Comparison of modeling accuracy between Radixact®and CyberKnife®Synchrony®respiratory tracking system

Synchrony Respiratory Tracking system adapted from CyberKnife has been introduced in Radixact to compensate the tumor motion caused by respiration. This study aims to compare the modeling accuracy of the Synchrony system between Radixact and CyberKnife. Two Synchrony plans based on fiducial phantoms were created for CyberKnife and Radixact, respectively. Different respiratory motion traces were used to drive a motion platform to move along the superoinferior and left-right direction. The cycle time and the amplitude of target/surrogate motion of one selected motion trace were scaled to investigate the dependence of modeling accuracy on the motion characteristic. The predicted target position, the correlation error, potential difference (Radixact only) and standard error (CyberKnife only) were extracted from raw data or log files of the two systems. The modeling accuracy was evaluated by calculating the root-mean-square (RMS) error between the predicted target positions and the input motion trace. A threshold T95 within which 95% of the potential difference or the standard error lay was defined and evaluated. Except for the motion trace with a small amplitude and a good (linear) correlation between target and surrogate motion, Radixact showed smaller RMS errors than CyberKnife. The RMS error of both systems increased with the motion amplitude and showed a decreasing trend with the increasing cycle time. No correlation was found between the RMS error and the amplitude of surrogate motion. T95 could be a good estimator of modeling accuracy for CyberKnife rather than Radixact. The correlation error defined in Radixact were largely affected by the number of fiducial markers and the setup error. In general, the modeling accuracy of the Radixact Synchrony system is better than that of the CyberKnife Synchrony system under unfavorable conditions.

Feasibility of using a single MRI acquisition for fiducial marker localization and synthetic CT generation towards MRI-only prostate radiation therapy treatment planning

Purpose.To investigate the feasibility of using a single MRI acquisition for fiducial marker identification and synthetic CT (sCT) generation towards MRI-only treatment planning for prostate external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).Methods.Seven prostate cancer patients undergoing EBRT, each with three implanted gold fiducial markers, participated in this study. In addition to the planning CT scan, all patients were scanned on a 3 T MR scanner with a 3D double-echo gradient echo (GRE) sequence. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was performed for marker localization. QSM-derived marker positions were compared to those from CT. The bulk density assignment technique for sCT generation was adopted. The magnitude GRE images were segmented into muscle, bone, fat, and air using a combination of unsupervised intensity-based classification of soft tissue and convolutional neural networks (CNN) for bone segmentation.Results.All implanted markers were visualized and accurately identified (average error: 0.7 ± 0.5 mm). QSM generated distinctive contrast for hemorrhage, calcifications, and gold fiducial markers. The estimated susceptibility/HU values on QSM/CT for gold and calcifications were 31.5 ± 2.9 ppm/1220 ± 100 HU and 14.6 ± 0.9 ppm/440 ± 100 HU, respectively. The intensity-based soft tissue classification resulted in an average Dice score of 0.97 ± 0.02; bone segmentation using CNN resulted in an average Dice score of 0.93 ± 0.03.Conclusion.This work indicates the feasibility of simultaneous fiducial marker identification and sCT generation using a single MRI acquisition. Future works includes evaluation of the proposed method in a large cohort of patients with optimized acquisition parameters as well as dosimetric evaluations.

Initial clinical experience of patient-specific QA of treatment delivery in online adaptive radiotherapy using a 1.5 T MR-Linac

Purpose. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a commercial 1.5 T MR-Linac by analyzing its patient-specific quality assurance (QA) data collected during one full year of clinical operation.Methods and Materials. The patient-specific QA system consisted of offline delivery QA (DQA) and online calculation-based QA. Offline DQA was based on ArcCHECK-MR combined with an ionization chamber. Online QA was performed using RadCalc that calculated and compared the point dose calculation with the treatment planning system (TPS). A total of 24 patients with 189 treatment fractions were enrolled in this study. Gamma analysis was performed and the threshold that encompassed 95% of QA results (T95) was reported. The plan complexity metric was calculated for each plan and compared with the dose measurements to determine whether any correlation existed.Results. All point dose measurements were within 5% deviation. The mean gamma passing rates of the group data were found to be 96.8 ± 4.0% and 99.6 ± 0.7% with criteria of 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm, respectively. T95 of 87.4% and 98.2% was reported for the overall group with the two passing criteria, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between adaptive treatments with adapt-to-position (ATP) and adapt-to-shape (ATS), whilst the category of pelvis data showed a better passing rate than other sites. Online QA gave a mean deviation of 0.2 ± 2.2%. The plan complexity metric was positively correlated with the mean dose difference whilst the complexity of the ATS cohort had larger variations than the ATP cohort.Conclusions. A patient-specific QA system based on ArcCHECK-MR, solid phantom and ionization chamber has been well established and implemented for validation of treatment delivery of a 1.5 T MR-Linac. Our QA data obtained over one year confirms that good agreement between TPS calculation and treatment delivery was achieved.

Filmless methods for quality assurance of Tomotherapy using ArcCHECK

PURPOSE

Tomotherapy delivers an intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment by the synchronization of gantry rotation, multileaf collimator (MLC), and couch movement. This dynamic nature makes the quality assurance (QA) important and challenging. The purpose of this study is to develop some methodologies using an ArcCHECK for accurate QA measurements of the gantry angle and speed, MLC synchronization and leaf open time, couch translation per gantry rotation, couch speed and uniformity, and constancy of longitudinal beam profile for a Tomotherapy unit.

METHODS

Four test plans recommended by AAPM Task Group 148 (TG148) and the manufacturer were chosen for this study. Helical and static star shot tests are used for checking the leaves opened at the expected gantry angles. Another helical test is to verify the couch traveled the expected distance per gantry rotation. The final test is for checking the couch speed constancy with a static gantry. ArcCHECK can record the detector signal every 50 ms as a movie file, and has a virtual inclinometer for gantry angle measurement. These features made the measurement of gantry angle and speed, MLC synchronization and leaf open time, and longitudinal beam profile possible. A shaping parameter was defined for facilitating the location of the beam center during the plan delivery, which was thereafter used to calculate the couch translation per gantry rotation and couch speed. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) was calculated for each measured longitudinal beam profile and then used to evaluate the couch speed uniformity. Furthermore, a mean longitudinal profile was obtained for constancy check of field width. The machine trajectory log data were also collected for comparison. Inhouse programs were developed in MATLAB to process both the ArcCHECK and machine log data.

