Non-ECG-gated CT pulmonary angiography and the prediction of right ventricular dysfunction in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is an important prognostic factor of 30-day mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of our study was to evaluate whether non-electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated cardiovascular parameters attained during computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) could predict RVD in patients suspected of PE using ECG-gated cardiac CT angiography as reference.

Methods: Consecutive patients suspected of PE were referred to a ventilation/perfusion single-photon emission tomography (V/Q-SPECT) as first-line imaging procedure.

Stability of percutaneously implanted markers for lung stereotactic radiotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of complex markers implanted into lung tumors throughout a course of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Fifteen patients referred for lung SBRT were prospectively included. Radio-opaque markers were implanted percutaneously, guided by computed tomography (CT).

ANP, BNP and D-dimer predict right ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The aim of this study was to predict right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) using plasma concentration of D-dimer, pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (pro-ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and cardiac troponin I (TNI) in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Patients suspected of PE had a ventilation/perfusion-single-photon emission-tomography (V/Q-SPECT), pulmonary multidetector computer tomography (MDCT) angiography, blood samples and ECG-gated cardiac CT performed the same day.

Results: Pro-ANP, BNP and D-dimer are associated with significantly elevated levels in PE patients with RVD.

[SPECT combined with CT angiography yield better diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary embolism--secondary publication].

The aim of our study was to perform a prospective study that compared the diagnostic ability of V/Q single photon emission computer tomography (V/Q-SPECT), V/Q-SPECT combined with low-dose computed tomography (CT) and pulmonary multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)-angiography in patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism (PE) using a dedicated combined SPECT/MDCT-scanner. V/Q-SPECT in combination with low-dose CT had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 100%. MDCT angiography had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 100%.

Comparison of V/Q SPECT and planar V/Q lung scintigraphy in diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: Planar ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy is currently the standard method for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in most nuclear medicine centers. However, recent studies have shown a superior sensitivity and specificity when applying V/Q single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in diagnosing PE. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional V/Q SPECT in comparison with planar V/Q scintigraphy.

Detection of pulmonary embolism with combined ventilation-perfusion SPECT and low-dose CT: head-to-head comparison with multidetector CT angiography.

Unlabelled: The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is usually established by a combination of clinical assessment, D-dimer testing, and imaging with either pulmonary ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy or pulmonary multidetector CT (MDCT) angiography. Both V/Q SPECT and MDCT angiography seem to have high diagnostic accuracy. However, only limited data directly comparing these 2 modalities are available.

Correlation between coronary computed tomographic angiography and fractional flow reserve.

Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has become an important modality to evaluate the presence of coronary artery disease. Coronary artery stenosis of intermediate severity remains a therapeutic dilemma. Measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) during coronary angiography is the most established technique to determine the hemodynamic severity of a coronary artery lesion.

[Computed tomography of the heart].

Noninvasive evaluation of the coronary arteries by multi-detector row computed tomography is a promising new alternative to conventional invasive coronary angiography. This article describes the technical background, methods, limitations and clinical applications and reviews current literature that compares the diagnostic accuracy of multi-detector row computed tomography with that of coronary angiography.

Quantitative assessment of left ventricular systolic wall thickening using multidetector computed tomography.

Background: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the heart provides both anatomical and functional information. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of quantitative assessment of left ventricular contractile function in relation to two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Materials And Methods: Sixty-four patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease underwent ECG-gated 64-slice MDCT and TTE.

Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Doppler ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Doppler ultrasound (DUS) in diagnosing arthritis in the wrist and hands, and, if possible, to define a cutoff level for our ultrasound measures for inflammation, resistive index (RI), and color fraction.

Methods: Using DUS, 88 patients with active RA were selected for study and 27 healthy controls. A total of 419 joints were examined.

Optimal set-up for ultrasound guided punctures using new scanner applications: an in-vitro study.

Objective: To investigate if US-visualisation of the needle tip echo during US-guided punctures could be improved by use of new technological applications.

Method: an US-guided 18 G Trocar needle was inserted into targets of a puncture phantom. The punctures were performed in series of 10 using different settings of the US-scanner (GE Logic 700 Expert).