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S Cappabianca

Publications and source records attributed to S Cappabianca.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Multidetector-row helical CT enteroclysis.

The authors illustrate the technique for small-bowel imaging using enteroclysis with multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT), underscoring the important role played by CT in the assessment of the small bowel thanks to the advent of first the spiral and later the multidetector technique. The paper makes a detailed comparison of the various methods that have been used in CT study of the small bowel and proposes a standardised technique to achieve correct distension of bowel loops and adequate evaluation of bowel wall vascularity, making reference to the well-consolidated experiences of the various Italian research groups. The paper accurately describes the different procedures required for CT assessment of the small bowel, from nasojejunal intubation to the selection of the most appropriate acquisition phases for assessment of bowel wall vascularity.

Butylscopolammonium Bromide↗
PubMed2006

Multidetector-row CT enteroclysis: indications and clinical applications.

This paper examines the diagnostic potential of multislice computed tomography enteroclysis (MSCT-E) to detect and assess different diseases affecting the small bowel, emphasising the increasingly important role assumed by the technique in the study of this anatomical region. After a short summary of the technical aspects, we discuss the different findings that can be observed during an MSCT-E study and that enable detection of small-bowel disease and, if necessary, assessment of the extent and stage of disease.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Vascular malformations of the tongue: MRI findings on three cases.

Vascular malformations are common lesions accounting for approximately 7% of all benign tumours, the majority of which develop in the head and neck region. Generally, vascular malformations such as lymphangiomas, haemangiomas, and arteriovenous communications in the head and the neck represent only an aesthetic problem. However, when localized in the tongue, these lesions can create clinical problems consisting, in the majority of cases, in spontaneous haemorrhage from the mouth. Although uncommon, progressive asymmetric growth of the tongue (macroglossia) can be also observed. Three consecutive cases of vascular malformations of the tongue have been studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neither contrast medium administration nor angio-MR technique was used. In our experience, MR appears to be the ideal technique to define the site, extension and origin of vascular malformations, due to its ability to depict the typical signal flow voids in the lesions and to differentiate slow-flow lesions from high-flow ones.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Myxopapillary ependymoma of the ischioanal fossa.

Ependymomas outside the confines of the cranium and spinal cord are rare. Direct extension into the soft tissues of the sacrococcygeal area may occur from a primary ependymoma of the spinal cord, cauda equina or filum terminale. Alternatively they may occur as a primary pre-sacral, pelvic and abdominal tumour, or as a primary tumour of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the sacrococcygeal area without any demonstrable connection with the spinal cord. The Authors report a case of myxopapillary ependymoma of the ischioanal fossa, demonstrated by MRI. To our knowledge, our case is the first lesion reported at this site.

Ependymoma↗
PubMed2002

Case report. Ultrasound and CT findings in lipoma of the inferior vena cava.

Several cases of a fat mass-like lesion adjacent to and/or projecting into the inferior vena cava have been presented as a normal variant of perioesophageal fat distribution or as intravascular lipoma. We report a case of a lipoma of the inferior vena cava, studied with coronal reformatted CT images, ultrasound and colour Doppler imaging, in a 78-year-old female patient.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Census of radiological machines in Radiodiagnostic Services of public and recognized hospitals in the Campania Region.

AIM: The present study provides a census of equipment in use by Radiodiagnostic Services in public hospitals and institutes recognized by the Region of Campania in the year 2000. The type, date of installation and distribution of the equipment were considered in relation to the number of hospital beds and the resident population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A census was taken of all the public hospitals and institutes recognized by the Region of Campania in the period running from January 1999 to April 2000. Data were collected using an appropriate form asking for details of the number of machines and the model, manufacturer and year of installation, under six categories: traditional radiology, mammography, US, CT, MR and angiography. The data were analyzed by provinces, combining the different machines into five-year periods depending on the date of their installation. RESULTS: Traditional radiology equipment accounts for 71% of the total. The mean for the Region stands at 23 machines per 1000 beds. The mean date of installation was 1986. Mammography machines account for 8% of the total. The mean for the Region stands at 2.6 machines per 1000 beds. The mean date of installation was 1991. Echography machines account for 10.3% of the total. The mean for the Region stands at 3.4 machines per 1000 beds. The mean date of installation was 1992. Angiography machines account for 3.2% of the total. The mean for the Region stands at 1.1 machines per 1000 beds. The mean date of installation was 1985. CTs account for 6.4% of the total. The mean for the Region stands at 2.1 machines per 1000 beds. The mean date of installation was 1993. MR account for 1.1% of the total. The mean for the Region stands at 0.4 machines per 1000 beds. The mean date of installation was 1995. CONCLUSIONS: Technological and scientific improvements and growing attention to the quality of medical care expected by patients mean that constant modification and adaptation are needed to meet demands. In planning measures designed to provide new radiological equipment and modernize existing equipment in the Region it would certainly be useful to eliminate the unevenness of the services provided. In conclusion, it is crucial that the local administrations and health authorities in the Campania Region establish a regular census, with proper assessment of the obsolescence of radiological equipment and its distribution throughout the area, in order to comply with international standards.