RESULTS

The deviation of our measurement results from the log data for gantry angle was calculated to be less than 0.4°. The percentage differences between measured and planned leaf open time were found to be within 0.5% in all the tests. Our results showed mean values of MLC synchronization of 0.982, 0.983, and 0.995 at static gantry angle 0°, 45°, and 135°, respectively. The mean value of measured couch translation and couch speed by ArcCHECK had less than 0.1% deviation from the planned values. The variation in the value of FWHM suggested the couch speed uniformity was better than 1%. The mean of measured longitudinal profiles was suitable for constancy check of field width.

CONCLUSION

Precise and efficient methods for measuring the gantry angle and speed, leaf open time, couch translation per gantry rotation, couch speed and uniformity, and constancy of longitudinal beam profile of Tomotherapy using ArcCHECK have been developed and proven to be accurate compared with machine log data. Estimation of the Tomotherapy binary MLC leaf open time is proven to be precise enough to verify the leaf open time as small as 277.8 ms. Our method also makes the observation and quantification of the synchronization of leaves possible.

Individual Differences in the Alignment of Structural and Functional Markers of the V5/MT Complex in Primates

Extrastriate visual area V5/MT in primates is defined both structurally by myeloarchitecture and functionally by distinct responses to visual motion. Myelination is directly identifiable from postmortem histology but also indirectly by image contrast with structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). First, we compared the identification of V5/MT using both sMRI and histology in Rhesus macaques. A section-by-section comparison of histological slices with in vivo and postmortem sMRI for the same block of cortical tissue showed precise correspondence in localizing heavy myelination for V5/MT and neighboring MST. Thus, sMRI in macaques accurately locates histologically defined myelin within areas known to be motion selective. Second, we investigated the functionally homologous human motion complex (hMT+) using high-resolution in vivo imaging. Humans showed considerable intersubject variability in hMT+ location, when defined with myelin-weighted sMRI signals to reveal structure. When comparing sMRI markers to functional MRI in response to moving stimuli, a region of high myelin signal was generally located within the hMT+ complex. However, there were considerable differences in the alignment of structural and functional markers between individuals. Our results suggest that variation in area identification for hMT+ based on structural and functional markers reflects individual differences in human regional brain architecture.

Unusual mediastinal lymph node uptake and peritoneopleural fistula demonstrated on Technetium-99m macro-aggregated human serum albumin (Tc-99m MAA) peritoneal scintigraphy in a patient with portal hypertension

Peritoneal radionuclide scan is an established imaging modality for evaluating peritoneopleural communications. In this case report, unusual mediastinal lymph node radiotracer uptake is seen in a patient with portal hypertension on peritoneal scintigraphy. This was suspected to be due to marked lymphatic enlargement from longstanding portal hypertension since childhood, permitting passage of the large Tc-99m MAA particle. The nodes were morphologically benign on CT. Mediastinal lymph node uptake on peritoneal scintigraphy is rare but should not raise undue clinical concern, particularly in a patient with chronic portal hypertension. Anatomic correlation with SPECT-CT can provide reassurance.

Frequent epigenetic inactivation of Rb1 in addition to p15 and p16 in mantle cell and follicular lymphoma

Dysregulation of cell cycle control is an important mechanism in carcinogenesis. Gene promoter hypermethylation is an alternative mechanism of gene inactivation. We analyzed the methylation status of the tumor suppressor components of the INK4/Rb pathway in mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction for p15, p16, p18, and Rb1 in 23 mantle cell lymphoma and 30 follicular lymphoma cases and lymphoma cell lines. The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction results showed that in mantle cell lymphoma, frequent p16 (82%) but infrequent p15 (8.7%) or Rb1 (17.4%) hypermethylation occurred, with p16 and Rb1 hypermethylation being mutually exclusive (P=.01). In follicular lymphoma, frequent hypermethylation of p15 (36.7%), p16 (56.7%), and Rb1 (43.3%) occurred, with p15 and Rb1 hypermethylation being mutually exclusive (P=.05). Concurrent methylation of p15 and p16 occurred in 26.7% of patients with follicular lymphoma and 8.7% of patients with mantle cell lymphoma. Compared with mantle cell lymphoma, there was more frequent p15 (P=.025) hypermethylation but comparable Rb1 (P=.07) and p16 (P=.07) hypermethylation in follicular lymphoma. In a patient with follicular lymphoma with sequential biopsies, Rb1 was unmethylated and expressed at diagnosis but became methylated and down-regulated at relapse. Moreover, methylation analysis of these 4 genes in an additional 8 patients with grade I follicular lymphoma showed that Rb, but not the other genes, was preferentially methylated in grade II (P=.03). In summary, most patients with mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma had epigenetic aberrations targeting the INK4/Rb pathway. There is more frequent p16 hypermethylation in mantle cell lymphoma and p15 or Rb1 hypermethylation in follicular lymphoma. The role of Rb methylation in disease or histologic transformation in follicular lymphoma warrants further study.

Incidence of carotid stenosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced carotid stenosis in patients with head and neck tumors can cause significant mortality and morbidity. This study examined the incidence of stenosis in the extracranial carotid arteries of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy.

METHODS

The extracranial carotid arteries of 71 (53 male and 18 female; mean age of 53.6 years) postradiation patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were examined with color Doppler ultrasound. The distribution of the arterial stenosis and the degree of stenosis were documented. The results were compared with the control group, which comprised 51 newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (35 male and 16 female, mean age of 48.8 years) before radiotherapy. Incidences of risk factors for arterial stenosis such as hypertension, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia also were studied in these two groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the incidence of risk factors between the two groups. Arterial stenosis was, however, more common in the postradiation group than the preradiation group (56 of 71 vs. 11 of 51). The common/internal carotid arteries (CCA/ICA) were most commonly involved (55 of 71 vs. 11 of 51; P < 0.01), followed by the external carotid artery (ECA) (32 of 71 vs. 1 of 51; P < 0.01) and vertebral artery (VA; 5 of 71 vs. 0; P = 0.069). Significant stenosis (> 50% reduction of luminal diameter) was only found in the postradiation group (21 of 71 in CCA/ICA, 11 of 71 in ECA, 4 of 71 in VA).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that radiation could cause significant carotid stenosis. Ultrasound examinations for these patients therefore are necessary for early detection and possible intervention of this late radiation-induced complication.

