Abdominal Computed Tomography with a Twist: The ‘Whirl Sign’ for Mesenteric Volvulus
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Spangler J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7434248 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC7905153 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeThe hyperdense basilar artery sign (HBAS) is an indicator of vessel occlusion on non contrast-enhanced computer tomography (NECT) in acute stroke patients. Since basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is associated with a high mortality and morbidity, its early detection is of great clinical value. We sought to analyze the influence of density measurement as well as a normalized ratio of Hounsfield unit/hematocrit (HU/Hct) ratio on the detection of BAO on NECT in patients with suspected BAO.Materials and methods102 patients with clinically suspected BAO were examined with NECT followed immediately by Multidetector computed tomography Angiography. Two observers independently analyzed the images regarding the presence or absence of HBAS on NECT and performed HU measurements in the basilar artery. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal density threshold for BAO using attenuation measurements or HU/Hct ratio.ResultsSensitivity of visual detection of the HBAS on NECT was relatively low 81% (95%-CI, 54-95%) while specificity was high 91% (95%-CI, 82-96%). The highest sensitivity was achieved by the combination of visual assessment and additional quantitative attenuation measurements applying a cut-off value of 46.5 HU with 94% sensitivity and 81% specificity for BAO. A HU/Hct ratio >1.32 revealed sensitivity of 88% (95%-CI, 60-98%) and specificity of 84% (95%-CI, 74-90%).ConclusionIn patients with clinically suspected acute BAO the combination of visual assessment and additional attenuation measurement with a cut-off value of 46.5 HU is a reliable approach with high sensitivity in the detection of BAO on NECT.
| S-EPMC4610698 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe obesity epidemic has prompted the need to better understand the impact of adipose tissue on human pathophysiology. However, accurate, efficient, and replicable models of quantifying adiposity have yet to be developed and clinically implemented. We propose a novel semiautomated radiologic method of measuring the visceral fat area (VFA) using computed tomography scan analysis.Materials and methodsWe obtained a cohort of 100 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma, with a median age of 60.9 y (age range: 35-87 y) and an average body mass index of 28.8 kg/m2 ± 6.56 kg/m2. The semiautomated quantification method of adiposity was developed using a commercial imaging suite. The method was compared to two manual delineations performed using two different picture archiving communication systems. We quantified VFA, subcutaneous fat area (SFA), total fat area (TFA), and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (V/S ratio) on computed tomography axial slices that were at the L4-L5 intervertebral level.ResultsThe semiautomated method was comparable to manual measurements for TFA, VFA, and SFA with intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.99, 0.97, and 0.96, respectively. However, the ICC for the V/S ratio was only 0.44, which led to the identification of technical outliers that were identified using robust regression. After removal of these outliers, the ICC improved to 0.99 for TFA, VFA, and SFA and 0.97 for the V/S ratio. Measurements from the manual methodology highly correlated between the two picture archiving communication system platforms, with ICC of 0.98 for TFA, 0.98 for VFA, 0.96 for SFA, and 0.95 for the V/S ratio.ConclusionsThis semiautomated method is able to generate precise and reproducible results. In the future, this method may be applied on a larger scale to facilitate risk stratification of patients using measures of abdominal adiposity.
| S-EPMC7771581 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Recently, there have been a number of reports concerning the utility of abdominal computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing overdose (OD). We herein report the summary and results of an analysis of these reports to assess the significance of CT for patients with OD. Searches of Ichushi (Japana Centra Revuo Medicine) and PubMed were carried out to identify articles from 1983 to 2019 using the key words "poisoning" and "abdominal computed tomography". Forty-eight cases across 15 articles were defined as subjects in this report. The average age of subjects was 46 years old, and there were 28 women. Forty-five of the 48 subjects (93.8%) had positive findings of residual drugs on CT. The finding of a high-density fluid level in the stomach was the most frequent (60.4%), followed by ill-defined high-density material in the stomach (12.5%) and high-density tablets in the stomach (10.4%). One prospective study suggested the merits of decontamination for patients with positive findings on CT even if more than 60 min had elapsed since the ingestion of drugs. Computed tomography could aid in the diagnosis of OD in comatose patients who cannot talk or who present without any other evidence of OD. In addition, a recent study revealed the merits of decontamination for patients with positive findings on the CT even if more than 60 min had elapsed since the ingestion of drugs.
