Diagnostic significance of periesophageal fat pad in ultrasonography for sliding hiatal hernias: sonographic fat pad sign

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic significance of visualization of periesophageal fat pad in ultrasonography or computed tomography for sliding hiatal hernias. Forty-six controls and 21 esophageal hiatal hernia patients were compared in terms of sonographic and tomographic esophageal diameters. We suggest that absence of periesophageal fat pad sign in ultrasonography or computerized tomography is a noteworthy finding that calls for further investigation for the diagnosis of sliding hiatal hernias.     

Diffuse esophageal spasm: CT findings in seven patients

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and appearance of esophageal wall thickening on CT scans in a series of patients with findings of diffuse esophageal spasm on barium studies. CONCLUSION: CT revealed marked esophageal wall thickening in seven (21%) of 33 patients who had findings of diffuse esophageal spasm on barium studies. CT showed significantly greater esophageal wall thickening in the lower thoracic esophagus 5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction than in the upper thoracic esophagus at the level of the aortic arch or in the midthoracic esophagus at the level of the carina (p < 0.01). This esophageal wall thickening corresponded to the presence of multiple strong nonperistaltic contractions in the lower thoracic esophagus on barium studies. Our findings suggest that diffuse esophageal spasm should be included in the differential diagnosis when CT shows smooth circumferential wall thickening in the lower half of the thoracic esophagus, particularly in elderly patients with dysphagia or chest pain.     

Small-bowel disease: categorization by CT examination

Fifty patients with no small-bowel disease were evaluated by CT to determine the normal appearance of the small bowel and mesentery. Subsequently, the CT findings in 95 patients with proven small-bowel disease were analyzed to determine which CT observations correlated with neoplastic, inflammatory, or edema-producing processes. Thirty-three (83%) of 40 patients with wall thickening or mesenteric masses greater than 1.5 cm had a neoplastic process. Twenty-eight (82%) of 34 patients with normal mesenteric fat attenuation, wall thickening less than 1.5 cm, or mesenteric masses less than 1.5 cm had inflammatory disease. Fourteen (67%) of 21 patients with no mesenteric mass, increased mesenteric fat attenuation, and wall thickening less than 1.5 cm had noninflammatory edema. Overall, CT assigned 75 (79%) of 95 patients into appropriate categories; use of ancillary CT findings led to correct categorization in 83 (87%). CT is helpful in correctly assigning a disease category to patients with small-bowel wall thickening.     

CT findings in patients with esophagitis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to determine the CT findings in patients with esophagitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of medical and radiology files revealed 29 patients with esophagitis in whom thoracic CT was performed within 1 month of the diagnosis. The CT scans were reviewed retrospectively for esophageal wall thickening, a target sign, or other abnormalities. The thickness of the esophageal wall was also measured on CT in these 29 patients and compared with a control group of 85 patients. RESULTS: We found that 16 patients (55%) with esophagitis had abnormal findings on CT, including a thickened esophageal wall (using 5 mm as the threshold for wall thickening) in all 16 (55%) and a target sign in five (17%). The overall mean esophageal wall thickness was 4.7 mm (standard deviation [SD], 2 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-8.7 mm) in patients with esophagitis versus a mean wall thickness of 2.9 mm (SD, 0.8 mm; 95% CI, 1.3-4.5 mm) in controls (p <.001). Using the same 5-mm threshold for wall thickening, we found that only three (4%) of 85 controls had a thickened esophageal wall on CT. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with esophagitis had abnormalities on CT, including a thickened esophageal wall (> or =5 mm) in 55% and a target sign in 17%. Although barium studies and endoscopy are more sensitive modalities for detecting this condition, the CT finding of a relatively long segment of circumferential esophageal wall thickening, with or without a target sign, should suggest the diagnosis of esophagitis in the proper clinical setting.     

