showing 34 related works from this author
Role of Imaging in the Assessment of Age Estimation
2019
Age assessment by skeletal age estimation of unknown individuals is of paramount importance in forensic science, both for assessing imputability (if the author of a crime is old enough to be tried and judged), both in case of unaccompanied minors, or whether refugees and asylum seekers are adults or juveniles, which implies different legal issues and procedures. The aim of this article is to review the age estimation methods used in forensic practice.
Conventional Radiology in the Evaluation of the Small Bowel
2015
For many years, the small bowel has been considered as the “black box” of the gastrointestinal system because it could not be evaluated through endoscopy. For this reason, the conventional radiological methods, such as small bowel enteroclysis and small bowel follow-through, have been considered the standard approach for the evaluation of the small bowel in the diagnosis and management of Crohn’s disease for years. However, due to technological limits, the study of small bowel through conventional radiology has been focused mainly on its function than on its anatomy. To date, the conventional examination with the study of intestinal transit is now rarely used, if not obsolete, but it has st…
Focal hepatic intrinsically hyperattenuating lesions at unenhanced CT: Not always calcifications.
2021
Due to the growing use of CT, there has been an increase in the frequency of detecting focal liver lesions. Intrinsically hyperattenuating hepatic lesions or pseudolesions are not uncommon at unenhanced CT. Hyperattenuating hepatic lesions can be divided into non-calcified and calcified. Causes of intrinsic hyperattenuation include hemorrhage, thrombosis, and calcifications. Focal liver lesions can show hyperattenuation on unenhanced CT in case of severe liver steatosis. Recognition of etiologies associated with hyperattenuation on unenhanced CT can help the radiologist in characterizing focal liver lesions and pseudolesions. In this paper, we describe the spectrum of intrinsically hyperatt…
Computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A practical approach
2017
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common head and neck cancer. This review describes the state-of-the-art computerised tomography and magnetic resonance imaging protocols of the neck and the normal larynx anatomy, and provides a practical approach for the diagnosis and staging of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Aortic valve and vascular calcium score in pre-TAVI CT: correlation with early post-procedural complications
2023
Abstract Purpose The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of early complications after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and their correlation with the Calcium Score (CS) of the aortic valve, aorta and ilio-femoral arteries derived from pre-procedural computed tomography (CT). Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed 226 patients (100 males, mean age 79.4 ± 6.7 years) undergoing 64-slice CT for pre-TAVI evaluation from January 2018 to April 2021. The population was divided into CS quartiles. Results Overall, 173 patients underwent TAVI procedure, of whom 61% presented paravalvular leak after the procedure, 28% presented bleeding or vascular complications, 25…
Interpretation of Diagnostic Imaging for Medicolegal Issues
2019
Forensic radiology is a relative recently emergent part of forensic medicine characterized by the application of radiological methods in criminal investigations, such as the forensic M.E’s radiological reports in civil or penal matters for judicial technical advice. The various imaging modalities like X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and ultrasonography can be used depending on various forms of cases and their requirements in routine investigations.
A kernel support vector machine based technique for Crohnâs disease classification in human patients
2017
In this paper a new technique for classification of patients affected by Crohnâs disease (CD) is proposed. The proposed technique is based on a Kernel Support Vector Machine (KSVM) and it adopts a Stratified K-Fold Cross-Validation strategy to enhance the KSVM classifier reliability. Traditional manual classification methods require radiological expertise and they usually are very time-consuming. Accordingly to three expert radiologists, a dataset composed of 300 patients has been selected for KSVM training and validation. Each patient was codified by 22 extracted qualitative features and classified as Positive or Negative as the related histological specimen result showed the CD. The eff…
Assessment of cerebral microbleeds by susceptibility-weighted imaging in Alzheimer's disease patients: A neuroimaging biomarker of the disease.
