Prospective evaluation of selected clinical criteria for cranial computed tomography in non‐trauma adult patients

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of previously published criteria by Rothrock et al. and Harris et al. for urgent, cranial CT in non‐trauma presentations. Methods: A prospective, observational study of consecutive adult patients with non‐trauma presentations to Westmead Emergency Department, undergoing urgent cranial CT over a period of 2 years and 10 months. Clinical data were assessed to determine the presence of the proposed Rothrock and Harris criteria. Clinically significant findings defined by CT were intracerebral haemorrhage, acute infarction, intracranial infection, acute hydrocephalus, cerebral oedema and malignancy. Results: A total of 1911 patients were studied. Among them, 21.7% (414/1911) of patients had clinically significant findings on CT. Application of the Harris criteria demonstrated a sensitivity of 93.5% (387/414, 95% CI 90.7–95.7) and a false negative rate of 6.5% (27/414, 95% CI 4.3–9.3) with a potential reduction in number of scans by 27.8%. With application of the Rothrock criteria, the possible scan reduction rate was 15% with a sensitivity of 98.8% (409/414, 95% CI 97.2–99.6) and a false negative rate of 1.2% (5/414, 95% CI 0.4–2.8). Conclusion: The Harris criteria were not validated by our study. The Rothrock criteria are also not confidently validated, but can be a useful guide for emergency physicians to help prioritize high‐risk patients who might have clinically significant cranial CT findings. We have not replicated their very high sensitivity and very low false negative rates.     

Short-term outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma using cone-beam computed tomography for planning and image guidance

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a minimally invasive alternative to hepatectomy for treating tumour recurrence. RFA is often performed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and/or ultrasonography. In recent years, angiographic systems with flat panel image detectors and advanced image reconstruction algorithms have broadened the clinical applications of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), including RFA. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of using CBCT for immediate treatment assessments and follow-ups.AIMTo assess the treatment response to RFA for HCC using CBCT.METHODSForty-eight patients (44 men; aged 37-89 years) with solitary HCC [median size: 3.2 (1.2-6.6) cm] underwent RFA and were followed for 25.6 (median; 13.5-35.2) mo. Image fusion of CBCT and pre-operative CECT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used for tumour segmentation and needle path and ablation zone planning. Real-time image guidance was provided by overlaying the three-dimensional image of the tumour and needle path on the fluoroscopy image. Treatment response was categorized as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), or progressive disease (PD). Disease progression, death, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) were recorded. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed.RESULTSInitial post-RFA CECT/MRI showed 38 cases of CR (79.2%), 10 of PR (20.8%), 0 of SD, and 0 of PD, which strongly correlated with the planning estimation (42 CR, 87.5%; 6 PR, 12.5%; 0 SD; and 0 PD; accuracy: 91.7%, P < 0.01). Ten (20.8%) patients died, and disease progression occurred in 31 (35.4%, median TTP: 12.8 mo) patients, resulting in 12-, 24-, and 35-mo OS rates of 100%, 81.2%, and 72.2%, respectively, and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of 54.2%, 37.1%, and 37.1%, respectively. The median dose-area product of the procedures was 79.05 Gy*cm² (range 40.95-146.24 Gy*cm²), and the median effective dose was 10.27 mSv (range 5.32-19.01 mSv). Tumour size < 2 cm (P = 0.008) was a significant factor for OS, while age (P = 0.001), tumour size < 2 cm (P < 0.001), tumour stage (P = 0.010), and initial treatment response (P = 0.003) were significant factors for PFS.CONCLUSIONReliable RFA treatment planning and satisfactory outcomes can be achieved with CBCT.     

