CT features of serous surface papillary carcinoma of the ovary

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the CT appearance of serous surface papillary carcinoma of the ovary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans of 17 patients with histologically proven serous surface papillary carcinoma of the ovary were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the ovary size, omental or mesenteric involvement (none, mild, or severe), ascites (none, small, moderate, or large), and peritoneal thickening (none, smooth, or nodular).We also noted the presence of a cul-de-sac mass, lymphadenopathy, and calcification within the peritoneal mass. The preoperative serum level of cancer antigen (CA)-125 was assessed in all patients. RESULTS: The diameter of ovaries was 3 cm or smaller in 14 patients (82%). All patients had omental or mesenteric involvement by the tumor (mild, n = 2; severe, n = 15) and ascites (small, n = 1; moderate, n = 3; large, n = 13). Peritoneal thickening (smooth, n = 5; nodular, n = 10) was noted in 15 patients (88%) and a cul-de-sac mass in 10 (59%). Lymphadenopathy was noted in five patients (29%) and calcification within the peritoneal mass in one (6%). Serum CA-125 level was elevated in all patients (168-63,300 U/mL). CONCLUSION: Serous surface papillary carcinoma of the ovary should be suggested as a diagnosis in patients who have peritoneal carcinomatosis, relatively normal-sized ovaries, and a highly elevated serum CA-125 level.     

Palpable breast thickening: role of mammography and US in cancer detection

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of breast carcinoma and ascertain the diagnostic yield of mammography and breast ultrasonography (US) in the detection of breast carcinoma in women with palpable breast thickening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-three consecutive cases of breast thickening (103 patients) during a 1-year period were reviewed. Experienced breast examiners prospectively identified patients with breast thickening. Results of diagnostic mammographic work-up, breast US, breast biopsy, and clinical follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Six (5%) of 123 cases had a diagnosis of breast carcinoma; five (83%) of the six had invasive carcinoma. Mammography was performed in all cases, US in 77 (63%) cases. Mammographic sensitivity for invasive cancer detection was 60% (three of five cases), specificity was 94% (102 of 108 cases), and negative predictive value was 97% (102 of 105 cases). Sensitivity of US alone was 100% (two of two cases), specificity was 96% (65 of 68 cases), and negative predictive value was 100% (65 of 65 cases). The combined negative predictive value of mammography and US was 100%. Patients with prior biopsies at the site of palpable thickening accounted for most false-negative mammograms. Median time to initiate follow-up of patients in whom biopsy was not performed was 14 months. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer was discovered in 5% of women with palpable breast thickening. Women with negative mammograms and US scans are at low risk for cancer but should, in our opinion, be followed up at short-term intervals with clinical examination and imaging if biopsy is not elected by their surgeon or clinician.     

Preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma by transrectal echography combined with pelvic computerized tomography

The accurate staging of rectal carcinoma is very important for treatment planning. The histological data obtained from the surgical specimens of 22 patients with rectal carcinoma were compared with pre- and postoperative endorectal US findings and with preoperative CT results. According to an adapted version of the Astler and Coller classification, the different degrees of tumor spread into the rectal wall were represented as follows: stage A: 1 patient; stage B1: 5 patients; stage B2: 6 patients; stage C1: 1 patient; stage C2: 8 patients and stage D: 1 patient. Preoperative staging, based on the overall results of CT and US, was in agreement with histology in 19 of 22 cases. Individual analysis of US and CT results, in comparison with histological data, showed US staging accuracy to be 77.3% (17/22 patients). US accuracy in demonstrating tumor spread into the rectal wall (stages A, B1, C1) was 100% (7/7 patients); US was 70% accurate in lymph node detection (7/10 patients) and 93.3% accurate in demonstrating perirectal infiltration (14/15 patients). CT diagnostic accuracy was 66.7% (10/15 patients) in the evaluation of perirectal lymph nodes, but tumor spread into the rectal wall (stages A and B1) could not be evaluated. While admitting the primary role of US in the staging of rectal carcinoma, according to our results a combination of US and CT yields a more accurate preoperative diagnostic picture.     

Adnexal masses in women with breast cancer: US findings with clinical and histopathologic correlation

PURPOSE: To correlate ultrasonographic (US), clinical, and histopathologic findings in patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery for adnexal masses evident at US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database search yielded 54 patients with breast cancer and with adnexal masses at US and histopathologic examinations. Clinical, US, and histopathologic findings were correlated. RESULTS: Forty (74%) patients had benign adnexal masses, and 14 (26%) had malignant masses; three patients had both benign and malignant ovarian masses. Seven patients had primary ovarian cancer, and seven had breast metastases to the ovary. All breast metastases to the ovary were bilateral solid masses at histopathologic examination and occurred in women with stage IV breast carcinoma at the time of US. Eleven ovaries with breast metastases were solid at US. The remaining three ovaries with breast metastases had cystic components at US because of hemorrhage or coexistent benign ovarian cysts. Four of seven patients with primary ovarian carcinoma had bilateral ovarian tumors, and seven of 11 ovarian carcinomas were predominantly cystic at US. No patient with primary ovarian carcinoma had stage IV breast cancer. CONCLUSION: In this small series, half the ovarian malignancies in patients with breast cancer were primary ovarian carcinomas and half were breast metastases to the ovary. Breast metastases to the ovary most frequently are bilateral solid masses at US and are associated with stage IV disease at the time of US.     

Clinical experience with radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies in the detection of colorectal and ovarian carcinoma recurrence and review of the literature.

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the diagnostic value of OncoScint CR/OV immunoscintigraphy in assessing patients with suspected recurrence of carcinoma of the colon and ovary. The scintigraphic results of 31 patients were compared with surgical and histopathological findings, conventional radiological examinations and clinical disease outcome over an average 3-year follow-up. Detected lesions were divided by location into hepatic or extrahepatic and the latter group was classified as local recurrence at the resection site, pelvic or abdominal regional lymph node involvement and distant metastatic disease. The combined sensitivity and accuracy of immunoscintigraphy in the detection of extra-hepatic disease was significantly higher than that of cross-sectional radiological imaging (87% and 83% vs 44% and 53% respectively) with equal specificity of 74%. Scintigraphy identified 14 (36%) of 39 extra-hepatic malignant lesions not diagnosed by conventional radiological techniques and influenced therapeutic planning in 8 (26%) of 31 patients studied. In the liver, conventional imaging had a significantly higher detection rate than immunoscintigraphy (sensitivity 93% vs 28%). In conclusion, these results show that OncoScint scintigraphy is a sensitive method for the detection of local recurrence and extra-hepatic metastases in colorectal and ovarian carcinoma and has an important role in the therapeutic decision-making process.     

Blunt abdominal trauma: screening us in 2,693 patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of screening abdominal ultrasonography (US) in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with blunt abdominal trauma underwent US. The abdomen and pelvis were scanned for free fluid, the visceral organs were assessed for heterogeneity, and duplex US was performed if necessary. Empty bladders were filled with 200-300 mL of sterile saline through a Foley catheter. US findings were considered positive if free fluid was present or if parenchymal abnormalities that could be consistent with trauma were detected. Screening US results were compared with findings of diagnostic peritoneal lavage, repeat US, computed tomography (CT), cystography, surgery, and/or autopsy and/or the clinical course. RESULTS: Findings from 2,693 US examinations were evaluated and were positive in 145 of 172 patients with injuries (sensitivity, 84%) and 64 (89%) of 72 patients who ultimately underwent laparotomy with surgical repair of injuries. False-negative findings were retroperitoneal injury, bowel injury, and intraperitoneal solid organ injury without hemoperitoneum. No patient with false-negative findings died. Specificity of US was 96% (2,429 of 2,521 patients), and overall accuracy was 96% (2,574 of 2,693 patients). Positive predictive value was 61% (145 of 237 patients), and negative predictive value was 99% (2,429 of 2,456 patients). CONCLUSION: Abdominal US is useful in screening for injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, and its use represents a notable change in institutional practice. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is rarely performed, and CT is used when screening US findings are positive, when injury is clinically suspected despite negative US findings, or when US is not available.     

