[en] The transfemoral arterial approach is used to gain access for angiography, percutaneous coronary interventions, or various endovascular therapies. To decrease the risk of procedure-related vascular complications, it is recommended to puncture the common femoral artery in its middle segment. However, due to inadequate access or anatomical variability, various complications, including hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, thrombosis, or dissection, can occur after transfemoral arterial interventions. Duplex ultrasound has proven to be an excellent noninvasive modality that provides not only anatomic but also hemodynamic information, effectively detecting and differentiating various femoral puncture-related complications. Radiologists should be familiar with the characteristic sonographic findings of the entire spectrum of transfemoral puncture-related vascular complications for early detection and proper treatment

[en] To evaluate the sonographic features and assess the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in recurrent parotitis during childhood which is characterized by intermittent, unilateral or bilateral painful swellings of the parotid glands. Ten children (5 boys and 5 girls, age between 2-14 yrs), who complained for more than two times of painful swellings in the parotid gland without underlying systemic diseases, were studied by a high resolution with 7MHz linear transducer. The parotid glands (n=20) were evaluated in their size, parenchymal echogenecity and vascular signals on the color Doppler study. CT was also performed at 3 children and sialography was used on 1 child. Follow-ups on ultrasonography were performed on 5 children from 3 months to 2 years since the initial sonographic examination. Ultrasonography demonstrated abnormalities in the 13 parotid glands, enlarged diffusion (n=9); decrease in diffusion of parenchymal echoes with multiple small round hypoechoic lesions measuring about 1-4 mm in diameter (n=13); increased color Doppler vascular signals (n=10). There was symptomatic glands (n=12) and an asymptomatic gland (n=1). CT revealed multiple tiny low density lesions scattered about in the inhomogenously enhanced parotid glands. Sialography showed minimal sialectasis of the peripheral ducts. Follow-ups on sonogreaphy demonstrated near complete subsidence of enlargement, increased Doppler vascular signals, and persistence of multiple small hypoechoic lesions of the parotid glands in 6 cases who were clinically free of symptoms. In 1 case, multiple hypoechoic lesions were newly developed in the previously healthy parotid gland. The sonography features of features of recurrent parotitis in childhood were decreased diffusion of the parenchymal echoes with multiple small round hypoechoic areas and increased Doppler flow signals. We consider the sonographic evaluation of the parotid gland with the color Doppler study to be useful in diagnosing and monitoring the progress of recurrent parotitis in childhood.

[en] The purpose of this study is to evaluate the signal characteristics of intracranial hemorrhage, as seen on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR imaging according to various stages, and to compare FLAIR imaging with spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging. We retrospectively evaluated fast FLAIR images along with spin-echo T1- and T2 weighted MR images of 32 lesions in 25 patients (12 males and 14 females, aged 3 - 84 yrs) with intracranial hemorrhagic lesions. For imaging, 1.5 T unit was used, and the nature of the lesions was found to be as follows : intracranial hemorrhage (n=15); tumor (n=9); infarction (n=4); arteriovenous malformation (n=3); and arachnoid cyst with hemorrhage (n=1). On the basis of spin-echo MR imaging, lesions were classified as acute, early subacute, late subacute, early chronic, or late chronic stage. The signal characteristics of intracranial hemorrhage were analysed in accordance with each staging, as seen on MR FLAIR imaging, and compared to the staging seen on spin-echo T1- and T-2 weighted MR imaging. The signal intensity of intracranial hemorrhage, as seen on FLAIR imaging, was not characteristic; it was similar to that of T2WI during the acute and subacute stages, and similiar to that of T1WI during the chronic stage. When used together with spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, however, FLAIR imaging may be useful for the classification of chronic intracranial hemorrhage as either early or late stage. (author). 20 refs., 2 tabs., 6 figs

