(1)H MR spectroscopy can be used to characterize adrenal masses on the basis of spectral findings for benign adenomas, carcinomas, pheochromocytomas, and metastases.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown noncontrast computed tomography (NCT) to be more effective than ultrasound (US) for imaging acute ureterolithiasis. However, to our knowledge, there are few studies directly comparing these techniques in an emergency teaching hospital setting. The objectives of this study were to compare the diagnostic accuracy of US and NCT performed by senior radiology residents for diagnosing acute ureterolithiasis; and to assess interobserver agreement on tomography interpretations by residents and experienced abdominal radiologists. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study of 52 consecutive patients, who underwent both US and NCT within an interval of eight hours, at Hospital São Paulo. METHODS: US scans were performed by senior residents and read by experienced radiologists. NCT scan images were read by senior residents, and subsequently by three abdominal radiologists. The interobserver variability was assessed using the kappa statistic. RESULTS: Ureteral calculi were found in 40 out of 52 patients (77%). US presented sensitivity of 22% and specificity of 100%. When collecting system dilatation was associated, US demonstrated 73% sensitivity, 82% specificity. The interobserver agreement in NCT analysis was very high with regard to identification of calculi, collecting system dilatation and stranding of perinephric fat. CONCLUSIONS: US has limited value for identifying ureteral calculi in comparison with NCT, even when collecting system dilatation is present. Residents and abdominal radiologists demonstrated excellent agreement rates for ureteral calculi, identification of collecting system dilatation and stranding of perinephric fat on NCT.

Imaging plays a vital role in the evaluation of adrenal pathology. The most widely used modalities are computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Alone or in conjunction with appropriate clinical and biochemical data, imaging can provide specific diagnoses that preclude the need for tissue sampling. This article reviews imaging features of normal and diseased adrenals, from both benign and malignant causes.

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to evaluate the added value of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in patients with rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The use of DW-MRI for response evaluation in rectal cancer still remains a widely investigated issue, as the accurate detection of pathologic complete response (pCR) is critical in making therapeutic decisions.Patients and methodsThirty-three patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were evaluated retrospectively by MRI in addition to diffusion-weighted images (DWI) and its ADC pre- and post-neoadjuvant CRT. These patients subsequently underwent curative-intent surgery. Tumor staging by MRI and ADC value were compared with histopathological findings of the surgical specimen.ResultsMRI in addition to DWI had a sensitivity of 96.1%, specificity of 71.4%, positive predictive value of 92.5%, and negative predictive value of 83.3% in the detection of pCR. The pre-CRT ADC alone could not reliably predict the pCR group. Post-CRT ADC cutoff value of 1.49 x 10−3 mm2/s had the highest accuracy and allowed a 16.7% increase in negative predictive value and 3.9% increase in sensitivity. Patients with pCR to neoadjuvant treatment differed from the other groups in their absolute values of post-CRT ADC (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe use of post-CRT ADC increased the diagnostic performance of MRI in addition to DWI in predicting the final pathologic staging of rectal carcinoma.

Resumo Contexto: Entre os transtornos neuropsiquiátricos ocasionados por eventos cerebrovasculares, a depressão vascular é pouco diagnosticada por médicos não especialistas, causando aumento da morbimortalidade de pacientes idosos. Caso clínico: Trata-se de um paciente com 67 anos que apresentou resposta parcial a tratamento com inibidores da recaptura de serotonina e efeitos adversos autonômicos graves com outros antidepressivos. A adição de rivastigmina ao citalopram promoveu sucesso terapêutico, com redução de 23 para 7 pontos, na escala de Hamilton para depressão. Discussão: O resultado obtido traz novas perspectivas para o tratamento da depressão vascular, sendo necessários ensaios clínicos controlados que evidenciem o benefício da adição dos inibidores das colinesterases aos antidepressivos no tratamento destes pacientes. , R. et al. / Rev. Psiq. Clín 34 (6); 290-293, 2007 Palavras-chave: Depressão vascular, demência vascular, doença de Alzheimer, AVC, neuroimagem. Barcelos AbstractContext: Among neuropsychiatric disorders caused by cerebrovascular factors, vascular depression is diagnosed in a small degree by general practitioners, causing morbid-mortality increase in elderly. Case report: That is a case of a 67 year-old-man with partial response after treatment with a Selective Serotonin Receptors Inhibitor, and severe autonomic adverse effects with other antidepressants. The addition of rivastigmine to citalopram resulted in a therapeutic success, with a reduction of 23 to 7 points on the Hamilton Depressive Scale (HAM-D). Discussion: The result obtained brings new perspectives to the treatment of vascular depression, providing that randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes confirm the positive effect of the addition of a cholinesterase inhibitor to antidepressants in the treatment of these patients. , R. et al. / Rev. Psiq. Clín 34 (6); 290-293, 2007 Barcelos

