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Research paper thumbnail of Whole-Body MRI in Rheumatology: Major Advances and Future Perspectives

Diagnostics

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging is constantly gaining more importance in rheumatology, part... more Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging is constantly gaining more importance in rheumatology, particularly for what concerns the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment response evaluation. Initially applied principally for the study of ankylosing spondylitis, in the last years, its use has been extended to several other rheumatic diseases. Particularly in the pediatric population, WB-MRI is rapidly becoming the gold-standard technique for the diagnosis and follow-up of both chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis and juvenile spondyloarthritis. In this review, we analyze the benefits and limits of this technique as well as possible future applications.

Research paper thumbnail of Diagnostic Accuracy of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Adult Post-Ganglionic Brachial Plexus Traumatic Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Brain Sciences

Background: Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are rare but serious consequences of major traumas... more Background: Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are rare but serious consequences of major traumas. Pre-ganglionic lesions are considered irreparable, while post-ganglionic injuries can be potentially treated if an early diagnosis is available. Pre-surgical diagnosis is important to distinguish low-grade from high-grade lesions and to identify their location. The aim of the review is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the identification of adult post-ganglionic lesions due to traumatic brachial plexus injuries, compared to intraoperative findings. Methods: Research on the main scientific electronic databases was conducted. Studies of adults with traumatic post-ganglionic brachial plexus injuries were included. The index test was preoperative MRI and the reference standard was surgical exploration. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: Four studies were included for the systematic review, of which three articles met the in...

Research paper thumbnail of Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in oncology: an Italian survey

Research paper thumbnail of Virtual dissection table in diagnosis and classification of Le Fort fractures: A retrospective study of feasibility

Translational Research in Anatomy

Research paper thumbnail of La Radiologia Interventistica Nella Palliazione Del Carcinoma Pancreatico

Research paper thumbnail of Results from Phase I Clinical Trial with Intraspinal Injection of Neural Stem Cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Long‐Term Outcome

STEM CELLS Translational Medicine

Research paper thumbnail of Apparent diffusion coefficient and tumor volume measurements help stratify progression-free survival of bevacizumab-treated patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

The Neuroradiology Journal

Background The aim of this study was to determine whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bi... more Background The aim of this study was to determine whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bi-component curve-fitting histogram analysis and volume percentage change (VPC) prior to bevacizumab treatment can stratify progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) on first recurrence. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 17 patients with recurrent GBM who received bevacizumab and fotemustine ( n = 13) or only bevacizumab ( n = 4) on first recurrence at our institution between December 2009 and July 2015. Both T2/FLAIR abnormalities and enhancing tumor on T1 images were mapped to the ADC images. ADC-L and ADC-M values were obtained trough bi-Gaussian curve fitting histogram analysis. Furthermore, the study population was dichotomized into two subgroups: patients displaying a reduction in enhancing tumor volume of either >55% or <55% between the mean value calculated at baseline and first follow-up. Subsequently, a seco...

Research paper thumbnail of Overcoming metallic artefacts from orthopaedic wrist volar plating on a low-field MRI scanner

Research paper thumbnail of A rare case of fourth ventricle schwannoma

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of Predictive value of pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in radio-chemiotherapy treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

La radiologia medica, 2017

This study aimed at evaluating the role of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;baseline&amp... more This study aimed at evaluating the role of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;baseline&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; apparent diffusion coefficent (ADC), in patients affected by head and neck cancer treated with radio-chemotherapy, as a potential marker of response to therapy. Fifty-seven patients underwent pretreatment ADC maps. Minimum, maximum, and medium ADC were computed. Age, dose, treatment time, and ADC values were compared between the two groups (Group 1: local control; Group 2: relapse/persistence of disease) using the Student t test two-tailed unpaired. Two-tailed Fischer exact test was used to compare T stage, N stage, grading and type of treatment between two groups. We have analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of statistically significant variables. In patients with local control, values of pre-treatment medium and minimum ADC were lower than ADC values of patients with persistent or recurrent disease, with values, respectively, of 0.83 ± 0.02 × 10-3 mm2/s and 0.59 ± 0.02 × 10-3 mm2/s (vs 0.94 ± 0.05 × 10-3 mm2/s and 0.70 ± 0.05 × 10-3 mm2/s). ROC curve analysis displayed statistical significance as regarding the medium ADC value, showing a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 84.8%. ROC analysis of the values minimum ADC showed a sensitivity of 42.9% and specificity of 87.9%. The value of the ADC pre-treatment of patients with local control of the disease is lower than that of patients with persistent disease or recurrence.

Research paper thumbnail of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT): How to Plan and Treat a Patient with Non-Union in Long Bones Fractures

ABSTRACT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Our learning objective is to define and explain how patients with no... more ABSTRACT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Our learning objective is to define and explain how patients with non healed long bone�s fractures can be prescribed and perform ESWT treatment. ABSTRACT Patients with delaying in healing and consolidation of long bone fracture can be sent from the orthopaedic specialist to a radiology center to be treated by mean of ESWT.The first step in our treatments with ESWT is to define the patient�s exclusion criteria, such as pregnancy, heart disease, coagulopaty, epiphiseal plate within the shock wave field and brain or spine within the shock wave field, and inclusion criteria, non-union of long bones fractures defined as a failure to show bony union six months after initial close or open treatment. We select the treatment area (target) by mean of fluoroscopic or ultrasonographic guidance and we plan the number of treatments, the shock wave impulses for each treatment, the energy flux density and the proper generator of shock waves to use.Shock wave treatment is provided with a �Reflectron� (HMT, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland) ESWT System.After the treatments, and a proper rest, we do an x-ray control, to define the progress of bone union.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Whole Body Diffusion MRI and CT-PET in Detecting the Primary Site of the Tumour in Patients with CUP Syndrome

Research paper thumbnail of La safety del paziente in risonanza magnetica: stato dell�arte

Research paper thumbnail of Power Estimation for Non-Standardized Multisite Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Functional MRI (fMRI) in Patients with Spastic Hemiplegia after Stroke, Treated with Botulinum Toxin: The Role of "Motor Imagery" in the Demonstration of Central Effects and Brain Plasticity

Research paper thumbnail of Staging of Primary Abdominal Lymphomas: Comparison of Whole-Body MRI with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and 18 F-FDG-PET/CT

Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2015

Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of whole-body MRI with diffusio... more Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of whole-body MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences (WB-DW-MRI) with that of18F-FDG-PET/CT in the staging of patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma.Methods. This retrospective study involved 17 untreated patients with primary abdominal gastrointestinal lymphoma. All patients underwent18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-DW-MRI. Histopathology findings or at least 6 months of clinical and radiological follow-up was the gold standard. The Musshoff-modified Ann Arbor system was used for staging, and diagnostic accuracy was evaluated on a per-node basis.Results. WB-DW-MRI exhibited 100% sensitivity, 96.3% specificity, and 96.1% and 100% positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and PPV and NPV of PET/CT were 95.9%, 100%, and 100% and 96.4%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniquesp=0.05. The weighted kappa agreement stat...

Research paper thumbnail of CT Perfusion (CTP) in the Evaluation of Basal Ganglia Perfusion in Patients Affected by Movement Disorders

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary Results in MR-SPECT Image Fusion: A New Diagnostic Tool for Intracranial Neoplasms

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric evaluation of the symphysis pubis

Italian journal of anatomy and embryology = Archivio italiano di anatomia ed embriologia

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric analysis of the sacroiliac joint

Italian journal of anatomy and embryology = Archivio italiano di anatomia ed embriologia

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is the point of articulation between the sacrum and the innominate bone... more The sacroiliac (SI) joint is the point of articulation between the sacrum and the innominate bone of the pelvis. The anterior portion is synovial, and the posterosuperior portion is a typical syndesmosis. The SI joint may be affected by inflammatory or degenerative changes which include narrowing, minor sclerosis and erosion. Alterations in the anatomy of this joint may be involved in causing lower back pain. Radiodiagnosis of the width of the articular space is one of the tools utilized to evaluate the normal state of any joint. Scanty data is available on the morphometric characteristics of the SI joint. Therefore, the articular width space of the SI joint was measured to define its normal size in relation to age and sex. The study included 198 x-rays of the abdomen, in anteroposterior projection, of 112 males and 86 females (age range: 17 to 91 yrs). Individual films were divided into four classes according to age (&lt; 50; 50-59; 60-69; &gt; 70). The articular space of the SI joint is made up of a lateral and a medial part: the first representing the anterior articular space; the latter the posterior one. The anterior articular space of both the right and left joint, which was more easily visible and measurable was measured at the medium and inferior levels. Measurements were taken from the radiograms using a semiautomatic computerized system (Videoplan II, Image Analysis system-Kontron). The mean value of the articular space width a the medium and inferior levels, according to age group, was measured in both the males and females. The values obtained were studied using variance analysis. No significant differences were found in the mean values of the articular space width at the SI joint, when males and females were compared in relation to age. Moreover, the articular space width diminished with increasing the age. This fact was not always statistically significant.

