Perfusion CT can predict tumoral grading of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Objectives

To describe perfusion CT features of locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and to evaluate correlation with tumor grading.

Methods

Thirty-two patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Lesions were evaluated by P-CT and biopsy after patient's informed consent. P-CT parameters have been assessed on a large single and on 6 small intratumoral ROIs. Values obtained have been compared and related to the tumor grading using Mann–Whitney U test. Sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy in predicting tumor grading have been calculated for cut-off values chosen by using ROC curves.

Results

Out of 32 lesions, 12 were classified as low grade and 20 as high grade. A statistically significant difference between high and low grade neoplasms were demonstrated for PEI and BV parameters. PEI and BV cut-off values were respectively 17.8 HU and 14.8 ml/100 g. PEI identified high grade neoplasms with a 65% sensitivity, 92% specificity, 93% PPV, 61% NPV and 75% accuracy. BV identified high grade neoplasms with a 80% sensitivity, 75% specificity, 84% PPV, 69% NPV, 78% accuracy. Considering both PEI and BV, P-CT identified high grade lesions with a 60% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, 60% NPV and 75% accuracy.

Conclusions

PEI and BV perfusion CT parameters proved their efficiency in identifying high grade pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

Use of cross-sectional imaging in predicting surgical location of parotid neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of using the retromandibular vein as seen on cross-sectional imaging to help differentiate superficial lobe from deep lobe tumors. METHODS: Of the patients who had parotid neoplasms between January 1997 and July 2002, we were able to identify 44 patients with preoperative imaging studies that were available for evaluation. The films were reviewed by a single head and neck radiologist to determine whether the neoplasms involved the superficial, deep, or both lobes of the parotid gland (total). The lateral margin of the retromandibular vein was used as a marker for the facial nerve, since the nerve is not always visible on CT and MRI scans. The radiologist's findings were then compared with the findings during surgery. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of predicting the location of neoplasms were then calculated. RESULTS: For lesions in the superficial lobe, cross-sectional imaging was able to predict the location of the neoplasm with a sensitivity of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.70-0.98), specificity of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.63-0.96), PPV of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.67-0.97), and NPV of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.67-0.98). For lesions in both lobes (total), cross-sectional imaging was able to predict the location of the neoplasm with a sensitivity of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.68-0.99), specificity of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.71-0.97), PPV of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.58-0.96), and NPV of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.78-0.99). CONCLUSION: Use of the retromandibular vein as a marker for the facial nerve is a sensitive method for identifying the location of parotid gland neoplasms on cross-sectional imaging. This supports the accuracy of using preoperative imaging to detect the position of parotid neoplasms with respect to the facial nerve.     

Vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: utility of perfusion CT and CT angiography on diagnosis and management

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of perfusion CT (PCT) combined with CT angiography (CTA) for the diagnosis and management of vasospasm, by using conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the gold standard. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 27 patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage who had undergone CTA/PCT, DSA, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography within a time interval of 12 hours of one another. The patients' charts were reviewed for treatment of vasospasm. CTA, PCT, TCD, and DSA examinations were independently reviewed and quantified for vasospasm. PCT thresholds, CTA findings, noncontrast CT (NCT) hypodensities, and TCD thresholds were evaluated for accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, as well as for negative (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) in the prediction of angiographic vasospasm and endovascular treatment, considering DSA as the gold standard. RESULTS: Thirty-five CTA/PCT, TCD, and DSA examinations were performed on these 27 patients. A total of 123 arterial territories in 11 patients demonstrated angiographic vasospasm. Six patients underwent endovascular therapy. CTA qualitative assessment and PCT-derived mean transit time (MTT) with a threshold at 6.4 seconds represented the most accurate (93%) combination for the diagnosis of vasospasm, whereas MTT considered alone represented the most sensitive parameter (NPV, 98.7%). A cortical regional cerebral blood flow value 相似文献   

Pancreatic carcinoma: MR, MR angiography and dynamic helical CT in the evaluation of vascular invasion

