双能量融合技术对肝门静脉成像质量的研究

目的 探讨肝脏门静脉期双能量扫描线性融合图与非线性融合图在门静脉血管VRT图像中的应用价值.方法 60例临床确诊肝硬化门静脉高压胃底食管静脉曲张的患者,在肝脏CT增强门静脉期行双能量扫描(Sn140/80 kVp),利用80 kVp和140 kVp的2组数据,进行线性融合A组融合比率(M)=0.3, B组M=1.0;非线性融合C组融合中点(c)=150、融合宽度(w)=200, D组c=(CT肝门静脉+CT肝实质)/2、w=(CT肝门静脉-CT肝实质)/2,其中CT肝门静脉和CT肝实质值均在M=0.3时图像上测得.比较4组图像门静脉的CT值、 信噪比(SNR)、对比信噪比(CNR)、门静脉与肝实质CT值差,采用统计学one-way ANOVA检验客观分析.比较4组VRT图像采用统计学Kruskal-Wallis秩和检验,两两比较采用了Mann-Whitney U检验主观分析.结果 4组图像数据中,D组门静脉的SNR、CNR、门静脉与肝实质CT值差(14.36 HU±3.23 HU、9.78 HU±2.39 HU、107.66 HU±21.28 HU),与其他3组比较分值最高,统计学均有显著差异(F=34.94、68.10、162.43,P值均<0.01);4组VRT图像主观评分中,D组得分最高(平均分4.78±0.42),与其他3组比较统计学均有显著差异(P值均<0.01).结论 利用D组的非线性融合技术可提高门静脉成像质量,可在临床实践中推广使用.     

双源CT双能量成像在肝癌经皮肝动脉化疗栓塞术后复查中的应用价值

目的 评价双源CT(DSCT)双能量成像对肝癌经皮肝动脉化疗栓塞(TACE)术后病灶复查的应用价值.方法 对27例接受TACE治疗的原发性肝癌患者资料进行回顾性分析,27例均行常规肝脏平扫及动态三期增强扫描,其中动脉期图像由双能量扫描方式获得.采用2种方法观察,A法观察常规平扫、动脉期、门静脉期及延迟期图像,B法观察虚拟平扫、动脉期、门静脉期及延迟期图像,评价2种方法对栓塞病灶内部及其周围肝组织内强化信息的判断.以DSA结果为参照标准,计算A、B2法的敏感性、特异性等指标,采用x2检验比较两种方法的诊断能力.结果 27例TACE术后复查患者中共检出63个病变,DSA明确其中39个病变有强化,24个病变无强化.B法的敏感性为94.9％( 37/39),高于A法的74.4％( 29/39;x2=6.303,P＜0.05);B法的特异性为95.8％( 23/24),与A法的83.3％ (20/24)差异无统计学意义(x2 =2.009,P＞0.05).结论 以动脉期双能量扫描代替常规CT平扫与动脉期增强扫描,与常规CT动态增强相比,对TACE术后肝癌病灶的评估更加准确.     

胰腺双能量CT虚拟平扫与真实平扫的初步对比研究

目的：比较双源CT胰腺双能量扫描虚拟平扫与真实平扫的图像质量差异。方法：67例患者行双源CT上腹部真实平扫（TNE）、动脉期和门脉期双能量扫描,通过双能量liver—VNC软件后处理分别得到动脉期和门脉期虚拟平扫图像,比较真实平扫、动脉期虚拟平扫和门脉期虚拟平扫三组图像中的胰腺CT值、竖脊肌CT值、图像噪声、胰腺信噪比、胰腺-竖脊肌对比噪声比、图像主观质量评分以及辐射剂量。结果：TNE、动脉期VNE和门脉期VNE三组图像中的胰腺CT值、竖脊肌CT值的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;三组中图像噪声、胰腺信噪比和胰腺-竖脊肌对比噪声比的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,且动脉期VNE图像噪声最低,信噪比最高;三组图像主观质量评分均满足临床诊断,且评分TNE〉动脉期VNE〉门脉期VNE（P〈0．001）;采用动脉期VNE的总有效剂量（ED）和采用门脉期VNE的总ED均低于采用TNE的总ED（P=0．001）。结论：双源CT双能量扫描胰腺虚拟平扫的图像质量接近于真实平扫,并且动脉期虚拟平扫图像质量优于门脉期,在临床胰腺三期增强扫描中可能替代真实平扫并且减少辐射剂量。     