2017
Purpose The objective of this study was to correlate the presence and distribution of cerebral microbleeds in Alzheimer’s disease patients with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (amyloid-beta and phosphorylated tau 181 protein levels) and cognitive decline by using susceptibility-weighted imaging magnetic resonance sequences at 1.5 T. Material and methods Fifty-four consecutive Alzheimer’s disease patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T to assess the presence and distribution of cerebral microbleeds on susceptibility-weighted imaging images. The images were analyzed in consensus by two neuroradiologists, each with at least 10 years’ experience. Dementia severity was assess…
The Videofluorographic Swallowing Study in Rheumatologic Diseases: A Comprehensive Review
2017
Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are a heterogeneous group of pathologies that affect about 10% of world population with chronic evolution in 20%–80%. Inflammation in autoimmune diseases may lead to serious damage to other organs including the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal tract involvement in these patients may also due to both a direct action of antibodies against organs and pharmacological therapies. Dysphagia is one of the most important symptom, and it is caused by failure of the swallowing function and may lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss, and airway obstruction. The videofluorographic swallowing study is a key diagnostic tool in the…
MR Imaging of Perianal Crohn Disease: The Role of Contrast-enhanced Sequences
2017
The MR imaging protocol described by the authors includes contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging with fat saturation in all patients except those with poor renal function. Horsthuis et al demonstrated in 2009 the usefulness of contrast-enhanced MR imaging for determining disease activity. Contrast agent administration is also required in case of suspicion of neoplastic tissue complicating fistulas. The joint European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation–European Society of Gastointestinal and Abdominal Radiology guidelines report that T2-weighted images and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images are included in the MR imaging protocol for the evaluation of perianal CD. However, as we have demonstr…
Delayed diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a 32-year-old man with knee pain
2016
A 32-year-old Bangladeshi male was admitted at our emergency department for trauma of the left knee. The radiographs showed absence of fracture, and presence of an indeterminate oval lucency in the proximal tibia. Further examinations were suggested, but the patient refused. 6 months later, the patient re-presented at our emergency department. A CT scan showed progression of musculoskeletal involvement and spread to the liver. This case underlines the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of indeterminate bone lesions in immigrant patients.
Clinical and prognostic value of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in restaging of pancreatic cancer
2018
Aim The aim of this retrospective multicentre study was to evaluate the clinical and prognostic effect of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG)-PET/computed tomography (CT) in the restaging process of pancreatic cancer (PC). Materials and methods Data from patients treated for primary PC, who underwent18F-FDG-PET/CT for suspicious of disease progression, were collected. Accuracy was assessed employing conventional diagnostic procedures, multidisciplinary team case notes, further18F-FDG-PET/CT scans and/or follow-up. Receiver operating characteristic curve and likelihood ratio (LR+/-) analyses were used for completion of accuracy definition. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall sur…
Imaging the COVID-19: a practical guide
2021
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents the first medical catastrophe of the new millennium. Although imaging is not a screening test for COVID-19, it plays a crucial role in evaluation and follow-up of COVID-19 patients. In this paper, we will review typical and atypical imaging findings of COVID-19.
Comparison of US Strain Elastography and Entero-MRI to Typify the Mesenteric and Bowel Wall Changes during Crohn’s Disease: A Pilot Study
2017
Purpose. To evaluate and compare the mesenteric and bowel wall changes during Crohn’s disease (CD) on ultrasonography (US) Strain Elastography (SE) and Enterography Magnetic Resonance Imaging (E-MRI). Methods. From July 2014 to September 2016, 35 patients with ileocolonoscopy diagnosis of CD were prospectively examined with E-MRI and in the same time with US and SE. Results. A total of 41 affected bowel segments and 35 unaffected bowel segments in 35 patients were evaluated. US-SE color-scale coding showed a blue color pattern in the fibrotic mesentery and bowel wall in 15 patients and a green color pattern in the edematous ones in 20 patients. The signal of the bowel wall and mesenteric fa…
Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome: Clinical, Endoscopic, and Radiological Findings.
