Comparison of radiomic features in diagnostic CT images with and without contrast enhancement in the delayed phase for NSCLC patients

PurposeTo compare radiomic features extracted from diagnostic computed tomography (CT) images with and without contrast enhancement in delayed phase for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.MethodsDiagnostic CT images from 269 tumors [non-contrast CT, 188 (dataset NE); contrast-enhanced CT, 81 (dataset CE)] were enrolled in this study. Eighteen first-order and seventy-five texture features were extracted by setting five bin width levels for CT values. Reproducible features were selected by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Radiomic features were compared between datasets NE and CE. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the CT acquisition period, exposure value, and patient characteristics.ResultsEighty features were considered reproducible (0.5 ≤ ICC). Twelve of the sixteen first-order features, independent of the bin width levels, were statistically different between datasets NE and CE (p < 0.05), and the p-values of two first-order features depending on the bin width levels were reduced with narrower bin widths. Sixteen out of sixty-two features showed a significant difference, regardless of the bin width (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between datasets NE and CE with older age, lighter body weight, better performance status, being a smoker, larger gross tumor volume, and tumor location at central region.ConclusionsContrast enhancement in the delayed phase of CT images for NSCLC patients affected some of the radiomic features and the variability of radiomic features due to contrast uptake may depend largely on the patient characteristics.     

Diagnosis of Breast Masses from Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced and Diffusion-Weighted MR: A Machine Learning Approach

Purpose

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is increasingly used for breast cancer diagnosis as supplementary to conventional imaging techniques. Combining of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of morphology and kinetic features from DCE-MRI to improve the discrimination power of malignant from benign breast masses is rarely reported.

Materials and Methods

The study comprised of 234 female patients with 85 benign and 149 malignant lesions. Four distinct groups of features, coupling with pathological tests, were estimated to comprehensively characterize the pictorial properties of each lesion, which was obtained by a semi-automated segmentation method. Classical machine learning scheme including feature subset selection and various classification schemes were employed to build prognostic model, which served as a foundation for evaluating the combined effects of the multi-sided features for predicting of the types of lesions. Various measurements including cross validation and receiver operating characteristics were used to quantify the diagnostic performances of each feature as well as their combination.

Results

Seven features were all found to be statistically different between the malignant and the benign groups and their combination has achieved the highest classification accuracy. The seven features include one pathological variable of age, one morphological variable of slope, three texture features of entropy, inverse difference and information correlation, one kinetic feature of SER and one DWI feature of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Together with the selected diagnostic features, various classical classification schemes were used to test their discrimination power through cross validation scheme. The averaged measurements of sensitivity, specificity, AUC and accuracy are 0.85, 0.89, 90.9% and 0.93, respectively.

Conclusion

Multi-sided variables which characterize the morphological, kinetic, pathological properties and DWI measurement of ADC can dramatically improve the discriminatory power of breast lesions.     

Idiopathic Orbital Inflammation Syndrome with Retro-Orbital Involvement: A Retrospective Study of Eight Patients

Background

The aim of this retrospective study was to document the clinical findings and radiological features of idiopathic orbital inflammation syndrome with retro-orbital involvement.

Methods

We searched for ophthalmological patients who received orbital imaging at Zhejiang Provincial People''s Hospital between October 2003 and April 2010. Seventy-three patients were diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation syndrome based on clinicoradiological features, with pathological confirmation of nonspecific inflammatory conditions in 47 patients. Eight patients (11%) had MRI or CT evidence of retro-orbital involvement. All 8 patients were diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation syndrome after biopsy of the orbital lesion. MR images were obtained for all 8 patients; 3 patients also had a contrast-enhanced CT scan.