初步评估双源CT双能量技术在孤立性肺结节研究中的价值

目的：探讨双源CT双能量技术在孤立性肺结节（SPN）研究中的临床应用价值。方法：40例SPN患者经病理证实并行胸部CT常规平扫及双能量模式增强扫描,双能量增强扫描数据传入Siemens双源CT专用＂Dual-Energy＂工作站,选择＂Liver VNC＂模式进行自动能量减影,得到虚拟平扫图像及碘分布图像。对SPN的虚拟平扫图像CT值和常规平扫图像SPN的CT值进行比较研究;对SPN内的碘分布图像CT值与SPN的强化值（增强图像SPN的CT值-平扫图像SPN的CT值）进行比较研究;对利用碘分布图像CT值和强化值在诊断SPN的符合率进行比较研究;研究虚拟平扫图像显示SPN内钙化灶以及纵隔淋巴结钙化灶的能力;将双能量扫描模式辐射剂量与单源扫描模式辐射剂量进行比较。结果：SPN的虚拟平扫图像CT值和常规平扫图像的CT值以及碘分布图像CT值与强化值显示出良好的一致性（相关系数分别为0.89,0.91）。以20HU作为阈值,利用SPN强化值评估其良恶性的准确度、敏感度、特异度分别为67.5%、71.4%、58.3%;利用SPN碘分布图像CT值评估其良恶性的准确度、敏感度、特异度分别为75.0%、74.2%、66.7%。虚拟平扫图像对SPN内钙化灶及纵隔淋巴结钙化的显示率为94.2%。双能量扫描模式平均辐射剂量（230.74±36.12）mGy.cm与单源扫描模式平均辐射剂量（238.14±29.12）mGy.cm,差异无统计学意义（t=0.12,P〉0.05）。结论：双能量扫描技术能够一次扫描获得虚拟平扫图及碘剂分布图,不存在数据采集的位置和时间差,能够成功检出强化后SPN内的钙化灶,选择性重建SPN的虚拟平扫图像代替胸部常规平扫则可以明显减低患者的辐射剂量。     

Prospective intraindividual comparison between respiratory-triggered balanced steady-state free precession and breath-hold gradient-echo and time-of-flight magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of portal and hepatic veins

The purpose of this study was to compare respiratory-triggered balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) with breath-hold contrast-enhanced dynamic two-dimensional (2D) gradient-echo (GRE) and time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for portal and hepatic vein visualization and assessment of portal and hepatic venous variants. Sixty patients with liver disease underwent nonenhanced bSSFP and contrast-enhanced GRE, bSSFP, and TOF imaging. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) for portal and hepatic veins were measured. Two readers rated the quality of portal and hepatic vein visualization on a 5-point Likert scale. The diagnostic performance of each MRI series in the detection of portal and hepatic venous variants was assessed in 40/60 patients who also underwent contrast-enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). CNRs for portal and hepatic veins were highest on contrast-enhanced bSSFP images. Image quality of portal and hepatic veins was rated higher for nonenhanced bSSFP than for contrast-enhanced GRE (p<0.03) and TOF (p<0.003) and higher for contrast-enhanced than for nonenhanced bSSFP (p<0.003). Compared with MDCT, portal and hepatic venous variants were identified with an accuracy of 99% on bSSFP images, with an excellent interobserver agreement (κ=0.97). Compared with MDCT, presence of surgically important portal and hepatic venous anatomical variants can be predicted with high accuracy on bSSFP images.     

