[en] US has been widely used for the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. However, only a few reports have addressed its specific value in the diagnosis of endometrioma. A characteristic appearance - a round-shaped, homogeneously hypoechoic mass containing low-level echoes within the ovary - has been reported to be seen in 82% to 89% of the patients with endometriosis. Occasionally, however, endometriosis may show diverse US appearance that may mimic other ovarian pathology including ovarian cancer. The purpose of this exhibit is to demonstrate the US findings of endometriosis with emphasis on atypical presentations and to describe differential diagnoses of endometriosis on US. Pathologically proven 97 cases of endometrioma in 80 women were included in this study. US findings were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed in each patient for the following items; morphological types (I-V), internal echoes (I-IV), wall thickness, presence or absence of septation, mural nodule, solid component, echogenic foci, and daughter cyst, and blood flow patterns on color Doppler US. In addition, the US findings of 10 patients who were falsely diagnosed as endometriosis preoperatively but confirmed later to have other pathology were also analyzed.

[en] To describe the normal sonographic anatomy of the submandibular duct and to assess the value of sonography in the diagnosis of sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland Using continuous injection of saline via a sialography needle, we evaluated the normal sonographic anatomy of the submandibular duct in healthy volunteers(n=5). We also reviewed sonographic findings in 47 patients with(n=29) or without(n=18) stones. In each case, the presence or absence of stone was proved by sialography or surgery. In control subjects, sonography accurately depicted the ductal anatomy of the submandibular glands and its relationship with adjacent tissues. For the detection of stones, sonography had a sensitivity of 86%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 91%. For ductal dilatation, its sensitivity was 91%, its specificity, 100%, and its accuracy, 94%. In 68% of cases with stones, a circumferential low echoic rim surrounding the stone(^rim sign⁾ was present on sonogram. Ultrasound is a useful procedure and could replace sialography in most patients with sialolithiasis of the submandibular gland

[en] The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy and usefulness of three dimensional CT, plain radiography and two-dimensional axial CT in cases of maxillofacial fracture. Plain radiography, two dimensional axial CT, and three dimensional helical CT images of eighty-two maxillofacial fractures in 45 patients were retrospectively analyzed according to detectability of fracture and displacement. The diagnostic accuracy of each modality was analysed using the Ridit method. Two- and three- dimensional CT were superior to plain radiography in evaluating fracture and displacement (p=0.001, 0.039), though the type of CT used did not cause significantly variation in the accuracy with which fracture and different were diagnosed. Three dimensional helical CT is useful not only in the detection of fracture but in the evaluation of displaced maxillofacial fractures, especially if these are multiple and the complex

[en] To evaluate the interobserver variation in interpretation of the mammographic findings suggesting malignancy. Sixty-two mammograms of proven breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed by 5 radiologists based on the 15 findings that suggest malignancy. Using kappa value, the degree of interobserver agreement was calculated. There were fair to excellent interobserver agreements for 5 findings which were clustered microcalcifications(k=0.7642), ductal calcifications (k=0.5463), lobulated mass(k=0.4539), asymmetric breast parenchyma(k=0.4487) and nipple retraction(k=0.1572), duct ectasia(k=0.0200). The most reliable finding suggesting breast cancer was clustered microcalcifications

[en] To determine the usefulness of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and to compare TRUS with intravenous urography (IVU) in the evaluation of distal ureteral calculi. TRUS and IVU were performed in 24 patients with distal ureteral calculi. Using TRUS, we evaluated the presence and size of calculus, type of ureteral jet at the affected site and diameter of ureter proximal to calculus, and using IVU evaluated the presence and size of calculus, degree of ureteral obstruction, and degree of hydroureter. TRUS and IVU findings, were compared. In each patient, TRUS detected calculus of the distal ureter;in only 18 cases (75%), were the calculi demonstrated with IVU. In 18 cases where calculi were detected by both modalities, average calculus size was 4.5x3.0mm (longest and shortest dimensions) by IVU, and 6.1x3.7mm by TRUS. Between TRUS and IVU(p<0.05) there was a statistically significant difference in the longest dimension of calculi. Color Doppler imaging revealed three patterns of ureteral jets in TRUS:normal periodic jet (7 cases);continuous low-level flow (8 cases); and no detectable jet (9 cases). There was a positive correlation between type of ureteral jets on TRUS and between degree of obstruction on IVU (r=0.59, p<0.05). There was, however, no significant correlation between diameter of ureter proximal to calculus on TRUS and degree of hydroureter on IVU (r=0.32, p>0.05). TRUS appears to be a useful adjunctive method for the evaluation of distal ureteral calculus

[en] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of contrast enhancement in assessing the depth of stromal invasion in patients with uterine cervical tumors by comparing dynamic and late contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging with T2-weighted MR imaging. Of 58 surgically proven uterine cervical cancer patients, 31 in whom tumors were detected on MRI were included in this study. Using a 1.5 T magnet, T2-weighted imaging contrast-enhanced dynamic and T1-weighted MR imaging were performed. In each MR imaging sequence, tumor visualization, margin delineation, enhancement pattern and depth of stromal invasion were evaluated on sagittal images and were correlated with pathological findings of resected uterus, focusing on the depth of stromal invasion. Surgical FIGO stages were IBI in 20 patients, IB2 in three, IIA in six, and IIB in two. A tumor was detected in 29 (94%) patients on T2-weighted images, in 26 (84%) on dynamic contrast enhanced images, and in 28 (90%) on contrast enhanced T1-weighted images. The tumor demonstrated a clear margin in 22 (71%) patients on late contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, in 21 (68%) on dynamic images, and in 13 (42%) on T2-weighted images. Correlated with pathologic findings, the depth of stromal invasion was overestimated on T2-weighted images in eight (26%) patients, and on dynamic and late contrast-enhanced T1-Weighted images in three (10%) and three (10%), respectively. Tumor margins are clearer and the extent of tumors may be more accurately evaluated on dynamic MR and late contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging. These sequences thus seem to be useful and superior to T2-weighted imaging for assessing the depth of stromal invasion in patients with cervical carcinoma. =20

[en] To determine the usefulness of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in the evaluation of normal and abnormal fetuses. Forty-one pregnant women who bore a total of 31 normal and ten abnormal fetuses underwent conventional ultrasonography (CUS), and then THI and PIHI. US images of six organ systems, namely the brain, spine, heart, abdomen, extremities and face were compared between the three techniques in terms of overall conspicuity and the definition of borders and internal structures. For the brain, heart, abdomen and face, overall conspicuity at THI and PIHI was significantly better than at CUS (p < 0.05). There was, though, no significant difference between THI and PIHI. Affected organs in abnormal fetuses were more clearly depicted at THI and PIHI than at CUS. Both THI and PIHI appear to be superior to CUS for the evaluation of normal or abnormal structures, particularly the brain, heart, abdomen and face