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Objective: To investigate the influence of different CT reconstruction parameters on coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) values and reclassification of predicted cardiovascular (CV) risk. Methods: CACS was evaluated in 113 patients undergoing ECG-gated 64-slice CT. Reference CACS protocol included standard kernel filter (B35f) with slice thickness/increment of 3/1.5 mm, and field-of-view (FOV) of 150–180 mm. Influence of different image reconstruction algorithms (reconstructed slice thickness/increment 2.0/1.0–1.5/0.8–3.0/2.0–3.0/3.0 mm; slice kernel B30f-B45f; FOV 200–250 mm) on Agatston score was assessed by Bland-Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) analysis. Classification of CV risk was based on the Mayo Clinic classification. Results: Different CACS reconstruction parameters showed overall good accuracy and precision when compared with reference protocol. Protocols with larger FOV, thinner slices and sharper kernels were associated with significant CV risk reclassification. Use of kernel B45f showed a moderate positive correlation with reference CACS protocol (Agatston CCC = 0.67), and yielded significantly higher CACS values (p

Coronary angiography using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT-CA) is a recent technique for the nonivasive study of coronary arteries. This study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery stenosis evaluation obtained by three readers at different levels of training or at different points of the learning curve proposed by the international guidelines. Three radiologists in training with different levels of experience in MDCT-CA scored 50 cases at various time points of the learning curve: baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 6 months. The trainee radiologists evaluated the degree of stenosis on each coronary segment, and overall accuracy was calculated on a per-segment, pervessel and per-patient basis. All readers improved analysis accuracy per segment (range, 73–90%); sensitivity reached 45% per segment, 84% per vessel and 93% per patient; specificity was 99% per segment and vessel and 98% per patient. Positive and negative predictive values increased to 94% and 92%, respectively. Although all readers improved in diagnostic performance with growing experience with MDCT-CA, a longer training period may be necessary to achieve adequate levels of expertise in MDCT-CA to be able to perform as independent readers.

Coronary angiography with multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT-CA) allows quantification of coronary artery stenosis with a high level of accuracy; however, a better estimation of stenosis can be achieved by using appropriate reformatting filters, especially in stents and calcified segments. Quantitative computed tomography angiography (QCTA) is intended to overcome the limitations of the visual score. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of QCTA with different filters in comparison with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and visual score.Two blinded operators visually scored 17 consecutive patients referred for MDCT-CA with a per-segment analysis. The degree of stenosis was classified as 0-20%, 20-50% (wall irregularities), 50-70% (significant disease) and 70-100% (vessel occlusion). Each segment was then analysed using the electronic callipers of the QCTA system with 15 different filters. No contour editing was performed. Data were compared with QCA and conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Comparison between QCTA, visual score and QCA were performed using Spearman's rank correlation.Of 25 segments analysed (mean 1.4 diseased segment per patient), 375 measurements were considered. Good correlation was found between the visual score and QCA [Pearson correlation coefficient (rho=0.852; p0.0001)] and between QCA and CCA (rho=0.804; p0.0001). Moderate correlation was found between QCA and QCTA only using two filters (rho=0.444; p0.0001 for YA filter and rho=0.450; p0.0001 for YB filter).Overall QCTA accuracy is low if contour editing is not applied, especially in calcified vessels. Certain filters can help to better estimate the exact percentage of stenosis.

This study assessed the accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CT-CA) for detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD; a parts per thousand yen50% lumen reduction) in intermediate/high-risk asymptomatic patients. A total of 183 consecutive asymptomatic individuals (92 men; mean age 54 +/- 11 years) with more than one major risk factor (obesity, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, family history, smoking) and an inconclusive or nonfeasible noninvasive stress test result (stress electrocardiography, stress echocardiography, nuclear stress scintigraphy) underwent CT-CA in an outpatient setting. All patients underwent conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 4 weeks. Data from CT-CA were compared with CAG regarding the presence of significant CAD (a parts per thousand yen50% lumen reduction). Mean calcium score was 177 +/- 432, mean heart rate during the CT-CA scan was 58 +/- 8 bpm and the prevalence (per-patient) of obstructive CAD was 19%. CT-CA showed single-vessel CAD in 9% of patients, two-vessel CAD in 9% and three-vessel CAD in 0%. Per-patient sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CT-CA were 100% (90-100), 98% (96-99), 97% (85-99), 100% (97-100), respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 151 and 0, respectively. CT-CA is an excellent noninvasive imaging modality for excluding significant CAD in intermediate/ high-risk asymptomatic patients with inconclusive or nonfeasible noninvasive stress test.

This study was done to compare the parameters of left ventricular (LV) function obtained by multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) using 64-slice equipment with those obtained using twodimensional echocardiography (2D-SE) considered as reference standard.Between April 2008 and September 2009, 116 consecutive patients were studied with both techniques. We analysed the parameters commonly sampled in echocardiography and related them with those retrieved with MDCT-CA: septal thickness, posterior wall thickness, diameter of ascending aorta, diameter and volumes in end-systolic and end-diastolic phase, ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output and heart mass.Good correlation was found measuring septal thickness (r=0.470; p=0.001), and diameters of the ascending aorta. Correlation between systolic and diastolic diameters obtained with the two techniques was good. Poor correlation was attained measuring thickness of the posterior wall (r=0.243; p=0.104). MDCT-CA consistently overestimated the average volumes; diastolic and systolic volumes showed significant correlation (r=0.0456; p= 0.002; r=0.640; p0.001). Ejection fraction agreement showed a significant correlation (r=0.626; p0.001).MDCT-CA provides parameters of cardiac function comparable to those found in echocardiography. MDCT-CA although used primarily for coronary noninvasive imaging can provide additional information on ventricular function useful to the diagnostic workup of cardiac patients.

The authors investigated the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD), with particular focus on left main (LM) disease and obstructive vs. nonobstructive disease.A total of 727 consecutive patients (485 men, age 62 ± 11 years) with suspected (514; 70.1%) or known (213; 29.9%) CAD underwent CTCA. Patients were followed up for the occurrence of MACE (i.e. cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, percutaneous/surgical revascularisation).A total of 117 MACE [five cardiac deaths, 11 acute myocardial infarctions (AMI), five unstable angina, 86 percutaneous coronary interventions, ten coronary artery bypass grafts] occurred during a mean follow-up of 20 months. Severity and extension of CAD was associated with a progressively worse prognosis. The event rate was 0% among patients with normal coronary arteries at CTCA. The presence of LM disease was not associated with a worse prognosis either in patients with no history of CAD or in those with a history of CAD. At multivariate analysis, presence of obstructive CAD and diabetes were the only independent predictors of MACE.Evaluation of atherosclerotic burden by CTCA provides an independent prognostic value for prediction of MACE. Patients with normal CTCA findings have an excellent prognosis at follow-up.

