MRI of abdominal hydatid disease.
Seventy hydatid cysts in 30 patients were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT); all cases were confirmed surgically. MRI detected all cysts when confined to solid organs, whereas small-sized cysts (< or = 2 cm) may be missed when located in the peritoneal cavity. Hydatid cysts of less than 3 cm (noncomplicated) present no specific findings of hydatid disease. MRI findings suggesting hydatid disease demonstrate a relatively thick hydatid cyst wall, daughter cysts, and germinal membrane detachment. T2-weighted images proved to be superior to T1- or PD-weighted images in demonstrating hydatid cyst wall thickness, germinal membrane detachment, and daughter cysts. In all spin-echo sequences, the maternal cystic content presented much higher signal intensities than that of daughter cysts. This difference in signal intensity is more obvious in T2-weighted images, except in complicated, infected cases. CT proved to be superior to MRI in demonstrating wall calcifications.
Kalovidouris
A
A
Department of Radiology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Gouliamos
A
A
Vlachos
L
L
Papadopoulos
A
A
Voros
D
D
Pentea
S
S
Papavasiliou
C
C
D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged