CT平扫混合征和黑洞征及其联合征象对脑出血患者早期血肿扩大的预测价值

目的探讨CT平扫混合征和(或)黑洞征预测原发性脑出血患者早期血肿扩大的价值。方法前瞻性连续纳入2011年7月至2016年7月重庆医科大学附属第一医院原发性脑出血患者244例,发病至首次CT时间均≤6 h,根据是否存在早期血肿扩大分为血肿扩大组(82例)和未扩大组(162例)。收集患者一般资料进行组间比较,包括既往史、临床特点、入院格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)、影像学特征[黑洞征、混合征及黑洞征和(或)混合征]等;对早期血肿扩大的影响征象进行多因素Logistic回归分析;采用受试者工作特征曲线计算约登指数,并对早期血肿扩大的影像学征象的预测值进行分析。结果 (1)早期血肿扩大者中,黑洞征27例(32.9%)、混合征33例(40.2%)、混合征和(或)黑洞征50例(61.0%)。(2)将血肿体积按1 ml、发病至入院首次CT时间按1 h、入院GCS按1分递增进行赋值,并将黑洞征、混合征分别纳入进行多因素Logistic回归分析,结果显示,混合征(OR=14.04,95%CI:5.16~38.18)、黑洞征(OR=5.69,95%CI:2.12~15.30)均为早期血肿扩大的独立危险因素(均P0.01);经过进一步调整显示,混合征和(或)黑洞征也为早期血肿扩大的独立危险因素(OR=14.08,95%CI:5.99~33.08,P0.01)。(3)经受试者工作特征曲线分析,混合征和(或)黑洞征预测早期血肿扩大的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和约登指数分别为:61.0%、90.1%、76.0%、82.0%和0.511,其约登指数比黑洞征(约登指数:0.280)和混合征(约登指数:0.346)更接近1。结论与单一征象相比较,混合征联合黑洞征对脑出血早期血肿扩大的预测能力更好。     

CT混合征、岛征联合渗漏征预测脑出血早期血肿扩大的临床价值研究

目的探讨颅脑CT平扫混合征、岛征联合CT增强渗漏征对脑出血(ICH)早期血肿扩大的预测价值。方法 6 h内ICH基线CT平扫血肿内存在混合征、岛征血肿扩大危险因素的患者,行CT增强动脉期及延迟3 min扫描,根据是否存在渗漏征分为渗漏征阳性组和渗漏征阴性组。收集临床资料进行组间比较;分析与血肿扩大的关系;对早期血肿扩大影响因素进行Logistic回归分析;评估对ICH早期血肿扩大的预测价值。结果渗漏征阳性组入院GCS评分显著低于渗漏征阴性组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。渗漏征阳性组复诊血肿体积显著大于初诊血肿体积。Logistic回归分析显示混合征、岛征及渗漏征均为早期血肿扩大的主要危险因素。混合征、岛征联合渗漏征预测急性ICH早期血肿扩大的灵敏度为94.29%,特异度为97.22%。结论 CT平扫混合征、岛征联合CT增强渗漏征对ICH早期血肿扩大具有较高预测价值。     

CTA斑点征对急性高血压脑出血患者血肿扩大的预测价值分析

目的分析CTA斑点征对急性高血压脑出血患者血肿扩大的预测价值。方法选取2013—2015年在普宁市人民医院神经内科急诊就诊的急性高血压脑出血患者72例,均在发病6 h内进行颅脑CT及CTA检查,发病24h后复查CT。比较CTA斑点征阳性患者和CTA斑点征阴性患者一般资料,记录血肿扩大情况,并分析CTA斑点征对急性高血压脑出血患者血肿扩大的预测价值。结果颅脑CTA原始图像斑点征阳性20例(27.8%),斑点征阴性52例(72.2%)。CTA斑点征阳性患者和CTA斑点征阴性患者性别、血肿部位、血肿形态、出血是否破入脑室、年龄及首次CT检查时血肿体积比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。72例患者血肿扩大率为29.1%,其中14例血肿扩大发生在6 h内、7例血肿扩大发生在6～24 h;21例血肿扩大患者中18例出现病情加重,其中2例在24 h内死亡。CTA斑点征预测血肿扩大的灵敏度为80.9%,特异度为94.1%,诊断准确率为90.3%。结论急性高血压脑出血患者血肿扩大发生率较高、预后较差,而CTA斑点征可有效预测急性高血压脑出血患者血肿扩大。     

