Three-types of expandable metallic stents were constructed to evaluate the differences between the stents : one, formed in a cylindrical zigzag pattern with stainless steel wire (Gianturco stent), another, made by coating the Gianturco stent with silicone rubber(Silicone stent), the third, made by coating the Gianturco stent with 24 carat gold(God stent) for tissue acceptance. A total of 69 stents(each 23 stents of Glanturco, Silicone, and Gold stents) of 8-12 mm in diameter and 20 mm long were placed into normal abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava and iliac artery of nine adult dogs for 2 weeks to 11 months. It was more difficult to introcuce Silicone stent into an introducing sheath than Gianturco or Gold stent due to the thickness of silicone rubber, Four Gianturco stents and three Silicone stents showed migration but Gold stent did not. Luminal narrowing or occlusion was noted in 3 Silicone stents, in 2 Gianturco stents, and in 1 Gold stent. Neointimal proliferation over the stent wires was more rapid and even in God stent than Silicone or Gianturco stent. Although further study is needed, Gold stent seems to be better than Gianturco or Silicone stent as an endovascular graft material.
Adult ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Dogs* ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Phenobarbital ; Silicon ; Silicone Elastomers ; Silicones ; Stainless Steel ; Stents* ; Transplants ; Vena Cava, Inferior

PURPOSE: To describe the abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns obtained by means of three-dimensional (3-D) surface-rendering MR imaging in patients with cerebral cortical disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with cerebral cortical disease [M:F=9:4, aged 8 -55 (median, 26.6) years] underwent 3-D surface-rendering MR imaging. Seven had cortical dysplasia and six showed gyral atropic change, conditions which in all cases were pathologically confirmed. All were the subject of conventional brain MRI imaging studies using the MP-RAGE (magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo) sequence, and the resulting 3-D data sets were processed on a commercially available workstation. Abnormal gyral and suleal configurations were reviewed. RESULTS: Abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns were seen in all patients. In eight cases these involved the frontal lobe, in three the parietal lobe, and in two the sylvian fissure. In four patients with cortical dysplasia, conventional MR imaging revealed no cortical abnormality, but 3-D surface-rendering MRI indicated that the configuration and orientation of affected gyri and sulci were abnormal. In nine patients in whom an abnormal gyral pattern was revealed by conventional MRI, 3-D surface imaging confirmed the presence of a thick and enlarged gyrus, or that the configuration of affected gyri was atrophic and abnormal. CONCLUSION: In patients with cerebral cortical disease, 3-D surface-rendering MR imaging detects a high rate of abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns.
Brain ; Dataset ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Parietal Lobe

PURPOSE: To describe the abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns obtained by means of three-dimensional (3-D) surface-rendering MR imaging in patients with cerebral cortical disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with cerebral cortical disease [M:F=9:4, aged 8 -55 (median, 26.6) years] underwent 3-D surface-rendering MR imaging. Seven had cortical dysplasia and six showed gyral atropic change, conditions which in all cases were pathologically confirmed. All were the subject of conventional brain MRI imaging studies using the MP-RAGE (magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo) sequence, and the resulting 3-D data sets were processed on a commercially available workstation. Abnormal gyral and suleal configurations were reviewed. RESULTS: Abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns were seen in all patients. In eight cases these involved the frontal lobe, in three the parietal lobe, and in two the sylvian fissure. In four patients with cortical dysplasia, conventional MR imaging revealed no cortical abnormality, but 3-D surface-rendering MRI indicated that the configuration and orientation of affected gyri and sulci were abnormal. In nine patients in whom an abnormal gyral pattern was revealed by conventional MRI, 3-D surface imaging confirmed the presence of a thick and enlarged gyrus, or that the configuration of affected gyri was atrophic and abnormal. CONCLUSION: In patients with cerebral cortical disease, 3-D surface-rendering MR imaging detects a high rate of abnormal gyral and sulcal patterns.
Brain ; Dataset ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Parietal Lobe

