螺旋CT增强扫描对孤立性肺结节的诊断价值

目的:研究螺旋CT增强扫描时孤立性肺结节的诊断价值。方法:回顾分析经病理证实的恶性结节50例、炎性结节26例、结核瘤12例的螺旋CT增强扫描的表现。结果:恶性结节和炎性结节增强扫描的强化程度明显高于结核瘤(P＜0．05)。炎性结节强化峰值的时间较恶性结节延迟。恶性结节增强扫描出现点、条状及边缘强化。结论:螺旋CT增强扫描对孤立性肺结节的诊断具有重要临床应用价值。     

探讨CT技术在肺结节疾病诊断中的应用

目的：探讨CT技术在肺结节疾病诊断中的应用。利用CT技术提供的影像学特征,及时准确的诊断肺结节疾病,从而更具体更全面的提高对该疾病的认识,减少误诊的发生。方法：回顾性分析我院2010年-2012年确诊的符合相应临床诊治标准的肺结节患者48例的临床资料,通过CT扫描分析其具体的特征表现。结果：在所选的48例中,纵隔淋巴结增大45例,双侧肺门淋巴结增大44例,胸部淋巴结增大患者48例。肺部病变者33例,其中单发结节患者2例,多发结节患者25例,支气管血管束增粗者14例,磨玻璃样影案例者9例,实变案例5例。胸膜病发患者13例。结论：我们通过分析发现,胸部有典型影像学表现形式的肺结节病例诊断较容易,无典型影像学表现的患者诊断较为困难。因此我们认为利用CT技术诊断肺结节疾病具有特异性意义,值得临床医生重视。     

Solitary Pulmonary Nodules in Organ Transplant Candidates and Recipients

The solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in solid organ transplant patients. Common causes of SPNs in solid organ transplant recipients are fungal and bacterial infections and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, which carry high morbidity and mortality. Clinical and radiographic features such as timing after transplant and patterns of SPN might provide clues to the diagnosis but are nonspecific. SPNs mandate prompt, definitive evaluation.     

63例良性孤立肺结节的临床分析

目的:探讨直径≤30mm的外周型良性孤立肺结节的临床诊断和治疗.方法:分析总结63例外周型良性孤立肺结节的临床资料及手术方式.结果:63例良性孤立肺结节病理分布依次为:结核球,炎性假瘤,错构瘤,硬化性血管瘤,肺隐球菌病,纤维瘤,肉芽肿性炎,曲菌病,肺动静脉畸形,平滑肌瘤.63例患者均行手术治疗,其中肺叶切除10例,肺楔形切除53例,均痊愈出院.结论:在孤立肺结节中,良性疾病只占少数,在不能明确诊断的情况下,可在短期抗炎排除肺炎的可能性后积极手术探查.     

Diagnostic Accuracy of CT-Guided Transthoracic Needle Biopsy for Solitary Pulmonary Nodules

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules. Three hundred and eleven patients (211 males and 100 females), with a mean age of 59.6 years (range, 19–87 years), who were diagnosed with solitary pulmonary nodules and underwent CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy between January 2008 and January 2014 were reviewed. All patients were confirmed by surgery or the clinical course. The overall diagnostic accuracy and incidence of complications were calculated, and the factors influencing these were statistically evaluated and compared. Specimens were successfully obtained from all 311 patients. A total of 217 and 94 cases were found to be malignant and benign lesions, respectively, by biopsy. Two hundred and twenty-five (72.3%) carcinomas, 78 (25.1%) benign lesions, and 8 (2.6%) inconclusive lesions were confirmed by surgery and the clinical course. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy were 92.9%, 95.3%, and 95.7%, respectively. The incidences of pneumothorax and self-limiting bleeding were 17.7% and 11.6%, respectively. Taking account of all evidence, CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules is an efficient, and safe diagnostic method associated with few complications.     

