Imaging of rhinosinusitis and its complications

Conventional plain-film radiographiy may be used as a screening method for various pathological conditions of the sinonasal cavities. However, CT scanning remains the study of choice for the imaging evaluation of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of sinonasal cavities. MRI is superior to CT in differentiating inflammatory conditions from neoplastic processes. The most common complications of rhinosinusitis in children occur in the orbit. The information obtained from the CT scan and MRI, together with clinical findings, may be the best guidelines for clinical management and the mode of treatment. Although intracranial complications of sinusitis are relatively rare, prompt recognition of these disease states is important to prevent permanent neurological deficient or fatality. It is prudent to obtain MRI of the sinuses, orbits, and brain whenever extensive or multiple complications of sinusitis are suspected, in addition to CT scanning. Chronic rhinosinusitis is a clinical diagnosis, confirmed and staged with the CT scan of sinonasal cavities. Chronic inflammatory disease is often associated with mucosal thickening and sclerosis of the bone, particularly within the sinuses. Chronic extramucosal fungal sinusitis develops as a saprophytic growth in retained secretions in a sinus cavity. The imaging manifestations of chronic mycotic rhinosinusitis may be nonspecific or highly suggestive of the presence of fungal infection. The presence of diffuse increased attenuation within the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity should be considered as chronic allergic hypersensitivity aspergillosis (chronic noninvasive aspergillosis) or chronic hyperplastic sinusitis and polyposis associated with desiccated, retained mucosal secretions. The MRI characteristics of fungal sinusitis depend on the stage of the disease.     

Imaging of articular pathology: MRI,CT, arthrography

The purpose of this review article is to present the advantages and limitations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and arthrography for evaluating articular pathology. Techniques, patient selection, indications and contraindications for each modality are reviewed. MRI provides superior soft tissue contrast and image plane selection, making it the ideal technique for most articular abnormalities. However, obese patients and patients with certain electrical or metallic implants cannot be examined with MRI. CT provides superior detail for fine cortical bone and subtle calcifications, but lacks the soft tissue contrast provided by MRI. Arthrography is an invasive technique with minimal risk of allergy to contrast material or infection. This technique permits accurate measurement of capsular volume, allows for fluid aspiration for laboratory studies and permits injection of anesthetic and/or steroid compounds for purposes of treatment or confirming the site of the patient's pain. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and arthrography are useful techniques for evaluating articular pathology. Careful review of the clinical symptoms and patient's condition is necessary to select the most appropriate technique. Clin. Anat. 10:1–13, 1997 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Paperless Protocoling of CT and MRI Requests at an Outpatient Imaging Center

We created our imaging center (IC) to move outpatient imaging from our busy inpatient imaging suite off-site to a location that is more inviting to ambulatory patients. Nevertheless, patients scanned at our IC still represent the depth and breadth of illness complexity seen with our tertiary care population. Thus, we protocol exams on an individualized basis to ensure that the referring clinician’s question is fully answered by the exam performed. Previously, paper based protocoling was a laborious process for all those involved where the IC business office would fax the requests to various reading rooms for protocoling by the subspecialist radiologists who are 3 miles away at the main hospital. Once protocoled, reading room coordinators would fax back the protocoled request to the IC technical area in preparation for the next day’s scheduled exams. At any breakdown in this process (e.g., lost paperwork), patient exams were delayed and clinicians and patients became upset. To improve this process, we developed a paper free process whereby protocoling is accomplished through scanning of exam requests into our PACS. Using the common worklist functionality found in most PACS, we created “protocoling worklists” that contain these scanned documents. Radiologists protocol these studies in the PACS worklist (with the added benefit of having all imaging and report data available), and subsequently, the technologists can see and act on the protocols they find in PACS. This process has significantly decreased interruptions in our busy reading rooms and decreased rework of IC staff.     

子宫内膜异位症的MRI影像病理学研究

目的分析子宫内膜异位症的磁共振(MRI)影像特征. 材料与方法回顾性分析51例子宫内膜异位症的MRI影像特征,全部病例经手术及病理证实. 结果子宫增大48例;T2WI及T1WI显示子宫有弥散分布的片状低信号区内夹杂斑点状高信号30例; T2WI显示子宫低信号区内夹杂斑点状高信号,T1WI呈低信号21例.29个卵巢囊肿,T1WI 及T2WI均呈高信号有15个,T1WI 呈高信号而T2WI呈低或等信号5个, T1WI 和T2WI均呈混杂信号9个. 结论子宫内膜异位症的主要MRI表现:(1)子宫内出现片状低信号区,同时夹杂斑点状高信号;(2)卵巢巧克力囊肿在T1WI 和T2WI均为高信号或以高信号为主的混杂信号.     

