Objective To analyze the CT features of lung alveolar echinococcosis and assess the value of CT scanning for the diagnosis of this disease. Methods The CT features of lung alveolar echinococcosis in 26 patients diagnosed pathologically or clinically were reviewed retrospectively and correlated with histopathology.Results Lung alveolar echinococcosis appeared as multiple lesions bilaterally in 18 patients, as multiple lesions unilaterally in 6 patients, and as single lesion bilaterally in 2 patients. Seventeen cases presented as masses and nodules,8 patients presented as nodules,1 patient presented as a mass. Lobulation and spiculation were showed in most lesions, irregular cavity or bubble-like opacity in 13 patients,calcification in 18 patients,a patchy area or fibrotic cord around lesion in 14 patients. Pleural thickening adjacent to the lesion in 20 patients. Conclusion Lung alveolar echinococcosis has characteristic features on CT, and CT can provide important information for the diagnosis of lung alveolar echinococcosis.

Objective To elucidate the CT characteristics and pathology of acute miliary pulmonary tuberculosis (AMPT). Methods The CT features of AMPT in 25 cases were analyzed retrospectively, and the CT features in HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive patients were compared by 2-sided exact propability Chi-square test. Two lung specimens were inflated and fixed by Heitzman's method. HRCT scans, gross specimen section (80-150 μm) and histologic section (5 μm) were performed on dry lung specimens and CT-pathologic correlation was conducted. The distribution of micronodules in the secondary lobule on HRCT and pathology in one specimen was evaluated by Chi-square test. Results Twenty five patients with AMPT were included in this study, including 11 HIV-seropositive patients and 14 HIV-seronegative patients. HRCT showed diffuse micronodules randomly distributed throughout both lungs in 25 patients, and ground-glass opacity (17 patients)was the predominant complicated finding. Coalescence of nodules and consolidation in HIV-seropositive patients (5 and 6 patients) were markedly higher than that in HIV-seronegative patients (none). In lung specimens, most nodules located in the lung parenchyma between the central bronchovascular bundle and the perilobular structures (792 and 560 nodules), which located in the interlobular septum pathologically. The distribution of micronodules in the secondary lobule showed on HRCT (1060 nodules)and pathology(864 nodules) was not significantly difference(x2=2.814,P＞0.05). HRCT showed ground-glass opacities when ARDS occured, which were pulmonary edema,inflammation and hyaline membrane on alveolar wall pathologically. Conclusions The HRCT characteristic of nodule distribution in AMPT is random. ARDS should be suspected when diffuse ground-glass opacities appear on HRCT.

Objective To illustrate the chest radiography and MSCT findings of measles pneumonia in adults. Methods One hundred and sixty three measles patients underwent chest radiography, MSCT was performed in 3 of them. Measles pneumonia was confirmed in 10 patients (6.13%). Results Eight of 10 patients had abnormal appearances in initial chest radiography. The characteristic chest radiographic findings were ground-glass opacities (n=6) and bronchial wall thickening (n=2). MSCT showed bilateral multiple ground-glass opacities in 1 patient,unilateral patchy ground-glass opacities with lobular distribution in the right upper lung in 2 patients. Conclusions Familiarizing with radiographic and MSCT appearances of measles pneumonia in adults is very important for the differential diagnosis and appropriate management of measles pneumonia. Normal initial chest radiography cannot exclude the involvement of the lungs.

Objective To assess the chest X-ray radiographic findings in children with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. Methods The chest X-ray radiographies in 67 children with influenza A(H1N1) virus infection were reviewed in this study. The chest radiographies were obtained 3-8 days after the onset of symptoms and for the follow-up. Results The abnormalities were bilateral in 53 patients and unilateral in 7 patients. The predominant radiographic findings were bilateral patchy consolidation (n=42) with rapid confluence in 10 patients, lobular consolidation (n=7) with interstitial hyperplasia in 1 patient 3 month later, diffuse consolidation (n=11) with interstitial hyperplasia in all patients after 3 month. ConclusionThe predominant chest X-ray radiographic findings are bilateral patchy consolidation and diffuse consolidation with interstitial hyperplasia afterward.

Objective To describe the CT manifestations of thymic epithelial tumor and explore the correlation between CT findings and post-operative tumor-related survival time. Methods Ninety-one patients who underwent CT scan before operation were reviewed retrospectively. All cases had operation and were classified according to the WHO classification. The size, contour, shape, density and enhancement of the tumors on CT were assessed. Presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, great vessel invasion, metastasis to the lung or plural, myasthenia gravis (MG) were also analyzed. The survival rate was obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox model was applied to determine the factors affecting the tumor-related survivals. Chi square test was used to analyze the relationship between CT findings and WHO classification. Results Two patients were excluded because of dying of myocardial infarction and colon cancer. The total 5-year survival rate was 84.3%(n=75). Eighty-nine patients had total 91 tumors. Tumors with diameter larger than 5 cm, lobular contour, heterogenous density, and presence of great vessel invasion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and metastasis were adverse factors which could significantly affect the survival time. Five-year survival rates of these factors were 72.7%, 77.3%, 76.7%, 73.8%, 30.0%, and 68.8%, respectively. Presence of MG was a favorable factor which also significantly affected the survival time (P＜0.05). While the shape and enhancement of the tumors and the age, gender of the patients did not significantly affect the survival time (P＞0.05). The result of the Cox multivariate analysis was consistent with that of the Log-rank test. For different WHO classification, there were significant different among the size or contour of the tumors, presence of great vessel invasion, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and metastasis (x2 value were 6.598, 5.737, 18.307, 8.465, and 15.608, respectively P＜0.05). Conclusions CT findings may be served as predictors of clinical prognosis of the thymic epithelial tumors. Adverse factors for survival time are the size of the tumors and presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, while MG is a favorable factor for survival time.

