Even though suicide ranks as the fourth cause of death and is causing a significant loss in Korea, it seems that the conventional notion regarding suicide as a feasible way of solving a troublesome life situation hinders early recognition and proper management of suicide. This article reviews suicide prevention strategies recommended based on robust experience and scientific understanding of the characteristics of the suicide problem. In the UK, a suicide prevention strategy was formed at the national level suggesting significant goals to reduce the rate of suicide. In the US, the Institute of Medicine study committee examined the state of the science base, gaps in knowledge, strategies for prevention, and research designs for the study of suicide. This recommendation includes more science-based, coherent and well-coordinated multidisciplinary approaches, and thus suggests important practical recommendations for a suicide prevention strategy of Korea. The author concludes that suicide should be defined as a treatable and even preventable medical condition. Constructing a national network of suicide research, data surveillance, developing tools for suicide prevention including early detection and safety planning, and comprehensive insurance coverage are recommended.

There is a wide spectrum of congenital anomalies or variations of the aortic arch, ranging from non-symptomatic variations that are mostly detected incidentally to clinically symptomatic variations that cause severe respiratory distress or esophageal compression. Some of these may be accompanied by other congenital heart diseases or chromosomal anomalies. The widespread use of multidetector computed tomography (CT) in clinical practice has resulted in incidental detection of several variations of the aortic arch in adults. Thus, radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the classification of aortic arch anomalies and carefully look for imaging features associated with a high risk of clinical symptoms. Understanding the embryological development of the aortic arch aids in the classification of various subtypes of aortic arch anomalies and variants. For accurate diagnosis and precise evaluation of aortic arch anomalies, cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as multidetector CT or magnetic resonance imaging, play an important role by providing three-dimensional reconstructed images. In this review, we describe the embryological development of the thoracic aorta and discuss variations and anomalies of the aortic arch along with their clinical implications.

Rationale: Acute stroke requires accurate imaging to ensure appropriate treatment decisions and favorable clinical outcomes. Computed tomography has long been used as an exclusive imaging technique to assess intracerebral hemorrhage, owing to its rapid scanning time and widespread availability. Several recent studies have reported the reliable detection of hyperacute hemorrhage using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patient concerns: An 88-year-old woman with a history of hypertension presented with mild, acute dysarthria. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 1. Diagnoses: Non contrast head computed tomography revealed the absence of acute cerebral hemorrhage. The patient underwent magnetic resonance, revealed hyperacute intracerebral hemorrhage within a few minutes of its occurrence on multiple MRI sequences. Interventions and outcomes: In this patient, hemorrhage developed during MRI for acute ischemic stroke. Hemorrhage was initially misdiagnosed, and inappropriate treatment severely affected the patient’s health. Lessons: Clinicians in the Department of Neurological Emergency should be familiar with imaging findings of hyperacute hemorrhage on multiple MRI sequences.