[40 stroke patients were studied by both transoesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography. The diagnosis of stroke was based on medical history, physical examination and computerized tomographic brain scan. 39 patients underwent carotid duplex scan as well. Transoesphageal echocardiography was used to examine 40 patients of whom 19 had cardiac source of embolism. Out of these, 7 patients had definitive, whereas 12 had possible cardiac source of embolism. Transthoracic echocardiography was diagnostic only in 8 cases. Using carotid duplex scan, carotid stenosis was detected in 8 patients and sclerosis without significant stenosis in 8 others. From each of these two groups 4 patients had coexistent cardiac source of embolism as well. In the 8 patients with atrial fibrillation the left atrial thrombus and spontaneous echo contrast were more frequent than in patients with sinus rhythm. The transoesophageal echocardiography altered the management of antico agulation in 3 patients. The authors concluded that transoesophageal echocardiography is necessary in stroke patients.]

[INTRODUCTION - Breast cancer screening was performed in 27 325 female patients at the National Institute of Oncology from 1st of January 2002 to May 30th of 2005. Complementary examinations were necessary in 1876 women. MR-mammography was performed in 65 of these cases. We were curious about in which cases MR mammography helps to make the diagnosis more accurate, how does it influence the therapy. We also studied, whether the number of surgical interventions because of benign breast lesions decreases due to MR mammography. PATIENTS AND METHODS - In 65 patients MR mammography was performed using non-contrast axial and coronal T1W and STIR sequences. After the injection of gadolinium four series of 3D FLASH (fast low angle shot) dynamic gradiens echo sequences were also applied. Subtraction of the non-contrast and contrast enhanced series were evaluated in addition to the intensity curves of the postcontrast series. RESULTS - MR mammography helped to evaluate dense breasts in 21 cases, to identify multifocal lesions in 6 cases and to differentiate the malignant-benign processes. In the course of the 65 post-screening examinations, malignant processes [BI-RADS IV-V (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System)] were diagnosed in 21 cases, benign processes (BI-RADS II-III) or negative results were found in 44 patients. CONCLUSION - MR mammography increased diagnostic accuracy, decreased the number of benign lesion-related surgical procedures and increased the accuracy in determining surgical radicality and establishing a therapeutic plan.]

[The author presents a detailed review of the role of echocardiography (echo) in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The echo diagnosis of AMI is based on segmental wall thinning and akinesia with a 90% accuracy. Echo has made a major impact on the immediate diagnosis of mechanical complications in the hemodynamically compromised patient with AMI. These mechanical complications which include myocardial rupture of the free wall or the septum or the papillary muscle, may be successfully treated by prompt surgical intervention. Echo diagnosis has an important role in the management of other complications of the acute, subacute and chronic phases of infarction as well, such as pericardial effusion, left ventricular thrombus, left ventricular aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm. Therapeutic strategies are thoroughly affected by systolic and diastolic function assessed by echo. Echo has a basic role in the algorithm of postinfarction anticoagulant treatment. Besides rest echo, early stress echo has a definite prognostic value in predicting multivessel disease and identifying viable myocardium which requires revascularisation procedures. The indications for echo in the acute phase and before discharge are summarized according to recent American recommendations. ]

[Right ventricular infarction (RVI) may occure as isolated or, more often, associated with left ventricular – inferior or occasionally anterior - infarction. The diagnosis of RVI is based first of all on the characteristic clinical symptoms, on the ECG pattern and on the results of 2D-echo-cardiography. The exact localisation of the infarction has vital significance in the therapy of the acute phase. The mortality can be substantially decreased with adequate therapeutic measures even in severe cases. The prospective prognosis of RVI is more favourable than that of left ventricular infarcti on. The author presents the most important diagnostic and therapeutic features related to RVI. ]

[INTRODUCTION - Cross-sectional medical imaging techniques were applied on geological samples (cores) in order to reveal their morphological and functional properties. Our aim was to reveal those CT and MRI methods that are capable to characterize certain petrophysical parameters and can be correlated with core morphology. MATERIALS AND METHODS - Similarly to pre- and postcontrast scanning in human diagnostic imaging CT scans of core samples were obtained in dry and flooded state, that helped to define and calculate morphological and functional parameters. Several MRI sequences were also tested, mainly spin-echos with short echo time. RESULTS - Several hundred meters of core samples have been examined in the last three years. Effective porosity can be calculated from CT data, that characterizes oil/gas storage capacity of the given geological formation. CT information is superior to conventional petrophysical methods due to its spatial resolution. Nevertheless, we can not quantify permeabilty yet, but describe it qualitatively. We found only limited use of medical MR imaging methods. DISCUSSION - Cross-sectional imaging, primarily CT scanning was introduced to the Hungarian oil and gas industry in the last three years. It seems that the method will be used more and more frequently through the entire process of oil/gas exploitation. Our further goals include the implementation of the CT measurements in other areas like environment control, and further develope measurement conditions.]