子宫内膜异位症的MRI影像病理学研究

目的 分析子宫内膜异位症的磁共振（MRI）影像特征。材料与方法 回顾性分析51例子宫内膜异位症的MRI影像特征，全部病例经手术及病理证实。结果 子宫增大48例；T2WI及T1WI显示子宫有弥散分布的片状低信号区内夹杂斑点状高信号30例；T2WI显示子宫低信号区内夹杂斑点状高信号，T1WI呈低信号21例，29个卵巢囊肿，T1WI及T2WI均呈高信号有15个，T1WI呈高信号而T2WI呈低或等信号5个，T1WI和T2WI均呈混杂信号9个。结论 子宫内膜异位症的主要MRI表现：（1）子宫内出现片状低信号区，同时夹杂斑点状高信号；（2）卵巢巧克力囊肿在T1WI和T2WI均为高信号或以高信号为主的混杂信号。     

Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of plain film radiographs between original film and smartphone capture: a pilot study

The use of mobile devices for medical image capture has become increasingly popular given the widespread use of smartphone cameras. Prior studies have generally compared mobile phone capture images to digitized images. However, many underserved and rural areas without picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) still depend greatly on the use of film radiographs. Additionally, there is a scarcity of specialty-trained or formally licensed radiologists in many of these regions. Subsequently, there is great potential for the use of smartphone capture of plain radiograph films which would allow for increased access to economical and efficient consultation from board-certified radiologists abroad. The present study addresses the ability to diagnose a subset of radiographic findings identified on both the original film radiograph and the captured camera phone image.     

Stereotactic imaging for radiotherapy: accuracy of CT,MRI, PET and SPECT

CT, MRI, PET and SPECT provide complementary information for treatment planning in stereotactic radiotherapy. Stereotactic correlation of these images requires commissioning tests to confirm the localization accuracy of each modality. A phantom was developed to measure the accuracy of stereotactic localization for CT, MRI, PET and SPECT in the head and neck region. To this end. the stereotactically measured coordinates of structures within the phantom were compared with their mechanically defined coordinates. For MRI, PET and SPECT, measurements were performed using two different devices. For MRI, T1- and T2-weighted imaging sequences were applied. For each measurement, the mean radial deviation in space between the stereotactically measured and mechanically defined position of target points was determined. For CT, the mean radial deviation was 0.4 +/- 0.2 mm. For MRI, the mean deviations ranged between 0.7 +/- 0.2 mm and 1.4 +/- 0.5 mm, depending on the MRI device and the imaging sequence. For PET, mean deviations of 1.1 +/- 0.5 mm and 2.4 +/- 0.3 mm were obtained. The mean deviations for SPECT were 1.6 +/- 0.5 mm and 2.0 +/- 0.6 mm. The phantom is well suited to determine the accuracy of stereotactic localization with CT, MRI, PET and SPECT in the head and neck region. The obtained accuracy is well below the physical resolution for CT, PET and SPECT, and of comparable magnitude for MRI. Since the localization accuracy may be device dependent, results obtained at one device cannot be generalized to others.     

变应性真菌性鼻窦炎的CT影像学特征分析

目的 探讨变应性真菌性鼻窦炎(AFRS)的CT影像学特征。方法 回顾性分析2008年1月—2018年1月海军军医大学附属长征医院、龙海市第一医院及解放军联勤保障部队第九○九医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科收治的共52例AFRS患者的临床资料,其中男30例、女22例,年龄13～69岁、平均43岁。52例患者均有单侧或双侧鼻塞、脓涕症状,病程1个月～10年,平均29个月;鼻内镜检查可见中鼻道息肉样物及脓性分泌物,皮肤变应原点刺试验提示真菌变应原阳性。52例均行鼻内镜下鼻窦开放术治疗,术前均行鼻窦CT扫描;总结其CT影像学特征,并于术中重点观察CT显示病变部位组织结构的临床病理与组织学改变特点。结果 52例患者术前CT检查显示:单侧鼻窦病变33例(63.5%),双侧鼻窦病变19例(36.5%);各组鼻窦中,筛窦病变最常见,共48例(92.3%);病变鼻窦腔为低密度软组织影充填(CT值23～50 HU,平均34 HU),其内散在条索状或斑片状高密度影(CT值82 ～107 HU,平均96 HU),呈特征性的毛玻璃样改变,在软组织窗中尤为明显,与周围软组织影分界清晰。术中探查该区域病变为脓性或豆渣样黏稠分泌物,术后组织病理学检查提示该病变为变应性黏蛋白结构。57.7%(30/52)的患者CT可显示筛窦外侧壁、蝶筛隔板或蝶窦间隔等部位的骨质侵蚀表现;术中鼻内镜下见该处窦腔扩大,骨质菲薄或缺如。术后随访6～12个月,全部患者病情均达完全控制或部分控制。结论 AFRS特征性的CT影像学表现为以筛窦受累为主的窦腔实变、膨胀,伴有弥漫、散在的条状或云雾状高密度影,多数患者合并有骨质侵蚀;病变部位CT值对本病的诊断有参考价值。     