口腔颌面部锥形束CT结合微创拔牙技术在下颌阻生第三磨牙拔除中的临床应用

目的研究口腔颌面部锥形束CT(CBCT)检查结合牙体分割微创拔牙技术在下颌阻生第三磨牙(IMTM)拔除中的临床应用。方法选取2018年1月至2019年5月四川省攀枝花市中心医院诊断为IMTM的97例(155颗)拔牙患者为研究对象。术前CBCT明确IMTM与周围重要组织的关系,术中采用转角高速涡轮机夹持长臂裂钻分割牙体,以微创的方式分块拔除IMTM。记录拔牙时间、患者满意度、术中及术后并发症等指标。采用t检验比较男、女间拔牙时间的差异,采用方差分析比较不同阻生牙类型及不同年龄段组间拔牙时间的差异。结果CBCT结果显示67.7%(105/155)的下颌管位于IMTM根尖的颊侧、22.6%根尖下方、9.7%舌侧,其中24.5%<1 mm;24颗(15.5%,24/155)IMTM根尖区舌侧骨板缺如,56颗牙(36.1%,56/155)<1 mm。IMTM以近中、垂直及水平向阻生最为常见,平均拔牙时间分别是(24.3±1.1)min,(15.6±1.2)min,(29.7±1.8)min,差异有统计学意义(F=23.85,P<0.001);术中8颗牙(5.2%,8/155)下颌管暴露,无1例舌侧骨板损伤致牙根移位。术后3例少量出血,1例发生干槽症,无1例发生下唇麻木,患者满意度在95.5%以上。结论CBCT应作为IMTM拔除前常规的影像学检查手段。高速涡轮机牙体分割微创拔牙技术适用于各类IMTM拔除,具有创伤小、临床效率高、并发症少、患者满意度高等优点。     

Prognostic value of reduced discrimination and oedema on cerebral computed tomography in a daily clinical cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

PurposeAssessment of prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is challenging. Cerebral computed tomography (cCT) scans are widely available, but the use in prognostication of comatose OHCA-patients is unclear. We evaluated the prognostic value of cCT in a clinical cohort of OHCA-patients.MethodA total of 1120 consecutive OHCA-patients with cardiac aetiology and successful or on-going resuscitation at hospital arrival were included (2002–2011). Utstein-criteria for registration of pre-hospital data and review of patient-charts for post-resuscitation care including cCT results were used. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality analysed by log-rank and multivariate Cox-regression analyses.ResultsA cCT scan was performed in 341(30%) of the clinical OHCA-cohort, and an early CT (<24 h) was performed in 188 patients. The early CT was found ‘normal’ in 163(89%) and with reduced discrimination in 7(4%) of patients, which was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality compared with OHCA-patients with an early cCT (HR_adjusted = 3.5 (95%CI: 1.0–11.5), p = 0.04). A late CT (≥24 h) was performed in 153 patients in a median of 3 days (IQR: 2–5) and was ‘normal’ in 89(60%), ‘cerebral bleeding’ in 4(3%), ‘new cerebral infarction’ in 10(7%), and ‘reduced discrimination between white and grey matter and/or oedema’ in 45(30%) patients. ‘Reduced discrimination and/or oedema’ by late cCT was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality compared to patients with a normal late CT (HR_adjusted = 2.6 (95%CI: 1.4–4.8, p = 0.002).ConclusionOur observations suggest that a cCT may be useful as part of the neurological prognostication in patients with OHCA. ‘Reduced discrimination between white and grey matter and/or oedema’ on cCT was independently associated with a poor prognosis.     

A comparison of echocardiographic and electron beam computed tomographic assessment of aortic valve area in patients with valvular aortic stenosis

The purpose of this study was to compare electron beam computed tomography (EBT) with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in determining aortic valve area (AVA). Thirty patients (9 females, 21 males) underwent a contrast-enhanced EBT scan (e-Speed, GE, San Francisco, CA, USA) and TTE within 17 ± 12 days. In end-inspiratory breath hold, a prospectively ecg-triggered scan was acquired with a beam speed of 50–100 ms, a collimation of 2 × 1.5 mm and an increment of 3.0 mm. The AVA was measured with planimetry. A complete TTE study was performed in all patients, and the AVA was computed using the continuity equation. There was close correlation between AVA measured with EBT and AVA assessed with TTE (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). The AVA measured with EBT was 0.51 ± 0.46 cm² larger than the AVA calculated with TTE measurements. EBT appeared to be a valuable non-invasive method to measure the AVA. EBT measures the anatomical AVA, while with TTE the functional AVA is calculated, which explains the difference in results between the methods.     