多层螺旋CT仿真支气管镜对气管支气管病变的诊断价值

目的评价多层螺旋CT仿真支气管镜（CTVB）对气管、支气管病变的诊断价值。方法对42例患者进行多层螺旋CT检查，在工作站得到仿真支气管图像，采用螺距1．35，重组间隔1mm，重组层厚1．25mm。其中35例为中央型肺癌、3例支气管内膜结核、3例支气管良性肿瘤经病理证实，1例支气管异物经临床证实。所有图像均经2名熟悉气管支气管解剖的放射科医师进行分析。结果42例中，35例中央型肺癌CTVB表现为气管支气管腔内结节状或丘状隆起者22例，狭窄13例，以上35例中央型肺癌横断面CT均显示病变部位支气管壁呈不同程度增厚。3例支气管内膜结核CTVB均表现为支气管腔狭窄，横断面CT显示管壁增厚，管壁增厚范围长。3例气管支气管良性肿瘤CTVB表现为腔内结节，横断面CT无相邻支气管壁的增厚。另1例支气管腔内异物CTVB表现为支气管腔内隆起性阻塞，横断面CT无相邻支气管壁的增厚。CTVB可以越过狭窄部位对远端支气管进行观察。结论多层螺旋CTVB可以反映气管支气管腔内病变的形态，结合横断面CT对气管支气管病变的诊断具有参考价值。     

CT appearance of acute appendagitis

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to describe the spectrum of CT findings in patients with acute epiploic appendagitis and also to evaluate the changes seen with this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients diagnosed with acute epiploic appendagitis seen on contrast-enhanced CT were included in this study. The CT scans of the epiploic appendagitis were evaluated for the presence of colon wall thickening, a focal fatty center, inflammatory changes, location in relationship to the colon, size, and presence or absence of central high density within the fat. In 10 patients, the initial findings were compared with findings of follow-up CT performed between 3 days-21 months after the first CT. RESULTS: The most common part of colon involved by acute epiploic appendagitis was the sigmoid colon (31/50), and the most common position was anterior to the colonic lumen (41/50). All 50 patients with acute epiploic appendagitis had a central fatty core surrounded by inflammation. Colon wall thickening was present in only two, and a central high-density focus was noted only in 27 of 50 patients. In 86% (43/50) of patients, the fatty central core was between 1.5 and 3.5 cm in length. The changes seen on follow-up CT varied, including increased density with a decrease in the size of the fatty central core, no change, complete resolution of findings, and minimal residual density. CONCLUSION: On CT, acute epiploic appendagitis has a predictable appearance in terms of location, size, and density. The most common finding on CT is a fat-density oval lesion with surrounding inflammation on the anterior aspect of the sigmoid colon. The changes on CT are not predictable in the 2-week to 6-month window.     

Esophageal cancer: evaluation with triple-phase dynamic CT--initial experience

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess which phase of a triple-phase dynamic contrast material-enhanced multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) protocol is optimal for visualization of esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was supported by the local ethical committee; all patients gave written informed consent. Thirty-one lesions in 28 consecutive patients (26 men, two women; mean age, 65 years; range, 53-87 years) with histopathologically confirmed esophageal cancer were evaluated with triple-phase dynamic CT performed at 5, 35, and 65 seconds (first arterial, second arterial, and venous phases) after attenuation of 200 HU was obtained at the descending aorta. Qualitative image analysis was performed to assess appearance and conspicuity of the tumor. Appearances of all 31 lesions were classified into three categories-not identifiable, focal enhancement with or without minimal (<1 cm) wall thickening, and focal mass lesion or obvious (>1 cm) wall thickening. Results were compared with surgical or endoscopic ultrasonographic findings. Quantitative assessment included regions-of-interest measurement of the tumor and normal esophageal wall and the difference between those measurements. A paired t test was used to determine which phase showed the highest tumor attenuation and tumor-to-normal esophageal wall attenuation differences. RESULTS: At visual assessment, 30 lesions were identified in the second arterial phase. Of these 30 lesions, eight were focal enhancements; the best conspicuity was during the second arterial phase. Furthermore, seven of these eight lesions were T1 cancers. The remaining 22 lesions were enhanced masses or wall thickening. Twenty-one of these 22 tumors also showed best conspicuity in the second arterial phase. The greatest attenuation of tumors in the second arterial phase was 130.0 HU, and the difference in attenuation between tumor and normal esophageal wall was 50.6 HU in the second arterial phase, which were significantly higher than those in the other two phases (P<.01, each). CONCLUSION: The second arterial phase of dynamic CT is the optimal phase for visualization of esophageal cancer.     