PURPOSE: Cortical dysplasia (CD) designates a diverse group of malformations resulting from one or more abnormalities in the development of the cerebral cortex. We investigated the findings of interictal SPECT and the diagnostic usefulness of interical and ictal SPECT according to pathological grading (PG) in comparison with MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 16 patients (M:F=9:7, age: 19.9+/-11.8 yrs) with pathologically proven CD. Tc-99m ECD SPECT was performed in all patients: interictal 11, interictal and ictal 3, ictal 2. MRI were obtained in all patients and image analysis was done blindly as to the result of SPECT. Pathologic findings of CD were classified into grade 1 (G1, dyslamination), grade 2 (G2, dysplastic neurons) and grade 3 (G3, balloon cells). We compared SPECT with MRI in lesions-to-lesions and analyzed the result according to PG. RESULTS: In SPECT and MRI, 38 and 27 lesions were visually recognized. In 14 interictal SPECT, variable findings in 35 lesions were demonstrated: 26 were hypoperfusion, 7 hyperperfusion, 2 heterotopic perfusion in the white matter. By comparison between two studies, missed lesions were founded: SPECT were 1 lesion, MRI 12. Review of missed 12 lesions of MRI were followed according to PG; G1 patients were 16.7% (4/19), G2 40.0% (6/15), and G3 50% (2/4). CONCLUSION: Interictal SPECT in CD showed variable findings such as hypoperfusion, hyperperfusion or heterotopic perfusion. However, for detection of missed CD on MRI, SPECT may help to detect a functional abnormality of the lesion with high PG.
Cerebral Cortex ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Malformations of Cortical Development* ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

The search for tumor-avid agents for use in nuclear medicine imaging is an ongoing field of importance. The purpose of this study was to determine the affinity for radiolabeled vitamin B12 by a wide histologic variety of tumor types in mice. Seventeen different types of tumor were grown subcutaneously in female Balb/C or Balb nu/nu(nude) mice. When the tumors reached about 1 cm in diameter, mice were injected intraperitoneally with 57Co-vitamin B12. Twenty-foul hours later, the mice were sacrificed. Organs and tissues were removed, weighed, and activity per mg determined by gamma counter. Values represented cpm/mg tissue that was normalized to 20 grams body weight for each mouse. A wide variety of tumor types showed significant uptake and concentration of 57Co-vitamin B12, as evidenced by tumor:tissue activity ratios. For many tissues of great importance in terms of background(bone, muscle, blood), the tumor:tissue activity ratios of uptake were high. These data strongly suggest that further efforts to evaluate the utility of radiolabeled adducts of vitamin B12 for clinical use in oncologic imaging are warranted.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Mice* ; Nuclear Medicine ; Vitamin B 12

No abstract available.
Shoulder*

Objective: We investigated whether circle of Willis (COW) morphology on 3D time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography differs between young normal subjects, older normal subjects, and patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: One hundred seventy-seven subjects were grouped according to age into a young group (20 – 40 years; n = 91) and an older group (> 60 years; n = 86). Subjects underwent brain MR examination as part of a health check-up. Fifty-three patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque were also included for evaluation in this study. COW morphology on 3D TOF MR angiography was analyzed in terms of completeness or incompleteness of the anterior and posterior components of the circle and completeness of the circle. Results: An incomplete pattern of anterior circulation was significantly more common in carotid atherosclerotic plaque patients (20.7%) than normal older subjects (5.5%) (p < 0.01). A complete posterior circulation pattern was more frequent in normal young subjects (46.5%) than in normal older subjects (16.5%) or the patient group (18.9%) (p < 0.01). Of patients with carotid artery stenosis, 18.9% had a bilateral incomplete connection and were significantly more likely to have an incomplete pattern than normal young (2.3%) or normal older subjects (2.2%) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Young, healthy subjects were significantly more likely to have a complete pattern of posterior circulation than older subjects. Patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were significantly more likely to have incomplete anterior circulation and an incomplete circle than young, normal subjects.
Circle of Willis

An asymptomatic 26-year-old man was initially admitted with a suspicious mediastinal mass. On the basis of the contrast-enhanced chest CT findings, aneurysm formation involving the left cervical aortic arch associated with subaortic left innominate vein was diagnosed. The aneurysm was confirmed by MR angiography and DSA. The arch aneurysm was surgically removed. We describe this case, and review the literature.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Brachiocephalic Veins* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A patient with a sciatic artery aneurysm, which is so rare that only 31 cases have been reported in the literature to date, was treated successfully with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) alone. Potentially risky and difficult surgery was avoided. This was the first trial with a good result. TAE alone is simple, safe and effective method for the treatment of sciatic artery aneurysm either in incomplete type or in complete type with adequate collateralization.
Aged ; Aneurysm/radiography/*therapy/ultrasonography ; *Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leg/*blood supply ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Sclerosing hemangiomas are rare benign neoplasms in pulmonary parenchyme, We analyzed CT findings of two cases of sclerosing hemangiomas of the lung in two adult females. Chest radiograph showed well-circumscuribed, round soft tissue mass with calcification in right lower lobe of one patient and without calcification and moderate or marked contrast enhancement was clearly demonstrated with CT scan. CT findings of contratst enhancement and contour of calcification allow differentiation of sclerosing hemangioma from other venign neoplasms or postinflammotory pseudotusrs of the lung.
Adult ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed