A lipomatous tumor originating in the uterus is a rare benign neoplasm, and most reported cases have been of the mixed type. Authenticated cases of pure lipomas of the uterus are extremely rare. We report one such case in which the findings of magnetic resonance imaging provided the basis for preoperative diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Lipoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Uterine Neoplasms ; Uterus

PURPOSE: To assess changes in MR signal intensity in the pars interarticularis and adjacent structures in pa-tients with lumbar spondylolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MR images of 36 patients with lumbar spondylolysis, confirmed by plain radiographs, were retrospectively analyzed. Using a 1.0T unit, we evaluated the signal intensity of a total of 216 parts interarticulares and adjacent structures from L3 to L5, as seen on sagittal images, and differences between areas with and without spondylolysis. The signal intensity of T1-and T2-weighted images was graded 0 (more hypointense than spinal body), 1(as isointense as spinal body), 2(more hyperintense than spinal body and more hypointense than epidural fat), or 3(as isointense as epidural fat). Signal intensity change in end-plates and degree of spondylolisthesis were analyzed, and the relationship between these factors was deter-mined. RESULTS: Spondylolysis was noted at L5 in 61 cases, at L4 in 22, and of L3 in no case. In three cases spondylolysis was unilateral, and in the remainder it was bilateral. The degree of signal intensity was the same on T1- and T2-weighted images, and no case was grade 0. Eighty-six of 133 areas without spondylolysis were grade 1, 43 were grade 2, and four were grade 3. In 42 of 47 cases, signal intensity change was localized at pedicles. Among 83 areas with spondylolysis, on the other hand, nine were grade 1, 48 were grade 2, and 26 were grade 3. Signal intensity change was most commonly observed at the pars interarticularis, pedicle, and lamina (50/74) (p<0.001). Signal intensity change at the pars interarticularis and adjacent structures was accompanied in most cases by degenerative endplate change(10/11) and spondylolisthesis(11/13) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with spondylolysis, signal intensity was frequently higher at the pars interarticularis and adjacent structures, and is thought to have a close relationship with degenerative endplate change and spondylolisthesis. Increases in signal intensity at the pars interarticularis and adjacent structures can help diagnose spondylolysis in patients without spondylolisthesis.
Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis*

Extralobar pulmonary sequestration, a rare form of bronchopulmonary sequestration, is a congenital anomaly in which a portion of nonfunctioning lung tissue is surrounded by its own pleura and is supplied by a systemic artery. We describe a case of extralobar pulmonary sequestration with unusual features. CT scanning of the chest demonstrated a non-enhancing, hyperdense mass within the right major fissure, and thoracotomy revealed that the mass received blood from a branch of the right pulmonary artery and drained into the left atrium. The pathologic diagnosis was extralobar pulmonary sequestration.
Arteries ; Bronchopulmonary Sequestration* ; Diagnosis ; Heart Atria ; Lung ; Pleura ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Desmoplastic fibroma of bone is an extremely rare tumor that was first described by Jaffe in 1958. It histologically resembles the desmoid tumor of soft tissue. It is known as locally aggressive tumor but we experienced definitely benign and resembling simple bone cyst radiographically. We report a case of desmoplastic fibroma of bone and it should be included in the differential diagnosis list of any lytic bone lesion. The radiograph, MR imaging features, radiological and pathological differential diagnosis of the case are described, and literatures are reviewed.
Bone Cysts ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma, Desmoplastic ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans

PURPOSE: To assess the postoperative CT findings of aortic aneurysms or dissections treared by resection- and-graft replacement or continuous-suture graft-inclusion technique MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed postoperative follow-up CT findings of 14 patients, 19 cases. There were 8 patients(10 cases) of aortic aneurysm and 6 patients(9 cases) of aortic dissecton which involved the thoracic aorta in 9 patients(13 cases) and abdominal aorta in 5 patients(6 cases). The interval of follow-up after operation was from 9 days to 2 year 9 months. On CT scans, we analyzed the appearance of graft materials, differences of CT findings between two surgical techniques, and normal or abnormal postoperative CT findings. RESULTS: Most of grafts appeared as hyperdense ring on precontrast scan, and all of them were not seperated from aortic lumen on postcontrast scan. On CT findings of patients who were operated by continuous-suture graft-inclusion technique, perigraft thrombus was concentrically located with sharp demarcation by native aortic wall and its density was homogeneous, but in cases of those operated by resection-and-graft replacement, perigraft hematoma was eccentrically located with indistinct margin and its density was heterogeneous and native aortic wall could not be delineated. In patients without complication, perigraft thrombus or hematoma(15 cases), perigraft calcification(11 cases), residual intimal flap(6 cases), graft deformity(4 cases), perigraft air(2 cases) and reconstructed vessels(1 case) were noted. And in one patient with complication, perigraft flow was noted with more increased perigraft hemaroma. CONCLUSION: Precise knowledge of the differences of CT findings between two surgical techniques and nor- mal postoperative CT findings is crucial to evaluate the postoperative CT findings in aortic aneurysm and dissection.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of rotational angiography in the diagnosis, characterization, and postoperativeassessment of aneurysm, and in the analysis of arteriovenous malformation(AVM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May1995 and February 1997, 31 patients who had undergone DSA and rotational angiography were retrospectivelyevaluated. Rotational angiographic and lateral DSA images were compared by two radiologists, and in 22 patientswith aneurysmal clipping, location, visibility of the aneurysmal neck, vascular branch anatomy, and projection andshape of the aneurysm were evaluated. The presence or absence of residual aneurysmal neck was evaluated in eightpostoperative patients, and the anatomy of feeder artery and intranidal aneurysm were evaluated in five AVMpatients. RESULT: Twenty-seven aneurysms were found in 22 of 26 patients in whom DSA had indicated thispossibility. Rotational angiography was superior to conventional DSA in the assessment of neck(67%), vascularbranch anatomy(41%), and projection(22%), location(19%), and shape(15%) of the aneurysm. Rotational angiographyhelped confirm the absence of aneurysm at 11 sites, and was also superior to conventional DSA for confirming theabscence of residual neck in four of eight postoperative patients, and to evaluate feeder artery in four of fiveAVM patients. CONCLUSION: Rotational angiography is better than conventional DSA for the evaluation of aneurysmand AVM.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Neck