2018
Background. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare entity presenting with upper gastrointestinal tract obstruction and weight loss. Studies to determine the optimal methods of diagnosis and treatment are required. Aims and Methods. This study aims at analyzing the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of SMA syndrome. Ten cases of SMA syndrome out of 2074 esophagogastroduodenoscopies were suspected. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan was performed to confirm the diagnosis. After, a gastroenterologist and a nutritionist personalized the therapy. Furthermore, we compared the demographical, clinical, endoscopic, and radiological parameters of these …
Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Current Role in Patients with Lymphoma.
2021
Imaging of lymphoma is based on the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) and/or contrast-enhanced CT, but concerns have been raised regarding radiation exposure related to imaging scans in patients with cancer, and its association with increased risk of secondary tumors in patients with lymphoma has been established. To date, lymphoproliferative disorders are among the most common indications to perform whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Whole-body MRI is superior to contrast-enhanced CT for staging the disease, also being less dependent on histology if compared to 18F-FDG-PET/CT. As well, it does not require exposure to i…
18F-Florbetaben PET/CT to Assess Alzheimer's Disease: A new Analysis Method for Regional Amyloid Quantification.
2019
Background and purpose While AD can be definitively confirmed by postmortem histopathologic examination, in vivo imaging may improve the clinician's ability to identify AD at the earliest stage. The aim of the study was to test the performance of amyloid PET using new processing imaging algorithm for more precise diagnosis of AD. Methods Amyloid PET results using a new processing imaging algorithm (MRI-Less and AAL Atlas) were correlated with clinical, cognitive status, CSF analysis, and other imaging. The regional SUVR using the white matter of cerebellum as reference region and scores from clinical and cognitive tests were used to create ROC curves. Leave-one-out cross-validation was carr…
Broad neurodevelopmental features and cortical anomalies associated with a novel de novo KMT2A variant in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome.
2021
Abstract Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WDSTS) is a rare genetic disorder including developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID), hypertrichosis cubiti, short stature, and distinctive facial features, caused by mutation in KMT2A gene, which encodes a histone methyltransferase (H3K4) that regulates chromatin-mediated transcription. Different neurodevelopmental phenotypes have been described within the WDSTS spectrum, including a peculiar Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASDs) subtype in some affected individuals. Here, we report a 9-year-old Caucasian male found by next-generation panel sequencing to carry a novel heterozygous de novo KMT2A frameshift variant (NM_001197104.2:c.4433delG; p. Arg1…
Physics, Techniques and Review of Neuroradiological Applications of Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI)
2016
In recent years many papers about diagnostic applications of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have been published. This is because DTI allows to evaluate in vivo and in a non-invasive way the process of diffusion of water molecules in biological tissues. However, the simplified description of the diffusion process assumed in DTI does not permit to completely map the complex underlying cellular components and structures, which hinder and restrict the diffusion of water molecules. These limitations can be partially overcome by means of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). The aim of this paper is the description of the theory of DKI, a new topic of growing interest in radiology. DKI is a higher or…
Glypican-3 and Hep Par-1 are Useful Biomarkers in the Cytologic Assessment of Ascites.