多层螺旋CT胰腺增强扫描：扫描方案的选择及对胰周血管的评价

目的：通过胰腺同层动态增强扫描,获得感兴趣区的时间-密度曲线,确定胰腺增强扫描的最佳延迟时间,并应用此扫描方案分析胰周血管的显示率。方法：①随机选择20例无胰腺疾病的患者进行胰腺同层动态增强扫描,获得感兴趣区的强化峰值及到达峰值时间;②随机选择40例无胰腺疾病的患者进行胰腺三期增强扫描,分析胰周血管的显示率。结果：①腹主动脉强化峰值时间约为30s,平均强化峰值为350．3HU,20s时平均CT值为316．7HU;门静脉强化峰值时间约为45s,胰腺实质强化峰值时间约为40s,肝脏实质强化峰值时间约为55s,曲线到达峰值后75s内处于平台期;②胰周主要动脉（CA、HA、SA、sMA）的显示率为100％（40／40）,除AIPDA以外的其它胰周小动脉显示率为75％～100％。胰周主要静脉（PV、SV、SMV）的显示率为100％（40／40）,除AIPDV以外的其它胰周小静脉显示率为75％-100％。结论：在注射剂量100ml,注射流率4ml／S时,建议多层螺旋CT胰腺增强扫描的延迟时间分别为动脉期20s,胰腺实质期45s,门静脉期或肝脏期70s。     

In vitro characterization of atherosclerotic carotid plaque with multidetector computed tomography and histopathological correlation

This in vitro study evaluated the performance of 16-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in the assessment of carotid plaque components, with histology as the gold standard. Twenty-one specimens (n=21) were scanned and reconstructed after optimization of the protocol. Three corresponding MDCT images and histologic sections were selected from each specimen. The Hounsfield values (HV) of the major plaque components (calcifications, fibrous tissue and lipid) were assessed. Plaque areas (mm²) assessed with MDCT were compared with the results from histologic analysis. A value of 140 kVp and an intermediate reconstruction algorithm was the optimal protocol. In 15 out of 21 specimens it was possible to match MDCT images with histology. The HV of calcifications, fibrous tissue and lipid were 45±21, 79±20 and 960±491 HU (P<0.001), respectively. Plaque areas were compared in 27 matched levels. The calcified and lipid areas on MDCT and histology correlate well (R²=0.83 and R²=0.68, respectively). The mean difference in lipid area was 0.1 mm² (95% CI=–2.1–2.3 mm²). This in vitro study showed that MDCT is capable of characterizing and quantifying the lipid rich portion of the atherosclerotic plaque.     

Abdominal multidetector row computed tomography: reduction of cost and contrast material dose using saline flush

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of a saline solution flush after the contrast material bolus in abdominal multidetector row CT (MDCT) in contrast material dose and cost reduction. METHODS: Abdominal MDCT was performed in 78 patients who were assigned randomly to 2 groups receiving 120 mL nonionic contrast material (300 mgI/mL) alone or 100 mL of the same contrast material pushed with 40 mL of saline solution. Mean attenuation values for both groups were measured in the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, the portal vein, the inferior vena cava, and the abdominal aorta. Cost analyses were performed for both groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in parenchymal and vascular enhancement between both groups. The difference of the enhancement was 2 HU for the liver (P = 0.11), 2 HU for the spleen (P = 0.44), 3 HU for the pancreas (P = 0.38), 9 HU for the portal vein (P = 0.11), 3 HU for the inferior vena cava (P = 0.55), and 10 HU for the aorta (P = 0.06). Taking the costs of contrast material, saline solution, and disposal material into account, 7.30 dollars was saved by the patient using a saline solution flush. CONCLUSIONS: Using a saline flush after the contrast material bolus in abdominal MDCT allows an iodine dose reduction of approximately 6 g, or 17%, without impairing mean parenchymal and vascular enhancement and a cost reduction of 7.30 dollars per patient.     

Reliability of differentiating human coronary plaque morphology using contrast-enhanced multislice spiral computed tomography: a comparison with histology

BACKGROUND: Initial clinical results indicate that multislice spiral computed tomography (MDCT) might be useful for the noninvasive characterization of human coronary plaque morphology by determining tissue density within the lesions. This seems to be of clinical relevance, because coronary artery disease might be detected at an early stage before calcifications occur and noncalcified plaques that may be more likely to rupture could also be visualized noninvasively. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of contrast-enhanced MDCT in differentiating human atherosclerotic coronary plaque morphology by comparing it with the histopathologic gold standard. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve human hearts were scanned postmortem using an MDCT (Somatom Volume Zoom; Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) high-resolution computed tomography scanner to detect atherosclerotic coronary plaques. Density measurements were performed within detected plaque areas. The exact location of each plaque was marked at the surface of the heart to assure accurate histopathologic sectioning of these lesions. The plaques were classified according to a modified Stary classification. Seventeen plaques were identified by MDCT. Six plaques were histopathologically classified as lipid rich (Stary III/IV), 6 plaques as intermediate (Stary V), and 5 plaques as calcific (Stary VII). Lipid-rich plaques had a mean density on MDCT of 42 +/- 22 Hounsfield units (HU), intermediate plaques had a mean density of 70 +/- 21 HU, and calcific plaques had a mean density of 715 +/- 328 HU. ANOVA analysis revealed a significant difference in plaque density between the 3 groups (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The comparison with histopathology confirms that tissue density as determined by contrast-enhanced MDCT might be used to differentiate atherosclerotic plaque morphology.     

