scholarly journals Diagnostic tools for female urethral diverticulum: Current perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Calagna ◽  
Marco Vella ◽  
Maria Elena Mugavero ◽  
Giorgio Gugliotta ◽  
Salvatore Polito ◽  
...  

Although once considered quite a rare condition in the past, female urethral diverticulum (UD) would now appear to have a higher frequency, perhaps due to greater attention from physicians. To date, there is no agreement on which is the best method for diagnosis of female UD. Traditionally, the approach was based on quite invasive techniques, such as voiding cystourethrography, and double-balloon urethrography, with satisfactory results but relevant limitations. More recent high-resolution imaging techniques, such as 2D-3D ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have also been applied in the study of the abnormalities of the female urethra. US had the advantage of the outpatient setting, non-invasiveness and absence of contrast medium use; MRI, is characterized by high sensitivity thanks to multiplanar capability, with an optimal characterization of periurethral diseases or its abnormalities, and lack of ionizing radiation. A real innovation is represented by computer tomography-voiding cystourethrography, a rapid technique that allows for high quality simultaneous 2D and 3D images of the urethra, well correlated to MRI and consequently with surgical results. Here, we report and comment the available tools in the diagnosis of female UD, focusing particularly on pros and contra of different methods.

GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-40
Author(s):  
Vladimir D. Chuprinin ◽  
Anton A. Gorpenko ◽  
Nikon V. Zaitsev ◽  
Aleksandra V. Asaturova ◽  
Natalia A. Buralkina

Female urethral diverticulum is a fairly rare pathology, the frequency of which ranges from 0.02 to 6.00% of women worldwide. The stones inside urethra diverticulum even more rare. The most common reasons of urethral diverticula are frequent bladder catheterizations, labour trauma, infections. Clinically is may present with the dysuria, dyspareunia, dribble, urinary incontinence, vaginal discomfort. Voiding cystourethrography and cystourethroscopy are the most accurate methods of diagnosis for urethral diverticula. The presented article describes the clinical case in women with urethral diverticulum who complained on the vaginal discomfort, dyspareunia and presentation of the brown stones in vagina and underwent surgical excision of diverticulum with urethral reconstruction.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e107448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Ju Lee ◽  
Seung Jun Son ◽  
Jae-Seung Paick ◽  
Soo Woong Kim

Author(s):  
David Sosnovik

Molecular imaging has traditionally been performed with nuclear or optical imaging techniques due to their extremely high sensitivity. However, over the last 1-2 decades, molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a highly feasible and accurate alternative. Many molecular targets of interest in the cardiovascular system are abundantly expressed and can be imaged using conventional gadolinium chelates. More sparsely expressed targets can be imaged with targeted nanoparticles, which have far higher magnetic relaxivities. The use of 19-fluorine to label cells can be performed, in conjunction with proton MRI, on conventional magnetic resonance scanners. In addition, recently developed manganese-based probes may provide an alternative to gadolinium, and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging may allow molecular targeting to be performed without any exogenous contrast agents. The combination of therapeutic and diagnostic effects (theranostics) is an area of intense interest and is being actively explored in the cardiovascular arena.


Author(s):  
D. A. Carpenter ◽  
M. A. Taylor

The development of intense sources of x rays has led to renewed interest in the use of microbeams of x rays in x-ray fluorescence analysis. Sparks pointed out that the use of x rays as a probe offered the advantages of high sensitivity, low detection limits, low beam damage, and large penetration depths with minimal specimen preparation or perturbation. In addition, the option of air operation provided special advantages for examination of hydrated systems or for nondestructive microanalysis of large specimens.The disadvantages of synchrotron sources prompted the development of laboratory-based instrumentation with various schemes to maximize the beam flux while maintaining small point-to-point resolution. Nichols and Ryon developed a microprobe using a rotating anode source and a modified microdiffractometer. Cross and Wherry showed that by close-coupling the x-ray source, specimen, and detector, good intensities could be obtained for beam sizes between 30 and 100μm. More importantly, both groups combined specimen scanning with modern imaging techniques for rapid element mapping.


Phlebologie ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 104-111
Author(s):  
J. L. Villavicencio

Summary Objective: To increase awareness on the severe impact of the nutcracker syndrome in women with undiagnosed disease. Patients and methods: We reviewed the medical literature and analyzed six representative series with 73 patients with nutcracker syndrome. Women with left flank pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, dysmenorrhea, micro- or macrohaematuria and pelvic congestion symptoms, should be carefully investigated for evidence of meso aortic left renal vein compression. A good number of our colleagues do not believe in the existence of the nutcracker syndrome and send these patients in a long pilgrimage in search of someone who can help them to get relief to their pain. New and improved imaging techniques can assist in the diagnosis but retrograde reno-gonadal phlebography and renocaval gradient are the most reliable diagnostic tools. Results: Among an assortment of treatment techniques, renal vein transposition and endovenous stenting were the two most commonly used procedures. There are no long term studies on renal vein stenting in children and young adults. Its use in these cases should be carefully considered. The nutcracker syndrome may present with pelvic congestion symptoms and its diagnosis missed. The patient's age, severity of symptoms and haemo dynamic renal studies should guide the treatment. Conclusion: An increased awareness of the existence of the nutcracker syndrome may prevent many unfortunate undiagnosed women from spending many months and often years of suffering.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 2818-2822
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Oprea ◽  
Mihaela Vlad ◽  
Ioana Golu ◽  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Lazar Fulger

