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T Scarabino

Publications and source records attributed to T Scarabino.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

[Diagnostic yield in rhino-sinusal inflammatory pathology: comparison of projective radiology, CT and MR].

In everyday practice, the radiologist is concerned with the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions of the nose and paranasal sinuses. This paper was aimed at evaluating and comparing the diagnostic efficacy of the main diagnostic imaging procedures currently available. Fifty-six patients were studied: 25 with computed radiography (CR) and CT, 21 with CR and MRI (0.22 T resistive magnet), and 10 with CR, CT, and MRI. From the diagnostic point of view, the conventional-like CR image was assumed as analog to the conventional radiographic (RX) one on the basis of previous personal experience. The following elements were separately considered for RX, CR, CT, and MRI: anatomical structure identificability, spatial resolution, dosimetry, time consumption, diagnostic results, and economics. A global performance index was calculated (RX less than 1; CR = 1; MRI ranging 1.2-2.2; CT = 7.3). CR was superior to RX, from both a diagnostic and a dosimetric point of view, but buying the equipment is nowadays expensive. CT and MRI were superior to both RX and CR in the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions of the nose and paranasal sinuses. When an inflammatory condition is unquestionable, MRI is more accurate than CT, but the latter (thanks to its optimal documentation of both bony walls and soft tissues) is superior to MRI in the differential diagnosis of a generic disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses--that is, when the inflammatory nature is questionable. MRI limitations were poor visualization of bone walls, high cost, and poor access. Thus, CT emerged as the technique of choice, thanks to its diagnostic results, easy access and low cost, with a negligible radiation dose to patients.

Adult

[Vertebral collapse model: combined diagnostic imaging].

Ninety-eight consecutive patients with 344 collapsed vertebrae underwent conventional and/or digital radiography and MRI. Vertebral collapse was due to osteopenia (16 cases), trauma (17 cases), and vertebral osteonecrosis (3 cases). Other causes were: spondylodiscitis (9 patients), primary neoplasm (4 patients), metastases (37 patients), and hemomyelopathies (7 patients); 5 patients bore vertebral angiomas. Sixty-three patients also underwent CT and 25 bone scintigraphy. As far as collapsed vertebral endplates are concerned, according to a previous classification, outcomes were divided into 4 groups. Type 1 (focal concave collapse) was observed in 10% of benign lesions and in 1% of malignant ones; type 2 (diffuse concave collapse) in 24% of benign and in 16% of malignant lesions; type 3 (focal collapse with an acute angle) in 11% of benign and malignant lesions, and type 4 (diffuse collapse with an acute angle) in 11% of benign and in 26% of malignant lesions. Neural arch involvement was observed in 3% of benign lesions and in 16% of malignant ones; paravertebral soft-tissue involvement in 6% of benign and in 29% of malignant lesions; vertebral canal involvement in 11% of benign lesions and in 20% of malignant ones. The intervertebral disk proximal to vertebral collapse was more involved in benign lesions (24%) than in malignant ones (8%). MR signal followed 4 main patterns: low signal on T1-weighted images and high signal on proton-density and T2-weighted images (2% of benign lesions, 49% of malignant ones), low signal on all sequences (7% of benign lesions and 25% of malignant ones), isointense signal on all sequences (50% of benign and 21% of malignant lesions), and high signal on all sequences (41% of benign lesions and 0% of malignant ones).

Adolescent

[High-resolution rapid multiplanar reconstructions in the CT study of the spine. Our experience].

The authors describe the utility of fast and high-resolution multiplanar CT reconstructions in the study of the rachis. Their experience is reported with an up-to-date software with 2 different representation modalities (CMR 01B). A "package" of contiguous axial images is obtained in a standard way; the images are then reformatted by computer to obtain (in just a few seconds) high-resolution reconstructed images in different planes (coronal, sagittal, and oblique). In the authors' opinion the method, in spite of some limitations, yields in most cases additional information which is not provided by conventional CT. Reconstructed images are most useful in the study of complex anatomical structures (such as vertebral metameres) along their anatomical planes.

Humans

[ERCP in the diagnosis of bilio-pancreatic pathology. Comparison with echography and CT].

The authors have evaluated both sensitivity and specificity of ERCP in comparison with other imaging methods, such as US and CT, on the basis of a study of 63 patients with suspected pancreatobiliary pathologies. Our results show ERCP of chronic pancreatitis to have 83% sensitivity and 66% specificity. As for biliary pathologies, sensitivity was 94% and specificity 88%. In pancreatic pathologies, CT sensitivity was 99% and its specificity was 70%. The combined use of ERCP and CT determines a considerable rise in the percentages, and allows the evaluation of both the excretory tree and the parenchyma. As for biliary pathologies, the role of ERCP is fundamental, since its combination with the other methods (CT: sensitivity 72%, specificity 3.5%; US: sensitivity 70%, specificity 3.5%) has not determined but a slight increase in sensitivity, and no significant increase in specificity.

Adult