Feasibility of identifying viable myocardium in rest and stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was evaluated using 3 hr occlusion and 30 min reperfusion model of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in 12 felines. At rest MRI, viable myocardium confirmed by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC)- staining showed rapid signal intensity (SI) rise followed by gradual decline not significantly different from normal myocardium that the two hyperperfused regions were distinguishable only from the hypoperfused nonviable myocardium. At stress MRI, hyperemia induced perfusion change was most pronounced in normal myocardium with earlier and greater peak enhancement followed by brisk 'washout' phase while minimally augmented enhancement in viable myocardium was still in 'washin' phase. From these findings, it was concluded that viable myocardium is identified in rest and stress MRI as redistributing hypo- perfusion compared to persistent hyper-perfusion of the normal myocardium and the persistent hypo-perfusion of the nonviable myocardium.
Animal ; Cats ; Heart/*radiography ; Hyperemia/*radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myocardial Infarction/*radiography ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/*radiography ; Stress

We present an unusual case of an intracardiac Eustachian valve cyst observed concurrently with atresia of the coronary sinus ostium, a persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) and a bicuspid aortic valve. There have been several echocardiographic reports of Eustachian valve cysts; however, there is no report of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings related to a Eustachian valve cyst. Recently, we observed a Eustachian valve cyst diagnosed on MDCT showing a hypodense cyst at the characteristic location of the Eustachian valve (the junction of the right atrium and inferior vena cava). MDCT also demonstrated additional cardiovascular anomalies including atresia of the coronary sinus ostium and a persistent LSVC and bicuspid aortic valve.
Aged ; Aortic Valve/abnormalities/radiography ; Cysts/*radiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heart Atria/abnormalities/radiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital/*radiography/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vena Cava, Inferior/abnormalities/radiography ; Vena Cava, Superior/abnormalities/radiography

Radiologic findings of the 29 cases of radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis diagnosed by chest radiography atSeoul National University Hospital were evaluated and compared with clinical symptoms according to the passage oftime after radiation therapy. The resuls were as follows; 1. The first radiographic signs of radiation pneumonitisand fibrosis were observed 7.6 weeks and 19.3 weeks after radiation therapy respectively. Especially in 8 cases ofsmall cell ca., they were found 5.6 weeks and 10.4 weeks, appearing slinghtly earlier than those of 12 cases ofsquamous cell ca. of lung. 2. The appearing time and severity of the radiographic changes of radiation pneumonitisand fibrosis had no specific relationship with field size, tumor dose or time-dose-fractionation factors of thetreatment. 3. The most constant and characteristic radiological finding of radiation pneumonitis was the sharp andstraight margin of the lesion, which was not that of normal anatomical structures of the lung. Other findings werediffuse haziness, indistinct normal pulmonary markings, alveolar and nodular densities, air-bronchograms andindistinctness of heart border. In radiation fibrosis stage, the lesion characteristic and constant finding. Otherfindings were indistinctness of heart border, diaphragmatic tenting and compensatory emphysema.
Emphysema ; Fibrosis ; Heart ; Lung ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiography ; Thorax