Comparison of MS-325- and gadodiamide-enhanced MR venography of iliocaval veins

PURPOSE: To compare conventional extracellular and blood-pool magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents in "indirect" contrast-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) MR venography of the iliocaval veins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine gadodiamide-enhanced 3D MR (Gd-MR) angiography studies and 12 MS-325-enhanced 3D MR (MS-325-MR) angiography studies were reviewed retrospectively. Abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) or iliac veins were not suspected before MR imaging. The MR angiography studies were reviewed with and without subtraction. Diagnostic conspicuity and subjective contrast of the various iliocaval venous segments (suprarenal IVC, infrarenal IVC, and iliac veins) and the presence of artifacts were subjectively scored by two blinded observers. RESULTS: In the Gd-MR angiography group, the infrarenal IVC and iliac veins were visualized with good conspicuity in only 55% of segments compared to 92%-100% of segments in the MS-325-MR angiography group. Although subtraction improved subjective conspicuity and contrast relative to background in the Gd-MR angiography group, it resulted in increased artifacts and luminal blurring. Subtraction offered little diagnostic advantage in the MS-325-MR angiography group. CONCLUSION: Indirect contrast-enhanced 3D MR venography with use of MS-325 offered significantly improved diagnostic conspicuity and contrast in iliocaval venous opacification compared to gadodiamide-enhanced studies.     

Preliminary experience with abdominal dual-energy CT (DECT): true versus virtual nonenhanced images of the liver

Purpose

The aim of this work was to compare the quality and noise of true nonenhanced (TNE) and virtual nonenhanced (VNE) images in patients undergoing dualenergy computed tomography (DECT) of the liver.

Materials and methods

Twenty consecutive patients (mean age 54.7±19.9 years) prospectively underwent abdominal DECT to assess the liver using a triphasic protocol consisting of precontrast, arterial-phase and portal-phase acquisitions. Exclusion criteria were allergy to iodinated contrast material, impaired renal function and a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m². The DE portal-phase acquisition was performed with automatic dose modulation (CARE Dose 4D). Nonionic iodinated contrast material (Iomeron 400) was administered at 0.625 gI/kg with a flow rate of 3.5 ml/s. Axial VNE images were reconstructed based on the portal data set using a collimation and an increment of 5 mm and were compared with TNE images reconstructed with the same parameters. The average image quality and noise were analysed by two radiologists in separate reading sessions.

Results

No statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in image quality was observed between VNE (4.00±0.85) and TNE images (4.35±0.58). A sufficient diagnostic quality was found in 95.0% (19/20) of VNE images and in 100% of TNE images. No statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in the average image noise of VNE (9.5±0.7) and TNE (12.3±1.1) images.

Conclusions

Abdominal DECT allows acquisition of liver VNE images with similar image quality and lower noise than TNE. Nevertheless, a few technical limitations related to the small field of view of the second detector in patients with a high BMI and heterogeneous iodine subtraction restrict the application of this technique to selected patients only.     

Non-invasive assessment of coronary artery bypass graft with retrospectively ECG-gated four-row multi-detector spiral computed tomography

