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Computed tomography scan imaging in diagnosing acute uncomplicated pancreatitis: Usefulness vs cost.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Literature has suggested that imaging is over-utilized in the diagnosis of pancreatitis. If the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) is established with abdominal pain and increased serum amylase or lipase activity without systemic signs of severe disease, computed tomography (CT) imaging may not be necessary. We hypothesize that among patients with uncomplicated acute pancreatitis (AUP), there is a significant number of unwarranted CT imaging studies. This imposes increased expenditure and cost in our healthcare system and does not improve hospital stay or management of AUP. AIM:To assess the overutilization and associated cost of CT imaging among patients meeting diagnostic criteria for AUP. METHODS:In this Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective, single-center study, we identified all adult patients admitted with AP from January 1, 2012 through October 1, 2017. Patients were identified via International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) code for AP (577.0) and ICD-10 codes for different etiological AP (K85.9 unspecified, K85.0 idiopathic, K85.1 biliary, K85.2 alcohol-induced, K85.3 drug-induced, and K85.8 other). Diagnosis was confirmed by chart review using established non-imaging diagnostic criteria (presence of typical abdominal pain and elevated lipase or amylase greater than 3 times upper limit of normal). Ranson criteria and BISAP scores on presentation were calculated and patients that met scores less than or equal to 2 for both were included to suggest AUP. The utilization and cost of imaging in these patients were recorded. RESULTS:Between January 2012 and October 2017, 1305 patients presented to the emergency department with AP, and 405 patients (31%) met our inclusion criteria for AUP (201 males, 204 females; mean age 49 years, range 18-98). Of those, 210 patients (51.85%) underwent CT imaging. One patient (0.47%) had evidence of pancreatic necrosis, one patient had cyst formation (0.47%), and the remaining 208 patients (99.05%) had either normal CT scan imaging or findings consistent with mild AP without necrosis. The average cost of CT scan imaging was $4510 with a total cost of $947056. Median length of hospitalization stay was 3 d among both groups. Combining Ranson's Criteria and BISAP score identified AUP in our patient population with an accuracy of 99.5%. CONCLUSION:CT imaging is unnecessary when AUP is diagnosed clinically and biochemically. Reducing overuse of diagnostic CT scans will decrease healthcare expenditure and radiation exposure to patients.

SUBMITTER: Kothari S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6406186 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Computed tomography scan imaging in diagnosing acute uncomplicated pancreatitis: Usefulness <i>vs</i> cost.

Kothari Shana S Kalinowski Michael M Kobeszko Matthew M Almouradi Tarek T

World journal of gastroenterology 20190301 9

<h4>Background</h4>Literature has suggested that imaging is over-utilized in the diagnosis of pancreatitis. If the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) is established with abdominal pain and increased serum amylase or lipase activity without systemic signs of severe disease, computed tomography (CT) imaging may not be necessary. We hypothesize that among patients with uncomplicated acute pancreatitis (AUP), there is a significant number of unwarranted CT imaging studies. This imposes increased e ...[more]

PMID: 30862996

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Project description:BackgroundTo evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) attenuation in mediastinal lymph node metastases of malignant tumors.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of a Chinese institutional database of consecutive patients with a history of malignant tumors. Those who had enlarged, necrotic, or hypermetabolic lymph nodes detected in the mediastinum during routine CT examination or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging from January 2019 to December 2021 were collected for investigation. All patients underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and were followed up for at least 6 months to diagnose lymph node metastases. One-to-one correlation was attempted between the CT images of the lymph nodes and EBUS-TBNA area of the same lymph node groups and similar size. Radiologists measured size, as well as plain CT and contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) attenuation values of mediastinal lymph nodes, and evaluated the effectiveness of these variables in diagnosing lymph node metastasis.ResultsA total of 135 lymph nodes of 114 patients were included in the study. In the univariate analysis, the long-axis diameter, short-axis diameter, short-axis/long-axis ratio, and plain CT attenuation values of lymph nodes were found to be statistically significantly different between the metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes. The areas under receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) of long-axis diameter, short-axis diameter, short-axis/long-axis ratio, and plain CT attenuation value for diagnosing metastases were 0.711, 0.788, 0.671, and 0.827, respectively. The best value of the AUC for diagnosing lymph node metastases was 0.827 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.749-0.890] using plain CT attenuation value ≤45 Hounsfield units (HU). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 92.8%, 69.2%, 86.5%, and 81.8%, respectively. Similar results were obtained from the 68 cases of lung cancer. Plain CT attenuation values reached the best AUC (0.860) for diagnosing lymph node metastases.ConclusionsPlain CT attenuation of lymph nodes is an effective method for diagnosing enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes with a history of multiple malignancies or lung cancer. Plain CT could be used as an additional test where there is no PET/CT available in cases of diagnostic dilemma.