Results

Seven out of 8 patients with retro-orbital involvement also had orbital apex lesions. Of the 65 patients without retro-orbital involvement, 19 had orbital apex lesions. The difference in the number of patients with orbital apex lesions between the two populations was significant (Fisher exact test P = .002). In all 8 patients with retro-orbital involvement, the inflammation spread through the superior orbital fissure. The retro-orbital lesions were isointense to grey matter on T1-weighted images, hypointense on T2-weighted images, and displayed uniform contrast enhancement; on contrast-enhanced CT scans, they were hyperdense relative to the contralateral mirror area and had radiological contours that were similar to those seen on MR images. The diffuse inflammation with marked sclerosis and hyalinization that we observed in the patients with retro-orbital involvement is consistent with the diagnosis of the sclerosing subtype of idiopathic orbital inflammation syndrome. All 8 patients also complained of mild to moderate periorbital pain (headache).

Conclusions

In patients with idiopathic orbital inflammation syndrome, it is important to perform MRI and CT scans to identify possible retro-orbital involvement. Retro-orbital involvement is more frequent when the lesion is present in the orbital apex.     

Comparison of SPECT/CT and MRI in Diagnosing Symptomatic Lesions in Ankle and Foot Pain Patients: Diagnostic Performance and Relation to Lesion Type

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of SPECT/CT and MRI in patients with ankle and foot pain, with regard to the lesion types.ResultsIn overall lesions, the sensitivity, PPV and NPV of SPECT/CT for symptomatic lesions were 93%, 56%, 91%, and they were 98%, 48%, 95% for MRI. There was no significant difference between SPECT/CT and MRI. However, the specificity of SPECT/CT was significantly higher than that of MRI (48% versus 24%, P = 0.016). Uptake grade on SPECT/CT was significantly higher in symptomatic lesions (P < 0.001), and its area under curve on ROC analysis was 0.787. In the analysis of each lesion type, the specificity of SPECT/CT was poor in joint lesions compared with other lesion types and MRI (P < 0.001, respectively). MRI exhibited lower specificity than SPECT/CT in bone lesions (P = 0.004) and ligament/tendon lesions (P < 0.001).ConclusionsSPECT/CT has MRI-comparable diagnostic performance for symptomatic lesions in ankle and foot pain patients. SPECT/CT and MRI exhibit different diagnostic specificity in different lesion types. SPECT/CT may be used as a complementary imaging method to MRI for enhancing diagnostic specificity.     

Comparison of Dynamic and Liver-Specific Gadoxetic Acid Contrast-Enhanced MRI versus Apparent Diffusion Coefficients

Background

Hepatic lesions often present diagnostic connundrums with conventional MR techniques. Hepatobiliary phase contrast-enhanced imaging with gadoxetic acid can aid in the characterization of such lesions. However, quantitative measures describing late-phase enhancement must be assessed relative to their accuracy of hepatic lesion classification.Purpose: To compare quantitative parameters in gadoxetic acid contrast-enhanced dynamic and hepatobiliary phase imaging versus apparent diffusion coefficients in hepatic lesion characterization.

Material and Methods

57 patients with focal hepatic lesions on gadoxetic acid MR were included. Lesion enhancement at standard post-contrast time points and in the hepatobiliary phase (HB; 15 and 25 minutes post-contrast) was assessed via calculation of contrast (CR) and enhancement ratios (ER). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were also obtained. Values for these parameters were compared among lesions and ROC analyses performed.Results: HB enhancement was greatest with FNH and adenomas. HB ER parameters but not HB CR could distinguish HCC from benign entities (0.9 ER ROC AUC versus 0.5 CR ROC AUC). There was no statistically significant difference found between the 15 and 25 minutes HB time points in detection of any lesion (p>0.4). ADC values were statistically significantly higher with hemangiomas (p<0.05) without greater accuracy in lesion detection relative to HB phase parameters.

Conclusion

Hepatobiliary phase gadoxetic acid contrast-enhanced MR characterizes focal hepatic lesions more accurately than ADC and conventional dynamic post-contrast time point enhancement parameters. ER values are generally superior to CR. No discernible benefit of 25 minute versus 15 minute delayed imaging is demonstrated.     

