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Valeria Panebianco

Publications and source records attributed to Valeria Panebianco.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Magnetic resonance-fluoroscopy as long-term follow-up examination in patients with narrow gastric tube reconstruction after radical esophagectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functionality and morphology of neo-esophagus in subjects who underwent narrow gastric tube (NGT) reconstruction after total esophagectomy using magnetic resonance (MR)-fluoroscopy with Turbo-FLASH sequences acquired during positive oral contrast agent administration. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ten patients, who underwent NGT reconstruction after total esophagectomy between 2002 and 2004, were studied using a 1.5 T magnet (Magnetom Avanto: Siemens, Erlangen, Germany, featuring total imaging matrix-TIM technology), equipped with surface phased-array and integrated spine coils. Imaging protocol included TRUFI and Turbo-FLASH sequences (TR=600 ms; TE=1.3 ms; Flip Angle 8 degrees ; Thickness 20 mm; FoV 350; Matrix 128 x 256; N. acquisition 120; TA=50 s) acquired on sagittal and axial planes to achieve motility evaluation during oral administration of positive contrast agent (yoghurt+Gd-DTPA 0.5M, 1:100 boluses). RESULTS: Good quality images were obtained in all patients, with adequate lumen contrast and a frame rate of 2.5 frames per second (fps). Three patients had completely re-established motility of NGT; six patients had mild to moderate alterations including raised transit time, reflux and contrast agent stasis; one patient had severe alterations with grossly dilated NGT, severe reflux and stasis. CONCLUSIONS: MR-fluoroscopy approach represents a promising radiation-free modality in the evaluation of functionality and morphology of NGT. Further investigation in the evaluation of post-surgery patients is necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Initial experience with magnetic resonance fluoroscopy in the evaluation of oesophageal motility disorders. Comparison with manometry and barium fluoroscopy.

The aim of this paper was to assess the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance (MR) fluoroscopy in the study of oesophageal motility disorders and to compare MR fluoroscopy results with those of manometry and barium contrast radiography. Twenty-five subjects referred for dysphagia and three patients in follow-up after pneumatic dilatation of the lower oesophageal sphincter to treat severe achalasia underwent esophageal manometry, barium contrast radiography and MR fluoroscopy. Examinations were performed on a 1.5 T scanner. Dynamic turbo- fast low angle shot (turbo-FLASH) sequences acquired during oral contrast agent administration were used to perform MR fluoroscopy. MR fluoroscopy correctly diagnosed achalasia in nine patients, uncoordination of esophageal body motility in ten and scleroderma oesophagus in one. Diagnostic performance was satisfactory, with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 100% in the general depiction of motility alterations. Our work demonstrates that MR fluoroscopic examination in subject affected by oesophageal motility disorders is feasible and can properly depict motility and morphology alterations, achieving correct diagnosis in the majority of cases. Studies on larger populations are necessary to obtain statistically significant results.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Decrease of signal intensity of myometrium and cervical stroma after ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particles administration: an MR finding with potential benefits in T staging of uterine neoplasms.

OBJECTIVES: Following the empiric observation of a significant decrease of signal intensity of both myometrium and cervical stroma on ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced images, the aim of our study was to evaluate whether USPIO-enhanced T2*-weighted gradient echo (GRE) images might provide any potential advantage on T-staging of uterine malignancies having surgery and histology as standard of reference MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen female patients with known uterine malignancies underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before and 24 hours after the intravenous administration of the USPIO agent. Imaging protocol included proton density-weighted turbo spin echo and T2*-weighted GRE sequences. Each patient underwent surgery within 14 days from the first MR examination, and histologic confirmation of tumor T-stage was obtained. Quantitative (calculation of signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios) and qualitative (visual assessment of T staging) analyses were performed on unenhanced and USPIO-enhanced images. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis showed a significantly lower (P < 0.05) signal-to-noise ratio of myometrium and cervical stroma on USPIO-enhanced compared with unenhanced images. In 15 of 17 patients (88.2%), the contrast-to-noise ratio between tumor and myometrium and between tumor and cervical stroma was higher on USPIO-enhanced compared with unenhanced images (P < 0.001). Qualitative analysis demonstrated that the GRE T2* USPIO-enhanced MR offers a better definition of the depth of tumor infiltration rather than the unenhanced GRE T2* images. CONCLUSION: The decrease of signal intensity of myometrium and cervical stroma on T2*-weighted GRE images after the intravenous administration of USPIO should be considered a constant and physiologic finding that improves tumor conspicuity in the majority of the cases, allowing more accurate T-staging of neoplastic lesions.

Adult↗