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Microcoil localization of small peripheral lung nodules enabled fluoroscopically guided VATS resection of 97% of the nodules, with a low rate of intervention (3%) for procedural complications.

Whole-body turbo short tau inversion recovery imaging is a convenient complete method of evaluating patients with muscle inflammation caused by polymyositis. This imaging technique allows us to evaluate the total inflammatory burden by revealing multiple muscle groups not seen with standard protocols.

The authors describe 10 patients with gluten sensitivity and abnormal MRI. All experienced episodic headache, six had unsteadiness, and four had gait ataxia. MRI abnormalities varied from confluent areas of high signal throughout the white matter to foci of high signal scattered in both hemispheres. Symptomatic response to gluten-free diet was seen in nine patients.

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Objectives-To measure the sensitivity and specificity of five MRI sequences to subarachnoid haemorrhage. Methods-Forty one patients presenting with histories suspicious of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were investigated with MRI using T1 weighted, T2 weighted, single shot fast spin echo (express), fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR), and gradient echo T2* sequences, and also by CT. Lumbar puncture was performed in cases where CT was negative for SAH. Cases were divided into acute (scanned within 4 days of the haemorrhage) and subacute (scanned after 4 days) groups. Results-The gradient echo T2* was the most sensitive sequence, with sensitivities of 94% in the acute phase and 100% in the subacute phase. Next most sensitive was FLAIR with values of 81% and 87% for the acute and subacute phases respectively. Other sequences were considerably less sensitive. Conclusions-MRI can be used to detect subacute and acute subarachnoid haemorrhage and has significant advantages over CT in the detection of subacute subarachnoid haemorrhage. The most sensitive sequence was the gradient echo T2*. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001;70:205-211) Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; subarachnoid haemorrhage Computed tomography has been the imaging investigation of choice in cases of suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) since its introduction into clinical practice because of high sensitivity to acute SAH, short scan times, and widespread availability. Lumbar puncture is performed in cases of suspected SAH with negative CT.The sensitivity of CT to SAH is more than 90% within 1 day of the haemorrhage 1-3 but falls oV rapidly with time and approaches 0% at 3 weeks.1 4 5 Although much of these data relate to previous generations of scanners, more recent results from higher resolution scanners show only modest improvements.2 3 This is because contrast resolution rather than spatial resolution is the limiting factor for sensitivity. Brain CT remains relatively insensitive to SAH more than a few days old especially in cases where the bleed is small. This is a particular problem as these patients are usually in good condition and have the most to lose from a missed diagnosis of SAH and subsequent rebleed from a ruptured aneurysm.As CT cannot exclude SAH, lumbar puncture is used as the longstop of investigation. Lumbar puncture has the advantage that its sensitivity remains high for several weeks after the ictus. 6Conventional MR T1 and T2 weighted images are relatively insensitive to SAH. Scan times for MRI are longer and allow less access to the patient than CT, making it unsuitable for confused or restless patients. For these reasons MRI has not had a role in the detection of SAH until recently. In 1994 Noguchi et al 7 reported the use of a FLAIR sequence in the detection of SAH in three cases. Since then other reports have confirmed the usefulness of FLAIR in this role. [8][9][10][11][12] There has been general agreement that the sensitivity of MRI to SAH increases over the few days after the bleed. 9 10 13 As...

Symphyseal cleft injection is a useful technique for the diagnosis and treatment of osteitis pubis in athletes. The procedure is well tolerated and may facilitate early resumption of competitive duties.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare tumor initially believed to be a benign localized pleural tumor of mesothelial origin. Over the past few years, the literature on this tumor has grown tremendously. The tumor is now reported in diverse bodily locations, and recognized to have a wider range of clinical and radiological features. The most common extrapleural sites of the tumor are the orbits and the extremities. Tumors are often well-circumscribed masses, and vary in size from 1 cm to over 30 cm. The admixture of histological components in the tumor, namely, fibrous tissue, cellular components, and highly vascularized areas consisting of numerous closely packed small to medium-sized blood vessels, influence the imaging appearances of the tumor. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor is suggested by a well-circumscribed mass that has smooth margins, and focal or diffuse hypointense signal on T2-weighted imaging due to fibrous content in the tumor. SFTs demonstrate strong focal or diffuse contrast enhancement due to the highly vascularized areas in the tumor.