Giant cell arteritis: A case report and review of literature

Giant cell arteritis, the most common form of vasculitis in the elderly, is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of arteries, which can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions including aortic aneurysms, ruptures, and dissections as well as blindness. Since GCA can be treated by immunosuppressant therapy, such as corticosteroids, early diagnosis and treatment may reduce the risk of serious disability and morbidity. While temporal artery biopsy is considered the gold standard to diagnosis giant cell arteritis, it is intrusive with inherent risks as well as unreliable due to tissue sampling. Imaging studies, such as computerized tomography, are nonintrusive and have been shown to identify vasculitis including giant cell arteritis. We present a case of a 72-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis by temporal artery biopsy during surgery for aortic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass graft. Computerized tomography imaging studies, prior to the surgery and biopsy, were suggestive of vasculitis. This case serves to emphasize the beneficial role of imaging studies to assess vasculitis, including giant cell arteritis, that can be done prior to the progressive development of more serious debilitating and potentially fatal pathology.     

High-resolution CT of airspace nodules in idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis

We describe the radiographic findings of idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in a 20-year-old patient and compare high-resolution CT findings with conventional CT and radiography.     

特发性炎症性肌病影像学表现的研究进展

特发性炎症性肌病(idiopathic inflammatory myopathies,IIM)是以肌肉炎症和多种肌外表现为特征的一组异质性自身免疫性疾病,主要包含多发性肌炎(polymyositis,PM)、皮肌炎(dermatomyositis,DM)、包涵体肌炎(inclusion body myositis,I...     

特发性肺间质纤维化HRCT病变区与非病变区18F-FDG PET/CT表现分析

目的 对比分析特发性肺间质纤维化（IPF）高分辨率CT（HRCT）上病变区域和非病变区域的PET/CT表现及其诊断价值。 方法 按照IPF的临床诊断标准,选取接受PET/CT检查并有完整资料的IPF病例及健康体检者各27例,规定病变区域为HRCT上表现为磨玻璃密度影、网格影及蜂窝影等区域,非病变区域为肉眼可观察到的密度低于病变区的最小密度区,测定病变区域的SUV_max,分别在IPE组非病变区域和对照组肺部HRCT横断面图像上画取ROI,测量其CT值,并在PET/CT图像相应位置画取ROI,测量SUV_max、平均标准化摄取值（SUV_mean）,计算与纵隔大血管主动脉弓血池（SUV_max、SUV_mean）比值:肺组织/纵隔血池最大摄取比（LT/MB_max）和肺组织/纵隔血池平均摄取比（LT/MB_mean）。采用独立样本t检验比较组间LT/MB_max、LT/MB_mean及CT值差异。 结果 IPF组27例患者,其中肺部表现为磨玻璃密度影14例、网格影27例、蜂窝影13例,同一患者可有多种表现,以上表现均为放射性摄取增高,SUV_max值为2.32±1.10。IPF组非病变区域LT/MB_max（0.44±0.55 vs.0.32±0.05）和LT/MB_mean（0.55±0.38 vs.0.33±0.05）均高于对照组（t=5.87和2.89,P均 < 0.05）;但两组CT值（-836.59±32.33 vs.-837.99±29.90）比较,差异无统计学意义（t=-0.15,P>0.05）。 结论 IPF患者HRCT上显示的病变区与非病变区对18F-FDG摄取均增加,PET/CT在IPF诊断及治疗监测方面有一定优势。     

Treatment of Takayasu's aortitis with self-expanding metallic stents (Gianturco stents) in two patients

Gianturco self-expanding metallic stents were successfully placed to treat incomplete balloon dilatation of the abdominal aorta in 2 patients with Takayasu's aortitis. In 1 case eleven 1-cm long, 1-cm diameter stents were inserted in tandem to bridge a long stenosis. In the other patient, four stents 1.5 cm long, 1.5 cm in diameter were inserted in tandem to bridge what had been a complete occlusion prior to balloon angioplasty. Clinical symptoms, as well as angiographic findings, improved significantly after placement of the stents. The patients underwent repeat aortography at 10 and 8 months, respectively, and were followed clinically for a total of 18 months and 15 months, respectively, without clinical evidence of deterioration. Our results show the usefulness of expandable metallic stents in the treatment of aortic stenosis due to Takayasu's aortitis that remains unresponsive to balloon dilatation.     

