Objective To determine the frequencies and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening at muti-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Methods One hundred and nine patients with cirrhosis and 130 patients without cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening were retrospectively analyzed by the abdominal MSCT scans. The frequencies of wall thickening were determined in the cirrhosis patients and in those without cirrhosis. The segmental distribution, symmetry and enhancement pattern were evaluated in all patients with cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening. Results Gastrointestinal wall thickening was seen in 72 cases (66%) with cirrhosis patients and in 12 cases (9%) without cirrhosis patients (Plt;0.005). The jejunum and ascending colon were the most common sites of gastrointestinal wall thickening, which was involved in 32 and 31 patients respectively. The scans of 46 (64%) patients with gastrointestinal wall thickening showed multisegmental distribution. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was concentric and homogeneous in all patients with cirrhosis. Conclusion Gastrointestinal wall thickening is common in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. It frequently involves multiple segments. The jejunum and ascending colon are the most common sites of involvement. MSCT plays an invaluable role in diagnostic evaluation of bowel wall thickening in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of postoperative CT examination for evaluation of local complications in patients with low rectal carcinoma after total mesorectal excision with anal sphincter preservation. MethodsThe patients with low rectal carcinoma who received total mesorectal excision (TME) with anal sphincter preservation were examined using contrastenhanced CT in one year period from May 2009 to May 2010. Particular attention was paid to the presence of anastomotic leakage, local recurrence and status of lymph nodes. ResultsTotal of 82 patients (52 men, 30 women； mean age 57.8 years old； range 25.74 years old) were included in the study. Over a mean 10-month follow-up， 8 cases （9.8%） had clinically or surgically confirmed anastomotic leak, 6 cases （7.3%） had local recurrence around the anastomotic site， and 4 cases （4.9%） showed pelvic and distant metastatic lymphadenopathy. ConclusionPostoperative CT examination, including baseline and follow-up CT studies, is very useful for diagnosing anastomotic leakage, local tumor recurrence and lymphadenopathy.
Objective To investigate the value of multislice spiral CT （MSCT） findings in the diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis. Methods MSCT imaging data, including both plain and contrast-enhanced CT scan, of 14 patients with hepatic tuberculosis confirmed by surgery (5 patients), aspiration biopsy (4 patients), or clinic follow-up (5 patients) were collected for the study. MSCT findings were analyzed with correlation of pathological changes. Results Hepatic tuberculosis was classified into 2 types. ①The parenchymal type (12 patients), which was further divided into 4 subtypes: Miliary subtype (2 patients) showed multiple tiny hypodense dots with faint border and had no enhancement; Nodular subtype (5 patients) showed blurring border on plain CT scan, 2 patients had no enhancement, 2 had peripheral rim-like enhancement, and peripheral rim enhancement mixed with no enhancement in 1 patient; Abscess subtype (4 patients) showed central hypodense area with peripheral zone-like enhancement in 2 patients, or patchy like slight enhancement in 2 patients; Fabric and calcific subtype (1 patient) depicted enplaque calcification. ②The serohepatic type (2 patients) showed thickened hepatic capsule, sub-capsule nodules with slight enhancement, and local subcapsular fluid collection. Other signs included hepatomegaly, tuberculous lymphadenopathy, splenic tuberculosis, and tuberculosis of pancreas, adrenal glands, intestine and thorax. Conclusion MSCT plays an important role in diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis, by reflecting underlying pathological changes.
【摘要】 目的 评价多排螺旋CT（MDCT）在腹股沟区疝诊断中的价值。 方法 回顾性分析2009年6-12月96例经临床证实为腹股沟区疝患者的CT图像资料。通过多平面重建技术获得冠状位及矢状位图像，评价不同平面图像在腹股沟区疝诊断及分类中的应用价值。 结果 63例斜疝患者（66疝）疝囊于腹壁下动脉外侧经腹股沟深环进入腹股沟管，疝囊位于精索或圆韧带前侧（43/66，65.2%）或前内侧（15/66，22.7%）；30例直疝患者（37疝）疝囊位于腹壁下动脉内侧，位于精索内侧（27/37，73.0%）；斜疝及直疝疝囊均走行于腹股沟韧带前上方；3例股疝患者（3疝）疝囊位于腹股沟韧带后下方，冠状位“影像学股三角”内。 结论 MDCT对腹股沟区疝的诊断与鉴别诊断具有重要价值，可为手术前评估及手术中操作提供重要参考信息。【Abstract】 Objective To assess the value of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) in diagnosis of the inguinal region hernia. Methods The CT images of 96 patients with inguinal region hernia from June to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis and application of coronal and sagittal views in inguinal region hernia were assessed by multi-planer reconstruction. Results Hernia sac in 63 indirect hernia patients (66 hernias) originated lateral to the inferior epigastric artery enter the inguinal canal through the deep ring, anterior (43/63,68.3%) or anteromedial (15/63,23.8%) to the spermatic cord or round ligament;sac in 30 direct hernia patients (37 hernias) originated medial to the inferior epigastric artery, medial to the spermatic cord;both indirect and direct hernia sac located anterosuperior to the inguinal ligament;sac in three femoral hernia patients (three hernias) located posterior to the inguinal ligament and inside the “radiological femoral triangle” of coronal views. Conclusion MDCT plays on important role in diagnosing the inguinal region hernia, and provides critical information for preoperative and intraoperative.