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency, site and characteristics of motion artifact of ascending aorta mimicking dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated postcontrast CT scans of 60 cases in 60 patients without symptoms of aortic dissection or aortic disease. A Toshiba 900S scanner was used, with 1 cm slice thickness and 1 sec scan time. Streak artifacts, and those relating to extra-aortic vascular structure or pericardial effusion were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Crescent-shaped motion artifacts were seen in 54 cases (90%), and occurred from 1 cm to 4 cm above the level of the aortic valve; between men and women, there was no significant difference in frequency. In each case, the artifact was seen at 1 to 5 (mean 2.9) levels. Its pattern was symmetric in 31 of 60 cases (51%), and at 15 other sites, symmetric artifacts were seen between the SVC and ascending aorta. At the margin of the aortic circumference, the direction of the artifact was left anterior-right posterior in 23.9% of cases, and anterior median-posterior median in 20.8%. CONCLUSION: On CT, motion artifact of ascending aorta occurs frequently. Findings relating to location, symmetric pattern and characteristic direction of artifact may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of aortic dissection and aortic motion artifact.
Aorta* ; Aortic Diseases ; Aortic Valve ; Artifacts* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pericardial Effusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of contrast improvement of enhancing brain lesions by inherent magnetization transfer effect in turbo spin-echo (TSE) T1-weighted MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six enhancing lesions of 19 patients were included in this study. Using a 1.0T superconductive MR unit, contrast-enhanced SE T1-weighted images (TR=600 msec, TE=12 msec, NEX=2, acquisition time=4 min 27sec) and contrast-enhanced TSE T1-weighted images (TR=600 msec, TE=12 msec, NEX=2, acquisition time=1min 44sec) were obtained. Signal intensities at enhancing lesions and adjacent white matter were measured in the same regions of both images. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of enhancing lesions and adjacent white matter, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and lesion-to-background contrast (LBC) of enhancing lesions were calculated and statistically analysed using the paired t-test. RESULTS: On contrast-enhanced TSE T1-weighted images, SNR of enhancing lesions and adjacent white matter decreased by 18%(p<0.01) and 32% (p<0.01), respectively, compared to contrast-enhanced SET1-weighted images. CNR and LBC of enhancing lesions increased by 16% (p<0.05) and 66% (p<0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: Due to the proposed inherent magnetization transfer effects in TSE imaging, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted TSE images demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in CNR and LBC, compared to conventional contrast-enhanced T1-weighted SE images, and scan time was much shorter.
Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of T2-weighted oblique coronal MR imaging (T2OCI) in the differential diagnosis of complete and partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with ACL tear (16 complete and 17 partial tears), comfirmed by arthroscopy, were included in this study. Conventional MR imaging and T2OCI were performed, and the findings were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in terms of continuity, shape, axis and internal signal intensity of the ligament. Each finding was tested if there were stastistically significant differences in its prevalence between partial and complete tears. The diagnostic accuracy of T2OCI and conventional MR imaging in the detection of partial and complete tears of the ACL were compared. RESULTS: Conventional MR imaging revealed no statistically significant finding for differential diagnosis of complete and partial ACL tears. The reliable and statistically significant (p<0.001) findings of T2OCI were complete discontinuity of the ligament in cases involving complete ACL tears (14 of 16 complete tears and 2 of 17 partial tears) and the preservation of the band form for partial ACL tears (2 of 16 complete tears and 15 of 17 partial tears). The accuracy of T2OCI and conventional MR imaging was 88% and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: When ACL injury is vague on conventional MR images, a modality which is more useful in the differential diagnosis of partial and complete tears of the ACL, and in predicting the site of a tear, is T2-weighted oblique coronal imaging.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Humans