Use of Cystatin C and Serum Creatinine for the Diagnosis of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography at an Oncology Centre

ObjectiveOur aim was to assess renal function using as laboratory measurements serum creatinine and cystatin C concentrations before and after administration of low-osmolarity (nonionic) iodinated contrast medium in patients with cancer undergoing computed tomography (CT).MethodsThis prospective study included 400 oncologic outpatients. Serum creatinine and cystatin C concentrations were measured before and 72 h after contrast administration. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were estimated using serum creatinine–based [Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Cockroft-Gault and cystatin C based (Larsson) equations. Exploratory data analysis was performed. The nonparametric Wilcoxon test was used to compare pre and post contrast of test results and estimated clearance. The confidence interval used in the analysis was 95%.ResultsCompared with the pre-contrast values, the mean serum creatinine concentration was significantly higher and average GFRs estimated using MDRD and Cockcroft-Gault equations were significantly lower after the administration of contrast (p <0.001). It was also observed a significant increase after contrast in the concentration of Cystatin C (p = 0.015). In addition, a decrease in GFR estimated using the average Larsson (p = 0.021) was observed between time points. However, none of the patients presented clinically significant nephropathy.ConclusionsAssessment using serum creatinine and cystatin C concentrations showed changes in renal function among patients with cancer undergoing contrast-enhanced CT examination in this study. No significant renal damage related to the use of low-osmolarity iodinated contrast medium of the type and dosage employed in this study was observed. This contrast medium is thus safe for use in patients with cancer.     

A computer-aided diagnosis scheme of breast lesion classification using GLGLM and shape features: Combined-view and multi-classifiers

PurposeTo address high false-positive results of FFDM issue, we make the first effort to develop a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) scheme to analyze and distinguish breast lesions.MethodThe breast lesion regions were first segmented and depicted on FFDM images from 106 patients. In this work, 11 gray-level gap-length matrix texture features and 12 shape features were extracted form craniocaudal view and mediolateral oblique view, and then Student’s t-test, Fisher-score and Relief-F were introduced to select features. We also investigated the effect of three factors, i.e., discretisation, selection methods and classifier methods, of the classification performance via analysis of variance. Finally, a classification model was constructed. Spearman’s correlation coefficient analysis was conducted to assess the internal relevance of features.ResultsThe proposed scheme using Student’s t-test achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.923 at 512 bins. The AUC values are 0.884, 0.867, 0.874 and 0.901 for the low gray-level gaps emphasis (LGGE), solidity, extent, and the combined set, respectively. Solidity and extent depicts the correlation coefficient of 0.86 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe present a new CAD scheme based on the contribution of the significant factors. The experimental results demonstrate that the presented scheme can be used to successfully distinguish breast carcinoma lesions and benign fibroadenoma lesions in our FFDM dataset and the MIAS dataset, which may provide a CAD method to assist radiologists in diagnosing and interpreting screening mammograms. Moreover, we found that LGGE, solidity and extent features show great potential for breast lesion classification.     

Is 3-Tesla Gd-EOB-DTPA-Enhanced MRI with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Superior to 64-Slice Contrast-Enhanced CT for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma?

Objectives

To compare 64-slice contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using Gd-EOB-DTPA for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and evaluate the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in this setting.

Methods

3-phase-liver-CT was performed in fifty patients (42 male, 8 female) with suspected or proven HCC. The patients were subjected to a 3-Tesla-MRI-examination with Gd-EOB-DTPA and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) at b-values of 0, 50 and 400 s/mm². The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-value was determined for each lesion detected in DWI. The histopathological report after resection or biopsy of a lesion served as the gold standard, and a surrogate of follow-up or complementary imaging techniques in combination with clinical and paraclinical parameters was used in unresected lesions. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated for each technique.

