Computed tomography of abdominal carcinoid tumour

Ten patients with pathologically proven abdominal carcinoid tumour were assessed by computed tomography (CT). Post-mortem examination correlation was obtained in two cases. Computed tomography demonstrated the extent of intra-abdominal tumour well and is, therefore, a useful staging technique for patients being treated with adjuvant therapy. The appearances of metastatic carcinoid within the mesentery on CT are characteristic and can enable a pre-operative diagnosis to be made.     

Computed tomography of abdominal carcinoid tumors

Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained in 20 patients with primary and/or metastatic abdominal carcinoid tumors. The primary tumors were seen rarely on CT. Mesenteric involvement was seen in eight of the 20 patients, usually as a soft-tissue mass surrounded by fat and radiating soft-tissue strands. Enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes were seen in seven patients, but rarely were they the only manifestation of intraabdominal disease. The most common finding was liver metastases (13 of 20 patients). CT is helpful in evaluating the extent of tumor before surgical exploration and in following the progression of disease once the diagnosis has been established.     

Computed tomography of bronchial carcinoid

Computed tomography was used to evaluate three patients with endobronchial tumors. In each case the mass showed enhancement following intravenous contrast medium administration. Each patient underwent surgical resection, and pathology showed carcinoid tumor in each case.     

Computed tomography and angiography in carcinoid liver metastases

Fifteen patients with carcinoid metastases in the liver were examined with computed tomography (CT). In 13 patients, liver metastases were demonstrated, while 2 patients had a normal liver at CT. The attenuation of the metastases was lower than that of the liver parenchyma in 12 patients, higher in one. Angiography was performed on 10 patients, and liver metastases were diagnosed in 9. Eight patients had hypervascular metastases with dense accumulation of contrast medium. In one patient, displacement of the intrahepatic arteries was the only sign of an expansive process. In one patient, previously treated with ligation of the common hepatic artery, no signs of liver metastases could be revealed at angiography but were evident at CT.     

Computed tomography of blunt abdominal trauma

Experience with over 500 cases at this institution and reports from other institutions have established CT as an accurate and clinically useful tool in the evaluation of patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Careful attention to technique is essential since artifacts may simulate or obscure traumatic lesions. CT is highly sensitive and specific for parenchymal lacerations and for hematomas of solid and hollow abdominal viscera throughout the peritoneal and retroperitoneal spaces. CT has important advantages over radionuclide scintigraphy, angiography, and ultrasonography and has replaced these imaging techniques in acute evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma at some centers. The use of nontherapeutic exploratory laparotomy and diagnostic peritoneal lavage may also be substantially reduced.     

Computed tomography in abdominal Castleman's disease

Three patients with abdominal Castleman disease studied by CT are presented. Two cases corresponded to localized mesenteric disease and the third to a systemic form of the process. The CT findings are nonspecific, although a dense enhancement of the lesions can be demonstrated sometimes on dynamic CT.     

Computed tomography in abdominal tuberculosis.

The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis is often difficult because of its protean clinical manifestations and non-specific laboratory investigations. In the abdomen, tuberculosis may affect the intestinal tract, lymph nodes, peritoneum and solid viscera in varying combinations. CT, with its ability to provide a comprehensive overview of abdominal structures, is the imaging modality of choice for evaluation of such patients. This pictorial review illustrates the spectrum of CT appearances of abdominal tuberculosis which includes intestinal, lymph nodal, peritoneal, mesenteric, hepatic, splenic and pancreatic disease.     

Computed tomography of pediatric blunt abdominal trauma

Computed tomography (CT) is the imaging method of choice in the evaluation of hemodynamically stable children after blunt abdominal trauma. Evaluation with CT will show whether intraperitoneal fluid or blood is present and whether the liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas are intact. Although the principal role of CT after blunt abdominal trauma is the assessment of solid viscus injury, an unintended consequence of the increased utilization of CT in this setting is that an increased number of children with hollow viscus injury are being evaluated. CT can reliably depict injury to these hollow viscera, although the diagnosis of such injury is not as straightforward as with solid viscus injury. This essay reviews indications for CT, technique for the performance of CT, and CT findings associated with hollow and solid viscus injury and posttraumatic shock.     

Computed tomography of a carotid body tumor

A patient with a carotid body tumor was evaluated by computed tomography. The tumor demonstrated an enhanced rim and a central lower density. This corresponds to the "eggshell" appearance described angiographically in carotid body tumors.     

Computed tomography of abdominal trauma: A step-by-step approach

Patients subjected to trauma to the abdomen and pelvis suffer a wide variety of injuries, many of which can be detected by computed tomography (CT). This article provides a rigorous step-by-step routine useful in the interpretation of these studies, in order to decrease the number of missed traumatic lesions. The routine includes: search for pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum using lung windows for lower thorax and upper abdominal sections and soft tissue windows for lower abdominal and pelvic sections; search of left paracolic gutter and spleen for blood or laceration; search of right paracolic gutter and liver for blood or laceration; upper abdominal survey evaluating duodenum and pancreas; retroperitoneal survey of kidneys, adrenals, inferior vena cava, and aorta for evidence of bleeding, laceration, hematoma, urinoma, or signs of hypotension; search of gastrointestinal tract and mesentery for extravasation or hematoma; muscle survey including psoas, iliopsoas, rectus abdominus, and buttocks for hematoma; bone survey including ribs, transverse processes, sacrum, sacroiliac joints, and hips for fracture; and lowest section search for thigh hematoma. This pictorial essay illustrates examples of trauma found in each of these steps as well as potential pitfalls in the interpretation of CT of the abdomen and pelvis in the traumatized patient.     

Computed tomography in the evaluation of abdominal trauma.

Four patients with blunt abdominal trauma underwent computed tomography (CT) as part of their diagnostic evaluation. In each case CT accurately demonstrated the pathology and the extent of injury. The results suggest that routine use of CT scanning may be an effective screening modality in the traumatized patient. It is perhaps more specific than radioisotope scanning and may eventually reduce the need for invasive techniques such as angiography.     

Computed tomography for the assessment of blunt abdominal trauma

Computed tomography (CT) was carried out on 70 patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Damage to the abdominal organs was clearly demonstrated by CT. The positive rates of CT in traumatic lesions were higher than those of ultrasound (US). Intraperitoneal hemorrhage was well demonstrated by US. Serum GPT levels were significantly elevated in patients with liver damage (p less than 0.001). CT proved to be useful for detecting damage to organs in patients with abdominal trauma.     

囊性肾恶性肿瘤的CT诊断

目的 :探讨囊性肾恶性肿瘤的CT表现与临床病理基础 ,提高对囊性肾恶性肿瘤的认识。方法 :对经手术病理证实的 2 2 7例肾恶性肿瘤中 2 5例囊性肾恶性肿瘤的CT图像进行回顾分析。结果 :2 5例囊性肾恶性肿瘤中肾盂移行细胞癌 8例 ,肾细胞癌 16例 ,肾胚胎癌 1例。本组 2 5例囊性肾恶性肿瘤的壁均显示较厚 (厚于 3 .0mm) ,且厚薄不均 ,占 10 0 %。囊变区有不规则的分隔或囊内有实性成分 2 0例 ,占 80 %。增强后囊壁、囊内分隔及实性成分均有强化。囊变区内CT值较单纯性肾囊肿高 ,P <0 .0 1。结论 :囊性肾恶性肿瘤的CT表现有一定特征性 ,了解这些特征有利于正确诊断     

Computed tomography of testicular tumours: Distribution of abdominal lymphadenopathy

The distribution of intra-abdominal nodal involvement was assessed in 145 patients presenting with testicular tumours referred for staging by computed tomography (CT). Of the 55 patients with definite evidence of nodal enlargement on CT, 33 had tumours of the left testicle, and 22 of the right. Nodal involvement was predominant in the left para-aortic chain in all 33 patients with a left testicular lesion and confined to the left in 31 (93%). Amongst the 22 patients with a right-sided lesion, nodal involvement was predominantly right-sided in 19 (86%) and confined to the right side in 15 (68%). In no patient were the contralateral nodes larger than the ipsilateral nodes. In all 15 patients in this series with early nodal involvement (8 left testicle, 7 right), disease appeared confined to the ipsilateral side. Although crossover of disease does occur, it was only seen in patients with more advanced disease and subsequent to ipsilateral nodal involvement. Knowledge of these findings, which correlate well with data from anatomical, surgical and direct lymphographic studies, should assist in the CT interpretation of equivocal nodal enlargement and aid decisions on the optimal interval for CT follow-up during surveillance.