Indeterminate focal liver lesions incidentally discovered at gray-scale US: role of contrast-enhanced sonography.
OBJECTIVES: to assess the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) incidentally discovered but indeterminate at gray-scale ultrasound (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: one hundred forty-two consecutive patients with 174 FLLs (169 benign and 5 malignant) incidentally discovered but indeterminate at gray-scale US, underwent CEUS after the administration of SonoVue. Two readers independently reviewed CEUS scans and: (1) classified each lesion as malignant or benign on a 5-point scale of confidence by means of definite diagnostic criteria; (2) provided if possible a specific diagnosis; (3) were requested if further imaging was needed for lesio…
MR imaging of pancreatic changes in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major.
The aim of this study was to evaluate MR imaging changes of the pancreas in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major.Twenty patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major were examined using MR imaging at 0.5 T, with spin-echo T1-weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and gradient-echo T2*-weighted sequences. Image analysis was performed to assess pancreas-to-fat signal intensity ratios for all pulse sequences. Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function and serum ferritin levels were assessed. Twenty healthy volunteers underwent MR imaging with the same three sequences and served as a control group.The pancreas-to-fat signal intensity ratio was significantly dec…
MR imaging of pancreatic changes in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major
OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to evaluate MR imaging changes of the pancreas in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Twenty patients with transfusion-dependent β- thalassemia major were examined using MR imaging at 0.5 T, with spin-echo T1- weighted, fast spin-echo T2-weighted, and gradient-echo T2*-weighted sequences. Image analysis was performed to assess pancreas-to-fat signal intensity ratios for all pulse sequences. Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function and serum ferritin levels were assessed. Twenty healthy volunteers underwent MR imaging with the same three sequences and served as a control group. RESULTS. The pancreas-to-fat sign…