Results

MRI detected slightly more lesions that were considered suspicious for HCC per patient compared to CT (2.7 versus 2.3, respectively). ADC-measurements in HCC showed notably heterogeneous values with a median of 1.2±0.5×10⁻³ mm²/s (range from 0.07±0.1 to 3.0±0.1×10⁻³ mm²/s). MRI showed similar diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and positive and negative predictive values compared to CT (AUC 0.837, sensitivity 92%, PPV 80% and NPV 90% for MRI vs. AUC 0.798, sensitivity 85%, PPV 79% and NPV 82% for CT; not significant). Specificity was 75% for both techniques.

Conclusions

Our study did not show a statistically significant difference in detection in detection of HCC between MRI and CT. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI tended to detect more lesions per patient compared to contrast-enhanced CT; therefore, we would recommend this modality as the first-choice imaging method for the detection of HCC and therapeutic decisions. However, contrast-enhanced CT was not inferior in our study, so that it can be a useful image modality for follow-up examinations.     

Cystic Parathyroid Adenomas: An Enigmatic Entity and Role of Tc-99 m Sestamibi Scintigraphy

ObjectiveFunctional cystic lesion of the parathyroid gland is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). They have been postulated to arise from the hemorrhage and cystic degeneration in the parathyroid adenoma (PA). We intended to analyze their scintigraphic and histopathological findings since available literature is sparse.MethodsDual-phase ^{99 m}Tc-sestamibi planar and SPECT/CT scans performed from January 2014 to January 2020 in patients presenting with PHPT were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound features were collected. Planar and SPECT/CT imaging parameters were analyzed. Detailed histopathological analysis, along with post-surgical clinical and biochemical features of the patients who underwent surgery, was reviewed with a mean follow-up of 21.8 ± 20.1 months.ResultsOf the 979 scans analyzed, 10 showed cystic parathyroid lesions (M:F- 3:7, mean age 45.6 ± 15 years, range: 23-66). The predominant presenting features in patients were abdominal pain and renal stone disease, present in 60% of the patients. On planar scintigraphy, 90% of the patients had tracer avid distinct lesions, whereas tracer activity was seen in the solid part of the cystic lesions in all 10 patients on SPECT/CT, with cystic areas showing an attenuation of 23.1 ± 7.6 HU. Eight of these patients underwent surgery, with all showing PA with cystic changes on histopathology. Two of these patients also showed hemorrhage within the cystic spaces.ConclusionHemorrhage within a PA may give rise to cystic parathyroid lesions with PHPT. ^{99 m}Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy with dual-phase imaging and SPECT/CT may help in detecting this rare entity.     

头颈部木村病的CT、MRI影像学表现

目的:探讨头颈部木村病的CT、MRI的影像学表现。方法:对6例经手术或活检病理证实的头颈部木村病的CT及MRI影像学表现进行回顾性分析。结果:本组6例以中青年男性患者多见,病灶位于耳周2例、颊面部1例、颌下区1例,腮腺区1例、头皮下1例,均表现为无痛性肿块。3例CT表现为单侧或双侧、单发或多发等或略高密度软组织肿块,密度均或不均,边缘清楚或局部欠清,伴邻近皮下组织受累;增强扫描病灶表现为不同程度强化。3例MRI表现为对比邻近肌肉信号,病灶在T1WI上为等、稍高信号,在T2WI上为高信号,大部分病灶中等至明显强化。本组6例病变均伴有周围多发淋巴结肿大及实验室检查外周血嗜酸性粒细胞增多,可伴病侧局部皮下脂肪层萎缩。结论:头颈部木村病的CT、MRI影像表现有一定特征性,结合临床病史及实验室检查,可提高木村病的诊断准确率。     

Task-based characterization of a deep learning image reconstruction and comparison with filtered back-projection and a partial model-based iterative reconstruction in abdominal CT: A phantom study