Pre-operative grading of intracranial glioma

AIM

To compare the accuracy of MR-determined cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps with SPECT imaging with thallium-201 in pre-operative grading of intracranial glioma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Nineteen patients (7 female and 12 male, mean age 46.8 years) with intracranial gliomas were examined with MR perfusion imaging pre-operatively. Sixteen of these patients were also examined with SPECT imaging with thallium-201. The tumour to contralateral white matter NI (negative integral) and tracer uptake ratios were evaluated. The ratios in high-grade and low-grade tumours were compared.

RESULTS

The maximum CBV ratios of grades I and II gliomas (2.958+/-2.217) were significantly lower than the maximum CBV ratio of grades III and IV (9.484+/-4.520), p<0.001. There was no statistical difference when CBV ratios of grades I and II (p=0.381), grades II and III (p=0.229) and grades III and IV (p=0.476) gliomas were compared. Thallium SPECT imaging showed no difference in tumour uptake ratio between low-grade and high-grade gliomas (p=0.299).

CONCLUSION

MR-determined NI was useful for pre-operative grading of intracranial gliomas but SPECT thallium-201 imaging was not.

Ultrasonographic measurement of subarachnoid space in normal infants and children

This study was undertaken to evaluate the sonographic measurement of subarachnoid spaces in normal children and its relationship with age and to define a normal range in a Chinese population and to differentiate normal variant findings from pathologic dilatation. The subarachnoid spaces in 278 normal term neonates, infants, and children were studied with real-time ultrasound using a 7.5-MHz vector transducer. The craniocortical width, sinocortical width, and interhemispheric width were measured in the coronal plane at the level of the foramen of Monro, on either side of the hemispheres. Correlation of sonographic measurements with age was made. The mean widths were plotted against age. A correlation with age was found in all three spaces, with an increasing trend with age until 28 weeks of gestation. Thereafter, a decreasing trend was noted. The normal upper limit of subarachnoid spaces for children is proposed to be the values on the ninety-fifth percentile of the regression curve. Correlation of measurement with age must be considered to decide whether an increase in subarachnoid space is pathologic or not.

H-type tracheo-oesophageal fistula: appearance on three-dimensional computed tomography and virtual bronchoscopy

H-type tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) is a rare type of fistula without oesophageal atresia. The symptoms are usually present at birth, but the diagnosis is often delayed. Traditionally, contrast oesophagography and/or fiberoptic bronchoscopy are used to confirm the diagnosis. We describe the imaging features of a case of H-type TOF seen on three-dimensional computed tomography and virtual bronchoscopy and the usefulness of these techniques in pre-operative evaluation.

Human liver regeneration: hepatic energy economy is less efficient when the organ is diseased

Recovery of liver cell mass following hepatectomy requires a metabolic compromise between differentiated function and organ regrowth. Clinical experience has shown that hepatic failure after resection is more common when the organ is diseased. We have evaluated intracellular hepatic biochemistry in patients with normal and cirrhotic livers undergoing partial hepatectomy, using 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P MRS). Eighteen patients were studied, half with normal liver architecture (normal group, n = 9) and half with cirrhotic parenchyma (cirrhosis group, n = 9). Magnetic resonance examinations were performed preoperatively and on postoperative days 2, 4, 6, 14, and 28. Hepatic volume (estimated by magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and blood chemistries were measured at the same intervals. Following a comparable reduction in parenchymal volume, the cirrhotic group demonstrated a more sustained fall in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy state. Disturbance of membrane phospholipid metabolism and duration of acute-phase reaction were more marked when the liver was diseased. The pattern of derangement of hepatic function, however, was similar in the two groups. Overall, the recovery process was less efficient in the cirrhotic organ, and culminated in a diminished rate and extent of the regenerative response. These outcomes indicate that liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy involves modulation of hepatic energy economy in response to changing work demands. The efficiency of this process is influenced by the histopathologic state of the organ, and in turn governs the physiologic reserve. These findings may explain the mechanism of posthepatectomy liver failure, and offer a rational basis for the assessment of novel hepatic support strategies.

Clinically underdetected asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid stenosis as a late complication of radiotherapy in Chinese nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Carotid artery stenosis is a late complication of radiotherapy to the neck region. This complication has, however, a significant impact with increased risk of stroke causing mortality and morbidity. Clinicians' awareness of this complication and early detection is therefore important.

METHODS

Eighty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who had received radiotherapy were recruited for color Doppler ultrasonography of the carotid arteries. fifty-eight patients with newly diagnosed NPC who had never received any radiotherapy were recruited as controls. All patients with significant carotid stenosis were referred to the neurology clinic for further assessment.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients were found to have more than 50% diameter reduction in the extracranial carotid artery. Clinical assessment by a neurologist showed 9 of 24 patients had a history of transient ischemic attack, amaurosis fugax, or stroke. Seven of these patients had clinically detectable neck bruit.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians attending to patients after radiotherapy for head and neck cancers should be aware of this long-term complication of radiotherapy. A detailed clinical history and incorporation of auscultation of carotid arteries in routine follow-up of postradiotherapy patients are recommended.

Using gadolinium-infusion MR venography to show the impalpable testis in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE; This study evaluated the adjunctive value of gadolinium-infusion MR venography to locate the impalpable testis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Routine MR imaging and MR venography were performed in 34 patients presenting with impalpable testis. MR venography was performed by dynamic injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine bismethylamide with images taken at delayed venous phases. The site of the testis was determined by detection of the contrast-enhanced pampiniform venous plexus.

RESULTS

A total of 44 impalpable testes were examined. Twenty-six hypoplastic canalicular testes, two testes at pelvic skinfold, four atrophic testes in the scrotum, and five intraabdominal testes were detected on both routine MR imaging and MR venography. Five "vanishing" testes in the scrotum and two at the groin region were detected by MR venography but not on MR imaging.