Objective To investigate the CT imaging features of hepatic angiomyolipoma and its clinical characteristics. Methods The clinical, radiological, and pathological data of 3 hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) patients were retrospectively collected, and the imaging and diagnostic features were analyzed.Results All 3 cases were females, 2 complained of abdominal pain and one was absent of symptom. Both the laboratory examinations were normal in 2 cases, and hepatitis B virus markers were positive in one case. For CT features, the mass located in the superior anterior segment of the right hepatic lobe, in the posterior inferior segment of the right hepatic lobe, and in the left medial lobe, respectively. There were components of fat and soft tissue attenuation in these masses, and in which the CT value of the fat component was from -80 HU to -20 HU (mean -50 HU). There were enhancement in different degree and enhanced vascular imaging could be seen within the lesions. During surgery, all 3 masses were outgrowed from the hepatic lobes. Immunostainning showed HMB45 (+), αSMA (+), S100 (+)，which were bly suggestive of HAML.Conclusion HAML is a rare benign tumor with characteristic CT appearance, and its definite diagnosis relies on the immunohistochemical staining of HMB-45.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo study the spiral CT features of gastrointestinal invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder. MethodsEight patients with surgical-pathologically documented gastrointestinal invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent plain and contrast-enhanced dual-phase scanning of the abdomen. Oral contrast medium (1.2% Angiografin) was used to fill the gastrointestinal tract before CT scanning. ResultsThere were 2 cases of gastric antrum invasion, 6 duodenal invasion and 3 colonic invasion according to the surgical and pathological findings. Spiral CT correctly diagnosed 2 gastric invasion and 4 duodenal invasion based on several imaging features, like blurring of fat plane, focal wall thickening and luminal narrowing of involved gastrointestinal segments, and mass formation. However CT was unable to diagnose the 3 cases of hepatic flexure of colon invasion. ConclusionCT is valuable for diagnosing upper gastrointestinal tract invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder, yet the diagnosis of hepatic flexure of colon invasion is still difficult.
Objective To investigate the value of the multi-detector row spiral CT (MDCT) and 3-dimensional reconstruction technique for adult intussusception. Methods Twenty-one patients with surgically and clinical following-up confirmed intussusception were retrospectively included into this study. Three patients had plain MDCT scan, 18 received contrast enhanced MDCT scan. The original images were reconstructed with multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) technique and all the images of 21 patients were divided into original image group and original image add MPR image group. Two abdominal radiologists analyzed the MDCT imaging and recorded respectively the accuracy rate and the confidence index of the doctor about following indexes: whether or not having intussusception, the location of intussusception, finding reason caused intussusception, whether or not having bowel wall ischemia and whether or not having bowel obstruction. The accuracy rate and the confidence index of the doctor were compared using a SPSS statistics software. Results The accuracy rates about above indexes between original image group and original image add MPR image group were 90.5% (19/21) vs. 100% (21/21), 81.0% (17/21) vs. 95.2% (20/21), 85.7% (18/21) vs. 90.5% (19/21), 90.9% (10/11) vs. 90.9% (10/11) and 100% (11/11) vs. 100% (11/11) respectively, and there was no significant difference between original image group and original image add MPR image group (Pgt;0.05). For following indexes: whether or not having intussusception, the location of intussusception, finding reason caused intussusception, the confidence index of the doctor between original image add MPR image group and original image group had significant difference (5.00 vs. 4.24, 4.76 vs. 4.29, 4.29 vs. 3.71), and the confidence index of the doctor of original image add MPR image group exceeded that of original image group (Plt;0.05). Conclusions MDCT plays a valuable role in diagnosis and location of intussusception, finding the reason caused intussusception and evaluation the hemodynamic impairment of being involved in bowel wall. Compared to simple axial image, axial image combine 3-dimensional reconstructed image can increase the diagnostic confidence of the doctor.
