Diffusion-weighted imaging is extremely useful in detecting CJD during the very early phase-even before the onset of characteristic clinical findings.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease causes progressive dementia and, eventually, death. The infectious agent is thought to be proteinaceous scrapie particles. Prompt diagnosis is essential to prevent human-to-human transmission. Progressive brain atrophy and areas of high signal intensity in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia are well-known features of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease depicted on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. However, in the early stage of disease, the appearance of the brain on T2-weighted MR images often is normal, and it may be impossible on that basis to reach a diagnosis. Diffusion-weighted imaging therefore has gained attention as a useful modality for the early diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Even before the appearance of the characteristic periodic synchronous discharges on the electroencephalogram, diffusion-weighted images in most cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease depict areas of abnormal signal hyperintensity in the cortex and in the basal ganglia or thalamus. These imaging abnormalities are accompanied by decreased apparent diffusion coefficient values suggestive of restricted diffusion within the tissue. However, if diffusion-weighted imaging findings of abnormal high signal intensity are restricted to the cerebral cortex, it may be necessary to differentiate between Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other conditions that may produce progressive dementia (eg, venous hypertensive en-cephalopathy; chronic herpes encephalitis; and the syndrome of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes).

JPEG compression at ratios of 10:1 and 20:1 was tolerated in the detection of acute cerebral infarction at CT.

Mediastinal lung herniation is a rare condition characterized by protrusion of 1 lower lung through behind the heart into the opposite side of the chest, usually from right to left. We present a case of mediastinal lung herniation associated with pulmonary sequestration, which was confirmed both surgically and pathologically in a 13-year-old girl initially admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic images using a multidetector-row computed tomography clearly demonstrated the right lung herniation toward the left and 2 aberrant systemic arteries supplying the sequestered lung mass. These arteries run through the herniated lung from right to left. Additionally, on the basis of pleural anatomy, we discuss herein the difference between a mediastinal lung herniation and horseshoe lung.

Uterine leiomyoma, a benign tumor, may be treated with drugs, albeit surgical resection is more common. The present study aimed to evaluate the treatment of leiomyoma cases by uterine artery embolization (UAE) using a gelatin sponge prepared by the pumping method. The results of 700 leiomyoma cases treated by UAE in the outpatient department were evaluated. UAE was performed by injecting gelatin sponge prepared by the pumping method into the uterine artery. Among 700 cases, effective cases were 680 (97.2%), ineffective cases were 18 (2.8%) and impossible cases for UAE were 2 (0.2%). Retreatment was required in 23 cases (3.3%). Complication events designated by the Society of Interventional Radiology Clinical Practice Guidelines occurred in 31 cases (4.4%): 1 case showed permanent adverse sequelae, 4 cases required major therapy with a prolonged hospitalization (>48 h) and 10 patients required therapy with minor hospitalization (<48 h). The remaining 16 cases required nominal or no therapy. Follow-up of patients was performed for 599 cases for an average period of 1.2±0.9 years, ranging between 1 month and 6 years. Pregnancy after UAE was observed in 12 cases/15 cycles. Thus, the findings indicate that UAE using gelatin sponge prepared by the pumping method applied to outpatients is a safe and useful treatment procedure.