Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, characterized by presence of granulomas in affected tissues with variety in clinical presentations and presents a differential diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Clinical presentation of neurosarcoidosis is very variable. Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiological criteria and histological findings of disseminated non-necrotic granuloma followed by negative cultures for bacteria and fungi. MRI plays a key role in detection of lesions located in the brain parenchyma. Objective: The aim of this article was to present case of a 36-year-old male patient, who came to doctor with symptoms of fever, dry cough with whitish sputum, lymphadenopathy of neck region and neurological disturbances in form of headaches and vision problems. Case presentation: Patient underwent on pulmonary examination and results indicated presence of sarcoidosis. CT examination was performed (SIEMENS Somatom Definition AS, Erlangen, Germany), which confirmed presence of mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. Ultrasound (US) examination of a neck region was also performed showed significantly enlarged and morphology altered lymph nodes. After biopsy of several neck lymph nodes, histopathological was proven diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Due to neurological disturbances in form of headaches and vision problems patient was examined by an ophthalmologist, neurologist and endocrinologist. Hormonal analysis showed an increase of prolactin and that raised suspicion for neurosarcoidosis. In further diagnostic evaluation it was indicated MRI examination of the brain with focus on sellar region. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced MRI is the modality of choice for investigating suspected neurosarcoidosis. The versatility of MR recording and the amount of diagnostic informations obtained from MRI examination is huge. Comparison of MRI sequences obtained, facilitate interpretation of these findings. Obtained MRI information and available literature, correlating with other diagnostic modalities (ultrasound and CT) facilitate understanding of the specific pathology.

Background: The lumbar spinal canal consists of 5 interconnected lumbar vertebrae through which the final part of the spinal cord passes and the lumbar and sacral spinal nerves that form the cauda equina. The lumbar canal stenosis can directly affect neurological symptoms and pain in the lumbar region and lower extremities. Due to the frequency of such symptoms, lumbar stenosis has been the subject of research around the world. Objective: The objective of this study was to measure, analyze and compare the mediosagital and interpeduncular diameters of the lumbar spinal canal in the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina to other populations around the world. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on patients (n=200) who underwent Multi-slice computer tomography (MSCT) performed on a 40-slice CT scanner (Siemens Somatom Definition AS) for lumbar pain between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. Age, gender, midsagittal (MSG) and interpeduncular (IP) diameters of the lumbar spine were recorded for each patient. Results: Results of our study show that the largest MSG diameter is at L1 level for both sexes, with an average length of 19,06mm, and the smallest at L3 level, with an average length of 16,66mm. Our study shows that the MSG diameter is significantly larger in females than males on all levels from L1 to L5. In both sexes, MSG diameter shows the form of an hourglass with narrowing at L3 level. IPD is largest at L5 level for both sexes, with an average length of 31,94mm, and the smallest average length at L1 level, at 24,78mm. IPD diameter is significantly larger in males than females on all levels from L1 to L5. IPD shows a tendency of growth from L1 to L5 in both sexes. Conclusion: There were significant differences in the dimensions of the lumbar spine canal between female and male patients. We found significant difference in MSG and IP diameters measurements between Bosnian and Herzegovinian population compared to other populations. The dimensions of the lumbar canal provide a baseline of normative data for the evaluation of patients presenting with lower back pain and lumbar canal stenosis in study population.

Introduction: The small intestine is a challenging organ for clinical and radiological evaluation, and by introducing imaging radiological techniques, not significantly disturbing the comfort and safety of patients, it attempts to obtain adequate diagnosis and valuable information. Aim: The research was conducted with the aim of checking the comparability and potential of diagnostic modality of ultrasound and dynamic contrast enhanced MR Enterography (DCE-MR) in patients with Crohn’s disease. Methods: 55 patients were examined prospectively, and ultrasound examination of the abdomen was performed for all patients before the MR enterography. They were subsequently endoscopically examined or treated surgically, which was taken as a reference. Four parameters characterizing the disease itself were analyzed: bowel wall thickening, presence of abscess, fistula and lymphadenopathy. Results: Comparing the accuracy of the results of ultrasound findings and findings of MR enterography, it was found that there is a significant difference in the results obtained. The study found that the sensitivity for MR enterography for bowel wall thickening was 97.8%, and the specificity was 70%, while the sensitivity for ultrasound for the bowel wall thickening was 51% and the specificity was 100%. In the diagnosis of abscess, there was no significant difference between the results obtained by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, while in fistula and lymphadenopathy there was a significant difference. Conclusion: Conventional ultrasound is a good orientation method in the initial evaluation of patients with Crohn’s disease, while contrast enhanced MR enterography provides an excellent assessment for disease activity as well as the complications that accompany it.

