BACKGROUND: The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to examine the appearance of struma ovarii on magnetic resonance (MR) images. METHODS: MR images of 12 patients with histologically proven struma ovarii were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images with Gd-DTPA were available in 10 patients. The following determinations were made: tumor morphology, signal intensities, contrast-enhancement effects of solid components with Gd-DTPA, and comparison of MR images with resected specimens. RESULTS: All 12 patients had both cystic and solid components, with a multilobulated surface and thickened septa. Signal intensities on T1-weighted images were mainly low, partly intermediate to high, or high, and those on T2-weighted images were mainly high, with different signal intensities. Contrast-enhancement effects were marked or moderate. The contents that showed low signal intensities on T1-weighted images and signal voids or low signal intensities on T2-weighted images were viscid gelatinous materials. CONCLUSIONS: A multicystic tumor with a solid component, a multilobulated surface, and signal intensities that indicate the presence of viscid gelatinous materials appear to be a characteristic MR finding of struma ovarii.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cervical carcinoma: efficacy of thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images for evaluating parametrial invasion.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy of thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images in the assessment of parametrial invasion by cervical carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred parametria of 50 patients with cervical carcinoma were evaluated with pathologic correlation. We compared the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in the assessment of parametrial invasion by cervical carcinoma between axial T2-weighted images and thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images. RESULTS: Thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images provided accurate cross sections of the cervix with excellent detail and detected parametrial invasion more accurately than did axial T2-weighted images showing cross sections of the trunk. Although the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for parametrial invasion were 46.4%, 91.7%, and 79.0%, respectively, on axial T2-weighted images, the corresponding values were 67.9%, 97. 2%, and 89.0%, respectively, on thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images. There were statistically significant differences in the sensitivity (p = 0.014), specificity (p = 0.046), and accuracy (p = 0.002) in detecting parametrial invasion between these two types of images. CONCLUSIONS: Thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images are useful for the assessment of parametrial invasion by cervical carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endometrial carcinoma: efficacy of thin-section oblique axial MR images for evaluating cervical invasion.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy of thin-section oblique axial magnetic resonance (MR) images in evaluating cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with endometrial carcinoma were evaluated with pathologic correlation. We compared the accuracy in the assessment of cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma between parasagittal MR images and thin-section oblique axial MR images by using T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted pulse sequences. RESULTS: Cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma was confirmed by pathologic examination. Cervical invasion was seen in 16 patients. The accuracy rates of parasagittal T2-weighted images, thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images, parasagittal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, and thin-section oblique axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were 74.7%, 89.5%, 82.0%, and 95.5%, respectively. Statistically significant differences were seen between parasagittal T2-weighted images and thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images (p = 0.002) and between parasagittal contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images and thin-section oblique axial contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Thin-section oblique axial MR images are considered to be useful for the assessment of cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endometrial carcinoma: dynamic MRI with turbo-FLASH technique.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to investigate the usefulness of dynamic MRI with the turbo-FLASH technique in estimating myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma. METHOD: Forty-six patients with endometrial carcinomas were evaluated with pathologic correlation. Dynamic MRI was performed with the rapid administration of Gd-DTPA using the turbo-FLASH technique. RESULTS: The inner muscle layer showed more rapid contrast enhancement effects than the outer muscle layer even after menopause. Contrast-to-noise ratio between the inner muscle layer and endometrial carcinoma was maximum at approximately 50 s after administration of Gd-DTPA. In postmenopausal women, the accuracy in estimating myometrial invasion with T2-weighted images, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, and dynamic MRI was 66.7, 77.8, and 92.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Dynamic MRI with the turbo-FLASH technique is considered to be a useful imaging method for the estimation of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma, especially in postmenopausal patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of nitroglycerin on regional myocardial function in the underperfused canine heart.

Effects of nitroglycerin (3 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) on regional myocardial contractility during acute coronary stenosis were studied in open-chest dogs using a strain-gauge arch. Stenosis-induced stepwise decreases in coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) at less than 40 mm Hg correspondingly reduced contractility in the underperfused area and increased the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Nitroglycerin caused significant increases in contractility, along with decreases in arterial and left ventricular pressures; at stenosis-induced CPP less than 30 mm Hg, contractility in the underperfused are fell precipitously below the control, while LVEDP increased. When nitroglycerin infusion under coronary stenosis (CPP of 40 mm Hg) decreased CPP to less than 30 mm Hg, contractility fell. When CPP greater than 30 mm Hg was maintained, contractility increased and LVEDP decreased. In conclusion, at least in the absence of well-developed collateral circulation, the critical level of CPP was 40 mm Hg for contractility and LVEDP without nitroglycerin, which shifted to 30 mm Hg with the addition of nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin resulted in a significant increase in plasma catecholamines, and the increase in contractility diminished with propranolol, indicating participation of beta-adrenoceptor in the positive inotropic effect of nitroglycerin. However, catecholamines at high concentrations probably further aggravated the impaired cardiac function at CPP less than 30 mm Hg.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of total parenteral nutrition on the development of intestinal endotoxemia in rats: a comparison between glucose and lipid.

