Fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm diagnosed by computed tomography and confirmed by anatomopathological examination. We report a case of a patient admitted at Hospital Mater Dei in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, due to fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma, and discuss the clinical, radiological and pathological features of this disease. The conclusions reinforce the importance of radiological imaging for the detection and characterization of hepatic focal neoplasms.

Keywords: Liver neoplasms, Computed tomography diagnosis

Secondary middle turbinate is an anatomical variant rarely observed in the nasal cavity, firstly described by Khanobthamchai et al. as a bone structure originating from the lateral nasal wall and covered by soft tissue. In most cases reported in the literature, this variant is bilateral, occurring without associated complications. In the present report, the authors describe the case of patient of their institution with such anatomical variation.

Keywords: Secondary turbinate; Middle turbinate.

Most temporal bone fractures result from high-energy blunt head trauma, and are frequently related to other skull fractures or to polytrauma. Fractures and displacements of ossicular chain in the middle ear represent some of the main complications of temporal bone injury, and hence they will be more deeply approached in the present article. Other types of injuries include labyrinthine fractures, dural fistula, facial nerve paralysis and extension into the carotid canal. Computed tomography plays a fundamental role in the initial evaluation of polytrauma patients, as it can help to identify important structural injuries that may lead to severe complications such as sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, dizziness and balance dysfunction, perilymphatic fistulas, facial nerve paralysis, vascular injury and others.

Keywords: Temporal bone trauma; Ossicular injuries; Ossicular trauma.

Cochlear implant is the method of choice in the treatment of deep sensorineural hypoacusis, particularly in patients where conventional amplification devices do not imply noticeable clinical improvement. Imaging findings are crucial in the indication or contraindication for such surgical procedure. In the assessment of the temporal bone, radiologists should be familiar with relative or absolute contraindication factors, as well as with factors that might significantly complicate the implantation. Some criteria such as cochlear nerve aplasia, labyrinthine and/or cochlear aplasia are still considered as absolute contraindications, in spite of studies bringing such criteria into question. Cochlear dysplasias constitute relative contraindications, among them labyrinthitis ossificans is highlighted. Other alterations may be mentioned as complicating agents in the temporal bone assessment, namely, hypoplasia of the mastoid process, aberrant facial nerve, otomastoiditis, otosclerosis, dehiscent jugular bulb, enlarged endolymphatic duct and sac. The experienced radiologist assumes an important role in the evaluation of this condition.

Keywords: Cochlear aplasia; Labyrinthine aplasia; Sensorineural hypoacusis; Cochlear implant; Computed tomography.

Persistent stapedial artery is a rare congenital anomaly that occurs by a failure in the involution of such artery. Most patients with persistent stapedial artery are asymptomatic. The imaging diagnosis is made principally by means of multidetector computed tomography. In the present case, persistent stapedial artery was an incidental computed tomography finding. The authors discuss the embryogenesis, computed tomography findings and the importance of an early diagnosis of such anomaly.

Keywords: Persistent stapedial artery; Congenital; Tomography.

Middle ear cholesteatoma is a relevant and relatively common disease that may have severe consequences. In the present pictorial essay, the authors have selected illustrative examples of multislice computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging depicting the main presentations of cholesteatomas, and describing their characteristics, locations, and major complications.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Middle ear; Cholesteatoma.

A literature review and pictorial essay were developed to discuss the importance of knowing the main findings and locations of otosclerosis at multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). The authors performed a retrospective review of cases of otosclerosis diagnosed in their institution by means of high resolution multidetector computed tomography. Otosclerosis corresponds to otic capsule dysplasia characterized by metabolic derangement of its endochondral layer. Such condition constitutes a relevant cause of sensorineural hearing loss, affecting about 7% to 10% of the general population. The diagnosis is usually clinical, but imaging methods play a significant role in the anatomical detailing, differential diagnosis, surgical planning and evaluation of postoperative complications. Among such methods, the relevance of MDCT is highlighted. Radiologists should be familiar with the MDCT findings of otosclerosis, as well as with the temporal bone anatomy to assist in the appropriate clinical management of this disease.

Keywords: Otosclerosis; Otospongiosis; Sensorineural hearing loss; Multidetector computed tomography.

Mucoceles are cystic masses that generally affect the sinuses. It occurs as a result from obstruction of the ostium of a sinus and consequential accumulation of mucus. Frontal and ethmoid sinuses are mostly affected. Usually, the clinical symptoms are insidious, varying with the extent of the affected region. The treatment is surgical and endoscopic surgery is the method of choice in most cases. The present study is aimed at describing the main characteristics of paranasal sinuses mucoceles, demonstrating and illustrating a series of atypical presentations with emphasis on imaging findings.

Keywords: Paranasal sinuses; Mucocele; Presentation; Atypical.

The rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is considered a high-risk surgical emergency, given the catastrophic consequences and high mortality rate. The objective of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the radiological signs that indicate rupture or imminent rupture. To that end, we describe cases treated at our facility and present a brief review of the literature on the topic. The clinical diagnosis of imminent AAA rupture can be difficult, because patients are usually asymptomatic or have nonspecific pain complaints. In the subsequent follow-up, it is possible to identify radiological signs that indicate instability or rupture itself and thus change the prognosis. Computed tomography is the modality of choice for evaluating an AAA and abdominal pain in the emergency setting. It is therefore essential that the radiologist immediately identify the imaging findings that indicate AAA rupture or the imminent risk of such rupture.

Keywords: Aortic aneurysm, abdominal/complications; Aortic aneurysm, abdominal/mortality; Aortic rupture/diagnostic imaging; Abdominal pain/diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-ray computed/methods.

OBJECTIVE: To compare automated and manual magnetic resonance imaging protocols for estimating liver iron concentrations at 1.5 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging examination of the liver was performed in 53 patients with clinically suspected hepatic iron overload and in 21 control subjects. Liver iron concentrations were then estimated by two examiners who were blinded to the groups. The examiners employed automated T2* and T1 mapping, as well as manual T2* and signal-intensity-ratio method. We analyzed accuracy by using ROC curves. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement were analyzed by calculating two-way intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve (to discriminate between patients and controls) was 0.912 for automated T2* mapping, 0.934 for the signal-intensity-ratio method, 0.908 for manual T2*, and 0.80 for T1 mapping, the last method differing significantly from the other three. The level of interobserver and intraobserver agreement was good (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.938– 0.998; p < 0.05). Correlations involving T1 mapping, although still significant, were lower. CONCLUSION: At 1.5 T, T2* mapping is a rapid tool that shows promise for the diagnosis of liver iron overload, whereas T1 mapping shows less accuracy. The performance of T1 mapping is poorer than is that of T2* methods.

Keywords: Liver/diagnostic imaging; Liver/metabolism; Iron overload/diagnostic imaging; Iron/metabolism; Magnetic resonance imaging/methods; Image processing, computer-assisted/methods.