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Cantarinha A, Bassil C, Savignac A, Devilder M, Maxwell F, Crézé M, Purcell YM, Bellin MF, Meyrignac O, Dillenseger JP. "Triple low" free-breathing CTPA protocol for patients with dyspnoea. Clin Radiol 2022; 77:e628-e635. [PMID: 35688771 DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIM To assess the performance of a "triple-low" free-breathing protocol for computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) evaluated on patients with dyspnoea and suspected pulmonary embolism and discuss its application in routine clinical practice for the study of the pulmonary parenchyma and vasculature. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was conducted on a selected group of dyspnoeic patients referred for CTPA. The protocol was designed using fast free-breathing acquisition and a small, fixed volume (35 ml) of contrast agent in order to achieve a low-exposure dose. For each examination, radiodensity of the pulmonary trunk and ascending aorta, and the dose-length product (DLP) were recorded. A qualitative analysis was performed of pulmonary arterial enhancement and the pulmonary parenchyma. RESULTS This study included 134 patients. Contrast enhancement of the pulmonary arteries (409 ± 159 HU) was systematically >250 HU. The duration of acquisition ranged from 0.9 to 1.3 seconds for free-breathing imaging. The mean DLP was in the range of low-dose chest CT acquisitions (145 ± 73 mGy·cm). The analysis was deemed optimal in 90% (120/134) of cases for the pulmonary parenchyma. Sixty-nine per cent (92/134) of cases demonstrated homogeneous enhancement of the pulmonary arteries to the subsegmental level. Only 6% (8/134) of examinations were considered uninterpretable. CONCLUSION The present "triple-low" CTPA protocol allows convenient analysis of the pulmonary parenchyma and arteries without hindrance by respiratory motion artefacts in dyspnoeic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cantarinha
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - C Bassil
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - A Savignac
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - M Devilder
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - F Maxwell
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - M Crézé
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; BioMaps, Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Y M Purcell
- Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France
| | - M-F Bellin
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; BioMaps, Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - O Meyrignac
- Service de Radiologie Générale Adulte, Hôpital Bicêtre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Département Médico Universitaire Smart Imaging, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France; BioMaps, Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - J-P Dillenseger
- Faculté de Médecine, Maïeutique, et Sciences de la Santé, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; ICube-UMR 7357, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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Basson DJ, Moodley H. An audit of the adequacy of contrast enhancement in CT pulmonary angiograms in a South African tertiary academic hospital setting. SA J Radiol 2022; 26:2350. [PMID: 35402010 PMCID: PMC8991051 DOI: 10.4102/sajr.v26i1.2350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Undiagnosed pulmonary embolism carries high mortality and morbidity. Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) is the diagnostic method of choice for accurate diagnosis. Inadequate contrast opacification is the second most common cause of indeterminate CTPAs. Objectives Audit the adequacy of CTPA contrast enhancement and determine whether inadequate enhancement is affected by the size and site of the intravenous cannula, flow rate, contrast volume, contrast leakage and day shift versus after hours services. Method Retrospective and prospective audits of the adequacy of contrast enhancement of CTPAs at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital were conducted using the Royal College of Radiologists guidelines (≤ 11% of studies with < 210 HU). Protocol variables were collected prospectively from questionnaires completed by radiographers performing the CTPAs. Adequate versus inadequate groups were analysed. Results A total of 63 (retrospective) and 130 (prospective) patients were included with inadequate contrast enhancement rates of 19% (12/63) and 20.8% (27/130), respectively. The majority of CTPAs were performed during the day 56.2% (73/130) with a 20G cannula 66.2% (86/130) in the forearm 33.8% (44/130) injecting 100 mL – 120 mL contrast 43.1% (56/130) at 3 mL/s 63.1% (82/130). The median flow rate (3 mL/s) and contrast volume (80 mL) were identical in both adequate and inadequate groups, while the remaining variables showed no statistical difference. Conclusion The rate of inadequately enhanced CTPAs in this study was high. The protocol variables did not have a significant influence on the rate of inadequate enhancement. Further research, particularly using flow rates > 4 mL/s, is required for protocol optimisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derik J Basson
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Halvani Moodley
- Department of Radiology, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Debnath J, Sharma V. Diagnosing pulmonary thromboembolism: Concerns and controversies. Med J Armed Forces India 2022; 78:17-23. [PMID: 35035039 PMCID: PMC8737094 DOI: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2021.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an important cause of mortality/morbidity even today despite advancement in clinical understanding as well as diagnostic facilities. Clinical diagnosis of PTE is often challenging because of nonspecific sign/symptoms. Adherence to clinical decision-making protocols and appropriate use of diagnostic modalities like computed tomography pulmonary angiography can resolve the diagnostic dilemma in most cases and help in the overall management of PTE. This article deals with various concerns as well as controversies surrounding accurate diagnosis of PTE as on date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotindu Debnath
- Consultant, Professor & Head (Radiodiagnosis), Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt, India,Corresponding author.