Objective To investigate the imaging features of intestinal volvulus on multi-detector row spiral CT (MDCT). MethodsThirty-one patients with surgically confirmed intestinal volvulus were included in this study. Nine patients received MDCT plain scan, 22 received contrast enhanced MDCT scan and 5 of them had additional CT angiography. Two abdominal radiologists analyzed the MDCT imaging features of intestinal volvulus observed, such as the location, direction of rotation, degree of volvulus, appearance rate of the “whirl sign” and the “beak sign”, bowel wall thickening and ascites and the possible causes of volvulus, which were recorded with review of surgical findings. Results The location of volvulus included duodenum (1 case), jejunum (23 cases), ileum (3 cases), entire small intestine (2 cases) and sigmoid colon (2 cases). The location of volvulus was correctly diagnosed based on MDCT findings in 27 patients (27/31; 87.0%). The direction of volvulus was correctly diagnosed for all patients based on MDCT findings (clockwise in 11 cases and counterclockwise in 20 cases). The degrees of volvulus assessed on MDCT findings were respectively 180° in 13 cases, 360° in 12 cases, 540° in 2 cases, 720° in 2 cases and 900° in 2 cases, as compared with surgical findings of 180° in 17 cases, 360° in 10 cases, 540° in 1 case, and 720° in 3 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of MDCT for assessing the degree of volvulus was 74.2%. The “whirl sign” and “beak sign” appeared in 18 and 20 patients, respectively. Bowel wall thickening and ascites were showed in 9 patients. In 5 patients with reconstructed images, the images obtained by maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) techniques showed the abnormality of mesenteric vessels in all patients, and the multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) image of one patient showed the “whirl sign” and the “beak sign”. The causes of intestinal volvulus were identified on MDCT in 10 patients. Conclusion The “whirl sign” and the “beak sign” are the characteristic images of intestinal volvulus on MDCT. Bowel wall thickening and ascites may indicate the hemody-namic images impairment of volvulus. MDCT plays valuable role in the diagnosis of intestinal volvulus.
Objective To investigate the mult-slice spiral CT(MSCT)imaging manifestations of bowel wall thickening due to nontumorous causes,and to address the value of MSCT scanning in assessing nontumorous bowel wall thickening.MethodsThe MSCT findings of 284 patients with bowel wall thickening due to nontumorous causes confirmed by surgery,biopsy,or clinical follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.The location, range,symmetric or asymmetric,degree,attenuation,presence or absence of enhancement and associated perienteric abnormalities of thickened bowel wall were involved.ResultsAll nontumorous disease caused bowel wall thickening include liver cirrhosis(109 cases),acute pancreatitis(54 cases),bowel obstruction(36 cases),inflammatory bowel disease(14 cases),ischemic bowel disease(12 cases),radiation enterocolitis(13 cases),tuberculosis(12 cases),immune reaction(10 cases),infective enteritis(3 cases),acute appendicitis(3 cases),hypoproteinemia(5 cases),non-common disease(8 cases)and normal variants(5 cases).The attenuation pattern of the thickened bowel wall include high attenuation(1 case),iso-attenuation(144 cases),low attenuation(127 cases),fat deposition(5 cases)and pneumatosis(7 cases).The enhancement pattern of the thickened bowel wall included gentle enhancement(249 cases),notable enhancement(32 cases)and unenhancement(3 cases).Degree of bowel wall thickening included mild thinckening(279 cases)and marked thickening(5 cases).The range of bowel wall thickening was focal(8 cases),segmental(64 cases)and diffuse(212 cases).The associated perienteric abnormalities of thickened bowel wall included swelling of fat(218 cases),ascites(189 cases),lymphadenopathy(5 cases),peirenteirc abscess(2 cases),mesenteric vascular lesion(25 cases)and involvement of solid abdominal organs(169 cases). ConclusionMSCT has an invaluable role in the diagnostic evaluation of nontumorous bowel wall thickening.A wide variety of nontumorous diseases may manifest with bowel wall thickening at MSCT.Paying attention to the characteristics of thickening of bowel wall will benefit the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various intestinal diseases.
ObjectivesTo investigate the influence of scanning parameters (tube voltages and tube currents) on image quality and corresponding radiation doses with simulated lung nodules in chest CT.MethodsThe anthropomorphic chest phantoms with 12 simulated, randomly placed nodules of different diameters and densities in the chest were scanned by different scanning parameters. The detection rate, degree of nodular deformation, image quality (with both subjective and objective evaluation) and the corresponding radiation doses were recorded and evaluated, and the correlation between nodule detection rate, degree of nodular deformation, radiation dose and image quality using different scanning parameters was analyzed.ResultsThe image quality improved with the increase of tube voltage and tube current (P<0.05). When the tube current was constant, the CT values of the vertebral decreased gradually with the increase of tube voltages (P<0.05); however, significant difference was not detected in CT values of the lung field (P>0.05). When the tube current was 100 mAs, the lung nodules with CT values of +100 HU and −630 HU showed statistical difference when using different tube voltage (P<0.05); but there was no significant difference in nodules of −800 HU (P=0.57). When tube voltage was 100 kV and 120 kV each, it was possible to detect all lung nodules with a detection rate of 100%. The detection rate was 33% and 66% in 3 mm diameter when the tube current was 80 kV/15 mA and 80 kV/20 mA, respectively. The nodules deformation in nodules with a CT value of −630 HU and diameter less than 5 mm was the most prominent (P<0.05). After analyzing the relationship between image quality and radiation doses using different tube voltages, we established a system of correlation equations: 80 kV: Y=2.625X+0.038; 100 kV: Y=14.66X+0.158; 120 kV: Y=18.59X+0.093.ConclusionsThe image quality improves with the increase of tube current and tube voltage, as well as the corresponding radiation doses. By reducing the tube voltage and increasing the tube current appropriately, the radiation doses can be reduced. Follow-up CT examination of pulmonary ground glass nodules should apply the same tube voltage imaging parameters, so as to effectively reduce the measurement error of nodule density and evaluate the change of nodules more accurately.