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Biomedical subjects

S Saini

Publications and source records attributed to S Saini.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

MR imaging of focal splenic tumors.

This study was undertaken to define the MR appearance of splenic tumors in 16 cancer patients with focal splenic lesions; 50 volunteers and liver cancer patients without splenic abnormalities served as controls. In 14 patients with focal splenic lesions, differences between splenic and lesion signal intensities permitted detection of splenic lesions on MR images, either because of cystic or necrotic areas lengthening T2 within the tumor, because of T1 shortening from tumor-associated hemorrhage, or because of T2 shortening of surrounding spleen in two cases of suspected transfusional iron overload. In one spleen, a lesion appeared isointense on both T1- and T2-weighted pulse sequences and was detected only by gross splenic deformity. In one other case, CT defined splenic metastases not visible on MR images. Measurements of signal intensity of normal spleens and tumor are so similar that spin-echo MR imaging can underestimate the size and extent of focal splenic disease or may miss lesions entirely. We conclude that MR imaging is a less sensitive technique for detecting focal lesions of the spleen than for detecting focal hepatic lesions.

Adult↗

Differentiation of hepatic metastases from hepatic hemangiomas and cysts by using MR imaging.

T1-weighted and T2-weighted pulse sequences were employed for MR imaging of hepatic metastatic tumors (98 patients), hemangiomas (24 patients), and cysts (seven patients); a 0.6-T superconducting magnet was used. In a retrospective study, signal intensity and morphology were used to establish criteria for differentiating metastases from hemangiomas and cysts. The signal intensity of the lesion alone failed to be an etiologic discriminator because over 96% of all masses had a signal intensity less than that of liver on T1-weighted sequences, and at least 90% had a signal intensity greater than that of liver on T2-weighted sequences. Morphologic features depicted on T2-weighted images were more specific than those depicted on T1-weighted images in differential diagnosis. Amorphous, target, and halo signs and a change in morphology were present only in metastatic disease, with a frequency of 45%, 27%, 13%, and 12%, respectively. Two other morphologic patterns--doughnut and lightbulb signs--were found to have overlapping causes. Overall, at least one of the specific signs was observed in 92% of patients with metastatic disease. These data suggest that T2-weighted pulse sequences are essential for discriminating between hepatic metastases and hepatic hemangiomas and cysts. MR imaging is a promising technique for distinguishing these lesions.

Cysts↗

Severe acute pancreatitis after percutaneous biopsy of the pancreas.

A retrospective review of 184 pancreatic biopsies in 178 patients was performed to assess the prevalence of severe postbiopsy pancreatitis. The size, contour, and pathology of the lesions biopsied; the course of the needle (i.e., through bowel or other viscera); the size of the needle; the number of needle passes made; and the guidance technique used were analyzed. Severe pancreatitis developed in five cases (five patients) 5/184 or 3% of the biopsies), usually within 24-48 hr. Three of the five patients who developed pancreatitis had true-negative biopsies (normal pancreas) proved either at surgery (two) or at clinical follow-up (one). The diagnoses for the two remaining patients were adenocarcinomas. In four of the five patients, the diagnosis of severe pancreatitis was made by inspection at surgery. The fifth case was diagnosed by CT. Three patients who underwent surgery and one patient who had percutaneous drainage recovered from the pancreatitis. The fifth patient died despite surgical intervention. All five patients with pancreatitis had masses 3 cm or smaller as compared with the overall group, in which 71 (39%) of the 184 biopsies performed had masses smaller than 3 cm. Overall, 18% of the biopsies were true negative, compared with the 60% true-negative rate in the pancreatitis group. The bowel was transgressed in 21% of all 178 patients, including three of the five pancreatitis patients. We conclude that although the risk of pancreatitis is exceedingly small in percutaneous needle biopsies, it may occur, and at a higher rate than previously reported.

Acute Disease↗

Hepatobiliary MR contrast agents: 5-substituted iron-EHPG derivatives.

A series of iron(III) ethylenebis(2-hydroxyphenyl)glycine [Fe(EHPG)]- derivatives have been examined for their role as paramagnetic hepatobiliary contrast agents for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The 5-substituted complexes, Fe(5-Me-EHPG)-, Fe(5-Cl-EHPG)-, and Fe(5-Br-EHPG)-, have been compared to the parent compound in rat biodistribution and MR imaging studies; correlative in vitro parameters for the complexes, including octanol-buffer partition coefficients and albumin binding affinity, have also been obtained. The three new derivatives exhibited higher degrees of lipophilicity and albumin binding affinity and varying degrees of improvement in liver-to-blood and bile-to-liver concentration ratios measured at 30 min postinjection. The 5-Cl complex had the best overall performance in terms of these tissue ratios as well as in terms of total biliary excretion. Sequential MR images of rats after administration of the complexes revealed subtle pharmacokinetic differences among the derivatives and, in general, correlated well with and complemented the biodistribution results. This study points to the sensitivity of hepatocellular uptake and excretion to simple chemical modifications and, moreover, demonstrates the importance of screening multiple derivatives to select optimal hepatobiliary MR imaging agents.

Animals↗

Ferrite particles: a superparamagnetic MR contrast agent for the reticuloendothelial system.