The aim of our study was to determine whether the enhancement pattern of pancreatic adenocarcinoma at contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is related to patient prognosis after resection. CEUS of 42 resected adenocarcinomas were retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were divided into two groups: group A=poorly vascularized (presence of avascular areas) or group B=well vascularized (absence of avascular areas). All lesions were resected and underwent pathological examination assessing tumor differentiation as: undifferentiated (poorly differentiated) or differentiated (moderately and well differentiated). Mean vascular density (MVD) was also evaluated. CEUS enhancement and pathology were correlated (Spearman's test). Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox regression model. There were 30 differentiated and 12 undifferentiated adenocarcinomas at pathology. At CEUS, 10 lesions were poorly vascularized, whereas 32 lesions were well vascularized. Positive correlation was observed between CEUS groups and tumoral differentiation (rs=0.51; p=0.001) and between CEUS and MVD (rs=0.74; p0.0001). Median survival in patients with group A vascularization at CEUS was significantly lower than in group B (p=0.015). Cox proportional hazard model revealed the presence of poorly vascularized tumor at CEUS (p=0.0001) as a predictor of higher mortality. In conclusion, CEUS enables accurate depiction of the vascularization of adenocarcinoma, with positive correlation to histology grade and MVD.

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and short-term complication rate of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytologic sampling of focal pancreatic lesions.We reviewed 545 consecutive ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytologic sampling procedures for focal pancreatic lesions from January 2004 through June 2008. The procedures were performed with a 20- or 21-gauge needle. The onsite cytopathologist evaluated the appropriateness of the sample and made a diagnosis. We reviewed the final diagnosis and the radiologic and medical records of all patients for onset of complications during or within 7 days of the procedure.The study sample included 262 women and 283 men (mean age, 62 years; range, 25-86 years). The head or uncinate process of the pancreas was the location of 63.0% of the lesions, and 35.2% of the lesions were located in the body or tail of the pancreas. The site of 10 lesions (1.8%) was not specified. Sampling was diagnostic in 509 of the 545 cases (93.4%). Excluding the 36 nondiagnostic samples, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytologic sampling had 99.4% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 99.4% accuracy. In 537 of the 545 cases (98.5%), the procedure was uneventful. In two cases, abdominal fluid was found after the procedure that was not present before the procedure. Six patients experienced postprocedural pain without abnormal findings at subsequent imaging. No major complications occurred.Ultrasound-guided cytologic sampling is safe and accurate for the diagnosis and planning of management of focal pancreatic lesions. With a cytologist on site, the rate of acquisition of samples adequate for diagnosis is high, reducing the need for patient recall.

Multidetector-row computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) produces high-level radiation dose because of submillimetre slice thickness and short scan time. As a result, manufacturers have produced different dose-saving protocols that may, however, reduce image quality and thus diagnostic accuracy. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic quality of MDCT-CA using different dose-saving protocols.Between April and August 2008, we examined 65 patients with 64-slice MDCT-CA: 6/65 using the step-and-shoot dose-saving protocol, 45/65 the cardiac dose right protocol and 14/65 using a standard protocol. Image quality was evaluated on a per-patient and per-segment basis, and the effective dose of each protocol was recorded.In the per-patient analysis, image quality was excellent in 100% of the step-and-shoot protocols, in 91.1% of the cardiac dose right protocols and in 85.8% of the standard protocols. Effective dose to the patient considering the whole study (i.e. scout, calcium score, triggering and MDCT-CA) was 20.49 mSv in the standard protocol, 14.8 mSv in the cardiac dose right protocol and 6.63 mSv in the step-and-shoot protocol.The radiologist should apply the appropriate protocol in relation to the clinical indications, type of patient and information required in order to spare as much dose as possible while maintaining high image quality.

This study was undertaken to establish the reliability of automated volumetric liver scans in detecting focal liver lesions by evaluating the degree of agreement between conventional and volume ultrasound (US) examinations.Over a period of 3 months, we prospectively studied 100 consecutive patients (36 men and 64 women; age range 15-87 years; mean age 63 years) referred to our institute for US imaging of the liver. Volumetric acquisition of the liver was achieved with a 3D transducer (2.0-5.0 MHz) and a Logiq 9 US scanner. All patients underwent both 2- and 3D US studies performed by two expert radiologists. Volumetric acquisitions were subsequently reviewed by the second radiologist, who was blinded to the first radiologist's report. Three categories were established: 1=presence of focal liver lesions; 2=doubtful finding; 3=absence of focal liver lesions. Concordance between volume US and conventional US was calculated by using the k statistic.Out of 100 patients examined, 39 were found to be affected by focal liver lesions. All volume US examinations were technically adequate, allowing exploration of all hepatic sectors, except for five cases that were marred by major respiratory motion artefacts. Conventional and volume US identified the same number of focal liver lesions, with the exception of four cases of doubtful findings at volume US. Concordance between automated volume US and conventional US of the liver was high (k=0.92).The identification of focal liver lesions on automated volume US is possible, and the examination shows a high level of concordance with conventional US.

PURPOSE: This study compared the role of multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) and stress electrocardiography (ECG) in the diagnostic workup of patients with chronic chest pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MSCT-CA was performed in 43 patients (31 men, 12 women, mean age 58.8+/-7.7 years) with stable angina after a routine diagnostic workup involving stress ECG and conventional CA. The following inclusion criteria were adopted: sinus rhythm and ability to hold breath for 12 s. Beta-blockers were administered in patients with heart rate>or=70 beats/minute. In order to identify or exclude patients with significant stenoses (>or=50% lumen), we determined posttest likelihood ratios of stress test and MSCT-CA separately and of MSCT-CA performed after the stress test. RESULTS: The pretest probability of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was 74%. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 2.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-5.3] and 0.3 (95% CI: 0.2-0.7) for the stress test and 10.0 (95% CI: 1.8-78.4) and 0.0 (95% CI: 0.0-infinity) for MSCT-CA, respectively. MSCT-CA increased the posttest probability of significant CAD after a negative stress test from 50% to 86% and after a positive stress test from 88% to 100%. MSCT-CA correctly detected all patients without CAD. CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive MSCT-CA is a potentially useful tool in the diagnostic workup of patients with stable angina owing to its capability to detect or exclude significant CAD.

Purpose. This study was undertaken to describe the correlation between the distribution of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a symptomatic population with suspected ischaemic heart disease, cardiovascular risk factors (RF) and clinical presentation. Materials and methods. We studied 163 patients (mean age 65.5 years; 101 men and 62 women) referred for multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (MDCT-CA) to rule out CAD. The patients had no prior history of revascularisation or myocardial infarction. We analysed how the characteristics of CAD (severity and type of plaque) can change with the increase in RF and how they are related to different clinical presentations. Results. Patients were divided into three groups according to the number of RF: zero or one, two or three, and four or more. The percentage of coronary arteries with no plaque, nonsignificant disease and significant disease was 55%, 41% and 4%, respectively, in patients with zero or one RF; 27%, 51% and 22%, respectively, in patients with two or three RF; and 19%, 38% and 44%, respectively, in patients with four or more RF. Plaque in patients with nonsignificant disease was mixed in 65%, soft in 18% and calcified in 17%. The percentage of coronaries with no plaque in the three RF groups was 50%, 20% and 0% in patients with typical chest pain and 46%, 24% and 12% in those with atypical pain. The percentage of significant disease in patients with typical pain was 0%, 47% and 86% and in those with atypical pain 4%, 20% and 29%. Conclusions. MDCT plays an important role in the identification of CAD in patients with suspected ischaemic heart disease. Severity and type of disease is highly correlated with RF number and assumes different characteristics according to clinical presentation.