Project description:IntroductionIn this study, we evaluated the use and the contribution of radiopharmaceuticals to the field of lung neoplasms imaging using positron emission tomography/computed tomography.MethodsWe conducted review of the current literature at PubMed/MEDLINE until February 2020. The search language was English.ResultsThe most widely used radiopharmaceuticals are the following:Experimental/pre-clinical approaches: (18)F-Misonidazole (18F-MISO) under clinical development, D(18)F-Fluoro-Methyl-Tyrosine (18F-FMT), 18F-FAMT (L-[3-18F] (18)F-Fluorothymidine (18F-FLT)), (18)F-Fluoro-Azomycin-Arabinoside (18F-FAZA), (68)Ga-Neomannosylated-Human-Serum-Albumin (68Ga-MSA) (23), (68)Ga-Tetraazacyclododecane (68Ga-DOTA) (as theranostic agent), (11)C-Methionine (11C-MET), 18F-FPDOPA, ανβ3 integrin, 68Ga-RGD2, 64Cu-DOTA-RGD, 18F-Alfatide, Folate Radio tracers, and immuno-positron emission tomography radiopharmaceutical agents.Clinically approved procedures/radiopharmaceuticals agents: (18)F-Fluoro-Deoxy-Glucose (18F-FDG), (18)F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) (bone metastases), and (68)Ga-Tetraazacyclododecane (68Ga-DOTA). The quantitative determination and the change in radiopharmaceutical uptake parameters such as standard uptake value, metabolic tumor volume, total lesion glycolysis, FAZA tumor to muscle ratio, standard uptake value tumor to liver ratio, standard uptake value tumor to spleen ratio, standard uptake value maximum ratio, and the degree of hypoxia have prognostic and predictive (concerning the therapeutic outcome) value. They have been associated with the assessment of overall survival and disease free survival. With the positron emission tomography/computed tomography radiopharmaceuticals, the sensitivity and the specificity of the method have increased.ConclusionIn terms of lung cancer, positron emission tomography/computed tomography may have clinical application and utility (a) in personalizing treatment, (b) as a biomarker for the estimation of overall survival, disease free survival, and (c) apply a cost-effective patient approach because it reveals focuses of the disease, which are not found with the other imaging methods.

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Project description:ImportanceAdvanced imaging for patient selection in mechanical thrombectomy is not widely available.ObjectiveTo compare the clinical outcomes of patients selected for mechanical thrombectomy by noncontrast computed tomography (CT) vs those selected by computed tomography perfusion (CTP) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the extended time window.Design, setting, and participantsThis multinational cohort study included consecutive patients with proximal anterior circulation occlusion stroke presenting within 6 to 24 hours of time last seen well from January 2014 to December 2020. This study was conducted at 15 sites across 5 countries in Europe and North America. The duration of follow-up was 90 days from stroke onset.ExposuresComputed tomography with Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, CTP, or MRI.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary end point was the distribution of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days (ordinal shift). Secondary outcomes included the rates of 90-day functional independence (mRS scores of 0-2), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and 90-day mortality.ResultsOf 2304 patients screened for eligibility, 1604 patients were included, with a median (IQR) age of 70 (59-80) years; 848 (52.9%) were women. A total of 534 patients were selected to undergo mechanical thrombectomy by CT, 752 by CTP, and 318 by MRI. After adjustment of confounders, there was no difference in 90-day ordinal mRS shift between patients selected by CT vs CTP (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.95 [95% CI, 0.77-1.17]; P = .64) or CT vs MRI (aOR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.8-1.13]; P = .55). The rates of 90-day functional independence (mRS scores 0-2 vs 3-6) were similar between patients selected by CT vs CTP (aOR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.7-1.16]; P = .42) but lower in patients selected by MRI than CT (aOR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.64-0.98]; P = .03). Successful reperfusion was more common in the CT and CTP groups compared with the MRI group (474 [88.9%] and 670 [89.5%] vs 250 [78.9%]; P < .001). No significant differences in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (CT, 42 [8.1%]; CTP, 43 [5.8%]; MRI, 15 [4.7%]; P = .11) or 90-day mortality (CT, 125 [23.4%]; CTP, 159 [21.1%]; MRI, 62 [19.5%]; P = .38) were observed.Conclusions and relevanceIn patients undergoing proximal anterior circulation mechanical thrombectomy in the extended time window, there were no significant differences in the clinical outcomes of patients selected with noncontrast CT compared with those selected with CTP or MRI. These findings have the potential to widen the indication for treating patients in the extended window using a simpler and more widespread noncontrast CT-only paradigm.

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Computed tomography scan imaging in diagnosing acute uncomplicated pancreatitis: Usefulness vs cost.

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Computed tomography scan imaging in diagnosing acute uncomplicated pancreatitis: Usefulness <i>vs</i> cost.

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