三维肺部图像中疑似肺结节结构的自动提取

本文提出了一种肺部CT图像三维数据中自动提取疑似结节区域的方法。首先结合阈值分割、种子填充等方法,在三维体数据上分割出肺实质。进而利用改进的模糊C均值聚类,提取出结节及具有结节特征的血管、支气管等感兴趣区域。该工作对感兴趣区域的特征提取有重要意义,是早期肺癌计算机辅助诊断重要的一步。     

超声造影检查对早期甲状腺单发结节良恶性的鉴别诊断价值

目的:建立以甲状腺单发结节超声诊断为变量的回归模型,分析比较超声造影与常规超声检查对甲状腺单发结节良恶性的鉴别诊断价值。方法:选择来我院就诊的甲状腺单发结节患者274例,让所有患者均接受常规超声检查和超声造影检查,并手术后进行病理诊断,建立相应回归模型,评价超声造影对甲状腺单发性良恶性结节的鉴别诊断价值,为临床检查及治疗提供参考。结果:超声造影检查的良恶性检出率均优于常规超声检查。超声造影检查良性结节检出率为65.69%,恶性检出率为34.31%,敏感度96.70%,特异度95.65%,准确率96.35%,均优于常规超声检查。Logistic回归分析显示,钙化、达峰时间、增强程度及最大灌注强度以上四项特征出现的越多,待测的甲状腺结节越有可能是恶性结节。结论:超声造影对良、恶性甲状腺单发结节的鉴别具有重要的临床诊断意义。     

胸部CT结合AI诊断系统对疑似肺结节患者的诊断及对结节类型的评估价值

摘要 目的：探讨胸部CT结合AI诊断系统对疑似肺结节患者的诊断及对结节类型的评估价值。方法：选取2019年12月-2020年12月在我院进行CT检查的358例疑似肺结节患者,将其按照随机数字表法分为两组：对照组（放射科医生根据CT扫描结果,通过人工阅片分析记录检出结节数量和影像特征）,观察组（将CT扫描结果导入AI辅助诊断系统,经AI运算得到结节检出数量和影像特征）。AI辅助系统IMsight用于肺结节的图像分析和自动检测。通过组织病理学确定结节的良恶性。绘制受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）曲线以评估AI和CT结合图像的诊断价值。结果：病理结果最后确诊结节数量736个,恶性结节139个（18.89 %）,良性结节597个（81.11 %）。观察组诊断结节数量717个,检出率97.42%,对照组诊断出结节数量603个,检出率81.93 %。观察组较对照组的结节检出率、阳性检出率升高（P<0.05）,漏检率和假阴性率均显著降低（P<0.05）。当结节小于10 mm时,观察组较对照组的检出率升高（P<0.05）,观察组较对照组对磨玻璃密度结节和实性结节检出率升高（P<0.05）,观察组较对照组位于胸膜结节检出率升高（P<0.05）。观察组较对照组AUC（P<0.05）,表明AI系统下的结节检出准确率高。ROC曲线显示观察组的敏感性和特异性分别为88.39%和89.68 %,对照组的敏感性和特异性分别为75.24 %和82.34 %,观察组较对照组的ROC曲线敏感性和特异性升高（P<0.05）。结论：AI辅助诊断系统可有效提高肺结节的检出率,减少误检率及漏检率,值得在肺结节CT检测中应用推广。     

直径小于1 cm孤立性肺结节的18F-FDG PET/CT诊断研究进展

孤立性肺结节的鉴别诊断一直是胸部影像学的研究热点。早期且准确地鉴别肺内小结节的良恶性,对于患者治疗方案的确定以及随访情况的评估均具有重要的临床意义。~(18)F-FDG PET/CT在鉴别诊断恶性肿瘤方面具有明显优于其他传统检查的高特异性和高敏感性,其公认的恶性肿瘤的诊断阈值是最大化标准摄取值(maximum standard uptake value, SUVmax)为2.5,然而部分临床数据显示一些直径小于1 cm的恶性肺结节的SUVmax数值小于2.5。因此在早期研究中,~(18)F-FDG PET/CT在诊断直径较小的肺结节的其临床价值仍存在争议。为了尽量降低SUVmax的测量误差,提高~(18)F-FDG PET/CT诊断的准确率,衍生出了许多SUVmax辅助诊断方法以及优化的重建算法、放射性显像剂的联合应用等手段。本文将对~(18)F-FDG PET/CT鉴别诊断直径小于1 cm孤立性肺结节的研究进展进行综述。     

