Objective To assess value and limitations of non-invasive methods in assessing liver fibrosis．Methods By summarized current situation and advancement of serum fibrotic markers, ultrasound, CT and MRI in assessing liver fibrosis, we investigated their value and limitations. Results In addition to diagnosis, non-invasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis assess severity of liver fibrosis. For liver fibrosis, however, non-invasive methods can not monitor effectively reaction to therapy and progression. Conclusion Non-invasive methods play important roles in diagnosis and assessing severity of liver fibrosis, and reduce the need of liver biopsy.
Objective To investigate the imaging features of intestinal volvulus on multi-detector row spiral CT (MDCT). MethodsThirty-one patients with surgically confirmed intestinal volvulus were included in this study. Nine patients received MDCT plain scan, 22 received contrast enhanced MDCT scan and 5 of them had additional CT angiography. Two abdominal radiologists analyzed the MDCT imaging features of intestinal volvulus observed, such as the location, direction of rotation, degree of volvulus, appearance rate of the “whirl sign” and the “beak sign”, bowel wall thickening and ascites and the possible causes of volvulus, which were recorded with review of surgical findings. Results The location of volvulus included duodenum (1 case), jejunum (23 cases), ileum (3 cases), entire small intestine (2 cases) and sigmoid colon (2 cases). The location of volvulus was correctly diagnosed based on MDCT findings in 27 patients (27/31; 87.0%). The direction of volvulus was correctly diagnosed for all patients based on MDCT findings (clockwise in 11 cases and counterclockwise in 20 cases). The degrees of volvulus assessed on MDCT findings were respectively 180° in 13 cases, 360° in 12 cases, 540° in 2 cases, 720° in 2 cases and 900° in 2 cases, as compared with surgical findings of 180° in 17 cases, 360° in 10 cases, 540° in 1 case, and 720° in 3 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of MDCT for assessing the degree of volvulus was 74.2%. The “whirl sign” and “beak sign” appeared in 18 and 20 patients, respectively. Bowel wall thickening and ascites were showed in 9 patients. In 5 patients with reconstructed images, the images obtained by maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) techniques showed the abnormality of mesenteric vessels in all patients, and the multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) image of one patient showed the “whirl sign” and the “beak sign”. The causes of intestinal volvulus were identified on MDCT in 10 patients. Conclusion The “whirl sign” and the “beak sign” are the characteristic images of intestinal volvulus on MDCT. Bowel wall thickening and ascites may indicate the hemody-namic images impairment of volvulus. MDCT plays valuable role in the diagnosis of intestinal volvulus.
Objective To probe CT grading criteria of vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer. Methods Retrieved articles in CNKI and PubMed about value of CT in preoperative assessment of vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer last ten years. Results Multislice helical CT is considered the best imaging method to assess the invaded peripancreatic vessels in pancreatic cancer. There are different CT criteria of vascular invasion in pancreatic cancer based on extension of hypodense tumor and its relation to blood vessels, on the degree of circumferential contiguity of tumor to vessel, on the degree of lumen stenosis, and on the degree of contiguity between tumor and vessels combined vascular caliber. Conclusion CT grading criteria are not uniform, each one has defects.
Objective To investigate the value of multislice spiral CT （MSCT） findings in the diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis. Methods MSCT imaging data, including both plain and contrast-enhanced CT scan, of 14 patients with hepatic tuberculosis confirmed by surgery (5 patients), aspiration biopsy (4 patients), or clinic follow-up (5 patients) were collected for the study. MSCT findings were analyzed with correlation of pathological changes. Results Hepatic tuberculosis was classified into 2 types. ①The parenchymal type (12 patients), which was further divided into 4 subtypes: Miliary subtype (2 patients) showed multiple tiny hypodense dots with faint border and had no enhancement; Nodular subtype (5 patients) showed blurring border on plain CT scan, 2 patients had no enhancement, 2 had peripheral rim-like enhancement, and peripheral rim enhancement mixed with no enhancement in 1 patient; Abscess subtype (4 patients) showed central hypodense area with peripheral zone-like enhancement in 2 patients, or patchy like slight enhancement in 2 patients; Fabric and calcific subtype (1 patient) depicted enplaque calcification. ②The serohepatic type (2 patients) showed thickened hepatic capsule, sub-capsule nodules with slight enhancement, and local subcapsular fluid collection. Other signs included hepatomegaly, tuberculous lymphadenopathy, splenic tuberculosis, and tuberculosis of pancreas, adrenal glands, intestine and thorax. Conclusion MSCT plays an important role in diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis, by reflecting underlying pathological changes.