| | - Vivek Sharma
- Professor (Radiodiagnosis), Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, India
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Hsieh CC, Zeng AB, Chen CH, Jhou ZY, Wang CH, Yang YL, Hsieh FC, Lin JK, Yeh JY, Huang CC. A practical biphasic contrast media injection protocol strongly enhances the aorta and pulmonary artery simultaneously using a single CT angiography scan. BMC Med Imaging 2021; 21:160. [PMID: 34717585 PMCID: PMC8557493 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-021-00691-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Enhancement profiles of the pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta differ when using computed tomography (CT) angiography. Our aim was to determine the optimal CT protocol for a one-time CT scan that assesses both blood vessels. Methods We prospectively enrolled 101 cases of CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection from our center between 2018 and 2020. We also retrospectively collected the data of 40 patients who underwent traditional two-time CT scans between 2015 and 2018. Patients were divided into four groups: test bolus (TB) I, TB II, bolus-tracking (BT) I, and BT II. The enhancement of the PA and aorta, and the radiation doses used in the four groups were collected. Those who underwent two-time scans were classified into the traditional PA or aorta scan groups. Data were compared between the BT and traditional groups. Results The aortic enhancement was highest in BT II (294.78 ± 64.48 HU) followed BT I (285.18 ± 64.99 HU), TB II (186.58 ± 57.53 HU), and TB I (173.62 ± 69.70 HU). The radiation dose used was lowest in BT I (11.85 ± 5.55 mSv) and BT II (9.07 ± 3.44 mSv) compared with that used in the traditional groups (20.07 ± 7.78 mSv) and accounted for half of the traditional group (45.17–59.02%). The aortic enhancement was also highest in BT II (294.78 ± 64.48 HU) followed by BT I (285.18 ± 64.99 HU) when compared with that in the traditional aorta scan group (234.95 ± 94.18 HU). Conclusion Our CT protocol with a BT technique allows for a lower radiation dose and better image quality of the PA and aorta than those obtained using traditional CT scans. Trial registration: NCT04832633, retrospectively registered in April 2021 to the clinical trial registry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Chih Hsieh
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - An-Bang Zeng
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.,Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hung Chen
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Zong-Yi Jhou
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsin Wang
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ling Yang
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Chuan Hsieh
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Kai Lin
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Yen Yeh
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chao Huang
- Department of Radiology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Zhongshan North Rd., Taipei, 10449, Taiwan. .,Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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Konietzke P, Steentoft HH, Wagner WL, Albers J, Dullin C, Skornitzke S, Stiller W, Weber TF, Kauczor HU, Wielpütz MO. Consolidated lung on contrast-enhanced chest CT: the use of spectral-detector computed tomography parameters in differentiating atelectasis and pneumonia. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07066. [PMID: 34113729 PMCID: PMC8170158 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To investigate the value of spectral-detector computed tomography (SDCT) parameters for the quantitative differentiation between atelectasis and pneumonia on contrast-enhanced chest CT. Material and methods Sixty-three patients, 22 clinically diagnosed with pneumonia and 41 with atelectasis, underwent contrast-enhanced SDCT scans during the venous phase. CT numbers (Hounsfield Units [HU]) were measured on conventional reconstructions (CON120kVp) and the iodine concentration (Ciodine, [mg/ml]), and effective atomic number (Zeff) on spectral reconstructions, using region-of-interest (ROI) analysis. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated to assess each reconstruction's potential to differentiate between atelectasis and pneumonia. Results On contrast-enhanced SDCT, the difference between atelectasis and pneumonia was significant on CON120kVp, Ciodine, and Zeff images (p < 0.001). On CON120kVp images, a threshold of 81 HU achieved a sensitivity of 93 % and a specificity of 95 % for identifying pneumonia, while Ciodine and Zeff images reached the same sensitivity but lower specificities of 85 % and 83 %. CON120kVp images showed significantly higher CNRs between normal lung and atelectasis or pneumonia with 30.63 and 27.69 compared to Ciodine images with 3.54 and 1.27 and Zeff images with 4.22 and 7.63 (p < 0.001). None of the parameters could differentiate atelectasis and pneumonia without contrast media. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced SDCT can differentiate atelectasis and pneumonia based on the spectral parameters Ciodine, and Zeff. However, they had no added value compared to CT number measurement on CON120kVp images. Furthermore, contrast media is still needed for a differentiation based on quantitative SDCT parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Konietzke
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University of Heidelberg, Röntgenstraße 1, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
- Corresponding author.