Research paper thumbnail of Whole-Body MRI in Rheumatology: Major Advances and Future Perspectives

Diagnostics

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging is constantly gaining more importance in rheumatology, part... more Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging is constantly gaining more importance in rheumatology, particularly for what concerns the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment response evaluation. Initially applied principally for the study of ankylosing spondylitis, in the last years, its use has been extended to several other rheumatic diseases. Particularly in the pediatric population, WB-MRI is rapidly becoming the gold-standard technique for the diagnosis and follow-up of both chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis and juvenile spondyloarthritis. In this review, we analyze the benefits and limits of this technique as well as possible future applications.

Research paper thumbnail of Diagnostic Accuracy of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Adult Post-Ganglionic Brachial Plexus Traumatic Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Brain Sciences

Background: Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are rare but serious consequences of major traumas... more Background: Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are rare but serious consequences of major traumas. Pre-ganglionic lesions are considered irreparable, while post-ganglionic injuries can be potentially treated if an early diagnosis is available. Pre-surgical diagnosis is important to distinguish low-grade from high-grade lesions and to identify their location. The aim of the review is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the identification of adult post-ganglionic lesions due to traumatic brachial plexus injuries, compared to intraoperative findings. Methods: Research on the main scientific electronic databases was conducted. Studies of adults with traumatic post-ganglionic brachial plexus injuries were included. The index test was preoperative MRI and the reference standard was surgical exploration. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results: Four studies were included for the systematic review, of which three articles met the in...

Research paper thumbnail of Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in oncology: an Italian survey

Research paper thumbnail of Virtual dissection table in diagnosis and classification of Le Fort fractures: A retrospective study of feasibility

Translational Research in Anatomy

Research paper thumbnail of La Radiologia Interventistica Nella Palliazione Del Carcinoma Pancreatico

Research paper thumbnail of Results from Phase I Clinical Trial with Intraspinal Injection of Neural Stem Cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Long‐Term Outcome

STEM CELLS Translational Medicine

Research paper thumbnail of Apparent diffusion coefficient and tumor volume measurements help stratify progression-free survival of bevacizumab-treated patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

The Neuroradiology Journal

Background The aim of this study was to determine whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bi... more Background The aim of this study was to determine whether apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) bi-component curve-fitting histogram analysis and volume percentage change (VPC) prior to bevacizumab treatment can stratify progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) on first recurrence. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 17 patients with recurrent GBM who received bevacizumab and fotemustine ( n = 13) or only bevacizumab ( n = 4) on first recurrence at our institution between December 2009 and July 2015. Both T2/FLAIR abnormalities and enhancing tumor on T1 images were mapped to the ADC images. ADC-L and ADC-M values were obtained trough bi-Gaussian curve fitting histogram analysis. Furthermore, the study population was dichotomized into two subgroups: patients displaying a reduction in enhancing tumor volume of either >55% or <55% between the mean value calculated at baseline and first follow-up. Subsequently, a seco...

Research paper thumbnail of Overcoming metallic artefacts from orthopaedic wrist volar plating on a low-field MRI scanner

Research paper thumbnail of A rare case of fourth ventricle schwannoma

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of Predictive value of pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in radio-chemiotherapy treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

La radiologia medica, 2017

This study aimed at evaluating the role of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;baseline&amp... more This study aimed at evaluating the role of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;baseline&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; apparent diffusion coefficent (ADC), in patients affected by head and neck cancer treated with radio-chemotherapy, as a potential marker of response to therapy. Fifty-seven patients underwent pretreatment ADC maps. Minimum, maximum, and medium ADC were computed. Age, dose, treatment time, and ADC values were compared between the two groups (Group 1: local control; Group 2: relapse/persistence of disease) using the Student t test two-tailed unpaired. Two-tailed Fischer exact test was used to compare T stage, N stage, grading and type of treatment between two groups. We have analyzed the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of statistically significant variables. In patients with local control, values of pre-treatment medium and minimum ADC were lower than ADC values of patients with persistent or recurrent disease, with values, respectively, of 0.83 ± 0.02 × 10-3 mm2/s and 0.59 ± 0.02 × 10-3 mm2/s (vs 0.94 ± 0.05 × 10-3 mm2/s and 0.70 ± 0.05 × 10-3 mm2/s). ROC curve analysis displayed statistical significance as regarding the medium ADC value, showing a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 84.8%. ROC analysis of the values minimum ADC showed a sensitivity of 42.9% and specificity of 87.9%. The value of the ADC pre-treatment of patients with local control of the disease is lower than that of patients with persistent disease or recurrence.