| S-EPMC6773650 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of several vascular pathologies, including abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Evaluating the role of inflammation in AAA pathobiology and potentially outcome in vivo requires non-invasive tools for high-resolution imaging. We investigated the feasibility of X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging of phagocytic activity using nanoparticle contrast agents to predict AAA outcome. Methods: Uptake of several nanoparticle CT contrast agents was evaluated in a macrophage cell line. The most promising agent, Exitron nano 12000, was further characterized in vitro and used for subsequent in vivo testing. AAA was induced in Apoe -/- mice through angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion for up to 4 weeks. Nanoparticle biodistribution and uptake in AAA were evaluated by CT imaging in Ang II-infused Apoe -/- mice. After imaging, the aortic tissue was harvested and used from morphometry, transmission electron microscopy and gene expression analysis. A group of Ang II-infused Apoe -/- mice underwent nanoparticle-enhanced CT imaging within the first week of Ang II infusion, and their survival and aortic external diameter were evaluated at 4 weeks to address the value of vessel wall CT enhancement in predicting AAA outcome. Results: Exitron nano 12000 showed specific uptake in macrophages in vitro. Nanoparticle accumulation was observed by CT imaging in tissues rich in mononuclear phagocytes. Aortic wall enhancement was detectable on delayed CT images following nanoparticle administration and correlated with vessel wall CD68 expression. Transmission electron microscopy ascertained the presence of nanoparticles in AAA adventitial macrophages. Nanoparticle-induced CT enhancement on images obtained within one week of AAA induction was predictive of AAA outcome at 4 weeks. Conclusions: By establishing the feasibility of CT-based molecular imaging of phagocytic activity in AAA, this study links the inflammatory signal on early time point images to AAA evolution. This readily available technology overcomes an important barrier to cross-sectional, longitudinal and outcome studies, not only in AAA, but also in other cardiovascular pathologies and facilitates the evaluation of modulatory interventions, and ultimately upon clinical translation, patient management.
| S-EPMC8058712 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Acute Mesenteric Ischemia (AMI) is a rare life-threatening entity caused by sudden interruption of the blood supply to a segment of the bowel due to impairment of mesenteric arterial blood flow or venous drainage. Clinical presentation varies according to the time course of vascular occlusion. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) of the abdomen represents the main diagnostic test for AMI diagnosis, enabling fast and excellent evaluation of the intestine, mesenteric vasculature, and other ancillary characteristics of AMI. Typical CT findings of AMI include paralytic ileus, decreased or absent bowel wall contrast-enhancement, pneumatosis intestinalis, and porto-mesenteric venous gas. We hereby report a case of an 89-year-old man presenting with AMI due to Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) thrombotic occlusion following endovascular stenting superficial femoral arteries. Typical findings were observed on abdominal CT imaging, yet associated with the presence of gas exclusively in the SMA district, without any involvement of the porto-mesenteric venous system. Different imaging features and pitfalls can help radiologists to accurately diagnose AMI, especially when irreversible bowel damage is about to occur. Therefore, radiologists and emergency physicians should be aware of the unusual association between gas in the SMA arterial district and AMI, even in the absence of porto-mesenteric venous system involvement, in order to urge prompt surgical consultation when observed.
| S-EPMC9130093 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo compare image qualities between vendor-neutral and vendor-specific hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) techniques for abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) in young patients.Materials and methodsIn phantom study, we used an anthropomorphic pediatric phantom, age-equivalent to 5-year-old, and reconstructed CT data using traditional filtered back projection (FBP), vendor-specific and vendor-neutral IR techniques (ClariCT; ClariPI) in various radiation doses. Noise, low-contrast detectability and subjective spatial resolution were compared between FBP, vendor-specific (i.e., iDose1 to 5; Philips Healthcare), and vendor-neutral (i.e., ClariCT1 to 5) IR techniques in phantom. In 43 patients (median, 14 years; age range 1-19 years), noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and qualitative image quality scores of abdominopelvic CT were compared between FBP, iDose level 4 (iDose4), and ClariCT level 2 (ClariCT2), which showed most similar image quality to clinically used vendor-specific IR images (i.e., iDose4) in phantom study. Noise, CNR, and qualitative imaging scores were compared using one-way repeated measure analysis of variance.ResultsIn phantom study, ClariCT2 showed noise level similar to iDose4 (14.68-7.66 Hounsfield unit [HU] vs. 14.78-6.99 HU at CT dose index volume range of 0.8-3.8 mGy). Subjective low-contrast detectability and spatial resolution were similar between ClariCT2 and iDose4. In clinical study, ClariCT2 was equivalent to iDose4 for noise (14.26-17.33 vs. 16.01-18.90) and CNR (3.55-5.24 vs. 3.20-4.60) (p > 0.05). For qualitative imaging scores, the overall image quality ([reader 1, reader 2]; 2.74 vs. 2.07, 3.02 vs. 2.28) and noise (2.88 vs. 2.23, 2.93 vs. 2.33) of ClariCT2 were superior to those of FBP (p < 0.05), and not different from those of iDose4 (2.74 vs. 2.72, 3.02 vs. 2.98; 2.88 vs. 2.77, 2.93 vs. 2.86) (p > 0.05).ConclusionVendor-neutral IR technique shows image quality similar to that of clinically used vendor-specific hybrid IR technique for abdominopelvic CT in young patients.