PurposeWe aimed to thoroughly characterize image quality of a novel deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR), and investigate its potential for dose reduction in abdominal CT in comparison with filtered back-projection (FBP) and a partial model-based iterative reconstruction (ASiR-V).MethodsWe scanned a phantom at three dose levels: regular (7 mGy), low (3 mGy) and ultra-low (1 mGy). Images were reconstructed using DLIR (low, medium and high levels) and ASiR-V (0% = FBP, 50% and 100%). Noise and contrast-dependent spatial resolution were characterized by computing noise power spectra and target transfer functions, respectively. Detectability indexes of simulated acute appendicitis or colonic diverticulitis (low contrast), and calcium-containing urinary stones (high contrast) (|ΔHU| = 50 and 500, respectively) were calculated using the nonprewhitening with eye filter model observer.ResultsAt all dose levels, increasing DLIR and ASiR-V levels both markedly decreased noise magnitude compared with FBP, with DLIR low and medium maintaining noise texture overall. For both low- and high-contrast spatial resolution, DLIR not only maintained, but even slightly enhanced spatial resolution in comparison with FBP across all dose levels. Conversely, increasing ASiR-V impaired low-contrast spatial resolution compared with FBP. Overall, DLIR outperformed ASiR-V in all simulated clinical scenarios. For both low- and high-contrast diagnostic tasks, increasing DLIR substantially enhanced detectability at any dose and contrast levels for any simulated lesion size.ConclusionsUnlike ASiR-V, DLIR substantially reduces noise while maintaining noise texture and slightly enhancing spatial resolution overall. DLIR outperforms ASiR-V by enabling higher detectability of both low- and high-contrast simulated abdominal lesions across all investigated dose levels.     

超声造影在肝癌射频消融治疗前后的临床价值研究

目的:探讨实时超声造影(contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,CEUS)在原发性肝癌射频消融(radiofrequency ablation,RFA)微创介入前后治疗临床应用价值的研究。方法:通过分析139例肝癌患者175个病灶在超声引导下射频消融(RFA)治疗,对病灶数量、大小、边界、内部回声、造影剂灌注情况进行对比分析,及治疗后与增强CT结果进行对照。结果:射频消融前,超声造影显示82个病灶表现为动脉早期抱球状、弥漫或轻度增强;治疗1-3个月后超声造影判定89.1%(156/175)的病灶达到完全消融,10.9%(19/175)的病灶消融不完全;增强CT判定84.6%(148/175)的病灶达到完全消融,15.4%(27/175)的病灶消融不完全,治疗后超声造影检查结果与CT增强检查结果一致,两者在病灶残留复发的敏感性、特异性、准确性等方面比较无显著性差异,P>0.01。结论:实时超声造影(CEUS)能准确判断RFA对肿瘤消融的范围及程度,是一种指导治疗,判定治疗后疗效的新方法,在原发性肝癌(RFA)微创介入治疗中具有很高的临床应用价值。     

Dosimetric impact of contrast-enhanced 4d computed tomography for stereotactic body radiation therapy of hepatocelluar carcinoma

BackgroundA purpose of the study was to investigate the dosimetric impact of contrast media on dose calculation using average 4D contrast-enhanced computed tomography (4D-CECT) and delayed 4D-CT (d4D-CT) images caused by CT simulation contrast agents for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of liver cases.Materials and methodsFifteen patients of liver SBRT treated using the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique were selected retrospectively. 4D-CECT, and d4D-CT were acquired with the Anzai gating system and GE CT. For all patients, gross target volume (GTV) was contoured on the ten phases after rigid registration of both the contrast and delayed scans and merged to generate internal target volume (ITV) on average CT images. Region of interest (ROI) was drawn on contrast images and then copied to the delayed images after rigid registration of two average CT datasets. The treatment plans were generated for contrast enhanced average CT, delayed average CT and contrast enhanced average CT with electron density of the heart overridden.ResultsNo significant dosimetric difference was observed in plans parameters (mean HU value of the liver, total monitor units, total control points, degree of modulation and average segment area) except mean HU value of the aorta amongst the three arms. All the OARs were evaluated and resulted in statistically insignificant variation (p > 0.05) using one way ANOVA analysis.ConclusionsContrast enhanced 4D-CT is advantageous in accurate delineation of tumors and assessing accurate ITV. The treatment plans generated on average 4D-CECT and average d4D-CT have a clinically insignificant effect on dosimetric parameters.     

