Pre-operative Evaluation of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Metastasis in Lower Rectal Cancer: Comparison of Three Different Imaging Modalities.

Objectives: The pre-operative diagnostic value of detecting lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis with magnetic resonance imaging, multidirectory computed tomography, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography was investigated in lower rectal cancer patients.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated, using the three different modalities, the metastatic status of LPLNs in four regions, including both the internal iliac and the obturator, in 46 patients affected by lower rectal cancer patients who underwent LPLN dissection. The size inclusion criterion for LPLN metastasis was set at 6 mm in the short axis diameter.

Generation of ventilation/perfusion ratio map in surgical patients by dual-energy CT after xenon inhalation and intravenous contrast media.

Background: While many studies have evaluated the change in lung volume before and after lung resection and correlated this with pulmonary function test results, there is very little evidence on the changes in ventilation perfusion ratio (V/Q) before versus after lung resection. In the present pilot study, we evaluated if V/Q mapping can be constructed using dual energy CT images.

Methods: Thirty-one lung cancer patients planned for pulmonary resection were included in this study.

[HUGE RENAL ANGIOMYOLIPOMA COMPLICATED WITH COMMON ILIAC VEIN THROMBUS BECAUSE OF THE TUMOR PRESSURE].

A 47-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital in June 2014 in hemorrhagic shock due to rupture of a huge right renal angiomyolipoma (AML). Selective right renal arterial embolization performed that same day reversed the shock immediately. Despite the huge abdominal tumor, the patient was discharged 2 weeks later after refusing any further treatment.

Prediction of postoperative pulmonary function: preliminary comparison of single-breath dual-energy xenon CT with three conventional methods.

Purpose: To assess the use of xenon ventilation maps (Xe-images) for predicting postoperative pulmonary function.

Materials And Methods: After study approval by the institutional review board, written informed consent was obtained from 30 patients with lung tumors who underwent pre- and postoperative spirometry, pulmonary perfusion SPECT and dual-energy CT (80 kV and 140 kV/Sn) after single-breath inspiration of 35 % xenon. Xe-images were calculated by three-material decomposition.

Multidetector CT appearance of adhesion-induced small bowel obstructions: matted adhesions versus single adhesive bands.

Adhesive small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common cause of abdominal pain after surgery or peritonitis. The role of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of SBO has expanded. Diagnosis of adhesive SBO, however, remains challenging.

Three-dimensional vascular anatomy relevant to oncologic resection of right colon cancer.

We analyzed data on the three-dimensional vascular anatomy of the right colon from the operative documents of 215 patients undergoing oncologic resection for right colon cancer. The right colic artery (RCA) was absent in 146 patients (67.9%), with the ileocolic artery (ICA) crossing the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) ventrally in 78 patients (36.

Appendiceal diverticulitis: multidetector CT features.

Purpose: Appendiceal diverticulitis has been difficult to distinguish from acute appendicitis clinically and radiologically. The purpose of this study was to describe multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of cases of pathologically proved appendiceal diverticulitis at our institution over a 36-month period.

Materials And Methods: Seven of 156 patients who underwent appendectomy with the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis were pathologically diagnosed with appendiceal diverticulitis.

Imaging of ventilation with dual-energy CT during breath hold after single vital-capacity inspiration of stable xenon.

Purpose: To assess single-breath-hold technique for ventilation mapping by using dual-energy computed tomography (CT) in phantom experiments and volunteers.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all volunteers. A rubber bag filled with a mixture of xenon (0%-35.

Gallbladder volvulus in a child with mild clinical presentation.

Gallbladder volvulus in children is rare. Pre-operative diagnosis is considered difficult because of the nonspecific symptoms and inflammatory blood analysis findings. Sometimes diagnosis is confirmed at laparotomy.

Cystic artery bleeding due to blunt gallbladder injury: computed tomography findings and treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization.

Blunt gallbladder injury is rare, and bleeding from the cystic artery due to blunt trauma is even rarer. We report herein a case of extraluminal bleeding of the gallbladder in a patient following blunt abdominal trauma. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed pericholecystic fluid and extravasation of contrast material in the subcapsular liver space adjacent to the gallbladder.

Relation between pulmonary embolus volume quantified by multidetector computed tomography and clinical status and outcome for patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether pulmonary embolus volume (PEV) obtained with multi-detector row computed tomography is related to clinical status and outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Subjects comprised 48 patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PTE). PEV was measured by tracing the contours manually and compared between sets of two groups divided by clinical status.

Diagnostic accuracy of multidetector-row computed tomography for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic reliability of multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) for the evaluation of tumor spread in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods: Images obtained from a 16-detector row scanner of 22 patients were interpreted. The diagnostic accuracy of longitudinal ductal spread, vertical invasion (including hepatic parenchyma), and lymph node metastasis was assessed with reference to histopathological findings.

