No abstract

For evaluation of lymphedema and its mixed forms, an axial T2-weighted SPIR sequence in conjunction with a coronal T1 SE sequence are sufficient.

Thirty-seven consecutive bone biopsies guided with computed tomography were performed in 32 patients by use of three different techniques to penetrate cortical bone and gain access to the lesion. The following instruments were used: a thin bone biopsy needle (12 biopsies), a conventional drill with an outer cannula (six biopsies), and a coaxial biopsy system that consists of a drill with an eccentric tip and an outer cannula (19 biopsies). This eccentric drill makes a hole in the bone larger than the diameter of the cannula and thereby makes it easy to advance the cannula over the drill until the cannula is anchored in the bone. One can then obtain multiple samples through the cannula. The thin bone biopsy needle could not penetrate thick (8 mm thick) cortical bone. The outer cannula was not anchored in the bone when the conventional drill was used. In 16 biopsies, the new coaxial biopsy system penetrated cortical bone with a thickness of 1-8 mm and was anchored there, and lesion samples were obtained through the anchored cannula.

Computed tomography-guided transsternal biopsy was successful in 10 anterior mediastinal masses in 10 patients, with use of a coaxial length-matched bone biopsy system comprising an outer cannula and an inner eccentric drill bit. No complications occurred in nine of 10 biopsies (eight performed with an automatic cutting needle, two with a fine needle), with less discomfort than was caused by injection of anesthetic.

The long TE IR-TSE sequence demonstrated early partial response of breast cancer bone metastases to chemotherapy more accurately than the T1-weighted sequence.