Ventricular short-axis measurements in patients with pulmonary embolism: effect of ECG-gating on variability, accuracy, and risk prediction.

Objective: To assess prospectively the intra- and interobserver variability, accuracy, and prognostic value of right and left ventricular short-axis diameter (RVd and LVd) measurements for risk stratification in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) using ECG-gated compared to non-gated CT.

Materials And Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (33 women; mean age 58.7±10.

Ex vivo evaluation of coronary atherosclerotic plaques: characterization with dual-source CT in comparison with histopathology.

Background: Identification and differentiation of coronary atherosclerotic plaques may improve risk stratification for incident coronary events.

Objective: We investigated the ability of dual-source computed tomography (CT) to depict and characterize atherosclerotic coronary plaques.

Methods: Contrast-enhanced CT was performed in 25 human heart specimens with a total of 322 histologically determined plaques.

High-pitch 128-slice dual-source CT for the assessment of coronary stents in a phantom model.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the quality of stent lumen delineation using dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in the standard-pitch mode (SP) as compared to the high-pitch mode (HP) in a phantom study.

Materials And Methods: Forty different coronary stents placed in plastic tubes filled with contrast agent were imaged with a second generation DSCT system in a SP (pitch 0.23) and HP (pitch 3.

Dual-energy CT with tin filter technology for the discrimination of renal lesion proxies containing blood, protein, and contrast-agent. An experimental phantom study.

Purpose: To differentiate proxy renal cystic lesions containing protein, blood, iodine contrast or saline solutions using dual-energy CT (DECT) equipped with a new tin filter technology (TFT).

Materials And Methods: 70 proxies (saline, protein, blood and contrast agent) were placed in unenhanced and contrast-enhanced kidney phantoms. DECT was performed at 80/140 kV with and without tin filtering.

Coronary artery disease: which degree of coronary artery stenosis is indicative of ischemia?

Purpose: To prospectively determine the best cut-off value of stenosis degree for low-dose computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) to predict the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenoses compared to catheter angiography (CA) using a cardiac magnetic resonance based approach as standard of reference.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two patients (mean age, 64±10 years) scheduled for CA underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at 1.5-T and dual-source CTCA using prospective ECG-triggering the same day.

An interactive surgical planning tool for acetabular fractures: initial results.

Background: Acetabular fractures still are among the most challenging fractures to treat because of complex anatomy, involved surgical access to fracture sites and the relatively low incidence of these lesions. Proper evaluation and surgical planning is necessary to achieve anatomic reduction of the articular surface and stable fixation of the pelvic ring. The goal of this study was to test the feasibility of preoperative surgical planning in acetabular fractures using a new prototype planning tool based on an interactive virtual reality-style environment.

High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of the aortic valve-aortic root complex without ECG-synchronization.

Purpose: To compare image quality and radiation dose of high-pitch computed tomography angiography(CTA) of the aortic valve-aortic root complex with and without prospective ECG-gating compared to a retrospectively ECG-gated standard-pitch acquisition.

Materials And Methods: 120 patients (mean age 68±13 years) were examined using a 128-slice dual-source CT system using prospectively ECG-gated high-pitch (group A; n=40), non-ECG-gated high-pitch (group B; n=40) or retrospectively ECG-gated standard-pitch (C; n=40) acquisition techniques. Image quality of the aortic root, valve and ascending aorta including the coronary ostia was assessed by two independent readers.

Low-dose, 128-slice, dual-source CT coronary angiography: accuracy and radiation dose of the high-pitch and the step-and-shoot mode.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy and radiation doses of two low-dose protocols for coronary artery imaging with second-generation, dual-source CT in comparison with catheter angiography (CA).

Design, Setting And Patients: Prospective, single-centre study conducted in a referral centre enrolling 100 patients with low-to-intermediate risk and suspicion of coronary artery disease. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced, 128-slice, dual-source CT coronary angiography and CA.