CONCLUSION

Gadolinium-infusion MR venography is superior to MR imaging in the detection of atrophic testes. The method is a useful adjunct in patients with negative MR imaging findings.

A pilot study of microembolic signals in patients with middle cerebral artery stenosis

OBJECTIVE

There has been limited data on the frequency of microembolic signals in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis, especially during the acute phase of stroke. Using transcranial Doppler, the authors prospectively monitored the MCA segments distal to stenosis in 4 groups of patients for 30 minutes: (1) symptomatic patients with acute ischemic stroke and MCA stenosis, (2) asymptomatic group patients with asymptomatic MCA stenosis, (3) control patients with acute ischemic stroke of undetermined etiology, and (4) normal people. A total of 60 patients completed the study. There were no microembolic signals in the asymptomatic, control, and normal groups. Among 20 patients in the symptomatic group, microembolic signals were detected in 3 patients (15%). The number of emboli ranged from 1 to 6 per 30 minutes. This is the first report of the presence of microembolic signals in acute stroke patients with MCA stenosis.

Paranasopharyngeal space involvement in nasopharyngeal cancer: detection by CT and MRI

Paranasopharyngeal tumour extension (PTE) from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is staged in its own subgroup in the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification. Most large clinical trials use computed tomography (CT) to stage PTE, but diagnosis relies on indirect signs of tumour invasion such as asymmetry of the parapharyngeal fat. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the advantage of directly revealing PTE because of its ability to depict the complex anatomical structures that form the boundary of the nasopharynx. The aim of this study was to compare CT and MRI in the identification of PTE and to determine whether the imaging modality used influenced staging of the disease. The MRI and CT scans of 78 patients (156 parapharyngeal regions) with NPC were assessed for PTE. On MRI, PTE was considered to be positive when there was tumour invasion through the complex anatomical structures of the nasopharyngeal wall. When using CT, it was considered positive when there was: (1) distortion of the parapharyngeal fat plane; or (2) extension beyond a line drawn from the medial pterygoid plate to the lateral aspect of the carotid artery. CT scanning and MRI were compared. PTE was judged to be present in 28 of 78 (36%) patients by MRI and in 41 of 78 (53%) scanning by CT when using criterion 1 or 2. An analysis of the discordant findings revealed that MRI was positive in three sides of the nasopharynx in early tumour extension through the pharyngobasilar fascia but not identified with CT by using criterion 1 or 2. MRI was negative in 20 and 21 sides of the nasopharynx that were judged to be positive on CT by using criterion 1 and 2 respectively. In these patients MRI revealed that the positive CT scan was caused by a large tumour compressing but not invading the parapharyngeal fat space, a metastatic lateral retropharyngeal node, or a combination of the two. The imaging modality used for staging NPC has an impact on the staging of PTE. CT scanning suggested the presence of PTE more frequently than MRI because of its inability to distinguish the primary tumour from lateral retropharyngeal nodes, and direct tumour invasion of the parapharyngeal region from tumour compression. The imaging modality and criteria used for staging PTE should be taken into consideration when assessing the results of clinical studies.

Cerebrovascular disease among Chinese populations--recent epidemiological and neuroimaging studies

Stroke mortality in individuals of Chinese descent has declined during the past decades, although the absolute number of patients with first-ever stroke is escalating. This review summarises recent epidemiological and imaging studies conducted among Chinese populations. Data indicating differences between Chinese and Caucasian ethnic groups in the pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke are highlighted, and the potential implications of these findings for prevention and management of stroke are discussed.

Use of transcranial Doppler ultrasound to predict outcome in patients with intracranial large-artery occlusive disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Intracranial large-artery occlusive disease is the predominant vascular lesion found in stroke patients of Asian, African, and Hispanic ancestry, making it numerically perhaps the most common vascular cause of stroke in the world. Relatively little is known about the clinical significance of finding such lesions. We investigate whether the presence and the extent of these vascular lesions help predict outcome after stroke.

METHODS

On the basis of transcranial Doppler of the intracranial arteries with supplementary duplex ultrasound of the carotid arteries, we determined the number of occlusive arteries in the craniocervical circulation of consecutive patients who were hospitalized for acute cerebral ischemia. Patients were followed for 6 months for further vascular events (including transient ischemic attack, stroke, and acute coronary syndrome) or death.

RESULTS

Among 705 consecutive Chinese patients studied, occlusive arteries were found in 345 patients (49%): 258 patients (37%) had intracranial lesions only, 71 (10%) had both extracranial and intracranial lesions, and 16 (2.3%) had extracranial lesions only. Sixty-three (18%) of the 345 patients with occlusive arteries and 35 (9.7%) of the 360 patients without occlusive arteries had further vascular event or death within 6 months. The risk of vascular events or death increased rapidly with rising numbers of occlusive arteries, after adjustment for vascular risk factors and stroke severity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.25 per occlusive artery, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.39). Other independent risk factors included age (OR 1.03 per year of age, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) and atrial fibrillation (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.40 to 6.69).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with predominantly intracranial large-artery occlusive disease, the presence and the total number of occlusive arteries in the craniocervical circulation predict further vascular events or death within 6 months after stroke. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is an important investigation for the evaluation of patients with stroke in populations at risk of intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

Assessment of optic nerve compression in Graves' ophthalmopathy. The usefulness of a quick T1-weighted sequence

PURPOSE

Diagnosis of optic nerve compression can be difficult in patients with equivocal clinical signs. We examined the usefulness of a quick coronal MR sequence performed at a predetermined plane as a screening tool for selecting patients at high risk of optic nerve compression.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Direct coronal images of the orbit were obtained in 37 patients with Graves' disease in a predetermined plane. The muscular indices (MI) of each orbit were calculated. Mann-Whitney U-Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to assess if there was any statistically significant difference between patients with and without signs of optic nerve compression. The ROC curve was used to identify a value useful for discriminating patients with a higher risk of developing optic nerve compression.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the MI between patients with and without optic nerve compression. An MI of -0.48 had 100% sensitivity, 89% specificity and 91% accuracy in identifying patients with optic nerve compression. CONCLUSION. A quick coronal MR image obtained at the mid-orbital plane is useful in screening patients with Graves' disease for optic nerve compression.

