OBJECTIVE: We wanted to compare the ability of screen-film mammography (SFM) and soft-copy full-field digital mammography (s-FFDM) on two different monitors to detect and characterize microcalcifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The images of 40 patients with microcalcifications (three patients had malignant lesion and 37 patients had benign lesion), who underwent both SFM and FFDM at an interval of less than six months, were independently evaluated by three readers. Three reading sessions were undertaken for SFM and for FFDM on a mammography-dedicated review workstation (RWS, 2K x 2.5K), and for FFDM on a high-resolution PACS monitor (1.7K x 2.3K). The image quality, breast composition and the number and conspicuity of the microcalcifications were evaluated using a three-point rating method, and the mammographic assessment was classified into 4 categories (normal, benign, low concern and moderate to great concern). RESULTS: The image quality, the number and conspicuity of the microcalcifications by s-FFDM (on the RWS, PACS and both) were superior to those by SFM in 85.0%, 80.0% and 52.5% of the cases, respectively (p < 0.01), and those by the s-FFDM on the two different monitors were similar in 15.0%, 12.5% and 35.0% of the cases, respectively (p > 0.01). The mammographic assessment category for the microcalcifications in the three reading sessions was similar. CONCLUSION: s-FFDM gives a superior image quality to SFM and it is better at evaluating microcalcifications. In addition, s-FFDM with the PACS monitor is comparable to s-FFDM with the RWS for evaluating microcalcifications.
*Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Mammography/*methods ; Humans ; Female ; Calcinosis/*radiography ; Breast Diseases/*radiography

This report describes a 22-yr-old professional golfer with acute calcific periarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the 4th finger. We considered that the major cause for this condition may be the repeated minor traumas to the affected site. Also, since this condition is self-limiting, a correct diagnosis is required to avoid unnecessary tests and surgery.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Arthralgia/diagnosis/etiology ; Calcinosis/*complications/*radiography ; Cumulative Trauma Disorders/complications/radiography ; Finger Injuries/*complications/*radiography ; Golf/*injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Periarthritis/*etiology/*radiography

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma is a rare soft tissue tumor that occurs in the distal extremities of children and adolescents. We report ultrasound and X-ray findings of a calcifying aponeurotic fibroma in the finger of a 36-year-old woman, associated with distal phalangeal bone involvement.
Adult ; Bone Neoplasms/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Calcinosis/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Fibroma/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; *Fingers ; Humans ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/*radiography/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

Aged ; Calcinosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography ; Uterine Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

Soft tissue calcification is a pathological condition in which calcium and phosphate salts are deposited in the soft tissue organic matrix. This study presents an unusual calcification noted in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. A 67-year-old woman presented for dental treatment, specifically for implant placement, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed. The CBCT scan was reviewed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist and revealed incidental findings of 2 distinct calcifications in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. To the authors' knowledge, no previous study has reported the diagnosis of Eustachian tube calcification using CBCT. This report describes an uncommon variant of Eustachian tube calcification, which has a significant didactic value because such cases are seldom illustrated either in textbooks or in the literature. This case once again underscores the importance of having CBCT scans evaluated by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist.
Aged ; Calcinosis ; Calcium ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Diagnosis ; Eustachian Tube* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Radiography ; Salts

Heterotopic calcification following head and neck irradiation has rarely been reported. It usually develops as a late complication of radiotherapy in patients with malignancies, including breast cancer, lymphoma, and genitourinary malignancies. The occurrence of heterotopic calcification in the prevertebral space of the cervical spine has not been described as a late complication of irradiation. Here, we report a case of prevertebral heterotopic calcification in a patient with history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for tonsil cancer 21 years ago.
Aged ; Calcinosis/*etiology/pathology/radiography ; *Cervical Vertebrae/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Ossification, Heterotopic/*etiology/radiography ; Radiation Injuries/complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tonsillar Neoplasms/*radiotherapy

A mediastinal mass was incidentally found on chest radiography in a 46-yr-old woman who had had myasthenia gravis (MG) for 2 months. Computed tomography revealed a 4-cm in size, well-defined, and lobulating mass with nodular calcification that was located in the thymus. Microscopically, the mass consisted of diffuse amorphous eosinophilic materials. These deposits exhibited apple-green birefringence under polarized light microscopy after Congo red staining. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that they were positive for both kappa and lambda light chains and negative for amyloid A. A diagnosis of localized primary thymic amyloidosis was finally made. After thymectomy, the symptoms of MG were controlled with reduced corticosteroid requirements. Localized thymic amyloidosis associated with MG has not been reported to date.
Amyloidosis/complications/*radiography/*surgery ; Calcinosis/*radiography/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains/immunology ; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains/immunology ; Mediastinum/radiography/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis/*complications ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thymectomy ; Thymus Gland/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma is a rare, benign fibroblastic tumor. The lesion has a propensity for local invasion and a high recurrent rate. Therefore, accurate preoperative diagnosis and complete excision are important to prevent the recurrence of the tumor after surgical removal. However, radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma have been extremely rarely described in the radiology literature. Thus, we report a rare case of calcifying aponeurotic fibroma affecting the dorsal wrist in a 67-year-old man, describe radiographic and MR findings, and discuss the differential diagnosis of the tumor.
Aged ; Calcinosis/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibroma/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnosis/radiography ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; *Wrist/pathology/radiography

Phlebosclerotic colitis is a rare disease of intestinal ischemia caused by calcified peripheral mesenteric veins and a thickened colonic wall, differentiating it from the typical ischemic colitis. A 68-year-old man who was undergoing hemodialysis presented with hematochezia and abdominal pain. Colonoscopic findings showed typical dark purple-colored edematous mucosa. Linear calcifications in the colon were noted on both a plain abdominal radiolography and abdominal computer tomography. These findings suggested that the patient suffered from phlebosclerotic colitis. Following bowel rest and fluid therapy, there was full recovery. We herein report a rare case of phlebosclerotic colitis in a hemodialysis patient and include a review of the relevant literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Calcinosis ; Colitis/*diagnosis/radiography ; Colonoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins ; Renal Dialysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Aged ; Appendiceal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Rupture, Spontaneous