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of four-row multi-detector CT (MDCT) in the evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in patients with at least a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafted to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), because of the conduit of choice in bypass surgery and the greater difficulty of evaluation with non-invasive diagnostic tools. Included in the study were 57 patients with a total of 122 grafts (95 arterial and 27 venous) who underwent MDCT (4×2.5-mm detector-collimation, 3-mm slice width, 1.5-mm reconstruction increment) with retrospective ECG gating. Twelve patients (21%) with high heart rates were given beta-blockers in order to obtain a heart rate 70 bpm in all patients. The ECG-synchronized axial images, reconstructed in the mid-diastole, MPR, MIP and 3D-VR images were independently and blindly assessed by two radiologists for graft patency and presence of high grade stenosis. Conventional angiography was the standard of reference. MDCT correctly classified 92/94 patent grafts and 26/28 occluded grafts (sensitivity/specificity 93%/97.8%); sensitivity and specificity of MDCT for assessment of arterial grafts were 100 and 98.7% (77/78 patent grafts and 17/17 occluded grafts). Image quality was considered adequate for assessment of significant stenoses in 62/92 (67%) patent grafts, with a significant differences between LIMA and non-LIMA conduits (44/57 vs. 18/65; P=0.002), according to the coronary vessel area supplied (anterior>lateral>posterior-inferior wall; P=0.002). In the remaining 30 patent grafts (33%), the assessment of stenoses was hampered by surgical clips, calcifications and motion artifacts. Sensitivity and specificity of MDCT for detection of significant graft stenoses were 80 and 96%, respectively. Inter-observer agreement was good (K=0.73). MDCT seems to be a valuable diagnostic tool for non-invasive assessment of patency of both venous and arterial grafts. An accurate evaluation of distal anastomoses and native coronary arteries may still represent a limitation of four-row MDCT, which will improve with the newest MDCT scanner.     

Tuberculous Addison's disease: morphological and quantitative evaluation with multidetector-row CT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of tuberculous Addison's disease on the axial and multiplanar reformatted (MPR) images of the multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The unenhanced and contrast-enhanced MDCT features in 19 patients with tuberculous Addison's disease were retrospectively assessed for the location, contour, size, calcification, attenuation, and enhancement patterns. The correlation between the duration of Addison's disease and the percentage of calcification presence was evaluated. RESULTS: The adrenal glands were infected bilaterally in all of the 19 cases (100%, 38 glands). Enlargement of the glands appeared in 18 cases (94.7%, 36 glands) and the remaining one case (5.3%, two glands) showed atrophy bilaterally. Of the 36 enlarged adrenals, 13 (36.1%) had preserved contours, and the other 23 (63.9%) were mass-like. The size of the adrenals ranged from 0.6 to 4.8 cm (mean 1.92+/-0.96 cm). Calcification was revealed in 16 adrenals (16/38, 42.1%), increasing in incidence with disease progression. Fourteen of the 36 (38.9%) enlarged adrenals showed peripheral enhancement while the remaining 22 (61.1%) demonstrated heterogeneous enhancement. The DeltaCT value, the attenuation measurement of mass-like lesions, was less in the central area (7+/-4 HU) than that in the peripheral area (32+/-14 HU) (P<0.01) between the unenhanced and contrast-enhanced scan. CONCLUSION: MDCT can reveal the characteristic morphology and CT attenuation in the tuberculous Addison's disease. Combined with its clinical presentations and biochemical findings, we can diagnose and stage adrenal tuberculosis with high specificity and accuracy on MDCT.     

Contrast enhancement for whole-body screening using multidetector row helical CT: comparison between uniphasic and biphasic injection protocols

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which is more suitable for whole-body screening with multidetector row CT (MDCT) during one breathhold, a uniphasic or biphasic injection protocol for contrast material. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients received a volume of 1.7 mL x weight (kg) with iopamidol 300 mg iodine/mL. The patients were randomized into two injection protocols: A) a fixed injection rate of 2.0 mL/sec with a 70 sec delay, B) administration of 80% of the contrast material in 40 sec, then administration of the remaining 20% in 20 sec with an 80 sec delay. A helical scan from the apex of the lung to the base of the pelvic cavity was performed during one breathhold. CT attenuation values of the thoracic aorta, pulmonary artery, abdominal aorta, portal vein, superior vena cava (SVC), suprarenal and infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC), liver, and pancreas were measured. Two radiologists visually assessed the degree enhancement of the IVC. In addition, the two radiologists visually assessed artifacts caused by contrast material in the subclavian vein and SVC using a four-point scale. RESULTS: Enhancement of the SVC in protocol A was significantly better than that in protocol B (p=0.04). Enhancement of the infrarenal IVC and liver in protocol B was significantly better than that in protocol A (p<0.01, p<0.01). Renal enhancement in protocol B was significantly better than that in protocol A (p=0.02). In all patients with both protocols A and B, enhancement of the suprarenal IVC was visually graded as acceptable or good. In all patients with protocol B, enhancement of the infrarenal IVC was graded as acceptable or good. In only 2/3 of patients with protocol A, enhancement of the infrarenal IVC was graded as acceptable or good. There was no significant difference in artifacts in the subclavian vein between the two protocols (p=0.77). Artifacts in the SVC in protocol B were significantly fewer than those in protocol A (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Protocol B was more suitable for whole-body screening than protocol A, because of better enhancement of the liver and infrarenal IVC and fewer artifacts in the SVC.     