Preoperative evaluation of the longitudinal spread of extrahepatic bile duct cancer using multidetector computed tomography.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and direct cholangiography in evaluating the longitudinal spread of extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

Methods: Images obtained from a 16-detector row scanner (MDCT) and from direct cholangiography (via either endoscopic naso-biliary drainage or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage) of 47 patients with histopathologically proven extrahepatic bile duct cancer were retrospectively interpreted. Differences between measures of longitudinal tumor spread determined by each modality and measures of macroscopic spread in resected specimens were assessed and compared.

Multidetector computed tomography diagnosis of primary and secondary epiploic appendagitis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the epiploic appendages in patients with acute abdomen using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and to determine the incidence of primary and secondary epiploic appendagitis (EA).

Materials And Methods: A radiologist reviewed MDCT images from 1338 patients with acute abdomen for visible epiploic appendages. Two radiologists then reviewed the MDCT images showing inflamed epiploic appendages and diagnosed primary EA, secondary EA, or other conditions by consensus.

Evaluation of quality of life and psychological response in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Purpose: The importance of the quality of life (QOL) and mental condition of patients being treated for cancer is now recognized. In this study, we evaluated QOL and mental condition in patients with cancer before and after radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: The subjects were 170 patients who had undergone radiotherapy.

Three-dimensional assessment of urinary stone on non-contrast helical computed tomography as the predictor of stonestreet formation after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for stones smaller than 20 mm.

The incidence of stonestreet formation after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) rises with increasing stone burden. However, stonestreet after ESWL is often experienced even in stones smaller than 20 mm. To examine whether the non-contrast helical computed tomography (CT) data could predict stonestreet formation in these stones, 53 radiopaque stones of 5-20 mm treated with ESWL were evaluated.

Relationship between (99m)Tc-GSA scintigraphic indices of liver function reserve and portal circulation in patients with chronic liver disease.

Objectives: In order to predict the prognosis or complications of portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease, it is important to evaluate both hepatic functional reserve and portal circulation. On (99m)Tc-galactosyl human serum albumin ((99m)Tc-GSA) scintigraphy, the index of blood clearance (HH15) and receptor index (LHL15) have been widely used to evaluate the hepatic functional reserve. However, the relationship between these indices and portal circulation is unknown.

Arteriovenous malformation of the gallbladder: CT and angiographic findings.

We encountered a case of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the gallbladder in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed serpentine vessels around and within the gallbladder wall. Angiography showed dilated and tortuous cystic arteries, a racemose vascular network, and early-filling cystic veins.

Discrimination between ureteral stent and stone by non-contrast helical computed tomography in the clinical setting.

Objective: In urolithiasis with indwelling ureteral stent, an adequate visualization of retained stone is often obscured by the stent. In functional solitary kidney, it is essential to detect retained fragments before stent removal. We examined the capability of non-contrast helical computed tomography (NCHCT) in discriminating stone from stent.

Bilateral renal angiomyolipoma coexistent with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis.

A case of bilateral renal angiomyolipoma coexistent with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis and tuberous sclerosis was described, being in shock with massive hematuria. The left giant angiomyolipoma, filling the almost entire abdomen, was complicated with two large hump and moniliform aneurysms. This life-threatening hemorrhage was successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization; packing mechanically detachable coils into the aneurysms and embolization of trunk of the left renal artery.

Role of volume and attenuation value histogram of urinary stone on noncontrast helical computed tomography as predictor of fragility by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Objectives: To test, for the first time, the predictive capability of the total stone volume (TSV) and the attenuation value histogram. Recently, the mean attenuation value (MAV) of urinary stones has been recognized as a predictor of fragility by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. However, properties other than MAV, including the TSV and the heterogeneity of attenuation value histogram, may also be related to fragility.

[Efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion of adriamycin and mitomycin C mixed with degradable starch microspheres for liver metastasis of colorectal cancer--correlation with the mRNA expression of DNA topoisomerase-IIalpha and glutathione-S transferase-pi in primary lesions].

DNA topoisomerase-IIalpha (topo-IIalpha) is a target enzyme of adriamycin (ADM). Glutathione-S-transferase-pi is known to be correlated with the resistance of various anticancer drugs including mitomycin C (MMC) and ADM. Expression levels of topo-IIalpha and GST-pi mRNA of primary colorectal lesions were semi-quantitatively determined by the RT-PCR method in 22 patients with colorectal cancer, who underwent hepatic arterial infusion of ADM and MMC mixed with degradable starch microspheres for synchronous (n=17) or metachronous (n=5) liver metastasis.