PURPOSE: We performed this study to describe the findings of MR Myelography(MRM) of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor and to evaluate the usefulness of the MRM in comparison to MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MRM were performed in 31 patients with herniated disc disease(12 patients), spinal stenosis(11 patients) and spinal tumor(8 patients). MRI and MRM were done with 1.5-T Signa MR, using fat suppressed heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo technique. We retrospectively analyzed MRM images about the thecal sac indentation, compression or displacement of the nerve root, extent and degree of narrowing of spinal canal, relationship between spinal tumor and spinal cord. MRM findings were compared with MRI in all cases. RESULTS: In 18 herniated disc cases of 12 patients, focal filling defect with cutoff or displacement of the nerve root in eight cases of paracentral herniated disc was seen. Cutoff and displacement of the nerve root were more clearly delineated on MRM than rvlRI. In the patients of spinal stenosis(11 cases), hourglass deformity of the thecal sac or complete spinal block of the subarachnoid space was clearly demonstrated. The extent and severity of spinal stenosis were more accurately evaluated on MRM than MRI. MRM finding of intramedullary tumor(3 cases) was enlargement of spinal cord. Five cases of intradural extramedullary tumor showed intradural filling defect, which caused contralateral displacement of the spinal cord with meniscus sign on inferior margin of the mass. CONCLUSION: MRM shows characteristic findings of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor. MRM yields excellent definition of the thecal sac, nerve roots and nerve root sleeves in relation to herniated disc and may be more accurate in evaluation of the degree and extent of spinal stenosis than MRI.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Subarachnoid Space

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the patterns of enhancement of the herniated lumbar disc with Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 65 patients, 103 lumbar discs diagnosed to be herniated by MR image were retrospectively analyzed. The MR imaging was performed with 1.5 T MR unit, using T1- and T2- weighted sagittal and axial spin echo techniques. Contrast- enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were performed after intravenous injection of Gadopentetate-dimeglumine(Magnevist, Shering) (0.1 mmol/kg). RESULTS: Contrast enhancement was seen in 66 cases(64%). Thirteen cases of bulging disc were not enhanced. Twenty-eight cases of protruded disc showed intraannular enhancement in 23 cases, peripheral linear and irregular enhancement in each of one case, and nonenhancement in three cases. Fifty-seven cases of extruded disc showed irregular enhancement in 14 cases, peripheral linear enhancement in 12 cases, peripheral ring enhancement in five cases and intraannular enhancement in five cases. All five cases of sequestered disc showed peripheral ring enhancement. CONCLUSION: Protruded discs show intraannular enhancement frequently and sequestered discs usually show peripheral ring enhancement. Enhanced MR imaging may be helpful to evaluate the type of herniated lumbar disc and relationship among disc material, nerve root and thecal sac.
Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To present the ultrasonographic findings of an implanted absorbable mesh in patients who underwent breast partial resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonographic findings of 18 patients who underwent breast partial resection with an absorbable mesh implant to minimize the breast deformity. Sonography was performed approximately 3 months after surgery (mean interval, 92 days). The presence of a capsule and cyst at the surgical site, the size of the cyst, internal content of the cyst, vascularity of the lesion, and presence of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: An ultrasound examination revealed a well-encapsulated cyst with regular capsule in 16 of the 18 patients. The longest diameter of the cyst varied from 3 cm to 10 cm. Among 16 cases that showed a well-encapsulated cyst, 11 cases showed an isoechoic nodular pattern in the cyst and in the remaining five cases, the internal nodular pattern was not seen. In two of the18 cases, an isoechoic nodular pattern without fluid content was seen for the lesions. A Doppler study revealed no vascularity in any of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic findings of an implanted absorbable mesh, inserted in the surgical site to minimize breast deformity in patients that underwent breast partial resection, showed the presence of a well-encapsulated cyst with an internal isoechoic nodular pattern in the majority of the cases.
