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Treatment of cerebral vascular lesions such as carotid cavernous sinus fistulas and giant aneurysms is now being performed with intravascular detachable balloon embolization techniques. We have developed several types of all-silicone detachable balloons. Our balloons have self-sealing valves (with or without collars) and detach with simple traction. The self-sealing valve is smaller than 0.6 mm and the balloon can easily be placed through a 7-F catheter. We started clinical trials and a representative case was reported.

Six patients had nine kidneys with lymphoma. Five patients (83%) had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and three (50%) bilaterally. There were multiple nodules in four kidneys (44%). The lesions were changeful in the course. Gallium scintigraphy showed abnormal uptakes. Magnetic resonance imaging was examined in one case. The lesions were hypovascular in the angiographies. Inflammation is one of the different diagnosis.

Tl-weighted MR images of thirty-six hips in 25 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head were obtained two to five times during the course of 2 to 26 months. We investigated these MR images in the light of the chronological change and compared them with plain radiographs. MR images change in 16 femoral heads; in general, the abnormal low intensity area in the femoral head reduced in extent and the internal high intensity area became smaller of disappeared. Thirteen femoral heads among them became more flattened on plain radiographs in the same period. It is noted that four different zones are defined in the femoral head after bone necrosis takes place: the dead bone marrow, the dead marrow which still contains fat, the reactive interface and the hyperemic bone marrow. In Tl-weighted MR images, the dead bone marrow, the reactive interface and the hyperemic bone marrow are demonstrated as low intensity area, while the dead marrow containing fat may remain high in intensity. On the basis of this knowledge of histopathology and MR images of this disease, we suggest that reduction of the abnormal low intensity area and disappearance of the internal high intensity area on MR images can be regarded as diminution of hyperemia in the living bone marrow and loss of fat in the dead bone marrow, respectively.

Four patients with idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI clearly showed low signal intensity in the affected femoral head on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. After regression of hip pain, MR images became normal. MRI was a useful method for diagnosis and follow-up study of idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip.

Thin (2mm) section contiguous computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained through the bronchi of the right upper lobe and the left upper division in 30 patients. All segmental bronchi were identified. The right subsegmental bronchi were identified in 100%, and the left subsegmental bronchi in 97%. The type of the orifice of the right bronchus was trifurcated (53%), the extension of B1 was apicoanterior (50%), and the size of B2b was equal to B3a (63%). The extension of the left B3 was subapicoanterior (38%), and the size of B1+2c was equal to B3a (62%).

T1 and T2 weighted MR images were compared in 32 hips with avascular necrosis, and the difference between them was discussed. In 27 of 32 hips, abnormal low intensity area in the affected femoral head is smaller in T2 weighted images than in T1 weighted images. The area of low intensity on T1 weighted image and high on T2 weighted image might be granuloma in reactive tissue and surrounding hyperemia. The difference between T1 and T2 weighted images must be taken into consideration especially in determination of the border of affected bone.

Thin (2 mm) section contiguous computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained through the bronchi of the right middle lobe, the left lingular division, and the lower lobes in 24 patients. All segmental bronchi were identified except subsuperior and medial basilar segmental bronchi. Subsegmental bronchi of the left inferior lingula were seen in only 17%, but other subsegmental bronchi in greater than 75%. Variations in branching patterns were discussed.

Symptoms in Ménière's disease are explained by hydrops of endolymphatic system with recurrent ruptures of the membranous labyrinth. The primary cause of the increased endolymphatic volume appears to be an imbalance between secretion and resorption of endolymph which may be due to an obstruction of the endolymphatic duct and sac, located in the vestibular aqueduct. Non-visualization or narrowing of the vestibular aqueduct of the paper have been demonstrated by conventional tomography and high resolution computed tomography (HR-CT). But the endolymphatic duct and sac can not be obtained by HR-CT and conventional tomography. Whereas, on MRI, these are identified. By MRI, we prospectively tried to demonstrate morphological alterations in 10 patients with Ménière's disease and in 4 patients with vestibular neuronitis. These were compared with a group of 20 normal men. Visualization of the endolymphatic duct and sac (vestibular aqueduct) on MRI was assessed. There was a distinctly decreased visualization of the vestibular aqueduct in the Ménière group and vestibular neuronitis group. We were able to confirm a statistically proven usefulness of the MRI technique in identifying an anatomical abnormality which is directly in correlation with the side of the lesion in cases of unilateral Ménière's disease.

Computed tomography (CT) was obtained in seven patients with postoperative pelvic lymphocele. The CT appearance of the lymphocele was nodule or oval cystic mass of low attenuation. Most of lymphoceles located laterally in the external iliac region. They were identified on the first CT, mean 2.5 months after surgery. They became small (2 cases) or disappeared (4 cases, mean 7 months after surgery). Infection was noted in one case, and another patient had lower abdominal pain. One of different diagnoses is recurrence.