The potential of superparamagnetic ferrite particles as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was studied by in vitro MR spectroscopy and in vivo MR imaging in laboratory animals. After aqueous preparations of ferrite particles were administered intravenously, MR spectroscopy showed greatly decreased T2 relaxation times of liver and spleen, with only minimally altered T1, and no changes in lung, kidney, or muscle. Effects occurred within 30 minutes of injection and persisted for more than 6 months. MR imaging with pulse sequences that provide T2-dependent contrast demonstrated that ferrite produced profound signal loss from liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Sequestration of ferrite particles in hepatic reticuloendothelial cells was confirmed by means of light and electron microscopy. Because ferrite has a potent effect on MR signal and exhibits tissue-specific localization, it warrants further study as a contrast agent for MR imaging of the reticuloendothelial system (i.e., liver, spleen, and bone marrow).

Animals↗

Ferrite particles: a superparamagnetic MR contrast agent for enhanced detection of liver carcinoma.

The potential of superparamagnetic ferrite particles to enhance detection of liver carcinoma at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was studied with in vitro MR spectroscopy and in vivo MR imaging in animal models. After intravenous administration of ferrite, MR spectroscopy showed selective shortening of T2 relaxation times in normal liver but not in tumor. MR imaging showed that ferrite produced profound signal loss only from normal liver and not tumor; thus, differences in signal intensity between liver and tumor were greatly enhanced, especially on pulse sequences with T2-dependent contrast. Motion artifacts were reduced as well because of less signal from liver. Microscopic analysis showed sequestration of ferrite particles in hepatic reticuloendothelial cells but not in hepatocytes or tumor tissue, and there was no evidence of cellular injury. Ferrite particles efficiently and predictably enhance signal differences between normal liver and tumor and permit considerable latitude in selection of pulse sequence and timing parameters. Thus, they have considerable promise as a tissue-specific MR contrast agent for improved detection of liver carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Ferrite particles for bowel contrast in MR imaging: design issues and feasibility studies.

Diverse materials with varying physical and magnetic properties have been evaluated as gastrointestinal contrast agents for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Uniform marking of the small bowel remains the greatest challenge. Ferrites are magnetically active iron oxide particles that are miscible with water and cause loss of signal on MR images. The decrease in MR signal intensity produced by ferrites occurs with a wide range of iron concentrations (0.1-10 mM) and with both T1- and T2-weighted pulse sequences. These effects of ferrites are explained by predominant T2 shortening with negligible T1 effects. The ferrite preparation used in this study was stable in vitro, with little iron solubilized by acid. Intragastric administration of ferrite (5 mg of iron per kg in 6 ml) routinely marked the small bowel of rats. The authors conclude that ferrites represent a promising new class of contrast agents for gastrointestinal MR imaging.

Animals↗

Sigmoid diverticular abscesses: percutaneous drainage as an adjunct to surgical resection in 24 cases.

Twenty-four patients with acute sigmoid diverticulitis and associated pelvic fluid collections seen on computed tomographic scans underwent percutaneous catheter drainage as an adjunct to surgical therapy. Fourteen of the 24 underwent a single-stage surgical procedure within 10 days of drainage. Five patients required two-stage surgical procedures because localized inflammatory changes precluded a primary resection despite the absence of a residual abscess at surgery. Two of the three remaining patients initially had no surgery, but they had recrudescences of their symptoms that required surgical drainage within 8 months. One patient in whom surgical resection was deferred remained asymptomatic 10 months after percutaneous drainage. A retrospective review of 87 patients undergoing surgery for diverticulitis suggested that the percentage of two-stage surgical procedures has decreased in the last 5-10 years, but there remains a substantial number of patients who might benefit from percutaneous catheter drainage of diverticular abscess of the sigmoid colon.

Abscess↗

Intraabdominal hematoma: the concentric-ring sign in MR imaging.

Extracranial hematomas have variable CT appearances and may be confused with other entities. MR imaging of 12 patients with intraabdominal or intrapelvic hemorrhages showed that intraabdominal hematomas develop a unique MR appearance after 3 weeks. Nine hematomas imaged after this time all showed a characteristic concentric-ring configuration, with a thin, dark peripheral rim on all pulse sequences and a bright inner ring most distinctive on T1-weighted images. Six hematomas imaged during the first 3 weeks failed to show this architecture. The concentric rings in MR images of chronic hematomas allowed a tissue-specific diagnosis.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Sonographic guidance in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the pleural space.

One hundred eighty-seven diagnostic and therapeutic interventional procedures in the pleural space were performed by using sonographic guidance. These consisted of diagnostic aspiration (118), drainage of malignant and nonmalignant effusions (41), empyema drainage (17), pleural sclerotherapy with tetracycline or bleomycin (7), and pleural biopsy (4). Diagnostic aspiration was performed with 20-gauge needles, and therapeutic and empyema drainages were performed by trocar technique with either a 7-French Sacks catheter or a specially designed empyema drainage catheter. Pneumothoraces were seen in 3% of the patients, and most of these were treated by the radiologist with placement of a Heimlich valve. We conclude that the use of sonography allows rapid localization of pleural fluid collections and instant monitoring of drainage of noninfected fluid collections and empyemas.

Biopsy↗