Necrosis in metastatic neck nodes: diagnostic accuracy of CT, MR imaging, and US

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and ultrasonography (US) in the detection of necrosis in metastatic cervical nodes from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (age range, 39-85 years; mean age, 62 years) with squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck underwent CT, MR imaging, and US. Three radiologists evaluated the images for nodal necrosis. The results of each modality were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Pathologic analysis of the surgical resection served as the reference standard. The three modalities were compared for specificity and sensitivity with the McNemar test. RESULTS: Pathologic examination revealed 903 nodes, of which 89 were malignant. Of the malignant nodes, 43 were necrotic. Analysis of the detection of necrosis in the 89 malignant nodes showed an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 92%, 91%, and 93% for CT; 91%, 93%, and 89% for MR imaging; and 85%, 77%, and 93% for US, respectively. All imaging modalities failed to depict necrotic areas of 3 mm or smaller in three nodes, and necrosis was missed in an additional seven nodes with US and in one node with CT. Necrosis could not be distinguished from other components of malignancy, such as viable tumor and scar tissue, in seven nodes (CT, 3; MR imaging, 5; US, 3). The sensitivity of both MR imaging and CT was significantly better than that of US (P =.0082 and P =.0339, respectively). There was no significant difference in sensitivity (P =.3173) between MR imaging and CT, or in the specificity of the three modalities. CONCLUSION: MR imaging is comparable to CT for the detection of necrosis. The sensitivity of MR imaging and CT is better than that of US.     

Detection of recurrent ovarian cancer at MRI: comparison with integrated PET/CT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic performances of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of recurrent ovarian tumor. METHODS: Thirty-six patients who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery for ovarian carcinoma received both MRI and PET/CT for the evaluation of ovarian tumor recurrence. Recurrent ovarian tumors in abdomen and pelvis were classified based on site as follows: (1) local pelvic recurrence, (2) peritoneal lesion, (3) lymph nodal metastasis, and (4) distant metastasis. Patient-based and lesion-based analyses were retrospectively performed with the aim of detecting tumor recurrence. For the detection of recurrent ovarian tumors, we compared patient-based and lesion-based diagnostic accuracies of these 2 modalities using the McNemar test. RESULTS: Histopathologic, clinical, and radiological follow-up findings revealed recurrent ovarian tumors in 35 sites of 22 patients. These 35 sites consisted of local pelvic recurrence (n = 15), peritoneal lesions (n = 14), lymph nodal metastasis (n = 4), and abdominal wall metastasis (n = 2). In detecting recurrent ovarian tumor, patient-based sensitivity and the accuracy of PET/CT and MRI were 73% and 91% (P < 0.05), and 81% and 89% (P > 0.05), respectively. In addition, overall lesion-based sensitivity of PET/CT and MRI were 66% and 86%, respectively (P < 0.05). In detecting peritoneal lesions, overall lesion-based sensitivity and accuracy of PET/CT and MRI for peritoneal lesions were 43% and 86%, and 75% and 94%, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging is more sensitive than PET/CT for detecting local pelvic recurrence and peritoneal lesions of recurrent ovarian tumors.     