Benign and malignant lesions of the stomach: evaluation of CT criteria for differentiation

PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic (CT) criteria for differentiating benign from malignant stomach lesions in patients with a thickened gastric wall at CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A radiology department file search revealed 36 patients with a thickened gastric wall at CT who underwent double-contrast barium suspension upper gastrointestinal tract examinations within 6 weeks before or after CT. The authors reviewed the CT images without knowledge of the final radiologic, endoscopic, or pathologic findings to determine the degree of gastric wall thickening and the symmetry, distribution, and enhancement of the thickened wall. The sensitivity and specificity of these findings for detection of malignancy were calculated. RESULTS: Two of 36 patients had two gastric abnormalities each. The final diagnoses in the 38 cases were gastritis in 19, hiatal hernia in four, benign ulcer in three, benign (n = 3) or malignant (n = 8) gastric neoplasm in 11, and no gastric abnormality in one case. Mean wall thickness was 1.5 cm (range, 0.7-7.5 cm). The finding of gastric wall thickness of 1 cm or greater had a sensitivity of 100% but a specificity of only 42% for detection of malignant or potentially malignant stomach lesions. The finding of focal, eccentric, or enhancing wall thickening had a sensitivity of 93%, 71%, or 43%, respectively, and a specificity of 8%, 75%, or 88%, respectively, for detection of these lesions. Gastric wall thickening that was 1 cm or greater and was focal, eccentric, and enhancing had a specificity of 92% but a sensitivity of only 36% for detection of these lesions. CONCLUSION: Gastric wall thickness of 1 cm or greater at CT had a sensitivity of 100% but a specificity of less than 50% for detection of malignant or potentially malignant stomach lesions that necessitated further diagnostic evaluation.     

MR imaging for predicting neoplastic invasion of the cervical esophagus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Esophageal invasion (EI) by head and neck neoplasm has important prognostic and surgical management implications. Our purpose was to determine the accuracy of MR imaging for predicting neoplastic cervical esophageal invasion. METHODS: MR scans of the neck obtained from 22 patients with periesophageal masses were retrospectively reviewed independently and by consensus by two experienced head and neck radiologists who were unaware of surgical findings. The patients were selected from clinical, radiologic, or pathologic reports suggesting EI. The following imaging criteria for EI were evaluated: effacement of periesophageal fat planes, circumferential mass, paraesophageal lymph nodes, luminal size, wall thickening, increased T2 wall signal, and wall enhancement. There were eight patients with EI and 14 patients without EI, as confirmed by surgical findings or pathologic examination. RESULTS: The consensus criteria with the best sensitivities were any wall thickening (100%), effaced fat plane (100%), and any T2 wall signal abnormality (100%). The criteria with the best specificities were circumferential mass greater than 270 (100%) or 180 degrees (93%) and focal T2 wall signal abnormality (86%). The overall kappa value for the two readers for all criteria was 0.57 (moderate agreement). CONCLUSION: A circumferential mass or focal T2 signal abnormality on the esophageal wall suggests the presence of EI. An intact fat plane, absence of wall thickening, and no T2 wall signal abnormalities imply that the esophagus is not invaded.     

