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Aim: The aim of this study is to asses the suitability of three different ways how to quantify systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). Methods: In a group of 23 patients who met classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc) the extent of pulmonary interstitial involvement in HRCT of the chest was evaluated by three different approaches. The essential method is a modified methodology according to Gay-Dutka/Vašáková, further we worked with its two simplifications. The first is the quantification of SSc-ILD in percent in a few cross-sectional levels the second is the determination of the percentage of changes in the most affected level. The results were compared with the development of selected indicators of pulmonary functional tests over the time. Results: There was not found statistically significant relationship between SSc-ILD quantification procedures and pulmonary function development over the time (p = 0.07), Nevertheless in subanalysis was found a trend towards relationship between lung function evolvement and percentage of changes in more levels or eventually Gay-Dutka/Vašáková method. Both methods have relatively high sensitivity towards the prediction of lung tets worsening. 85.7% is senzitivity of change percetage in more levels. Conclusion: Even though the results are not statistically significant, as the most suitable approach for quantification of SSc-ILD seems to be the percentual expression in more levels that is because of the trend that was found. Gathering of data continues and in a larger group of subjects the relationship can be statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery (TIPIC syndrome) formerly known as idiopathic carotidynia or Fay syndrome is relatively rare and not very well known entity of an unclear etiology with a typical clinical course and typical findings on imaging methods. In this communiction we present a case of 30 year old woman who presented with an unilateral painful swelling on the neck. Computed tomography was perf-ormed to exclude a neck abscess. CT and following ultrasound examination showed a thickening of the common carotid wall and an edema of the periarterial tissue in the carotic space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have varied clinical and radiological manifestations. Nowadays are patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease divided into specific groups - phenotypes. The treatment is specific according to these phenotypes. High resolution computed tomography is necessary in identification of each phenotype. The most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have pulmonary emphysema which is newly divided to several groups. Also identification of other radiological signs is fundamental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are increasing. The integral part of diagnostics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is high resolution computed tomography. Radiological image of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is usual interstitical pneumonia. On high resolution computed tomography are changes of typical usual interstitial pneumonia, possible usual interstitial pneumonia or signs which are not typical for usual interstitial pneumonia. There was made uniform scoring system which is quite simple and reproducible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of spoke-wheel pattern and typical symptoms of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) by means of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in relation to lesion size. Methods: Twenty-eight patients were included in the trial, in whom, based on the CEUS, we raised suspicion of hypervascularized liver lesion; there were 30 lesions altogether. The final diagnosis of FNH was verified by means of CT, MRI or lesion biopsy. Majority of patients (26) were females, compared to 2 male, with average age of 33.3 years. Average lesion size was 45.6 mm. Besides the ultrasound examination, we used also "blood pool" ultrasound contrast agent of second generation, sulphur hexafluoride (BR1); we evaluated enhancement of the lesion until the late stage-within 5 min from application. Results: In lesions larger than 3 cm (n=20), stellate vascular enhancement was found in 19 cases (95.0%) early in arterial phase. As for lesions smaller than 3 cm (n=10), spoke-wheel pattern was observed only in 3 cases (30%) and lesions smaller than 2 cm practically did not show this phenomenon at all (n=1; 17%). Generally, symptom of spoke-wheel pattern was observed in 22 cases, i.e. in 73.3%. In total, central scar was present in 63.3% (n=19) of cases. In lesions larger than 3 cm, it was present in 85.0% (n=17), in lesions smaller than 3 cm in 20% (n=2). Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can be the final diagnostic method for FNH larger than 3 cm which has typical spoke-wheel vessel structure on CEUS. If this phenomenon is not present and the central scar is not visible, specific diagnosis of FNH cannot be based solely on CEUS findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The pilot study to investigate the correlation between the percentage of HRCT honeycombing captured by the CALIPER automatic program and the visual identification of this morph presence by five radiological examinations in patients with known interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods: 15 patients selected from the alphabetical list of patients from the Faculty Hospital Hradec Králové (FNHK) with established diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). For 12 of them, the CALIPER program was analysed, followed by the evaluation of five radiologists from FNHK. Results: The best ratio between sensitivity and specificity was achieved at a 3.5 percent representation of honeycomb in right lung, when the sensitivity was 80% and the specificity was 85.7%. 