Incidence of adverse events after I.V injection of MR contrast agents in a Chinese population. A comparison between gadopentetate and gadodiamide

PURPOSE

To study the incidence of adverse events after i.v. injection of MR contrast agents in a Chinese population. A comparison was made between an ionic contrast agent (dimeglumine gadopentetate, Magnevist) and a non-ionic contrast agent (gadodiamide, Omniscan).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

During a 24-month period, 2,049 Chinese patients who randomly received an i.v. bolus injection of either Magnevist or Omniscan were investigated. All patients were questioned for the presence of any generalized or localized adverse reaction on the following day after the MR examination according to a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTS

Three hundred and nine out of 2,049 patients (15%) reported an adverse event. There was a higher incidence of adverse events in patients receiving Magnevist as compared to those receiving Omniscan injection. All reported adverse events were clinically mild and required neither treatment nor hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

There was a higher incidence of adverse reaction in patients receiving Magnevist than in those receiving Omniscan.

Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction of childhood intussusception: technique and demonstration

The authors review the technique of ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction of childhood intussusception and illustrate, in real-time fashion, the treatment of three cases with this technique. Two cases of successful reduction of ileocolic intussusception are demonstrated. The third case is an example of the complex fronded appearance of ileo-ileocolic intussusception and failed reduction. This technique is recommended as an alternative method for the treatment of childhood intussusception, as it does not involve ionizing radiation and is a simple and safe procedure.

Comparison of dynamic helical CT and dynamic MR imaging in the evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This study compares dynamic helical CT with dynamic MR imaging in the evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in cervical carcinoma.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Women with biopsy-proven cervical carcinoma prospectively underwent dynamic helical CT and MR imaging before surgery. A metastatic node on CT and MR imaging was defined as a rounded soft-tissue structure greater than 10 mm in maximal axial diameter or a node with central necrosis. Imaging results were compared with pathology, and receiver operating characteristic curves for size and shape were plotted on a hemipelvis basis. Nodal density and signal intensity on CT and MR images, respectively, were reviewed for differences between benign and malignant disease.

RESULTS

A total of 949 lymph nodes were found at pathology in 76 hemipelves in 43 women, of which 69 lymph nodes (7%) in 17 hemipelves (22%) were metastatic. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of helical CT and MR imaging in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis on a hemipelvis basis was 64.7%, 96.6%, 84.6%, 90.5%, and 89.5% and 70.6%, 89.8%, 66. 7%, 91.4%, and 85.5%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves for helical CT and MR imaging gave cutoff values of 9 and 12 mm in maximal axial diameter, respectively, in the prediction of metastasis. Central necrosis had a positive predictive value of 100% in the diagnosis of metastasis. Signal intensity on MR imaging and density-enhancement pattern on CT in patients with metastatic nodes did not differ from those in patients with negative nodes.

CONCLUSION

Helical CT and MR imaging show similar accuracy in the evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in patients with cervical carcinoma. Central necrosis is useful in the diagnosis of metastasis in pelvic lymph nodes in cervical cancer.

Detection of parametrial invasion in cervical carcinoma: role of short tau inversion recovery sequence

AIM

To investigate the role of short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence in the detection of parametrial invasion in patients with carcinoma of the cervix.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of the cervical region using T1 weighted turbo spin echo (TSE), TSE T2, STIR and T1 weighted dynamic gadolinium enhanced SE sequences were obtained in 38 patients with cervical carcinoma. All the images were assessed for the presence or absence of parametrial invasion using a standard scoring system. The diagnostic confidence, image quality, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of each sequence were compared.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for each sequence in the diagnosis of parametrial invasion were: 60%, 80%, 32%, 93% and 78% for unenhanced T1W sequence; 90%, 92%, 64%, 98% and 92% for TSE T2 sequence; 90%, 94%, 69%, 98% and 93% for STIR sequence; and 90%, 80%, 41%, 98% and 82% for dynamic T1W sequence, respectively. Image quality and diagnostic confidence were both better for STIR and T2 compared to the dynamic T1 sequence.

CONCLUSION

Dynamic T1W imaging is inferior to STIR and TSE T2 sequences. STIR is of similar value in the detection of parametrial invasion in cervical carcinoma as a TSE T2W sequence; their simultaneous use is not justified.

Staging computed tomography of the thorax for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

To assess the role of staging CT of the thorax in advanced nodal stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to examine the hypothesis that contiguous spread of nodal metastases from the supraclavicular region to the upper mediastinal region occurs in this cancer.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma with neck node metastases to the supraclavicular region (ie, AJCC N3b stage) underwent contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) thorax for staging. CT findings and clinical outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

No patient was found to have intrathoracic metastasis, although 1 had hepatic metastases on CECT of the thorax, resulting in upstaging in 1 of 44 (2%) of patients. With a median follow-up time of 21 months, 3 patients had lung metastases and 2 had axillary nodal metastases develop without evidence of upper mediastinal nodal metastases.

CONCLUSION

Staging CECT of the thorax has a very low yield in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, even in advanced nodal disease. The hypothesis that contiguous spread of nodal metastases from the supraclavicular region to the upper mediastinum is not substantiated, and no evidence suggests that radiation therapy for N3b-stage disease needs to encompass the upper mediastinum.

Aspirin-associated intracerebral hemorrhage: clinical and radiologic features

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinical and radiologic features of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in aspirin users.

BACKGROUND

Although the benefits of aspirin outweigh its hemorrhagic risks for patients at high risk of vascular diseases, prolonged use of aspirin is associated with an increased risk of ICH.

METHODS

The authors enrolled consecutive patients with acute stroke who were admitted to a regional hospital from 1993 to 1998 into a stroke registry. From this registry, they identified all stroke patients who had ICH confirmed by CT scan and then selected those taking regular aspirin before ICH as the study group. For each study patient, they selected the immediate next two patients with ICH but not taking aspirin as controls.

RESULTS

The authors identified 58 aspirin users and 1193 nonusers among all patients hospitalized for ICH. From the group of nonusers, they selected 116 patients as controls. The locations of the hematoma were different (p = 0.002), with more lobar hematoma in the aspirin group (32.8%) than in the control group (10.3%). Prior cerebrovascular disease was the reason for taking aspirin in 37 (64%) patients but five patients had prior ICH.