Reproducibility and Prognosis of Quantitative Features Extracted from CT Images

We study the reproducibility of quantitative imaging features that are used to describe tumor shape, size, texture from computed tomography (CT) scans of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CT images are dependent on various scanning factors. We focus on characterizing image features that are reproducible in the presence of variations due to patient factors and segmentation methods. Thirty-two NSCLC nonenhanced lung CT scans were obtained from the Reference Image Database to Evaluate Response data set. The tumors were segmented using both manual (radiologist expert) and ensemble (software-automated) methods. A set of features (219 threedimensional and 110 two-dimensional) was computed, quantitative image features were statistically filtered to identify a subset of reproducible and nonredundant features. The variability in the repeated experiment was measured by the test-retest concordance correlation coefficient (CCC_TreT). The natural range in the features, normalized to variance, was measured by the dynamic range (DR). In this study, there were 29 features across segmentation methods found with CCC_TreT and DR ≥ 0.9 and R²_Bet ≥ 0.95. These reproducible features were tested for predicting radiologist prognostic score; some texture features (run-length and Laws kernels) had an area under the curve of 0.9. The representative features were tested for their prognostic capabilities using an independent NSCLC data set (59 lung adenocarcinomas), where one of the texture features, run-length gray-level nonuniformity, was statistically significant in separating the samples into survival groups (P ≤ .046).     

肺错构瘤的CT、MRI表现及鉴别诊断

目的:探讨肺错构瘤的CT、MRI征象特点.方法:回顾性分析本院2006年1月至2008年6月经手术病理证实的11例肺错构瘤的CT和MRI的表现,以及3例CT动态增强扫描的特点.结果:肺错构瘤病灶光滑整齐,浅分叶3例,无深分叶征和毛刺征.其中5例有不同程度的钙化,1例为"爆米花"样钙化.4例病灶内有脂肪密度.3例肺错构瘤行螺旋CT动态增强扫描轻度增强(5HU-16HU).6例T2WI呈高信号中夹杂分隔样低信号.结论:钙化(典型的爆米花样钙化)、脂肪密度是其特征性表现.螺旋动态增强CT扫描和MRI为其诊断和鉴别诊断提供了有价值的信息.     

高分辨率CT与常规CT检查对肺小结节及早期肺癌诊断价值的对比研究

目的:对比高分辨率电子计算机断层扫描(CT)与常规CT检查对肺小结节及早期肺癌的诊断价值.方法:将2018年6月～2020年1月我院收治的肺小结节及早期肺癌患者94例纳入研究.以随机数字表法将其分为观察组及对照组,每组各47例,对照组实施常规CT检查,观察组则实施高分辨率CT检查.比较两组CT肿瘤征象情况(主要包括毛刺...     

Improving Image Quality of Bronchial Arteries with Virtual Monochromatic Spectral CT Images

Objective

To evaluate the clinical value of using monochromatic images in spectral CT pulmonary angiography to improve image quality of bronchial arteries.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the chest CT images of 38 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced spectral CT. These images included a set of 140kVp polychromatic images and the default 70keV monochromatic images. Using the standard Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GSI) viewer on an advanced workstation (AW4.6,GE Healthcare), an optimal energy level (in keV) for obtaining the best contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the artery could be automatically obtained. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), CNR and objective image quality score (1–5) for these 3 image sets (140kVp, 70keV and optimal energy level) were obtained and, statistically compared. The image quality score consistency between the two observers was also evaluated using Kappa test.