Objective To analyze the differences of ADC values in breasts of women of different ages and different menstrual phases, so as to direct the choice of the examination time of MR DWI. MethodsThe breasts of 65 healthy volunteers were scanned with the routine MRI plain scan and DWI in the menstrual, proliferative and secretary phases. DWI was conducted with single shot echo planar imaging technique and b value were 0, 1000 s/mm2. The women were divided into three groups: Group 1(aged 20 to 29 years, 21 cases), Group 2 (aged 30 to 39, 21cases), and Group 3 (aged 40 to 49, 23 cases). The ADC values of all 130 breasts at nipple level in the different phases were measured. The ADC values in the three age groups and in the different menstrual phases were compared using ANOVA. Results The mean ADC values of Group 1 were (2.14±0.14) ×10-3, (2.03±0.18) ×10-3and (2.10±0.19)×10-3mm2/s for left breast, and (2.08±0.17) ×10-3, (2.02±0.16) ×10-3and (2.09±0.17) ×10-3mm2/s for right breast in the menstrual, proliferative and secretary phases. They were slightly higher than Group 3, which were (2.02±0.27) ×10-3, (1.97±0.25) ×10-3and (2.03±0.22)×10-3 mm2/s for left breast and (1.99±0.29) ×10-3, (1.93±0.26) ×10-3and (2.03±0.28)×10-3 mm2/s for right breast. The mean ADC values of Group 2 [left breast: (1.94±0.25) ×10-3, (1.91±0.21) ×10-3and (1.97±0.21)×10-3 mm2/s ; right breast: (1.97±0.26)×10-3, (1.89±0.25)×10-3and (1.96±0.22)×10-3 mm2/s) were the lowest among the three age groups. There were significant differences in different menstrual phases (F= 23.600, P＜0.01), but no statistical difference was found among the three age groups or between left breasts and right breasts (F= 1.683, 2.248;P＞0.05).Conclusions The mean ADC values of breasts decrease markedly in the proliferative phase.The effects of the menstrual cycle on the breast ADC values should be considered in the evaluation of breast diseases with DWI.

Objective To investigate the imaging feature of hippocampal sclerosis (HS), and evaluate the diagnostic value of double inversion recovery (DIR) sequence at 3.0 T MR for its diagnosis. Methods Twelve patients with unilateral HS proven by pathology and 12 healthy volunteers were enrolled. All patients received DIR, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T2 TSE sequences scans on oblique coronal plane vertical to the hippocampal axis on a 3.0 T MR scanner. Regions of interest (ROI) were set respectively in ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampi hippocampi in patients with HS, and the bilateral hippocampi in healthy volunteneers were placed respectively. Signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR), ratio of signal intensity (RSI) and asymmetry index (AI) of each ROI in all hippocampi were calculated and compared among the three sequences. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA. Results On DIR images, ipsilateral hippocampal lesions demonstrated extremely high signal intensity. Relative signal intensity of ipsilateral hippocampal lesions, contralateral hippocampi and the hippocampi in control groups healthy volunteneers were 1.50±0.05, 1.26±0.03, 1.18±0.05 (F=172.609,P=0.000), respectively. SNR of ipsilateral hippocampal lesions on DIR, FLAIR and T2 TSE sequences were 84.13±16.62, 50.90±12.38, 63.25±15.46 (F=15.185,P=0.000), respectively. CNR of hippocampus were 13.72±3.73, 6.67±3.02, 7.33±3.65 (F=14.985,P=0.000), respectively.In HS patients, RSI and AI of the ipsilateral hippocampal lesions and contralateral hippocampi among the three sequences did not show statistically significant difference(P=0.078). Conclusions HS manifests extremely high signal intensity on DIR images. On DIR images, the SNR and CNR of HS were higher than those on conventional MR sequences which provide valuable information for the diagnosis of HS.