Quantitative computed tomography liver perfusion imaging using dynamic spiral scanning with variable pitch: feasibility and initial results in patients with cancer metastases.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and image quality of computed tomography (CT) liver perfusion imaging using an adaptive 4D spiral-mode, developed to extend the z-axis coverage, and to report initial qualitative and quantitative results in patients with cancer metastases.

Materials And Methods: A total of 21 patients with liver metastases of various origins underwent CT perfusion imaging (100 kV and 150 mAs/rot) using a 4D spiral-mode with single-source 64-slice CT (n = 7) with a scan range of 6.7 cm (protocol A: 16 cycles, 46.

Diagnostic performance and accuracy of 3-D spoiled gradient-dual-echo MRI with water- and fat-signal separation in liver-fat quantification: comparison to liver biopsy.

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate a 3-dimensional spoiled gradient-dual-echo (3D SPGR-DE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of liver fat content (LFC) in patients with the suspicion of fatty liver disease using histopathology as the standard of reference.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four adult patients (15 women; mean age, 67 +/- 13 years) underwent hepatic 1.5-Tesla 3D SPGR-DE MRI including in-/out-of-phase (IP/OP) and fat-only sequences prior to hepatic surgery with biopsy.

Dual-step prospective ECG-triggered 128-slice dual-source CT for evaluation of coronary arteries and cardiac function without heart rate control: a technical note.

Purpose: To describe prospective ECG-triggered dual-source CT dual-step pulsing (pECG(dual_step)) for evaluation of coronary arteries and cardiac function.

Methods: Fifty-one consecutive patients pre- or post-cardiovascular surgery were examined with adaptive sequential tube current modulated (pECG(dual-step)) 128-slice dual-source CT without heart rate control (main padding window: 40% RR interval >65 bpm/70% RR interval <65 bpm). Image quality of coronary arteries was graded (4-point scale), and cardiac function was evaluated.

Low dose high-pitch spiral acquisition 128-slice dual-source computed tomography for the evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft patency.

Objectives: To prospectively assess electrocardiography (ECG)-synchronized dual-source computed tomography (CT) in high-pitch spiral acquisition mode for the evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patency regarding image quality and radiation dose.

Materials And Methods: Fifty consecutive patients (47 men, age 69.6 +/- 9.

Coronary artery stent imaging with 128-slice dual-source CT using high-pitch spiral acquisition in a cardiac phantom: comparison with the sequential and low-pitch spiral mode.

Objective: To evaluate coronary stents in vitro using 128-slice-dual-source computed tomography (CT).

Methods: Twelve different coronary stents placed in a non-moving cardiac/chest phantom were examined by 128-slice dual-source CT using three CT protocols [high-pitch spiral (HPS), sequential (SEQ) and conventional spiral (SPIR)]. Artificial in-stent lumen narrowing (ALN), visible inner stent area (VIA), artificial in-stent lumen attenuation (ALA) in percent, image noise inside/outside the stent and CTDIvol were measured.

Value of retrospective fusion of PET and MR images in detection of hepatic metastases: comparison with 18F-FDG PET/CT and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of lesion detection and diagnostic confidence between (18)F-FDG PET/CT, gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI, and retrospectively fused PET and MRI (PET/MRI).

Methods: Thirty-seven patients (mean age +/- SD, 60.2 +/- 12 y) with suspected liver metastases underwent PET/CT and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI within 0-30 d (mean, 11.

Performance of dual-energy CT with tin filter technology for the discrimination of renal cysts and enhancing masses.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess the performance of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) equipped with the new tin filter technology to classify phantom renal lesions as cysts or enhancing masses.

Materials And Methods: Forty spherical lesion proxies ranging in diameter from 6 to 27 mm were filled with either distilled water (n = 10) representing cysts or titrated iodinated contrast solutions with a concentration of 0.45 (n = 10), 0.

Image fusion of coronary CT angiography and cardiac perfusion MRI: a pilot study.

Objective: To develop a tool for the image fusion of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Methods: Surface representations and volume-rendered images from fused CTCA/CMR data of five patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) on CTCA and perfusion deficits on CMR were generated using a newly developed software prototype. The spatial relationship of significant coronary artery stenosis at CTCA and myocardial defects at CMR was evaluated.