钝性腹部空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤的 CT 诊断

目的：通过对照分析腹部钝性空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤患者术中发现及术前CT征象,寻找判断空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤的特征性CT表现,以助于提高诊断率。方法回顾性分析2011～2013年我院100例钝性腹部创伤患者,其中男性82例,女性18例;年龄11个月～77岁,平均37岁。将其分为A、B两组,A组为经手术证实的有钝性肠道及肠系膜损伤患者（50例）,B组为经手术证实的只有钝性实质性脏器损伤而没有空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤患者（50例）,分析两组中与空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤相关的CT征象,采用单因素分析方法,进一步得出有助于判断是否有空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤的CT征象。结果通过分析发现具有统计学意义的征象有：腹腔或腹膜后积气（P＜0.01,敏感度50％,特异度98％）,肠管壁增厚（P＜0.01,敏感度40％,特异度98％）,系膜增厚（P＜0.01,敏感度42％,特异度88％）,系膜密度增高（P＜0.05,敏感度16％,特异度98％）,腹腔脂肪间隙密度增高模糊（P＜0.05,敏感度18％,特异度96％）,腹膜增厚（P＜0.05,敏感度26％,特异度90％）。结论通过分析发现腹腔或腹膜后积气、肠管壁增厚、系膜增厚、系膜密度增高、腹腔脂肪间隙密度增高模糊等征象有助于判断空腔脏器及肠系膜损伤。     

Esophageal lipomatosis: another consequence of the use of steroids

After we incidentally found on CT extensive esophageal fat accumulations in a patient with long-term use of steroids, we prospectively evaluated during a 6-month period all CT studies of the chest for esophageal lipomatosis and related the findings to the possible use of steroids. The diagnosis of esophageal fat on CT was made by density measurements or if too small for reliable density measurements by comparison with mediastinal fat. In 21 of 1320 exclusively older male patients the diagnosis of esophageal lipomatosis was definite in 7 and likely in 14 patients. All fat accumulations were located in the upper third of the esophagus (mean length 22 ± 6 mm) and presented ring-like (n = 10), irregular (n = 3), or as a horseshoe sparing the posterior border (n = 8). In 20 patients there was an unequivocal history of steroid treatment. Associated centripetal fat infiltration was found in 11 patients. None of the patients had swallowing problems. Prolonged use of steroids, either orally or inhalationally administered, is associated with esophageal lipomatosis. The predisposition for the upper esophagus might be related to the presence of striated muscle cells in this part of the esophagus; moreover, inhalational steroid therapy may adversely affect the upper esophagus. Received: 3 April 2000; Accepted: 2 May 2000     

Primary serous papillary carcinoma of the peritoneum: CT findings

AIM: To describe the computed tomography (CT) findings of primary serous papillary carcinoma of the peritoneum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical data and imaging studies of 36 women aged 37-85 years with primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty-seven patients presented with general abdominal complaints; all had elevated levels of CA-125. Thirty-two women were post-menopausal, four had had bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. RESULTS: The most common findings on pre-operative abdominal CT, performed in 30 patients, were a variable amount of ascites (n = 29), omental involvement (n = 28), irregular parietal peritoneum thickening (n = 22) and mural thickening of the sigmoid colon (n = 10). Thoracic findings included enlarged cardiophrenic nodes (n = 15) and pleural effusion (n = 11). Six patients had unilateral or bilateral adnexal masses of soft tissue density, which proved to be surface serous papillary carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Diffuse peritoneal disease on CT in patients with normal-sized ovaries or following bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with elevated level of serum CA-125, but without an identifiable primary tumour, should suggest the diagnosis of primary serous papillary carcinoma of the peritoneum. Associated adnexal masses or focal bowel wall thickening may be seen, representing surface involvement by this tumour.     

