Objective To investigate the value of MRI in evaluation of metastatic axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast carcinoma. Methods 60 patients with breast carcinoma underwent MRI before surgical management.Tumor maximal diameter,tumor SERmax (Maximal Signal Enhancement Ratio),the size,shape,border,signal intensity and enhancement pattern of ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes were recorded respectively.The results of MRI observation were compared with the histopathological results.Results Among the 60 patients,MRI showed that 28 cases had metastatic axillary lymph nodes,and 22 of them were confirmed by pathology.Its sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 90.91%,78.95%,83.33% in the diagnosis of lymph nodes metastasis.Meanwhile,57 cases were underwent ultrasound examination,its sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were 59.09%,94.29%,80.70%.The sizes of lymph nodes in the patients with metastatic lymph nodes and the patients with no metastatic lymph nodes were(1.20±0.59)cm, (0.85±0.24)cm respectively.There was statistically significant difference between the two groups(t=3.258,P=0.001<0.05). There was statistically significant difference between the above two groups in the tumor maximum of SER(t=4.167,P=0.000<0.05),SERmax in metastatic lymph nodes were higher than in no metastatic ones.Irregular shape and border,inhomogeneous signal intensity and heterogeneous enhancement patterns were suggestive of metastatic lymph nodes.Conclusion MRI is an effective imaging modality in evaluation of axillary lymph nodes status in patients with breast carcinoma comprehensively before operation.

Objective To analyze the multi-slices spiral CT (MSCT) findings of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(HAE), and to evaluate the value of MSCT for diagnosis of HAE. Methods Twenty-six cases with HAE were scanning by MSCT. The raw data were transmitted to advanced workstation for reconstruction imaging. Correlated studies were made between the CT features and pathology or other imaging results. Results Altogether 28 lesions were detected. They all revealed as heterogeneous hypodense mass with ill-defined boundary in plain CT but were easily being distinguished from surrounding parenchyma after contrast medium injection.Characteristics of the lesions include different amount of calcification (26/26), liquefied necrosis in center area (20/26), peripheral lacunae or alveolar signs (15/26), compensatory hypertrophy of healthy hepatic part (18/26) and the retraction in the involved hepatic lobe or segment (12/26). The lesions that located at or extended to hepatic hilum caused dilatation of intra-hepatic biliary ducts(9/26), splenomegaly (12/26), and ascites (1/26). MSCT angiography (CTA) depicted signs of abnormalities of hepatic vessels such as compression, displacement, encasement and occlusion. Compared with findings of operation, the sensitivity, specificity and positive prediction value of CTA for evaluating the hepatic artery system disorders were 88%, 96% and 93%, respectively; and for portal venous system were 95%, 100% and 95%, respectively; while for hepatic venous system were 96%, 86% and 96%, respectively. Conclusion MSCT is able to comprehensive display the CT features and vessels complication of HAE. It provides reliable imaging for both accuracy diagnosis and proper treatment of the disease.

Objective To identify the imaging characteristics of calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) and do literature review.Methods Five patients of pathologically-proved CAPNON underwent preoperative MR examination,among which 4 underwent CT scan,2 underwent DSA examination and 1 underwent SPECT. All imaging data were retrospectively analyzed with the emphasis on imaging characteristics.Results Five patients of CAPNON with the diameter of 1.5 to 5.0 cm were found in five patients ( Male 4 ; Female 1 ; age 25 to 60 years old ).Three lesions were located in the skull base,one was located in the cervical spine and one in the foramen magnum and upper cervical segment. All patients underwent MRI examination and 4 of them also took CT scanning.On plain CT,all lesions showed obvious calcification.On T1WI all masses showed hypointensity,and on T2WI 4 of the lesions showed iso- or hypointensity and 1 heterogeneous signal intensity. On contrast-enhanced MR images, peripheral enhancement was demonstrated in 3 lesions,homogeneous enhancement was found in case and one lesion showed no enhancement. The pathologic analysis indicated that inside the lesions were abundant calcification,fibroepithelial tissue and mucoid matrix and no edema was detected around the lesions.Conclusions CAPNON displayed the predilection to male adults and the neuraxis was the predilection site.Calcification on CT images,hypointensity on MR images and peripheral enhancement will be helpful for the diagnosis of CAPNON,but the final confirmation still needs the pathologic results.