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of MR angiography in combination with contrast-enhanced MR imaging, and to compare MR imaging including MR angiography with dynamic contrast-enhanced dual phase helical CT in the preoperative assessment of vascular invasion in patients with suspected pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIAL: MR imaging only, MR imaging including MR angiography and dynamic contrast-enhanced dual phase helical CT images of 48 patients who were operated due to suspicion of pancreas cancer were correlated with the surgery results in terms of vascular invasion. Pathologic diagnosis were pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 31 patients of which nine had surgically confirmed vascular invasion. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values (including 95% confidence intervals) and accuracy of MR imaging only, MR imaging including MR angiography and helical CT were calculated. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy were 56, 100, 100, 85, 87%; 67, 100, 100, 88, 90% and 67, 100, 100, 88, 90%, respectively, for MR imaging only, MR imaging including MR angiography and helical CT in the adenocarcinoma group. The corresponding figures in the overall study group were 56, 97, 83, 90, 90%; 67, 97, 86, 93, 92% and 67, 97, 86, 93, 92%. Confidence intervals (95%) showed that the differences in the diagnostic efficacy of the techniques were not statistically significant in the overall study group, but the confidence intervals were undefined in the adenocarcinoma group due to the small sample size. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic efficacy of MR imaging when combined with MR angiography is equal to that of dynamic contrast-enhanced dual phase helical CT in the assessment of vascular invasion of pancreatic tumors.     

320排动态容积CT冠状动脉成像诊断冠心病的初步应用

目的探讨320排动态容积CT冠状动脉成像(CTA)诊断冠心病的准确性。方法 2010年3月至2010年9月对临床拟诊为冠心病的82例患者先后行冠状动脉CTA及冠状动脉造影(ICA)检查,并以ICA为金标准,评估320排CTA诊断冠状动脉狭窄≥50%及≥70%的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值。结果 CTA成像质量4分71例(86.6%),平均心率为67次/min;3分10例(12.2%),平均心率为74次/min;2分1例(1.2%),心率为83次/min;1分0例,全部病例均无阶梯伪影。CTA发现174个狭窄≥50%的节段,ICA发现144个以ICA为金标准,320排CTA诊断狭窄≥50%的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为93.1%、96.0%、77.0%和99.0%。CTA发现40个狭窄≥70%的节段,ICA发现40个。以ICA为金标准,320排CTA诊断狭窄≥70%的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为100%、95.6%、45.5%和100%。结论 320排CTA图像质量好,诊断冠心病准确可靠。     

64排螺旋CT冠脉成像在冠心病诊断中的应用

目的 评价64排螺旋CT冠状动脉(冠脉)成像(CTA)在冠心病诊断中的应用价值.方法 以选择性冠脉造影(SCA)结果为金标准,采用64排螺旋CT对68例疑诊冠心病患者的冠脉主干及主要分支272节段进行重建和分析,评价其诊断冠心病的灵敏度和特异度.结果 CTA能够清晰显示冠脉主干及其分支狭窄、钙化、开口起源异常及桥血管病变,CTA发现钙化病变52节段,SCA仅发现钙化病变35节段.CTA诊断冠脉病变的灵敏度96.33%,特异度98.16%,阳性预测值97.22%,阴性预测值97.56%.其中对左主干、左前降支病变及＞75%的病变灵敏度最高,分别达到100%和94.4%.结论 CTA对冠脉狭窄病变、桥血管、开口畸形、支架管腔均显影良好,对冠心病诊断有较高的准确性,对钙化病变诊断率优于冠脉造影,可以作为冠心病高危人群无创性筛选检查及冠脉支架术后随访手段.     

CT angiography with three-dimensional techniques for the early diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms. Comparison with intra-arterial DSA and the surgical findings