Purpose. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64- slice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) for detecting significant stenosis (≥50% lumen reduction) in a population of patients at low to intermediate risk. Materials and methods. We studied 72 patients (38 men, 34 women, mean age 53.9±8.0 years) with atypical or typical chest pain and stratified in the low- to intermediate risk category. MSCT-CA (Sensation 64 Cardiac, Siemens, Germany) was performed after IV administration of 100 ml of iodinated contrast material (Iomeprol 400 mgI/ml, Bracco, Italy). Two observers, blinded to the results of conventional coronary angiography (CAG), assessed the MSCT-CA scans in consensus. Diagnostic accuracy for detecting significant stenosis was calculated. Results. CAG demonstrated the absence of significant disease in 70.1% of patients (51/72). No patient was excluded from MSCTCA. There were 37 significant lesions on 1,098 available coronary segments. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value of MSCT-CA for detecting significant coronary artery on a per-segment basis were 100%, 98.6%, 71.2% and 100%, respectively. All patients with at least one significant lesion were correctly identified by MSCT-CA. MSCT-CA scored 15 false positives on a per-segment base, which affected only marginally the per-patient performance (only one false positive). Conclusions. We concluded that 64-slice CT-CA is a diagnostic modality with high sensitivity and negative predictive value in patients at low to intermediate risk.

Objectives Our objective was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic performance of the high-speed dual-source computed tomography scanner (DSCT), with an increased temporal resolution (83 ms), for the detection of significant coronary lesions (≥50% lumen diameter reduction) in a clinically wide range of patients. Background Cardiac motion artifacts may decrease coronary image quality with use of earlier computed tomography scanners that have a limited temporal resolution. Methods We prospectively studied 100 symptomatic patients (79 men, 21 women, mean age 61 ± 11 years) with atypical (18%) or typical (55%) angina pectoris, or unstable coronary artery disease (27%) scheduled for conventional coronary angiography. Mean scan time was 8.58 ± 1.52 s. Mean heart rate was 68 ± 11 beats/min. Quantitative coronary angiography was used as the standard of reference. Irrespective of image quality or vessel size, all segments were included for analysis. Results Invasive coronary angiography demonstrated no significant disease in 23%, single-vessel disease in 31%, and multivessel disease in 46% of patients; 1,489 coronary segments, containing 220 significant (14.8%) stenoses, were available for analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of DSCT coronary angiography for the detection of significant lesions on a segment-by-segment analysis were 95% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90 to 97), 95% (95% CI 93 to 96), 75% (95% CI 69 to 80), 99% (95% CI 98 to 99), respectively, and on a patient-based analysis 99% (95% CI 92 to 100), 87% (95% CI 65 to 97), 96% (95% CI 89 to 99), and 95% (95% CI 74 to 100), respectively. Conclusions Noninvasive DSCT coronary angiography is highly sensitive to detect and to reliably rule out the presence of a significant coronary stenosis in patients presenting with atypical or typical angina pectoris, or unstable coronary artery disease.

Ultrasound examination is the first imaging modality for hepatic study in neoplastic and chronic liver diseases. Focal liver lesions frequently cause diagnostic problems in terms of characterization, especially when small and hypoechoic to the rest of the parenchyma. Contrast--enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has shown its value in the characterization of focal liver lesions. This study assessed the value of the sinusoidal phase of CEUS with a second-generation contrast agent in the characterization of focal liver lesions to distinguish benign from malignant. Two hundred hepatic lesions with suspicious features at baseline ultrasound were prospectively studied with CEUS. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy of the sinusoidal phase in the characterization of benign versus malignant liver lesions were evaluated. Hypoechogenicity of the focal liver lesion, during the sinusoidal phase of CEUS, allowed the diagnosis of malignancy with a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 88%, positive predictive value of 92%, negative predictive value of 77%, and diagnostic accuracy of 86%. The diagnostic confidence in the diagnosis of malignancy significantly increased, with receiver operating characteristic curve areas from 0.536 for baseline ultrasound to 0.902 for the sinusoidal phase of CEUS.

This study evaluated the incremental value and cost-effectiveness ratio of introducing coronary angiography (CA) with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT-CA) in the diagnostic management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with the traditional diagnostic workup. Five hundred and fifty consecutive patients who underwent MDCT-CA between January 2009 and June 2011 were considered. Patients with atypical chest pain and suspected obstructive CAD were directed to one of two diagnostic pathways: the traditional protocol (examination, stress test, CA) and the current protocol (examination, stress test, MDCT-CA, and CA, if necessary). The costs of each protocol and for the individual method were calculated. Based on the results, the cost-effectiveness ratio of the two diagnostic pathways was compared. A third, modified, diagnostic pathway has been proposed with its relative cost-effectiveness ratio (examination, MDCT-CA, stress test, and CA, if necessary). Stress test vs. MDCT-CA had an accuracy of 66%, a sensitivity and specificity of 21% and 87%, respectively, and a positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive value of 40% and 70%, respectively. Comparison between conventional CA (CCA) and MDCT-CA showed a sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 89%, respectively, a PPV and NPV of 89%, and an accuracy of 92%. The traditional protocol has higher costs than the second protocol: 1,645 euro against 322 euro (mean), but it shows a better cost-effectiveness ratio. The new proposed protocol has lower costs, mean 261 euro, with a better costeffectiveness ratio than the traditional protocol. The diagnostic protocol for patients with suspected CAD has been modified by the introduction of MDCT-CA. Our study confirms the greater diagnostic performance of MDCT-CA compared with stress test and its similar accuracy to CCA. The use of MDCT-CA to select patients for CCA has a favourable cost-effectiveness profile.

The presence of disease activity in Crohn’s disease (CD) is one of the main parameters used to establish whether optimal therapy should be drug therapy or surgery. However, a major problem in monitoring CD is the common mismatch between the patient’s symptoms and imaging objective signs of disease activity. Bowel ultrasonography (US) has emerged as a low-cost, noninvasive technique in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with CD. Accordingly, the use of contrastenhanced US (CEUS) has made possible an evaluation of the vascular enhancement pattern, similar to the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of CEUS in comparison with small-bowel MRI for assessing Crohn’s disease activity. We prospectively enrolled 30 consecutive patients with known CD. Clinical and laboratory data were compared with imaging findings obtained from MRI and CEUS of the small bowel. MRI was performed with a 1.5-T system using phased-array coils and biphasic orally administered contrast agent prior to and after gadolinium chelate administration. We performed US with a 7.5-MHz linear-array probe and a second-generation contrast agent. The parameters analysed in both techniques were the following: lesion length, wall thickness, layered wall appearance, comb sign, fibroadipose proliferation, presence of enlarged lymph nodes and stenosis. We classified parietal enhancement curves into two types in relation to the contrast pattern obtained with the time-intensity curves at MRI and CEUS: (1) quick washin, quick washout, (2) slow washin, plateau with a slow washout. Comparison between Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI) and MRI showed a low correlation, with an rho=0.398; correlation between CDAI-laboratory data and CEUS activity was low, with rho=0.354; correlation between MRI activity and CEUS activity was good, with rho = 0.791; high correlation was found between CEUS and MRI of the small bowel when assessing wallthickness, lymph nodes and comb sign; good correlation was fund when assessing layered wall appearance, disease extension and fibroadipose proliferation. At MRI, timeintensity curves for 12/30 patients were active, compared with for 14/30 patients at CEUS; therefore there was a poor correlation between curve on CEUS and curve on MRI (r=0.167; p=0.36). The use of CEUS can be recommended if there is a discrepancy between MRI and clinical/laboratory parameters. MRI of the small bowel remains the most accurate method for evaluating disease activity.

PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a large multicentre population of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and, in particular, its incremental value compared with traditional methods for risk stratification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study that began in January 2003 conducted on patients with suspected CAD assessed with CTCA on the basis of symptoms (chest pain, dyspnoea) and/or abnormal or equivocal stress test and/or a high cardiovascular risk profile. The participating centres will provide data obtained with CTCA performed with 16-slice or higher equipment. Exclusion criteria are renal insufficiency, allergy to iodinated contrast material, pregnancy and previous myocardial infarction or revascularisation (percutaneous coronary intervention and/or coronary artery bypass graft). All patients are stratified by means of clinical assessment and/or data retrieved from a clinical database. Risk factors considered are hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history and obesity. Symptoms are classified as absent, typical chest pain, atypical chest pain and dyspnoea. Primary endpoints are death, major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiac death, unstable angina requiring hospitalisation, acute myocardial infarction) and shifting of cardiovascular risk category on the basis of coronary plaque burden. The secondary endpoint is coronary revascularisation. Telephone interviews and/or clinical databases are used for the follow-up. The study will be conducted on a population >1,000 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The information collected from the Prognostic Registry for Coronary Artery Disease (PRORECAD) will provide insight into the prognostic value of CTCA in addition to demographic and clinical features. The results will allow for better use and interpretation of CTCA for prognostic purposes.

The authors sought to evaluate the incremental value of introducing coronary angiography with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT-CA) compared with the conventional diagnostic workup in managing patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) workup.A total of 531 consecutive patients underwent MDCT-CA between April 2008 and August 2010. For each patient the pretest probability of CAD was obtained by using the Morise score as well as the diagnostic performance of the exercise test and of MDCT-CA, considering conventional coronary angiography (CCA) as the gold standard. Based on these results, we calculated the posttest likelihood of CAD after stress testing, comparing the incremental diagnostic value for each category of cardiovascular risk with data obtained with MDCT-CA. The conventional diagnostic workup (without MDCT-CA) was then compared with the modified workup (including MDCT-CA).The diagnostic performance of the exercise test for identifying patients with significant lesions had a sensitivity and specificity of 20% and 88%, respectively, with positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive value of 41% and 72%, respectively. Taking CA as the gold standard, MDCT-CA had 93% sensitivity, 89% specificity, 88% PPV and 93% NPV compared with CCA in evaluating significant stenoses in the per-patient analysis. The overall diagnostic accuracy of MDCT-CA was 91%. The exercise tests provided no significant incremental diagnostic value compared with cardiovascular history in patients with a low to intermediate risk. Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of these protocols showed improved performance results for the modified protocol.MDCT-CA is the reference modality for the noninvasive exclusion of critical CAD. It provides a very high incremental diagnostic value compared with exercise testing in patients with a low to intermediate risk of CAD. The use of diagnostic protocols based on MDCT-CA ensures improved diagnostic performance compared with those involving conventional exercise electrocardiograms.

Our aim was to determine the prognostic value of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA), coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and Morise clinical score in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 722 patients (480 men; 62.7 +/- 10.9 years) who were referred for further cardiac evaluation underwent CACS and contrast-enhanced CTCA to evaluate the presence and severity of CAD. Of these, 511 (71%) patients were without previous history of CAD. Patients were stratified according to the Morise clinical score (low, intermediate, high), to CACS (0-10, 11-100, 101-400, 401-1,000, > 1,000) and to CTCA (absence of CAD, nonsignificant CAD, obstructive CAD). Patients were followed up for the occurrence of major events: cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina and revascularisation. Significant CAD (> 50% luminal narrowing) was detected in 260 (36%) patients; nonsignificant CAD (< 50% luminal narrowing) in 250 (35%) and absence of CAD in 212 (29%). During a mean follow-up of 20 +/- 4 months, 116 events (21 hard) occurred. In patients with normal coronary arteries on CTCA, the major event rate was 0% vs. 1.7% in patients with nonsignificant CAD and 7.3% in patients with significant CAD (p < 0.0001). Three hard events (14%) occurred in patients with CACSa parts per thousand currency sign100 and two (9.5%) in patients with intermediate Morise score; one revascularisation was observed in a patient with low Morise score. At multivariate analysis, diabetes, obstructive CAD and CACS > 1,000 were significant predictors of events (p < 0.05). An excellent prognosis was noted in patients with a normal CTCA (0% event rate). CACS a parts per thousand currency sign100 and low-intermediate Morise score did not exclude the possibility of events at follow-up.

The authors assessed the effect of vascular attenuation and density thresholds on the classification of noncalcified plaque by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA).Thirty patients (men 25; age 59 ± 8 years) with stable angina underwent arterial and delayed CTCA. At sites of atherosclerotic plaque, attenuation values (HU) were measured within the coronary lumen, noncalcified and calcified plaque material and the surrounding epicardial fat. Based on the measured CT attenuation values, coronary plaques were classified as lipid rich (attenuation value below the threshold) or fibrous (attenuation value above the threshold) using 30-HU, 50-HU and 70-HU density thresholds.One hundred and sixty-seven plaques (117 mixed and 50 noncalcified) were detected and assessed. The attenuation values of mixed plaques were higher than those of exclusively noncalcified plaques in both the arterial (148.3 ± 73.1 HU vs. 106.2 ± 57.9 HU) and delayed (111.4 ± 50.5 HU vs. 64.4 ± 43.4 HU) phases (p0.01). Using a 50-HU threshold, 12 (7.2%) plaques would be classified as lipid rich on arterial scan compared with 28 (17%) on the delayed-phase scan. Reclassification of these 16 (9.6%) plaques from fibrous to lipid rich involved 4/30 (13%) patients.Classification of coronary plaques as lipid rich or fibrous based on absolute CT attenuation values is significantly affected by vascular attenuation and density thresholds used for the definition.