Convolutional neural network-based automatic liver delineation on contrast-enhanced and non-contrast-enhanced CT images for radiotherapy planning

AimThis study evaluated a convolutional neural network (CNN) for automatically delineating the liver on contrast-enhanced or non-contrast-enhanced CT, making comparisons with a commercial automated technique (MIM Maestro®).BackgroundIntensity-modulated radiation therapy requires careful labor-intensive planning involving delineation of the target and organs on CT or MR images to ensure delivery of the effective dose to the target while avoiding organs at risk.Materials and MethodsContrast-enhanced planning CT images from 101 pancreatic cancer cases and accompanying mask images showing manually-delineated liver contours were used to train the CNN to segment the liver. The trained CNN then performed liver segmentation on a further 20 contrast-enhanced and 15 non-contrastenhanced CT image sets, producing three-dimensional mask images of the liver.ResultsFor both contrast-enhanced and non-contrast-enhanced images, the mean Dice similarity coefficients between CNN segmentations and ground-truth manual segmentations were significantly higher than those between ground-truth and MIM Maestro software (p < 0.001). Although mean CT values of the liver were higher on contrast-enhanced than on non-contrast-enhanced CT, there were no significant differences in the Hausdorff distances of the CNN segmentations, indicating that the CNN could successfully segment the liver on both image types, despite being trained only on contrast-enhanced images.ConclusionsOur results suggest that a CNN can perform highly accurate automated delineation of the liver on CT images, irrespective of whether the CT images are contrast-enhanced or not.     

In vivo diagnostic imaging using micro-CT: sequential and comparative evaluation of rodent models for hepatic/brain ischemia and stroke

Background

There is an increasing need for animal disease models for pathophysiological research and efficient drug screening. However, one of the technical barriers to the effective use of the models is the difficulty of non-invasive and sequential monitoring of the same animals. Micro-CT is a powerful tool for serial diagnostic imaging of animal models. However, soft tissue contrast resolution, particularly in the brain, is insufficient for detailed analysis, unlike the current applications of CT in the clinical arena. We address the soft tissue contrast resolution issue in this report.

Methodology

We performed contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) on mouse models of experimental cerebral infarction and hepatic ischemia. Pathological changes in each lesion were quantified for two weeks by measuring the lesion volume or the ratio of high attenuation area (%HAA), indicative of increased vascular permeability. We also compared brain images of stroke rats and ischemic mice acquired with micro-CT to those acquired with 11.7-T micro-MRI. Histopathological analysis was performed to confirm the diagnosis by CECT.

Principal Findings

In the models of cerebral infarction, vascular permeability was increased from three days through one week after surgical initiation, which was also confirmed by Evans blue dye leakage. Measurement of volume and %HAA of the liver lesions demonstrated differences in the recovery process between mice with distinct genetic backgrounds. Comparison of CT and MR images acquired from the same stroke rats or ischemic mice indicated that accuracy of volumetric measurement, as well as spatial and contrast resolutions of CT images, was comparable to that obtained with MRI. The imaging results were also consistent with the histological data.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the CECT scanning method is useful in rodents for both quantitative and qualitative evaluations of pathologic lesions in tissues/organs including the brain, and is also suitable for longitudinal observation of the same animals.     