特发性甲状旁腺功能减退的脑CT表现(附13例分析)

目的：探讨特发性甲状旁腺功能减退的脑CT表现。方法：回顾分析13例患者的临床特征和CT表现。结果：13例均有基底节和大脑叶钙化，其中对称性大脑叶钙化10例，对称性基底节区钙化9例，丘脑钙化8例，中脑钙化3例，小脑齿状核钙化7例，全部病例内囊均不受累。结论：基底节或／和大脑叶对称性钙化是特发性甲状旁腺功能减退的特征性CT表现。     

A comparison of angiographic CT and multisection CT in lumbar myelographic imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The purpose of this work was to provide an intraindividual comparison of angiographic CT (ACT) and multisection CT (MSCT) in lumbar myelographic imaging and to evaluate possible benefits of ACT, which is a further development of rotational angiography providing image data of high spatial and CT-like contrast resolution.MATERIALS AND METHODS:In 26 patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease a lumbar ACT was performed in combination with conventional lumbar myelography and followed by postmyelographic MSCT. Conventional lumbar myelography and lumbar ACT were performed with a flat panel detector–equipped angiographic device. Postmyelographic MSCT was performed with a 16-section CT scanner. Three experienced neuroradiologists rated anonymized sets of multiplanar reformatted CT and ACT images regarding diagnostic and technical parameters. The ratings were repeated after 2 months. Weighted κ statistics were calculated to describe the levels of intraobserver and interobserver agreement.RESULTS:The analysis shows that MSCT achieves higher ratings than ACT in all of the parameters asked. An adequate diagnostic quality was only assigned to 80% of the ACT acquisitions compared with 97% of the MSCT acquisitions. All of the mean κ values were above 0.60, demonstrating a substantial intraobserver and interobserver agreement for MSCT, as well as for ACT.CONCLUSION:Using ACT, radiographic myelography and myelographic CT can be performed at the same imaging system. However, the results of our study show that the current myelographic ACT image quality fails to apply diagnostic standards. We, therefore, cannot recommend ACT as a general alternative to postmyelographic MSCT.

Radiographic myelography and postmyelographic CT using multisection CT (MSCT) scanners are well-established diagnostic procedures in degenerative or traumatic lumbar spine disease. Especially when the diagnostic evaluation of the thecal sac and single nerve roots in degenerative spine disease is required, myelography and postmyelographic CT are considered to be even more sensitive and more specific than MR imaging or MR myelography.¹ In addition, degenerative osseous changes are better examined by radiography or CT.^2-5From the neuroradiologic point of view, 3D rotational angiography is primarily a technique to visualize intracranial vessels, particularly aneurysms, in a 3D surface-shaded or volume-rendered reconstruction. It has already been demonstrated that 3D rotational myelographic imaging with image intensifier equipped systems is possible and provides multiplanar reconstructed (MPR) images of good quality.⁶ In comparison with the image intensifier-equipped systems, the latest flat panel detector–equipped angiographic devices provide a much higher acquisition speed and image information attenuation.⁷ These features are combined with a large rectangular field of view. Rotational acquisitions by such detectors provide an almost CT-like contrast resolution allowing a differentiation of objects down to 10 Hounsfield units of attenuation difference. This can be of great importance during neurointerventional procedures.^8-10 The spatial resolution is higher than in current helical CT: angiographic CT (ACT) provides an isotropic resolution of less than 0.2 mm in comparison with approximately 0.5 mm of minimal CT resolution.^11,12 The ACT volume dataset (∼20-cm width and 25-cm height) can be used for 3D and multiplanar reconstructions in the same fashion as a spiral CT dataset.The purpose of the study presented here was to test the practicability and the diagnostic features of myelographic section imaging by ACT in comparison with MSCT to verify a possible added diagnostic value of ACT and to provide first evidence about the feasibility of substituting myelographic MSCT with ACT.     

Temporal superficial arteritis as differential diagnosis in patients with atherosclerotic changes due to advanced chronic renal disease: case report and review of the literature

Giant cell arteritis is an autoimmune disease that affects medium and large caliber vessels, creating deposits of inflammatory clusters on the arterial wall. It is the most common form of large vessel vasculitis, but given the variability of biopsy efficiency and of other diagnostic strategies employed, the diagnosis of this disease is challenging. We report the case of a 69-year-old female patient who presented with neurological deficit and increased bilateral sensation in the temporal region associated with excruciating headache. Workup revealed calcification of the superficial temporal, vertebral and ophthalmic arteries, as well as suggestive findings on Doppler ultrasound such as the halo sign, pointing to superficial temporal arteritis though not excluding the possibility of those calcifications being consistent with atherosclerosis in a patient with advanced chronic renal disease, which has been reported as giving rise to false-positive results. Knowledge of the main differences between the 2 diagnoses is important, given the wide range of diagnostic imaging possibilities which can avoid the need for biopsy.     