Endometrial carcinoma staging by MR imaging

The potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of endometrial carcinoma and in the assessment of its extent was evaluated prospectively in 51 patients clinically suspected of having the disease. MR imaging findings were compared with the results of surgical-pathologic staging and lymph node sampling following hysterectomy. Histologic findings showed 45 patients to have endometrial carcinoma, three to have no residual tumor after dilatation and curettage, and three to have adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium. MR imaging demonstrated an endometrial abnormality in 43 of the 51 patients (84%). Endometrial carcinoma could not be differentiated from adenomatous hyperplasia or blood clots. Therefore, MR imaging was not specific for tumor detection, and histologic diagnosis remains essential. The overall accuracy of MR imaging in staging endometrial carcinoma was 92%; its overall accuracy in demonstrating the depth of myometrial invasion was 82%. Demonstration of lymphadenopathy and adnexal or peritoneal metastases by MR imaging was suboptimal.     

Scintimammography with 99mTc-MIBI versus dynamic MRI for non-invasive characterization of breast masses

Although mammography remains the technique of choice for the early detection of breast cancer, several imaging techniques, including scintimammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have recently been proposed as adjuncts for this purpose and included in many diagnostic protocols. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical accuracy of scintimammography with technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and contrast-enhanced MRI in the detection of primary breast carcinoma in patients with equivocal mammographic findings. Forty-nine patients with a suspicious breast mass detected either by physical examination or by mammography and ultrasound (US) were studied. All patients underwent scintimammography and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI 1 week apart. The results of the two techniques were compared and correlated to the final diagnoses. Two independent readers reported the scans using a four-point confidence scale. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained. Scintimammography showed an accuracy for tumour detection of 84%, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 88%. MRI showed an accuracy of 86%, with a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 75%, respectively. Comparison of the two areas under the ROC curves showed no significant differences between MRI, 0.91+/-0.05 (mean+/-SD), and scintimammography, 0.88+/-0.05 (P=0.9). It is concluded that dynamic MRI and scintimammography possess comparable accuracy in the diagnosis of primary breast carcinoma in patients with equivocal mammographic or US findings.     

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy on digital stereotaxic table of nonpalpable lesions non-recognisable by ultrasonography

The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy of 11 G vacuum-assisted percutaneous biopsy (VAPB) carried out on digital stereotaxic table, on breast non-palpable lesions (NPLs), non-visible by US. Prospective study on 132 consecutive NPLs (126 patients) not reliably found by US; 82% showed microcalcifications. Surgical confirmation was obtained in all malignant cases and when VAPB reported atypical lesion (ductal or lobular), radial scar or atypical papillary lesion. All patients with benign results were included in a mammographic follow-up programme. Two cases could not be dealt with due to technical difficulties. One to 26 cylinders were obtained from the remaining 130 NPLs. Sixty-four lesions were surgically confirmed. Forty-six of the 47 malignancies were correctly diagnosed. In one case of a malignant tumour, an atypical lesion was classified with VAPB. All cases of histologically verified lobular carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia, radial scar or atypical papillary lesion were correctly diagnosed preoperatively. The remaining lesions were benign in VAPB, and after 1 year of follow-up, no false negative has been found. Based on this short-term follow-up, absolute sensitivity was 97.9%, absolute specificity 84.3% and accuracy was 99.2%. For predicting invasion, accuracy was 89.1%. Vacuum-assisted percutaneous biopsy is a very accurate technique for NPLs which are not detectable by US. It can replace approximately 90% of DSB with no important complications, avoiding scars and providing a higher level of comfort.     

ERCP、CT、B超对胰胆管下段疾病的诊断准确性

目的 比较ERCP、CT、B超对胰胆管下段疾病的诊断准确性。方法 100例临床表现为梗阻性黄疸，反复上腹痛、恶心呕吐的患均经ERCP、CT及B超检查本组患经手术病理或活检证实为良性病变(胆总管结石)57例，恶性肿瘤31例，其中胆总管癌11例，胰头癌13例，以及壶腹癌8例。上述3种方法术前的定性诊断准确率均与手术病理结果对照。结果 对胆总管结石的定性诊断准确率：ERCP为98％(n=56)，CT为72％(n=41)，B超为61％(n=35)；对恶性肿瘤的定性诊断准确率：ERCP为97％(n=31)，CT为78％(n=25)，B超为63％(n=20）。结论 ERCP对胰胆管下段良恶性病变的定性诊断准确率明显高于CT和B超，但因CT与B超均属无创性操作且对某些恶性肿瘤也有较高的定性诊断准确率，因此在影像诊断中应考虑3项技术优势互补。     