Safety of ruling out acute pulmonary embolism by normal computed tomography pulmonary angiography in patients with an indication for computed tomography: systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction : Several outcome studies have ruled out acute pulmonary embolism (PE) by normal computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). We performed a meta-analysis in order to determine the safety of this strategy in a specific group of patients with a strict indication for CTPA, that is, 'likely' or 'high' clinical probability for PE, an elevated D-dimer concentration, or both. Methods : Studies that ruled out PE by normal CTPA, with or without subsequent normal bilateral compression ultrasonography (CUS), in patients with a strict indication for CTPA, were searched for in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane dataset. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of (fatal) venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a 3-month follow-up period. Results : Three studies were identified that excluded PE by CTPA alone (2020 patients), and three studies that performed additional CUS of the legs after normal CTPA (1069 patients). The pooled incidence of VTE at 3 months was 1.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.8] based on a normal CTPA result as a sole test, and 1.1% (95% CI 0.6–2.0) based on normal CTPA and negative CUS findings, resulting in negative predictive values of 98.8% (95% CI 98.2–99.2) and 98.9% (95% CI 98.0–99.4), respectively. This compares favorably with the VTE failure rate after normal pulmonary angiography (1.7%, 95% CI 1.0–2.7). The risk of fatal PE did not differ between the diagnostic strategies (0.6% vs. 0.5%). Conclusion : A normal CTPA result alone can safely exclude PE in all patients in whom CTPA is required to rule out this disease. There is no need for additional ultrasonography to rule out VTE in these patients.     

超声内镜与CT对消化道恶性肿瘤术前分期的价值比较

目的 探讨超声内镜与ＣＴ在消化道恶性肿瘤术前分期中的价值。方法 ４３例临床确诊为消化道恶性肿瘤的患者,术前分别行超声内镜和ＣＴ分期,并与术后病理结果对照。结果 浸润层次（Ｔ分期）方面,超声内镜准确性为８８．４％（３８／４３）,ＣＴ为５５．８％（２４／４３）。过低分期超声内镜、ＣＴ分别为４．６％和３０．２％,过高分期分别为７．０％和１４．０％。超声内镜、ＣＴ术前Ｔ分期与术后病理分期准确率比较,经ｘ＾     

Comparison of computed tomography and autopsy in detection of injuries after unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Aim

Computed tomography (CT) has been suggested as an aid or even a replacement for autopsy. The aim of this trial was to study the conformity of the two methods in finding injuries in non-surviving patients after unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Methods

In this prospective study, 31 patients were submitted to a CT prior to autopsy after unsuccessful resuscitation attempts. Pathological findings were noted by both the radiologist and the pathologists in a specified protocol. The pathologists and radiologist were blinded from each other's results.

Results

CT and autopsy revealed rib fractures in 22 and 24 patients respectively (kappa = 0.83). In 8 patients, CT revealed more rib fractures than autopsy; and in 12 patients, autopsy revealed more rib fractures than CT. In 7 patients, neither method showed any rib fractures. The mean difference between the two methods in detecting rib fractures was 0.16 (S.D.: ±3.174, limits of agreement: −6.19 to 6.51). The kappa value for sternal fractures was 0.49. A total of 260 pathological findings were noted by CT and 244 by autopsy. The average patient showed a median of 9 injuries (every fracture counted as one injury), independent of the method used in detecting the injuries.

