OBJECTIVE: To compare fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and those with normal growth, in terms of skull and brain measurements obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study including 26 single fetuses (13 with IUGR and 13 with normal growth), evaluated from 26 to 38 weeks of gestation. Using MRI, we measured skull and brain biparietal diameters (BPDs); skull and brain occipitofrontal diameters (OFDs); corpus callosum length and area; transverse cerebellar diameter; extracerebral cerebrospinal fluid (eCSF); and right and left interopercular distances (IODs). RESULTS: The following were significantly smaller in IUGR fetuses than in control fetuses: skull BPD (76.9 vs. 78.2 mm; p = 0.0029); brain BPD (67.8 vs. 71.6 mm; p = 0.0064); skull OFD (93.6 vs. 95 mm; p = 0.0010); eCSF (5.5 vs. 8.2 mm; p = 0.0003); right IOD (9.8 vs. 13.9 mm; p = 0.0023); and left IOD (11.8 vs. 16.3 mm; p = 0.0183). The skull BPD/eCSF, brain BPD/eCSF, skull OFD/eCSF, and brain OFD/eCSF ratios were also lower in IUGR fetuses. CONCLUSION: IUGR fetuses had smaller OFD and BPD, both skull and brain, and less eCSF when compared to normal growth fetuses.

Keywords: Fetus; Ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Intrauterine growth restriction; Brain; Cerebrospinal fluid.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomical variations of the attachment of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) to the anterior glenoid rim. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 93 magnetic resonance arthrography examinations of the shoulder.Two radiologists, who were blinded to the patient data and were working independently, read the examinations. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement were evaluated. The pattern of IGHL glenoid attachment and its position on the anterior glenoid rim were recorded. RESULTS: In 50 examinations (53.8%), the glenoid attachment was classified as type I (originating from the labrum), whereas it was classified as type II (originating from the glenoid neck) in 43 (46.2%). The IGHL emerged at the 4 o’clock position in 58 cases (62.4%), at the 3 o’clock position in 14 (15.0%), and at the 5 o’clock position in 21 (22.6%). The rates of interobserver and intraobserver agreement were excellent. CONCLUSION:Although type I IGHL glenoid attachment is more common, we found a high prevalence of the type II variation. The IGHL emerged between the 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock positions, most commonly at the 4 o’clock position.

Keywords: Shoulder; Ligaments, articular/anatomy & histology; Magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of similarity between manual and semiautomatic segmentation of soft-tissue sarcomas on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 15 MRI examinations of patients with histopathologically confirmed soft-tissue sarcomas acquired before therapeutic intervention. Manual and semiautomatic segmentations were performed by three radiologists, working independently, using the software 3D Slicer. The Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and the Hausdorf distance were calculated in order to evaluate the similarity between manual and semiautomatic segmentation. To compare the two modalities in terms of the tumor volumes obtained, we also calculated descriptive statistics and intraclass correlation coef ficients (ICCs). RESULTS: In the comparison between manual and semiautomatic segmentation, the DSC values ranged from 0.871 to 0.973. The comparison of the volumes segmented by the two modalities resulted in ICCs between 0.9927 and 0.9990. The DSC values ranged from 0.849 to 0.979 for intraobserver variability and from 0.741 to 0.972 for interobserver variability. There was no significant difference between the semiautomatic and manual modalities in terms of the segmentation times (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There appears to be a high degree of similarity between manual and semiautomatic segmentation, with no significant difference between the two modalities in terms of the time required for segmentation.

Keywords: Image processing, computer-assisted; Sarcoma/diagnostic imaging; Soft tissue neoplasms/diagnostic imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Reproducibility of results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate variables affecting the need for analgesia after ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy performed on an outpatient basis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 1,042 liver biopsies performed between 2012 and 2018. The data collected included the age and sex of the patient, as well as self-reported pain in the recovery room, the pain treatment used, the indication for the biopsy, and the lobe punctured. As per the protocol of our institution, physicians would re-evaluate patients with mild pain (1–3 on a visual analog scale), prescribe analgesics for those with moderate pain (4–6 on the visual analog scale), and prescribe opioids for those with severe pain (7–10 on the visual analog scale). RESULTS: The main indications for biopsy were related to diffuse disease (in 89.9%), including the follow-up of hepatitis C (in 47.0%) and suspicion of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (in 38.0%). Pain requiring analgesia occurred in 8.0% of procedures. Of the 485 female patients, 51 (10.5%) needed analgesia, compared with 33 (5.9%) of the 557 male patients (p < 0.05). The need for analgesia did not differ in relation to patient age, the lobe punctured, or the indication for biopsy (nodular or diffuse disease). The analgesic most commonly used was dipyrone (in 75.9%), followed by paracetamol alone (16.4%) and their combination with opioids (7.6%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy is safe and well tolerated. Postprocedural pain does not correlate with the lobe punctured, patient age, or the indication for biopsy and appears to affect more women than men.

