RSNA News - November 2004

Press releases have been sent to the medical news media for the following items appearing in the November 2004 issue of Radiology (rsna.org/radiologyjnl):

"MR-guided Percutaneous Sclerotherapy of Low-Flow Vascular Malformations: Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Therapy and Outcome"

MR imaging can improve treatment of low-flow vascular malformations.

Daniel T. Boll, M.D., formerly of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and colleagues analyzed 76 percutaneous sclerotherapy treatments performed by one radiologist under real-time MR guidance on 15 patients with vascular malformations in the head and neck.

All procedures were completed successfully, the patients reported minimal discomfort and reported an improvement in cosmetic appearance, especially a decrease in facial swelling and skin discoloration.

The researchers write, "MR-guided sclerotherapy succeeds in treating predominant symptoms of congenital low-flow vascular malformations in a safe and efficient manner and allows the quantitative verification of therapeutic success during follow-up examinations."

a.	c.
b.	d.
Images obtained in a 34-year-old man with congenital vascular malformation in the right upper lip. (a) Initial preinterventional photograph shows extension of initial skin discoloration (arrow) and cosmetic disfigurement. (b) Preinterventional transverse T 2-weighted MR fast SE shows the cavernous anterior portion (arrow) and the lateral portion (arrowhead) of the vascular malformation with high signal intensity and without apparent flow voids. (c) Photograph obtained 6 weeks after intervention shows decrease in size in the low-flow vascular malformation and partial regaining of physiologic lip vermilion (arrow). (d) Follow-up transverse T 2-weighted MR fast SE image shows intravascular thrombus (*) within the larger portion of the vascular malformation (arrow) and complete thrombosis of smaller portion (arrowhead) with substantial overall shrinkage.

(Radiology 2004;233:377-385)
© 2004 RSNA. All rights reserved. Printed with permission.

Multiple Magnet Ingestion Alert

Swallowing more than one magnet poses a series health threat and may require emergency surgery, according to Alan E. Oestreich, M.D., from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

In a letter to the editor of Radiology, Dr. Oestreich expressed his concern: "All radiologists should be on the alert. Moreover, if the possibility of magnets in the abdomen exists, MRI is to be stringently avoided lest damage be done."

He explains that when two magnets lie in adjacent bowel loops, they may attract each other across the walls, leading to necrosis and eventually perforation and peritonitis.

While swallowing magnets is not nearly as common as swallowing coins, jewelry or toy parts, there have been a number of reported cases of multiple magnet ingestion over the past five years. According to information gathered during the press release process, nine incidents have been reported in the United Kingdom involving children who swallowed industrial-strength magnets worn to resemble body piercings.

(Radiology 2004;233:615)

RSNA press releases are available at www.rsna.org/media.