PURPOSE: We evaluated internal and marginal features of solitary pulmonary nodules on CT to differentiate between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Materials and Uethods:CT findings of 43 cases with solitary pulmonary nodule were reviewed, restrospectively. Independent T-test between benign and malignant nodules was used. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases were proved as benign nodules and 22 cases as malignant. CT air bronchogram was observed more frequently in the malignant lesions(36.4%) than in the benign ones (p=0.01). ,Air bubble shadow was observed in 5 cases of benign nodule, whereas none of the malignant lesions revealed it. Internal homogeneity or central low density was not different between the two groups. Cavitation was observed in 3 cases of tuberculoma and in 1 case of adenocarcinoma. Calcification was observed in 7 cases of benign and in 2 cases of malignant lesions. Differences in these two features were not statistically significant Mean size of malignant nodules was 3.23cm, and was larger than 2.16cm of benign nodules (p=0.002). Margin of benign nodules was more smooth (42.9%) than that of malignant nodules (p=0.01), and malignant nodules showed more Iobulated contour (90.9%) than benign nodules (42.9%) (p=0.00). The incidence of spiculation was not significantly different (benign 85.7% vs malignant 86.4%). Statistically, pleural tail and satellite lesions were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: Lobulated margin and CT air bronchogram are the most suggestive findings of malignant pulmonary noule on chest CT.
Adenocarcinoma ; Incidence ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of Dual Echo in State(DESS) image in the diagnosis of chondromalacia of the knee compared with turbo spin-echo MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 26 patients with chondromalacia of the knee. MR imaging was obtained with a 1.5T imager. Sagittal and coronal double echo T2 weighted images(TR/TE 3000~4200/16-96msec, FOV 140-160140-160mm, matrix size 180256, slice thickness 4.0mm, interslice gap 0.5mm), and sagittal DESS image(TR/TE 25.4/9.0msec, flip angle 35-45, FOV 150-160150-160mm, matrix size 192256, effective slice thickness 1.5mm) were obtained. Cartilage lesions were staged according to a modified scheme proposed by Outerbridge: grade 0, normal; grade 1, softening or/and we swelling; grade 2, mild surface fibrillation or/and less than 50% of cartilage thickness; grade 3, severe surface fibrillation or/and loss of more than 50% of cartilage thickness but without exposure of subchondral bone; and grade 4, complete loss of cartilage with subchondral bone exposure. Gradings were determined by two readers with consensus, and patellofemoral, medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments were evaluated. RESULTS: Arthroscopic findings revealed grade 1 in seven cases, grade 2 in 21 cases, grade 3 in six cases, and grade 4 in 18 cases. Sensitivity of turbo spin-echo MR images was as follows: 0%, 14%, 0%, 61% in each grade, and sensitivity of DESS image was as follows; 0%, 33%, 50%, 67% in each grade(p=0.001). In the detection of chondromalacic lesions regardless of gradings, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of conventional MR image were 59.6%, 88.6%, 78.8% and of DESS image,73.1%, 88.4%, 82.2%(p=0.007). CONCLUSION: For chondromalacia of knee joints, DESS images showed higher sensitivity than turbo spinehco MR images. Therefore, DESS images will be helpful for diagnosis of chondromalacia of knee joints.
Cartilage ; Cartilage Diseases* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of contrast enhancement of normal bone marrow in L-spine relating to aging and to determine the range of contrast enhancement in normal bone marrow. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed a total of 120 patients (20 per decade) who had undergone lumbar spinal MRI and who ranged in age from the 2nd decade to more than the 7th. Bone marrow revealed no abonormal pathology. Sagittal T1-weighted spin echo sequences were obtained before and after gadolinium administration. For each sequence, a region of interest was drawn within the L1 vertebral body from the midsagittal slice. Signal intensity (SI) values of each sequence were ascertained and the percentage increase in SI was calculated . RESULTS: After contrast enhancement, lumbar MRI revealed no statistically significant in the percentage increase in SI of normal bone marrow in relation to aging. Most patients (99 %) however showed an SI increase of between 10 % and 49 %. In only four, none of whom were aged over 40, was this increase above 50%. CONCLUSION: Lumbar MRI, revealed no statistically significant difference in percentage increase in SI in normal bone marrow relating to aging, but when the increase is above 50 % in a patient aged over 40, bone marrow pathology should be further investigated.