Conclusions

There was a strong concordance between the two methods in finding rib fractures but not sternal fractures and these results support the concept of CT as a valuable complement to autopsy in detecting rib fractures after unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation but not as a replacement. Other injuries did not show the same concordance.     

Practicality, safety and accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography in the evaluation of low TIMI-risk score chest pain patients: a pilot study

Objectives: The present pilot study aimed to assess the practicality, safety and accuracy of performing CT coronary angiography (CT‐CA) in the evaluation of acute chest pain of patients with low thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk scores. Methods: The present prospective observational study was undertaken in a university teaching hospital between November 2004 and December 2005. Participants were a convenience sample of patients admitted to hospital for investigation of chest pain with TIMI risk scores <3. Consenting patients underwent CT‐CA within 48 h of presentation. Outcomes of interest were practicality (proportion of diagnostic quality scans obtained and preparation time for CT‐CA), rate of serious adverse events, and accuracy at the patient level using selective coronary angiography as the reference standard. Results: Thirty‐four patients were recruited. Diagnostic quality scans were obtained in 26/34 or 76% of patients (four failed CT‐CA and four non‐diagnostic scans). The median CT preparation time was 1.9 h (range 0.17–4.0). No serious adverse events were found. Fourteen of those 26 patients with diagnostic CT‐CA subsequently had selective coronary angiography, of which nine were positive. The sensitivity and specificity of CT‐CA in identifying patients with significant coronary artery disease were 9/9 (100%; 95% confidence interval 72–100%) and 4/5 (80%; 95% confidence interval 28–100%), respectively. Conclusions: The majority of acute chest pain patients with low TIMI risk scores were successfully scanned with a 16‐slice CT to produce CT‐CA studies with good diagnostic quality and accuracy. No major adverse events were found. The place of CT‐CA in diagnostic workup for chest pain remains to be defined.     

CT成像和平板运动试验与冠状动脉造影的对比研究

目的探讨64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像与平板运动试验在冠心病诊治中联合应用的价值。方法以选择性冠状动脉造影结果为标准,对比分析64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像和运动平板试验对114例疑诊冠心病和53例冠心病介入治疗患者诊断的敏感度、特异度、准确度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。结果64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像诊断冠心痛的敏感度为92．6％,特异度为98．8％,准确度98．4％,阳性预测值为82．5％,阴性预测值为99．5％。64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像与平板运动试验两者联合应用诊断冠心病的敏感度为90．2％,特异度为99．5％,准确度为99．0％,阳性预测值为91．7％,阴性预测值为99．4％。结论64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像与平板运动试验均是简便、易行及无创的冠心病诊断方法,两者联合应用可进一步提高诊断冠心病的准确度,并为冠心病介入疗效评价提供依据。     

血管超声、经颅多普勒超声、计算机断层血管成像对后循环缺血患者椎基底动脉的评价

目的探讨血管超声、经颅多普勒超声（transcranial Doppler,TCD）、计算机断层血管成像（computertomography angiography,CTA）评价后循环缺血患者椎基底动脉异常的临床价值。方法对156例后循环缺血患者均行数字减影脑血管造影术（digital subtraction angiography,DSA）检查,回顾性分析患者入院后1周内血管超声、TCD、CTA检查结果,与DSA检查结果对照,系统评价其敏感度。结果以DSA为金标准评价,血管超声对椎基底动脉颅外段异常判断的敏感度为68.4%;TCD对椎基底动脉颅内段异常判断的敏感度为76.3%;CTA对椎基底动脉颅外和颅内段异常判断的敏感度为88.9%。结论血管超声、TCD、CTA可以作为椎基底动脉异常的初步筛查工具,而DSA仍然是金标准,并且DSA能准确判断脑血管的代偿情况。     