This study evaluated criteria, presence and distribution of outlier patients by means of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a large institutional database.From a population of 2,881 consecutive patients (1,842 men, mean age 62 ± 13 years) in sinus rhythm who underwent CTCA, we extracted data on patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We selected patient outliers in the fifth and sixth decades of life with the following criteria: ≥ 3 risk factors and absence of CAD, zero to one risk factors and ≥ 5 diseased coronary segments. Diabetes was excluded from risk factors because of the different impact on CAD.The patient population consisted of 2,432 individuals with suspected CAD (1,495 men, age 62 ± 13 years). The prevalence of obstructive CAD (≥ 50% lumen reduction at CTCA) was 36% (863/2,432). Patients with normal coronary arteries accounted for 34% of the total (837/2,432; 431 men, age 55 ± 14 years). Of these, 210 were in the fifth and 231 in the 6th decade (men 196, women 245); those with ≥ 3 risk factors accounted for 4.2% of the total (102/2,432; men 42, women 60). Patients with ≥ 5 diseased coronary segments accounted for 28% of the total (686/2,432; 510 men, age 68 ± 10 years). Of these, 115 were in the fifth and 270 in the sixth decade (men 309, women 76); those with zero to one risk factors accounted for 3.0% (73/2,432; men 66, women 7).CTCA is a reliable noninvasive diagnostic modality that can be used to identify outlier patients. This will enable dedicated trials aimed at characterising biomarkers and genomics of protective and nonprotective factors against CAD and its complications.

Purpose. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) and to evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis. Materials and methods. A total of 277 patients (mean age 60 1 1 years) we consecutively examined with 64-slice MSCT-CA for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis were retrospectively reviewed for myocardial bridging. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for atherosclerotic plaque, as were the remaining coronary segments. Results. Myocardial bridging was present in 82 patients (30%, mean age 59 +/- 12). Bridges were of variable length (2 cm 10%) and depth (superficial 69%. intramyocardial 31%) and frequently localised in the mid-distal segment of the left anterior descending artery (95%). Myocardial bridging cannot be considered a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio 0.49) compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary segments proximal to the bridge showed no atherosclerotic disease (33%), positive remodelling (27%), 50% stenosis (20%). We identified 12 noncalcified, 32 mixed and 17 calcified plaques. The distal segments were significantly less affected (p

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating Crohn's disease (CD) activity compared to clinical/laboratory data. METHODS: Ninety-three consecutive patients with CD were prospectively studied by MR imaging, before and after Gadolinium chelates administration, with use of a biphasic endoluminal contrast agent. MR image analysis included: number of lesions, presence/absence of bowel stenosis, upstream bowel dilation, wall thickness, presence of enhancement, enhancement pattern, presence/absence of comb sign, lymph nodes, and perianal fistulas/abscesses. Clinical evaluation was performed by means of Harvey & Bradshaw Index. Acute-phase reactants were considered standard of reference to monitor biological activity (BA). MR imaging findings were compared with clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS: MR image analysis detected: In 96 exams multiple lesions in 16, 1 in 50; no lesions in 30; stenosis in 52; dilatation in 28; wall thickening in 59; significant enhancement in 57; layered pattern in 50; comb sign in 37; enlarged lymph nodes in 16; fibro-fatty proliferation in 40; fistulas in 9. CONCLUSIONS: MRI is able to depict morphological changes and is helpful in assessing Crohn's inflammatory disease.

This study was done to compare the perfusion patterns of intrahepatic peripheral cholangiocarcinoma (IPCC) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and dynamic computed tomography (CT).We retrospectively reviewed 23 histologically proven cases of IPCC. All lesions were studied by CEUS with sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubbles coated with a phospholipid capsule, and by dynamic CT. Contrast-enhancement patterns were evaluated in the arterial phase (CEUS 10-20 s after the injection; CT 25-30 s after the injection) and in the delayed phase (CEUS 120 s after the injection; CT2-3 min after the injection).Lesions were single in 18/23 cases (78%), single with nearby satellite lesions in 1/23 (4%) cases and multifocal with distant secondary lesions in 4/23 (17%) cases. Lesion diameter was 2-5 cm in 7/23 cases (30%), 5-7 cm in 13/23 cases (57%) and7 cm in 3/23 (13%) cases. On CEUS, lesions were hypervascular in 16/23 cases (70%). On delayed-phase CEUS, 22/23 lesions (96%) were markedly hypoechoic. CT showed that the lesions were hypovascular in the arterial phase in 15/23 cases (66%) and hypervascular in 7/23 (30%) cases; one lesion (1/23; 4%) was isovascular. On delayed-phase CT, lesions were hyperdense in 17/23 cases (74%), hypodense in 5/23 (22%) cases and isodense in 1/23 (43%) cases.Enhancement discrepancy between delayed-phase CEUS (hypoechogenicity) and CT (hyperdensity) is common semiological findings in the study of IPCC.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in characterising focal liver lesions in cirrhosis and to validate its use in lesions discovered during surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Between 2003 and 2006, 128 cirrhotic patients with focal liver lesions at baseline ultrasonography (US) were studied by power colour Doppler US (Doppler US) and CEUS. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were assessed in all patients. Fine-needle biopsy or other reference modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were used as the gold standard. The accuracy of baseline US, Doppler US, AFP levels, combined US and AFP levels and combined US, Doppler US and CEUS in characterising focal liver lesions was assessed. Diagnostic performance was compared using the McNemar test.A total of 207 focal liver lesions (101 benign and 106 malignant) were identified in 128 patients. CEUS sensitivity and specificity for lesion characterisation were 96.2% and 97.0%, respectively, whereas its positive and negative predictive values were 97.1% and 96.1%. CEUS accuracy was 96.6%, higher than that of US (72.0%), Doppler US (70.0%), AFP levels (65.7%), combined US and Doppler US (70.0%) and combined US and AFP levels (90.3%). The differences between US and CEUS were statistically significant (p0.05).CEUS can characterise focal liver lesions with 96.6% accuracy, a value higher than US, Doppler US, AFP levels, combined US and AFP levels and combined US and Doppler US. CEUS should therefore be used to characterise focal liver lesions detected during HCC surveillance of cirrhotic patients.