CT in autosomal dominant and idiopathic cerebellar ataxia

Signs of atrophy on cranial CT were investigated in 35 patients diagnosed as suffering from autosomal dominant (n=21) or idiopathic (n=14) cerebellar ataxia. Thirteen patients with a pure cerebellar syndrome were examined after at least 4 years of disease (mean duration 10.5 years) and were classified as cerebellar atrophy (CA). Twenty-two patients with additional non-cerebellar signs were classified as olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy (OPCA). Four (30%) of the patients with CA had atrophy of the brain stem in addition. Of the 22 patients with OPCA, 9 (40%) had atrophy of the cerebellum only. In patients with CA or OPCA correlation of clinical signs with severity of atrophy on CT was poor. Atrophy on CT often fails to differentiate autosomal dominant or idiopathic cerebellar ataxias in CA or OPCA: patients with CA can also have atrophy of the brain stem and patients with OPCA do not necessarily show brain stem atrophy.     

CT diagnosis of idiopathic aneurysms of the thoracic systemic veins

Three patients with idiopathic aneurysms of the superior vena cava, left innominate vein, and inferior vena cava are presented. The advantages of CT over other diagnostic modalities are discussed.     

胸腹部局限性Castleman病的CT特征分析

目的 回顾性分析55例胸腹部局限性Castleman病(LCD)的CT特征,并与病理学改变进行对照,研究对LCD有诊断价值的影像特点.方法 搜集20年间胸腹部LCD患者55例,其中胸部25例,腹部30例.55例均经手术切除和组织病理学证实.所有患者均行CT平扫和增强扫描,影像征象由2名放射学医师同时分析.结果 54例透明血管型(50例)和混合型(4例)Castleman病CT表现主要包括孤立性肿物(90.7%,49例)、边缘不规则或分叶或浸润(83.3%,45例)、中央性钙化(38.9%,21例)和显著强化(100%,54例),72.2%(39例)的病灶内可见局灶性非坏死性低密度影,70.4%(38例)和96.3%(52例)的病灶周围可见肿大的淋巴结和扩张的滋养血管.1例浆细胞型Castleman病表现为边缘不规则伴中央缺血坏死的轻度强化的单发肿块影.其CT分型包括边缘光整的单发肿块(4例)、边缘不规则或分叶状单发肿块(30例)、边缘模糊呈浸润性或磨玻璃样肿块(16例)及多发融合肿块(5例).结论 胸腹部LCD的CT表现与发生部位和病理类型密切相关,透明血管型和混合型的CT表现具有特征性,而浆细胞型LCD的CT表现则缺乏特征性.     

Giant cell-rich osteosarcoma of the distal femur: radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings

We report a case of giant cell-rich osteosarcoma in the right distal femur of a 32-year-old man. Giant cell-rich osteosarcomas are sometimes difficult to distinguish from giant cell tumors by age, location, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and pathology. Radiography may be useful in the diagnosis of giant cell-rich osteosarcoma. This case was presented in part at the 15th meeting of the Musculoskeletal Radiology of the Japanese Radiological Society, Kagawa, January 2004.     

CT analysis of the effect of pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Purpose

Pirfenidone is a new, anti-fibrotic drug used for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of computed tomography (CT) in the imaging assessment of the response to pirfenidone therapy.

Materials and methods

Subjects were 78 patients with IPF who underwent CT on two occasions with one-year interval (38 consecutive patients treated with pirfenidone and 40 age-matched control). Changes in the fibrous lesion on sequential CTs were assessed as visual score by two radiologists. We measured the volume and change per year of fibrous pattern (F-pattern) quantitatively using a computer-aided system on sequential CTs.

Results

The baseline vital capacity (%pred VC) was 74.0 ± 14.0% in the pirfenidone group and 74.6 ± 16.6% in controls (p = NS). Deterioration of respiratory status was defined as 10% or greater decline in %pred VC value after 12-month treatment. A significantly larger proportion of pirfenidone-treated patients showed stable respiratory status (21 of 38, 65.6%) than the control (15 of 40, 37.5%). The change in fibrous lesion was significantly smaller in the pirfenidone group than the control in both of visual score (p = 0.006) and computer analysis (p < 0.001). The decline in VC correlated significantly with the increase in fibrotic lesion (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

CT can be used to assess pirfenidone-induced slowing of progression of pulmonary fibrosis.     

