Bone metastases as the presenting manifestation of rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood

Rarely, rhabdomyosarcoma can present with bone pain and bone lesions on radiographs without evidence of a primary tumor. Of 428 children with biopsyproven rhabdomyosarcoma, four presented with radiographic evidence of bone metastases, but no primary tumor was found on subsequent evaluation. On radiographs, these metastases, located most commonly in the metaphyses of the extremities and in the spine, displayed a destructive or diffusely permeative pattern without sclerotic margins and mimicked the more common neuroblastoma. One patient also had diaphyseal cortical lytic metastases of the tibia. Radiographs defined metastases of the extremities better than the correlative bone scans. In the spine, on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, metastases displayed high signal intensity which contrasted with the low-signal-intensity marrow in these pediatric patients. On histopathologic examination, metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma was composed of small cells of variable size, shape, and growth pattern similar to other round cell tumors. A positive desmin immunohistochemical test helped to establish the diagnosis. The radiologist, pathologist, and clinician should be aware of this unusual presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma so that suitable immunohistochemical tests are performed and appropriate chemotherapy given.     

Evaluation of cardiac tumors with magnetic resonance imaging

Primary cardiac neoplasms are rare, and are more commonly benign than malignant. However, metastases are by far the most common cardiac neoplasms. MRI allows evaluation of myocardial infiltration, pericardial involvement and/or extracardiac extension. MRI overcomes the usual limitations of echocardiography and assesses more accurately changes in cardiac function. Specific tumoral characterization is only possible in cases of myxoma, lipoma, fibroma and hemangioma. Suggestive features of malignancy are right side location, extracardiac extension, inhomogeneity in signal intensity of the tumor and pericardial effusion. The use of intravenous contrast material improves tumor characterization and depiction of tumor borders. MRI also allows differentiation of tumor from other nontumoral masses such as intracavitary tumors or fibromuscular elements of the posterior wall of the right atrium.     

A fully automated determination of the left ventricular region of interest in nuclear angiocardiography

The precise delineation of the left ventricular projection area is an essential part in the quantitative analysis of nuclear angiocardiograms. We have devised an algorithm that permits automation of this step, based on a one-dimensional Laplace operator whose kernel is 2, 2, −2, −4, −2, 2, 2. The operator characteristically enhances “valleys” more than edges and, therefore, favors septal and the valve plane detection. The operator is applied vertically, horizontally, and along both diagonals. Each pass is immediately followed by a local maximum search during which the image resulting from the Laplacian operator is reduced to a binary one, with zeros everywhere except where a local maximum was found along the path of the operator. This resultant image yields a closed “edge” around the left ventricle, even though many structures outside the left ventricle are also delineated. However, the centroid of the ventricle is defined from functional criteria and the region of interest is defined from centroid to first edge. The method has been applied to first-pass and gated studies in anterior and 45° left anterior oblique views. In 100 successive cases the ejection fraction obtained automatically was compared to the manual result. The regression equation yielded the relation: automatic method (%)=1.7+1.0 manual method (%)±2% (r=0.995), which is not significantly different from the identity relation. The failure rate was low (13%) but varied from 28% in first-pass studies in the anterior view, to less than 8% in gated studies in the left anterior oblique projection.     

Fatigue Stress Fractures of the Pubic Ramus in the Army: Imaging Features with Radiographic, Scintigraphic and MR Imaging Findings

Although fatigue fractures are not unusual in athletes and military personnel those of the pubic ramus are rare. We report three cases of fatigue fractures of the inferior pubic rami in two male recruits and one female military cadet. On the initial radiograph, most of the lesions were subtle and easy to overlook. However, bone scintigraphy provided more distinct images that allowed easy and early detection of lesions, and MR imaging presented more diagnostic information, which allowed a precise diagnosis.     