Absorbable Implants ; Breast* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Mesh ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Influenza is a respiratory disease which prevails widely every year and shows high morbidity and mortality among not only chronic invalids and the old, but also among infants and young children. To prevent community-acquired influenza infection, to facilitate prompt antiviral therapy and to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, an easy, rapid diagnostic method for the influenza virus is needed. We evaluated a lateral-flow immunoassay (QuickVue Influenza Test), compared to viral culture. METHODS: During two consecutive years from Jan. 2004 to June 2004 and from Feb. 2005 to Jan. 2005, 408 patients who were suffering from fever, cough and/or sore throat and myalgia were enrolled in our study. A total of 408 patients were tested with QuickVue (R) (Quidel Co., San Diego, USA) influenza rapid antigen test and virus cultures at the same time. RESULTS: Of the 408 patients tested, children who showed positive results at the virus culture numbered 77; among them, 55 (71.4 percent) were type A/H3N2 and 22 (28.5 percent) were type B. QuickVue influenza test had a sensitivity of 71.4 percent and a specificity of 95.8 percent. The positive and negative predictive values were 79.7 percent and 93.5 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our study, this test had comparable high sensitivity and high specificity and many advantages, such as being easy to perform and simple to interpret, and showing rapid results. If rapid influenza antigen tests are widely applied in the clinic, we can begin treatment more rapidly and reduce influenza complications and the abuse of antibiotics.
Infant ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Mortality ; Predictive Value of Tests

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography was performed before and five to fifteen days (mean, 9.3 days) after mitral valve surgery to evaluate the change of pulmonary arterial pressure in 80 patients (29 males and 51 females) with mitral valve disease by preejection period (PEP)/acceleration time (AT) ratio at the right ventricular outflow tract. In 13 patients with pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure equal to or greater than 20mmHg), Doppler echocardiography was followed three to twelve months after operation. In 76 patients with a mitral valve prosthesis (15 patients with the Bjork-Shiley valve, 28 patients with the Ionescu-Shiley valve, and 33 patients with the St. Jude valve), mean transmitral pressure gradient and pressure-half time were estimated by continuous wave Doppler echocardiography five to fifteen days after operation. 1) PEP/AT Ratio by pulsed Doppler echocardiography correlated well with the mean pulmonary arterial pressure gradient by cardiac catheterization (r=0.83, p<0.001). 2) After mitral valve surgery, PEP/AT ratio decreased significantly (p<0.001). In group with mean pulmonary arterial pressure equal to or greater than 40mmHg, immmediate postoperative PEP/AT ratio was greater (P<0.05) than that in group with mean pulmonary arterial pressure less than 20 mmHg, but, difference between the preoperative and postoperative PEP/AT ratio was much greater (P<0.001) than that in group with mean pulmonary arterial pressure between 20 and 39 mmHg. 3) In 13 patients, on whom repeated Doppler echocardiography performed, PEP/AT ratio decreased immediately after mitral valve surgery (p<0.001). After then, it decreased further, but, the amount of the decrease was much smaller than immediate one (p<0.001). 4) There was no significant difference in postoperative PEP/AT ratio among the different prosthesis. Mean transmitral pressure gradient and pressure half-time of the Bjork-Shiley, Ionescu-Shiley, and St, jude valves were 3.1 mmhg and 67.3 msec, 2.9 mmHg and 65.3 msec, and 2.7 mmhg and 60.2 msec, repectively. The St.Jude valve had somewhat smaller mean transmitral pressure gradient and pressure half-time, but there was no statistical significance. In conclusion, elevated pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with mitral valve disease decreased greatly within 15 days after operation, and Doppler echocardiography was a useful method in the follow-up of prosthetic mitral valve function.
Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Male ; Mitral Valve* ; Prostheses and Implants

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at the pathoanatomic correlates of depression and anxiety in acute stroke patients including subcortical lesion(periventricular hyperintensity, deep white matter hyperintensity, subcortical gray matter hyperintensity). METHODS: Sixty nine patients with acute stoke were recruited. Their brain lesions were measured using Brain MRI. Depressive or anxiety symptoms were rated by Beck depression inventory(BDI) or Beck anxiety inventory, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between depression and periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity in acute stroke patients. There are no significant pathoanatomic correla- tions between anxiety and brain lesions on MRI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the white matter lesion may increase the risk of depression after stroke. Prevention of asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesion could decrease the risk of depression in acute stroke patients as well as the risk of stroke.
