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The objectives are to evaluate role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis of cholesteatoma and correlate imaging findings with intraoperative findings, and to emphasize of role of imaging in the follow-up of postoperative patients for differentiating residual/recurrent cholesteatoma from granulation/inflammatory tissue. In this prospective study, 31 patients were evaluated with a specific MRI protocol and high resolution computed tomography of the temporal bones. These included patients with a strong suspicion of having a cholesteatoma on clinical examination and postoperative cases on clinical follow up. Based on specific MRI findings, presence of cholesteatoma was reported in 17 out of 31 patients. All 31 patients underwent surgery and 19 patients had confirmed intraoperative cholesteatoma. This study shows high sensitivity of a specific sequence based MRI examination in detection of cholesteatoma and in differentiating cholesteatoma from postoperative inflammatory/granulation tissue. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first such study performed in the Indian Asian population.

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) has regained significance following its resurgence in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Rapid and progressive intracranial spread occurs either by direct extension across the neural foraminae, cribriform plate/ethmoid, walls of sinuses, or angioinvasion. Having known to have a high mortality rate, especially with intracranial extension of disease, it becomes imperative to familiarise oneself with its imaging features. MRI is the imaging modality of choice. This pictorial essay aims to depict and detail the various intracranial complications of mucormycosis and to serve as a broad checklist of structures and pathologies that must be looked for in a known or suspected case of ROCM.

Aim:To assess the impact of an extended oral preparation magnetic resonance (MR) enterography protocol on bowel distension, timing of imaging, and the quality of diagnostic images.Materials and Methods:An analysis of 52 patients who underwent divided oral preparation and 39 patients who underwent standard preparation for MR enterography examination was done. Distension was assessed by measuring the transverse diameters of the jejunum, ileum, and the ileocecal region. Diagnostic quality of the examination was assessed subjectively by two radiologists and graded as poor, diagnostic, and excellent (Grades 1-3). Correlation between bowel diameter and diagnostic quality was assessed using regression analysis.Results:The mean diameters of the jejunum, ileum, and colon in patients who underwent divided preparation were 1.90 ± 0.47, 2.14 ± 0.41, and 4.27 ± 0.96 cm, respectively, and the mean diameters in patients who underwent standard preparation were 1.46 ± 0.47, 2.02 ± 0.47, and 4.45 ± 0.90 cm, respectively. A total of 96.6% of patients on divided dose had diagnostic distension of the bowel (Grades 2 and 3). A total of 87.9% of the patients on standard dose had diagnostic distension of the bowel (Grades 2 and 3). A greater number of patients who underwent divided preparation had diagnostic quality examinations compared to those given standard preparation (96.6% vs. 87.9%). A greater number of patients who underwent divided preparation had Grade 3 quality examinations compared to those on standard preparation (75.5% vs. 68.5%). There was significant difference between diagnostic (Grades 2 and 3) and optimal grades (Grade 3) of the jejunal diameters in patients having divided or standard preparation (89.7% vs. 66.6%, P < 0.05; 40.8% vs. 25%, P < 0.05, respectively). Linear regression showed a positive correlation between increasing bowel diameter and diagnostic grade of the examination (ρ = 0.76).Conclusion:Using an extended oral preparation with divided dose resulted in the majority of patients being scanned in a single visit to the MRI suite. Dividing the oral contrast into aliquots can promote uniform distension of the entire small bowel and provide better bowel distension and improve the diagnostic quality.