Scan length adjustment of CT coronary angiography using the calcium scoring scan: effect on radiation dose.

Objective: The objective of our study was to prospectively investigate the effect of adjusting the scan length of CT coronary angiography using the calcium scoring images instead of the scout view with regard to radiation dose.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred twenty-five consecutive patients (mean age +/- SD, 62 +/- 10 years) undergoing both calcium scoring and CT coronary angiography were included in our study. The scan length of calcium scoring was planned on the scout view; the scan length of CT coronary angiography was planned on the axial images of the calcium scoring by identifying the origin of the left main artery and cardiac apex and adding 1 cm cranially and caudally.

Low-dose CT and cardiac MR for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease: accuracy of single and combined approaches.

To prospectively compare the diagnostic performance of low-dose computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and combinations thereof for the diagnosis of significant coronary stenoses. Forty-three consecutive patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease underwent catheter coronary angiography (CA), dual-source CTCA with prospective electrocardiography-gating, and cardiac CMR (1.5 Tesla).

Coronary artery disease in patients with cardiac tumors: preoperative assessment by computed tomography coronary angiography.

We studied the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for the diagnosis of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to conventional coronary angiography (CCA) in patients with primary cardiac tumors. Thirty-eight consecutive patients with primary cardiac tumors (27 females, 11 males; mean age 56+/-6 years, range 32-86 years) underwent dual-source CTCA and CCA. Significant stenosis was defined as diameter reduction >50%.

Prospective and retrospective ECG-gating for CT coronary angiography perform similarly accurate at low heart rates.

Objective: To compare, in patients with suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD) and low heart rates, image quality, diagnostic performance, and radiation dose values of prospectively and retrospectively electrocardiography (ECG)-gated dual-source computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) for the diagnosis of significant coronary stenoses.

Materials And Methods: Two-hundred consecutive patients with heart rates ≤70 bpm were retrospectively enrolled; 100 patients undergoing prospectively ECG-gated CTCA (group 1) and 100 patients undergoing retrospectively-gated CTCA (group 2). Coronary artery segments were assessed for image quality and significant luminal diameter narrowing.

Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas: a radio-pathological case study.

Context: An intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm is a rare pancreatic tumor with the potential of developing invasive carcinoma. Its differentiation from other cystic-like neoplasms of the pancreas, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, is a challenge for pancreatic imaging.

Case Report: We present the case of a 76-year-old male with painless jaundice caused by an intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas.

Characterization of urinary stones with dual-energy CT: improved differentiation using a tin filter.

Purpose: To assess image quality and capability of stone differentiation between UA-containing and non-UA-containing uroliths with the latest dual-energy (DE) computed tomography (CT) system equipped with a tin filter (TF) using various data acquisition parameters in a work bench model.

Methods And Materials: One hundred ten urinary stones (4.2 +/- 3.

Discrimination between invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and pulmonary lymphoma using CT.

Objective: The purpose was to assess the characteristic CT features of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and pulmonary lymphoma (PL) and to analyze the potential to distinguish the two entities using CT.

Methods: The CT images of 70 patients with either proven IPA (n = 35) or PL (n = 35) were evaluated retrospectively and independently by two radiologists (reader 1 [R1] and reader 2 [R2]), analyzing images for presence, number and characteristics of pulmonary nodules and masses, ground-glass opacities, consolidations and other interstitial changes.

Results: Interreader agreement was moderate (4/33 CT features), good (9/33) or excellent (20/33).

Hybrid-repair of thoraco-abdominal or juxtarenal aortic aneurysm: what the radiologist should know.

Purpose: Endovascular aneurysm repair of the infrarenal or thoracic aorta has been shown to be a less invasive alternative to open surgery. A combined aneurysm of the thoracic and abdominal aorta is complex and challenging; the involvement of renal and/or visceral branches requires new treatment methods.

Methods: A hybrid approach is currently an accepted alternative to conventional surgery.