WB-DWI在恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移中的应用

目的:探讨磁共振全身弥散加权成像(whole body diffusion-weighted imaging,WB-DWI)在恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移瘤中的应用价值。方法:对110例疑似恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移患者行WB-DWI检查,并于扫描后1周内对可疑骨转移部位及原发恶性肿瘤部位行常规MRI/CT检查。根据MRI/CT及临床综合诊断结果,将所有患者分为淋巴结转移组及非淋巴结转移组,对资料进行统计学分析,比较单独应用WB-DWI、MRI/CT及二者联合应用(WB-DWI+MRI/CT)在恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移中的诊断价值。分别测定淋巴结转移组及非淋巴结转移组的ADC值,比较其在良恶性病变鉴别诊断中的价值。结果:①将淋巴结按长径大小分为<2cm,2～3cm,>3cm,WB-DWI、MRI/CT及WB-DWI+MRI/CT对长径<2cm淋巴结转移的检出差异具有统计学意义。进一步两两比较,单独应用MRI/CT与WB-DWI+MRI/CT的差异具有统计学意义(χ2=6.519,P=0.011)。②ROC分析结果显示,WB-DWI+MRI/CT诊断恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移的特异度、诊断准确性、阳性预测值及阴性预测值诊断最高。③淋巴结转移组ADC值明显低于良性淋巴结病变组,在良恶性淋巴结转移鉴别诊断中具有一定作用。结论:WB-DWI是常规MRI、CT的有益补充,与MRI/CT的联合应用可以提高恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移的诊断率,结合ADC值测定,在恶性肿瘤淋巴结转移诊断和鉴别方面具有一定价值。     

Imaging Findings of Coronary Artery Fistula in Children: A Pictorial Review

Coronary artery fistula, defined as an abnormal communication between the coronary arteries and a cardiac chamber (most commonly) or a thoracic great vessel, may result in hemodynamically significant problems due to vascular shunting in children. Echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, cardiac MRI, and cardiac CT may be used to evaluate coronary artery fistula in children. Recently, CT has played a pivotal role for the accurate diagnosis of coronary artery fistula in children. Surgical or interventional treatment is performed for hemodynamically significant coronary artery fistulas. In this pictorial review, the detailed imaging findings of coronary artery fistula in children are described.     

Right aortic arch with isolation of the left innominate artery

Isolation of the left innominate artery and right aortic arch, a rare variant of right aortic arch anomalies, was diagnosed in a four-year-old boy with other congenital cardiac anomalies. Isolation of vessels from the aortic arch is predicted from the primitive double aortic arch model of Edwards. In this patient there was no evidence of a vascular ring or of a significant subclavian steal syndrome.     

应用DSA、CT和经肠系膜上动脉门静脉灌注CT成像研究肝转移瘤的血液供应

目的 探讨DSA、CT和经肠系膜上动脉门静脉灌注CT成像对肝转移瘤的血液供应显示状况.方法 回顾性分析100例原发病灶经手术和(或)病理证实的肝转移瘤患者资料,均进行了CT平扫、多期CT增强扫描、选择性腹腔动脉和超选择性肝固有动脉DSA检查,其中,56例还经肠系膜上动脉插管行肠系膜上动脉的门静脉灌注CT成像(P(1TAP)检查,计算转移瘤中心区域、肿瘤边缘、门静脉和正常肝实质的时间-密度曲线(TDC)灰度密度(K值),观察肝转移瘤血液供应来源.DSA图像用Photoshop软件进行定量分析,CT图像用去卷积灌注软件进行分析.结果 DSA表现:肝固有动脉造影TDC显示肿瘤中心K值峰值平均为(67±12)%,肿瘤边缘K值峰值平均为(76±15)%,正常肝实质K值峰值平均为(51±10)%.腹腔动脉造影TDC显示,肿瘤中心及肿瘤边缘K值表现为快速上升,然后为缓慢上升的平台,而正常肝实质则呈现持续缓慢上升的态势.PCTAP扫描表现:肿瘤在30 s的时间内,密度变化几乎呈直线,无增强表现.结论 肝动脉是肝转移瘤的主要血液供应来源,门静脉几乎不参与肝转移瘤血液供应.     