Objective To compare the efficiency of enhanced T2* weighted angiography (ESWAN) sequence with that of a conventional T2*-weighted gradient-recalled-echo (GRE T2*WI) sequence for the detection of hemorrhagic shearing lesions in patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI). And combined with MRI parameters, to further discuss the principles and virtues of ESWAN sequence. Methods Seventeen patients with DAI were enrolled in this study. The raw data acquired from ESWAN scan were postprocessed by using the mean square root of multi-echoes. Then, the postprocessed images were compared with the conventional GRE T2* weighted images. The global and regional (superficial, deep and posterior fossa) lesion numbers determined by both sequences were compared by using Wilcoxon signed ranks test (two-tailed). Differences were considered to be significant at P≤0.05. Results Hemorrhagic lesions were more obvious on ESWAN images than those on conventional GRE T2* weighted images. The median and range value of the detected lesion numbers on ESWAN images were 27 and (1-239) in whole brain, 13 and (1-89) in cerebral superficial region, 5 and (0-111) in cerebral deep region and 1 and (0-39) in posterior fossa region, respectively; whereas, on GRE T2* weighted images, they were 7 and (1-34) in whole brain, 5 and (1-27) in cerebral superficial region, 2 and (0-25) in cerebral deep region and 0 and (0-4) in posterior fossa region, respectively. There were significant statistical differences between the two sequences in revealing the lesions in all the four regions (Z=-3.519,-3.182,-3.185,-2.677,P＜0.05). Conclusion In ESWAN sequence, multi-echo acquisition ensured sufficient magnetic susceptibility for detecting small hemorrhagic lesions. So, ESWAN is more sensitive to small hemorrhage, which revealed more hemorrhagic lesions than conventional GRE T2*WI and presented more valuable information for the diagnosis of DAI.

Objective To investigate diagnostic value of CTA for traumatic pseudoaneurysms (TPA) in the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) when they rupture into the sphenoid sinus. Methods CTA of 7 patients with TPA in the cavernous segments of ICA verified by DSA were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were performed CTA scanning. The post-processing techniques included VR,MIP,MPR, and CPR. Results All the CTA images of 7 patients showed irregular mass in the sphenoid sinus with obviously enhancement in the same phase to ICA, which communicating with ICA in wide base. The peripheral area of the mass showed no enhancement. The size varied from 3 mm × 2 mm × 1 mm to 33 mm × 30 mm × 27 mm. The adjacent lateral wall of sphenoid sinus showed fractures in all cases. TPA located at anterior-knee segments of cavernous ICA in 6 cases, and cavernous free segment in 1 case. All the disruptions were found at medial or anterior medial wall of ICA. Conclusions Cranial CTA is the effective non-invasive method for diagnosing TPA in the cavernous segment of ICA when they rupture into sphenoid sinus. Combined using of VR, MIP, MPR, and CPR can delineate the location and size of the sphenoid wall fracture and the ICA rupture, which help to clarify the anatomical relationship between them.

Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic features of subtypes of renal cell carcinoma(RCC) using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI(DCE-MRI).Methods The MRI appearances of 77 RCCs, including 55 clear cell RCCs(CCRCC),14 papillary RCCs(PRCC) and 8 chromophobe RCCs(CRCC), were retrospectively analyzed and compared with findings of pathology. DCE-MRI was conducted in each case after intravenous administration of contrast agent. Region of interest measurements (cortical, nephrographic and delayed Phases) of signals within tumor and uninvolved renal cortex were used to calculate percentage signal intensity change and tumor-to-cortex enhancement index, and the data was analyzed by AVONA and t test. Results On unenhanced and enhanced MRI, most CRCCs showed homogeneous signal(7/8). CCRCC and PRCC often show inhomogenous signal with necrosis(36/55, 7/14). Hemorrhage and cystic degeneration were often found in PRCC (9/14). On the cortical, nephrographic and delayed phase images, CCRCCs showed greater signal intensity change[(296.15±60.27)%, (236.33±58.31)% and (216.83±46.72)%,respectively than PRCCs (79.70±18.84)%, (122.81±27.35)% and (117.55±20.63)%, respectively], and CRCCs showed intermediate change [(119.56±40.76)%, (163.06±33.91)% and (179.72±32.89)%, respectively].A phenomenon of quick staining and quick fainting was observed in CCRCCs. Both of CRCCs and PRCCs showed delayed enhancement. The tumor-to-cortex enhancement index at the cortical, nephrographic and delayed phases was highest for CCRCCs (1.26±0.34, 0.92±0.23 and 0.76±0.14, respectively), lowest for PRCCs (0.33±0.12, 0.41±0.23 and 0.35±0.11, respectively), and intermediate for CRCCs (0.54±0.10, 0.62±0.15 and 0.69±0.12, respectively,P＜0.01). The degree of enhancement was significantly different among the 3 subtypes at the every contrast enhanced phase (F=940.931, 124.515 and 38.194, P＜0.01), so was the tumor-to-cortex enhancement index(F=798.625,78.308 and 73.699, P＜0.01). There was a good consistency between MR appearances of the 3 RCC subtypes and pathological characteristics. Conclusion DCE-MRI could distinctly show imaging features of CCRCC, PRCC and CRCC, which were related to their pathological characteristics, and these features were helpful in predicting a specific subtype of RCC.