Different perfusion pattern between acute and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism: evaluation with two-phase dual-energy perfusion CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether two-phase dual-energy CT can differentiate between lung perfusion patterns of patients with chronic pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and those of patients with acute PTE.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 114 patients clinically suspected to have PTE were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent dual-energy CT at pulmonary artery (PA) and delayed phases.

The effect of pulmonary blood flow changes on oxygen-enhanced lung magnetic resonance imaging.

In this study, we investigated the effects of changes in pulmonary blood flow on oxygen-enhanced lung magnetic resonance imaging. Increased pulmonary blood flow was produced by intravenous infusion of sildenafil (0.2 mg/kg) in 10 New Zealand white rabbits.

Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus with an interarterial course: subtypes and clinical importance.

Purpose: To classify anomalous origins of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left coronary sinus (AORL) with an interarterial course into two subtypes and to evaluate the clinical importance of each.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective study, and informed consent was waived. Through a retrospective review of 22,925 consecutive cardiac computed tomographic (CT) scans, 124 cases of AORL with an interarterial course were identified.

The usefulness of delayed contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating cardiac tumors from thrombi in stroke patients.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic value of delayed-enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) imaging in differentiating cardiac tumors from thrombi in patients with suspected cardio-embolic stroke. Two radiologists blinded to the study protocol retrospectively evaluated MR images of 22 patients (12 men and 10 women; mean age 59.2 years) that had recently experienced a stroke and undergone CMR.

Analysis of tumor markers in the cytological fluid obtained from computed tomography-guided needle aspiration biopsy for the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess whether analysis of the tumor markers cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen in cytological fluid can improve the performance of computed tomography (CT)-guided needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) in the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: A total of 100 patients (men:women = 41:59, mean age: 63 years) with suspected malignant pulmonary lesions were prospectively enrolled for CT-guided NAB procedures. Levels of CYFRA 21-1, CEA, and SCC in the cytological fluid were measured by immunoradiometric assays.

Dual-enhanced cardiac CT for detection of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with stroke: a prospective comparison study with transesophageal echocardiography.

Background And Purpose: A noninvasive method with high reliability and accuracy comparable to transesophageal echocardiography for identification of left atrial appendage thrombus would be of significant clinical value. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of a dual-enhanced cardiac CT protocol for detection of left atrial appendage thrombi and for differentiation between thrombus and circulatory stasis in patients with stroke.

Methods: We studied 83 consecutive patients with stroke (56 men and 27 women; mean age, 62.

Low-dose electrocardiography synchronized nonenhanced computed tomography for assessing left atrium and pulmonary veins before radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Recently contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) was found to be useful for imaging the left atrium and pulmonary veins (PVs) before radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, the risks of contrast agent in patients with impaired renal function must be considered. We investigated the accuracy of low-dose electrocardiographically synchronized nonenhanced cardiac CT (NECT) for identifying PV anatomy.

Assessment of atherosclerotic plaques in a rabbit model by delayed-phase contrast-enhanced CT angiography: comparison with histopathology.

The aim of this study was to compare delayed-phase computed tomography angiography (CTA) attenuation values with histopathology, in ability to differentiate between fibrous and lipid-rich plaques in an experimental rabbit model. Twelve atherosclerotic rabbits underwent CTA of the abdominal aorta. The scan protocol included early-phase scans (EP), delayed scans at 90 s after contrast injection (DP(90s)), delayed scans at 10 min after contrast injection (DP(10min)), and delayed scan with saline infusion (DP(Saline)).

Use of contrast enhancement and high-resolution 3D black-blood MRI to identify inflammation in atherosclerosis.

Objectives: We investigated the contributing factors for plaque enhancement and examined the relationships between regional contrast enhancement and the inflammatory activity of atherosclerotic plaques in an experimental rabbit model using contrast-enhanced high-resolution 3-dimensional (3D) black-blood magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in comparison with histopathologic analysis.

Background: Inflammation plays a critical role in plaque initiation, progression, and disruption. As such, inflammation represents an emerging target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Radiologic findings of lung lobe torsion in reconstructed multidetector computed tomography image lead to early detection.

Torsion of the remaining lung lobe after lobectomy is a rare complication, and sometimes, diagnosis can be difficult. But early detection is important to prevent resection and fatal complication. We present a case of left lower lobe torsion with reconstructed image of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings, which propose a possibility of early detection on retrospective review after surgical reduction.

CT fluoroscopy-guided lung biopsy versus conventional CT-guided lung biopsy: a prospective controlled study to assess radiation doses and diagnostic performance.

Objective: We evaluated radiation doses, complication rates, and diagnostic accuracy for CT-guided percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) procedures of pulmonary lesions performed with or without fluoroscopic guidance.

Methods: A total of 142 patients were prospectively enrolled to receive CT-guided NAB with (Group I, n = 72) or without (Group II, n = 70) fluoroscopic guidance. Outcome measurements were patient and doctor radiation dose, and complication rate.

Diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography for selecting coronary artery bypass graft surgery candidates.

Objective: The objective of our study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomographic coronary angiography for the selection of candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained. We included 172 patients (mean age, 63 years; 127 men and 45 women) with a suspicion of coronary artery disease who underwent both computed tomographic coronary angiography and conventional coronary angiography.