Results

The optimal energy levels for obtaining the best CNR were 62.58±2.74keV.SNR and CNR from the 140kVp polychromatic, 70keV and optimal keV monochromatic images were (16.44±5.85, 13.24±5.52), (20.79±7.45, 16.69±6.27) and (24.9±9.91, 20.53±8.46), respectively. The corresponding subjective image quality scores were 1.97±0.82, 3.24±0.75, and 4.47±0.60. SNR, CNR and subjective scores had significant difference among groups (all p<0.001). The optimal keV monochromatic images were superior to the 70keV monochromatic and 140kVp polychromatic images, and there was high agreement between the two observers on image quality score (kappa>0.80).

Conclusions

Virtual monochromatic images at approximately 63keV in dual-energy spectral CT pulmonary angiography yielded the best CNR and highest diagnostic confidence for imaging bronchial arteries.     

Imaging Features of Pulmonary CT in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Background

Until now, radiographic manifestations of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR- TB) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have not been reported. We conducted a study to investigate the imaging features of pulmonary computed tomography (CT) for type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with MDR-TB.

Methods

The clinical data and pulmonary CT findings of 39 type 2 diabetic patients with MDR-TB, 46 type 2 diabetic patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB), and 72 pure drug-susceptible TB cases (without T2DM and MDR) treated at Dalian Tuberculosis Hospital from 2012 to 2015 were collected, and the clinical features and imaging differences of the three groups were compared.

Results

The clinical characteristics of the three groups of patients were not significantly different except with respect to age and previous treatment history. However, on imaging, the patients with MDR-TB showed consolidation in and above the pulmonary segments was significantly more extensive than that seen in the DS-TB group with or without T2DM.

Conclusion

Consolidation in or above multiple pulmonary segments with multiple mouth-eaten cavities and bronchial damage on pulmonary CT images in type 2 diabetic patients with tuberculosis suggests the possibility of multi-drug resistance.     

The Utility of Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MR Imaging to Characterize Atypical Cirrhotic Nodules Detected on Dynamic CT Images

Purpose

To evaluate whether gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MR images of tumors taken during the hepatocyte-specific phase can aid in the differentiation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and dysplastic nodules (DNs) in patients with atypical cirrhotic nodules detected on dynamic CT images.

Materials and Methods

Seventy-one patients with 112 nodules showing atypical dynamic enhancement on CT images underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging (MRI) studies. Using a reference standard, we determined that 33 of the nodules were DNs and that 79 were true HCCs. Tumor size, signal intensity on precontrast T1-weighted images (T1WI) and T2WI, and the pattern of dynamic enhancement on MR images taken in the hepatocyte-phase were determined.

Results

There were significant differences in tumor size, hyperintensity on T2WI, hypointensity on T1WI, typical HCC enhancement pattern on dynamic MR images, or hypointensity on hepatocyte-phase images between DNs and HCC. The sensitivity and specificity were 60.8% and 87.9% for T2WI, 38.0% and 87.9% for T1WI, 17.7% and 100% for dynamic MR imaging, 83.5% and 84.9% for hepatocyte-phase imaging, and 60.8% and 87.9% for tumor size (threshold of 1.7 cm).

Conclusion

Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced hepatocyte-phase imaging is recommended for patients at high risk of HCC who present with atypical lesions on dynamic CT images.     

Yield of Two Consecutive Sputum Specimens for the Effective Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background

From long instances, it is debatable whether three sputum specimens are required for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) or TB can be diagnosed effectively using two consecutive sputum specimens. This study was set out to evaluate the significance of examining multiple sputum specimens in diagnosis of TB.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear and culture results of three consecutive days’ sputum specimens from 413 confirmed TB patients which were detected as part of a larger active case finding study in Dhaka Central Jail, the largest correctional facility in Bangladesh.

Results

AFB was detected from 81% (n = 334) patients, of which 89% (n = 297) were diagnosed from the first and additional 9% (n = 30) were from the second sputum specimen. M. tuberculosis growth was observed for 406 patients and 85% (n = 343) were obtained from the first sputum and additional 10% (n = 42) were from the second one. The third specimen didn’t show significant additional diagnostic value for the detection of AFB by microscopy or growth of the M. tuberculosis.

