Chemical shift MRI may be a useful method to quantitatively evaluate the fatty degeneration in multifidus muscle in patients with low back pain.

Many variations exist in the running patterns of the branching pattern of the popliteal artery. Knowledge of the branching pattern of the popliteal artery will be beneficial to radiologist for the evaluation of CT angiograms and interventional vascular procedures, and to vascular surgeons for various surgical approaches. MD CTA provides noninvasive means of assessing distal popliteal artery variations.

Doppler parameters of MV in SOV, PSV and EDV in OA, and PSV in CRA seem to be helpful in the differentiation of active and inactive phases of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

ObjectiveThe bony nasolacrimal duct (BNLD) morphology as a contributory factor in primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) is still controversial. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the morphometric differences of BNLDs in unilateral PANDO patients between PANDO and non-PANDO sides, as compared with the control group using multidetector computed tomography (CT).Materials and MethodsBilateral BNLDs in 39 unilateral PANDO patients and 36 control subjects were retrospectively reviewed. CT images with 0.5-mm thickness were obtained with a 64-slice scanner. The length, volume, coronal orientation type, sagittal orientation angle of BNLD, and relative lacrimal sac-BNLD angle were assessed. The entrance, minimum and distal end transverse diameters (TD) of BNLD was investigated.ResultsThe mean minimum and distal end BNLD TDs measurements were significantly narrower in PANDO patients, both in PANDO and non-PANDO sides, as compared with the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.040, respectively); however, there were no significant differences between PANDO and non-PANDO sides within PANDO patients. The length, entrance TD, volume, coronal orientation type, sagittal orientation angle of BNLD, and relative lacrimal sac-BNLD angle were not significantly different between PANDO patients and control subjects, as well as between PANDO and non-PANDO sides within PANDO patients.ConclusionThe narrow mean minimum and distal end BNLD TD in PANDO patients, in both PANDO and non-PANDO sides, may be associated with PANDO development. The lack of difference between PANDO and non-PANDO sides within PANDO patients and some overlap between PANDO patients and control subjects suggest that narrow BNLD is not the sole factor.

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare congenital anomaly in which the spleen is abnormally connected to the gonad. Two types of splenogonadal fusion have been described: continuous and discontinuous. Splenogonadal fusion is frequently associated with cryptorchidism and/or congenital orofacial/limb anomalies. We describe the ultrasound findings in a case of continuous-type splenogonadal fusion associated with ipsilateral testicular atrophy with correlation with MRI.