PURPOSE: We compared the soft-copy images produced by an amorphous silicon flat-panel-detector system with the images produced by a storage-phosphor radiography system for their ability to visualize anatomic regions of the chest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two chest radiologists independently analyzed 234 posteroanterior chest radiographs obtained from 78 patients on high-resolution liquid crystal display monitors (2560x2048x8 bits). In each patient, one radiograph was obtained with a storage-phosphor system, and two radiographs were obtained via amorphous silicon flat-panel-detector radiography with and without spatial frequency filtering. After randomizing the 234 images, the interpreters rated the visibility and radiographic quality of 11 different anatomic regions. Each image was ranked on a five-point scale (1 = not visualized, 2 = poor visualization, 3 = fair visualization, 4 = good visualization, and 5 = excellent visualization). The statistical difference between each system was determined using the Wilcoxon's signed rank test. RESULTS: The visibility of three anatomic regions (hilum, heart border and ribs), as determined by the chest radiologist with 14 years experience (p<0.05) and the visibility of the thoracic spine, as determined by the chest radiologist with 8 years experience (p=0.036), on the amorphous silicon flat-panel-detector radiography prior to spatial frequency filtering were significantly superior to that on the storage-phosphor radiography. The visibility of 11 anatomic regions, as determined by the chest radiologist with 14 years experience (p<0.0001) and the visibility of five anatomic regions (unobscured lung, rib, proximal airway, thoracic spine and overall appearance), as determined by the chest radiologist with 8 years experience (p<0.05), on the amorphous silicon flat-panel-detector radiography after spatial frequency filtering were significantly superior to that on the storage-phosphor radiography. CONCLUSION: The amorphous silicon flat-panel-detector system depicted the anatomic structures on chest radiographs comparably or significantly better as compared to the storage-phosphor system. The superiority of the amorphous silicon flat-panel-detector system compared to the storage-phosphor system was more obvious after performing spatial frequency filtering.
Heart ; Humans ; Liquid Crystals ; Lung ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Ribs ; Silicon* ; Spine ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of using chest radiography to differentiate between three different etiologies of pulmonary edema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plain chest radiographs of 77 patients, who were clinically confirmed as having pulmonary edema, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into three groups: group 1(cardiogenic edema : n=35), group 2(renal pulmonary edema : n=16) and group 3(permeability edema :n=26). We analyzed the radiologic findings of air bronchogram, heart size, peribronchial cuffing, septal line, pleural effusion, vascular pedicle width, pulmonary blood flow distribution and distribution of pulmonary edema. In a search for radiologic findings which would help in the differentiation of these three etiologies, each finding was assessed. RESULTS: Cardiogenic and renal pulmonary edema showed overlapping radiologic findings, except for pulmonary blood flow distribution. In cardiogenic pulmonary edema(n=35), cardiomegaly(n=29), peribronchial cuffing(n=29), inverted pulmonary blood flow distribution(n=21) and basal distribution of edema(n=20) were common. In renal pulmonary edema(n=16), cardiomegaly(n=15), balanced blood flow distribution(n=12), and central(n=9) or basal distribution of edema(n=7) were common. Permeability edema(n=26) showed different findings. Air bronchogram(n=25), normal blood flow distribution(n=14) and peripheral distribution of edema(n=21) were frequent findings, while cardiomegaly(n=7), peribronchial cuffing(n=7) and septal line(n=5) were observed in only a few cases. CONCLUSION: On plain chest radiograph, permeability edema can be differentiated from cardiogenic or renal pulmonary edema. The radiographic findings which most reliably differentiated these two etiologies were air bronchogram, distribution of pulmonary edema, peribronchial cuffing and heart size. Only blood flow distribution was useful for radiographic differentiation of cardiogenic and renal edema.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Edema ; Heart ; Humans ; Permeability ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Radiography ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

Multi-slice spiral CT has enabled the real volume data acquisition and opened a brand-new window for non-invasive imaging diagnosis. Its tremendous advantages have gradually been demonstrated in clinical application.
Head ; diagnostic imaging ; Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

The development of cardiac CT has provided a non-invasive alternative to echocardiography, exercise electrocardiogram, and invasive angiography and cardiac CT continues to develop at an exponential speed even now. The appropriate use of cardiac CT may lead to improvements in the medical performances of physicians and can reduce medical costs which eventually contribute to better public health. However, until now, there has been no guideline regarding the appropriate use of cardiac CT in Korea. We intend to provide guidelines for the appropriate use of cardiac CT in heart diseases based on scientific data. The purpose of this guideline is to assist clinicians and other health professionals in the use of cardiac CT for diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases, especially in patients at high risk or suspected of heart disease.
Chest Pain/*diagnosis/radiography ; Exercise ; Heart/radiography ; Heart Diseases/diagnosis/*radiography ; Humans ; Republic of Korea ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation/*methods/*standards

We report multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) findings of a 34-year-old female with isolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia. The MDCT and CMR scans displayed a spherical left ventricle (LV) with extensive fatty infiltration within the myocardium at the apex, interventricular septum and inferior wall, anteroapical origin of the papillary muscle, right ventricle wrapping around the deficient LV apex, and impaired systolic function. MDCT visualized morphologic and also functional findings of this unique cardiomyopathy.
Adult ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/*radiography ; Female ; Heart Ventricles/*radiography ; Humans ; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome/*radiography ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/*methods ; Myocardium/pathology

Cardiomegaly is a commonly encountered clinical presentation on simple chest radiographs, and it usually indicates the enlargement of one or more cardiac chambers. However, cardiomegaly less commonly comes from abnormalities in the structures adjacent to the heart, including pericardial effusion, enlarged great vessels, or mediastinal tumors. Pericardial lipoma is a rare primary cardiac tumor that can grow to a large size by the time of diagnosis and result in huge cardiomegaly because of a lack of symptoms. Here, we report a rare case of giant pericardial lipoma that presented as huge cardiomegaly on simple chest radiographs. Multi-modality cardiovascular imaging, including echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, played a key role in the diagnosis and development of a therapeutic treatment plan for the present case.
Cardiomegaly* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms ; Lipoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardium ; Radiography, Thoracic

We report a case of biopsy-proven secondary hemosiderosis of the lung in a 58-year-old patient with mitralvalvular heart disease. Both chest radiography and high-resolution CT demonstrated patchy areas of ground-glassopacity; the former indicated that it was in both lungs, while the latter showed inter- and intralobular septalthickening. These findings were reversible when pulmonary venous hypertension was corrected.
Heart Diseases ; Heart Valve Diseases* ; Hemosiderosis* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Thorax