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral CT angiography (CTA) is an established method applied to both the detection and treatment planning of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of our study was to compare CTA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) findings with the surgical results mainly in patients with acute SAH and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of CTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the last 2 years, 82 consecutive patients were admitted under clinical symptoms and signs suggestive of harboring an intracranial aneurysm. CT angiography performed immediately afterwards the plain CT, while DSA was performed within the first 48 h of admission. All aneurysms detected were confirmed during surgery or endovascular embolization. Repeat DSA was performed in all patients having both the initial CTA and the DSA 15 days after the onset of symptoms negative. CT angiograms and conventional angiographies were studied by a consensus of two radiologists for each technique, who performed aneurysm detection, morphological features characterization and evaluation of the technique. RESULTS: Surgical or/and endovascular treatment was performed in 45 patients and 53 aneurysms were confirmed. Using 3D-CT angiography, we detected 47 aneurysms in 42 patients. Conventional angiography depicted 43 aneurysms in 39 patients. The sensitivity of CTA for the detection of all aneurysms versus surgery was 88.7%, the specificity 100%, the positive predictive value (PPV) 100%, the negative predictive value (NPV) 80.7% and the accuracy 92.3%. Accordingly, the sensitivity of DSA was 87.8%, the specificity 98%, the PPV 97.7%, the NPV 89.1% and the accuracy 92.9%. Considering aneurysms > or =3 mm, CTA showed a sensitivity ranging from 93.3 to 100%, equal to that of DSA. CONCLUSION: Cerebral CT angiography has an equal sensitivity to DSA in the detection of intracranial aneurysms >3 mm. It has also 100% detection rate in AcoA and MCA bifurcation aneurysms, while some locations, like posterior communicating artery aneurysms, remain problematic. The delineating features of each aneurysm are better depicted with CTA due to 3D visualization. The use of digital subtraction angiography as a diagnostic tool can be limited in equivocal cases.     

64层螺旋CT对周围血管性疾病的诊断价值:与DSA的对照研究

目的 通过与DSA比较评估64层螺旋CT血管成像诊断周围血管性疾病(peripheral vascular disease,PVD)的准确性及特异性.方法 30例PVD患者同时接受DSA及CT血管造影检查.血管狭窄程度分为5级:Ⅰ正常(无狭窄);Ⅱ轻度狭窄(1%～49%狭窄);Ⅲ中度狭窄(50%～74%狭窄);Ⅳ重度狭窄(75%～99%);Ⅴ闭塞.以DSA结果为金标准,分析64层螺旋CT的灵敏度、特异度等指标.结果 30例患者中,共有720支血管均有DSA及CTA成像.进行分析比较后发现,64层螺旋CT诊断下肢动脉有意义狭窄的灵敏度98.5%、特异度99.2%、阳性预测值99.1%、阴性预测值98.7%.结论 64层螺旋CT血管成像是诊断周围血管狭窄程度的一种准确、安全、无创的影像学诊断技术.     

Lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical early-stage cervical cancer: detection with integrated FDG PET/CT

PURPOSE: To prospectively determine the accuracy of combination positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in lymph node staging in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, with histopathologic results as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was institutional review board approved, and all patients gave informed consent. Forty-seven consecutive women aged 29-71 years with clinical stage IA or IB cervical carcinoma were included in the study. All 47 patients were scheduled for radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection. Before surgery, all patients underwent fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT. PET/CT findings were interpreted by two readers in consensus and then compared with histopathologic results. At histopathologic examination, the dissected lymph nodes were classified as nonmetastatic or metastatic. RESULTS: Fifteen (32%) patients had metastatic lymph nodes at histopathologic examination, and 32 (68%) had no histopathologically confirmed nodal metastasis. Of the total 1081 lymph nodes histopathologically sampled, 18 were found to be positive for malignant cells. The overall node-based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of PET/CT were 72% (13 of 18), 99.7% (1060 of 1063), 81% (13 of 16), 99.5% (1060 of 1065), and 99.3% (1073 of 1081), respectively. Corresponding values for PET/CT-based diagnosis of lymph nodes larger than 0.5 cm in diameter were 100% (13 of 13), 99.6% (675 of 678), 81% (13 of 16), 100% (675 of 675), and 99.6% (688 of 691), respectively. The overall patient-based sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of PET/CT were 73% (11 of 15), 97% (31 of 32), 92% (11 of 12), 89% (31 of 35), and 89% (42 of 47), respectively. CONCLUSION: PET/CT proved to be valuable for lymph node staging in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, with short-axis diameter greater than 0.5 cm being the size threshold for accurate depiction of metastatic nodes.     

