Authors reviewed mammographic ultrasonographic and MRI findings a patient with breast cysticerocosis, which was operated and pathologically proved. Mammography showed a 1 cm sized round radioopaque lesion with curvilinear calification, which was located near the pectoralis major muscle. Ultrasonograiphic findings showed heterogenous hypoechoic cystic lesion with internal hyperechoic nodule and posterior acoustic shadowing. T2Wl and proton density MR image showed low signal intensity with cresentic high signal intensity portion. 2D-FLASH dynamic MRI showed intermediate signal intensity and peripheral signal void area, which was not enhanced with Gd-DPTA. The possibility of cysticercosis can be considered be considered when a cytic lesion is discovered near the pectoralis muscle in a patient living in an endemic area.
Acoustics ; Breast* ; Cysticercosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Pectoralis Muscles ; Protons ; Shadowing (Histology)

PURPOSE: Magnetization transfer imaging(MTI) is a new imaging contrast technique. Our MT pulse sequence is designed as fixed time interval between echo and MT pulse. This study was peformed to evaluate the influence of variations in TR/TE on MTR in T1 weighted image of normal brain tissue on this kind of MT pulse sequence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy volunteers in twenties of age as the objectives, MRI was taken under various TR/TE(TR/TE ;700/14, 650/14, 750/14, 700/20 and 1500/20 msec). MTR was calculated from signal intensities measured at the same point in both pre and post MT images and statisticslly analyzed. The MR imager used in this study was 1.0T Magnetom 42SP(Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) and the parameters of additional MT pulse sequence were offset 1000Hz and bandwidth 250Hz, and posteriorly located to echo with 7.7 msec fixed interval. Offset of this MT pulse was variable. RESULT: In white matter of brain tissue from a normal person, MTR was 34-39%(average 37%) for TR and TE of 700/14 in T1WI and 33-36%(average 35%) for TR/TE of 650/14, and 34-38%(average 35%) for TR/TE of 750/14 which showed no statistical difference. However, in case of 1500/20 of TR/TE, MTR was 26-28%(average 26%) which is statistically significant. With TR/TE of 700/14 as the standrd value, the MTR of gray and white matter were 37% and 29% respectively, showing a definite difference of statistical means. Signal from CSF in ventricles is rarely influenced by MT pulse. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, a subtle variation in TR/TE in T1WI has little influence on MTR but wide range of variation in TR/TE as in proton density image induces significant difference in MTR on this kind of MT pulse sequence. Therefore, the exchangeable usage of MTR data would be possible in narrow range of TR/TE change but difficult in wide range of variation.
Brain* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Protons ; Reference Values*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Liver* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the scintigraphic findings and diagnostic accuracy of double-phase Tc-99m sestamibi scan in primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 16 cases of primary (18 lesions) and 11 cases of secondary HPT (44 lesions) who underwent Tc-99m-sestamibi scan before the surgical intervention. Scan was performed using LEM camera (Siemens, Germany) after the injection of 740MBq of Tc-99m sestamibi. Routine image consisted of baseline and 3-hour delayed images and each image was obtained using both parallel and pine hole collimator. The study population was 27 patients (male/female=5/22, age: 49.1+/-10.8). RESULTS: Eighteen lesions of primary HPT consisted of 13 adenomas and 5 hyperplasias, while all lesions of secondary HPT were hyperplasias. Among the case of primary HPT, we could detect all the lesions of 13 adenomas but only 2 lesions of 5 hyperplasias (40%) could be detected by double phase scintigraphy. Three cases of primary lesion showed decreased uptake in delayed images compared with baseline. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and accuracy of primary and secondary HPT were 58.8% (10/17), 83.3% (10/12), 83.3% (10/12), 75.9% (22/29), and 37.5% (15/40), 50% (2/4), 88.2% (15/17), 38.6% (17/44), respectively. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and accuracy were 43.9% (25/57), 75% (12/16), 86.2% (25/29), and 53.4% (39/73). There were no statistical difference between the weight of primary and secondary HPT lesion (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Tc-99m sestamibi scan is fairly good modality to detect parathyroid lesion in patient with primary HPT before the surgical intervention. However, since some of cases may reveal decreased uptake in delayed image, a careful attention to the findings of baseline images may be helpful. Still the low accuracy of sestamibi scan in diagnosis of secondary HPT prohibits routine use of it for this disease.
Adenoma ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary* ; Hyperplasia ; Parathyroid Glands ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Creatine Kinase* ; Electrophoresis*

No abstract available.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of anterior cervical plate after discectomy and autologous iliac bone graft in the treatment of cervical spondylosis. One hundred and seven cervical spondylotic patients from Jan. 1995 to Mar. 1998 were separated into two groups: Group 1. consisted of 58 patients treated with anterior discectomy, bone fusion, and anterior cervical plate fixations(54 cases of Caspar nonlocking plate and 4 cases of Orion locking plate system), Group 2. consisted of 49 patients treated with anterior discectomy and bone fusion. The mean follow-up duration was 26.5 months(from 6 to 45 months). The overall fusion rate did not showed any difference between the two groups, but in multi-level patients, graft materials related complications(extrusion or collapse of graft) were significantly high in group 2.(p<0.01). Group 1. patients ambulated on POD 1 with Philadelphia collar. The average admission period was 8.4 days following operation. Group 2. patients ambulated on POD 5-7 with Philadelphia collar. The average admission period was 11.9 days after surgery. In conclusion, bony fusion was successfully achieved in both groups and graft materials related complication rate showed no difference in the single level, but was significantly low in group 1 in the multilevel.
Diskectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Spondylosis* ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Platelet Aggregation*

Chronic pancreatitis is the progressive and inflammatory disease which will result in the irreversible destruction and fibrosis of the pancreas. These processes cause chronic pain and pancreatic dysfunctions such as exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. Medical treatment for chronic pancreatitis would be reviewed in this article. Abdominal pain should be accessed by using multidimensional approach including pain intensity, pattern, impact on daily function and quality of life. Abstinence from alcohol and smoking should be strong recommendation. The guideline for analgesic therapy follows the principles of the “pain relief ladder” by World Health Organization. The pancreatic enzyme replacement should be considered when exocrine insufficiency is suspected. Enteric-coated microspheres or mini-microspheres of <2 mm in size with a minimum lipase dose of 40,000–50,000 United States Pharmacopeia are the recommended preparations. These preparations should be taken with main meals. Increasing the oral enzyme dose and the addition of a proton pump inhibitor could be considered in cases of unsatisfactory clinical response. Diabetes mellitus secondary to chronic pancreatitis is classified as Type IIIc diabetes mellitus. Optimal pharmacological treatment has not been established yet but should promote life-style changes, which may improve glucose control and avoid hypoglycemia. In patients with severe malnutrition, insulin therapy is recommended as a first choice. Treatment for chronic pancreatitis can include medication, therapeutic endoscopy, interventional radiology, and surgery. Among them, medical treatment is the most important and should be well understood.