Coronary artery anomalies: detection on coronary artery calcium scoring scan.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of coronary artery calcium scanning in identifying coronary anomalies and potentially high-risk interarterial courses.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-five consecutive patients who were diagnosed with a coronary anomaly on CT coronary angiography were enrolled, and 95 age- and sex-matched individuals in whom any coronary anomalies were excluded on CT coronary angiography were used as control subjects (total, 190 patients; 106 men and 84 women; mean age, 58 +/- 12 years). The coronary artery calcium scan for each patient was retrospectively evaluated by three radiologists for the presence of coronary anomalies and the presence of an interarterial course in cases of suspected anomaly.

Computed tomographic fluoroscopy-guided needle aspiration biopsy as a second biopsy technique after indeterminate transbronchial biopsy results for pulmonary lesions: comparison with second transbronchial biopsy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) after indeterminate bronchoscopy in patients with suspected malignant pulmonary lesions.

Methods: We included 77 patients who underwent CTF-NAB (n = 53) or TBLB (n = 24) as a second biopsy for pulmonary lesions because of inconclusive pathologic results on initial TBLB. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated and compared between the 2 groups using the Fisher exact test.

Evaluation of coronary artery in-stent restenosis by 64-section computed tomography: factors affecting assessment and accurate diagnosis.

Purpose: To determine factors affecting the ability of 64-multislice computed tomography (MSCT) to detect, assess, and accurately diagnose significant coronary arterial in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this study and waived informed consent. Sixty patients underwent CT coronary angiography using 64-MSCT, after implantation of coronary artery stents (n=91).

Delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging is a significant prognostic factor in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Delayed enhancement (DE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a marker of myocardial fibrosis. The absence of DE in CMR is a predictor of left ventricular (LV) functional improvement in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), so in the present study it was investigated whether presence of DE has prognostic significance in patients with NICM at long-term follow-up.

Methods And Results: The 79 patients (56.

Quantification of regional calcium burden in chronic total occlusion by 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography and procedural outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: One of the most important reasons for failure of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) is calcified plaque, which either prevents passage of guide wire or ruptures after balloon inflation. We sought to evaluate whether quantified calcium contents of CTO on multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) correlate with immediate procedural outcomes.

Methods: Sixty-four patients with 72 CTO lesions who underwent 64-slice MDCT prior to PCI were investigated.

Cardiac computed tomographic angiography for detection of cardiac sources of embolism in stroke patients.

Background And Purpose: We assessed the diagnostic performance of 2-phase 64-slice cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) for the detection of a cardiac source of embolism in stroke patients using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the reference standard.

Methods: We selected 137 patients who had experienced a recent episode of stroke and had undergone both 2-phase 64-slice CCTA and TEE within a period of 5 days. A potential cardiac source of embolism detected at both CCTA and TEE was recorded, and echocardiographic findings were categorized into high- and medium-risk sources based on the TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification.

Left atrial appendage thrombi in stroke patients: detection with two-phase cardiac CT angiography versus transesophageal echocardiography.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of two-phase 64-section cardiac computed tomographic (CT) angiography for detection of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi and differentiation between thrombus and circulatory stasis in patients with stroke, with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: This study was institutional review board approved, and all patients gave written informed consent. Fifty-five consecutive patients (36 men, 19 women; mean age, 61 years) who had recently experienced a stroke, had high-risk factors for thrombus formation, and underwent both two-phase 64-section cardiac CT angiography and TEE up to 5 days apart were examined.

Quantification and characterization of obstructive coronary plaques using 64-slice computed tomography: a comparison with intravascular ultrasound.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography in the quantification and characterization of obstructive coronary plaques in comparison with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine patients were selected who underwent both CT coronary angiography (CTCA) and IVUS. For each stenotic site (n = 61), the maximum vessel cross-sectional area, lumen cross-sectional area, plaque area, and percentage of luminal obstruction were measured.

Diagnostic accuracy of CT fluoroscopy-guided needle aspiration biopsy of ground-glass opacity pulmonary lesions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy of ground-glass opacity (GGO) pulmonary lesions.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with GGO lesions who underwent CT fluoroscopy-guided needle aspiration biopsy were enrolled in this study. GGO lesions were divided into three groups according to their size: group 1, lesions < or = 10 mm (n = 10); group 2, lesions 11-20 mm (n = 10); and group 3, lesions > 20 mm (n = 8).

CT detection of subendocardial fat in myocardial infarction.

Objective: We sought to systemically analyze the characteristics of fat accumulation in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) relative to various clinical parameters.

Materials And Methods: We included 161 patients (129 men, 32 women; mean age, 60.7 years) who had previously been diagnosed with MI and had undergone CT coronary angiography between February 2003 and April 2005.

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of injected mesenchymal stem cells in rat myocardial infarction; simultaneous cell tracking and left ventricular function measurement.

To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can enable magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) tracking and simultaneous in vivo functional data acquisition in rat models of myocardial infarction. Superparamagnetic iron oxide-laden human MSCs were injected into rat myocardium infarcted by cryoinjury 3 weeks after myocardial infarction. The control group received cell-free media injection.

Patent foramen ovale: diagnosis with multidetector CT--comparison with transesophageal echocardiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical feasibility and accuracy of 64-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) compared with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for diagnosis of a patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective study. The study included 152 consecutive stroke patients (mean age, 61.

Interatrial shunt detected in coronary computed tomography angiography: differential features of a patent foramen ovale and an atrial septal defect.

Objective: To determine differential findings of patent foramen ovales (PFOs) and atrial septal defects (ASDs) demonstrating interatrial shunting on coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 15 cases of patients demonstrating a contrast jet from the left to the right atrium on CT and interatrial shunting on echocardiography. According to the echocardiography results, patients were divided into PFO (n = 10) or ASD (n = 5) groups.