混合征联合点征对脑出血患者血肿扩大预测价值

目的探讨单一混合征和点征及两者联合征象对脑出血患者血肿扩大的预测价值。方法纳入脑出血患者171例,根据患者是否发生血肿扩大分为血肿扩大组36例和血肿未扩大组135例。患者入院行CT和CT血管成像检查,记录混合征、点征和两者联合征等影像学征象,入院24 h内复查CT。用二元logistic回归分析血肿扩大的影响因素,采用ROC曲线分析各影像学征象的预测价值。结果血肿扩大组两者联合征象比例较血肿未扩大组明显升高(52.8%vs 17.8%,P=0.000)。二元logistic回归分析显示,两者联合征象为血肿扩大的独立危险因素(OR=5.169,95%CI:2.348～11.381,P0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示,两者联合征象预测血肿扩大的约登指数较混合征象及点征象更高(35.0%vs 6.8%和7.4%);两者联合征象的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为52.8%、82.2%、44.2%、86.7%,曲线下面积为0.675(95%CI:0.599～0.745,P=0.000),有预测血肿扩大的价值。结论两者联合征象可能可以预测脑出血的血肿扩大。     

脑CT平扫低密度影联合CTA斑点征对自发性脑出血早期血肿增大的预测价值

目的：分析头颅CT平扫低密度影(HD)联合头颅CT血管造影（CTA）斑点征（SS)对于自发性脑出血早期血肿增大的预测意义。方法：回顾性分析285例自发性脑出血患者入院时头颅CT、CTA及发病24h复查头颅CT情况,根据头颅CT及CTA将患者分为4组：SS(-)HD(-)、SS(+)HD(-)、SS(-)HD(+)、SS(+)HD(+),血肿增大定义为血肿体积增加＞33％或＞6mL。结果：24h后复查头颅CT有64例患者出现血肿增大。4组间年龄、性别、高血压及糖尿病病史、入院时血压、格拉斯哥昏迷评分（GCS）及脑出血部位比较,差异无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）,但入院时4组患者脑出血量与出现血肿增大的例数比较,差异有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。其中SS(+)HD(+)组患者入院时出血量较大,24h内出现血肿增大的病例数更多（61.5%）。CTA斑点征、CT平扫低密度影及二者联合出现均为脑出血早期血肿增大的独立危险因素。CT平扫低密度影敏感性较高,但二者联合表现出较高的特异性。结论：在脑出血早期, CTA斑点征联合CT平扫低密度影能协助急诊医师快速及较准确地进行脑出血血肿扩张危险分层。     

CT灌注成像原始像点征预测急性自发性脑出血血肿扩大的初步研究

目的探讨CT灌注成像原始像"点征"与有临床意义的血肿体积扩大的相关性。方法选择发病6h内的急性自发性脑出血患者44例,根据是否有"点征",分为"点征"阳性组(14例)和"点征"阴性组(30例)。所有患者均接受基线CT平扫、CT灌注成像和24h后CT平扫。应用计算机辅助容积测量软件测定血肿体积并判断血肿体积有无扩大,盲法评估CT灌注成像判定"点征"及其评分。结果 31.8%的患者被判定为"点征"阳性。"点征"阳性组患者脑实质内血肿体积的变化绝对值和百分比明显大于"点征"阴性组,差异有统计学意义。CT灌注成像原始像显示的"点征"在有临床意义的脑实质内血肿扩大阳性患者与阴性患者比较,差异有统计学意义。CT灌注成像原始像的敏感性为75.0%,特异性为92.9%,阳性预测值为85.7%(OR=39.00,95% CI:6.256～243.126)。结论 CT灌注原始像"点征"可以用于预测自发性脑出血的急性期血肿扩大。     

“九分法”在预测原发性脑出血患者血肿扩大及不良临床预后中的价值

目的探讨"九分法"在预测原发性脑出血患者血肿扩大及不良临床预后中的价值。方法选择79例自发性脑出血患者按照"九分法"评分后,分为0~3分组55例和4~9分组24例。采用CT血管造影(CTA)原始图像中寻找"点征"以及基线CT平扫血肿体积计算,比较2组基线资料、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)、血肿扩大、外科手术干预及死亡人数,同时比较"九分法"与单纯使用"点征"预测血肿扩大的优劣。结果与0~3分组比较,4~9分组点征阳性、复查血肿扩大、30dNIHSS评分、外科手术干预、90d病死率明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。"九分法"预测血肿扩大阳性预测值为50.0%,阴性预测值为96.4%,敏感性85.7%,特异性81.5%。与单纯使用"点征"预测比较,"九分法"预测血肿扩大阳性预测值下降,阴性预测值升高。结论 "九分法"能够有效预测血肿扩大及不良临床预后,在临床运用中应结合"九分法"对脑出血患者进行分层治疗。     

急性脑出血的血肿扩大与血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇的关系

目的研究急性脑出血患者血肿扩大与血清TC、LDL-C水平的关系。方法选择急性脑出血患者144例,入院后即刻测量血压,检测血糖,进行美国国立卫生研究院脑卒中量表评分,即刻和24h行2次CT检查,测量并计算血肿体积,以第二次CT血肿量比第一次增加33%定义为血肿扩大,分为血肿扩大组72例和对照组72例,发病6h内抽血检测TC、LDL-C数值。结果血肿扩大组年龄、收缩压、舒张压、血糖明显高于对照组,TC、LDL-C明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。logistic回归模型分析筛选出的变量为:LDL-C(OR=0.001,95%CI:0.001～0.024,P<0.001)、TC(OR=0.057,95%CI:0.004～0.863,P=0.0322)、血糖(OR=1.851,95%CI:1.219～2.810,P=0.0038)、收缩压(OR=1.120,95%CI:1.021～1.229,P=0.0165)、舒张压(OR=1.152,95%CI:1.052～1.262,P=0.0023)。结论急性脑出血患者血肿扩大与TC、LDL-C水平有关。     

中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值对急性脑出血病人短期预后不良的预测价值

目的探讨入院时外周血中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR)对急性脑出血病人短期预后不良的预测价值。方法回顾性分析2018年1月—2018年12月在扬州市江都人民医院住院的急性脑出血病人128例,根据3个月时改良Rankin评分量表(mRS)评分分为预后良好组(mRS≤3分)87例,预后不良组(mRS3分)41例,单因素分析两组病人入院时的临床、影像学及实验室资料,采用二分类Logistic回归分析探讨影响急性脑出血病人短期预后不良的危险因素,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评价NLR对急性脑出血病人短期预后不良的预测价值。结果①128例急性脑出血病人中预后不良41例(32.0%)。②与预后良好组相比,预后不良组病人糖尿病病史、脑卒中病史、饮酒史的比例以及年龄、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(NIHSS)评分均升高,血肿体积大,出血破入脑室比例高,白细胞计数、中性粒细胞计数、NLR及入院时即刻血糖(ABG)升高,淋巴细胞计数低(P均0.05)。③二分类Logistic回归分析显示,年龄[OR=1.120,95%CI(1.026,1.222),P0.05]、血肿体积[OR=1.165,95%CI(1.038,1.307),P0.01]、NLR[OR=1.260,95%CI(1.042,1.525),P0.05]、ABG[OR=1.707,95%CI(1.112,2.621),P0.05]及NIHSS评分[OR=1.304,95%CI(1.110,1.530),P0.01]升高为急性脑出血病人短期预后不良的独立危险因素。④Spearman和Pearson相关性分析显示,NLR与基线NIHSS评分和血肿体积之间均呈明显的正相关(P0.05);⑤ROC曲线分析表明,NLR预测急性脑出血病人短期预后不良的曲线下面积为0.817[95%CI(0.744～0.890),P0.001],预测价值优于白细胞计数、中性粒细胞计数、淋巴细胞计数。结论入院时升高的NLR值对急性脑出血病人短期预后不良有一定的预测价值。     