Introduction: Prior to the 1990s, the most common sources of HCV infections were blood transfusions, unsafe injections and I.V drug use. Screening of blood products for HCV has eradicated transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C in most countries since 1992–in Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, since 1995, due to the war. Aim: To investigate the impact of the source of HCV infection on the therapeutic response in patients treated for chronic HCV infection with dual combined therapy. Methods: We diagnosed chronic HCV infections amongst 246 patients over a period of five years and selected them according to the reported source of infection. Pegylated interferon alfa 2a or alfa 2b with ribavirin was administered during the time that was genotype-dependent. HCV RNA levels in sera were measured by real time PCR. Liver histology was evaluated in accordance with the level of necroinflammation activity and the stadium of fibrosis. Results: Regardless of the genotype of the virus and the source of infection, SVR was achieved in 67% of the patients. Therapeutic response (ETR) was not achieved in 25% of the patients who were infected with an untested blood transfusion and 6% of the patients who had had wartime surgery. Amongst the different sources of infections, patients with a war-surgery source of infection responded better to therapy than those with a blood transfusion source of infection (p = 0.023). A blood transfusion source of infection implies a larger fibrosis stage than in blood donors; (g = 1.177; s2 = 0.577). A blood transfusion source of infection implies a significantly larger necroinflammatory activity than in blood donors; (g = 1.456; s2 = 0.618). Conclusions: An untested blood transfusion was a significant risk factor for more advanced liver diseases in regards to necroinflammatory activity and the fibrosis stage. This source of infection was also a risk factor for low responses to antiviral therapy. At the same time, I.V. drug users had more progressive necroinflammatory activity, but a high therapeutic response to antiviral therapy.

Introduction: The most common cause of intracranial bleeding in younger patients and children are vascular anomalies. Digital subtractions angiography presents a gold standard in diagnostics of aneurisms and vascular malformations. Our aim is to present our experience in using computed tomography angiography in diagnosing arteriovenous malformations. Methods: We included 150 patients with acute non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage diagnosed by non-contrast CT examination, after which they were subjected to CT angiography of the cerebral vessels, and then underwent maximum intense projection and volume rendering reconstruction. Results:  Out of 150 patients with non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage, in 121 (81%) a diagnosis of  aneurysm was rendered, while in 8 (5%) arteriovenous malformation was found. In 29 (14%) patients cause of bleeding was not identified. Patients with arteriovenous malformations, were age 17-77 years, with mean age 42.75 years. Five (62.5%) of them were female patients and three (37.5%) were male. Conclusion: Spontaneous non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography angiography is sufficiently specific and sensitive in diagnosis of arteriovenous malformations in our experience.

Poster: "ECR 2014 / C-1661 / Imaging of Spinal Brucellosis" by: "Z. Merhemic1, S. Mehanic1, M. M. Thurnher2; 1Sarajevo/BA, 2Vienna/AT"

Poster: "ECR 2013 / C-1840 / CT angiography in patients with acute spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage:detection and characterisation of intracranial aneurysms: comparison of Volumen Rendering and Maximum Intensity Projection algorithms" by: "Z. Merhemic1, M. Niksic1, S. Milisic1, E. Burazerovic1, I. Omerhodzic1, E. Avdagic1, D. Bulja1, M. M. Thurnher2; 1Sarajevo/BA, 2Vienna/AT"