[en] To assess the performance of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) technique for evaluation of coronary artery stents on coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Twenty-two patients with coronary stent implantation who underwent CCTA were retrospectively enrolled for comparison of image quality between filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and MBIR. In each data set, image noise was measured as the standard deviation of the measured attenuation units within circular regions of interest in the ascending aorta (AA) and left main coronary artery (LM). To objectively assess the noise and blooming artifacts in coronary stent, we additionally measured the standard deviation of the measured attenuation and intra-luminal stent diameters of total 35 stents with dedicated software. All image noise measured in the AA (all p < 0.001), LM (p < 0.001, p = 0.001) and coronary stent (all p < 0.001) were significantly lower with MBIR in comparison to those with FBP or ASIR. Intraluminal stent diameter was significantly higher with MBIR, as compared with ASIR or FBP (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). MBIR can reduce image noise and blooming artifact from the stent, leading to better in-stent assessment in patients with coronary artery stent

[en] We aimed to describe the imaging findings of multidetector CT coronary angiography (MDCTA) in cases of vasospastic angina (VA) and to determine the accuracy of MDCTA in the identification of VA as compared with invasive coronary angiography with an ergonovine provocation test (CAG with an EG test). Fifty-three patients with clinically suspected VA were enrolled in this study. Two radiologists analyzed the stenosis degree, presence or absence of plaque, plaque composition, and a remodeling index of the related-segment in CAG with an EG test, which were used as a gold standard. We evaluated the diagnostic performances of MDCTA by comparing the MDCTA findings with those of CAG with an EG test. Among the 25 patients with positive CAG with an EG test, all 12 patients with significant stenosis showed no definite plaque with the negative arterial remodeling. Of the six patients with insignificant stenosis, three (50%) had non-calcified plaque (NCP), two (33%) had mixed plaque, and one (17%) had calcified plaque. When the criteria for significant stenosis with negative remodeling but no definite evidence of plaque as a characteristic finding of MDCTA were used, results showed sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of 48%, 100%, 100%, and 68%, respectively. Significant stenosis with negative remodeling, but no definite evidence of plaque, is the characteristic finding on MDCTA of VA. Cardiac MDCTA shows good diagnostic performance with high specificity and PPV as compared with CAG with an EG test.

[en] To evaluate the prevalence of coexistent coronary artery disease (CAD) or myocardial bridging (MB) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and assess the role of CCTA. The prevalence of obstructive CAD (> 50% luminal reduction) and MB (partial and full encasement) were assessed in 150 patients with HCM diagnosed by clinical findings, electrocardiography, and echocardiography of 19588 consecutive patients who underwent CCTA for suspected CAD. The overall feasibility of coronary artery visualization was 98.9% with CCTA. In patients with HCM, the prevalence of obstructive CAD and MB (14.7% partial and 28.0% full encasement) were 23.3% and 42.7%, respectively. Age, hypertension, family history of premature CAD, Framingham risk score and severe chest pain were associated with CAD, whereas male gender and septal type were associated with MB (all p < 0.05). In comparison to invasive coronary angiography (n = 37), the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA for the detection of CAD and full encasement MB was 89.2% and 86.5%, respectively. One-quarter of patients with HCM had coexistent obstructive CAD or full encasement MB. CCTA can be a feasible and accurate noninvasive imaging modality for the detection of CAD and MB in patients with HCM

[en] Although the causes of hypertension are usually unknown, about 10% of the cases occur secondary to specific etiologies, which are often treatable. Common categories of secondary hypertension include renal parenchymal disease, renovascular stenosis, vascular and endocrinologic disorders. For diseases involving the renal parenchyma and adrenal glands, ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is recommended. For renovascular stenosis and vascular disorders, Doppler US, conventional or noninvasive (CT or MR) angiography is an appropriate modality. Nuclear imaging can be useful in the differential diagnosis of endocrine causes. Radiologists should understand the role of each imaging modality and its typical findings in various causes of secondary hypertension. This article focuses on appropriate imaging approaches in accordance with the categorized etiologies leading to hypertension

[en] We wanted to investigate the influence of heart rate (HR) and its variations on the CT angiography (CTA) image quality with using 16- and 64-slice multidetector CT (MDCT). Of the 200 recruited patients, 100 underwent 16-slice MDCT (M:F=74:26, median age: 55.2 ± 12.8 years) and 100 underwent 64-slice MDCT (M:F=68:32, median age: 58.4 ± 11.6 years). We evaluated the image quality with respect to the HR and the variations in the HR. The images were graded in terms of the quality of vessel depiction with using a four-point scoring system from 1 to 4, where 4 represented the best image quality. In addition, we analyzed the 16- and 64-slice MDCT images in terms of the presence and frequency of stair-step artifacts. The mean HR variation was significantly lower on 64-slice MDCT than that on 16-slice MDCT (5.48 ± 4.20 bpm vs. 10.31 ± 5.90 bpm, respectively, p < 0.05). The mean image quality score of 64-slice MDCT was significantly greater than that of 16-slice MDCT (3.40 ± 0.36 vs. 2.75 ± 0.43, respectively, p < 0.05). The frequency of stair-step artifacts was markedly greater for 16-slice MDCT (2.4 ± 3.2 vs. 0.5 ± 1.04, respectively, p < 0.05). 64-slice MDCT provides better image quality because it reduces the scan times and minimizes the HR variations

[en] To evaluate the correlation between findings of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and clinical findings in patients with internal derangement of the TMJ. Dynamic MR images of 130 joints of 65 patients (17 men and 48 women aged 14 to 74; mean age, 34) with internal derangement of the TMJ were obtained using a 1.5-T MR imaging system. MR findings of anterior displacement, disc deformity and degenerative change were correlated with clinical findings including joint pain, clicking sound, crepitation and maximal mouth opening (MMO). Among 62 joints with TMJ pain, 32 showed anterior displacement without reduction, 15 showed disc deformity and 19 showed degenerative change. Among 49 joints in which there was a clicking sound, 24, 8 and 12 joints, respectively, showed the above-mentioned findings, while in seven with crepitation, these same findings were evident in five, six and four joints, respectively. Bilateral and unilateral joint disorders were observed in 17 and five patients, respectively, among 22 with MMO less than 30mm and in 11 and 18 of 42 patients with MMO between 30mm and 60mm. On MR imaging, patients with MMO less than 30mm usually showed bilateral joint disorders and those with crepitation showed chronic change. This indicates that there is high association between clinical findings of internal derangement of TMJ and MR findings

[en] We wanted to determine whether the amount and shape of the anterior mediastinal fat in the patients suffering with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) was different from those of the normal control group. We selected patients who suffered with UIP (n 26) and NSIP (n = 26) who had undergone CT scans. Twenty-six controls were selected from individuals with normal CT findings and normal pulmonary function tests. All three groups (n = 78) were individually matched for age and gender. The amounts of anterior mediastinal fat, and the retrosternal anteroposterior (AP) and transverse dimensions of the anterior mediastinal fat were compared by one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni's test. The shapes of the anterior mediastinum were compared using the Chi-square test. Exact logistic regression analysis and polychotomous logistic regression analysis were employed to assess whether the patients with NSIP or UIP had a tendency to show a convex shape of their anterior mediastinal fat. The amount of anterior mediastinal fat was not different among the three groups (p 0.175). For the UIP patients, the retrosternal AP dimension of the anterior mediastinal fat was shorter (p = 0.037) and the transverse dimension of the anterior mediastinal fat was longer (p = 0.001) than those of the normal control group. For the NSIP patients, only the transverse dimension was significantly longer than those of the normal control group (p < 0.001). The convex shape of the anterior mediastinum was predictive of NSIP (OR = 19.7, CI 3.32-∞, p < 0.001) and UIP (OR = 24.42, CI 4.06-∞, p < 0.001). For UIP patients, the retrosternal AP and transverse dimensions are different from those of normal individuals, whereas the amounts of anterior mediastinal fat are similar. UIP and NSIP patients have a tendency to have a convex shape of their anterior mediastinal fat