CT双期增强扫描在自发性脑出血患者点征检出中的优势及临床价值

目的探讨多层螺旋CT双期增强扫描在自发性脑出血患者点征检出中的优势及临床价值。方法对89例自发性脑出血患者进行头颅CT平扫、动脉期及静脉期增强扫描,记录动脉期及静脉期点征出现部位、多少及大小变化,观察血肿变化,对比分析动脉期与双期扫描点征检出区别,重建观察CTA图像。结果 89例动脉期检出点征27例,检出率30. 33%,共34处,血肿内29处,血肿周围5处;静脉期新增8例,共12处,血肿内9处,血肿周围3处,静脉期8处点征增大。双期共检出35例,检出率39. 33%,共46处; CTA成像检出动脉瘤3例,左侧大脑前A1段缺如4例,右侧大脑后动脉期P1段缺如1例,血管畸形1例。31例患者血肿扩大,其中有29例出现点征,静脉期检出点征及点征增大病例血肿均扩大。动脉期与双期扫描点征检出差异有统计学意义(P 0. 05),脑内血肿扩大阳性率与双期扫描点征检出率,差异有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。结论多层螺旋CT双期增强扫描对点征检出率较高,可以有效地预测血肿早期扩大。     

脑白质疏松对自发性幕上脑出血患者预后的影响

目的探讨脑白质疏松(leukoaraiosis,LA)对自发性幕上脑出血预后的影响。方法选择118例自发性幕上脑出血患者的临床资料,根据格拉斯哥结局量表评分,分为预后良好组58例和预后不良组60例。比较2组人口统计学资料、血肿特征以及LA的严重程度;采用van Swieten量表评价头颅CT上LA的严重程度。结果与预后良好组比较,预后不良组患者年龄、收缩压、血糖、LA评分、血肿体积、合并脑室出血明显升高(P<0.05.P<0.01),格拉斯哥昏迷评分明显降低(P<0.01)。多因素logistic逐步回归分析显示,LA评分、格拉斯哥昏迷评分、血肿体积以及合并脑室出血是预后不良的独立预测因素。结论 LA是自发性幕上脑出血患者预后不良的独立预测因素之一。     

CT血管成像与MR血管成像对颅内动脉瘤诊断价值的Meta分析

目的通过Meta分析,比较CT血管成像（CTA）与MR血管成像（MRA）对颅内动脉瘤的诊断价值。方法检索维普中文科技期刊数据库、中国生物医学文献数据库、中国期刊全文数据库、数字化期刊数据库、PubMed、EMBASE、Web of Science、Cochrane Library,按照纳入标准筛选关于CTA和MRA对颅内动脉瘤诊断的研究,检索时间均由建库至2012年4月。采用Metadisc 1.4软件对数据进行分析,计算诊断的敏感度、特异度、比值比（OR）及95%CI,异质性采用I2检验分析,绘制出汇总受试者工作特征曲线（SROC）,并计算曲线下面积。结果共纳入6篇符合标准的文章（均为前瞻性研究）,合计370例患者。Meta分析结果示,CTA对颅内动脉瘤诊断的敏感度为0.91（95%CI：0.87～0.94）,特异度为0.92（95%CI：0.86～0.96）,OR为78.29（95%CI：28.27～216.77）,SROC曲线下面积为0.9593。MRA诊断的敏感度为0.85（95%CI：0.80～0.89）,特异度为0.92（95%CI：0.86～0.96）,OR为41.94（95%CI：18.50～95.09）,SROC曲线下面积为0.9304。结论 CTA对于颅内动脉瘤的诊断价值高于MRA。但仍需大样本的研究进一步加以证实。     