Diverticulitis of the right colon: CT observations

Recent reports on the CT evaluation of patients with diverticulitis of the left colon prompted a retrospective review of the CT findings in six patients with diverticulitis of the cecum and ascending colon. All had pain and tenderness in the right lower quadrant. In each case, CT findings showed regional thickening of the colonic wall, an extraluminal mass involving the cecum and/or ascending colon, haziness and linear strands in adjacent pericolic fat, and thickening of nearby fascial planes. Extraluminal air was noted in four patients, and contrast-filled structures suggesting diverticula were present within the inflammatory masses of two. These results suggest that CT is a useful imaging tool in the diagnosis of right-sided diverticulitis.     

Diverging gastro-esophageal folds: an useful sign for detecting small hiatal hernias in the erect position

Upright, double contrast films of the gastro-esophageal junction were reviewed in 30 patients with hiatal hernias and 30 normal controls. Patients with hiatal hernias demonstrated gastro-esophageal folds that converged above the diaphragm and diverged at or beneath the diaphragm on double contrast films of the esophagus. In the normal situation these folds were found to converge at or beneath the diaphragm. The origin and significance of this sign for the diagnosis of hiatal hernias in the upright position is discussed.     

CT features with pathologic correlation of acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation in adults

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to describe the CT features of acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease in adults and to correlate these findings with the pathologic grades of disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 22) with a history of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and pathologically confirmed acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease underwent contrast-enhanced (n = 13) and unenhanced (n = 9) CT. CT scans were retrospectively evaluated for intestinal and extraintestinal abnormalities by two radiologists who were unaware of the biopsy results. The CT findings were correlated with the pathologic grade of disease severity using the Pearson's correlation coefficient and the two-tailed nonparametric Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: CT features included small-bowel wall thickening (22/22), engorgement of the vasa recta adjacent to affected bowel segments (20/22), stranding of the mesenteric fat (16/22), large-bowel wall thickening (13/22), bowel dilatation proximal to thickened wall segments (5/22), ascites (10/22), periportal edema (8/22), mucosal enhancement (7/13), and serosal enhancement (4/13). The wall thickening had a discontinuous distribution in nine patients (41%). Bowel wall thickening was associated with high-grade graft-versus-host disease in patients in whom the distal esophagus (p = 0.015), ileum (p = 0.034), or ascending colon (p = 0.05) was involved. Increasing numbers of thickened bowel segments correlated with high-grade graft-versus-host disease (r = 0.548, p = 0.008). Increasing numbers of abnormal CT findings did not correlate with high-grade graft-versus-host disease (r = 0.117, p = 0.604). CONCLUSION: A variety of bowel abnormalities can be seen on CT in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease. CT findings associated with high-grade graft-versus-host disease are thickening of the distal esophagus, ileum, or ascending colon, as well as increasing numbers of thickened bowel wall segments.     

MSCT对原发性肠脂垂炎的检查价值

目的 探讨原发性肠脂垂炎（PEA）的CT特征,MSCT的检查价值.方法 对12例具有完整MSCT扫描资料并随访证实的原发性肠脂垂炎病例进行回顾性分析.12例均行全腹平扫,其中2例行增强扫描.结果 10例病灶位于直乙状结肠转折处,1例位于回盲部,1例位于降结肠;12例卵圆形脂肪密度病灶均可见边缘高密度环,11例病灶中心可见高密度影;9例病灶周围可见继发性炎性改变,其中5例可见邻近腹膜增厚,但均未见邻近肠壁增厚及周围积液;2例增强扫描病灶边缘的高密度环及邻近增厚的腹膜可见强化.4～10周后CT随访,12例病灶均自行消退.结论 边缘高密度环征、中心高密度影和周围继发性炎性改变为原发性肠脂垂炎的特征性CT表现,MSCT能清楚显示病灶细节特征及毗邻结构,对原发性肠脂垂炎的诊断有决定性意义.     