Intérêt de la TEP/TDM au 18F-FDG dans la neurofibromatose de type 1, expérience du centre national de référence Henri-Mondor sur 10 ans

ObjectiveMalignant peripherals nerve sheath tumours (MPNST) are one of the leading causes of death in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Given the temporal and spatial multiplicity of suspicious lesions, the histological diagnosis of certainty might require iterative and decaying surgical procedure. Our objective was to determine the threshold values of metabolic metrics determined on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT (SUV_max, total lesion glycolysis [TLG], total metabolic tumour volume [TMTV], tumour-to-liver [T/L] ratio and heterogeneity index [HI]) in order to distinguish at best MPNST from benign lesion (simple neurofibromas [NF] or dysplastic NF).Patients and methodsHundred and seven patients from the national reference centre of NF1 Henri-Mondor, clinically suspects of TMGN, underwent 160 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT over a period of 10 years, between 2005 and 2015. The hypermetabolics lesions identified on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT were confronted with pathological analysis or clinico-radiological and metabolic follow-up of more than 6 months.ResultsFour hundred and eight hypermetabolics lesions were identified, of which 112 were histologically confronted with 38 simple NF, 29 dysplastic NF, 39 TMGN and 6 incidentalomas. The remaining 296 hypermetabolics lesions experienced a median follow-up of 40.4 months [13.5–137 months]. The optimal cut-off values for malignant lesions, determined by ROC curves, were in order of decreasing performance: T/L ratio > 2.03 (sensitivity 96%, specificity 88%); SUVmax > 4.74 (sensitivity 93%, specificity 86%); TLG > 172 (sensitivity 84%, specificity 76%); TMTV > 53.5 (sensitivity 83%, specificity 68%); HI > 1.63 (sensitivity 84%, specificity 54%).Conclusions¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT is a powerful diagnostic and prognostic tool in the management of TMGN. Metabolic metrics allow with good sensitivity and specificity to identify lesions transformed into TMGN. The advent of PET/MRI will undoubtedly allow in the near future to reinforce the diagnostic and prognostic performances for the detection of transformations of neurofibromas in TMGN.     

Contrast-Enhanced FLAIR (Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery) for Evaluating Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Purpose

To evaluate whether adding a contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence to routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect additional abnormalities in the brains of symptomatic patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Materials and Methods

Fifty-four patients with persistent symptoms following mild closed head injury were included in our retrospective study (M∶F = 32∶22, mean age: 59.8±16.4, age range: 26–84 years). All MRI examinations were obtained within 14 days after head trauma (mean: 3.2±4.1 days, range: 0.2–14 days). Two neuroradiologists recorded (1) the presence of traumatic brain lesions on MR images with and without contrast-enhanced FLAIR images and (2) the pattern and location of meningeal enhancement depicted on contrast-enhanced FLAIR images. The number of additional traumatic brain lesions diagnosed with contrast-enhanced FLAIR was recorded. Correlations between meningeal enhancement and clinical findings were also evaluated.

Results

Traumatic brain lesions were detected on routine image sequences in 25 patients. Three additional cases of brain abnormality were detected with the contrast-enhanced FLAIR images. Meningeal enhancement was identified on contrast-enhanced FLAIR images in 9 cases while the other routine image sequences showed no findings of traumatic brain injury. Overall, the additional contrast-enhanced FLAIR images revealed more extensive abnormalities than routine imaging in 37 cases (p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, subdural hematoma and posttraumatic loss of consciousness showed a significant association with meningeal enhancement on contrast-enhanced FLAIR images, with odds ratios 13.068 (95% confidence interval 2.037 to 83.852), and 15.487 (95% confidence interval 2.545 to 94.228), respectively.

Conclusion

Meningeal enhancement on contrast-enhanced FLAIR images can help detect traumatic brain lesions as well as additional abnormalities not identified on routine unenhanced MRI. Therefore contrast-enhanced FLAIR MR imaging is recommended when a contrast MR study is indicated in a patient with a symptomatic prior closed mild head injury.     

