Objective: to study the optic nerve, lacrimal gland, and superior ophthalmic vein in patients with different clinical forms of endocrine ophthalmopathy (EOP). Material and methods. 294 patients (559 orbits) with EOP were examined. Hydrodynamic disorders were detected in 43 patients. 46 patients (91 orbits) with mixed or myogenic types of edematous exophthalmos (EE) were diagnosed as having optic neuropathy (ON). Results and discussion. The paper presents the indicators of the optic nerve, lacrimal gland, and superior ophthalmic vein in patients with different clinical forms of EOP. This study provides evidence that ON in patients with EOP is characterized by specific changes in the optic nerve, as shown by computed tomography. It is ascertained that there are volumetric and structural changes in the lacrimal gland in 40.62% of the patients with mixed EE and in 33.89% of those with myogenic EE. Conclusion. The study of the extraocular muscles in patients with ON-complicated EE may confirm that enlargement of the extraocular muscles at the orbital apex plays a major role in the pathogenesis of ON in this disease. The change in the anatomictopographic relationships of the orbit leads to compression of the superior ophthalmic vein, which entails obstruction of blood outflow from the orbit and causes ocular hypertension.

Objective: to improve breast cancer diagnosis using an independent mammographic teleassessment by two radiologists. Material and methods. The results of a dual independent assessment of 3440 X-ray mammographic examinations were analyzed. The first assessment was made by a radiologist from a therapeutic-and-prophylactic establishment who had less than one year of practical experience in a mammography screening room. The second assessment was carried out by a radiologist with more than 5 years of experience from a specialized cancer institution. Results. According to the developed specialized interpretation software, recommendations and statistics for mammographic breast cancer screening, the investigators identified a group of 31 women who were recommended to be additionally examined at an oncology dispensary to verify the diagnosis of breast cancer. Eight of 17 (47%) women with morphologically confirmed cancers after dual assessments of X-ray mammographs were called again and referred to the oncology dispensary. Conclusion. Dual independent assessment of X-ray mammographs improved the diagnosis of BC with a maximum size of 1.5 cm or less, as well as that of malignant tumors manifesting as microcalcifications or imitating a benign process.

Objective: to develop and implement a new processing approach of myocardial perfusion images obtained by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Material and methods. 18 patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension underwent gated rest-stress perfusion SPECT with ^99mTc-MIBI with CT-attenuation correction. Images were processed manually, with separate reorientation and semi-automatic contouring of both ventricles. MIBI intensity ratio in the right and left ventricles (RV/LV) was calculated using novel volumetric method, in comparison with other described approaches. Results. In patients with PH myocardial perfusion SPECT revealed abnormal RV visualization, dilation and reduced contractility, paradoxical motion and typical perfusion defects of interventricular septum. RV contouring in semi-automatic mode was possible in 100% of cases. The average values of RV/LV ratio in PH patients and normal group was 0.6097 ± 0.0090 and 0.2750 ± 0.0355, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion. The new method of quantitative calculation of perfusion impairments allows to reveal the features of myocardial perfusion of the right and left ventricles in patients with pulmonary hypertension, with the potential to assess therapy effectiveness in these patients.> <0.001). Conclusion. The new method of quantitative calculation of perfusion impairments allows to reveal the features of myocardial perfusion of the right and left ventricles in patients with pulmonary hypertension, with the potential to assess therapy effectiveness in these patients.

Objective: to give computed tomography (CT)- and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based new anatomic-topographic relationships in patients after combined pancreas and kidney transplantation and to describe main visualization tasks and the types and frequency of various complications occurring in different periods after transplantation. Material and methods. Spiral CT and MRI images were analyzed in 45 patients after pancreas and kidney transplantation. A total of 51 studies (35 CTs and 16 MRIs) using intravenous contrast enhancement (n=34 (66%)) were performed. Results. A total of 55 complications, among which pancreatitis after pancreas transplantation was most common (55%), were found. Necrotizing pancreatitis following pancreas transplantation, which required open operative or percutaneous intervention, was diagnosed in 6.6%. Vascular complications were detected in 22%. Conclusion. The current capabilities of CT and MRI enable us to quickly obtain objective information on the status of transplanted organs, their vascular architectonics, as well as on the presence and type of occurred complications. Timely correction of identified complications positively affects the survival of transplanted organs and quality of life in a recipient.

Objective: to quantify the degree of degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVDs), by constructing functional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) maps, and to determine a correlation between the measured diffusion coefficient (DC) values and IVD changes on T1- and T2-weighted images. Material and methods. 545 IVDs were examined in 109 patients with no history of back pain syndrome and surgical spinal interventions. All the patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine; DWI maps were constructed and DC values estimated. Results. Statistically significant differences in the mean values of DC were determined for each of five IVDs. Multiple regression analysis showed that age and degree of degeneration were the most significant factors. The degree of IVD degeneration was negatively correlated with the values of DC at all levels (p<0.001). Also, there was a negative correlation between age and the value of DC at all levels (p<0.001). However, gender did not affect the value of DC (p>0.05), with the exception of L3-4. Conclusion. Age and the degree of degenerative changes in IVDs affect the value of DC. The value of DC is negatively correlated with the IVD degeneration graded by Pfirrmann and with the age of the examined patients. DW MRI can be used as a promising noninvasive method to diagnose the early stages of IVD degeneration.

The paper deals with the assessment of cerebral perfusion in patients in the acute period of acute cerebrovascular accident before and after revascularization surgery. It gives a clinical example of using contrast-free perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a patient with hemodynamic ischemic stroke. The use of this technique made it possible to determine indications for early carotid endarterectomy for the contralateral internal carotid artery and to evaluate positive postoperative changes in cerebral perfusion and the patient’s neurological status. The authors analyzed the current literature on this problem with a particular emphasis on the possibilities of using dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced and arterial spin-labeling contrast-free perfusion MRI in this category of patients. Carotid endarterectomy in the acute period of acute cerebrovascular accident can improve cerebral hemodynamics and the patient’s neurological status and prevent recurrent cerebral circulatory disorders. Indications for this surgery should be determined by taking into consideration the results of perfusion MRI techniques (single-photon computed tomography contrastenhanced and contrast-free perfusion MRI).

Breast cancer represents a global healthcare problem. In spite of all advances in treatment regimens for breast cancer, mortality from the disease stays high in countries where population based screening has not yet been introduced. On the other hand, there is a significant decrease in mortality from breast cancer in those countries where treatment is applied in an early phase of the disease, as a result of regular, population-based screening with mammography. Although mammography is the gold standard in diagnosing breast cancer in its early stage, it has limitations in detecting breast cancer sufficiently early in the dense portion of the breast. This calls for using the multimodality approach also for screening. In addition, the high frequency of multifocal and diffuse breast cancers calls for the need to describe the true extent of the disease preoperatively. The best modality to accomplish this goal is the use of magnetic resonance imaging of the breast (MRI). This report describes the role of breast MRI in the preoperative workup of the different subtypes of breast cancer.