To investigate the nature of artifacts caused by air and chemical shift by fat, a test tube phantom study was performed in 2.0T and 0.5T superconducting magnetic resonance imaging systems in various imaging sequences. Spatial mismapping and signal change made image distortion in spin echo images of the air-column and severe signal voids in gradient echo images. Chemical shift artifacts appeared in the planes of frequency-encoding axis as crescent-shaped signal voids and summated bright signals, Both artifacts were more prominent in high field strength, Images at 0.5T showed more severe artifacts in the T2-weighted images than those in the other sequences. As the acquisition matrix increased, truncation artifacts decreased and susceptibility artifacts in gradient echo images diminished. Familiarity with causes, appearances and mechanisms of various artifacts will help radiologists for interpretation of MRI.
Artifacts* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Recognition (Psychology)

No abstract available.

We report a case of Mycobacterium(M.) fortuitum infection in a 65-year-old female who presented with erythematous to purplish colored tender nodules and plaques with curst and purulent discharge on both upper and lower extremities along the sites of acupuncture. The culture of surgically excised specimen in 3% Ogawa media yielded slightly yellowish colored colonies within 2 days. Several tests for identification of the species were performed and growth on 5% NaCl, negative niacin test, positive results in nitrate reduction, catalase, urease and iron uptake tests were noted. Excision of the lesions followed by administration of minocycline and ciprofloxacin showed no sign of relapse to data a year after treatment.
Acupuncture* ; Aged ; Catalase ; Ciprofloxacin ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Lower Extremity ; Minocycline ; Mycobacterium fortuitum* ; Mycobacterium* ; Niacin ; Recurrence ; Urease

OBJECTIVE: Although surgical resection is used to treat meningeal hemangiopericytoma (MHPC), there is a high risk of subsequent recurrence. This study investigated factors associated with treatment outcomes and recurrence in patients who had undergone surgical resection of intracranial MHPC. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent surgical treatments performed by one senior neurosurgeon between 1997 and 2013. Clinical data, radiologic images, surgical outcomes, recurrence, and other relevant characteristics were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in the analysis, 12 (80%) of whom had tumors in the supratentorial region, and 3 (20%) of whom had tumors in the infratentorial region. Complete resection was achieved in all 15 patients, and 3 (20%) patients were administered radiosurgery and conventional radiotherapy after surgery as adjuvant radiotherapy. Three patients developed recurrence, 2 of whom had not received adjuvant radiotherapy. In 1 of the patients who had not received adjuvant radiotherapy, recurrence developed at the original tumor site, 81 months after surgery. The other 2 recurrences occurred at other sites, 78 and 41 months after surgery. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 88.3%, while the 5- and 10-year recurrence-free survival rates were 83% and 52%, respectively. Additionally the mean Ki-67 index differed significantly between patients who did and did not develop recurrence (43% vs. 14%; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Because of the high risk of MHPC recurrence, MHPC tumors should be completely resected, whenever feasible. However, even when complete resection is achieved, adjuvant radiotherapy might be necessary to prevent recurrence.
Hemangiopericytoma* ; Humans ; Radiosurgery ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies* ; Survival Rate

Herein, we report a rare case of hemolytic anemia with reticulocytopenia following intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in a young infant treated for Kawasaki disease. A 2-month-old boy presented with fever lasting 3 days, conjunctival injection, strawberry tongue, erythematous edema of the hands, and macular rash, symptoms and signs suggestive of incomplete Kawasaki disease. His fever resolved 8 days after treatment with aspirin and high dose infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin. The hemoglobin and hematocrit decreased from 9.7 g/dL and 27.1% to 7.4 g/dL and 21.3%, respectively. The patient had normocytic hypochromic anemia with anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, immature neutrophils, and nucleated red blood cells. The direct antiglobulin test result was positive, and the reticulocyte count was 1.39%. The patient had an uneventful recovery. However, reticulocytopenia persisted 1 month after discharge.
Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Anemia, Hypochromic ; Aspirin ; Coombs Test ; Edema ; Erythrocytes ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Fragaria ; Hand ; Hematocrit ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infant* ; Male* ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Reticulocyte Count ; Reticulocytes ; Tongue

CT and MR findings of nine cases with intratemporal facial nerve nouromas were described and compared with CT findings of 3 cases with facial nerve palsy and facial nerve canal erosion which may mimic facial nerve neuroma. The tympanic segment of the facial nerve was involved in 8 cases, mastoid segment in 7 cases and labyrinthine segment in 5 cases. The lesions were easily diagnosed with high resolution CT with bone algorythms by showing the expansion of bony structures along the course of the facial nerves. In 4 cases with large vertical segment tumors. Extensive destruction of mastoid air cells and external auditory canals posed difficulty in making a diagnosis. Two out of 5 cases with labyrinthine segment imvolvement were presented as middle cranial fossa masses. MRI with enhancement was performed in 4 cases and was useful in characterizing the lesion as a tumor with its superior sensitivity to enhancement. Three cases of facial neuroma-mimicking lesion including post-inflammatory perineural thickening. Perineural extension from parotid adenoidcystic carcinoma, and congenita: cholesteatoma showed irrgular erosion or mild expansion of the facial nerve canal which may be helpful for differential diagnosis from neuromas.
Cholesteatoma ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ear Canal ; Facial Nerve* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mastoid ; Neuroma* ; Paralysis

We retrospectively analyzed the MR findings of 12 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) (8 months 64 years old). MR imaging was performed on either a 0.5T (6 patients) or 2.0T (6 patients) superconducting unit with spin echo pulse sequence. The most common and characterristic MR finding consisted of non-hemorrhgic lesions in the cortices of the temporal lobes(12), and insula(6), either bilateral(7) or unilateral(5). The frontal lobe and cingulate gyrus were involved in 4 and 2 patients respectively. Petechial hemorrhge was found in 3 patients. Non-hemorrhagic lesions were shown as high signal intensities on proton and T2WI,and iso-or low signal intensities on T1WI. In conclusion, MR imaging findings described above appear to be characteristic of HSE and were found to be extremely valuable in the diagnosis of HSE.
Diagnosis ; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex* ; Frontal Lobe ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Breech Presentation* ; Female ; Fetus* ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Hearing* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*