256层螺旋CT冠状动脉成像“双低”扫描的临床应用

目的：探讨256层螺旋CT低管电压、低对比剂用量（“双低”）扫描在冠状动脉疾病诊断中的应用价值。方法52例临床疑诊冠状动脉疾病于本院行256层螺旋CT前瞻性心电门控冠状动脉成像双低扫描（管电压80kV ,对比剂用量0．8ml/kg）的患者资料（A组）,均采用迭代重建算法iDose 5进行图像重建;50例行64层螺旋CT常规冠状动脉成像的患者资料作为对照组（B组）,两组患者均行传统冠状动脉血管造影（CCG ）检查。2名有经验的放射科医师按照15段分段法采用4级图像质量评分法评价两组患者的冠状动脉图像质量,并记录对比剂用量及辐射剂量,以CCG为准,评估两组冠状动脉C T成像的诊断准确率。结果所有患者均成功完成256层CT及64层CT 冠状动脉成像。A组患者共显示冠状动脉677节段,以CCG为标准,敏感度为94．5％,特异度为97．4％,阳性预测值为92．7％,阴性预测值为98．0％,诊断准确率为96．6％。B组冠脉成像患者共显示冠状动脉631节段,敏感度为89．1％,特异度为96．4％,阳性预测值为89．9％,阴性预测值为96．1％,诊断准确率为94．5％。两组患者的平均对比剂用量分别为56．8ml和82．2ml ,辐射剂量分别为1．46mSv和8．37mSv。结论256层螺旋CT低管电压冠脉成像技术结合低对比剂用量及迭代重建算法可实现冠状动脉成像的“双低”扫描,与CAG对比有很好的一致性。     

Accuracy of integrated FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT in detecting pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with uterine cancer

The purpose is to evaluate the accuracy of integrated ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography ((CT) with intravenous contrast medium in detecting pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with uterine cancer, with surgical and histopathological findings used as the reference standard. Forty-five patients with endometrial or uterine cervical cancer underwent radical hysterectomy, including pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without paraaortic lymphadenectomy, after PET/CT. PET/CT findings were interpreted by two experienced radiologists in consensus. The criterion for malignancy on PET/CT images was increased tracer uptake by the lymph node, independent of node size. The overall node-based sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of PET/CT for detecting nodal metastases were 51.1% (23/45), 99.8% (1,927/1,931), 85.2% (23/27), 98.9% (1,927/1,949) and 98.7% (1,950/1,976), respectively. The sensitivity for detecting metastatic lesions 4 mm or less in short-axis diameter was 12.5% (2/16), that for between 5 and 9 mm was 66.7% (16/24), and that for 10 mm or larger was 100.0% (5/5). The overall patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value ((PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were 50% (6/12), 90.9% (30/33), 66.7% (6/9), 83.3% (30/36) and 80.0% (36/45), respectively. Integrated FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT is superior to conventional imaging, but only moderately sensitive in predicting lymph node metastasis preoperatively in patients with uterine cancer.     