This study sought to assess the role of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with suspected chronic mesenteric ischaemia (CMI). Forty-five patients (29 men; mean age 68) underwent MSCT angiography of the abdomen for suspected CMI (main clinical finding: postprandial abdominal pain). The scan protocol was detectors/collimation 16/0.75 mm; feed 36 mm/s; rotation time 500 ms; increment 0.4 mm; 120-150 mAs and 120 kVp. A volume of 80 ml of contrast material was administered through an antecubital vein (rate 4 ml/s), followed by 40 ml of saline (rate 4 ml/s). Images were analysed on the workstation with different algorithms (axial image scrolling, multiplanar reconstructions, maximum intensity projection, volume rendering). Targeted central lumen-line reconstructions (curved reconstructions) were obtained along the celiac trunk (CeT) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Vessel occlusions and significant (> 50%) stenosis were recorded. Image generation and interpretation required 25 min. Stenosis and/or occlusions were detected in 29 (65%) cases on the CeT and in 32 (71%) on the SMA. Of those lesions (n=61), 44 (49%) were classified as not significant. In 16 (35%) cases, there was a simultaneous stenosis and/or occlusion of the CeT and SMA (confirmed by conventional angiography). In six (13%) cases, there were no lesions affecting the CeT, SMA or their branches (confirmed by clinical follow-up). MSCT angiography can play a major role in the detection of stenosis of the abdominal arteries in patients with suspected CMI

Purpose. This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for the detection of significant coronary artery stenosis in the real clinical world. Materials and methods. From the CTCA database of our institution, we enrolled 145 patients (92 men, 52 women, mean age 63.4 +/- 10.2 years) with suspected coronary artery disease. All patients presented with atypical or typical chest pain and underwent CTCA and conventional coronary angiography (CA). For the CTCA scan (Sensation 64, Siemens, Germany), we administered an IV bolus of 100 ml of iodinated contrast material (Iomeprol 400 mgI/ml, Bracco, Italy). The CTCA and CA reports used to evaluate diagnostic accuracy adopted >= 50% and >= 70%, respectively, as thresholds for significant stenosis. Results. Eleven patients were excluded from the analysis because of the nondiagnostic quality of CTCA. The prevalence of disease demonstrated at CA was 63% (84/134). Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for CTCA on a per-segment, per-vessel, and per-patient basis were 75.6%, 85.1%, 97.6%; 86.9%, 81.8%, 58.0%; 48.2%, 68.1%, 79.6%; and 95.7%, 92.3%, 93.5%, respectively. Only two out of 134 eligible patients were false negative. Heart rate did not significantly influence diagnostic accuracy, whereas the absence or 164 minimal presence of coronary calcification improved diagnostic accuracy. The positive and negative likelihood ratios at the per-patient level were 2.32 and 0.041, respectively. Conclusions. CTCA in the real clinical world shows a diagnostic performance lower than reported in previous validation studies. The excellent negative predictive value and negative likelihood ratio make CTCA a noninvasive gold standard for exclusion of significant coronary artery disease.

To evaluate if contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) improves the depiction of tumoral margins of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in relation to tumor enhancement, using pathology as criterion standard.Two hundred forty-one patients affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were investigated at CEUS with a second-generation contrast medium of sulfur-hexafluoride microbubbles. Sixty-seven (27.8%) of 241 tumors were resected. By consensus, 2 radiologists reviewed the CEUS examination results of the 67 tumors judging the enhancement as low (hypovascular lesions, hypoechoic tothe adjacent parenchyma) or high (iso- or hypervascular lesions, iso- or hyperechoic to the adjacent parenchyma). The resected tumors were evaluated at pathology for the presence of positive neoplastic (R+) or negative neoplastic (R-) resected margins.Of the 67 resected tumors, 35 (52.3%) were R-, whereas 32 (47.7%) were R+. Moreover, at CEUS, of the 67 resected tumors, 43 (64.1%) were hypovascular with low enhancement and 24 (35.8%) were iso-hypervascular with high enhancement. In the R- group, 27 (77.1%) of 35 tumors were hypovascular. In the R+ group, 16 (50%) of 32 lesions were hypovascular.At CEUS the depiction of tumoral margins of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is more accurate in low enhancement than in high enhancement. The pattern of enhancement of pancreatic adenocarcinoma influences the depiction of tumoral margins at CEUS.

Purpose. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of coronary angiography with multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in a population of diabetic subjects with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease compared with a nondiabetic control population. Materials and methods. Forty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) [group 1; mean age 67.7 +/- 8.8 years; 32 men; mean body mass index (BMI) 28 +/- 3.9] and 49 patients without DM (group 2, with similar demographic and clinical characteristics) were studied with MSCT coronary angiography to exclude the presence of ischaemic coronary artery disease (CAD). Each group comprised 26 patients (53%) with no history of ischaemic coronary disease and 23 patients (47%) with a history of myocardial infarction and/or myocardial revascularisation. Clinical follow-up was performed by analysing correlations between the rate of cumulative cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and myocardial revascularisation), the severity of CAD identified on MSCT, and the presence of DM as a cardiovascular risk factor. Results. At mean follow-up of 20 months, univariate analysis of survival showed significant differences between the two groups (group 1 vs. group 2, p=0.046). Moreover, the cumulative cardiac event rate correlated significantly with the presence of significant CAD (>50% stenosis) in both groups (group 1: p=0.003; group 2: p=0.0004). Conclusions. Event-free survival is significantly lower in the diabetic population compared with the normal control population (p=0.046) and is closely correlated with the presence of significant CAD. MSCT is an effective method for stratifying such risk and, together with high diagnostic accuracy, provides additional prognostic value.

We assessed the effect of intra-coronary attenuation on diagnostic accuracy using 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (CT-CA). We enrolled 170 patients with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent conventional coronary angiography (CA) and 64-slice CT-CA (100 ml of Iomeprol 400 mg I/ml at 4 ml/s). The study population was divided into two groups (85 patients each based on median attenuation of 326 HU) based on mean arterial attenuation; group 1 with low attenuation and group 2 with high attenuation. Diagnostic accuracy for the detection of significant coronary artery stenosis was determined for both groups using CA as reference standard. Overall, 163 significant stenoses were detected in 1,030 assessable coronary artery segments in group 1 compared with 160 significant stenoses in 1,020 assessable segments in group 2. The average intra-coronary attenuation was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for group 2 (388 +/- 46 HU) compared with group 1 (291 +/- 33 HU). The corresponding sensitivity and specificity values for detection of significant coronary artery stenosis were higher for group 2 (96.3% and 97.6%, respectively) than for group 1 (82.8% and 93.2%, respectively) and were more marked in distal coronary segments than in proximal segments. Higher intra-coronary attenuation on CT-CA results in greater diagnostic accuracy for detection of coronary artery stenosis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy rates of unenhanced sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, and MRI in displaying the anatomic features of cystic pancreatic masses larger than 1.5 mm in diameter.Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced sonographic and MRI examinations of 33 patients who underwent resection of a cystic pancreatic mass were retrospectively reviewed. Two radiologists blinded to the final histologic diagnosis reviewed the images, specifically assessing the presence of intralesional mural nodules and septa. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were calculated on the basis of correlation with surgical findings. Results of unenhanced sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, and MRI were compared by McNemar test. Correlation of unenhanced and contrast-enhanced sonographic versus pathologic results was established with Spearman's test. Interobserver variability was determined.Contrast-enhanced sonography correctly depicted intralesional septa in 14 of 15 lesions (sensitivity, 93.3%; specificity, 88.8%; positive predictive value, 87.5%; negative predictive value, 94.1%; accuracy, 90.9%) and nodules in six of eight lesions (sensitivity, 75%; specificity, 96%; positive predictive value, 85.7%; negative predictive value, 92.3%; accuracy, 90.9%). MRI correctly depicted intralesional septa in 14 of 15 lesions (sensitivity, 93.3%; specificity, 61.1%; positive predictive value, 66.6%; negative predictive value, 91.6%; accuracy, 75.7%) and nodules in seven of eight lesions (sensitivity, 87.5%; specificity, 80%; positive predictive value, 58.3%; negative predictive value, 95.2%; accuracy, 81.8%). The difference between the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced sonography and that of MRI was not significant (p = 0.05, McNemar test) in the identification of septa and nodules. The correlation between contrast-enhanced sonographic findings and pathologic results (Rs = 0.93; p0.001) was significantly better than that between sonographic and pathologic results (Rs = 0.52; p0.0001). Interobserver agreement had a kappa value of 0.86-0.94.Contrast-enhanced sonography compares favorably with MRI in displaying the anatomic features of cystic pancreatic masses seen on transabdominal sonography.

