Computer-aided classification of visual ventilation patterns in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at two-phase xenon-enhanced CT.

Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility, performance, and interobserver agreement of a computer-aided classification (CAC) system for regional ventilation at two-phase xenon-enhanced CT in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Materials And Methods: Thirty-eight patients with COPD underwent two-phase xenon ventilation CT with resulting wash-in (WI) and wash-out (WO) xenon images. The regional ventilation in structural abnormalities was visually categorized into four patterns by consensus of two experienced radiologists who compared the xenon attenuation of structural abnormalities with that of adjacent normal parenchyma in the WI and WO images, and it served as the reference.

CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic localization of pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using barium suspension.

Objective: To describe our initial experience with CT-guided percutaneous barium marking for the localization of small pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Materials And Methods: From October 2010 to April 2011, 10 consecutive patients (4 men and 6 women; mean age, 60 years) underwent CT-guided percutaneous barium marking for the localization of 10 small pulmonary nodules (mean size, 7.6 mm; range, 3-14 mm): 6 pure ground-glass nodules, 3 part-solid nodules, and 1 solid nodule.

Low-dose computed tomography of the chest using iterative reconstruction versus filtered back projection: comparison of image quality.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare image quality of iterative reconstruction (IR) to filtered back projection (FBP) in low-dose computed tomography of the chest.

Methods: Forty-three consecutive patients were retrospectively enrolled. Eight series of images were reconstructed using FBP and 7 levels of IR in each subject.

Percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of small (≤ 1 cm) lung nodules under C-arm cone-beam CT virtual navigation guidance.

Objectives: To describe our initial experience with percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PCNB) of small (≤1 cm) lung nodules using a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) virtual navigation guidance system in 105 consecutive patients.

Methods: One hundred and five consecutive patients (55 male, 50 female; mean age, 62 years) with 107 small (≤1 cm) lung nodules (mean size, 0.85 cm ± 0.

Impact of sputum gross appearance and volume on smear positivity of pulmonary tuberculosis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Although checking specimen quality upon sputum collection for acid-fast smear of suspected tuberculosis (TB) cases is recommended, this procedure is based on expert opinion. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the impact of sputum gross appearance and volume on smear positivity among patients with suspected pulmonary TB, according to sex.

Methods: From November 2010 through June 2011, we enrolled consecutive patients suspected to have active pulmonary TB.

Computer-aided nodule detection and volumetry to reduce variability between radiologists in the interpretation of lung nodules at low-dose screening computed tomography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system improves interobserver agreement in the interpretation of lung nodules at low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: Baseline low-dose screening CT examinations from 134 participants enrolled in the National Lung Screening Trial were reviewed by 7 chest radiologists. All participants consented to the use of their deidentified images for research purposes.

Serial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings of biphasic acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis localized to the brain stem and cerebellum.

Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHL) is a rare and usually fatal disease characterized by an acute onset of neurological abnormalities. We describe the case of a 37-year-old man with biphasic AHL with a focus on the rare involvement of the brain stem and cerebellum. Initial computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging revealed two hemorrhagic foci in the left middle cerebellar peduncle.

Findings from CT, MRI, and PET/CT of a primary malignant melanoma arising in a spinal nerve root.

Primary spinal malignant melanoma is an extremely rare condition. We here describe a case of a 71-year-old Asian female presenting with left upper extremity tingling sensation. Computed tomography (CT) showed a homogeneously enhanced mass occupying the left neural foramen at the C6-7 level.