| S-EPMC6715563 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Backgrounds/Aims: Rebleeding of gastric varices (GVs) after endoscopic variceal obturation (EVO) can be fatal. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) for the prediction of rebleeding after EVO GV bleeding. Methods: Patients who were treated with EVO for GV bleeding and underwent CT before and after EVO were included. CT images of the portal phase showing pretreatment GVs and feeding vessels, and nonenhanced images showing posttreatment cyanoacrylate impaction were reviewed. Results: Fifty-three patients were included. Their mean age was 60.6±11.6 years, and 40 patients (75.5%) were men. Alcoholic liver disease was the most frequent underlying liver disease (45.3%). Complete impaction of cyanoacrylate in GVs and feeding vessels were achieved in 40 (75.5%) and 24 (45.3%) of patients, respectively. During the follow-up, GV rebleeding occurred in nine patients, and the cumulative incidences of GV rebleeding at 3, 6, and 12 months were 11.8%, 18.9%, and 18.9%, respectively. The GV rebleeding rate did not differ significantly according to the complete cyanoacrylate impaction in the GV, while it differed significantly according to complete cyanoacrylate impaction in the feeding vessels. The cumulative incidences of GV rebleeding at 3, 6, and 12 months were 22.3%, 35.2%, and 35.2%, respectively, in patients with incomplete impaction in feeding vessels, and there was no rebleeding during the follow-up period in patients with complete impaction in the feeding vessels (p=0.002). Conclusions: Abdominal CT is useful in the evaluation of the treatment response after EVO for GV bleeding. Incomplete cyanoacrylate impaction in feeding vessels is a risk factor for GV rebleeding.
| S-EPMC6974331 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The presence of computed tomography bronchus sign (CT-BS) substantially increases the diagnostic yield of peripheral pulmonary lesions. However, the clinical significance of subdividing CT-BS remains controversial. We classified bronchus types on CT into six subtypes (CT-BS group I: types Ia-Ic with the bronchus connected within the lesion, group II: types IIa-IIc without connection) to clarify the differences in their characteristics and investigate the factors associated with diagnosis during radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS)-guided bronchoscopy. In total, 1021 cases were analyzed. Our findings in diagnostic yields were that in CT-BS group I, penetrating type Ic was inferior to obstructed type Ia and narrowing type Ib (59.0% vs. 80.0% and 76.3%, p < 0.001, p = 0.004); in CT-BS group II, compressed type IIa showed no difference when compared with invisible type IIb and uninvolved type IIc (IIa: 52.8% vs. IIb: 46.3% and IIc: 35.7%, p = 0.253). Multivariable analysis revealed that bronchus type (types Ia and Ib vs. Ic) was a significant independent predictor of successful diagnosis in CT-BS group I (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.05; p = 0.035), along with known factors such as rEBUS visualization. CT-BS subclassification may provide useful information regarding the bronchoscopic technique to facilitate accurate diagnosis.
| S-EPMC10047045 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSegmentation of computed tomography (CT) images provides quantitative data on body tissue composition, which may greatly impact the development and progression of diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cancer. We aimed to evaluate the inter- and intraobserver variation of semiautomated segmentation, to assess whether multiple observers may interchangeably perform this task.MethodsAnonymised, unenhanced, single mid-abdominal CT images were acquired from 132 subjects from two previous studies. Semiautomated segmentation was performed using a proprietary software package. Abdominal muscle compartment (AMC), inter- and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were identified according to pre-established attenuation ranges. The segmentation was performed by four observers: an oncology resident with extensive training and three radiographers with a 2-week training programme. To assess interobserver variation, segmentation of each CT image was performed individually by two or more observers. To assess intraobserver variation, three of the observers did repeated segmentations of the images. The distribution of variation between subjects, observers and random noise was estimated by a mixed effects model. Inter- and intraobserver correlation was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsFor all four tissue compartments, the observer variations were far lower than random noise by factors ranging from 1.6 to 3.6 and those between subjects by factors ranging from 7.3 to 186.1. All interobserver ICC was ? 0.938, and all intraobserver ICC was ? 0.996.ConclusionsBody composition segmentation showed a very low level of operator dependability. Multiple observers may interchangeably perform this task with highly reproducible results.
| S-EPMC6820626 | biostudies-literature