双能量CT冠状动脉成像结合CT心肌灌注诊断冠心病准确性的初步研究

目的 探讨心脏双能量CT冠状动脉造影(DE-CTA)结合CT心肌灌注(DE-CTP)对冠心病诊断的准确性.方法 对31例临床可疑或已知冠心病的患者行心脏双能量CT和负荷-静息SPECT检查,所有患者在1个月内接受导管造影检查.重建冠状动脉DE-CTA和DE-CTP图像用于冠状动脉狭窄程度和心肌灌注缺损的评判,并以冠状动脉造影为参考标准,建立DECT对冠状动脉狭窄诊断价值的基线值,进而计算DE-CTA加DE-CTP对冠心病诊断的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确性.结果 28例患者获得满意的图像质量,以冠状动脉造影为参考标准:(1)DE-CTA显示112支冠状动脉,其中41支冠状动脉狭窄≥50%,诊断冠状动脉狭窄的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为81%(38/47)、95%(62/65)、93%(38/41)、87%(62/71),准确性为89%(100/112);(2)DE-CTP显示46支狭窄冠状动脉供血区域心肌灌注缺损,诊断狭窄≥50%冠状动脉的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为76%(36/47)、85%(55/65)、78%(36/46)、83%(55/66),准确性为81%(91/112);(4)DE-CTA加DE-CTP诊断52支冠状动脉狭窄≥50%,诊断冠状动脉狭窄的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别为96%(45/47)、89%(58/65)、86%(45/52)、97%(58/60),准确性为92%(103/112).结论 DE-CT一次扫描即能获得冠状动脉解剖学和血流灌注信息,可以对冠心病做出综合性诊断.DE-CTP能够为CTA提供有益的补充.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the combination of dual-energy CT angiography (DE-CTA) and dual-energy CT peffusion (DE-CTP) in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Methods Thirty-one patients with angina pectoris were examined using dual-source dual energy CT and conventional coronary angiography. For DE-CTA, we used a contrast-enhanced ECG-gated coronary scan protocol with energy levels of two tube detector arrays at 140 and 100 kVp. Two kinds of acquired images were fused for the CT angiogram and further calculated to construct a perfusion map (Siemens DE Heart PBV). The compared the following results: DE-CTA vs. CA, DE-CTP vs. CA to assess the sensitivity and specificity, and further compared DE-CTA plus DE-CTP with CA. Results DECT obtained diagnostic image quality in 28 patients.DE-CTA detected 41/112 arterial stenosis. Using CA as a reference, the sensitivity of DE-CTA was 81%(38/47), specificity was 95% (62/65), positive predictive value was 92% (38/41), negative predictive value was 87% (62/71), and accuracy was 89% (100/112). DE-CTP detected 46 perfusion defects in artery territories. Using CA as a reference, the sensitivity of DE-CTP was 76% ( 36/47), specificity was 85% (55/65), positive predictive value was 78% (36/46), negative predictive value was 83% (55/66),and accuracy was 81% (91/112). DE-CTA plus DE-CTP diagnosed 52 arteries stenosis. Using CA as a reference, combination of DE-CTA and DE-CTP gave sensitivity of 95% ( 45/47 ), specificity of 89%(58/65) , NPV of 97% (58/60), and accuracy of 92% (103/112). Conclusions DECT can provide perfusion blood volume information as well as vessel pathology in one scan. DECT can provide comprehensive diagnosis and improve diagnosis of CAD.     

Multislice CT in emergency room management of patients with chest pain and medium-low probability of acute coronary syndrome

PURPOSE: The main cause of acute chest pain, which accounts for 6.5% of urgent medical examinations in emergency rooms in Italy, is acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We performed this prospective study to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a 16-channel computed tomography (CT) scanner with dedicated software in a group of patients with chest pain and medium to low risk of ACS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved a selected group of 31 patients reporting chest pain with a medium to low probability of ACS, defined on the basis of preliminary tests [electrocardiogram (ECG) and serum cardiac markers]. Coronary angiography, performed within 24 h of MSCT, was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: MSCT identified the presence of occlusions and significant (>50%) or nonsignificant stenoses in the main coronary segments, with a sensitivity of 65%, a specificity of 98.8%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 81.2%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.3% and an accuracy of 96.4%. Significant stenoses and occlusions were detected with a sensitivity of 71.4%, a specificity of 99.6%, a PPV of 93.7%, an NPV of 97.7% and an accuracy of 97.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Due to its high NPV, this technique can rule out significant stenoses or coronary occlusions provided that image quality is excellent. In patients with a medium to low coronary risk, MSCT is a more accurate indicator of the need for coronary angiography than is exercise stress testing, which is less expensive but has lower predictive values.     

Thromboembolic disease: comparison of combined CT pulmonary angiography and venography with bilateral leg sonography in 70 patients

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare combined CT pulmonary angiography and venography with leg sonography for accuracy and relative efficacy in diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis from the popliteal vein to the common femoral vein. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Seventy consecutive patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism underwent both combined CT pulmonary angiography and venography and bilateral leg sonography within 24 hr. CT venograms were analyzed independently in a blinded fashion for quality of venous opacification and patency by two observers. CT venography was compared with sonography for femoropopliteal vein thrombosis, and the final assessment based on multiple subjective and objective clinical and imaging criteria was recorded in three categories: 1, CT venography better than sonography; 2, CT venography equivalent to sonography; and 3, sonography better than CT venography. RESULTS. Sixty-eight patients (97%) had a satisfactory or good quality CT venography examination. Two CT venography studies had false-positive findings due to flow artifacts. Both CT venography and sonography had positive findings for deep venous thrombosis in five patients, and both had negative findings in 63 patients (100% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 100% negative predictive value, and 71% positive predictive value). CT venography was better and more efficacious than sonography (category 1) in 25 patients (36%). CT venography was equivalent to sonography (category 2) in 26 patients (37%), and sonography was better than CT venography (category 3) in 19 patients (27%). CONCLUSION. Compared with sonography, CT venography in addition to CT pulmonary angiography is a relatively accurate method for evaluation of femoropopliteal venous thrombosis. Combined CT pulmonary angiography and CT venography may be more efficacious than sonography or two separate examinations in selected patients.     