CONCLUSIONS

The propensity for lobar hematoma in aspirin-associated ICH suggests its pathology may be somewhat different from spontaneous ICH among nonaspirin users. Further research to examine the risks and benefits of aspirin use in certain subgroups at risk of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic events is needed.

Neck node metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: MR imaging of patterns of disease

BACKGROUND

The purpose was to use MR imaging to document the patterns of nodal involvement in the upper neck in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

The MR images of 150 patients with newly diagnosed NPC were reviewed retrospectively. Nodes were considered abnormal on MR criteria of size, necrosis, and extracapsular spread.

RESULTS

Retropharyngeal nodes (RN) were more frequently involved than nonretropharyngeal nodes (NRNs) (94% vs 76% in 115 patients with nodal metastases). NRN involvement without RN was seen in only 7 of 115 patients (6%). Involvement of RN at the level of the oropharynx (82%) was as common as at the nasopharynx (83%) level. Internal jugular nodes were the most frequently involved NRN nodes (72%). Spinal accessory nodal involvement was also common (57%) but seldom in isolation (8%). Submandibular (3%) and parotid (2%) nodal metastases were uncommon and were always associated with advanced nodal metastases in the ipsilateral RN, internal jugular, and spinal accessory regions.

CONCLUSION

Retropharyngeal nodes are the first echelons of nodal metastases. Direct lymphatic spread to the neck without involvement of the RN nodes is uncommon. RN metastases at the level of the oropharynx are more common than previously suspected, and this should influence radiotherapy planning. NRN outside the internal jugular and spinal accessory chains are rare and only occur when the usual routes of lymphatic spread have already been blocked by tumor.

Esophageal atresia and tracheal stenosis: use of three-dimensional CT and virtual bronchoscopy in neonates, infants, and children

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of three-dimensional CT and virtual bronchoscopy in the treatment of neonates, infants, and children with esophageal atresia and tracheal stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Long-gap (n = 1) and short-gap (n = 5) esophageal atresia, long-segment stenosis (n = 2), patent poststenting trachea (n = 1), normal trachea without fistula (n = 1), and tracheal bronchus (n = 1) were studied. Fistulas between the lower esophagus and carina were noted in all six cases of esophageal atresia. All CT findings correlated with operative or bronchoscopy findings. Sensitivity and specificity were 100%. Three-dimensional CT and virtual bronchoscopy are accurate and useful techniques in the preoperative assessment of esophageal atresia and tracheal stenosis in neonates, infants, and children.

MR imaging of nasal T-cell/natural killer cell lymphoma

OBJECTIVE

Nasal T-cell/natural killer cell lymphoma is a distinct clinicopathologic entity derived from natural killer cells. The purpose of the study was to describe the MR features of this rare nasal cavity tumor and correlate MR findings with stage of disease.

CONCLUSION

Nasal T-cell/natural killer cell lymphoma frequently exhibits diffuse invasion of the nasal cavity with necrosis, midline destruction, and extension into the nasopharynx. These features may be seen in both early- and late-stage disease.

Hypoglossal nerve palsy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to use magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to determine the cause of hypoglossal nerve palsy and the sites of injury in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before radiation therapy and during postradiation therapy follow-up.

METHODS

The clinical records and MR studies of 21 patients with hypoglossal nerve palsy were retrospectively studied. These 21 patients belonged to a cohort of 387 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (153 with newly diagnosed disease and 234 on postradiation follow-up) who underwent MR imaging in a 2.5-year period.

RESULTS

Four patients had hypoglossal nerve palsy at initial diagnosis and all of them had extensive skull base invasion from tumor extending postero-inferiorly to the level of the foramen magnum. The nerve was invaded in the carotid sheath (3), hypoglossal nerve canal (3), and premedullary cistern (1). In 17 patients developing hypoglossal nerve palsy after radiotherapy, only two (12%) had evidence of tumor recurrence. Radiation-induced neuropathy was the probable cause in 14 patients and 1 case was judged indeterminate. MR evidence of fibrosis was demonstrable along the course the nerve in four patients (29%), involving the carotid sheath (4), hypoglossal nerve canal (2), and premedullary cistern (1). No patient had MR evidence of radiation change in the brain stem. Seven patients had a history of a boost dose of radiation to the parapharyngeal region on one or both sides, and nerve palsy occurred on the boosted side in six of them.

CONCLUSION

Hypoglossal nerve palsy on presentation was caused by locally advanced nasopharyngeal tumor whereas a palsy arising after radiation therapy was more frequently caused by postradiation damage rather than cancer.

CT appearance of midgut volvulus with malrotation in a young infant

Computed tomography (CT) appearances of small bowel malrotation and midgut volvulus (MGV) have rarely been described in paediatric patients. We present spiral CT images of a surgically proven case in a young infant. The literature on imaging techniques to diagnose these conditions is reviewed. Radiation doses of upper gastrointestinal series (UGI) and spiral CT are estimated and compared.

MR cholangiography and CT cholangiography of pediatric patients with choledochal cysts

OBJECTIVE

We report our experience using MR cholangiography and CT cholangiography in pediatric patients with choledochal cysts.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Fourteen patients (two boys, 12 girls; mean age, 7.8 years) with either a preoperative diagnosis of choledochal cyst or a surgical finding of choledochal cyst underwent non-breath-hold MR cholangiography using T2-weighted fat-suppressed fast spin-echo sequences with a 1.5-T magnet, and CT cholangiography with IV infusion of meglumine iodoxamic acid. Radiologic findings were correlated with findings from surgery, operative cholangiography, or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.

RESULTS

The biliary tree was visualized in all 14 patients with MR cholangiography and in 13 patients (92.9%) with CT cholangiography. In the 11 preoperative cases of choledochal cyst, MR cholangiography correctly showed all cysts and CT cholangiography showed 10 cysts (90.9%). The quality of images on CT cholangiography and MR cholangiography was comparable. The sensitivity of CT cholangiography and MR cholangiography in revealing intrahepatic stones was 83.3% and 66.7%, respectively; the specificity for both techniques was 100%. The rate of detecting the pancreatic duct and the common channel by CT cholangiography and MR cholangiography was 63.6% and 45.5% respectively. After surgery, CT cholangiography was superior to MR cholangiography in revealing the location of biliary-enteric anastomosis and the extent of anastomotic narrowing.