| | - Hauke H. Steentoft
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Willi L. Wagner
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University of Heidelberg, Röntgenstraße 1, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Albers
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Skornitzke
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfram Stiller
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim F. Weber
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Kauczor
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University of Heidelberg, Röntgenstraße 1, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark O. Wielpütz
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DiR), Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 420, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 156, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology with Nuclear Medicine, Thoraxklinik at University of Heidelberg, Röntgenstraße 1, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany
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Kawahara D, Ozawa S, Tanaka S, Yokomachi K, Higaki T, Saito A, Miki K, Fujioka C, Ohno Y, Ohno Y, Kimura T, Murakami Y, Nagata Y. Automatic contrast medium extraction system using electron density data with dual-energy CT. Br J Radiol 2018; 91:20180396. [PMID: 29947267 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20180396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study is to create a contrast medium extraction method using raw-data-based electron density (rED) and CT number from dual-energy CT (DECT) for automatic delineation of the contrast region. METHODS: A CT-ED phantom containing tissue-equivalent inserts and an acrylic phantom with an iodinated contrast medium were scanned by DECT. The contrast medium extraction system was created using Python. The accuracy of the contrast medium extraction was evaluated by measuring the diameter in terms of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and the ratio of the volume (ROV). RESULTS: Mean-2SD CT numbers and the difference of the CT numbers (DCT) of the contrast medium at 0-130 mg ml-1 contrast medium concentration and the bone materials were more than -33 and -20 HU, respectively. In the correlation of rED and CT number, the gradient with the contrast medium phantom was greater than that with the CT-ED phantom. The accuracy of the contrast medium at 80 kV/135 kV and 100 kV/135 kV tube voltages. The gradient of the CT-ED and contrast medium phantoms were different. The gradient in the CT-ED phantom and the contrast medium was 0.0012 and 0.0003 at 80 kV/135 kV, and 0.0015 and 0.0005 at 100 kV/135 kV tube voltages, respectively. The ratio of the measured to the actual diameter in FWHM and ROV was 0.98-1.00 at 2-130 mg ml-1. At a tube voltage of 100 kV/135 kV. The ratio of the measured to the actual diameter in ROV was 0.66 and FWHM was 0.90 at 2 mg ml-1 contrast medium concentration. The ratio of the measured to the actual diameter in FWHM and ROV was 0.98-1.00 at 3-130 mg ml-1. CONCLUSION: We created the contrast medium extraction method with rED and CT number images. The contrast medium extraction method could be used with DECT images at 80 kV/135 kV. The method is expected to only extract images from the region containing the contrast medium. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: We created the contrast medium extraction method using raw-data-based electron density and CT number from DECT and it is expected to only extract information from the region containing the contrast medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Kawahara
- 1 Radiation Therapy Section, Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital , Hiroshima , Japan.,2 Medical and Dental Sciences Course, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Shuichi Ozawa
- 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan.,4 Hiroshima High-Precision Radiotherapy Cancer Center , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Sodai Tanaka
- 5 Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Kazushi Yokomachi
- 1 Radiation Therapy Section, Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Toru Higaki
- 6 Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Radiology, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Akito Saito
- 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Kentaro Miki
- 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Chikako Fujioka
- 1 Radiation Therapy Section, Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Yoshimi Ohno
- 1 Radiation Therapy Section, Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Yoshimi Ohno
- 1 Radiation Therapy Section, Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Tomoki Kimura
- 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Yuji Murakami
- 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan
| | - Yasushi Nagata
- 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University , Hiroshima , Japan.,4 Hiroshima High-Precision Radiotherapy Cancer Center , Hiroshima , Japan