Malignant biliary obstruction: efficacy of thin-section dynamic CT in determining resectability.

OBJECTIVE. Several authorities advocate the use of preoperative angiography to determine the resectability of pancreatic and periampullary tumors, claiming that CT alone is not sufficiently accurate for this purpose. Our objective was to assess the value of CT in predicting surgical resectability in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We performed a retrospective analysis of 380 consecutive cases of malignant biliary obstruction spanning a 4-year period. Most patients (230) were treated nonoperatively. Sixty-seven patients had surgery, pathologic confirmation of malignancy, and preoperative CT scans available for review. The CT scans were assessed for surgical resectability of tumor by an interpreter who did not know the patient's history. RESULTS. Forty-two patients had pancreatic adenocarcinoma, six had ampullary carcinoma, seven had cholangiocarcinoma, and 12 had other malignant neoplasms. Of 47 patients with tumors thought to be unresectable on the basis of CT findings, 42 had tumors that were found to be unresectable at surgery (positive predictive value, 89%). Of 20 patients with tumors thought to be resectable, 16 had tumors that were surgically resectable (positive predictive value, 80%). CT did not show metastases to duodenal lymph nodes (n = 2), portal vein infiltration (n = 1), and small hepatic metastases (n = 1). Visualization of most of these at angiography would not be expected. The CT finding of infiltration of the periarterial fat around the celiac or superior mesenteric arteries was reliable for predicting surgical unresectability. Lymphadenopathy and infiltration of nonperivascular fat planes were less reliable predictors of unresectability. CONCLUSION. Although some findings on CT that suggest unresectability are less reliable than others, the accuracy of CT compares favorably with reports on the accuracy of angiography for assessing tumor resectability in cases of malignant biliary obstruction. The addition of angiography to the examination of patients with potentially resectable lesions is not justified when high-quality, thin-section dynamic CT has been performed.     

Diagnostic value of full-dose FDG PET/CT for axillary lymph node staging in breast cancer patients

Purpose

The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate FDG PET/CT and CT for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer (BC) patients and (2) to evaluate FDG PET/CT as a pre-test for the triage to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Methods

The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV), and accuracy of FDG PET/CT and CT for axillary lymph node metastases were determined in 61 patients (gold standard: histopathology). According to the equation “NPV = specificity ? (1-prevalence) / [specificity ? (1-prevalence) + (1-sensitivity) ? prevalence]” FDG PET/CT was evaluated as a triage tool for SLNB versus ALND.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of FDG PET/CT was 58, 92, 82, 77 and 79% and of CT 46, 89, 72, 71 and 72%, respectively. Patients with an up to ~60% risk for axillary lymph node metastases appear to be candidates for SLNB provided that the axilla is unremarkable on FDG PET/CT.

Conclusion

FDG PET/CT cannot replace invasive approaches for axillary staging but may extend the indication for SLNB.     

64层螺旋CT对冠状动脉粥样硬化血管狭窄的评价

目的:探讨64层螺旋CT对冠状动脉粥样硬化各种程度血管狭窄的评估价值.方法:120例患者行64层螺旋CT血管造影(CTA)检查评价冠状动脉各段的狭窄程度,并与冠状动脉血管造影(CAG)比较,统计64层螺旋CTA诊断冠状动脉各种程度狭窄的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值(PPV)和阴性预测值(NPV).结果:64层螺旋CTA评...     