This paper aims to provide the tools for a complete anatomical evaluation of the coronary tree using 64-slice computed tomography (CT) and evaluate the prevalence of anatomical variants and anomalies in a population of 202 consecutive patients. Two hundred and two patients with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-slice CT with a standard protocol. Two observers working in consensus evaluated and collected the data regarding anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary vessels. In the 202 consecutive patients, the prevalence of anatomical variants was: left dominant circulation (7%), absent left main (5%), presence of intermediate branch (17%), aortic origin of conus branch (13%) and circumflex origin of sinus node branch (15%). Coronary anomalies (origin and course, intrinsic and termination) showed an overall prevalence of 25%. CT is the ideal method for the three-dimensional evaluation of the coronary tree. Anatomical variants and anomalies of the coronary arteries are quite common and should be known and recognised promptly by the operators.

Pituitary volumes were shown to be abnormally large in pre- or first-psychotic episode patients and abnormally reduced in established schizophrenia by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. We present here the results of the second ever published MRI study exploring pituitary size in a large population of patients with chronic schizophrenia recruited from the geographically defined catchment area of South Verona, Italy. No significant differences for pituitary volumes were reported between 65 subjects with chronic schizophrenia and 65 normal individuals (mean age+/-S.D.=42.31+/-11.44 and 40.54+/-11.12 years). In contrast to Pariante et al. (2004), normal pituitary size was found in our population of chronic schizophrenia. Discrepancies between these two studies may partially be accounted by sample age and gender. Considering increased pituitary volumes in pre- or first-psychotic episode patients, we put forward the hypothesis that pituitary size may normalize or reduce with the progression of the illness as a result of reduced numbers of acute episodes and consequent diminished hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. To better test this hypothesis, future large MRI studies should investigate pituitary volumes in chronic schizophrenia longitudinally, also collecting pituitary hormones and cortisol, and comparing the effects of typical and atypical antipsychotics on pituitary size in a randomized trial.

AIM: To assess the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with a second-generation contrast medium in the differential diagnosis between mass-forming pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS: From our radio-pathology database, we retrieved all the patients affected by mass-forming pancreatitis or pancreatic carcinoma who underwent CEUS. We evaluated the results of CEUS in the study of the 173 pancreatic masses considering the possibilities of a differential diagnosis between mass-forming pancreatitis and pancreatic tumor by identifying the “parenchymographic” enhancement during the dynamic phase of CEUS, which was considered diagnostic for mass-forming pancreatitis. RESULTS: At CEUS, 94% of the mass-forming pancreatitis showed intralesional parenchymography. CEUS allowed diagnosis of mass-forming pancreatitis with sensitivity of 88.6%, specificity of 97.8%, positive predictive value of 91.2%, negative predictive value of 97.1%, and overall accuracy of 96%. CEUS significantly increased the diagnostic confidence in the differential diagnosis between mass-forming pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma, with receiver operating characteristic curve areas from 0.557 (P = 0.1608) for baseline US to 0.956 (P < 0.0001) for CEUS. CONCLUSION: CEUS allowed diagnosis of mass-forming pancreatitis with diagnostic accuracy of 96%. CEUS significantly increases the diagnostic confidence with respect to basal US in discerning mass-forming pancreatitis from pancreatic neoplasm.

Purpose To evaluate the late sinusoidal phase of contrast enhancement with a 2nd-generation ultrasound contrast enhanced medium in the characterization of hypoechoic focal liver lesions. Methods We studied 88 hypoechoic liver lesions (diameter range, 1–18 cm; with 18 lesions 2 cm or less) found on conventional grayscale sonography (US) with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Final diagnosis was made using contrast enhanced helical CT, contrast enhanced MR, angiography (DSA), and/or histopathic confirmation or clinical imaging follow-up. Results There were 37/88 benign lesions demonstrated: 17 cavernous hemangiomas, 3 capillary hemangiomas, 11 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNH), 3 focal areas of sparing in hepatic steatosis, 2 adenomas, and 1 intrahepatic necrotic area. Malignant lesions demonstrated included 51/88: 27 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in cirrhosis, 11 metastatic carcinomas, 10 metastatic endocrine tumors, 2 cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCC) and 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). CEUS characterized 30/37 (81%) benign lesions and 45/51 (88%) malignant lesions. On the basis of the results obtained during the sinusoidal contrast enhanced phase of CEUS, diagnosis of benignancy was possible in 35/37 (95%) of benign liver lesions and diagnosis of malignancy in 49/51 (96%) of malignant liver lesions. The enhancement pattern of 13 small (< or = 2 cm in diameter) hypervascular liver lesions (3 capillary hemangiomas, 2 FNHs, 4 HCCs, 4 metastatic endocrine tumors) was better demonstrated on CEUS than on helical CT. In these cases the hyper vascularization of the lesions shown on CEUS was not confirmed on CT. Conclusions CEUS distinguished malignant from benign hypoechoic liver lesions with an accuracy of 95%. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 33:164–172, 2005

Although thymic lesions are relatively common causes of anterior mediastinal masses, they can rarely arise in other mediastinal compartments, as it is well recognized that thymic tissue can lie in ectopic intrathoracic locations. A thymic mass within the middle mediastinum has rarely been reported, with only a single case of a thymic cyst described and no reports of a middle mediastinal thymoma. We report 2 thymic masses (1 thymoma and 1 thymic cyst) found to arise in the middle mediastinum.