MSCT后处理技术诊断特发性脊柱侧凸畸形的临床价值

目的：探讨MSCT后处理技术在特发性青少年脊柱侧凸畸形中的临床价值。方法：搜集2008年～2009年我院特发性青少年脊柱侧凸畸形病例25例,均行脊柱X线正、侧位片,MSCT检查及三维重建。在经验丰富的外科医生指导下进行Lenke分型、腰椎侧凸修正分型、胸椎矢状面后凸分型,并结合MSCT后处理技术影像学资料及术中数据进行综合评价,评估MSCT后处理技术在外科学脊柱侧凸分型中的应用价值。结果：Lenke Ⅰ型11例,最为多见;Lenke Ⅲ型5例,Lenke Ⅴ型7例,Lenke Ⅵ型2例。腰椎侧凸进一步分型中,A型6例,B型5例,C型14例。胸椎侧凸矢状面进一步分型,正常20例,后凸角度增大2例,后凸角度减小3例。结论：MSCT后处理技术是Lenke分型的补充,也是Lenke分型弯曲类型、腰弯修正型、胸椎矢状面修正型三种基本类型有机、立体、直观的结合在一起的桥梁。     

Growth-mechanism of giant intracranial aneurysms; demonstration by CT and MR imaging

Summary In four cases of giant intracranial aneurysm, CT demonstrated a hyperdense open-, or closed-ring structure at the periphery of the aneurysm. Surgery in two of the cases demonstrated that this peripheral hyperdensity represents fresh clot inside the wall of the thrombosed mass. An analogy is established between giant intracranial aneurysms, chronic subdural hematomas and growing encapsulated intracerebral hematomas. The common feature of the three entities is slow growth by recurrent hemorrhages into the lesion. It is proven that growth of chronic subdural hematomas and of growing encapsulated hematomas is related to recurrent hemorrhage from capillaries sprouting within the membrane of the lesion. The highly vascularized membranous wall of a giant intracranial aneurysm seems to behave like the membrane of a chronic subdural hematoma. It is suggested that the giant intracranial aneurysm grows by recurrent hemorrhage into its wall and behaves like growing encapsulated hematomas.     

High-resolution MR imaging of juxtasellar meningiomas with CT and angiographic correlation

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative merits of MR imaging, CT, and angiography in the preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up of patients with juxtasellar meningiomas. High-resolution MR studies in nine patients with juxtasellar meningiomas were evaluated and compared with CT and angiography. The techniques were compared for the evaluation of suprasellar, parasellar, and intrasellar extension, as well as for vascular displacement or encasement, postoperative recurrence or residual calcification, and bone changes. MR provided additional information considered significant by the neurosurgeon when compared with CT, and MR was considered superior to CT in the juxtasellar area. Although MR does not obviate angiography, in many cases angiographic findings were predictable by MR.     

扩散峰度成像对特发性全身性癫痫白质改变的研究

目的:探讨扩散峰度成像(DKI)对特发性全身性癫痫(IGE)患者脑白质细微结构的改变特征,并分析其与癫痫患者生活质量评分(QOLIE-31)的相关性。方法:招募20例IGE患者作为IGE组,19名性别、年龄及教育程度与IGE组相匹配的志愿者作为健康对照(HC)组,分别采集其全脑结构像3D T₁WI、T₂WI FLAIR和DKI数据,计算DKI各参数值:各向异性分数(FA)、平均扩散系数(MD)、轴向扩散系数(AD)、径向扩散系数(RD)、平均扩散峰度(MK)、轴向扩散峰度(AK)、径向扩散峰度(RK)、扩散峰度各向异性(FAK),采用两样本t检验比较组间DKI各参数差异。采用Pearson相关分析对差异有统计学意义的脑白质DKI参数与QOLIE-31评分进行相关性分析。结果:与HC组相比,IGE组左侧下纵束FAK升高(t=-2.31,P=0.032);左侧上辐射冠(t=-2.69,P=0.010)、左侧上额枕束(t=-2.85,P=0.007)、右侧上额枕束(t=-2.77,P=0.008)MD升高;右侧下纵束(t=2.04,P=0.048)...     

Castleman's disease of the spleen: CT, MR imaging and angiographic findings

Since Castleman and Towne [Castleman and Towne, Hyperplasia of mediastinal lymph nodes, New Engl. J. Med. 250 (1954), 26-30] first described hyperplasia of the mediastinal lymph nodes in 1954, many cases of Castleman's disease have been reported. Lesions originating in the spleen arc extremely rare, and we here describe the imaging appearances for such a case, and discuss with a brief review of the literature.     

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in giant cell tumor of bone

In six cases of giant cell tumor the magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained with various pulse sequences and field strengths were compared to the corresponding computed tomography (CT) scans and plain roentgenograms. MRI was superior to CT and plain films in demonstrating areas of tissue inhomogeneity within the tumor as well as soft tissue extension. CT was superior in demonstrating cortical thinning. Multiplanar imaging capability and visualization of articular cartilage may demonstrate intra-articular tumor spread. The characteristic MRI findings with short TR/TE (T1-weighting) and long TR/TE (T2-weighting) are described. We also describe one case where serial MR scans were used to assess response to therapy.