CONCLUSION

Because non-breath-hold MR cholangiography is not invasive and does not use ionizing radiation and potentially toxic contrast agents, it is recommended as the imaging technique of choice in children with choledochal cysts. CT cholangiography can be considered as an adjunct after surgery and in patients in whom MR cholangiography is unsatisfactory.

MRI of local disease in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: tumour extent vs tumour stage

The purpose was to use MRI to study in detail local tumour extension in patients presenting with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to compare the extent of local disease with the current T-stage classification. MR images of 150 patients with newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma were obtained on a 1.5 T unit. 10 extranasopharyngeal sites were analysed for tumour involvement. The number of concurrently involved sites was determined. The extent of tumour invasion was compared with staging as defined by the fifth edition of the AJCC classification. The T-stage distribution was T1 21%, T2 16%, T3 41% and T4 22%. The frequencies of tumour invasion into an individual site, and the mean number of other concurrently involved sites were as follows: skull base 63%, 3.9 sites; parapharyngeal 56%, 3.9 sites; nasal cavity 53%, 4.0 sites; oropharyngeal 17%, 5.2 sites; sphenoid sinus 27%, 5.6 sites; cranium 21%, 5.7 sites; infratemporal fossa 2%, 6.3 sites; ethmoid sinus 14%, 6.5 sites; orbit 5%, 7.0 sites; maxillary sinus 5%, 7.1 sites; and hypopharynx 0%, 0 sites. Extranasopharyngeal extension commonly occurred superiorly into the skull base rather than inferiorly to the oropharynx (p < 0.0001). Anatomical sites defined within the same T-stage category had different frequencies of involvement and different frequencies of concurrently involved sites. Oropharyngeal involvement (T2 stage) was associated with a number of concurrently involved sites comparable to structures in the T3 category. Maxillary and ethmoid sinus involvement (T3 stage) were associated with a number of involved sites comparable to the T4 stage. Invasion of the maxillary antrum and orbit are markers of the most bulky form of NPC.

Analysis of germline CDKN1C (p57KIP2) mutations in familial and sporadic Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) provides a novel genotype-phenotype correlation

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a human imprinting disorder with a variable phenotype. The major features are anterior abdominal wall defects including exomphalos (omphalocele), pre- and postnatal overgrowth, and macroglossia. Additional less frequent complications include specific developmental defects and a predisposition to embryonal tumours. BWS is genetically heterogeneous and epigenetic changes in the IGF2/H19 genes resulting in overexpression of IGF2 have been implicated in many cases. Recently germline mutations in the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor gene CDKN1C (p57KIP2) have been reported in a variable minority of BWS patients. We have investigated a large series of familial and sporadic BWS patients for evidence of CDKN1C mutations by direct gene sequencing. A total of 70 patients with classical BWS were investigated; 54 were sporadic with no evidence of UPD and 16 were familial from seven kindreds. Novel germline CDKN1C mutations were identified in five probands, 3/7 (43%) familial cases and 2/54 (4%) sporadic cases. There was no association between germline CDKN1C mutations and IGF2 or H19 epigenotype abnormalities. The clinical phenotype of 13 BWS patients with germline CDKN1C mutations was compared to that of BWS patients with other defined types of molecular pathology. This showed a significantly higher frequency of exomphalos in the CDKN1C mutation cases (11/13) than in patients with an imprinting centre defect (associated with biallelic IGF2 expression and H19 silencing) (0/5, p<0.005) or patients with uniparental disomy (0/9, p<0.005). However, there was no association between germline CDKN1C mutations and risk of embryonal tumours. No CDKN1C mutations were identified in six non-BWS patients with overgrowth and Wilms tumour. These findings (1) show that germline CDKN1C mutations are a frequent cause of familial but not sporadic BWS, (2) suggest that CDKN1C mutations probably cause BWS independently of changes in IGF2/H19 imprinting, (3) provide evidence that aspects of the BWS phenotype may be correlated with the involvement of specific imprinted genes, and (4) link genotype-phenotype relationships in BWS and the results of murine experimental models of BWS.

MR features of the denervated tongue in radiation induced neuropathy

The MR features of the denervated tongue have been described following nerve injury from radical neck dissection and tumour invasion. The purpose of the study was to determine whether similar features are present in the tongue following radiation induced neuropathy (RIN). The clinical records and MR images of 12 patients with RIN of the hypoglossal nerve were reviewed retrospectively. T1 weighted SE images were performed in 12, T2 weighted TSE images in 11, fat suppressed images in 10 and contrast enhanced T1 weighted images in nine patients. The denervated tongue revealed "oedemalike" changes in five, fatty infiltration in six, atrophy in 11 and pseudohypertrophy in one patient. Abnormal enhancement was not identified, and in five patients the signal intensity was normal on all sequences. The oedemalike changes, fatty infiltration and normal signal intensity were seen 2-48, 2-48, and 6-63 months, respectively, after the onset of RIN. In conclusion, there was no discernible relationship between the duration of RIN and the MR appearance of the denervated tongue. Oedemalike changes, previously described in the acute/subacute phase of denervation, were also seen in long-standing disease and there was no associated abnormal enhancement in any case. Furthermore, the signal intensity may be normal, the MR diagnosis relying on asymmetry of the size of the tongue. It is postulated that radiation causes incomplete and ongoing damage of the nerve, the course of which is unpredictable.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the eustachian tube in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: correlation of patterns of spread with middle ear effusion