RESUMOObjetivos: estabelecer os principais sinais de acretismo placentário na ressonância magnética (RM) em gestantes com suspeita clínica e avaliar a utilidade do método. Métodos: estudo prospectivo, transversal em 15 pacientes com suspeita de acretismo placentário. O período compreendido foi de março de 2003 a fevereiro de 2006. A idade gestacional variou de 20 a 31 semanas. Todas as pacientes realizaram RM com estudo dirigido para placenta e haviam sido submetidas à ultra-sonografi a (US) prévia ao exame. Todas as peças foram encaminhadas para estudo anátomo-patológico (AP). Os exames foram realizados nos equipamentos Magnetom Impact e Sonata Maestro Class Siemens ® , adquiridas as seqüências HASTE, TURBO FISP, nos planos axial, sagital e coronal e gradiente echo (GE ® ) pré-e pós-contraste dinâmico no melhor plano de aquisição. A análise das imagens foi realizada por dois radiologistas em consenso. Resultados: a idade gestacional média das pacientes foi de 24,3 semanas. Foram estudadas sete placentas prévias centro-totais (47%), seis placentas corporais anteriores (40%) e duas placentas corporais posteriores (13%). A US foi positiva em 80% dos casos e a RM em 53% dos casos. No entanto, a US apresentou concordância fraca com o AP pelo teste de kappa (11%), com sensibilidade de 75%, especifi cidade de 14%, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) de 50% e valor preditivo negativo (VPN) de 33%. Já a RM teve concordância excelente com o AP (0,86), com sensibilidade de 100%, especifi cidade de 86% , VPP de 89% e VPN de 100%. Conclusões: a RM é útil na identifi cação do acretismo placentário. Os principais sinais na RM do acretismo placentário são: o hipersinal transmural, a descontinuidade da parede miometrial nas seqüências rápidas e a identifi cação dos vasos invadindo o miométrio nas seqüências dinâmicas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Placenta acreta/diagnóstico; Imagem por ressonância magnética ABSTRACT Purpose: to establish the main signs of placental accretism in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with clinical suspicion and to estimate the benefi t of this method. Methods: prospective transversal study with 15 patients suspected of placental accretism, referred between March 2003 and February 2006. Gestational age varied from 20 to 31 weeks. All patients underwent MRI to study the placenta and had previously done an ultrasonography. Material was sent to histological study. MRI was done on Magnetom Impact and Sonata Maestro Class Siemens ® , with acquired sequences HASTE, TURBO SPIN in axial, sagittal, coronal planes and echo gradient (GE ® ), pre-and post-dynamic contrast in the best plan for acquisition. Images were analyzed by a team of two radiologists. Results: mean gestational age was 24.3 weeks. We studied seven placenta previa (47%), six anterior placentas (40%) and two posterior placentas (13%). Ultrasonography was positive in 80% of the palcentas and MRI in 53%. However, echography had a low concordance with anatomic pathological studies by Kappa test (11%), revealing 75% of sensitivity, 14% of specifi city, 50%...

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Relatamos o caso de uma paciente em terapia anticoagulante oral com Warfarin, apresentando obstrução intestinal aguda. A tomografia computadorizada revelou hematoma intramural duodenal. O tratamento baseou-se na correção das provas de coagulação e medidas expectantes. Este caso ilustra o valor da tomografia computadorizada e da abordagem conservadora nos pacientes em terapia anticoagulante com obstrução aguda do intestino delgado.