A case of unilateral opercular syndrome associated with a subcortical lesion

Summary A patient who developed a unilateral opercular syndrome following a cerebrovascular accident is described. Computed tomography showed that the lesion did not affect the opercular cortex, but involved deep white matter and the head of the caudate nucleus of the left hemisphere. Persistent hypophonia and transient aphasia were associated. Comparison with previous cases is discussed.     

New insights on COPD imaging via CT and MRI

Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) can be used to quantify morphological features and investigate structure/function relationship in COPD. This approach allows a phenotypical definition of COPD patients, and might improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis and suggest new therapeutical options. In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has also become potentially suitable for the assessment of ventilation, perfusion and respiratory mechanics. This review focuses on the established clinical applications of CT, and novel CT and MRI techniques, which may prove valuable in evaluating the structural and functional damage in COPD.     

螺旋CT三期扫描对肝纤维化诊断价值研究

目的探讨螺旋CT三期扫描对肝纤维化的诊断价值。方法对66例经肝穿刺活检病理证实的慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化患者组和42例正常对照组进行螺旋CT三期增强扫描。根据纤维化程度分期进行影像资料和相关指标的统计分析。结果肝左叶增大,肝表面形态及肝实质密度的改变,脾脏增大,门静脉增宽和侧枝循环的建立等影像学改变,随着肝纤维化严重程度的加重而有统计学差异。本研究显示57例肝纤维化患者螺旋CT三期扫描诊断肝纤维化52例,敏感性91.2%,特异性77.8%。各期肝纤维化分期准确28例,准确率49.1%;准确判断轻度纤维化(S1、S2)或重度纤维化(S3、S4)44例,准确率77.2%,诊断早期肝硬化16例,准确率84.2%。结论螺旋CT三期扫描能判断肝纤维化的程度,而且是动态观察肝纤维化的病程演进和临床随访的有效手段。     

Focal vulnerability of developing brain: CT studies on disproportionally dilated lateral ventricles

Summary Cranial computed tomography (CT) of 108 cases with dilated lateral ventricles was reviewed to elucidate the relationship between focal vulnerability of developing brain and disproportional dilatation of lateral ventricles. CT findings of 108 cases with symmetrical dilatation of lateral ventricles were classified into three types by morphometry of lateral ventricles: anterior horn predominant type (31 cases), diffuse type (36 cases), posterior horn predominant type (41 cases). Posterior horn predominant type has a tendency to occur in congenital anomalies and premature brain damage, and anterior horn predominant type in infantile brain damage. This disproportional dilatation of anterior or posterior horns suggests a vulnerability of periventricular structure in developing brain.     

CT appearances of hydatid disease at various locations

Hydatid disease has characteristic imaging features on CT, which allow accurate preoperative diagnosis in most cases. However, when it occurs at unusual locations the diagnosis is often difficult, especially as the imaging appearance varies at different sites. In this article we have presented a pictorial review of the CT features of disease due to Echinococcus granulosus at various sites in the human body.     

Multi-detector CT angiography for lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Can it select patients for endovascular intervention?

This is a retrospective review of the results at our institution of using multi-detector CT angiography (CTA) to localise lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. We hypothesised that in our patient population: (i) CTA was unlikely to demonstrate bleeding in patients who were haemodynamically stable; (ii) in haemodynamically unstable patients in whom CTA was undertaken, the results could be used to select patients who would benefit from catheter angiography; and (iii) in haemodynamically unstable patients in whom CTA was undertaken, a subgroup of patients could be identified who would benefit from primary surgical treatment, avoiding invasive angiography completely. A retrospective review was conducted of the clinical records of all patients undergoing CTA for lower GI haemorrhage at our institution between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2007. Out of the 20 patients examined, 10 had positive CTAs demonstrating the bleeding site. Nine were haemodynamically unstable at the time of the study. Four patients with positive CT angiograms were able to be treated directly with surgery and avoided invasive angiography. Ten patients had negative CTAs. Four of these were haemodynamically unstable, six haemodynamically stable. Only one required intervention to secure haemostasis, the rest stopped spontaneously. No haemodynamically stable patient who had a negative CTA required intervention. CTA is a useful non-invasive technique for localising the site of lower GI bleeding. In our patient population, in the absence of haemodynamic instability, the diagnostic yield of CTA was low and bleeding was likely to stop spontaneously. In haemodynamically unstable patients, a positive CTA allowed patients to be triaged to surgery or angiography, whereas there was a strong association between a negative CTA and spontaneous cessation of bleeding.     

靶重建放大扫描对肺孤立性结节病变的诊断意义

目的：探讨靶重建放大扫描技术对肺孤立性结节病变的诊断价值。方法：对63例患者先行常规CT平扫，选定结节处为兴趣区，行薄层靶重建放大扫描，层厚、层距为2mm，FOV为160。结果：42例恶性病变中有37例表现为深分叶，占88．1％；21例良性病变中有15例表现为浅分叶，占71．4％。恶性结节中15例内部出现条状低密度支气管征；7例出现血管集中征；8例出现空泡征；病变内部出现液化坏死13例，其中恶性病变ll例。22例出现钙化，包括12例良性病变和10例恶性病变。2例错构瘤内均见小面积脂肪性低密度影。结论：靶重建放大扫描比普通CT扫描可提供更多的信息，对良恶性病变的鉴别诊断有一定价值。恶性病变大多数为深分叶，良性病变大多数为浅分叶或无分叶。     

Interobserver Agreement for the Diagnosis of Venous Thromboembolism on Computed Tomography Chest Angiography and Indirect Venography of the Lower Extremities in Emergency Department Patients

Objectives: To determine interobserver agreement between radiologists for computed tomography (CT) angiography and venography. CT venography of the lower extremities combined with standard CT angiography of the chest may result in an increased overall diagnosis rate of venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis).
Methods: The study had a retrospective cohort design. The population consisted of emergency department patients who were evaluated for suspected pulmonary embolism. A random sample of 50 patients diagnosed and treated for venous thromboembolism and 50 age- and gender-matched patients whose CT angiograms and venograms were read as negative were enrolled. The original reading (R1) was compared with readings of two study radiologists: R2, a general radiologist, and R3, a radiologist with fellowship training in cross-sectional imaging. All readers were blinded to each other.
Results: Both R2 and R3 found both CT angiogram and venogram components technically adequate in 95% (95% CI = 89% to 98%) and 86% (95% CI = 78% to 92%) of studies, respectively. The agreement was very good for CT angiography (lowest agreement = 92%; lowest κ = 0.83) and was good for CT venography (85%, κ = 0.65). In nine cases, R1 read the CT angiogram as negative but the venogram as positive for DVT, whereas both R2 and R3 read both components as negative in four of these nine, suggesting a false-positive isolated DVT rate of 44% (95% CI = 19% to 73%). In no case did R1 read both scan components as negative when R2 and R3 agreed on presence of pulmonary embolism or DVT.
Conclusions: Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism on CT angiography is more reliable than diagnosis of isolated DVT on CT venography.