Ground-glass opacity is a finding frequently seen in high-resolution computed tomography examinations of the chest and is characterized by hazy increased attenuation of lung, however without blurring of bronchial and vascular margins. Due to its unspecificity, association with other radiological, clinical and pathological findings must be considered for an accurate diagnostic interpretation. In this paper were reviewed 62 computed tomography examinations of patients with diffuse pulmonary diseases of 14 different etiologies in which ground-glass opacity was the only or the most remarkable finding, and correlated this findings with pathology abnormalities seen on specimens obtained from biopsies or necropsies. In pneumocystosis, ground-glass opacities correlated histologically with alveolar occupation by a foaming material containing parasites, in bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma with thickening of the alveolar septa and occupation of the lumen by mucus and tumoral cells, in paracoccidioidomycosis with thickening of the alveolar septa, areas of fibrosis and alveolar bronchopneumonic exsudate, in sarcoidosis with fibrosis or clustering of granulomas and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with alveolar septa thickening due to fibrosis. Alveolar occupation by blood was found in cases of leptospirosis, idiopathic hemosiderosis, metastatic kidney tumor and invasive aspergillosis whereas oily vacuoli were seen in lipoid pneumonia, proteinaceus and lipoproteinaceus material in silicoproteinosis and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, and edematous fluid in cardiac failure.

Keywords: Ground-glass opacity, Lungs, High-resolution computed tomography

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of core-needle biopsy to avoid unnecessary surgery; to assess the technical difficulties of this method; to establish decision criteria for clinical follow-up or surgery in patients with lesions classified as suspicious for malignancy (BI-RADS IV); to expedite surgery in patients with lesions classified as highly suspicious for malignancy (BI-RADS V). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were submitted to clinical examination, mammography and ultrasound. Core-needle biopsy was done using a 14-gauge needle, and 4-8 cores per lesion were obtained. RESULTS: A hundred lesions were studied, 47 of them underwent surgery and biopsy, and 34 cancers were diagnosed. In 23 lesions classified as probably benign (III) only one case of cancer was diagnosed (4.34%). In 43 lesions classified as IV, seven (16.28%) cancers were found whereas in 34 lesions classified as V, 26 (76.47%) cases of cancer were identified. It was possible to avoid surgery in 53 cases (53%). Difficulties in core-needle biopsy occurred in seven cases including insufficient material, risk of malignancy due to sclerosing lesions and lack of correlation between imaging and core-needle biopsy results. All the core biopsy diagnoses of malignancy were confirmed by surgery. There was one false negative result when the core biopsy specimen examination showed atypical hyperplasia while surgery specimen analysis revealed a carcinoma. There were no false positive cases.

Keywords: Breast disease, Breast cancer, Core-needle biopsy, Breast ultrasound

Ten patients treated with Ilizarov external fixator for limb lengthening were monitored with radiographs and sonography examinations between March, 2001 and March, 2002. Most of the patients were children and adolescents who were submitted to surgery for correction of congenital deformities (six cases). In three patients shortening was secondary to post-traumatic osteomielitis and in one patient due to tumor resection. The femur was affected in 60%, tibia in 30% and fibula in 10% of the cases. The main radiographic findings of bone regeneration during the normal process of limb lengthening were lucent areas, linear ossification, periosteal reaction, soft tissue abnormalities and complete consolidation. Sonographic findings of new bone formation included anechoic areas, sparse echogenic foci within the distraction site, linear longitudinally oriented echogenic foci, amorphous and coarse echogenic foci and complete calcification. There were 15 complications in six patients: fluid collection at the distraction site (five cases), pin site infection (four cases), soft tissue collection (three cases), premature consolidation (two cases) and delayed consolidation (one case).