64层螺旋CT冠状动脉成像检测不稳定斑块的危险因素分析

目的 探讨64层螺旋CT冠状动脉成像(64SCTA)检测冠状动脉粥样斑块的价值,分析形成不稳定斑块的危险因素.方法 选择112例住院冠心病患者行64SCTA和导管法冠状动脉造影,均检测血清内皮素-1、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)、白介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子-α和超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP).以冠状动脉造影为标准评价64SCTA检测冠状动脉斑块的作用;根据检测正确的粥样斑块CT值将患者分为软斑块组(51例)和非软斑块组(61例),比较两组各检测指标的差异,分析软斑块形成的危险因素. 结果 64SCTA检测冠状动脉斑块的灵敏度为87.4%,特异度为87.1%,阳性预测值82.2%,阴性预测值91.0%.软斑块组与非软斑块组比较,MMP-9、IL-6、hs-CRP、冠状动脉病变数及诊断、性别和糖尿病的构成比差异有统计学意义.Logistic回归分析显示,MMP-9>5.231 ng/L(P=0.0215,OR=2.33,95%CI 1.13～4.79)、hs-CRP>3.583 mg/L(P=0.0008,OR=4.32,95%CI 1.84～10.15)和不稳定心绞痛(P=0.0339,0R=4.33,95%CI 1.12～16.77)为软斑块形成的危险因素.结论 64SCTA检测冠状动脉斑块价值较高,是目前无创方法检测冠状动脉斑块最为可靠的手段之一.MMP-9、hs-CRP和不稳定心绞痛为不稳定斑块的独立危险因素.     

经皮冠状动脉介入治疗相关心肌梗死的危险因素和预测模型的建立

目的:筛选经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)相关心肌梗死(PMI)的危险因素,建立PMI发生风险的危险模型。方法:回顾性分析了北京大学人民医院801例择期PCI患者的临床基线特征、冠状动脉造影检查结果及PCI操作资料,并就此根据临床实际情况分为PMI组(n=113)和无PMI组(n=688)。同时利用多元Logistic回归分析筛选PMI的独立危险因素并建立危险模型。结果:PMI发生率为14.1%(113/801),经过多元Logistic回归分析发现PMI的独立危险因素包括年龄(OR=1.040,95%CI:1.015~1.065,P=0.001),多支病变(OR=1.740,95%CI:1.028~2.945,P=0.039),支架数目(OR=1.787,95%CI:1.404~2.275,P=0.000),旋磨(OR=4.046,95%CI:1.336~12.252,P=0.013),并建立了危险模型。该模型的ROC曲线下面积为0.706(95%CI:0.657~0.754)。结论:年龄、多支病变、支架数目及旋磨均为PMI发生的独立危险因素,由此建立的危险模型能够较好地指导临床工作者评估PMI风险。     

Computed tomography findings for predicting severe acute hepatitis with prolonged cholestasis

AIM: To evaluate the significance of computed tomography (CT) findings in relation to liver chemistry and the clinical course of acute hepatitis. METHODS: Four hundred and twelve patients with acute hepatitis who underwent enhanced CT scanning were enrolled retrospectively. Imaging findings were analyzed for the following variables: gallbladder wall thickness (GWT), arterial heterogeneity, periportal tracking, number and maximum size of lymph nodes, presence of ascites, and size of spleen. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time were measured on the day of admission and CT scan, and laboratory data were evaluated every 2-4 d for all subjects during hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 34.4 years, and the most common cause of hepatitis was hepatitis A virus (77.4%). The mean GWT was 5.2 mm. The number of patients who had findings of arterial heterogeneity, periportal tracking, lymph node enlargement > 7 mm, and ascites was 294 (80.1%), 348 (84.7%), 346 (84.5%), and 56 (13.6%), respectively. On multivariate logistic regression, male gender [odds ratio (OR) = 2.569, 95%CI: 1.477-4.469, P = 0.001], toxic hepatitis (OR = 3.531, 95%CI: 1.444-8.635, P = 0.006), level of albumin (OR = 2.154, 95%CI: 1.279-3.629, P = 0.004), and GWT (OR = 1.061, 95%CI: 1.015-1.110, P = 0.009) were independent predictive factors for severe hepatitis. The level of bilirubin (OR = 1.628, 95%CI: 1.331-1.991, P < 0.001) and GWT (OR = 1.172, 95%CI: 1.024-1.342,P = 0.021) were independent factors for prolonged cholestasis in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute hepatitis, GWT on CT scan was an independent predictor of severe hepatitis and prolonged cholestasis.     