室间隔缺损封堵术后左心功能的超声评价

目的应用超声心动图评价Amplatzer封堵器治疗室间隔缺损(VSD)患者于封堵术前后左心功能的变化。方法观察28例VSD患者封堵术前、术后1个月和术后6个月左室舒张末期内径(EDD)、舒张末期容积(EDV)、收缩末期容积()ESV、每搏输出量()SV、射血分数()和短轴缩短率()大小及变化。结果封堵术后1个月较术前差异具有显著性意义,EDDEFFS(P<0.05),EDV(P<0.001)ESV(P<0.05)SV(P<0.001)EF,FS无明显变化;封堵术后6个月,6项指标均恢复正常,较,,,术前差异具有显著性意义(P<0.001)。结论超声引导下VSD封堵术能够有效的改善VSD患者的左心功能。     

Sonographic evaluation of orthotopic bladder tumors in mice treated with TNP-470, an angiogenic inhibitor

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using transabdominal ultrasonography (US) to monitor tumor growth and response to therapy in a mouse model of orthotopic bladder carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human bladder carcinoma cell suspensions were injected into the bladders of 18 SCID mice, allowed to grow for 3 weeks, and monitored weekly with gray-scale US. After 23 days, five animals were treated with TNP-470, an angiogenic inhibitor, and five control animals were treated with saline solution. US images were evaluated for tumor location, size, and neovascularity. All untreated animals (n = 8) were imaged and sacrificed at 25 days. Eight of the treated animals were imaged and sacrificed after 14 days of treatment. US findings for both groups were compared with autopsy findings. RESULTS: While saline-treated tumors continued to grow, the growth of TNP-470-treated tumors was arrested within 7 days of therapy (P < .02). Tumors as small as 1.5 mm were identified prospectively with US. US volume estimates correlated well with autopsy volume measurements (r2 = 1.0, P < .0001). Although tumor neovascularity was identified in every animal, the pattern of neovascularity did not correlate with tumor volume or therapy. CONCLUSION: US can provide accurate intermediate end points for monitoring experimental intraabdominal tumor growth and response to therapy in the mouse model.     

Use of CT in the evaluation of primary cardiac tumors

Two cases of primary cardiac sarcomas diagnosed with CT are presented. CT demonstrated the origin, extent, and potential pathology of the tumors. In both cases CT provided more specific information for diagnosis and treatment planning than the 2D echocardiography. The advantages of CT in the detection of cardiac tumors as well as its potential advantages over 2D echocardiography are also discussed.     

Anomalous Origin of the Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery in Children and Adults: A Pictorial Review of Cardiac Imaging Findings

Anomalous origin of the coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare and potentially fatal congenital heart defect. Up to 90% of infants with an anomaly involving the left coronary artery die within the first year of life if left untreated. Patients who survive beyond infancy are at risk of sudden cardiac death. Cardiac CT and MRI are increasingly being used for the accurate diagnosis of this anomaly for prompt surgical restoration of the dual coronary artery system. Moreover, life-long imaging surveillance after surgery is necessary for these patients. In this pictorial review, multimodal cardiac imaging findings of this rare and potentially fatal coronary artery anomaly are comprehensively discussed, and representative images are provided to facilitate the understanding of this anomaly.     

Delayed 99mTc-labeled erythrocyte scintigraphy in patients with lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage: effect of positive findings on clinical management

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine whether the results of delayed technetium 99m (99mTc)-labeled erythrocyte scintigraphy for lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage resulted in different clinical management and outcome from that in cases in which the results of initial scintigraphy were negative or equivocal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed all 398 99mTc-labeled erythrocyte scintigraphic studies obtained emergently for lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage at their institution between January 1, 1994, and December 7, 2001. Of 67 patients who underwent delayed studies, 37 had positive findings (average delay, 18.4 hours; range, 6-25 hours) and 30 had negative findings (average delay, 20.1 hours; range, 8-26 hours). Clinical management and outcome were compared between these two groups with respect to duration of hospitalization, volume of blood transfusion, mortality, and the percentage who were treated conservatively or referred for angiography, endoscopy, and/or surgery. RESULTS: Patients with positive delayed studies were referred more frequently for angiography than those with negative studies (35% vs 0%, P < .01). There were no significant differences between patients with positive findings and patients with negative findings with respect to mortality (8% vs 0%, P < .32), transfusion requirements (5.6 vs 3.2 units, P < .20), hospitalization (9.5 vs 6.1 days, P < .11), the percentage treated conservatively (35% vs 37%, P < .90), or the percentages referred for endoscopy (49% vs 60%, P < .50) or for surgery (24% vs 17%, P < .64). CONCLUSION: Positive findings at delayed scintigraphy resulted in increased referrals for angiography but had no other effect on clinical course or outcome of lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage.     