Research paper thumbnail of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT): How to Plan and Treat a Patient with Non-Union in Long Bones Fractures

ABSTRACT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Our learning objective is to define and explain how patients with no... more ABSTRACT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Our learning objective is to define and explain how patients with non healed long bone�s fractures can be prescribed and perform ESWT treatment. ABSTRACT Patients with delaying in healing and consolidation of long bone fracture can be sent from the orthopaedic specialist to a radiology center to be treated by mean of ESWT.The first step in our treatments with ESWT is to define the patient�s exclusion criteria, such as pregnancy, heart disease, coagulopaty, epiphiseal plate within the shock wave field and brain or spine within the shock wave field, and inclusion criteria, non-union of long bones fractures defined as a failure to show bony union six months after initial close or open treatment. We select the treatment area (target) by mean of fluoroscopic or ultrasonographic guidance and we plan the number of treatments, the shock wave impulses for each treatment, the energy flux density and the proper generator of shock waves to use.Shock wave treatment is provided with a �Reflectron� (HMT, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland) ESWT System.After the treatments, and a proper rest, we do an x-ray control, to define the progress of bone union.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Whole Body Diffusion MRI and CT-PET in Detecting the Primary Site of the Tumour in Patients with CUP Syndrome

Research paper thumbnail of La safety del paziente in risonanza magnetica: stato dell�arte

Research paper thumbnail of Power Estimation for Non-Standardized Multisite Studies

Research paper thumbnail of Functional MRI (fMRI) in Patients with Spastic Hemiplegia after Stroke, Treated with Botulinum Toxin: The Role of "Motor Imagery" in the Demonstration of Central Effects and Brain Plasticity

Research paper thumbnail of Staging of Primary Abdominal Lymphomas: Comparison of Whole-Body MRI with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and 18 F-FDG-PET/CT

Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2015

Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of whole-body MRI with diffusio... more Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of whole-body MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences (WB-DW-MRI) with that of18F-FDG-PET/CT in the staging of patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma.Methods. This retrospective study involved 17 untreated patients with primary abdominal gastrointestinal lymphoma. All patients underwent18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-DW-MRI. Histopathology findings or at least 6 months of clinical and radiological follow-up was the gold standard. The Musshoff-modified Ann Arbor system was used for staging, and diagnostic accuracy was evaluated on a per-node basis.Results. WB-DW-MRI exhibited 100% sensitivity, 96.3% specificity, and 96.1% and 100% positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and PPV and NPV of PET/CT were 95.9%, 100%, and 100% and 96.4%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniquesp=0.05. The weighted kappa agreement stat...

Research paper thumbnail of CT Perfusion (CTP) in the Evaluation of Basal Ganglia Perfusion in Patients Affected by Movement Disorders

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary Results in MR-SPECT Image Fusion: A New Diagnostic Tool for Intracranial Neoplasms

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric evaluation of the symphysis pubis

Italian journal of anatomy and embryology = Archivio italiano di anatomia ed embriologia

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Morphometric analysis of the sacroiliac joint

Italian journal of anatomy and embryology = Archivio italiano di anatomia ed embriologia

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is the point of articulation between the sacrum and the innominate bone... more The sacroiliac (SI) joint is the point of articulation between the sacrum and the innominate bone of the pelvis. The anterior portion is synovial, and the posterosuperior portion is a typical syndesmosis. The SI joint may be affected by inflammatory or degenerative changes which include narrowing, minor sclerosis and erosion. Alterations in the anatomy of this joint may be involved in causing lower back pain. Radiodiagnosis of the width of the articular space is one of the tools utilized to evaluate the normal state of any joint. Scanty data is available on the morphometric characteristics of the SI joint. Therefore, the articular width space of the SI joint was measured to define its normal size in relation to age and sex. The study included 198 x-rays of the abdomen, in anteroposterior projection, of 112 males and 86 females (age range: 17 to 91 yrs). Individual films were divided into four classes according to age (&lt; 50; 50-59; 60-69; &gt; 70). The articular space of the SI joint is made up of a lateral and a medial part: the first representing the anterior articular space; the latter the posterior one. The anterior articular space of both the right and left joint, which was more easily visible and measurable was measured at the medium and inferior levels. Measurements were taken from the radiograms using a semiautomatic computerized system (Videoplan II, Image Analysis system-Kontron). The mean value of the articular space width a the medium and inferior levels, according to age group, was measured in both the males and females. The values obtained were studied using variance analysis. No significant differences were found in the mean values of the articular space width at the SI joint, when males and females were compared in relation to age. Moreover, the articular space width diminished with increasing the age. This fact was not always statistically significant.