest set in the pulmonary artery were also calculated. In order to calculate the reproducibility of the quantitative variables, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were employed. When an adequate ICC was obtained, Bland-Altman analysis was conducted to identify any systematic bias. RESULTS: The ICCs were almost perfect for the mean blood flow volume and the AV (r = 0.82 and 0.80), and were substantial in the mean and maximal areas, and the AT (r = 0.63, 0.74, and 0.64, respectively). However, there was a fixed bias in the area measurement between the two scanners. Also, the AV had a proportional bias. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that various indices derived from PC-MRI on different MR scanners are promising as common indices for pulmonary flow assessment. Research and clinical use of PC-MRI for the pulmonary artery is expected to extend to multi-institution situations.

Bilateral duplication of the abducens nerves: an incidental finding on magnetic resonance imaging.

Although anomaly of the abducens nerve, including duplication, has been reported in anatomical papers, no radiological report exists regarding a duplicated abducens nerve observed on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We encountered a case of bilateral duplication of the abducens nerves, which was found incidentally on MR scans from an 11-year-old boy. He did not have any symptoms of eye movement related to abducens nerve abnormality; thus, the duplication was considered to be a normal variant in this patient. Radiologists should be aware that duplication of the abducens nerve may occur and can be diagnosed on MR, particularly when diagnosing symptomatic patients or as a preoperative assessment for microsurgery of the nerve.