Assessment of therapeutic response in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous radio frequency ablation: comparison of multiphase helical computed tomography and power Doppler ultrasonography with a microbubble contrast agent.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of multiphase helical computed tomography and power Doppler ultrasonography with a microbubble contrast agent in the assessment of the therapeutic response to radio frequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: In 66 patients with 73 nodular hepatocellular carcinomas ranging from 1.0 to 4.0 cm (mean, 2.6 cm) in diameter, contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography was performed after intravenous bolus injection of a galactose-based microbubble contrast agent before and after radio frequency ablation. The results of the studies were compared with the findings of follow-up 3-phase helical computed tomography. All patients were regularly followed up with computed tomography for more than 1 year (range, 13-19 months). RESULTS: In 8 (11%) of 73 hepatocellular carcinomas, immediate follow-up computed tomography obtained within 2 hours after radio frequency ablation showed focal enhancing portions within the treated lesions, suggesting residual non-necrotic tumors. All 8 of these tumors had intratumoral flow signals on contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography. The diagnostic agreement between computed tomography and contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography was achieved in 100%. Among the remaining 65 hepatocellular carcinomas with the absence of residual tumors at both immediate follow-up computed tomography and contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography, subsequent follow-up computed tomography showed local regrowth at the margins of 10 lesions (15%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography closely correlated with those of immediate follow-up computed tomography for detecting residual tumors in hepatocellular carcinomas treated with radio frequency ablation. Both techniques, however, showed a limitation in detecting small or microscopic residual tumors and in predicting local regrowth in the treated lesions.     

Evaluation of the effect of methylphenidate by computed tomography, electroencephalography, neuropsychological tests, and clinical symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A prospective cohort study

Background: Stimulant drugs are the most commonly used treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although the mechanism of action of these drugs is still not entirely understood.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the psychostimulant drug methylphenidate (MPH) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), electrical activity of the brain, and clinical symptoms in children with ADHD using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), electroencephalography (EEG), and neuropsychological tests.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, pediatric outpatients received MPH for 3 months at a mean dose of 1 mg/kg · d (range, 0.5-1.5 mg/kg · d). They were then administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test (BGT), EEG, and SPECT of the brain. The parents and/or teacher of each child were asked to complete the Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS), and the Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition-based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S). All of the evaluations were performed at baseline and after 3 months of MPH treatment. Each child underwent a Stroop test as an activation method 15 minutes before the SPECT procedure.Results: Sixty patients were assessed for inclusion. Twenty-one children (18 boys [85.7%], 3 girls [14.3%]; mean [SD] age, 9.7 [1.7] years; range, 8-13 years) with a diagnosis of ADHD were included in and completed the study. Mean (SD) BGT scores before MPH treatment compared with after MPH treatment were significantly decreased (9.8 [4.2] vs 6.3 [3.4]; Z = -3.27; P = 0.001). After treatment with MPH, the visual SPECT results suggested that low rCBF was normalized in the right frontotemporal areas in 10 children with ADHD. After treatment, 12 patients (57.1%) had no change in EEG activity, 5 (23.8%) had improvement, and 4 (19.0%) had worsening activity. Patients who had improvement or no worsening on EEG after MPH treatment were associated with significant improvement after MPH treatment compared with before treatment in mean (SD) CTRS scores (25.9 [14.3] vs 35.0 [14.4]; P = 0.003), teachers' T-DSM-IV-S total score (25.1 [14.2] vs 38.4 [18.7]; P = 0.005), and CPRS scores (mothers scores: 29.7 [16.6] vs 42.6 [17.2], P = 0.002; fathers' scores: 29.4 [16.8] vs 41.9 [23.7], P = 0.004). No significant difference was found in these scores in the patients whose EEG findings showed deterioration after MPH treatment. The quantitative values for SPECT observed before treatment compared with those observed after 3 months of MPH treatment were not found to be significantly different in any areas of the brain.Conclusions: MPH use over 3 months was associated with improvement from baseline in visual-motor function and behavioral disorders in these children and adolescents with ADHD. However, no significant difference in rCBF or electrical activity in the brain was observed in this small study.