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to use multiplanar high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detail the patterns of tumor spread in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to correlate the findings with the presence of an effusion in the middle ear and mastoid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 51 patients with newly diagnosed NPC, providing 102 individual sides for analysis.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine lateral walls of the nasopharynx were involved by NPC. Tumor involved the lateral recess (55), eustachian tube orifice (41), levator palatini (LP) (32), torus tubarius (TT) (21), pharyngobasilar fascia (38), tensor palatini (TP) (17), parapharyngeal fat space (PFS) (19), main body of the cartilaginous eustachian tube (CET) ( 13), bony eustachian tube (0). middle ear (0), and inner ear (0). Effusions were present in 32 (54%) of the 59 involved sides. Effusions were found to be associated with the following patterns of spread: tumor causing major displacement of the CET without invasion (3 of 4), tumor invading TT or LP with minor displacement of the TT (4 of 7) or major displacement of the CET (7 of 7) and advanced invasion involving the TP, PFS, or CET with major displacement of CET (18 of 19). Effusions were not seen in tumors without invasion that were restricted to the lateral recess or eustachian tube orifice either with no displacement (O of I I) or with minor displacement (O of 1 1) of the TT. Effusions were present in 28 of 30 cases with major displacement of the main body of the CET, 4 of 18 with minor displacement of the TT, and 0 of 11 with no displacement. Displacement of the eustachian tube was a significant factor in the production of an effusion (p < 0.00001) and remained significant even after exclusion of all cases of advanced invasion (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The cause of an effusion in NPC is multifactorial. Magnetic resonance imaging has shown invasion of the tensor palatini muscle in patients with an effusion, suggesting a functional cause. However, displacement of the eustachian tube is a significant factor in patients with middle ear and mastoid effusions.

MR imaging in amyopathic dermatomyositis

PURPOSE

Amyopathic dermatomyositis is a distinct clinical entity with cutaneous involvement but no myopathy. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the role of MR imaging in these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Out of 40 Chinese patients presenting with dermatomyositis, based on clinical assessment and normal serum muscle enzymes 10 were diagnosed as having amyopathic dermatomyositis. These 10 patients underwent MR imaging for evaluation of any subclinical muscle involvement.

RESULTS

Three patients demonstrated abnormal signal intensity in muscles on both T2- and fat suppression sequences. Thus, one-third of patients with dermatomyositis and clinically normal muscles may have detectable muscle inflammation on MR images, indicating that MR has a potential role for locating the relevant biopsy site and for longitudinal follow up. Six of the 10 patients had malignant disease diagnosed before or after diagnosis of the cutaneous manifestation. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was the most common malignant disease in this group of patients.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging is recommended for demonstrating subclinical muscle involvement in patients with the clinical diagnosis of amyopathic dermatomyositis. We also recommend screening for malignancy, particularly nasopharyngeal carcinoma, in Southern Chinese patients with dermatomyositis.

Virtual intraluminal endoscopy: a new method for evaluation and management of choledochal cyst

A 12-year-old girl who suffered from cholangitis was treated successfully with appropriate antibiotics. She had undergone an operation in mainland China, the exact nature of which was unknown. After an ultrasound study, she underwent a helical computed tomography (CT) cholangiogram using intravenous meglumine iodoxamine. The volume data were transferred to a workstation and virtual endoscopy rendering reconstruction of bile ducts was performed. Findings of this study showed that she had cyst excision with hepaticojejunostomy (HJ), and her intrahepatic ducts were packed with stones. Virtual endoscopy gave the impression that the examiner was flying inside the lumen and showed the stricture at the HJ anastomosis, the inner surface of the bile ducts, areas of dilated intrahepatic ducts, and the intrahepatic stones. The study overcame the need for an invasive study such as a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and also facilitated appropriate surgical treatment in a timely fashion. It is believed that virtual intraluminal endoscopy (VIE) is helpful in the evaluation and management of selected cases of choledochal cyst.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in thalassaemic children with elevated serum ferritin levels

OBJECTIVE

Despite modern treatment with hypertransfusion and chelation therapy, growth retardation continues to be observed in a significant proportion of thalassaemic children. The underlying reason remains unclear, but hypothalamic-pituitary axis disorder has been implicated. We aimed to assess iron overloading in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in thalassaemic children with elevated serum ferritin, with and without growth retardation.

METHODOLOGY

Twelve thalassaemic children on hypertransfusion and chelation therapy with high serum ferritin were investigated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Five children, all over 10 years of age, had growth retardation. Gradient recalled echo sequence was used to highlight any susceptibility effect that could be due to iron in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

RESULT

There was no evidence of abnormal hypointense signal in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in the patients studied, regardless of the presence of growth retardation.

CONCLUSION

There was no apparent characteristic MRI appearances of iron deposition in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in thalassaemic children with high serum ferritin.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: dynamic MR imaging with gadolinium

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of enhanced dynamic MR images in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

Dynamic enhanced turbo spin-echo transverse images were obtained in 35 patients with newly diagnosed NPC. Comparison was made between the pre-contrast image, last enhanced scan and dynamic series in assessment of the extent of primary tumor and lymph node involvement.

RESULTS

Enhanced MR images improved delineation of tumor in the following regions, nasopharyngeal wall (6/35), levator palatini (44/70), tensor palatini (12/70), prevertebral muscles (3/70), medial pterygoid muscle (7/70), pharyngobasilar fascia (30/35), parapharyngeal fat space (23/70), nasal cavity (33/70), oropharynx (6/35), sphenoid sinus (6/35), maxillary sinus (6/70), ethmoid air cells (14/35), cavernous sinus (5/35), cranial fossa (4/35), clivus (13/35) and pterygoid genu (2/70). Eight of the 9 normal and 79/82 abnormal nodal groups, on conventional imaging criteria, enhanced with the same pattern and intensity as the primary tumor. The dynamic series did not improve delineation of tumor extent in comparison with that obtained on last enhanced image.

CONCLUSION

Enhanced MR images are valuable in evaluating the extent of primary tumor. Dynamic imaging was of no additional benefit in the evaluation tumor extent.

Spontaneous intramural haematoma of the oesophagus: CT and MRI appearances

A 64-year-old man with history of ischaemic heart disease and coronary artery bypass graft surgery, but no history of peptic ulcer or liver disease, presented with retrosternal pain and coffee-ground vomitus. Endoscopy revealed a long column of bluish discolouration with normal mucosa interpreted as a grade IV oesophageal varix. Computed tomography showed a non-enhancing low-density submucosal columnar lesion in the mid- and lower oesophagus consistent with a submucosal haematoma. This resolved on follow-up at 10 days. The magnetic resonance features of intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images of this lesion are also highlighted.