Equipment and Supplies↗
PubMed2000

Cyclic voiding cystourethrography in the diagnosis of occult vesicoureteric reflux.

Cyclic voiding cystourethrography (CVC) enhances the detection of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). We investigated whether more-severe VUR may be overlooked, and whether older children are at risk of having their VUR missed with the conventional single-cycle study. Three hundred and seventy patients, 168 boys and 202 girls aged 1 month to 16 years, consecutively admitted over 1 year for suspicion of VUR, underwent two complete cycles of filling and voiding CVC. One hundred and four subjects, 33 boys and 71 girls, were older than 3 years (mean age 5.7 years, range 3.2-16 years). Sixty-six refluxing ureters from 51 patients were identified in the first cycle and 61 refluxing ureters from 45 patients were identified only with the second cycle. Four instances of grade IV VUR in 4 patients and three of grade V VUR in 3 patients were overlooked completely in the first cycle. Seven episodes of VUR < or = grade III from 5 patients diagnosed in the first cycle were upgraded to > or = grade IV at the second cycle. The presence of VUR was identified only in the second cycle in 35 of 74 subjects aged < or = 3 years and in 10 of 22 aged > 3 years (not significant). Of the 10 children aged > 3 years, 2, who had diagnosis only at the second cycle, had > or = grade IV VUR. More-severe VUR may be overlooked or down-graded in a single-cycle study. Two-cycle CVC is also useful in children older than 3 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Metastasis to the male breast from carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

We report a case of male breast metastasis from a urothelial carcinoma. Only two cases of this type of metastasis have been previously reported, and these were in the female breast. Clinical examination showed a progressive swelling of the left mammary region, with periareolar skin infiltration. Both mammography and ultrasound showed a rounded mass. Only histological examination with immunohistochemical staining permitted the correct diagnosis to be made. A particular feature of the present case is the absence of contralateral gynaecomastia, normally seen in cases of metastatic tumour to the breast from prostatic carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[The identification of the criteria of malignancy and the tissue characterization of expansive processes in periskeletal soft tissues. The current role of magnetic resonance].

INTRODUCTION: Expansive masses arising from periskeletal soft tissues are a frequent challenge for the imaging specialist. Lesion diagnosis and characterization, and the assessment of benign/malignant nature are very important factors for treatment planning. We investigated MR capabilities in distinguishing benign from malignant masses and for histopathologic lesion characterization, also in the light of the latest most authoritative literature reports. MATERIAL AND METHODS: February 1995 to November 1997, we examined 237 patients with known space-occupying lesions arising from periskeletal soft tissues. T1- and PD/T2-weighted SE images were acquired on the most suitable planes. The findings were independently evaluated by two groups of radiologists who were asked a benignity/malignancy judgment based on specific morphological criteria and then a presumptive histopathologic characterization. The results were then compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS: We had high agreement rates for benignity/malignancy judgements, with only < or = 3.8% error rates. In contrast, rates were quite variable for histopathologic characterization and differed greatly by lesion type. The lesions, defined as malignant, could not be characterized histologically in approximately 18% of cases by both groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results, which are in substantial agreement with the recent authoritative literature, confirm MRI as an extremely reliable tool for distinguishing benign from malignant expansive masses arising from periskeletal soft tissues. On the contrary, MRI exhibits good specificity in histopathologic characterization only for the masses with such development as to permit identification of the anatomical compartment of origin, which are usually benign, as well as the masses with typical or pathognomonic tissue signal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Magnetic resonance in the identification and assessment of extent and severity of bone contusion damage: comparison of several types of imaging (SE/T1, GE/T2 and SE/T1) with fat suppression].