The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of variants and anomalies of the coronary artery tree in patients who underwent 64-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (CT-CA) for suspected or known coronary artery disease. A total of 543 patients (389 male, mean age 60.5 +/- 10.9) were reviewed for coronary artery variants and anomalies including post-processing tools. The majority of segments were identified according to the American Heart Association scheme. The coronary dominance pattern results were: right, 86.6%; left, 9.2%; balanced, 4.2%. The left main coronary artery had a mean length of 112 +/- 55 mm. The intermediate branch was present in the 21.9%. A variable number of diagonals (one, 25%; two, 49.7%; more than two, 24%; none, 1.3%) and marginals (one, 35.2%; two, 46.2%; more than two, 18%; none, 0.6%) was visualized. Furthermore, CT-CA may visualize smaller branches such as the conus branch artery (98%), the sinus node artery (91.6%), and the septal branches (93%). Single or associated coronary anomalies occurred in 18.4% of the patients, with the following distribution: 43 anomalies of origin and course, 68 intrinsic anomalies (59 myocardial bridging, nine aneurisms), three fistulas. In conclusion, 64-slice CT-CA provides optimal visualization of the variable and complex anatomy of coronary arteries because of the improved isotropic spatial resolution and flexible post-processing tool.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of collateral findings detected in computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in a multi-center registry. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective review of 4303 patients (2719 males, mean age 60.3 ± 10.2 years) undergoing 64-slice CTCA for suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) at various academic institutions between 01/2006 and 09/2010. Collateral findings were recorded and scored as: non-significant (no signs of relevant pathology, not necessary to be reported), significant (clear signs of pathology, mandatory to be reported), or major (remarkable pathology, mandatory to be reported and further investigated). Results: We detected 6886 non-cardiac findings (1.6 non cardiac finding per patient). Considering all centers, only 865/4303 (20.1 %) patients were completely without any additional finding. Overall, 2095 (30.4 %) non-significant, 4486 (65.2 %) significant, and 305 (4.4 %) major findings were detected. Among major findings, primary lung cancer was reported in 21 cases. In every center, most prevalent significant findings were mediastinal lymph nodes >1 cm. In 256 patients, collateral findings were clinically more relevant than coexisting CAD and justified the symptoms of patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of significant and major collateral findings in CTCA is high. Radiologists should carefully evaluate the entire scan volume in each patient.

The authors sought to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) for assessing left ventricular (LV) function parameters in a large patient population. The study was conducted on 181 patients who underwent cardiac MRI and cardiac CT for various indications. For MRI, we used two-dimensional cine balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) sequences, and for CT we used multiphase short-axis reconstructions. Volume data sets were evaluated with dedicated software. Results were compared with a paired, two-tailed Student's t test, Pearson's correlation (r), and Bland-Altman analysis. A high level of concordance was observed between cardiac MRI and CT. Ejection fraction (EF) was 53 +/- 14% for MRI vs. 53%+/- 15% for CT. There was good correlation for EF (r=0.71; p > 0.05) and end-systolic volume (r=0.74; p > 0.05). End-diastolic volume (74 +/- 23 ml at MRI vs. 71 +/- 19 ml at CT; r=0.58; p < 0.05) and myocardial mass (63 +/- 20 g at MRI and 56 +/- 18 g at CT; r=0.89; p < 0.01) showed statistically significant differences, although the discrepancy had no clinical impact. MRI and CT show a good level of agreement in assessing LV function parameters, and both can be used interchangeably in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE Thyroid volume quantification is an important parameter for radiotherapy dosing in cases of major thyroid diseases such as thyroiditis and carcinoma. In clinical practice, this calculation is performed by means of ultrasonography on the basis of an ellipsoid formula obtained from the 3 axes. The aim of our study was to compare the accuracy of volume calculation between B-mode ultrasonography and volumetric ultrasonography (VUS). METHODS Between April and May 2007, 27 consecutive patients selected for thyroidectomy were prospectively evaluated. One expert ultrasound operator calculated each thyroid volume with standard B-mode ultrasonography on the basis of the 3 axes of each lobe, and then the patients were analyzed with an offline workstation equipped with volumetric probes (VUS). On the offline workstation, 2 separate blinded operators (VUS1 and VUS2) calculated the thyroid volume with virtual organ computer-aided analysis. Data acquired were then compared with pathologic anatomy (PA). RESULTS The mean time for B-mode analysis was 6 minutes, whereas VUS analysis needed a mean time of 16.5 minutes. Interobserver variability between the median VUS1 and VUS2 measurements was 0.36 mL (interquartile range [IQR], -0.79 to 0.37 mL; P < .156). The median variability between B-mode ultrasonography and PA was -9.6 mL (IQR, -16.7 to 1.5 mL; P < .001), and that between VUS and PA was -2.87 mL (IQR, -11.97 to 9.51 mL; P = .019). The overall performance of B-mode ultrasonography in comparison with PA was -29.1% (IQR, -47.5% to -5.9%), and that of VUS in comparison with PA was -6.3% (IQR, -26.3 to 13.7%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Volumetric ultrasonography is a valid tool that compares better with PA than does B-mode ultrasonography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to correlate left main (LM) coronary artery dimensions with the presence of atherosclerosis by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography (CA) and to assess coronary atherosclerotic plaques with a semiquantitative method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two consecutive patients (41 men, mean age 60+/-11) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 64-MDCT coronary angiography. LM dimensions (length, ostial and bifurcation diameters), quantitative [location, Hounsfield unit (HU) attenuation] and qualitative (composition, shape) analysis of plaques within the LM were performed. All patients underwent conventional CA. RESULTS: Thirty patients (mean age 55+/-10) without plaques in the LM presented the following average dimensions: length 10.6+/-6.1 mm, ostial diameter 5.5+/-0.7 mm, bifurcation diameter 4.9+/-0.9 mm. LM plaques (n=36) were detected in 32 patients (mean age 64+/-10) with the following LM average dimensions: length 11.3+/-4.0 mm, ostial diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm and bifurcation diameter 6.0+/-1.2 mm. Plaques were calcified (40%, mean attenuation 742+/-191 HU), mixed (43%, mean attenuation 387+/-94 HU) or noncalcified (17%, mean attenuation 56+/-14 HU) and were frequently eccentric (77%). Age was significantly different in the two groups (p

Purpose. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of the noncardiac collateral findings during multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA). Materials and methods. Six hundred and seventy patients undergoing MSCT-CA with 16-slice and 64-slice CT scanners for suspected atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries were retrospectively reviewed. All data sets obtained with a large field of view (FOV) were analysed by two radiologists using standard mediastinal and lung window settings. Collateral findings were divided according to clinical importance into nonsignificant, remarkable and compulsory to be investigated. Results. Eighty-five percent of patients revealed coronary artery disease (CAD). Only 138/670 (20.6%) were without any additional finding. An additional 1,234 findings were recorded: nonsignificant 332 (26.9%), mild 821 (66.53%), compulsory for study 81 (6.56%). A total of 81 patients (12.08%) had significant noncardiac pathology requiring clinical or radiological follow-up. Among these, newly discovered pathologies were revealed in two patients (2.46%). Conclusions. A significant number of noncardiac findings might have been missed in MSCT-CA scans; the appropriate approach should be as a team trained in cardiology and radiology.