CT/MRI混合配准方法及其在放疗计划系统中的应用

旨在研究放疗中图像配准方法,特别是针对放疗中常用的CT、MRI,提出基于混合框架的配准方法,该方法主要包 括两个方面:（1）采用掩膜（Mask）提取感兴趣区域、形态学运算等图像处理方法以及CPU多线程并行技术,大幅度提高配 准速度;（2）采用由全局到局部的混合配准策略,首先利用基于仿射变换的刚性配准整体配准,以防止图像间偏差过大,在 此基础上针对感兴趣区域采用B样条弹性配准,调整局部形变。通过实验表明,采用预处理及加速策略的刚性配准,在保 持其精度的情况下,提速比可达10倍,测试结果已达到临床需求;此外,采用基于GPU加速的混合配准策略,其配准速度 提至约4 min。     

CT影像中筛前动脉与颅底的关系及在鼻窦炎手术中的意义

目的 通过CT影像探讨筛前动脉（AEA）与颅底的解剖关系及其在鼻窦炎手术中的意义。方法 回顾性研究2017年1月～2017年8月共52例鼻窦炎患者,所有患者均行鼻窦CT扫描及重建,测量AEA与颅底的距离并分型,测量AEA至额嘴的距离,并研究其与AEA悬空的关系。记录眶上筛房（SOEC）的发生率并以卡方检验分析SOEC与AEA悬空的关系,测量筛板外侧板的深度并进行Keros分型,以 Spearman 相关系数分析Keros分型与AEA悬空的关系。结果 AEA在CT图像中辨别率为100%, Ⅰ型为AEA嵌于颅骨内,占 42.3%（44/104）,Ⅱ型为AEA紧贴颅底,占18.3%（19/104）,Ⅲ型为AEA悬空于筛窦内,占39.4%（41/104）,即AEA的悬空率为39.4%,至颅底的平均距离为（3.8±1.5）mm。AEA至额嘴平均距离（14.1±2.2）mm,其距离在AEA悬空与非悬空组中差异无统计学意义（t=0.740,P>0.05）。在Keros分型中,Ⅰ型占51.9%（54/104）,Ⅱ型占37.5%（39/104）,Ⅲ型占10.6%（11/104）。Keros分型与AEA发生悬空之间的Spearman相关系数为0.505（P<0.001),为中度正相关。SOEC发生率为17.3%（17/104）,有SOEC的患者与无SOEC的患者的AEA悬空发生率差异存在统计学意义（χ2=4.3287,P<0.05）。结论 当SOEC存在或Keros分型级别较高时,AEA的悬空率明显升高,术前进行CT影像学检查可以识别颅底解剖情况,明确AEA与颅底的位置关系,进而降低术中AEA的损伤风险。     

Anteroposterior diameter of the vertebral canal in cervical region: comparison of anatomical, computed tomographic, and plain film measurements

The purpose was to compare the computed tomographic and plain film measurements with those of anatomical specimens to determine the antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal in cervical region. Antero-posterior diameters of 75 cervical vertebral canals (15 sets of C3-C7) were measured anatomically at two different levels. Computed tomographic and plain film measurements were also obtained at the corresponding levels. Considering anatomical measurements as the gold standard, plain film and computed tomographic measurements were statistically compared. Interobserver and intraobserver differences were also evaluated. At the uppermost pedicle levels, there was no statistically significant difference between plain films and anatomical measurements, a good correlation. However, at lowermost pedicle level there was a statistically significant difference between plain films and anatomical measurements but not between tomographic and anatomical measurements. Our results suggest that plain films can accurately estimate cervical spinal canal mid-sagittal diameter at the uppermost pedicle level and be used as a first step examination for the evaluation of cervical spinal stenoses.     

The role of plain radiographs in the diagnosis of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis in adults

Background

Computed tomography is currently the gold standard for the diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. However, this facility is not readily available in many developing countries. Thus, plain sinus radiography is still widely in use in our practice.

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic value of plain radiographs in adult patients with uncomplicated chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis.