Keywords: Ilizarov, Limb lengthening, Radiography, Sonography

We developed a management model for maintenance of hospital radiological X-ray equipment. The model was implemented in several steps including visits to other hospitals where equipment management is also done, collaboration work with "Fundação Oswaldo Cruz" for the realization of courses and a training program for the hospital electronic technicians, organization of a small library with the schemes of the radiological equipment in use at "Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho", Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, development of a management software using a database from Access (Microsoft Windows) and evaluation of the performance of the radiological equipment. The implementation of a new routine for equipment maintenance fulfils the need for reducing repair delay and costs, improving image quality in radiodiagnosis services, and complying with resolution 453/98 of the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Keywords: Equipment maintenance, Radiography, Database management system

The article shows a panoramic view of radiology teaching in 11 of the 19 physiotherapy graduation courses in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The research evaluated the importance of radiology teaching in physiotherapy graduation courses and assessed the quality of teaching by applying a questionnaire directed to physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and graduation course coordinators. The guidelines for preparing a basic radiology course contents are discussed, considering the main needs of physiotherapists in the exercise of their profession. In closing, the study appraised the role of the teacher and emphasized the importance of a radiologist in the learning-teaching process.

Keywords: Radiology teaching, Radiology in physiotherapy

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the action of the vitamin E as a radioprotective agent in the process of tissue reparation in rats submitted to a surgical procedure, which consisted of a wound done in the fore dorsal area. The animals were divided into five groups: group C (controls) - wound; group VE - previous treatment with vitamin E (90 UI); group IR - wound and irradiation of the borders three days after surgery; group VEIR - previous treatment with 90 UI of the vitamin E and irradiation of the borders three days after the surgery; group OIR - previous treatment with olive oil and irradiation of the borders three days after surgery. The radioprotective effect of the vitamin E was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin stained specimens in order to identify granulation tissue, at 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after the surgical procedures. The results showed that 6 Gy of electron irradiation with a beam of 6 MeV caused retardation of the tissue repairing process and that vitamin E was effective as a radioprotective agent.

Keywords: Vitamin E, Radioprotective, Free radicals, Ionizing radiation, Tissue reparation

Mammography, ultrasonography and scintimammography are essential examinations for the diagnosis and post-surgical follow-up of patients with breast cancer, although all these modalities may present specific limitations. In recent years magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated good performance in detecting breast tumors in the mammary gland. In this study the authors describe the magnetic resonance imaging main indications and findings in patients with breast cancer, and compare the performance of mammography, ultrasonography and scintimammography, including the advantages and limitations of each modality.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging, Mammography, Ultrasonography, Scintimammography, Breast cancer

Choroid plexus mass lesions encompass a broad and heterogeneous group of diseases and their simulators. Tumors, infections, congenital anomalies, hemorrhage, cysts and degenerative diseases are some examples of mass lesions affecting the choroid plexus. In this article we review the current literature, describing the imaging findings and illustrating choroid plexus mass lesions with some cases diagnosed at our facility. Despite the inexistence of pathognomonic signs, a careful and systematic evaluation of the imaging characteristics may suggest many etiologies.

Keywords: Choroid plexus, Tumors, Mass lesions

Hyalinizing granulomas are benign fibrotic lesions that generally present multiple nodules seen on radiological examinations, which are frequently cavitary and/or calcified lesions. We report a case of a 28 year-old-woman with hyalinizing granulomas probably secondary to a previous tuberculosis infection. Hyalinizing granulomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with multiple pulmonary nodules.

Keywords: Hyalinizing granulomas, Pulmonary nodules, Computed tomography

The authors present a case of intraluminal diverticulum of duodenum in a 44-year-old female with poor and uncharacteristic symptoms. The radiological diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. The patient was also followed up after surgery. This anomaly, a rare form of duplication, consists of a "pocket-like" structure lined on both sides by duodenal mucosa projecting into the duodenal lumen.

Keywords: Inclusion cyst, Giant diverticulum, Enterogenous cyst, Cystic duplication, Intraluminal diverticulum

The terms medullary cystic disease, juvenile nephronophthisis or medullary cystic disease complex refer to a group of similar diseases in which the basic pathological abnormality is progressive renal tubular atrophy with secondary glomerular sclerosis and medullary cystic formation. Medullary cystic disease is an important cause of renal failure in adolescent patients. Imaging methods play a primary role in the diagnosis of these diseases. Cysts are characteristically seen in the renal medulla and corticomedullary junction whereas kidneys may be of normal to small size. In this article we present the ultrasonography and computed tomography findings of a female adolescent patient with characteristic clinical picture of medullary cystic disease.

Keywords: Familial juvenile nephronophthisis, Ultrasonography, Computed tomography