although there were SLNs identified by both techniques, the positive SLNs

were identified with only blue dye. Of the 102 SLNB procedures, there

were two patients whose only SLN was identified by blue dye only.

Although blue dye did not improve the identification rate, there was a

definite benefit in improving the false-negative rate.

Image-guided tissue sampling: where radiology meets pathology

Parikh J, Tickman R (Women’s Diagnostic Imaging Center, Swedish Cancer

Institute, 1221 Madison St., Arnold Pavilion-Suite 520, Seattle, WA 98104).

Breast J 2005;11:403–409.

Image-guided breast tissue sampling has become an acceptable alter-

native to open surgical biopsy for nonpalpable lesions. Advantages of

minimally invasive core biopsy compared to open surgical biopsy

include lower cost, lower complication rates, and less cosmetic deformity

for patients. However, false-negative core biopsies can occur. Thus, the

imaging of a breast lesion and the histologic result of the core biopsy must

be carefully correlated. This involves communication between radiology

and pathology.

Matching of mammary microcalcifications on images from different

views [in French]

Tiedeu A, Boyer B, Stines J, Daul Ch, Graebling P, Wolf D, Domngang S

(Ch.D.: Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, CRAN-CNRS UMR

7039, 2 avenue de la foret de Haye, F-54516 Vandoeuvre-Les-Nancy,

France). J Radiol 2005 86:1789–1794.

Purpose: In order to increase sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of

breast cancer, more than one—generally two or three—mammograms of the

same breast are obtained. In order to be able to carry out 3-D reconstruction

of microcalcification clusters on one hand and efficiently fuse the

information they carry on the other hand, one needs to match corresponding

regions of microcalcifications from the different views. Unfortunately, this

may be difficult at times. To help the situation, we have developed in this

paper a technique to automatically match microcalcifications found on pairs

of mammograms from the same breast.

Materials and methods: We used the computed morphological character-

istics of individual microcalcifications to build a likeness function to match

the microcalcifications. The geometrical constraint suitable for the system

used was then applied to reduce the possibilities. From the remaining

possibilities, the one with the highest likeness was selected as pair of

corresponding microcalcifications.

Results: This technique was tested on a number of real cases and yielded

77.14% of good matches.

Conclusion: This technique provides good results and could therefore be

used either directly or for 3-D reconstruction of clusteredmicrocalcifications.

Multidetector computed tomography of acute abdomen

Leschka S, Alkadhi H, Wildermuth S, Marincek B (S.W.: Department of

Medical Radiology, Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital

of Zurich, Ramistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland). Eur Radiol

2005;15:2435–2447.

Acute abdominal pain is one of the most common causes for referrals to the

emergency department. The sudden onset of severe abdominal pain

characterizing the bacute abdomenQ requires rapid and accurate identifica-

tion of a potentially life-threatening abdominal pathology to provide a

timely referral to the appropriate physician. While the physical examination

and laboratory investigations are often nonspecific, computed tomography

(CT) has evolved as the first-line imaging modality in patients with an acute

abdomen. Because the new multidetector CT (MDCT) scanner generations

provide increased speed, greater volume coverage, and thinner slices, the

acceptance of CT for abdominal imaging has increased rapidly. The goal of

this article is to discuss the role of MDCT in the diagnostic work-up of

acute abdominal pain.

Renal oncocytoma: CT diagnostic criteria revisited [in French]

Eiss D, Larousserie F, Mejean A, Ghouadni M, Merran S, Correas JM,

Helenon O (Service de Radiologie, Hopital Necker Enfants Malades, 149

rue de Sevres, F-75743 Paris Cedex 15, France). J Radiol 2005;86:

1773–1782.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to redefine and evaluate the

computed tomographic criteria for the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma (RO)

for which renal sparing surgery should be preferred.

Materials and method: This is a retrospective study of 57 patients with

69 RO. Macroscopic and histological correlation was obtained in all cases.

A double-blinded comparative study was made of 60 renal tumors

(containing adenocarcinomas and oncocytomas) larger than 3 cm in

diameter in order to evaluate the redefined CT diagnostic criteria.

Results: Among RO larger than 3 cm in diameter, 55% presented a sharply

defined low attenuation scar on postcontrast scans at the tubular nephro-

graphic phase, central or eccentric, with homogeneous attenuation

throughout the remainder of the hypervascular tumor, which was classified

in three different groups.

The use of our CT diagnostic criteria gave a statistically significant ( Pb.05)

j index of interobserver concordance of 0.71 and a specificity of 96% for

the diagnosis of RO.

Conclusion: Our redefined computed tomographic criteria for the diagnosis

of RO, eventually associated with renal biopsy, should increase the

indications for renal sparing surgery for RO larger than 3 cm in diameter.

Imaging of penile traumas—therapeutic implications

Bertolotto M, Calderan L, Cova MA (UCO di Radiologia, Universita’ di

Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, I-34149 Trieste, Italy).

Eur Radiol 2005;15:2475–2482.

Injury to the penis may result from penetrating or nonpenetrating trauma.

Nonpenetrating injury to the erect penis can produce albugineal tear,

intracavernous hematoma, or extraalbugineal hematoma from rupture of

the dorsal vessels. Nonpenetrating injury to the flaccid penis usually

follows blunt perineal traumas producing extratunical or cavernosal

hematomas or cavernosal artery tear followed by high-flow priapism.

Differential diagnosis between albugineal tear and other penile injuries

must be obtained as soon as possible, since early surgical repair of

albugineal tear reduces significantly the rate of posttraumatic curvature

and fibrosis. Ultrasonography (US) is able to detect the exact site of the

tear in most patients as an interruption of the thin echogenic line of the

tunica albuginea. Other imaging techniques are rarely required in

the clinical practice. Color Doppler US is the imaging modality of choice

to evaluate patients with high flow priapism. Focal or diffuse cavernosal

fibrosis can be identified with US as echogenic areas in the cavernosal

bodies. Posttraumatic erectile dysfunction can result from fibrotic changes,

nerve and vascular impairment, or both. Doppler evaluation of penile

vasculature is required in young patients with posttraumatic impotence

before surgical revascularization procedures.

Imaging features of spinal osteoid osteoma with emphasis on MRI

findings

Harish S, Saifuddin A (Department of Radiology, Royal National

Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 41PM UK).

Eur Radiol 2005;15:2396–2403.

A retrospective evaluation of the imaging of 13 patients with a diagnosis of

osteoid osteoma (OO) of the spine was undertaken. Available imaging

included radiographs (n=10), computed tomography (CT) (n=13), bone

Abstracts / Clinical Imaging 30 (2006) 225–227226