Objective To investigate the mult-slice spiral CT(MSCT)imaging manifestations of bowel wall thickening due to nontumorous causes,and to address the value of MSCT scanning in assessing nontumorous bowel wall thickening.MethodsThe MSCT findings of 284 patients with bowel wall thickening due to nontumorous causes confirmed by surgery,biopsy,or clinical follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.The location, range,symmetric or asymmetric,degree,attenuation,presence or absence of enhancement and associated perienteric abnormalities of thickened bowel wall were involved.ResultsAll nontumorous disease caused bowel wall thickening include liver cirrhosis(109 cases),acute pancreatitis(54 cases),bowel obstruction(36 cases),inflammatory bowel disease(14 cases),ischemic bowel disease(12 cases),radiation enterocolitis(13 cases),tuberculosis(12 cases),immune reaction(10 cases),infective enteritis(3 cases),acute appendicitis(3 cases),hypoproteinemia(5 cases),non-common disease(8 cases)and normal variants(5 cases).The attenuation pattern of the thickened bowel wall include high attenuation(1 case),iso-attenuation(144 cases),low attenuation(127 cases),fat deposition(5 cases)and pneumatosis(7 cases).The enhancement pattern of the thickened bowel wall included gentle enhancement(249 cases),notable enhancement(32 cases)and unenhancement(3 cases).Degree of bowel wall thickening included mild thinckening(279 cases)and marked thickening(5 cases).The range of bowel wall thickening was focal(8 cases),segmental(64 cases)and diffuse(212 cases).The associated perienteric abnormalities of thickened bowel wall included swelling of fat(218 cases),ascites(189 cases),lymphadenopathy(5 cases),peirenteirc abscess(2 cases),mesenteric vascular lesion(25 cases)and involvement of solid abdominal organs(169 cases). ConclusionMSCT has an invaluable role in the diagnostic evaluation of nontumorous bowel wall thickening.A wide variety of nontumorous diseases may manifest with bowel wall thickening at MSCT.Paying attention to the characteristics of thickening of bowel wall will benefit the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various intestinal diseases.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo study the spiral CT features of gastrointestinal invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder. MethodsEight patients with surgical-pathologically documented gastrointestinal invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent plain and contrast-enhanced dual-phase scanning of the abdomen. Oral contrast medium (1.2% Angiografin) was used to fill the gastrointestinal tract before CT scanning. ResultsThere were 2 cases of gastric antrum invasion, 6 duodenal invasion and 3 colonic invasion according to the surgical and pathological findings. Spiral CT correctly diagnosed 2 gastric invasion and 4 duodenal invasion based on several imaging features, like blurring of fat plane, focal wall thickening and luminal narrowing of involved gastrointestinal segments, and mass formation. However CT was unable to diagnose the 3 cases of hepatic flexure of colon invasion. ConclusionCT is valuable for diagnosing upper gastrointestinal tract invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder, yet the diagnosis of hepatic flexure of colon invasion is still difficult.
Objective To investigate multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) and MRI features of stasis cirrhosis and the diagnostic value of MSCT and MRI. Methods MSCT and MRI findings of 35 patients with stasis cirrhosis were studied. The size of liver and spleen, the diameter of hepatic vein (HV), enhancement pattern of liver parenchyma, contrast medium reflux in inferior vena cava (IVC) and (or) HV, ascites, number of varices and correlated abnormalities were reviewed. Results The volume index of liver and spleen of 35 patients was 4434.95 cm3 and 621.92 cm3 respectively. The mean diameter of HV of 27 patients (77.1%) was 3.61 cm and HV of other 8 patients (22.9%) were too small to show. Number of patients showed waves of borderline, inhomogeneous pattern of parenchymal contrast enhancement, contrast medium reflux in IVC and (or) HV, varices and ascites was 5 (14.3%), 29 (82.9%), 20 (57.1%), 16 (45.7%), and 6 (17.1%), respectively. Correlated abnormalities included cardiac enlargement 〔4 cases (11.4%)〕, pericardium thickening 〔11 cases (31.4%)〕, and pericardial effusion 〔2 cases (5.7%)〕. Conclusions Stasis cirrhosis mainly demonstrate liver enlargement, inhomogeneous pattern of parenchymal contrast enhancement, contrast medium reflux in IVC and (or) HV, and slight portal hypertension. MSCT and MRI play invaluable roles in diagnosis, differential diagnosis and etiological diagnosis of stasis cirrhosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the CT and MR imaging features and distribution characteristics of lymphatic nodal involvement in patients with gallbladder carcinoma. MethodsThirtyseven histopathologically proven cases of gallbladder carcinoma with regional lymphatic nodal enlargement in upper abdomen were included into the study. The lymph nodal short diameter of equal to or larger than 10 mm was used as the criteria for positive lymphadenopathy. Thirtyone cases underwent contrastenhanced spiral CT scanning, 6 cases had MR imaging studies. CT and MR images were jointly evaluated by three radiologists with especial attention to the size and location of enlarged lymph nodes in upper abdomen.ResultsThe enlarged lymph nodes were observed in four anatomic locations in the upper abdominal region. ①The retroportal and retropancreatic group in which lymph nodes were located along the cystic duct and common bile duct, in the portocaval space and behind the pancreatic head. ②The celiac group in which enlarged nodes distributed along the common hepatic artery and surrounded the celiac trunk. ③The mesenteric group in which lymph nodes assembled at the mesenteric root and around the superior mesenteric vessels. ④The abdominal aorta group in which lymph nodes scattered at the left side of abdominal aorta and in the aortocaval space at the level of the left renal vein. The spiral CT visualization rates for the above 4 groups of lymphadenopathy were 89.1%(33/37), 78.3%(29/37), 29.8%(11/37) and 51.3%(19/37) respectively.ConclusionCT and MR can clearly depict the four location sites of lymphadenopathy in patients with gallbladder carcinoma, which closely reflects the three major lymphatic spreading pathways of gallbladder carcinoma, namely, the cholecystoretropancreatic, cholecystoceliac and cholecystomesenteric routes.
