BackgroundFull iterative reconstruction algorithm is available, but its diagnostic quality in pediatric cardiac CT is unknown.ObjectiveTo compare the imaging quality of two algorithms, full and hybrid iterative reconstruction, in pediatric cardiac CT.Materials and methodsWe included 49 children with congenital cardiac anomalies who underwent cardiac CT. We compared quality of images reconstructed using the two algorithms (full and hybrid iterative reconstruction) based on a 3-point scale for the delineation of the following anatomical structures: atrial septum, ventricular septum, right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle, main pulmonary artery, ascending aorta, aortic arch including the patent ductus arteriosus, descending aorta, right coronary artery and left main trunk. We evaluated beam-hardening artifacts from contrast-enhancement material using a 3-point scale, and we evaluated the overall image quality using a 5-point scale. We also compared image noise, signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio between the algorithms.ResultsThe overall image quality was significantly higher with full iterative reconstruction than with hybrid iterative reconstruction (3.67±0.79 vs. 3.31±0.89, P=0.0072). The evaluation scores for most of the gross structures were higher with full iterative reconstruction than with hybrid iterative reconstruction. There was no significant difference between full and hybrid iterative reconstruction for the presence of beam-hardening artifacts. Image noise was significantly lower in full iterative reconstruction, while signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio were significantly higher in full iterative reconstruction.ConclusionThe diagnostic quality was superior in images with cardiac CT reconstructed with electrocardiogram-gated full iterative reconstruction.

We report a very rare case of the right renal artery originating from the thoracic aorta. A 37-year-old man visited our hospital for follow-up regarding a gallbladder polyp that had been detected incidentally via ultrasonography as part of a clinical survey. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed incidentally that the right renal artery originated from the thoracic aorta at the level of the 11th thoracic vertebra. No excess right renal artery was found arising from the abdominal aorta, and a normal left renal artery was observed. Although this anomaly is very rare, urological and thoracic surgeons should be aware of this condition, in order to provide appropriate surgical interventions.

A 74-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a mass in the pancreatic head found during screening chest computed tomography. Contrast computed tomography showed a 5-cm multicystic mass with an irregular border containing a solid component showing contrast enhancement. Caudal to this mass, a 5-cm solid mass of fat density with a nodular soft-tissue component was found. Cytology of the aspirated pancreatic fluid revealed malignant cells, and surgery was performed for suspected intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma. Pathologic analysis of the resected specimen revealed a collision tumor of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with high-grade dysplasia and pancreatic lipoma. The soft-tissue component within the lipoma was a nodule consisting of pancreatic tissue with inflammatory infiltration and hyalinization and was not associated with IPMN invasion.

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days before angiotensin II (1000 ng/kg/min) was infused. This model is characterized by an accumulation of macrophages followed by dissection in the tunica media. We investigated mortality, and immunostaining demonstrated smooth muscle cells and mural monocytes/macrophages, respectively. Results: In the experimental animal model, each anticoagulant drug significantly decreased the enlargement of thrombus formation, and reduced the mortality caused by aortic dissection rupture and bleeding. Furthermore, macrophage infiltration to the wall was decreased by anticoagulant anticoagulant therapy compared to mice that received no treatment. Especially, Edoxaban prominently limited inflammatory response in the wall. Conclusion: Anticoagulant anticoagulant therapy attenuates the mortality and tissue degeneration of established experimental AAD. These results contribute to identify potential therapeutic targets to establish novel pharmacological therapy.