The effects of parenteral nutrition (PN) and of the difference in the PN regimens between glucose and lipid emulsion on the development of endogenous endotoxemia were studied in 40 Wister rats. Endotoxemia was induced by occluding the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) for 30 min. The plasma endotoxin in the portal blood at the time of the release of the SMV occlusion and that in the arterial blood 10 min after the release were quantified. Twenty of the 40 rats had received PN for 48 hr prior to the SMV occlusion. Ten of these 20 rats received the total nonprotein calorie (TNPC) solely with glucose, and the other 10 rats received 25% of the TNPC with lipid emulsion. Ten rats had been allowed free access to lab food until the SMV occlusion. The remaining 10 rats underwent neither the SMV occlusion nor PN, and served as the control group. Both the portal and the arterial endotoxin increased after the release of the SMV occlusion, however the portal endotoxin was higher than that of the arterial one. Both the portal and the arterial endotoxin of the rats supported by PN were significantly lower than those of the rats nourished by lab food, while they were higher than the control values. The difference in the PN regimens did not cause any alteration in the endotoxin levels. These results indicate that the development of intestinal endotoxemia was not influenced by the difference in the PN regimens, but it was rather influenced by a presence of intestinal content.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influences of an infusion of lipid emulsion on phagocytotic activity of cultured Kupffer's cells in septic rats.

An experimental study was undertaken to study the influences of an infusion of lipid emulsion on phagocytosis of Kupffer's cells in septic rats. Sepsis was induced in 13 rats by ligating the cecum. Five of them received glucose as the sole nonprotein calorie (septic-glucose group), four of the rats received 25% of the nonprotein calorie with lipid emulsion, Intralipid (septic-lipid group), and the remaining four rats did not receive any intravenous solution and were allowed access to water (septic-fasted group). Another four rats which received neither intravenous solution nor ligation of the cecum served as the control group. The intravenous infusion was carried out for 72 hr. The phagocytotic activity of Kupffer's cells was determined by the ability to engulf latex particles with a size of 1.09 micron, in vitro. The phagocytotic activity was enhanced by the presence of sepsis but it was inhibited by starvation. The difference in the phagocytotic activity between the septic-glucose group and the septic-lipid group was not significant. These results suggest that, insofar as an in vitro study is concerned, a 72-hr infusion of lipid emulsion at a rate of 25% of the total nonprotein calorie does not influence the phagocytotic activity of cultured Kupffer's cell obtained from septic rats.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endometrial carcinoma: multisection dynamic MR imaging using a three-dimensional FLASH technique during breath holding.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to investigate the usefulness of multisection dynamic MR imaging using a 3D FLASH technique during breath holding in assessing myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight endometrial carcinomas were evaluated with pathologic correlation. Dynamic MR imaging was performed using the 3D FLASH technique during breath holding. We compared accuracy in the assessment of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma between T2-weighted images, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, and dynamic MR images. RESULTS: The accuracy rates in estimating myometrial invasion with T2-weighted images, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, and dynamic MR images were 64.3%, 67.8%, and 85.7%, respectively. Statistically significant differences were seen between dynamic MR images and both T2-weighted images and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. CONCLUSION: Multisection dynamic MR imaging using the 3D FLASH technique during breath holding is useful for the evaluation of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma with polypoid growth or an unclear junctional zone on T2-weighted images.

Contrast Media↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cervical carcinoma: dynamic MR imaging with a turbo-FLASH technique.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristic findings of cervical carcinoma in dynamic MR imaging with a turbo-FLASH technique and to investigate the cause of the hyperintense rim surrounding the tumor on dynamic MR images by comparing them with the pathological findings in the resected specimens. Sixty consecutive patients with cervical carcinoma were included in this study. Dynamic MR imaging was performed with the rapid administration of Gd-DTPA using the turbo-FLASH technique. After dynamic MR imaging, T1-weighted spin echo (SE) images were obtained. Dynamic patterns of the lesions were investigated from images acquired in the early and late phases of dynamic MR imaging. The causes of the hyperintense rim were investigated by comparing dynamic MR images with the pathological findings. Most of the cervical carcinomas showed higher signal intensity than normal cervical stroma in the early phase of dynamic MR imaging. The pathological findings of the hyperintense rim on dynamic MR images differed according to the time of appearance of the hyperintense rim. Dynamic MR imaging with the turbo-FLASH technique, which shows high contrast between the lesion and normal cervical stroma, should be performed before obtaining contrast-enhanced T1-weighted SE images in patients with cervical carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MR appearance of endometrial carcinoma and mucinous cystadenoma in a postmenopausal patient treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer.

We present a case of endometrial carcinoma accompanied with mucinous cystadenoma in a 70-year-old postmenopausal woman treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer demonstrated by MR imaging. Tamoxifen therapy (20 mg/day) had been carried out for more than 11 years since the surgical procedure for the primary tumor. MR images showed a markedly enlarged uterus containing endometrial carcinoma, cystic atrophy of the endometrium, and a right adnexal mass with multicystic components of various signal intensities.

Aged↗