【摘要】 目的 评价多排螺旋CT（MDCT）在腹股沟区疝诊断中的价值。 方法 回顾性分析2009年6-12月96例经临床证实为腹股沟区疝患者的CT图像资料。通过多平面重建技术获得冠状位及矢状位图像，评价不同平面图像在腹股沟区疝诊断及分类中的应用价值。 结果 63例斜疝患者（66疝）疝囊于腹壁下动脉外侧经腹股沟深环进入腹股沟管，疝囊位于精索或圆韧带前侧（43/66，65.2%）或前内侧（15/66，22.7%）；30例直疝患者（37疝）疝囊位于腹壁下动脉内侧，位于精索内侧（27/37，73.0%）；斜疝及直疝疝囊均走行于腹股沟韧带前上方；3例股疝患者（3疝）疝囊位于腹股沟韧带后下方，冠状位“影像学股三角”内。 结论 MDCT对腹股沟区疝的诊断与鉴别诊断具有重要价值，可为手术前评估及手术中操作提供重要参考信息。【Abstract】 Objective To assess the value of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) in diagnosis of the inguinal region hernia. Methods The CT images of 96 patients with inguinal region hernia from June to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis and application of coronal and sagittal views in inguinal region hernia were assessed by multi-planer reconstruction. Results Hernia sac in 63 indirect hernia patients (66 hernias) originated lateral to the inferior epigastric artery enter the inguinal canal through the deep ring, anterior (43/63,68.3%) or anteromedial (15/63,23.8%) to the spermatic cord or round ligament;sac in 30 direct hernia patients (37 hernias) originated medial to the inferior epigastric artery, medial to the spermatic cord;both indirect and direct hernia sac located anterosuperior to the inguinal ligament;sac in three femoral hernia patients (three hernias) located posterior to the inguinal ligament and inside the “radiological femoral triangle” of coronal views. Conclusion MDCT plays on important role in diagnosing the inguinal region hernia, and provides critical information for preoperative and intraoperative.
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the CT imaging features of metastatic hepatic adenocarcinomas from the digestive tract by using multidetectorrow helical CT (MDCT) with pathological correlation. Methods CT and clinical data of 36 patients with pathologically proven metastatic hepatic adenocarcinomas from the digestive tract were retrospectively reviewed. The primary tumors included 10 cases of gastric cancer, 1 duodenal cancer, 18 colonic carcinoma, 7 rectal cancer. All patients underwent MDCT plain scan and contrastenhanced dualphase scanning of upper or whole abdomen. The appearances of hepatic metastatic lesions on MDCT images at various enhancement phases were carefully observed. Results On plain CT scan 32 cases （88.9%） presented multiple nodules of low density at different sizes, 3 cases （8.3%） showed a single low-density nodule, and 1 case presented with a cystic mass. On contrast-enhanced scan, 4 cases (11.1%) showed faintly enhanced rim around the nodules on arterial phase; on portal venous phase 29 cases (80.6%) presented slight ringlike enhancement at the periphery of the nodule while the nodule core was markedly hypodense with intermediate soft tissue density area in between, giving rise to the typical appearance of “bull’seye” sign. Three cases (8.3%) showed no enhancement on either phase images. Conclusion The ring-like enhancement and the appearance of “bull’s-eye” on portal venous phase was characteristic CT features of metastatic hepatic adenocarcinoma from digestive tract.