Diagnostic value of color duplex ultrasonography in the follow-up of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

PURPOSE: To systematically review the findings of diagnostic value of color duplex ultrasound (US) in the follow-up of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of PubMed and Medline databases for English-language literature was performed to find studies published between 1991 and 2005. Studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy of color duplex US with that of computed tomographic (CT) angiography were included, and analysis was performed of the detection of endoleaks and measurement of aneurysm diameter. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies (39 separate comparisons) met the criteria and were included for analysis. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of color duplex US compared with CT angiography (with 95% CIs) were 66% (52%-81%), 93% (89%-97%), 76% (65%-87%), 90% (86%-95%), and 91% (86%-97%), respectively, for unenhanced color duplex US; and 81% (52%-100%), 82% (68%-97%), 58% (26%-90%), 95% (87%-100%), and 98% (91%-100%), respectively, for enhanced color duplex US. The sensitivity in the detection of endoleak was significantly improved with contrast material-enhanced color duplex US compared with unenhanced color duplex US (P < .05); however, no significant difference was found regarding the specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy between unenhanced and enhanced color duplex US (P > .05). Color duplex US was insensitive in measurement of aneurysm diameter compared with CT angiography in most situations. CONCLUSIONS: Color duplex US is not as accurate as CT angiography and cannot replace CT angiography in the follow-up of endovascular aortic repair of AAAs. However, the use of contrast material-enhanced color duplex US resulted in improvement of diagnostic accuracy in the detection of endoleak and warrants further study.     

Tubular carcinoma of the breast: mammographic, sonographic, clinical and pathologic findings

PURPOSE: To determine and quantitate the radiological characteristics of tubular carcinoma of the breast, to report clinical and pathologic findings and to define findings at follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 2872 women who received a diagnosis of breast carcinoma between January 1988 and January 2006 revealed 32 histopathologically proven pure tubular carcinoma of the breast. Analysis included history; findings at physical examination, mammography, and sonography (US) at the time of diagnosis and in postoperative follow-up and histopathological results. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of the patients (n=19) presented with a palpable mass. The mammographic findings were a mass in 23 (72%), a mass with microcalcifications in 2 (6%), asymmetric focal density in 1 (3%), architectural distortion in 1 (3%) and negative in 5 (16%) of the 32 patients. Most (96%) masses had spiculated margins. US depicted 30 masses in 29 patients, all of which were hypoechoic, mostly (n=27, 90%) with posterior acoustic shadowing. The cancer was clinically occult in 41% (n=13), mammographically occult in 16% (n=5), and sonographically occult in 6% (n=2) of the patients. Histologically, the tumor was multifocal in 3% (n=1) of the patients. Four (13%) patients developed contralateral breast carcinoma at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Tubular carcinoma has a variety of presentations, but it is mostly seen on mammography as a small spiculated mass, and on sonography as an irregular mass with posterior acoustic shadowing. Although tubular carcinoma is known as a well-differentiated tumor with excellent prognosis, the mammographic follow-up of the contralateral breast is important.     