Tumors of the cardiac valves: imaging findings in magnetic resonance imaging, electron beam computed tomography, and echocardiography

We describe the findings from various cross-sectional imaging modalities in patients with cardiac valve adherent masses. The techniques are discussed, and imaging findings are compared with the results of cardiac surgery. All three patients had neurological symptoms and/or cardiac murmurs. Transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography revealed the cardiac mass in all three. For differentiation of thrombus and cardiac neoplasm magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was also performed in all three patients and electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) in two. Fast segmented cine gradient-echo MRI techniques provided mass depiction in all patients, while T1-weighted spin-echo imaging failed in mass detection in one patient. None of the patients showed evidence of valve regurgitation or stenosis in flow sensitive cine MRI. EBCT excluded mass calcifications in both patients and reliably demonstrated the valve attached lesions. Although echocardiography is the modality of choice in evaluating cardiac masses and especially valve attached masses, MRI and EBCT provide additional information about tissue characteristics and allows an excellent overview of the cardiac and paracardiac morphology. Fast segmented cine gradient-echo MRI is especially able to depict even small tumors attached to rapidly moving cardiac valves, and valve competence can be easily assessed within the same examination. Received: 17 December 1998; Revision received: 1 June 1999; Accepted: 10 August 1999     

Potential of diffusion imaging in brain tumors: a review

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a method for quantifying the microscopic random motion of water molecules in tissues. Diffusion imaging provides indirect structural information of a kind not available on basic MRI sequences of many pathological conditions. Lately, especially brain tumors have been under active investigation, with numerous papers already published, and their number continues to increase. This review summarizes the heterogeneous and complex research data on diffusion imaging of brain tumors.     

Preoperative detection of hepatic metastases: Comparison of diffusion-weighted, T2-weighted fast spin echo and gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging using surgical and histopathologic findings as standard of reference

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the respective sensitivities of diffusion-weighted (DW), T2-weighted fast spin-echo (T2WFSE) and gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging in the preoperative detection of hepatic metastases using intraoperative ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings as the standard of reference.

Materials and methods

Twenty-seven patients with 64 surgically and histopathologically proven hepatic metastases had MR imaging of the liver, including DW, T2WFSE and dynamic gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging. Images from each MR sequence were separately analyzed by two readers with disagreements resolved by consensus readings. The findings on MR images were compared with intraoperative ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings on a lesion-by-lesion basis to determine the sensitivity of each MR sequence. Statistical review of the lesion-by-lesion analysis was performed with the McNemar test.

Results

DW, T2WFSE and gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging allowed the depiction of 54/64 (84.4%; 95% CI: 73.1-92.2%), 44/64 (68.8%; 95% CI: 55.9-79.8%), and 51/64 (79.7%; 95% CI: 67.8-88.7%) hepatic metastases respectively. DW MR images allowed depiction of significantly more hepatic metastases than did T2WFSE and was equivalent to gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging (P = .002 and P = .375, respectively).

Conclusion

DW MR imaging is superior to T2WFSE imaging and equivalent to gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging for the preoperative detection of hepatic metastases. Further studies however are needed to determine at what extent DW MR imaging can be used as an alternative to gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR imaging for the preoperative depiction of hepatic metastases.     