INTRODUCTION: Bone marrow contusion is a common cause of chronic joint pain in the post-traumatic knee; it is usually associated with meniscal and/or ligament damage but it may also be the only abnormal sign. In this condition MRI plays a fundamental role because it is the only imaging technique which can diagnose it and accurately assess its extent and any cortical bone and/or cartilage involvement. We investigated the diagnostic potentials of 3 MR sequences in identifying and assessing the extent of bone contusion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: January, 1994, to December, 1997, we performed 539 MR examinations of the knee on 478 patients with chronic joint pain following trauma. We used T1-weighted SE, T2*-weighted GE and T1-weighted SE sequences with fat saturation (fs), paying great attention to technical parameter setting. The images were retrospectively reviewed by groups of radiologists using 2 semi-objective evaluation systems: a qualitative assessment to grade the ease of detection of the contusion with each sequence and a quantitative assessment of contusion extent and of osteochondral involvement, if any, again for each sequence. RESULTS: The qualitative analysis showed that GE and SE-fs sequences were superior to the conventional ones in identifying bone contusion foci; GE sequences tended to overestimate the number of poorly depictable lesions relative to SE-fs ones. The quantitative analysis showed that the conventional sequences tend to underestimate the foci extent, while GE and SE-fs sequences performed nearly the same in the assessment of high-grade lesions. The number of low-midgrade lesions was overestimated by GE sequences relative to SE-fs ones. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: GE and SE-fs sequences permit accurate studies of bone contusions. Diagnostic efficacy is increased by enhancing the signal from non-fatty structures within a tissue rich in fat: the quantitative reduction of the non-fatty structural component and/or its replacement with abnormal components is thus best shown. Fat-suppression sequences were more accurate in defining lesion size, which is also related to low susceptibility to the artifacts from extrinsic and especially intrinsic structural inhomogeneities. In contrast, GE sequences demonstrated high susceptibility, which caused poorer definition of the contusion borders and, consequently, overestimation of the lesion size.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

[The recrudescence of spondylodiscitis due to migratory flows. The role of magnetic resonance as a method of first instance in diagnosis and follow-up].

PURPOSE: We report 15 cases of spondylodiscitis due to infective processes of different etiology and stress the role of MRI in the diagnosis and follow-up of this condition, whose high epidemiologic recrudescence is probably related to an increased westward migratory flow. PATIENT AND METHODS: February through December, 1996, fifteen patients with acute spinal pain were submitted to MRI (1.0 T superconductive magnet, Magnetom SP42E, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). In all cases both the painful spinal tract and the rest of the spine were studied to detect any infiltrative processes elsewhere in the spine. All patients underwent MR follow-up, according to the evolution of subjective symptoms, until complete recovery of the infections. RESULTS: MRI always permitted the correct diagnosis to be made and the correct evaluation of infection evolution, allowing adequate (medical and/or surgical) treatment to be carried out in the early stage of infections. DISCUSSION: MRI can be considered the best diagnostic tool study osteomedullary inflammations and, particularly, to diagnose and follow-up spondylodiscitis. This technique permits clear differentiation between the different evolution stages of the infections, as well as the evaluation of bone, disks, epidural spaces and spinal cord involvement. Moreover the MR findings permit adequate treatment choices, which results in much fewer complications and therefore better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The role of MRI in the diagnosis and follow-up of spondylodiscitis has been fully discussed in the literature. Our report is aimed at stressing the important role of MRI as the technique of choice for the diagnosis of suspected spondylodiscitis, especially considering the high recrudescence of this condition in Western populations which is probably related to increased westward migrations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

MRI "fogging" in cerebellar ischaemia: case report.

Subacute cerebral infarcts may appear normal on T2-weighted MRI as an area isointense with surrounding normal tissue. This MRI "fogging effect" has been described in only a few cases. We present a further case of fogging observed during the evolution of a cerebellar infarct.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed1996

[Aneurysmal bone cyst: diagnostic role of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance].

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are relatively uncommon benign expansile osteolytic lesions characterized by multiple cavities with serum-blood levels and delimited by a thin periosteal external border. The differential diagnosis is difficult to make with conventional radiography, while CT and MRI are elective techniques. Ten patients with ABC (7 central and 3 eccentric lesions) were examined with CT and MRI. Four cysts were localized at the proximal femur, 2 in calcaneal, 2 in vertebral (cervical and dorsal), 1 in tibial and 1 in iliac sites. Diagnostic criteria were the presence of fluid-fluid levels and a thin hyperdense peripheral border at CT, while hyperintense cavities on T2-weighted sequences, fluid-fluid levels, pseudodiverticular features and a low-signal border were found at MRI. Intralesional levels were detected in 9 patients at CT and in 10 at MRI; the 3 peripheral cysts exhibited a hyperdense extraosseous border at CT, corresponding to the periosteal shell, considered a benignity sign. To conclude, CT and MRI, thanks to their high resolution, clearly depict the anatomopathologic features of ABC, thus allowing this type of lesion to be differentiated from other benign and malignant osteolytic lesions.

Adolescent↗