Prostatic carcinoma: detection and staging using suprapubic US

Eighteen patients with pathologically proved carcinoma of the prostate were examined with suprapubic ultrasound (US) to assess the capability of the modality in the detection and staging of the disease. Five of the patients were evaluated for recurrent disease. A detailed, retrospective, echo-textural analysis of the prostate and periprostatic structures was performed. The most frequently encountered US findings were recorded and used as criteria in the diagnosis and staging. Most diagnostic of the echo patterns were the presence of a large (greater than 6 mm) focal density within the peripheral zone that was as bright as or less bright than the density of the capsule, a mixed or diffuse pattern, and loss of integrity of the capsule, seminal vesicles, or bladder. Using these criteria, we were able to correctly diagnose 17 of 18 cases, with an accuracy rate of 94%. US was also used to assess the extent of local disease in carcinoma of the prostate. The US staging was compared with the staging by digital rectal examination and by clinicopathologic results. We correctly staged 15 of 18 cases (83%) with US, while the rectal examination helped to stage correctly only 10 of 18 cases (56%). All errors were due to understaging. We find suprapubic US to be very helpful in the diagnosis and staging of prostatic cancer. Since there is some overlap between the findings in benign and malignant disease, we cannot recommend US as an alternative to prostate biopsy. Further experience in detection and staging with prospective studies may be necessary before final conclusions can be made.     

Metastatic nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma: detection with angiography, CT, and US

Accurate detection of intrahepatic metastases, or daughter nodules, of primary hepatocellular carcinoma is of crucial importance. Due to the introduction of infusion hepatic angiography, computed tomography (CT) after Lipiodol (iodized oil) infusion, and intraoperative ultrasound (US), tumors less than 10 mm in diameter are now frequently found. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of these three modalities in the detection of nodules in 45 patients who had hepatocellular carcinoma (confirmed by biopsy). CT with Lipiodol was superior to hepatic angiography in demonstrating nodules when they were overlapped by the primary tumor or very small in size. Intraoperative US demonstrated nodules in four avascular or hypovascular hepatocellular carcinomas, which both hepatic angiography and CT failed to demonstrate. In cases associated with severe liver cirrhosis, differentiation of small nodules from regenerating cirrhotic nodules was sometimes difficult with intraoperative US. The combined use of these three modalities is indispensable for the accurate detection of small nodules of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Role of ultrasonography in the detection of intraductal spread of breast cancer: correlation with pathologic findings,mammography and MR imaging

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of US in the detection of intraductal spread of breast cancer in comparison with mammography (MMG) and MRI. In 46 patients with breast cancer, US features of the intraductal component were classified as ductal type or distorted type. Histopathologically, 29 of 46 (63 %) cases had intraductal components, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates in detection of intraductal spread were 89, 76, and 85 %, respectively. Each US pattern demonstrated good correspondence to the histologic components, and the distorted type correlated well with comedo-type carcinoma. Mammography was performed in all cases, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates in detection of intraductal spread were 55, 100, and 72 %, respectively. In comedo type, MMG could diagnose the extent of intraductal spread more accurately compared with US examination. Magnetic resonance imaging comparison was available in 25 cases. Magnetic resonance imaging depicted intraductal extension as an enhanced area during the early phase of a contrast enhancement study with a sensitivity of 93 %. Ultrasound and MRI were closely related in terms of morphologic characteristics: the ductal type of US image correlated well with linear enhancement on MRI, whereas the distorted type correlated with regional or segmental enhancement. Current US examination is useful in depicting the intraductal spread of breast cancer; however, US has a tendency to underestimate intraductal component of comedo type compared with MMG and MRI. Received: 2 August 1999; Revised: 3 April 2000; Accepted: 5 April 2000     

Nonenhanced helical CT and US in the emergency evaluation of patients with renal colic: prospective comparison