基底动脉高密度征与急性后循环脑梗死患者短期预后的相关性

目的探讨在非增强头部CT上显示的基底动脉高密度征(HDBA)与急性后循环脑梗死患者短期预后的相关性。方法回顾性分析发病48h内行非增强头部CT检查的后循环脑梗死患者103例。根据发病14 d时美国国立卫生院卒中量表评分(NIHSS),将患者分为短期预后不良组(30例)和短期预后较好组(73例)。分析HDBA与患者短期预后的关系。其中75例在发病7 d内行头部CT血管造影(CTA)或MR血管造影(MRA)检查,分析血管病变程度与HDBA的关系。结果①预后不良组HDBA、糖尿病患者所占比率及入院时NIHSS评分高于短期预后较好组,差异均有统计学意义,P<0.01。②Binary Logistic回归分析显示,HDBA(OR=0.053,95%CI:0.013～0.213,P<0.01)和入院时NIHSS评分(OR=0.705,95%CI:0.521～0.955,P<0.05)是影响急性后循环脑梗死患者短期预后不良的独立危险因素。③75例行血管检查的患者中,28例为HDBA组,47例为非HDBA组。HDBA组和非HDBA组重度狭窄或闭塞患者所占比率分别为71.4%(20/28)和6.4%(3/47),差异有统计学意义,P<0.01。结论 HDBA可能是影响急性后循环脑梗死短期预后的参考指标。     

The diagnostic value of a non-contrast computed tomography scan-based radiomics model for acute aortic dissection

To investigate the diagnostic value of a computed tomography (CT) scan-based radiomics model for acute aortic dissection.For the dissection group, we retrospectively selected 50 patients clinically diagnosed with acute aortic dissection between October 2018 and November 2019, for whom non-contrast CT and CT angiography images were available. Fifty individuals with available non-contrast CT and CT angiography images for other causes were selected for inclusion in the non-dissection group. Based on the aortic dissection locations on the CT angiography images, we marked the corresponding regions-of-interest on the non-contrast CT images of both groups. We collected 1203 characteristic parameters from these regions by extracting radiomics features. Subsequently, we used a random number table to include 70 individuals in the training group and 30 in the validation group. Finally, we used the Lasso regression for dimension reduction and predictive model construction. The diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Fourteen characteristic parameters with non-zero coefficients were selected after dimension reduction. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve of the prediction model for the training group were 94.3% (66/70), 91.2% (31/34), 97.2% (35/36), and 0.988 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.970–0.998), respectively. The respective values for the validation group were 90.0% (27/30), 94.1% (16/17), 84.6% (11/13), and 0.952 (95% CI: 0.883–0.986).Our non-contrast CT scan-based radiomics model accurately facilitated acute aortic dissection diagnosis.     

Pink-color sign in esophageal squamous neoplasia,and speculation regarding the underlying mechanism

AIM:To investigate the reasons for the occurrence of the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions. METHODS:In chromoendoscopy, the pink-color sign of iodine-unstained lesions is recognized as useful for the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with superficial esophageal neoplasms treated by endoscopic resection were included in the study. Areas of mucosa with and without the pink-color sign were evaluated histologically. The following histologic features that were possibly associated with the pinkcolor sign were evaluated. The keratinous layer and basal cell layer were classified as present or absent. Cellular atypia was classified as high grade, moderate grade or low grade, based on nuclear irregularity, mitotic figures, loss of polarity, chromatin pattern and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Vascular change was assessed based on dilatation, tortuosity, caliber change and variability in shape. Vessels with these four findings were classified as positive for vascular change. Endoscopic images of the lesions were captured immediately after iodine staining, 2-3 min after iodine staining and after complete fading of iodine staining. Quantitative analysis of color changes after iodine staining was also performed. RESULTS:A total of 61 superficial esophageal neoplasms in 54 patients were included in the study. The lesions were located in the cervical esophagus in one case, the upper thoracic esophagus in 10 cases, the mid-thoracic esophagus in 33 cases, and the lower thoracic esophagus in 17 cases. The median diameter of the lesions was 20 mm (range:2-74 mm). Of the 61 lesions, 28 were classified as pink-color sign positive and 33 as pink-color sign negative. The histologic diagnosis was high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) or cancer invading into the lamina propria in 26 of the 28 pink-color sign positive lesions. There was a significant association between pink-color sign positive epithelium and HGIN or invasive cancer (P = 0.0001). Univariate analyses found that absence of the keratinous