Faculty Bibliography

Anomalies of renal fusion and their sonographic findings can be straightforward or quite complex. Sonograms of eight cases of simple and complicated anomalies of renal fusion in pediatric patients are reviewed to determine characteristic sonographic findings in such cases. The correct diagnosis can be suspected by evaluation of the following parameters: (1) the echoic texture of the renal 'mass'; (2) the differential orientation of the renal pelves; (3) the content of the contralateral renal fossa; (4) the size of the ipsilateral kidney; (5) extension of the isthmus medially anterior to the spine; and (6) presence of a deep anteroposterior notch. Utilizing these parameters, a rationale for diagnosis and for selecting the appropriate sequence of further studies is suggested

Spondylothoracic dysplasia, also known as short-trunk dwarfism or Jarcho-Levin syndrome, is a fatal autosomal recessive disorder characterized by vertebral and spinal defects with a short thorax. Until recently, in utero diagnosis could only be made radiographically. Sonographic criteria for antenatal diagnosis are discussed in conjunction with a review of the literature

A 15-year-old boy presented with a short history of right-sided flank pain was found to have bilateral duplex renal systems with obstructed upper poles. Sonographic examination and contrast-enhanced delayed computed tomography (CT) performed at the conclusion of the excretory urography (EU) demonstrated termination of both obstructed ureters in the seminal vesicles. These noninvasive studies allowed accurate preoperative diagnosis of this abnormality

Over an 18-month period, 11 adults with congenital pulmonary anomalies within the sequestration spectrum, identified either surgically or radiographically by CT and/or angiography, were evaluated with MR. These included seven patients with bronchogenic cysts, two with intralobar pulmonary sequestrations, one with scimitar syndrome, and one with bronchial atresia. In each case, MR showed at least some findings indicative of the correct diagnosis. MR proved especially effective in the detection of abnormal fluid collections (nine cases) and the identification of anomalous vessels (three cases). Fluid collections were easily identified in all cases, including four cases with high-density collections on CT (two with bronchogenic cysts and two with intralobar pulmonary sequestration), especially when single-level, multiecho T2-weighted sequences were obtained. Calculated T2 values ranged from 78 to 439 msec (average, 223 +/- 123 msec). Although T2 values were statistically significant for differentiating fluid from muscle (p = .0012) and fat (p = .0046), they were not sufficiently specific to allow precise fluid characterization. Significant limitations were also apparent, such as an inability to detect alterations in the parenchymal architecture of the lungs (three cases) or intrapulmonary vascularity (one case). Despite this, we conclude that MR may be of considerable value in the assessment of congenital pulmonary anomalies and in select cases obviate more invasive diagnostic procedures

Six infants with cerebral infarcts were examined prospectively with real-time sonography to determine the sonographic characteristics of infarcts and their evolution. Patients' ages ranged from 1 day to 7 months, and serial sonographic and/or CT scans were obtained over a period of 2 weeks to 14 months in the survivors. Among our patients the most characteristic sonographic findings of infarction were absence of gyral definition, absence of vascular pulsations, altered parenchymal echogenicity, and territorial distribution. Mass effect, reflected in ventricular size and shift of midline structures, may also be seen and largely parallels the extent of the infarction. Evolution of infarcts was seen sonographically as gradual return of arterial pulsations and concurrent development of cystic spaces. Sonography was found to be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of infarction in infancy and in monitoring its evolution, although CT was necessary for adequate initial evaluation in older infants

Magnetic resonance phase images are derived from conventional spin-echo (SE) pulse sequences and display properties of proton movement that occurs with blood flow. SE magnitude and phase images were obtained and retrospectively evaluated in 21 patients referred for potential cardiovascular abnormalities in which intracardiac or intravascular signal was detected. Abnormalities included intravascular and intracardiac thrombus, aneurysm, aortic dissection, flow alteration, atherosclerotic disease, and congenital cardiac anomaly. Thrombosis (six cases) was successfully differentiated from flow-related signal (15 cases) by comparing phase images with SE magnitude images; in cases of thrombosis, there was no phase shift in corresponding areas of increased signal intensity. In comparison, SE magnitude signal intensities alone were not an accurate indicator in differentiating thrombus from flow-related enhancement. Because phase images are sensitive for identifying flow, the SE magnitude signal of intravascular tumor or thrombus can be differentiated from that of flow effects with more clinical confidence