2018
Till date, the utility of cytologic assessment of ascites for the identification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is still debated and the usefulness of immunocytochemistry for glypican-3 (GPC3) and Hep Par-1 in this setting has not been reported. Liquid-based cytology of ascitic fluid of 28 cirrhotic patients was performed and the spots obtained were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, papanicolau, and with GPC3 and Hep Par-1 antibodies. GPC3 and Hep Par-1 antibodies stained positively the atypical cells in the ascites of 2 patients with HCC showing an exophytic growth pattern. The specimens of the patients with nonexophytic HCC, other non-HCC cancers, or cirrhosis stained negativel…
Imaging features of adrenal masses
2019
Abstract The widespread use of imaging examinations has increased the detection of incidental adrenal lesions, which are mostly benign and non-functioning adenomas. The differentiation of a benign from a malignant adrenal mass can be crucial especially in oncology patients since it would greatly affect treatment and prognosis. In this setting, imaging plays a key role in the detection and characterization of adrenal lesions, with several imaging tools which can be employed by radiologists. A thorough knowledge of the imaging features of adrenal masses is essential to better characterize these lesions, avoiding a misinterpretation of imaging findings, which frequently overlap between benign …
Multiparametric MRI and Radiomics in Prostate Cancer: A Review of the Current Literature
2021
Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the fourth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death of men worldwide. Multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) has high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of PCa, and it is currently the most widely used imaging technique for tumor localization and cancer staging. mp-MRI plays a key role in risk stratification of naïve patients, in active surveillance for low-risk patients, and in monitoring recurrence after definitive therapy. Radiomics is an emerging and promising tool which allows a quantitative tumor evaluation from radiological images via conversion of digital images into mineable high-dimensional data. The purpose of radiomics is to…
Postmortem Imaging in Drowning
2019
The diagnosis of drowning is one of the most difficult in the field of forensic medicine since the autopsy findings are often not specific and the laboratory examinations are controversially appreciated by the scientific community. In a cadaver recovered from water, it is of utmost importance to differentiate antemortem and postmortem drowning. This chapter fully investigates biological/thanato-chemical, pathological and imaging findings which may guide the definitive diagnosis.
Role of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in local complications of acute pancreatitis
2019
Acute pancreatitis (AP) represents a pancreas inflammation of sudden onset that can present different degrees of severity. AP is a frequent cause of acute abdomen and its complications are still a cause of death. Biliary calculosis and alcohol abuse are the most frequent cause of AP. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not necessary for the diagnosis of AP but they are fundamental tools for the identification of the cause, degree severity and AP complications. AP severity assessment is in fact one of the most important issue in disease management. Contrast-enhanced CT is preferred in the emergency setting and is considered the gold standard in patients with AP.…
Ischemic hypoxic encephalopathy: The role of MRI of neonatal injury and medico-legal implication
2021
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is one of the major causes of neonatal death and neurological disability in the child, and represents the most common birth injury claim. Intrapartum asphyxia often leads to several long-term sequalae, such as cerebral palsy and/or developmental delay, epilepsy. Through the neuroimaging it's possible to identify and define the different lesioned pictures and provide useful elements to establish the moment in which the damage occurred; indeed, timing of injury is a key element in the legal arena. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is emerging as one of the most important tools in identifying the etiologic of neonatal encephalopathy as well as in predicting long-…
Artificial Intelligence Applications on Restaging [18F]FDG PET/CT in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Preliminary Report of Morpho-Functional Radiomic…
2022
Featured Application Based on results defined in this study, new investigations might propose morpho-functional-based radiomics algorithms for risk stratification with possible impact on treatment management in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of [F-18]FDG PET/CT images-based textural features analysis to propose radiomics models able to early predict disease progression (PD) and survival outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCC) patients after first adjuvant therapy. For this purpose, 52 MCC patients who underwent [F-18]FDGPET/CT during the disease restaging process after the first adjuvant therapy were analyzed. Follow-up data were recorded f…
Postmortem Imaging in Mass Disasters
2019
The term “mass casualty” in the forensic field refers to a sudden tragic event involving a large number of people; such an event determines the need to perform a large number of autopsy exams, possibly in a short time. Mass casualties tend to involve emergencies that are unexpected and result in stressful situation when even those with no or scarce interest or experience could be called to play a role. Radiology could be helpful in the task of identifying victims, in cooperation with a multidisciplinary team, usually headed by a forensic specialist.