Keywords: Liver diseases; Ultrasonography; Radiology, interventional; Biopsy, needle; Analgesia; Pain management.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect that external cooling of the salivary glands (ECSG) has on the uptake of gallium-68-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA), as an indirect assessment of the capacity of ECSG to reduce the local dose in lutetium-177-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with prostate cancer were submitted to⁶⁸Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography/computed tomography with unilateral ECSG. The ECSG was started at 30 min before the injection of the radiotracer and maintained until the end of image acquisition (1 h after injection). Each salivary gland was assessed by determining the maximum, mean, and peak standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean, and SUVpeak, respectively). The volume of each gland was determined in a volume of interest delineated by a threshold SUVmax of 10%. Paired Student’s t-tests were used in order to compare the results. RESULTS: In terms of the SUV parameters, there were no statistically significant differences between the cooled and contralateral salivary glands. However, the mean volume was 27% lower in the cooled parotid glands than in the contralateral parotid glands (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The use of ECSG does not appear to reduce⁶⁸Ga-PSMA uptake by the salivary glands. In addition, there is yet no evidence that ECSG is effective in preventing salivary gland toxicity.

Keywords: Salivary glands; Hypothermia, induced; Positron emission tomography computed tomography;⁶⁸Ga-PSMA;¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA617; Prostatic neoplasms, castration-resistant.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been applied in dentistry and medicine for nearly two decades. Its application in the foot and ankle specialty has grown exponentially in recent years. Weight-bearing CBCT allows clinicians to obtain weight-bearing images that can be viewed in all three planes and to construct three-dimensional models, similar to those constructed from traditional CT scans, as well as exposing patients to less radiation than do traditional CT scans. This technology has revolutionized diagnoses, improving the understanding of various lesions and surgical planning in the foot and ankle specialty. Ongoing studies of the use of weight-bearing CBCT in foot and ankle surgery are focused on fully automated and semi-automated three-dimensional measurements, as well as bone segmentation, mapping of the distances/orientation of the joints, and the production of customized implants. The aims of this review article are to show the evolution of this emerging tool in the foot and ankle specialty, to update those in related specialties on its use in current clinical practice, and to indicate where the research community is heading.

Keywords: Tomography, X-ray computed/methods; Cone-beam computed tomography; Weight-bearing; Foot/diagnostic imaging; Ankle/diagnostic imaging; Imaging, three-dimensional/methods.

Os nervos cranianos representam extensões das estruturas funcionais do cérebro que cruzam a cabeça e o pescoço. Eles estão ligados a diferentes estruturas cranianas e se relacionam com diversas doenças. Uma compreensão profunda de sua complexa anatomia e aparência normal de imagem permite ao examinador identificar e caracterizar com mais precisão as anormalidades. A ressonância magnética com contraste é uma importante ferramenta para avaliar essas estruturas, especialmente as sequências tridimensionais de precessão livre de estado estacionário, que proporcionam alta resolução espacial e de partes moles, apesar da fina espessura dos nervos cranianos. Na maioria dos casos, os achados de imagem são inespecíficos, e uma anamnese completa, exame físico dirigido e testes laboratoriais são necessários para estreitar o diagnóstico diferencial. Este ensaio iconográfico ilustra e discute doenças congênitas, traumáticas e vasculares dos nervos cranianos, mostrando imagens em uma abordagem fisiopatológica.

Keywords: Neuroimagem/métodos; Radiologia/métodos; Ressonância magnética/métodos; Nervos cranianos/diagnóstico por imagem.

Parathyroid adenoma is the most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Advances in surgical techniques have made it possible to excise only the affected parathyroid gland in most cases. Imaging examinations play a fundamental role in the preoperative planning of parathyroidectomy. To localize the parathyroid glands, imaging tests such as scintigraphy, ultrasound, and, more recently, four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT). The aim of this pictorial review was to illustrate the use of the 4D CT protocol in cases of parathyroid adenoma and to determine how well it correlates with other imaging methods, in order to improve understanding of the 4D CT method.

Keywords: Adenoma/diagnostic imaging; Parathyroid neoplasms/diagnostic imaging; Hyperparathyroidism/surgery; Four-dimensional computed tomography/methods.

Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare. However, because of the increase in the number of immunocompromised individuals, they have been gaining prominence in the differential diagnosis of CNS infections. Imaging techniques are sensitive for detecting and localizing an abnormality, in many cases allowing the origin of a lesion to be categorized as infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, or vascular. This essay illustrates the magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings of the most common fungal infections of the CNS, based on the experience of the Radiology Department of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Keywords: Central nervous system fungal infections/diagnostic imaging; Mycoses/diagnosis; Brain abscess/diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-ray computed; Magnetic resonance imaging.