Renal cysts: is attenuation artifactually increased on contrast-enhanced CT images?

PURPOSE: To determine if the attenuation values of simple renal cysts are artifactually increased on contrast material-enhanced, clinically acquired spiral computed tomographic (CT) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dual-phase renal spiral CT studies (5-mm collimation; pitch, 1.0) were retrospectively analyzed in 24 consecutive patients who had ultrasonographic (US) documentation of simple renal cysts. Forty-eight cysts were identified. The attenuation values of each cyst were measured on nonenhanced, cortical phase, and nephrographic phase images. The size and the location of each cyst in relation to the renal parenchyma were also recorded. RESULTS: The cysts were 0.6-10.8 cm in diameter (mean, 2.6 cm; SD, 2.0). The mean attenuation change in the cysts from nonenhanced to contrast-enhanced images was statistically significant in a comparison of cortical phase and nephrographic phase images (P: <.01): +1.8 HU (SD, 3.8) for cortical phase and +3. 6 HU (SD, 5.6) for nephrographic phase images. Renal cysts 1.0 cm or smaller showed a higher attenuation increase (mean, +4.0 HU for cortical phase and +11.0 HU for nephrographic phase). None of the renal cysts larger than 1.0 cm demonstrated an increase greater than 10 HU (mean, +1.4 HU for cortical phase and +2.3 HU for nephrographic phase). Intraparenchymal cysts showed higher mean attenuation changes than the exophytic cysts. CONCLUSION: Attenuation values in the renal cysts increased artifactually on contrast-enhanced images, but this pseudoenhancement was not substantial and was less than 10 HU when the cyst was larger than 1. 0 cm in diameter.     

双源CT双能量上腹部虚拟平扫临床应用价值的初步探讨

目的 探讨双源CT(dual source computed tomography,DSCT)上腹部双能量虚拟平扫临床应用的可行性.资料与方法 对46例临床拟诊上腹部病变患者行DSCT上腹部常规平扫(CNCT)及动脉期、门静脉期双能量扫描(80 kV/404 mA和140 kV/96 mA).利用Liver VNC软件处理分别得到动脉期、门静脉期2组虚拟平扫数据,并与CNCT对照,比较三者在图像质量、辐射剂量、平均CT值、信噪比(SNR)及病灶检出上差异的统计学意义.结果 3次扫描患者接受的辐射剂量、所测肝、脾平均CT值的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);虚拟平扫图像SNR明显高于CNCT组(P=0.00),2组虚拟平扫之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);虚拟平扫的图像质量较CNCT有所下降(F=241.80,P=0.00),但可满足临床诊断需求,动脉期虚拟平扫图像质量优于门静脉期(P=0.004);虚拟平扫和CNCT病灶检出性能相似.结论 相对门静脉期而言,肝动脉期的双能量虚拟平扫能提供更好的图像质量,可满足诊断需要,并可减少一次平扫的辐射剂量,具有更高的SNR、相似的病灶检出性能,具有潜在的临床应用价值.     

多层螺旋CT在小肠Crohn病中的应用研究

目的 探讨MSCT双期动态增强扫描在小肠Crohn病中的应用价值.方法 45例经综合方法 诊断,并通过临床治疗证实的小肠Crohn病患者均行MSCT双期动态增强扫描,并在ADW4.2工作站进行后处理.测量患病肠段在不同期相内的CT值,采用方差分析比较其CT值;并测量各期相内患病肠段与正常肠段的CT值筹值,以差别10 HU为界,划分病例数,将不同期相内的病例数采用卡方检验进行比较.结果病变肠段平扫平均CT值为(39.3±3.7)HU,动脉期为(74.8±13.8)HU,门静脉期为(90.2±12.3)HU,差异有统计学意义(F=258.87,P<0.01).病变肠段平扫与动脉期和门静脉期CT值两两比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05).45例中,平扫CT值差值≤10 HU和>10 HU者分别为44和1例,动脉期分别为6和39例,门静脉期分别为2和43例,经X2检验,平扫与动脉期间差异有统计学意义(X2=32.49,P<0.01),平扫与门静脉期间差异有统计学意义(X2=39.22,P<0.01),动脉期与门静脉期间差异无统计学意义(X2=1.10,P>0.05).增强扫描使病灶显示更为清楚,大大提高了小肠Crohn病的检出率.结论 MSCT双期动态增强扫描可对小肠Crohn病作出初步诊断,并可对病变进行全面评价.     