Small bowel disease in children: diagnosis with CT

The computed tomographic (CT) scans of 22 children with small bowel disease and those of 110 children with no small bowel disease were analyzed by two observers who were blinded with respect to clinical history and final diagnoses in order to determine which CT findings reliably indicated neoplastic, inflammatory, or noninflammatory processes. Bowel-wall thickening was the most reliable sign of disease. Five of six patients (83%) with bowel-wall thickness greater than 1 cm had neoplastic disease. Nine of ten patients (90%) with bowel-wall thickness between 3 mm and 1 cm had inflammatory disease, while four of six patients (66%) with wall thickness less than 1 cm and increased attenuation of mesenteric fat or an increase in the number of mesenteric vessels had noninflammatory edema. The presence of mesenteric masses was not a helpful sign for differentiating various disease processes. The results of this retrospective study suggest that the identification and classification of small bowel disease in children is possible from the objective analysis of CT findings.     

早期中央型肺癌CT诊断与支气管镜及病理组织学对照

目的 研究中央型肺癌早期CT表现及其病理学基础，并评价CT在鉴别诊断中的作用。方法 对17例病理证实的早期中央型肺癌及10例类似中央型肺癌的良性病变进行分析，CT采用SR 700及（或）Lightspeed Plus扫描机，3．0或1．5mm层厚薄层扫描，将CT表现与支气管镜及手术病理组织学表现对照。结果 17例病变CT均显示，3例显示为局部支气管管壁增厚、管腔内壁不规则，支气管镜显示黏膜表面粗糙、红肿。14例显示管腔狭窄、闭塞，其中4例合并亚段支气管黏液栓，10例合并阻塞性肺炎或肺不张，支气管镜表现为腔内息肉样病灶。病理组织学显示1例累及黏膜，5例累及黏膜下，11例侵犯支气管软骨层。10例良性病变中，CT检查怀疑6例恶性病变，4例不排除恶性，支气管镜检查5例显示内壁不均匀增厚、粗糙，2例管腔内凝血块，1例管腔内结节，2例未见异常。结论 薄层CT扫描能可靠地显示支气管细微病变，是诊断早期中央型肺癌非常有用的方法。     

Correlation of incidental colorectal wall thickening at CT compared to colonoscopy

Incidental colon wall thickening is a common finding on computed tomography (CT) scans obtained in patients presenting to the emergency department. Currently, there are no guidelines for the emergency department physician or primary care physician regarding the need for further evaluation, specifically colonoscopy, in these patients. A retrospective review of 2,850 abdominopelvic CT scans performed from April 2006 to September 2006 was conducted. Three hundred twenty-two patients had incidental colon wall thickening and 150 of these patients had a subsequent colonoscopy. This study focused on those 150 patients and analyzed the correlation between the CT scan findings of wall thickening of the colon and the findings on colonoscopy. The CT scan findings correlated with abnormal colonoscopic findings in 96 out of 150 (64%) of our cases. In a specific subgroup, 12 out of 12 (100%) of these CT scans were also noted to have a mass lesion, as well as colon wall thickening, all of which were consistent with an adenoma or carcinoma found on colonoscopy. Incidental colorectal wall thickening at CT scan is due to nonspecific colitis in majority of the cases. Admission to the hospital should be based upon criteria other than this incidental radiological finding. However, patients with colorectal wall thickening with a mass lesion at CT scan should be followed closely as inpatient or outpatient given the high correlation with significant findings on colonoscopy.     

Cardiac lipoma and lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings

Cardiac lipomas are uncommon, usually asymptomatic benign primary tumors of the heart that may incidentally be discovered during computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although the finding of a low-attenuation mass with density similar to fat on CT is pathognomonic, the MRI appearances of fatty cardiac masses are variable depending on the sequences employed. The MRI findings of 4 patients with cardiac lipomas or lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum are presented. All patients had lesions with characteristic low-signal-intensity margins and high central signal intensity on "bright-blood" balanced gradient-echo cardiac MRI sequences with very low repetition and echo times. It is proposed that this appearance results from intravoxel phase cancellation effects occurring at the fat/tissue interface and is sufficiently characteristic to obviate the need for confirmatory CT.