You Seon Song

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Early Spondylodiscitis: Interpretive Challenges and Atypical Findings

MR findings of early infectious spondylodiscitis are non-specific and may be confused with those of other conditions. Therefore, it is important to recognize early MR signs of conditions, such as inappreciable cortical changes in endplates, confusing marrow signal intensities of vertebral bodies, and inflammatory changes in paraspinal soft tissues, and subligamentous and epidural spaces. In addition, appreciation of direct inoculation, such as in iatrogenic spondylodiscitis may be important, because the proportion of patients who have undergone recent spine surgery or a spinal procedure is increasing. In this review, the authors focus on the MR findings of early spondylodiscitis, atypical findings of iatrogenic infection, and the differentiation between spondylodiscitis and other disease entities mimicking infection.

Short-term follow-up MRI after unplanned resection of malignant soft-tissue tumours; quantitative measurements on dynamic contrast enhanced and diffusion-weighted MR images

OBJECTIVE To determine the diagnostic availability of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) and diffusion-weighted (DW) MR images for evaluating residual tumours at short-term follow-up after unplanned excision of malignant soft-tissue tumours. METHODS From January 2013 to September 2014, 38 patients underwent first follow-up MRI, including DCE and DW imaging (DWI), within 3 months of unplanned malignant soft-tissue tumour excision. The presence or absence of definite nodule formation, focal fluid/haematoma collection, oedema and fascial thickening around or at tumour beds were evaluated using conventional MR images. The volume transfer constant between blood plasma and extracellular/extravascular space (EES) (Ktrans), rate constant between EES and blood plasma (Kep), volume of EES space per unit volume of tissue and initial area under the concentration curve (iAUC) values with time-concentration curve (TCC) plots were obtained on DCE images, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured on ADC maps. All data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS Of the 21 patients who underwent re-excision, 12 patients had a residual tumor and 9 did not. All conventional MRI variables, except definite nodule formation, were insignificantly related to the presence of residual tumour. However, ADC values were found to be significantly associated with the presence of residual tumour, as were the DCE MRI variables, Ktrans, Kep and iAUC. In particular, TCC pattern and Kep were most significantly associated with residual tumour. CONCLUSION Additional DCE images may be useful for determining the presence of residual tumours in tumour beds during short-term follow-up after inadequate malignant soft-tissue tumour excision. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE The addition of DCE MRI and quantitative analysis of the images obtained might be useful for determining the presence of residual tumour in a tumour bed during short-term follow-up after inadequate excision of a malignant soft-tissue tumour, although DWI was also found to be helpful.

Muscular sarcoidosis involving the chest and abdominal walls: case report with MR imaging

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder that is characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas in tissues, involving many organs and tissues. Extra-pulmonary, especially muscular sarcoidosis is a rare condition. The most common location of the muscular sarcoidosis is known to be the proximal muscles of the extremities; however, there have been no cases of diffuse involvement of the chest and abdominal wall muscles. Here, we report a rare muscular sarcoidosis with infiltrative pattern in the chest and abdominal wall muscles and describe the MR imaging findings that were mistaken as lymphoma at initial diagnosis. Although our case did not show characteristic MR findings of muscular sarcoidosis, clinicians or radiologists who are aware of these imaging features can perform early systemic survey for sarcoidosis. Also muscle biopsy is very important to confirm the sarcoidosis and distinguish it from other tumors.

Imaging analysis of superficial soft tissue lymphomas

PURPOSE To describe imaging findings in superficial soft tissue lymphomas, especially those located in the skin and subcutaneous layer. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 44 pathologically confirmed superficial lymphoma lesions. Imaging analysis included the size, margin, location, morphology, homogeneity and multiplicity. RESULTS A nodular form was the most common (21/44, 47.7%) morphology, and of them, 18 demonstrated a streaky appearance. Most of the lesions demonstrated ill-defined margins (26/44, 59.1%) and homogeneous patterns (35/44, 79.5%). CONCLUSIONS The imaging findings of superficial soft tissue lymphomas were non-specific. However, if images show multiple nodular lesions with ill-defined margins, we should consider this diagnosis.

Soft Tissue Masses Showing Low Signal Intensity on T2-weighted Images: Correlation with Pathologic Findings

목적: 이전의 증례 보고에서는 저혈당성 뇌병증 환자의 뇌백질의 변화가 퇴행하기까지 수 일이 소요되었다. 본 저자들은 저혈당성 뇌병증에서 확산강조영상의 빠른 변화를 경험하였다. 이에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고자 한다. 증례 보고: 58세 남자 환자가 반혼수 상태로 발견되었으나 혈액 검사 상 저혈당 (44 mg/dL)이 나타...