Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is one of the main causes of low back pain (LBP). Standardized diagnostic algorithms for adequate estimation and classification of changes of lumbar discs are mandatory before starting with therapy.Methods: One hundred patients who were indicated for lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in the study. Pfirrmann grading system was used for the determination of IDD, while the visual analog scale (VAS) is used for evaluation of the intensity of LBP. To quantification of disability for LBP, we used the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).Result: Results showed higher Pfirrmann grades II and III for L2/L3 and L3/L4 lumbar levels and lower scores at L4/L5 and L5/S1. The analysis also showed low scores at the L2/3 and L3/4 lumbar level for Pfirrmann grades IV and V, and there was an increased at more inferior lumbosacral levels L4/5 and L5/S1. There was a significant correlation between Pfirrmann grades and ODI (p = 0.24) as well as VAS (p = 0.16).Conclusion: Higher Pfirrmann grades correlated with increased ODI and VAS. Therefore, MRI can be used as a strong indicator of clinical appearance, but it is important to take into consideration that LBP should be correlated with clinical features. By summing Pfirrmann grades of all lumbar intervertebral levels in each patient, we can get more accurate insight for the status of the lumbar spine.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1 It started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, after which quickly spread to many other countries around the world. Chest radiography (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) play key roles in managment and diagnosis of COVID-19. In this case series we are presenting three patients with predominant left-sided changes caused by COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, and to compare it with classical prognostic markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 70 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had not been treated for the metastatic disease. The patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT as part of their routine diagnostic reevaluation. During the analysis, the value of the largest tumor diameter and SUVmax was determined for the lesion with the highest SUVmax observed. The values of CEA and CA 19-9 were recorded 7 days before the PET/CT analysis. RESULTS SUVmax and Carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 were found to be independent prognostic markers of disease progression within 12 months. Based on the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, the patients could be divided into two groups: SUVmax≤4.1 vs. SUVmax>4.1. Patients with SUVmax values of 4.1 or less had significantly better progression-free survival within 12 months with an HR (95% CI) of 2.97 (1.4-6.3), relative to patients with SUVmax values above 4.1. CONCLUSION SUVmax may be used as a novel prognostic marker of disease progression among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Values of SUVmax can be used to select patients with a more aggressive type of disease and higher risk for progression within 12 months of PET/CT analysis.

Aim To evaluate vertebral bone marrow adiposity (BMA) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in postmenopausal women and to determine an association of bone density with bone marrow fat content. Methods This cross-sectional study included 120 postmenopausal women referred for osteoporosis screening. All women underwent assessment of bone mineral density by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), who were divided based on T scores into osteoporosis (OST; n=60) and control group (CG; n=60). MRS was used to measure fat fraction (FF), lipid/water ratio (LWR) and fat content (FC) at vertebral spine (L1-L4). Results Mean age, menopause or reproductive period duration was not significantly different between women in OST and control group. Median LWR in OST group was significantly higher compared to CG, 31.5 (22.9-38.8) vs. 28.7 (13.7-37.3) (p=0.039). Median FC was significantly higher in OST compared to the control group, 47.0 (46.3-78.8) and 46.4 (44.3-48.6), respectively (p=0.011). FC was significantly negatively associated with BMD at lumbar spine (Rho=-0.042; p<0.001) and with BMD at hip (Rho=-0.64; p<0.001). In logistic regression model, FC remained independently associated with osteoporosis after controlling for confounders (age, menopause duration, reproductive period duration and body mass index) (OR=1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6). Conclusion Bone marrow adiposity is an independent predictor of low bone mass in postmenopausal women suggesting its role as a therapeutic target in postmenopausal osteoporosis management.

Vertebral artery fenestration is a rare vascular anomaly. It most commonly occurs in extracranial segments of the vertebral artery. This congenital anomaly can occur during the various stages of embryonic development of the vertebral artery. This usually does not have clinical significance, but the possibility of associated anomalies such as saccular aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations should be noted. Awareness of vascular anomalies is key to avoiding iatrogenic injury during endovascular diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Here, we present incidental findings of vertebral artery fenestration in a 46-year-old woman evidenced by CT angiography of the neck's blood vessells after I .V. contrast medium applications.

Conjoined twins are an exceptionally rare phenomenon caused by partial separation of an early embryo after the twelfth day of fertilization. In this article we are reporting a case of conjoined twins diagnosed in our department. During a examination in the XXI week of gestation, a 24 years old woman, with the presence of labial herpes simplex following an ultrasound examination was suspected of carrying conjoined twins. To confirm, we performed prenatal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which proved the existence of cephalothoracoomphalopagus.

OBJECTIVES Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is gold standard for osteoporosis diagnosis, several reports have shown discordant T-score values measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and DXA especially in obese subjects, but it is still not clear whether BMD measurement by two modalities is affected by overall obesity or central obesity in postmenopausal females. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare BMD and T-scores by DXA and QCT and to evaluate whether these two osteoporosis assessment modalities yield different T-score values in postmenopausal females with obesity and central obesity. METHODS This cross-sectional study enrolled 44 postmenopausal females, referred for osteoporosis screening. Anthropometric indices (BMI-body mass index, WC-waist circumference and ICO-index of central obesity) were measured and females underwent assessment of bone mineral density by DXA and QCT. RESULTS Lumbar spine (LS) T-score values were significantly lower by DXA compared to qCT in females with BMI >25 kg/m2, (-1.9±1.5 vs. -2.3±1.2; p=0.039), in females with WC>88 cm(-1.9±1.5 vs. -2.4±1.2; p=0.008) and in females with ICO>0.5(-1.96±1.4 vs. -2.5±1.2; p=0.004). However, in normal weight females and in those without central obesity, LS T-scores by DXA were not different than qCT. DXA at lumbar spine and proximal femur revealed osteoporosis in 47.7% and 11.4% respectively, while QCT detected osteoporosis in 61.4% of females (p<0.001). Measures of central obesity; ICO and WC were not associated with QCT bone mineral density (BMD) (r=0.14 and r=0.21, respectively), but were positively associated both with DXALS BMD (r=0.29 and r=0.31; p<0.05) and DXA proximal femur BMD (r=0.41 and r=0.44; p<0.01). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that obesity is associated with lower T-scores by DXA compared to QCT. Caution is needed when assessing osteoporosis status in obese postmenopausal females. However, further studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm the findings.

The purpose of this study was to compare unenhanced MR angiography with contrast-enhanced MR angiography and visualisation of renal arteries with its segment branches using both techniques. We performed renal MRA on 22 patients using a 1.5T MRI unit. For renal MRA, a three dimensional balanced type steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequence (Time-SLIP, Canon) was used with respiratory gating and conventional CE-MRA sequnce (upisati tačan naziv). For analysis, two radiologists independently evaluated the visual quality of the axial images and axial maximum intensity projection images (MIP) of Time SLIP and CE MRA. Visualisation of aorta and main stem of the renal arteries were satisfactory on both techniques, and there was no statistically significant difference. The score of segmental renal artery appeared superior with Time-SLIP and showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Visualisation of segmental renal arteries, interlobar renal arteries and kidneys parenchyma was significantly superiorwith Time-SLIP technique. We compared visualisation of renal arteries and its branches using unenhanced MRA, Time-SLIP, in comparison with contrast-enhanced MRA. Although it is slightly time-consuming and its clinical utility is necessary to further investigate, unenhanced MRA provides superior visualization of peripheral branches even in this study. Further improvement of the technique would make it even more sensitive in detecting small vessel abnormalities and it is promising for clinical use.