Methods

This study was carried out at a tertiary health facility in Northern Nigeria. All adult patients with clinical and radiological diagnosis of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis were included.

Results

A total of 88 patients were recruited into the study. There were 51 males (58.0%) and 37 (42.0%) females. Their ages ranged from 18 to 60 years; with a mean age of 31.7±9.20 years. Mucosal thickening was the commonest diagnostic plain radiographic feature, and fluid level was the least. Maxillary antra with diagnostic plain radiographic interpretations of fluid level, haziness and opacity had high specificities (100%, 95.2%, and 85.7%) and high positive predictive values (100%, 75%, and 70%) respectively.

Conclusions

Plain radiographs are relevant in the diagnosis of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis in our locality only when they show features of fluid level: findings of haziness and opacity are of less diagnostic value.     

椎间隙感染的MRI诊断

目的：分析椎间隙感染的MRI影像特征，评价椎间隙感染的MRI诊断价值。方法：对15例经临床或手术病理证实的椎间隙感染患者行脊柱MRI检查，扫描序列为矢状面FrFsE-T1WI、FrFSE-T2WI、脂肪抑制T2WI，横断面FrFSE-T2WI，其中5例行Gd-DTPA增强对比扫描。结果：15例患者共发现17个椎间隙感染，其中15个发生于腰椎间隙。椎间隙狭窄(13个)，病变椎间盘呈不同程度破坏、碎裂，呈长T1(17个)长T2(15个)信号，T2上椎间盘髓核内正常裂隙状低信号消失(13个)，上下相邻椎体受累破坏(15个)，椎旁软组织肿胀(8个)。5例行Gd-DT-PA增强对比扫描可见病变椎间盘、相邻椎体及椎旁软组织异常强化。结论：MRI对诊断椎间隙感染具有很高的敏感性和准确性，应作为首选的影像学检查方法：     

Imaging brain microstructure with diffusion MRI: practicality and applications

This article gives an overview of microstructure imaging of the brain with diffusion MRI and reviews the state of the art. The microstructure‐imaging paradigm aims to estimate and map microscopic properties of tissue using a model that links these properties to the voxel scale MR signal. Imaging techniques of this type are just starting to make the transition from the technical research domain to wide application in biomedical studies. We focus here on the practicalities of both implementing such techniques and using them in applications. Specifically, the article summarizes the relevant aspects of brain microanatomy and the range of diffusion‐weighted MR measurements that provide sensitivity to them. It then reviews the evolution of mathematical and computational models that relate the diffusion MR signal to brain tissue microstructure, as well as the expanding areas of application. Next we focus on practicalities of designing a working microstructure imaging technique: model selection, experiment design, parameter estimation, validation, and the pipeline of development of this class of technique. The article concludes with some future perspectives on opportunities in this topic and expectations on how the field will evolve in the short‐to‐medium term.     

肝后胆囊的CT、MRI表现及临床意义

目的 总结肝后胆囊CT、MRI的影像特点,探讨其伴发病变及发生机制。方法 回顾性分析烟台市烟台山医院和烟台市毓璜顶医院2002年1月—2015年6月经CT、MRI检查发现的25例肝后胆囊患者的临床资料,其中男7例、女18例,年龄42~79岁。25例均行CT平扫,其中19例同时行增强扫描,9例行MR胰胆管造影检查。结合文献,对其影像特点进行分析。结果 影像学检查显示,25例胆囊均位于肝右叶后方、肝肾之间。8例肝脏各叶段比例基本正常,17例伴有不同程度的肝右叶发育不全,同时伴左叶增大14例、尾叶增大5例。11例显示不同程度的肝门静脉左支增粗、延长,同时伴肝门静脉右支细、短。25例中,2例无肝胆系统伴发病变;23例见肝右叶胆管结石,其中6例见肝左叶胆管结石,10例见胆总管结石,4例伴发肝右叶胆管细胞癌,12例伴发不同程度的胆道系统感染,2例伴肝脓肿形成。25例中9例行MRCP检查,8例显示胆囊管低位汇合。结论 肝后胆囊常伴发肝胆系统结石、炎症及肿瘤,胆囊管低位汇合可能是致病的主要原因。     

Popliteus muscle sesamoid bone (cyamella): appearance on radiographs, CT and MRI

Popliteus muscle sesamoid bone, also known as cyamella, is an accessory ossicle that is located in the vicinity of the proximal musculo tendinous junction. While commonly seen in small mammals such as cats and dogs, its presence in humans is very rare. In this report, we present the radiological findings of the popliteus muscle sesamoid bone, incidentally detected in a 47-year-old male. CT and MRI features of this ossicle are described.