PURPOSE: To compare nonenhanced helical computed tomography (CT) with ultrasonography (US) for the depiction of urolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 9 months, 45 patients (mean age, 44 years; mean weight, 92.5 kg) prospectively underwent both nonenhanced helical CT (5-mm collimation; pitch of 1.5) and US of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. US evaluation included a careful search for ureteral calculi. Presence of calculi and obstruction and incidental diagnoses were recorded. Clinical, surgical, and/or imaging follow-up data were obtained in all patients. The McNemar test was used to compare groups. RESULTS: Diagnoses included 23 ureteral calculi and one each of renal cell carcinoma, appendicitis, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, renal subcapsular hematoma, cholelithiasis, medullary calcinosis, and myelolipoma. CT depicted 22 of 23 ureteral calculi (sensitivity, 96%). US depicted 14 of 23 ureteral calculi (sensitivity, 61%). Differences in sensitivity were statistically significant (P: =.02). Specificity for each technique was 100%. When modalities were compared for the detection of any clinically relevant abnormality (eg, unilateral hydronephrosis and/or urolithiasis in patients with an obstructing calculus), sensitivities of US and CT increased to 92% and 100%, respectively. One case of appendicitis was missed at US, whereas medullary calcinosis and myelolipoma were missed at CT. CONCLUSION: Nonenhanced CT has a higher sensitivity for the detection of ureteral calculi compared with US.     

Splenic metastases in gynaecologic cancer: clinical considerations,US, and CT diagnostic results

PURPOSE: Splenic metastases from lesions in the genital system are an uncommon finding, both at staging and at follow-up. Most metastases are not an isolated finding but are quite frequently associated with metastases to lymph node or parenchymal sites. The aim of this paper is to describe the patterns of splenic metastasis at US and CT, the diagnostic imaging techniques most often employed in primary evaluation and follow-up of gynaecologic cancer. We consider both the issues of differential diagnosis and clinical decision making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January, 1996, to May, 2001, we retrospectively reviewed the CT and US findings of 16 (2.2%) patients with splenic metastases out of 724 patients examined for malignant gynaecologic lesions. US was performed on 479 patients with standard equipment, applying colour and power-Doppler. CT was performed with helical scan, at baseline and after the i.v. administration of a nonionic iodinated contrast agent (120-140 mL at 300-350 mgI/mL concentration, 2 mL/s flow, 70 s administration delay). We used pitch 1.2 with 5-7 mm collimation. We considered metastases lesions that appeared as roundish or irregular, avascular parenchymal nodules at US, and lesions which were hypodense both at baseline and after i.v. administration of iodinated contrast agent at CT. At baseline examination of serous ovarian cancer, metastatic calcifications due to the presence of psammomatous bodies were considered. The presence or absence of splenic metastasis was assessed for all patients by pathology of the surgical specimen, or based on the clinical evolution of the disease. RESULTS: Epithelial ovarian cancer was the most frequent tumour causing splenic metastases (14 cases), while the other two cases were due to advanced endometrial adenocarcinoma and squamous cell vaginal carcinoma. Splenic metastases were detected most frequently during the follow-up and were associated with other sites of recurrence. In two cases US gave false-positive results (multiple micronodular lesions, missed at CT). Negative follow-up at 12 months confirmed absence of recurrence. CT provided only one false-negative result (clinical and US-CT evidence of recurrent disease two months later). We recorded the diagnostic accuracy (99.9% vs 99.9%), sensitivity (100% vs 93.6%), specificity (99.9% vs 100%), positive (87.5% vs 100%) and negative (100% vs 99.9%) predictive value, for US and CT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Splenic metastases from female genital system cancers are an uncommon finding. These lesions must be considered with other recurrences, especially in follow-up patients. US and CT provided high accuracy and both can be used for lesion assessment. The micronodular splenic pattern may cause false-positive findings at US.     

Ultrasonography in acute appendicitis

Although the disease is common, the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis remains difficult. Since the indications for surgery are imprecise, greater diagnostic accuracy depends on the development of other methods for detection of inflammatory changes in the appendix. During eight months, high-resolution ultrasonography (US) was used for the evaluation of 37 patients with clinically suspected appendicitis. The US findings were confirmed by surgery or pathology and clinical follow-up. With a sensitivity of 0.87, a specificity of 0.95, and an accuracy of 0.92, high-resolution US is a valuable adjunct in the evaluation of appendicitis.