Effects of ami-25 on liver vessels and tumors on T1-weighted turbo-field-echo images: Implications for tumor characterization

This study was devoted to tumor differentiation in liver MR T1-weighted imaging with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). Twenty-one patients with 40 liver lesions were studied at 1.5 T. Before and at least 45 minutes after SPIO administration, turbo-field-echo (TFE) T1-weighted, TFE T1 × T2*-weighted (MXT), and fat-suppressed turbo-spin-echo T2-weighted images were acquired. A quantitative analysis was performed blindly. On TFE T1-weighted images, the signal enhancement was ?33% ± 12 for the liver, ?24% ± 2 for adenomas and focal nodular hyperplasia, +60% ± 33 for the hemangiomas; metastases and cyst enhancement were not significant. After SPIO on TFE T1-weighted images, the hemangioma-to-liver signal ratio (149% ± 18) was definitely higher than the mean metastasis-to-liver signal ratio (90% ± 16). This T1-related differentiation ability lacked dramatically on TFE MXT images and, in one case, was reduced on post-SPIO TFE T1-weighted images by a long imaging delay after SPIO administration (2 hours).     

CT能谱单能量成像对不同肝脏肿瘤检出影响的初步探讨

目的 初步探讨能谱CT单能量成像对不同肝脏肿瘤检出的影响.方法 回顾性分析42例肝脏肿瘤患者(14例肝细胞癌、12例肝转移瘤、16例肝血管瘤)的临床和影像资料.患者均行CT能谱成像动脉期、门静脉期和静脉期扫描,获得140 kVp混合能量图像和70 keV单能量图像.对2组图像进行主观图像质量评分,测量肝实质噪声和肿瘤-肝实质的对比噪声比(CNR),2组间比较采用配对t检验.记录不同肿瘤在不同期相的病灶检出数量,采用百分数进行对比分析.结果 在70 keV图像和140 kVp图像上,不同肿瘤在不同期相的图像质量评分分别为(4.30±0.25)和(3.63±0.22)分;肝实质噪声分别为(8.82±0.82)和(10.66±1.10);CNR分别为5.39和3.89,70 keV图像均优于140 kVp图像,差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.05).除动脉期肝转移瘤、动脉期肝血管瘤在2组图像上的检出率相同外,不同肿瘤在不同期相70 keV图像的病灶检出率(78%～100%)均高于140 kVp图像(65%～96%),以小病灶(＜1 cm)检出率增高最为明显(分别为57%～100%和14%～91%).结论 能谱CT 70 keV单能量图像通过改善图像质量并增加肿瘤与肝实质的对比,有利于肝脏肿瘤的检出,对检出小病灶更敏感.     

Malignant liver lesions: Comparison of spiral CT arterial portography and MR imaging for diagnostic accuracy,cost, and effect on patient management

We compared two imaging techniques, spiral CT arterial portography (CTAP) and MR imaging, for diagnostic accuracy, procedural cost, and effect on management of 26 patients referred for hepatic surgery for suspected limited malignant liver disease. CTAP and MR imaging were done within a 1-week period (19 within 24 hours); the results of the studies were interpreted prospectively by separate reviewers. Surgical data were evaluated in conjunction with imaging data in 10 patients. Lesion detection and segmental involvement were determined and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Procedural cost was determined from hospital billing codes. Effect on patient management was determined by the referring oncologic surgeon. CTAP and MR imaging showed 185 and 176 true-positive malignant lesions, 15 and zero false-positive malignant lesions, zero and 18 true-negative malignant lesions, and 13 and 22 falsenegative malignant lesions, respectively. CTAP and MR imaging showed 107 and 105 true-positive segments, 11 and zero false-positive segments, 80 and 91 true-negative segments, and four and six false-negative segments, respectively. There was a significant difference in specificity of segmental involvement between MR imaging (1.0 ± 0) compared with CTAP (0.88 ± 0.05), P=.03. Total procedural cost was $3,499 for CTAP and $1,224 for MR imaging. CTAP findings did not change patient management over MR imaging findings in any patient, whereas MR imaging findings resulted in a change in patient management over CTAP findings in seven patients (P=.015). The results of our study suggest that MR imaging has higher diagnostic accuracy and greater effect on patient management than CTAP does and is 64% less expensive.