Anxiety* ; Brain ; Depression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at the pathoanatomic correlates of depression and anxiety in acute stroke patients including subcortical lesion(periventricular hyperintensity, deep white matter hyperintensity, subcortical gray matter hyperintensity). METHODS: Sixty nine patients with acute stoke were recruited. Their brain lesions were measured using Brain MRI. Depressive or anxiety symptoms were rated by Beck depression inventory(BDI) or Beck anxiety inventory, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between depression and periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity in acute stroke patients. There are no significant pathoanatomic correla- tions between anxiety and brain lesions on MRI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the white matter lesion may increase the risk of depression after stroke. Prevention of asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesion could decrease the risk of depression in acute stroke patients as well as the risk of stroke.
Anxiety* ; Brain ; Depression* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVE: To seek for the ultrasound (US) findings of partially cystic thyroid nodules that are associated with malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the US characteristics of 22 surgically confirmed partially cystic papillary carcinomas, and compared them with those of 80 benign partially cystic nodules. The review cases were selected in a random order from a total of 1029 partially cystic nodules that were diagnosed with an US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy over a period of 8 years (June 2003 to October 2010) at our institution. RESULTS: In partially cystic thyroid nodules, a taller-than-wide shape (100%, p < 0.001) and spiculated or microlobulated margin (58.3%, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with malignancy. In terms of internal solid portion of the nodule, eccentric configuration (68.0%, p < 0.001), non-smooth margin (81.3%, p < 0.001), hypoechogenecity (30.0%, p < 0.042), and microcalcification (89.5%, p < 0.001) were more frequently demonstrated in malignant nodules than benign ones. CONCLUSION: In partially cystic thyroid nodules, understanding the characteristics of US findings is important to make a precise diagnosis of malignant nodules.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary/pathology/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Case-Control Studies ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Cysts/pathology/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Thyroid Nodule/pathology/surgery/*ultrasonography

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the difference of the images and the clinicopathological characteristics of young-age female breast cancer patients as compared to older Korean women with breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 351 breast cancers cases during the previous 3 years were evaluated. A cut-off level of 40 years was used to divide the patients into the young (< or =40 years, 86 cases, 24.5%) and older groups (>40 years, 265 cases, 75.5%). We reviewed the BI-RADS results, the sensitivity of mammography (MMG) and sonography (US), the presenting symptoms, the histopathological type, the post-operative stage and the receptor status. These factors were compared between the young age group and the older age group. Chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: BI-RADS category 1 disease on the MMG (12.8% vs 6.4%, respectively) and BI-RADS category 3 disease on the US (3.5% vs 1.1%) were more common for the younger group as compared to the older group. The sensitivity of MMG and US was lower for the younger group than for the older group (69.2% and 82.3% vs 84.5% and 93.3%, respectively). Clinical symptom, histopathology, final stage, and the size of tumor or receptor status did not show statistical significant differences. CONCLUSION: Imaging young women breast cancers were less sensitive, more frequently assessed as normal on MMG and as more probably benign on US, and no clinicopathological differences were shown.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of utilizing magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) in patients with cerebral infarction by comparative analysis of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MRA using 3D time-of-flight(TOF) technique with magnetization transfer and ramp(MTR) or 3D TOF with multiple overlapping thin slab acquisition(MOTSA) were performed in 39 patients with cerebral infarction. Vascular lesions detected on MRA were classified as "normal", "stenosis" and "occlusion", and the different infarction sites were named according to their vascular territory. Correlation between MRI and MRA findings was evaluated. RESULTS: In 24(62%) of 39 cases, MRA showed stenosis or occlusion and 19(86%) of those corresponded to their vascular territory of infarction, as visualized on MRI. In 15(62.5%) of the 24 cases, MRA revealed additional diagnostic information such as visualization of unpredicted vascular lesions orthe presence of collateral circulations. Of the 15 cases diagnosed as normal according to MRA, most of the mactually had small infarctions of less than 2cm in maximal dimension in the area of the perforating arteries. CONCLUSION: There was a strong correlation between the vascular lesion observed by MRA and the distribution of the infarct areas on MRI. Additional information was provided by MRA obtained together with conventional MRI.
Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Collateral Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*