Impact of PET-CT on primary staging and response control on multimodal treatment of esophageal cancer.

Background: The predictive value of positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in primary staging and response control in patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC) is under discussion. In the present study initial staging and metabolic response of PET-CT was correlated with tumor regression and survival in patients with multimodal treatment of EC.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis on a prospective database for 83 patients with EC (42 squamous cell, 39 adenocarcinoma, 2 anaplastic carcinoma) undergoing PET-CT for primary staging.

Prospective study of access site complications of automated contrast injection with peripheral venous access in MDCT.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to prospectively assess the frequency and type of IV injection site complications associated with high-flow power injection of nonionic contrast medium in MDCT.

Subjects And Methods: Contrast-enhanced (300-370 mg iodine/mL) MDCT examinations with high flow rates (up to 8 mL/s) using automatic CT injectors were performed according to standardized MDCT protocols. The location, type, and size (16-24 gauge) of IV catheters and volumes, iodine concentration, and flow rates of contrast medium were documented.

Microbiologic contamination of automatic injectors at MDCT: experimental and clinical investigations.

Objective: It is mandatory to teach antiseptic skills to staff who use contrast agent injectors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in an experimental setting and in clinical routine the risk of microbiologic contamination of the syringes of injectors used to administer contrast agent and saline solution for MDCT.

Materials And Methods: Microbiologic contamination of CT injector syringes over multiple uses for several injections was investigated in an experimental setup simulating the clinical setting.

Diagnostic impact of 18F-FDG PET-CT evaluating solid pancreatic lesions versus endosonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography with intraductal ultrasonography and abdominal ultrasound.

Purpose: This prospective single-centre phase II trial assessed the diagnostic impact of (18)F-FDG PET-CT in the evaluation of solid pancreatic lesions (phi >or= 10 mm) compared to endosonography (EUS), endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) with intraductal ultrasound (IDUS), abdominal ultrasound (US) and histopathological reference.

Methods: Forty-six patients (32 men/14 women, phi 61.7 years) with suspected pancreatic neoplasms underwent PET-CT with contrast-enhanced biphasic multi-detector CT of the upper abdomen followed by a diagnostic work-up with EUS, ERCP with IDUS and US within 3 weeks.

Global left-ventricular function assessment using dual-source multidetector CT: effect of improved temporal resolution on ventricular volume measurement.

The purpose was to compare global left-ventricular (LV) function parameters measured with cine MRI with results from multiphase dual-source CT (DSCT) using 10 and 20 reconstruction phases. Twenty-eight patients with suspected or known CAD underwent DSCT coronary angiography. LV end-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic (ESV) and stroke volumes (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) were determined using LV segmentation and selection of specific phases from DSCT image sets reconstructed either at 5% or 10% steps through the R-R interval.

Significant benefit of multimodal imaging: PET/CT compared with PET alone in staging and follow-up of patients with Ewing tumors.

Unlabelled: Hybrid PET/CT was compared with PET alone in the staging and restaging of patients with Ewing tumor to assess the benefit of the combined imaging technique.

Methods: A total of 163 (18)F-FDG PET/CT studies performed in 53 patients (age: range, 4-38 y; median, 16.5 y) with histopathologically confirmed Ewing tumor were evaluated retrospectively.

Unexpected finding of elevated glucose uptake in fibrous dysplasia mimicking malignancy: contradicting metabolism and morphology in combined PET/CT.

Fibrous dysplasia is a common benign disorder of bone in which fibro-osseous tissue replaces bone spongiosa. Lesions have a typical appearance on computed tomography (CT) images and regularly show a markedly increased uptake in bone scintigraphy using (99m)Tc-labelled methylene diphosphonate ((99m)Tc-MDP) as radiotracer. The glucose avidity of these lesions depicted by positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiolabelled glucose derivative (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-glucose (FDG) is less well known since FDG-PET does not have a role in the assessment of this disease.