13% of patients evaluated had a significantly different interpretation of honeycomb presence. Conclusion: Pilot studies have shown that the 3.5% threshold for the presence of honeycombing has 80% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity when is program CALIPER compared to the visual consensus of radiologists. For limitations in this study, we recommend further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess white matter changes after the first episode of schizophrenia by using fixel-based analysis (FBA). Methods: Diffusion weighted MR images were used to prospectively compare white matter microstructure between subjects after the first episode of schizophrenia (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 22). The subjects were examined on a 3 Tesla MRI system equipped with a 64-channel head coil. FBA was performed using MRtrix software package (version 3.0.1). Results: A limited area of fibre density decrease was found in the anterior commissure. No fixels of fibre cross-section changes were found. For combined metric of fibre density and cross-section only one statistically significant fixel was found in the right frontal white matter. Conclusion: Using FBA, only a limited area of white matter microstructure corruption was found after the first episode of schizophrenia. Changes were located mainly in the anterior commissure. Compared to other published studies using FBA, the extent of changes is distinctly smaller which can be among other causes subjected to earlier stages of the illness of subjects included in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To asses cerebral cortical thickness and area changes in the earliest stage of schizophrenia. Methods: Magnetic resonance was used to prospectively compare cerebral cortex thickness and surface area between subjects after the first episode of schizophrenia (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 19). The subjects were examined on a 3 Tesla MRI system equipped with a 64-channel head coil. Surface-based morphometry was performed on 3D T1- and T2-weighted data by using Freesurfer software package (ver. 7.1.0). Results: No statistically significantly different clusters of cerebral cortical surface / thickness were found between both groups of subjects. Conclusion: Contrary to the observations published by other authors including large multicentric studies, no statistically significant differences in cerebral cortical thickness or area were found in the earliest stage of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain abscess caused by Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a rare, yet serious condition with high mortality if not recognized and treated timely. We present a series of three cases of LM brain abscesses and describe their characteristic radiological appearances which can be considered very typical. LM abscesses frequently present as markedly irregular formations, revealing characteristic worm-like tubular pattern of chaotic curvilinear arrangement. Knowledge of this imaging pattern can be very helpful in early recognition of LM abscesses whose initial differential diagnosis can often be misleading initially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess microstructural changes of the cerebral white matter in the earliest stage of schizophrenia. Methods: Magnetic resonance was used to prospectively compare fractional anisotropy of the white matter between subjects after the first episode of schizophrenia (n = 23) and healthy controls (n = 23). Diffusion tensor data obtained from multidirectional diffusion weighted sequence were analysed by using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). Results: Extensive areas of decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) were found in the white matter after the first episode of schizophrenia, affecting most of the white matter tracts. No areas of significantly increased FA were found when compared to the healthy control group. Conclusion: Extensive areas of microstructural alteration of the white matter are already present during the first episode of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Assessment of volume reduction of the lung lobe after endobronchial valve implantation. Method: Endobronchial valves were implantated to fifteen patients with heterogenic lung emphysema during the years 2012-2016. Computed tomography of the lung before and after valve implantation was performed in nine of them. In our study we assessed volume of the lobe with valves before and after implantation and reduction of the lobe volume. Results: Endobronchial valves were mostly implantated to left lower lobe (eight patients). Average volume of the lobe before implantation was 1869 ml, after valves implantation 800 ml. Average reduction of the volume was 1070 ml, respectively 65%. In one patient there was no effect of reduction of the lung volume. Conclusion: Effective lung volume reduction with partial or complete atelectasis was observed in eight patients. This met radiological criteria of treatment efficiancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]