ROC曲线法评价MDCT阴性法胰胆管成像在疑诊胆道梗阻中的应用

目的应用ROC曲线法探讨MDCT阴性法胰胆管成像在临床疑诊胆道梗阻中的诊断价值。方法30例患者行MDCT动、静脉双期增强扫描,利用静脉期原始数据进行多平面重建、容积再现以及最低密度成像重建。由2位资深医师双盲法读片,使用SPSS11.5进行ROC曲线分析,阅片者间差异性评价采用Kappa一致性检验。结果2位阅片医师对MDCT阴性法胰胆管成像检查的ROC曲线下的面积AZ值分别为00.968、0.962,均>0.9,表明其诊断价值较高。2位阅片医师间诊断结果的一致性检验相当满意(K=0.865)。结论MDCT阴性法胰胆管成像检查可以作为临床疑诊胆道梗阻性疾病的常规检查方法。     

Coronary arteries: contrast-enhanced MR imaging with SH L 643A--experience in 12 volunteers

PURPOSE: To assess SH L 643A for three-dimensional breath-hold and respiratory-gated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the depiction of coronary arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers underwent either three-dimensional breath-hold (n = 6) or respiratory-gated (n = 6) coronary MR angiography before and after intravenous injection of 0.1 mmol SH L 643A per kilogram of body weight. For nonenhanced and contrast material-enhanced examinations, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements were obtained. Image quality was assessed in consensus with a five-point scale. Statistical analysis of nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced images was based on a two-tailed paired Student t test. A P value at the.05 significance level was used. RESULTS: Overall statistically significant improvement in CNR was observed after administration of SH L 643A compared with that on nonenhanced images (8.7 +/- 5.3 [SD] vs 23.6 +/- 7.2, P <.01). While SNR of contrast-enhanced images showed improvement over that of nonenhanced images, the difference was not statistically significant (25.4 +/- 0.8 vs 30.2 +/- 16.8, P >.2). Image quality improved from a mean of 3.1 +/- 0.8 for nonenhanced images to 4.0 +/- 0.8 (P <.01) for contrast-enhanced images. CONCLUSION: SH L 643A causes significant improvement of the blood-myocardium contrast enhancement at coronary MR angiography compared with that with nonenhanced sequences.     

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) evaluation of myocardial viability: intraindividual comparison of monomeric vs. dimeric contrast media in a rabbit model

To evaluate the influence of different types of iodinated contrast media on the assessment of myocardial viability, acute myocardial infarction (MI) was surgically induced in six rabbits. Over a period of 45 min, contrast-enhanced cardiac MDCT (64 × 0.6 mm, 80 kV, 680mAs_eff.) was repeatedly performed using a contrast medium dose of 600 mg iodine/kg body weight. Animals received randomized iopromide 300 and iodixanol 320, respectively. Attenuation values of healthy and infarcted myocardium were measured. The size of MI was computed and compared with nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-stained specimen. The highest attenuation differences between infarcted and healthy myocardium occurred during the arterial phase with 140.0 ± 3.5 HU and 141.0 ± 2.2 HU for iopromide and iodixanol, respectively. For iodixanol the highest attenuation difference on delayed contrast-enhanced images was achieved 3 min post injection (73.5 HU). A slightly higher attenuation difference was observed for iopromide 6 min after contrast medium injection (82.2 HU), although not statistically significant (p = 0.6437). Mean infarct volume as measured by NBT staining was 33.5% ± 13.6%. There was an excellent agreement of infarct sizes among NBT-, iopromide- and iodixanol-enhanced MDCT with concordance-correlation coefficients ranging from ρ_{(c)  =} 0.9928–0.9982. Iopromide and iodixanol both allow a reliable assessment of MI with delayed contrast-enhanced MDCT.