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A desmoplastic variant of ameloblastoma with osteoplasia in the stroma is reported. This tumour presented in the canine/premolar region of the left maxilla of a 31-year-old woman. It was treated by partial hemimaxillectomy and immediate reconstruction with a non-vascularised iliac graft. The location of this lesion, its histology and radiological features differ from those of the conventional ameloblastoma. The behaviour and prognosis of the desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) cannot at this stage be predicted due to the small number of cases that have been reported and a lack of long-term follow-up. To our knowledge this is the first documentation of the CT and MRI features of desmoplastic ameloblastoma with pathologic correlation.

Fifty-eight percutaneous needle biopsies of adrenal masses were performed in 53 patients. The technique was initially successful in 44 (83%) of 53 patients. Five patients had second procedures because of initial failure or the possibility of sampling error. Fourteen biopsies were performed in nononcologic patients and 39 in patients with a known malignancy. None of the adrenal masses in nononcologic patients were malignant. Only 18 (46.1%) of the 39 masses in oncologic patients were metastases; the rest represented a variety of nonneoplastic conditions. Seven minor complications occurred in six patients. Two of these patients required transfusions for hypotension or decreases in hematocrit. No correlation was noted between needle size and complications. There were no pneumothoraces. The procedure is an accurate and safe alternative to surgical biopsy.

Biopsy of deep pelvic lymphadenopathy can assist in staging of pelvic malignancies. A retroperitoneal approach that parallels the iliac wing is described. This technique, performed under computed tomography guidance, is a safe, easy, and accurate means of obtaining tissue for pathologic examination.

Sixty patients underwent CT scanning of the liver prior to, immediately after, and four hours after intravenous administration of 60% meglumine diatrizoate. Twenty patients received a 50 ml bolus of contrast material (14.6 g of iodine), 20 received 100 ml (29.2 g of iodine), and 20 received 200 ml (58.4 g of iodine). In each group, delayed CT scanning safely raised the inherent density of the liver significantly (increase of 14.3% using 50 ml; 23.9% using 100 ml; and 40.7% using 200 ml). Thus, delayed scanning with doses presently used in abdominal and neurological CT examinations may be helpful in detecting hepatic lesions.

Various techniques for contrast enhanced CT scanning have been proposed to maximize detection of hepatic abnormalities. A new method that uses the secondary excretion of water-soluble contrast media by the liver is described, and an example is provided.