Objectives:The objective of this study was to determine, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral spine from L1 to S1, the values of the normal sagittal diameter of the spinal canal (SCD), sagittal diameter of the dural sac (DSD), and the normal values of dural sac ratio (DSR) in a large nonsymptomatic adult population and to discriminate whether a vertebral canal is pathological or nonpathological for dural ectasia and/or stenosis.Materials and Methods:Six hundred and four patients were prospectively enrolled. All measurements were performed on MRI sagittal T1- and T2-weighted images. The 95% confidence interval (95% CI), defined as mean ± 1.96 standard deviation, was determined for each metric. The upper limit of 95% CI was considered the cutoff value for the normal DSR; the lower limit of 95% CI was considered the cutoff value for the normal SCD.Results:SCD cutoff values from L1 to S1 ranged from 14.5–10.1 mm (males) to 15.0–9.9 mm (females). DSD ratios at S1 and L4 level show a significant difference in male and female groups: 11% of S1/L4 values exceeded 1 in male group while only 4% of S1/L4 values exceeded 1 in female group. Mean DSR at each level was significantly higher in female patients than in male patients (P < 0.001), ranging from 0.70 to 0.56 (male) and from 0.82 to 0.63 (female).Conclusions:We determined the cutoff values for the normal DSR and for the normal SCD. Our findings show the relevant discrepancies with respect to literature data for diagnosis of lumbar stenosis and/or dural ectasia.

We report a case of agenesis of the gallbladder with the presence of a small dysmorphic cyst, along the bed of the gallbladder and cystic duct. The patient presented to us with a suspected diagnosis of atrophic and sclerotic gallbladder that was not seen on ultrasound examination, indicating the need for cholecystectomy. The patient's medical history report mentioned agenesis of the left kidney. The existence of a congenital abnormality led us to suspect the inability to visualize the gallbladder was probably due to a possible agenesis of the gallbladder. The patient was investigated with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), that confirmed the suspected diagnosis and avoided unnecessary surgery. The hypothesis of anomalous development or agenesis of the gallbladder should always be suspected when the gallbladder is not visible on ultrasound imaging, especially in patients with other congenital anomalies. We believe that in all these patients, MRCP must always be performed to help make decisions on the treatment protocol.

We described the utility of computed tomography (CT) angiography in detection of bleeding vessels for a rapid percutaneous arterial embolization of the spontaneous rectus sheath hematoma. A 70-year-old woman comes to our attention with acute abdominal pain and a low hemoglobin level. An unenhanced CT was performed demonstrating a large rectus sheath hematoma. A conservative management was initially established. Despite this therapy, the abdominal pain increased together with a further decrease of hemoglobin values. A CT angiography was then performed, demonstrating an active bleeding within the hematoma and addressing the patient to a rapid percutaneous arterial embolization.

We report a rare case of giant angioleiomyoma located in the uterus and detected in a 37-year-old woman. The uterus is an extremely rare location for angioleiomyoma. The definitive diagnosis is usually obtained only after the histopathologic examination because the imaging criteria are challenging for this disease. We focused our attention on the main computed tomography features able to provide a robust preoperative diagnosis of this rare clinical entity.

We report a case of penile metastases from recurrent prostatic adenocarcinoma that was the first sign of a widespread metastatic disease in the absence of any increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. In April 2011, an 80-year-old man presented to our Radiotherapy Unit with multiple palpable hard nodules in the penis, dysuria, and moderate perineal pain, 7 years after he had received radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Nodules in the penis had appeared in February 2011. The ultrasound and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging suggested the diagnosis of multiple penile metastases. A total body computed tomography scan revealed a systemic spread of the disease, with multiple metastases in the liver, bones, and lungs. PSA level was 0.126 ng/ml. A fine needle aspiration biopsy of the liver lesion was undertaken, and the histopathologic examination revealed the prostatic origin of the metastases, so androgen deprivation therapy was started. The diagnosis of metastases should be considered in a patient with prior history of prostate malignancies presenting with solid nodules in the penis, even if the PSA level is low.