MRI和螺旋CT增强在肝脏占位性病变诊断中的价值比较

目的:对比分析MRI和螺旋CT增强在肝脏占位性病变诊断中的价值。方法:以2012年7月-2016年5月我院收治的临床考虑为肝脏占位性病变70例患者为研究对象,将70例患者根据入组先后顺序分为两组,35例行增强CT扫描,35例行动态增强MRI扫描,比较两组患者的病理诊断结果、病灶个数及直径、增强CT及MRI的诊断结果和检查过程中的不良反应及耐受性。结果:CT增强组和MRI增强组的肝脏占位性病变的病理诊断、病变类型、分布及病灶个数(71 vs 70)、病灶直径(2.25±2.01 cm vs2.19±1.98 cm)比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);以病理诊断结果为金标准,MRI增强组的总诊断符合率为85.71%,CT增强组的总诊断符合率为77.14%,MRI增强组的总诊断符合率高于CT增强组,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05);CT增强组共发生2例不良反应,均为轻度恶心,MRI增强组未出现造影剂不良反应,CT增强组的不良反应发生率(5.71%vs 0.00%)及视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评分(1.25 0.96分vs 0.71 0.56分)均显著高于MRI增强组(P0.05)。结论:CT增强和MRI增强扫描对于肝脏占位性病变的诊断均具有较高的临床价值,其中MRI增强扫描的安全性和耐受性更高,临床医师可根据患者的经济状态、身体状态等因素的综合评估,选择合适的检查手段,必要时可两者联合检查,以提高诊断的准确性。     

Feasibility of spectral CT imaging for the detection of liver lesions with gold-based contrast agents – A simulation study

PurposeTo demonstrate the feasibility of gold-specific spectral CT imaging for the detection of liver lesions in humans at low concentrations of gold as targeted contrast agent.MethodsA Monte Carlo simulation study of spectral CT imaging with a photon-counting and energy-resolving detector (with 6 energy bins) was performed in a realistic phantom of the human abdomen. The detector energy thresholds were optimized for the detection of gold. The simulation results were reconstructed with the K-edge imaging algorithm; the reconstructed gold-specific images were filtered and evaluated with respect to signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).ResultsThe simulations demonstrate the feasibility of spectral CT with CNRs of the specific gold signal between 2.7 and 4.8 after bilateral filtering. Using the optimized bin thresholds increases the CNRs of the lesions by up to 23% compared to bin thresholds described in former studies.ConclusionsGold is a promising new CT contrast agent for spectral CT in humans; minimum tissue mass fractions of 0.2 wt% of gold are required for sufficient image contrast.     

256层螺旋CT前瞻性心电门控冠状动脉成像的临床应用价值及其对比剂浓度研究

目的:探讨256层螺旋CT前瞻性心电门控冠状动脉成像的临床应用价值及不同浓度对比剂对其成像质量、碘用量以及有效辐射剂量的影响。方法:对120例疑似冠心病患者行256层螺旋CT成像扫描,将患者随机分为前瞻性心电门控组和回顾性心电门控组;出院前再将前瞻性心电门控组患者按数表法随机分为低浓度对比剂组、中浓度对比剂组和高浓度对比剂组。比较各组成像质量、碘用量、有效辐射剂量。结果:前瞻性心电门控组与回顾性心电门控组图像质量主观评分分布、可评价节段率、优良率、有效碘用量、信噪比(SNR)、载噪比(CNR)、主动脉CT值(CT主)、主动脉噪声值(SD主)比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。前瞻性心电门控组有效辐射剂量显著低于回顾性心电门控组(P0.05)。高浓度对比剂组可评价节段率、优良率、有效碘用量、SNR、CNR、CT主显著高于低浓度对比剂组和中浓度对比剂组(P0.05),中浓度对比剂组CNR显著高于低浓度对比剂组(P0.05)。结论:前瞻性心电门控技术用于冠心病诊断的图像质量与回顾性心电门控技术无明显差异,但是前瞻性心电门控技术辐射剂量更低。前瞻性心电门控使用低浓度对比剂可以获得满足临床诊断需要的图像质量,且碘用量更少。