Conclusions

We concluded from our study results that examining two consecutive sputum specimens is sufficient enough for the effective diagnosis of TB. It can also decrease the laboratory workload and hence improve the quality of work in settings with high TB burden like Bangladesh.     

成人不典型肺结核的CT 表现及鉴别诊断分析( 附30 例报告)

目的：回顾性分析成人不典型肺结核的CT表现,探讨与其他同影性疾病的鉴别方法,做到早诊断早治疗,减低病人的治疗成本和思想负担。方法：选择性收集病变不典型。CT影像检壹曾误诊或诊断困难的病例30例做回顾性分析。所有病例均有最后治疗结果或术后病理结果证实。结果：节段性阴影12例,局灶性斑片及斑点状影8例,散在少数小结节样影4例,多发结节并空洞影3例,肺内弥漫分布的粟粒结节影3例,肺内阴影伴有肺门淋巴结及纵隔淋巴结肿大者9例以青壮年病人吸收较快,病程较短,以粟粒影和大片影表现者吸收最快。讨论：对于不典型的成人肺结核,不能片面的强调或突出某一方面征象,年龄因素、临床症状、实验室检查如结核茵素试验（PPD）、痰结核茵培养、抗结核抗体阳性在鉴别诊断中有着重要意义。进一步正确认识及探究病变的影像特点,对于正确的诊断提供了强有力的理论根据。     

A New Method of Detecting Pulmonary Nodules with PET/CT Based on an Improved Watershed Algorithm

Background

Integrated ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) is widely performed for staging solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). However, the diagnostic efficacy of SPNs based on PET/CT is not optimal. Here, we propose a method of detection based on PET/CT that can differentiate malignant and benign SPNs with few false-positives.

Method

Our proposed method combines the features of positron-emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT). A dynamic threshold segmentation method was used to identify lung parenchyma in CT images and suspicious areas in PET images. Then, an improved watershed method was used to mark suspicious areas on the CT image. Next, the support vector machine (SVM) method was used to classify SPNs based on textural features of CT images and metabolic features of PET images to validate the proposed method.

Results

Our proposed method was more efficient than traditional methods and methods based on the CT or PET features alone (sensitivity 95.6%; average of 2.9 false positives per scan).     

Semi-Automatic Quantification of Subsolid Pulmonary Nodules: Comparison with Manual Measurements

Rationale

Accurate measurement of subsolid pulmonary nodules (SSN) is becoming increasingly important in the management of these nodules. SSNs were previously quantified with time-consuming manual measurements. The aim of the present study is to test the feasibility of semi-automatic SSNs measurements and to compare the results to the manual measurements.

Methods

In 33 lung cancer screening participants with 33 SSNs, the nodules were previously quantified by two observers manually. In the present study two observers quantified these nodules by using semi-automated nodule volumetry software. Nodules were quantified for effective diameter, volume and mass. The manual and semi-automatic measurements were compared using Bland-Altman plots and paired T tests. Observer agreement was calculated as an intraclass correlation coefficient. Data are presented as mean (SD).

Results

Semi-automated measurements were feasible in all 33 nodules. Nodule diameter, volume and mass were 11.2 (3.3) mm, 935 (691) ml and 379 (311) milligrams for observer 1 and 11.1 (3.7) mm, 986 (797) ml and 399 (344) milligrams for observer 2, respectively. Agreement between observers and within observer 1 for the semi-automatic measurements was good with an intraclass correlation coefficient >0.89. For observer 1 and observer 2, measured diameter was 8.8% and 10.3% larger (p<0.001), measured volume was 24.3% and 26.5% larger (p<0.001) and measured mass was 10.6% and 12.0% larger (p<0.001) with the semi-automatic program compared to the manual measurements.

Conclusion

Semi-automated measurement of the diameter, volume and mass of SSNs is feasible with good observer agreement. Semi-automated measurement makes quantification of mass and volume feasible in daily practice.