Aging ; Bone Marrow* ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pathology

PURPOSE: There have been some efforts to diagnose intracranial aneurysm through a non-invasive method using MRA, although the process may be difficult when the lesion is less than 3mm. The present study prospectively compare the results of high resolution, fast speed slice interpolation MRA and DSA therapy examing the potentiality of primary non-invasive screening test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 26 cerebral aneurysm lesions from 14 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysm (RA) and 5 patients with unruptured aneurysm(UA). In all subjects, MRA was taken to confirm the vessel of origin, definition of aneurysm neck and the relationship of the aneurysm to nearby small vessels, and the results were compared with the results of DSA. The images were obtained with 1.5T superconductive machine(Vision, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) on 4 slabs of MRA using slice interpolation. the settings include TR/TE/FA=30/6.4/25, matrix 160x512, FOV 150x200, 7minutes 42seconds of scan time, effective thickness of 0.7mm and an entire thickness of 102.2mm. The images included structures from foramen magnum to A3 portion of anterior cerebral artery. MIP was used for the image analysis, and multiplanar reconstruction(MPR) technique was used in cases of intracranial aneurysm. RESULTS: A total of 26 intracranial aneurysm lesions from 19 patients with 2 patients having 3 lesion, 3 patients having 2 lesions and the rest of 14 patients having 1 lesion each were examined. Among those, 14 were RA and 12 were UA. Eight lesions were less than 2mm in size, 9 lesions were 3-5mm, 7 were 6-9mm and 2 were larger than 10mm. On initial exams, 25 out of 26 aneurysm lesions were detected in either MRA or DSA showing 96% sensitively. Specificity cannot be estimated since there was no true negative of false positive findings. When MRA and MPR were used concurrently for the confirmation of size and shape, the results were equivalent to those of DSA, while in the confirmation of aneurysm neck and parent vessels, the concurrent use of MRA and MPR was far superior to the sole use of either MRA or DSA. CONCLUSION: High resolution MRA using slice interpolation technique showed equal results as those of DSA for the detection of intracranial aneurysm, and may be used as a primary nin-invasive screening test in the future.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Angiography* ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction* ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Mass Screening ; Neck ; Parents ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic findings of lateral epicondylitis and their relationship with clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The findings of ultrasonographic examinations of eighteen elbow joints in 15 patients [M:F=5:10 ; age:38-65(mean, 47.6) years] with lateral epicondylitis were reviewed. Two patients underwent surgery, two were not treated, and the remaining 11 were treated conservatively. Symptomatic improvement was noted 1 week after conservative treatment in two cases, at 2 weeks in five cases, at 3 weeks in three cases, and at 5 weeks in one case. With patients in the 90 degree flexed elbow position and in a supinated wrist, we examined the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon around the lateral epicondyle using ultrasound equipment with a 7-11-MHz linear transducer. The findings were assessed in terms of swelling of the tendon, changes in its echotexture, the presence of calcification or cystic degeneration, loss of the hypoechoic band between the tendon and bony cortex of the lateral epicondyle, cortical irregularity of the lateral epicondyle, and fluid collection around the tendon. Any relationships between each ultrasonographic finding and the treatment interval after which symptomatic improvement was noted were evaluated. RESULTS: In the 18 joints, change was observed in the echotexture of all ECRB tendons. This included homogeneous hypoechogenicity in two cases, heterogeneous hypoechogenicity in 13, and heterogeneous mixed echogenicity in three. Other ultrasonographic findings were swelling of the tendon in ten cases, loss of the hypoechoic band in 14, cortical irregularity in five, calcification in four, cystic degeneration in nine, and fluid collection around the tendon in four. In patients treated conservatively, there was no statistically significant difference between each ultrasonographic finding and the treament interval after which symptomatic improvement was noted. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography can be used to assess changes in the ECRB tendon and lateral epicondyle occurring in lateral epicondylitis, but fails to provide information on the rapidity of symptomatic improvement.
Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Joints ; Tendinopathy ; Tendons ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography ; Wrist

Peripheral neuroepithelioma is a rare tumor, comprising less than 1% of all soft tissue malignancies arising from the peripheral nonautonomic nervous system. Most peripheral neuroepitheliomas reported were located in the extremities, thoraco-pulmonary region, and pelvic areas, and as many as 30% of cases were associated with peripheral nerve. We report one case of peripheral neuroepithelioma arising in the kidney, mimicking renal cell carcinoma on the CT scan.