Caecal carcinomas in the elderly: useful signs in minimal preparation CT

OBJECTIVE: Frail, elderly and immobile patients frequently have difficulty in tolerating formal colonic investigations. Caecal tumours may account for up to 35% of colonic tumours. Barium enema and colonoscopy have limitations in assessing this region. The aims of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of a minimal preparation CT technique (merely with prolonged oral contrast medium) in identifying caecal carcinomas and to determine helpful radiological signs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT technique involved helical acquisition following 2 days of preparation with oral contrast medium. The outcome of 4 years' experience (1995-1998) was reviewed. The gold-standards were pathological and cancer registration records, together with colonoscopy and barium enema where available, with a minimum of 15 months' follow-up. RESULTS: CT correctly identified 27 of 30 caecal carcinomas, and missed three, in a total of 1077 CT studies in 1031 patients (median age 80 years). There were also 21 false-positive cases in which CT incorrectly raised the possibility of a caecal tumour. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were 90%, 98%, 99% and 56%, respectively. Serosal margin blurring, tumour length, presence of abnormal peri-colic fat and terminal ileal wall thickening were identified as useful radiological signs. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal preparation CT is able to identify caecal carcinomas with fair accuracy. Such evaluation may become important given the increasing population age and evidence of a 'proximal shift' in the site of colonic tumours in the elderly.     

Evaluation of the lower extremity veins in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism: a retrospective comparison of helical CT venography and sonography. 2000 ARRS Executive Council Award I. American Roentgen Ray Society

OBJECTIVE: In patients undergoing a combined CT angiographic and CT venographic protocol, the accuracy of helical CT venography for the detection of deep venous thrombosis was compared with that of lower extremity sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone a combined CT angiographic and CT venographic protocol and sonography of the lower extremities within 1 week were identified. The final reports were evaluated for the presence or absence of deep venous thrombosis. Statistical measures for the identification of deep venous thrombosis with helical CT venography were calculated. In each true-positive case, the location of the thrombus identified with both techniques was compared. All false-positive and false-negative cases were reviewed to identify the reasons for the discrepancies. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included. There were eight patients (11%) with true-positive findings, 61 patients (82%) with true-negative findings, four patients (5%) with false-positive findings, and one patient (1%) with a false-negative finding. When comparing helical CT venography with sonography for the detection of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, the sensitivity measured 89%; specificity, 94%; positive predictive value, 67%; negative predictive value, 98%; and accuracy, 93%. Of the eight true-positive cases, five had sites of thrombus that were in agreement on both CT venography and sonography. Of the five discordant cases, four were false-positives and one was a false-negative. Possible explanations for all discrepancies were identified. CONCLUSION: Compared with sonography, CT venography had a 93% accuracy in identifying deep venous thrombosis. However, the positive predictive value of only 67% for CT venography suggests that sonography should be used to confirm the presence of isolated deep venous thrombosis before anticoagulation is initiated. In addition, interpretation of CT venography should be performed with knowledge of certain pitfalls.     

The Diagnostic Accuracy, Image Quality and Radiation Dose of 64-Slice Dual-Source CT in Daily Practice: a Single Institution's Experience

Objective

We wanted to evaluate the image quality, diagnostic accuracy and radiation exposure of 64-slice dual-source CT (DSCT) coronary angiography according to the heart rate in symptomatic patients during daily clinical practice.

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective search for the DSCT coronary angiography reports of 729 consecutive symptomatic patients. For the 131 patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography, the image quality, the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV] and negative predictive value [NPV] for detecting significant stenosis ≥ 50% diameter) and the radiation exposure were evaluated. These values were compared between the groups with differing heart rates (HR): mean HR < 65 or ≥ 65 and HR variability (HRV) < 15 or ≥ 15.

Results

Among the 729 patients, the CT reports showed no stenosis or insignificant coronary artery stenosis in 72%, significant stenosis in 26% and non-diagnostic in 2%. For the 131 patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography, 95% of the patients and 97% of the segments were evaluable, and the overall per-patient/per-segment sensitivity, the perpatient/per-segment specificity, the per-patient/per-segment PPV and the per-patient/per-segment NPV were 100%/90%, 71%/98%, 95%/88% and 100%/97%, respectively. The image quality was better in the HR < 65 group than in the HR ≥ 65 group (p = 0.001), but there was no difference in diagnostic performance between the two groups. The mean effective radiation doses were lower in the HR < 65 or HRV < 15 group (p < 0.0001): 5.5 versus 6.7 mSv for the mean HR groups and 5.3 versus 9.3 mSv for the HRV groups.

Conclusion

Dual-source CT coronary angiography is a highly accurate modality in the clinical setting. Better image quality and a significant radiation reduction are being rendered in the lower HR group.