Whole-body PET/CT with 11C-meta-hydroxyephedrine in tumors of the sympathetic nervous system: feasibility study and comparison with 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT.

Unlabelled: The 11C-labeled tracer meta-hydroxyephedrine (11C-HED) is a noradrenaline analog that was developed to visualize the sympathetic nervous system with PET. Initial clinical studies show a rapid uptake of 11C-HED in localized tumors of this system. Whole-body imaging with 11C-HED PET is now possible as PET/CT scanners allow a rather short examination time.

Assessment of regional left ventricular function with multidetector-row computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging.

This study compares quantitative and qualitative information on global and regional left ventricular (LV) function obtained with multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) with that obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a high prevalence of LV wall motion abnormalities. Thirty patients (19 male, 63.7+/-15.

Idiopathic left ventricular aneurysm and sudden cardiac death in young adults.

Aims: We report three young patients presenting with life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and/or survived sudden cardiac arrest, who were admitted to our institution for further diagnostic evaluation.

Methods And Results: In all patients, idiopathic left ventricular (LV) aneurysms were identified after a detailed non-invasive and invasive evaluation. Sustained VT/VF was inducible during programmed ventricular stimulation in two of the three patients.

MDCT determination of volume and function of the left ventricle: are short-axis image reformations necessary?

Objective: Determination of left ventricular (LV) volumes and global function parameters from MDCT data sets is usually based on short-axis reformations from primarily reconstructed axial images, which prolong postprocessing time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of LV volumetry and global LV function assessment from axial images in comparison with short-axis image reformations.

Subjects And Methods: This study consisted of 20 patients with either coronary artery disease or dilated cardiomyopathy.

Further evidence of a close anatomical relation between the oesophagus and pulmonary veins.

Background: Atrio-oesophageal fistula has been reported as a rare but life-threatening complication of ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, the position of the oesophagus in relation to the left atrium (LA) is of major importance for AF ablation.

Methods And Results: In order to investigate the possible anatomical variability between the oesophagus and the left atrium, multidetector-row spiral computed tomography (MDCT) of 60 healthy males (age 58.

Left ventricular function studied with MDCT.

Accurate determination of left ventricular (LV) myocardial function is fundamental for clinical diagnosis, risk stratification, and estimation of prognosis in patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Primarily, multi-detector-row spiral CT (MDCT) of the heart aimed at detecting coronary artery obstruction and cardiac morphology. Multiple studies have demonstrated that retrospectively, ECG-gated MDCT determination of LV volumes and consequently global LV function parameters is feasible in good agreement with established imaging modalities such as cineventriculography, echocardiography, and cine magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Cine and tagged magnetic resonance imaging in short-term stunned versus necrotic myocardium.

We investigated the potential of Cine and 2D Tagged Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) Imaging to distinguish stunned from necrotic left ventricular (LV) myocardium in the early postischemic phase in an open-chest animal model (N = 12). Reversible and permanent occlusion of the LAD coronary artery resulted in global LV dysfunction in both groups without significant differences. LAD perfused segments revealed significant higher values for end systolic wall thickening (ESWT) and percentual systolic wall thickening in animals with stunned myocardium.

Multi-detector row computed tomography of the heart: does a multi-segment reconstruction algorithm improve left ventricular volume measurements?

A multi-segment cardiac image reconstruction algorithm in multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) was evaluated regarding temporal resolution and determination of left ventricular (LV) volumes and global LV function. MDCT and cine magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were performed in 12 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Patients gave informed written consent for the MDCT and the CMR exam.

Multi-detector row CT of left ventricular function with dedicated analysis software versus MR imaging: initial experience.

Purpose: To determine left ventricular (LV) volumetric and functional parameters from retrospectively electrocardiographically gated multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) by using semiautomated analysis software and to correlate results with those of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: In 30 patients (mean age, 59.2 years +/- 7.