Thyroid nodules are a common pathology found in 50 to 60% of otherwise healthy people. Diagnostic imaging techniques are help discriminating between benign and malignant nodules, while fine needle aspiration is still a gold standard. Shear wave elastography, a recent imaging technique, holds the promise to become reliable diagnostic tools and is currently used in combination with ultrasound. We here report data obtained in a series of 52 thyroid nodules analysed by means of elastography, as well as conventional and Doppler ultrasound. We found no differences in age, nodule and thyroid volume, length, width, thickness and maximum diameter between benign and malignant lesions. Several sonographic patterns are considered to be predictive of malignancy, out of which we only found the intranodular blood flow to be statistically significant. By the means of shear wave elastography we have first assessed tissue elasticities, which are shown in a range of colours, depending on tissue elasticity/stiffness. Then, we have measured and recorded four parameters automatically displayed by the system, namely SWE-mean, SWE-max, SWE-SD and SWE-ratio. Data analysis showed all these quantitative parameters had good sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and area under the curve, as calculated by the ROC curve. As with these parameters, the cut-off points were lower than in literature, still able to indicate reliable diagnoses, which were confirmed by histopathological exam. Our conclusion is that shear wave elastography has great potential for reliably and accurately diagnosing thyroid malignancies.


Author(s):  
Siyamol Chirakkarottu ◽  
Sheena Mathew

Background: Medical imaging encloses different imaging techniques and processes to image the human body for medical diagnostic and treatment purposes. Hence it plays an important role to improve public health. The technological development in biomedical imaging specifically in X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT), nuclear ultrasound including Positron Emission Tomography (PET), optical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can provide valuable information unique to a person. Objective: In health care applications, the images are needed to be exchanged mostly over wireless medium. The diagnostic images with confidential information of a patient need to be protected from unauthorized access during transmission. In this paper, a novel encryption method is proposed to improve the security and integrity of medical images. Methods: Chaotic map along with DNA cryptography is used for encryption. The proposed method describes a two phase encryption of medical images. Results: Performance of the proposed method is also tested by various analysis metrics. Robustness of the method against different noises and attacks is analyzed. Conclusion: The results show that the method is efficient and well suitable to medical images.


Author(s):  
Joanna Podgorska ◽  
Agnieszka Anysz-Grodzicka ◽  
Andrzej Cieszanowski

Background: Fat can be identified in numerous liver lesions, and usually is not a specific finding. Distinguishing between different kinds of fatty deposits is an important part of differential diagnosis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is superior to other imaging techniques because it allows distinguishing intracellular from macroscopic fat. Discussion: Intracellular lipid may be found in focal hepatic steatosis, hepatic adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and, less commonly, in focal nodular hyperplasia as well as regenerative and dysplastic nodules. Macroscopic fat is seen in angiomyolipoma, lipoma, metastases from fatcontaining neoplasms, primary or metastatic liposarcoma, hydatid cyst, pseudolipoma of the Glisson capsule, pericaval fat collection, lipopeliosis, hepatic teratoma, focal hepatic extramedullary haematopoiesis and adrenal rest tumour. Conclusion: Liver nodules should be characterised with regard to underlying liver condition, MRI characteristics and contrast enhancement pattern, including hepatobiliary phase. In many cases, identification of fatty content may help narrowing the differential diagnosis.


Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Ziyi Luo ◽  
Hao Xu ◽  
Liwei Liu ◽  
Tymish Y. Ohulchanskyy ◽  
Junle Qu

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial, irreversible, and incurable neurodegenerative disease. The main pathological feature of AD is the deposition of misfolded β-amyloid protein (Aβ) plaques in the brain. The abnormal accumulation of Aβ plaques leads to the loss of some neuron functions, further causing the neuron entanglement and the corresponding functional damage, which has a great impact on memory and cognitive functions. Hence, studying the accumulation mechanism of Aβ in the brain and its effect on other tissues is of great significance for the early diagnosis of AD. The current clinical studies of Aβ accumulation mainly rely on medical imaging techniques, which have some deficiencies in sensitivity and specificity. Optical imaging has recently become a research hotspot in the medical field and clinical applications, manifesting noninvasiveness, high sensitivity, absence of ionizing radiation, high contrast, and spatial resolution. Moreover, it is now emerging as a promising tool for the diagnosis and study of Aβ buildup. This review focuses on the application of the optical imaging technique for the determination of Aβ plaques in AD research. In addition, recent advances and key operational applications are discussed.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 354
Author(s):  
Walid Mnasri ◽  
Mahsa Parvizian ◽  
Souad Ammar-Merah

Current biomedical imaging techniques are crucial for the diagnosis of various diseases. Each imaging technique uses specific probes that, although each one has its own merits, do not encompass all the functionalities required for comprehensive imaging (sensitivity, non-invasiveness, etc.). Bimodal imaging methods are therefore rapidly becoming an important topic in advanced healthcare. This bimodality can be achieved by successive image acquisitions involving different and independent probes, one for each mode, with the risk of artifacts. It can be also achieved simultaneously by using a single probe combining a complete set of physical and chemical characteristics, in order to record complementary views of the same biological object at the same time. In this scenario, and focusing on bimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging (OI), probes can be engineered by the attachment, more or less covalently, of a contrast agent (CA) to an organic or inorganic dye, or by designing single objects containing both the optical emitter and MRI-active dipole. If in the first type of system, there is frequent concern that at some point the dye may dissociate from the magnetic dipole, it may not in the second type. This review aims to present a summary of current activity relating to this kind of dual probes, with a special emphasis on lanthanide-based luminescent nano-objects.


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