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.
Hamartoma of the breast is an uncommon, benign, slow-growing mass usually diagnosed in women in the fourth and fifth decade of life undergoing mammography (MX). Here we report two cases of hamartoma of the breast assessed by integrated MX, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Case 1 was an asymptomatic 47-year-old woman who had never been screened previously. A 90 mm mass was found in her left breast on MX. Case 2 was a 35-year-old woman with pain in her right breast where a 50 mm mass was found on MX. Both patients underwent MRI examination. Breast MRI is an adjunct to MX that can confirm hamartoma diagnosis and exclude rare malignant transformation.
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