Focused Ultrasound in Neuroscience. State of the Art and Future Perspectives
2021
Transcranial MR-guided Focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) is a surgical procedure that adopts focused ultrasounds beam towards a specific therapeutic target through the intact skull. The convergence of focused ultrasound beams onto the target produces tissue effects through released energy. Regarding neurosurgical applications, tcMRgFUS has been successfully adopted as a non-invasive procedure for ablative purposes such as thalamotomy, pallidotomy, and subthalamotomy for movement disorders. Several studies confirmed the effectiveness of tcMRgFUS in the treatment of several neurological conditions, ranging from motor disorders to psychiatric disorders. Moreover, using low-frequencies tcMRgFUS sys…
MRI patient selection for endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: correlation between pretreatment diffusion weighted imaging and outcome…
2018
Introduction: Eligibility for endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) depends, amongst other factors, on CT- or MR-based scores. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score based on diffusion weighted imaging (MR-ASPECT) in the assessment of brain damage pre-EVT, patient selection for EVT and outcome. Materials and methods: We included in this study patients with National Institute of Health stroke score (NIHSS) at admission ≥ 8, MR-ASPECT ≥ 5 and anterior AIS, who were treated with EVT in our hospital. All patients were clinically evaluated at admission, post-EVT, discharge and at 3-month follow-up. We used MR…
Radiological Features of Gastrointestinal Lymphoma.
2016
Gastrointestinal lymphomas represent 5–20% of extranodal lymphomas and mainly occur in the stomach and small intestine. Clinical findings are not specific, thus often determining a delay in the diagnosis. Imaging features at conventional and cross-sectional imaging must be known by the radiologist since he/she plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and disease assessment, thus assisting in the choice of the optimal treatment to patients. This review focuses on the wide variety of imaging presentation of esophageal, gastric, and small and large bowel lymphoma presenting their main imaging appearances at conventional and cross-sectional imaging, mainly focusing on computed tomography and magne…
Errors in imaging patients in the emergency setting
2016
Emergency and trauma care produces a "perfect storm" for radiological errors: uncooperative patients, inadequate histories, time-critical decisions, concurrent tasks and often junior personnel working after hours in busy emergency departments. The main cause of diagnostic errors in the emergency department is the failure to correctly interpret radiographs, and the majority of diagnoses missed on radiographs are fractures. Missed diagnoses potentially have important consequences for patients, clinicians and radiologists. Radiologists play a pivotal role in the diagnostic assessment of polytrauma patients and of patients with non-traumatic craniothoracoabdominal emergencies, and key elements …
Assessment of atrial diastolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by cine magnetic resonance imaging
2015
Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the role of atrial function by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for the evaluation of diastolic physiology in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared to healthy controls. Materials and methods: We enrolled 23 consecutive patients affected by HCM and 43 healthy subjects as age-matched control cases (CC). CMR was performed through acquisition of cine steady-state free precession sequences using a 1.5-T scanner. Image postprocessing was carried out using Tracking Tool software. Results: Atrial volumes were significantly higher in patients with HCM compared to CC: maximum atrial volume (p = 0.007) and minimum atrial volume (p = 0.01).…
Imaging Assessment of Gastroduodenal Perforations.
2016
Gastroduodenal perforation is an emergency situation that usually requires early recognition and well-timed surgical treatment. It can arise from different natural, iatrogenic, or traumatic causes, and it can present with various symptoms especially in the early phase. This article reviews the role of the different imaging techniques in the diagnosis of gastroduodenal perforation, focusing on the direct and indirect signs that are encountered in conventional radiography and computed tomography; our personal experience is also provided.
Rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: from diagnosis to treatment
2018
Rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy (RCCT) is a very common condition caused by the presence of calcific deposits in the rotator cuff (RC) or in the subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursa when calcification spreads around the tendons. The pathogenetic mechanism of RCCT is still unclear. It seems to be related to cell-mediated disease in which metaplastic transformation of tenocytes into chondrocytes induces calcification inside the tendon of the RC. RCCT is a frequent finding in the RC that may cause significant shoulder pain and disability. It can be easily diagnosed with imaging studies as conventional radiography (CR) or ultrasound (US). Conservative management of RCCT usually involves rest,…