Adult ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Kidney Neoplasms/*pathology ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral/*pathology ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/*pathology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic findings associated with posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) syndrome. METHODS: Approval from the Institutional Review Board was obtained. A retrospective review of 908 patients' sonographic images of the upper extremity from January 2001 to October 2010 revealed 10 patients suspicious for a PIN abnormality (7 male and 3 female patients; mean age of 51.8±13.1 years; age range, 32 to 79 years). The ultrasonographic findings of PIN syndrome, including changes in the PIN and adjacent secondary changes, were evaluated. The anteroposterior diameter of the pathologic PIN was measured in eight patients and the anteroposterior diameter of the contralateral asymptomatic PIN was measured in six patients, all at the level immediately proximal to the proximal supinator border. The size of the pathologic nerves and contralateral asymptomatic nerves was compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Swelling of the PIN proximal to the supinator canal by compression at the arcade of Fröhse was observed in four cases. Swelling of the PIN distal to the supinator canal was observed in one case. Loss of the perineural fat plane in the supinator canal was observed in one case. Four soft tissue masses were noted. Secondary denervation atrophy of the supinator and extensor muscles was observed in two cases. The mean anteroposterior diameter of the pathologic nerves (n=8, 1.79±0.43 mm) was significantly larger than that of the contralateral asymptomatic nerves (n=6, 1.02±0.22 mm) (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography provides high-resolution images of the PIN and helps to diagnose PIN syndrome through visualization of its various causes and adjacent secondary changes.
Atrophy ; Denervation ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Radial Nerve ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of three-dimensional Fourier transformation constructive interference in steady state (CISS) for the evaluation of chondromalacia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 110 knee joints which underwent both MR imaging and arthroscopy, the findings were retrospectively reviewed. MR imaging sequences included two-dimensional dual-echo turbo spin-echo imaging along the sagittal and coronal planes, two-dimensional fast low-angle shot (FLASH) with magnetization transfer along the axial plane, and three-dimensional CISS along the sagittal plane. After the cartilage surfaces of each joint were divided into eight areas (each medial and lateral area of patellar facets, trochlear surfaces, femoral condyles, and tibial plateaux), a total of 880 areas were assessed. Using both combined two-dimensional (2-D turbo spin-echo and FLASH) and CISS imaging during different sessions, each chondromalacia case was assigned one of five grades. RESULTS: Arthroscopy revealed the presence of chondromalacia in 162 areas. This was first grade in 77 areas, second grade in 38, third grade in 21, and fourth grade in 26. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 2-D and CISS imaging were 48.1%, 93.7% and 85.3%, and 45.7%, 95.3% and 86.1%, respectively. Agreement between MR and arthroscopic staging occurred in 81.48% of 2-D imaging procedures and 82.16% of CISS procedures. If a difference of one grade was accepted, these proportions rose to 84.32% and 85.22%, respectively, though this increase was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Though CISS imaging was less sensitive than 2-D imaging in the grading of chondromalacia, additional CISS imaging can help improve the accuracy of this grading.
Arthroscopy ; Cartilage ; Cartilage Diseases* ; Fourier Analysis* ; Joints ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To compare the neutral, internal, and external rotation positions of the glenohumeral joint during magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography performed to assess changes in the shape of the labroligamentous complex (LLC) and in the labral tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR arthrography of the shoulder was retrospectively evaluated in 36 patients aged 14-66 (mean, 40) years. Fourteen cases were confirmed by arthroscopic surgery (7 SLAP lesions, 2 Bankart lesions, 1 both SLAP and Bankart lesions). Axial fat-suppressed T1-weighted spin-echo images were acquired with each shoulder in the neutral position, and with internal and external rotations. In each position, we measured the angle of rotation between the perpendicular line on the glenoid fossa and the long axis of the humeral head, analyzing the relationship between the rotational angle and changes in the shape of the LLC at each internal and external rotation, relative to the neutral position. In addition, labral tears in 14 arthroscopically confirmed joints were evaluated in each position. RESULTS: Mean angles of rotation relative to the neutral position were 44.1 and 45.3 degrees in internal and external rotation, respectively. Changes in the anterior LLC occurred in 25 and 24 cases of internal and external rotation, respectively. There was a significantly meaningful relationship between rotational angle and change in the shape of the anterior LLC during external rotation, and when this change was noticed, the rotational angle was wider (p<0.05). The posterior LLC changed in shape in 13 and 16 cases of internal and external rotation, respectively, but changes according to the angle of rotation were not statistically significant. In arthroscopically confirmed joints, diagnosis of the eight SLAP lesions at external rotation tended to become more accurate, but no statistically significant differences were noted (p=0.07). Two Bankart lesions were interpreted as a tear in all three positions, and one other such lesion was interpreted as a tear in the neutral position and at external rotation, and a possible tear at internal rotation. CONCLUSION: In shoulder MR arthrography, changes in the shape of the anterior LLC were statistically prominent according to the angle of external rotation, and accuracy of diagnosis in SLAP lesions tended to be significantly higher at external rotation. If a SLAP lesion causes clinical concern, additional axial MR arthrography with the shoulder externally rotated is suggested.
Arthrography* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Joints ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder*