[en] Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the combinational therapy of TAE and PEI of massive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods: Thirty patients with massive HCC without metastasis were treated with PEI for 5 times after 2 weeks therapy of TAE. Results: All cases were followed up for month to 3 years. The efficiency was 94%. Conclusion: It is an effective therapy in treatment of massive HCC with combination of TAE and PEI

[en] The imaging features and diagnosis of primary intraosseous meningioma were studied. Eight cases of primary intraosseous meningioma examined with plain film, angiogram and CT were reviewed. Seven cases of benign primary intraosseous meningioma showed intraosseous expansible growth; one malignant tumor appeared as an osteolytic growth on plain film and CT scan. Six cases were hyperdense (65-85 HU) on plain CT scan, five cases demonstrated marked enhancement on postcontrast CT scan. Angiogram revealed external carotid artery feeding the tumor in 4 cases and one case was normal. Conclusion: Combining the findings of plain film, angiogram and CT scan, it is possible to make a diagnosis of intraosseous meningioma

[en] To investigate the best method in the quality control (QC) of intra-operative cholangiography, materials and methods: The radiographs in 166 cases of intra-operative cholangraphy from Feb. 1994 to Sept. 1995 were analyzed and compared by the following items: the radiographic parameters, visualization of the common bile duct, common hepatic duct, the left and right hepatic ducts and duodenum, the positioning of X-ray film, the concentration of contrast media and the time of administration of contrast media. As the result of implementation of QC, the rate of successful intra-operative cholangiography was raised significantly, with poor visualization as low as 6%. QC is important to successful intra-operative cholangiography demonstrating clearly biliary stone, stenosis and obstruction as well as space occupying lesions

[en] Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of cysticercosis in the fourth ventricle by CSF cinema MRI. Materials and methods: Nine patients with intraventricular cysticercosis in the fourth ventricle were studied. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery in all cases. All of these patients were examined systematically before the operation and studied with CSF cinema MRI in mid sagittal section and finger-gated scan technique. Results: (1) The path of CSF flow was directly displayed. All cysticercosis presented as a filling defect, and a cyst with a smooth wall. (2) The ventricular compliance was normal in cysticercosis. (3) The cysticercosis in active stage was free in the fourth ventricle and could be rolled over, its shape might change slightly within a cardiac cycle. In the degenerative stage, its wall could adhere to the ependyma and obstruct the CSF flow. Conclusion: CSF cinema MRI can demonstrate the degree of obstruction and pattern of CSF flow in cysticercosis of the fourth ventricle, thereby providing useful information for proper management

[en] Purpose: To evaluate characteristics of sacroiliitis on MR imaging and to compare the MR images with findings obtained by conventional radiography and CT in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Materials and methods: Twenty-four AS patients were recruited. In each patient the conventional radiography, CT and MR imaging were completed within a week interval. In pre-contrast MR examination, SE T₁, FSE T₂ and GR T₂^* weighted images were chosen. Post-contrast MR examination was performed using the same SE T₁ sequence as the pre-contrast MR examination. Another 9 healthy volunteers underwent the same examinations as the pre-contrast MR imaging. Results: MR imaging directly showed the cartilage in the synovial compartment as a thin linear or dot zone of intermediate signal intensity on both T₁ and T₂ weighted images in all 16 sacroiliac (SI) joints of the 8 volunteers. Of the 11 SI joints in 9 volunteers, focal fat signal intensities were observed as higher signal intensity on both T₁, T₂ or T₂^* weighted images in the areas of bone marrow. Of 42 SI joints in 24 AS patients were observed the cartilage abnormalities. Cartilage abnormalities were shown either to loss of the normal thin zone of intermediate signal intensity or to become thick, irregular and crooked intermediate signal intensity on T₁ or T₂ weighted images. The sacroiliitis diagnosed by MR imaging and CT were significantly more than those by radiography (P<0.001). Conclusion: Comparing with radiographs, both CT and MR are helpful to the diagnosis of sacroiliitis in patients with AS. MR can reveal the abnormality of cartilage and bone marrow edema, which cannot shown on both CT and radiographs. Normal variant should be considered as the explanation for the fat accumulation in the bone marrow. The crooked intermediate signal should be considered as another abnormal cartilage sign

[en] The authors evaluated the therapeutic effect of superselective intrassrterial fibrinolysis (SSIF) in acute or super-acute emboli stroke. 12 cases CT showed no apparent low density area consistent with the neurological signs in 11 cases while angiography revealed occlusion of the main cerebral and internal carotid arteries in all. The authors advanced the tip of the Tracker-18 microcatheter by passing the embolus to reach a point just distal of the embolus, then started injection of UK to dissolve the embolus. In difficult cases mechanical destruction of the embolus followed by UK injection was done. SSIF possessed the advantages of high local concentration of fibrinolytic agent, high recanalization rate, low urokinase dosage and less liability of distal migration of embolic fragments. It is an effective treatment for acute or super-acute embolic stroke

[en] To improve the diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis. The CT findings of 154 cases with pancreatic carcinoma, chronic pancreatitis and mis-diagnosed other pancreatic diseases proven clinically and pathologically were analysed. Slice thickness of 8 mm and slice interval of 8 mm were used and thin-section scan and enhancement study were performed in some cases. The main signs in degassing and differential diagnosis between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis included: (1) focal or diffuse enlargement and density abnormality of pancreas; (2) dilated common bile duct was suddenly obstructed, peripancreatic blood vessels were invaded and cancerous thrombus was revealed, enlargement of abdominal lymph nodes and metastasis in the liver were discovered; (3) calcium deposit in the pancreatic duct area and dilated pancreatic duct which passed through the lesion or not; (4) presence and location of pancreatic cyst and its relationship to pancreatic contour. CT is the imaging modality of choice in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis at present. The diagnostic accuracy of CT was over 90% in this series

[en] To evaluate CT in diagnosis of carcinoma of the hypopharynx, seven cases were examined with CT, all were proved to be squamous carcinoma by operation and pathology. The CT findings were analyzed. Carcinoma of the hypopharynx manifested as a solid, isodense or mixed density mass, without cystic change, necrosis or calcification, usually located in the pyriform sinus or postcricoid region. The distance between arytenoid cartilage and vertebra (DAV) and the distance between cricoid cartilage and vertebra (DCV) were increased obviously as compared with 60 normal adults showing statistical significance (P<0.01). DAV and/or DCV greater than 10 mm was the characteristic feature of carcinoma of the hypopharynx, and was helpful in differential diagnosis from laryngeal carcinoma. Other indirect findings included ipsilateral deformation or disappearance of the pyriform sinus, invasion of the paralaryngeal space, swelling of the aryepiglottic fold and destruction of the thyroid lamina. Thin slice CT scanning can provide useful information about the size, location and extent of the tumor which are important for clinical staging and surgical planning

[en] Purpose: To treat the esophagotracheal fistula that was the main cause of death in patients with esophageal carcinoma, the placement of the stent was studied. Materials and methods: Under the fluoroscopic guidance, 28 stents (5 stents made in USA and 23 in China) were successfully implanted in all the 28 patients with esophagotracheal fistula. Results: The aphagia of the patients was greatly improved and a normal diet could be swallowed at once after the placement of the stents. The 27 cases of inhalation pneumonia that caused by the fistula was recovered. Conclusion: The result indicated that the treatment with the placement of the covered self-expanding stent is simple, safe, and effective for most patients with aphagia and pneumonia due to esophagotracheal fistula

[en] To evaluate and compare MR and CT in diagnosis of acute traumatic hepatic laceration, ten patients with acute hepatic rupture underwent CT scan and/or MRI in the first 24 hours after injury. The injury was graded as mild (<25% of one lobe), moderate (25%∼50% of one lobe), or severe (>50% of one lobe). In the first 24 hours after injury, 33.3% (3/9) and 28.6%(2/7) of the hepatic injury demonstrated isodensity and isointensity on plain CT scan and T₁-weighted images. All the lesions (100%) were clearly identified as marked hyperintensity on T₂-weighted images. On T₂WI, T₁WI and non-contrast CT, 100%, 57.1% and 55.6% of the acute hepatic injuries could be graded respectively. Delayed complications occurred in four patients with deep hepatic injury about 1 to 3 weeks after injury. T₂-weighted MR imaging is more sensitive and useful for detection of the type and severity of acute hepatic rupture. Follow-up MRI or CT within the first few weeks after injury is needed in patients with deep hepatic injury for detection of delayed complications