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Improved Opacification of a Suboptimally Enhanced Pulmonary Artery in Chest CT: Experience Using a Dual-Layer Detector Spectral CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2018; 210:734-741. [PMID: 29446668 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.17.18537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate the quality of virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) from dual-layer detector spectral CT and the effect of virtual monoenergetic images obtained at low energies on the detection of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a suboptimally enhanced pulmonary artery on chest CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 1552 consecutive chest CT examinations performed with dual-layer detector spectral CT using a routine protocol with a tube voltage of 120 kVp, 79 examinations with suboptimal enhancement of the pulmonary artery (i.e., mean attenuation of pulmonary artery ≤ 180 HU) were included. The mean attenuation of the pulmonary artery, noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of virtual monoenergetic images obtained at 40-200 keV were compared with those of the conventional 120-kVp images. The virtual monoenergetic images with the best CNR were compared with the 120-kVp images with regard to subjective image quality and diagnostic accuracy for detecting PE. RESULTS Sufficient attenuation of the pulmonary artery (> 180 HU) was obtained using VMI for 78 of the 79 examinations. The noise levels of the virtual monoenergetic images were gradually increased with decreasing energy level (i.e., kiloelectron volt setting). The CNR and SNR of virtual monoenergetic images at 40-65 keV were significantly higher (both, p < 0.001) than the CNR and SNR of the 120-kVp images. The CNR was the highest at 40 keV for all cases. Diagnostic accuracy for detecting PE was significantly higher for 40-keV images (reader 1: AUC = 0.992, p = 0.033; reader 2: AUC = 0.986, p = 0.043) than for 120-kVp images (reader 1, AUC = 0.911; reader 2, AUC = 0.933). The subjective quality was not different between these two images. CONCLUSION In chest CT examinations in which the pulmonary artery is suboptimally enhanced, obtaining virtual monoenergetic images at a low energy setting using dual-layer detector spectral CT allows sufficient attenuation of the pulmonary artery to be achieved while preserving image quality and increasing diagnostic performance for detecting PE.
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8
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Trenker C, Apitzsch JC, Pastor S, Bartelt S, Neesse A, Goerg C. Detection of peripheral embolic consolidations using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in patients with no evidence of pulmonary embolism on computed tomography: A pilot study. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2017; 45:575-579. [PMID: 28677845 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the value of B-mode imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) but no evidence of central PE on CT. METHODS Between May 2004 and February 2015, we included in this retrospective study 19 patients with a risk profile for PE according to their Wells' score, sonographic patterns of peripheral embolic consolidations (EC) on B-mode-imaging and CEUS (ie, missing or inhomogeneous enhancement of the pleural lesions), and exclusion of central PE by CT within 1 week of CEUS. RESULTS On B-mode imaging, 19 pleural defects presented as hypoechoic. The shape of EC was round in 2, wedge-shaped in 12, polygonal in 3, and presented as atelectasis in 2 cases. On CEUS, 5 of the defects demonstrated, at the arterial and parenchymal phase, a lack of enhancement, and 14 showed an inhomogeneous (mixed) enhancement with wedge-shaped peripheral areas of no contrast enhancement. A second radiologic evaluation of the CT scans revealed PE in two patients and lesions suspicious for malignancy in two other patients. CONCLUSIONS Despite the lack of definite confirmation of peripheral and central PE on CT, peripheral pleural consolidations with no or inhomogeneous enhancement on CEUS, in combination with the risk profile for a PE, are highly suggestive of EC. If there is still some doubt, histologic confirmation is important to confirm EC and exclude malignancy. Thus, CEUS may close a potential diagnostic gap of small peripheral PE on CT. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:575-579, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Trenker
- Hospital of Internal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology, and Immunology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - J C Apitzsch
- Hospital of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital, Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - S Pastor
- Interdisciplinary Center of Ultrasound, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - S Bartelt
- Interdisciplinary Center of Ultrasound, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
| | - A Neesse
- Department Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Robert-Kochstr. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - C Goerg
- Interdisciplinary Center of Ultrasound, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstraße, Marburg, Germany
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