Objective To determine the frequencies and patterns of gastrointestinal wall thickening at muti-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Methods One hundred and nine patients with cirrhosis and 130 patients without cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening were retrospectively analyzed by the abdominal MSCT scans. The frequencies of wall thickening were determined in the cirrhosis patients and in those without cirrhosis. The segmental distribution, symmetry and enhancement pattern were evaluated in all patients with cirrhosis for gastrointestinal wall thickening. Results Gastrointestinal wall thickening was seen in 72 cases (66%) with cirrhosis patients and in 12 cases (9%) without cirrhosis patients (Plt;0.005). The jejunum and ascending colon were the most common sites of gastrointestinal wall thickening, which was involved in 32 and 31 patients respectively. The scans of 46 (64%) patients with gastrointestinal wall thickening showed multisegmental distribution. Gastrointestinal wall thickening was concentric and homogeneous in all patients with cirrhosis. Conclusion Gastrointestinal wall thickening is common in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. It frequently involves multiple segments. The jejunum and ascending colon are the most common sites of involvement. MSCT plays an invaluable role in diagnostic evaluation of bowel wall thickening in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.
Objective To evaluate CT and ultrasonic imaging as a diagnostic means of acute intestinal obstruction. Methods Acute intestinal obstruction of 30 patients diagnosed by preoperative CT scanning and ultrasonic imaging was retrospectively viewed, compaired with intraoperative and pathologic findings.Results The overall accuracy of CT for detection of obstruction was 86.7% (26/30),CT and ultrasonic imaging was 93.3% (28/30). Conclusion CT with ultrasonic imaging is of great advantages for senile patients especially having malignant tumors and for patients with intestinal intussuception. CT with ultrasonic imaging is found to be reliable for diagnosing ileolithiasis and abdominal abscess and mesentery vein thrombosis, but is less sensitive in cases of bowel torsion.
Objective To investigate the situation and prospect of local recurrence of rectal cancer by using CT and MRI. Method Relevant references about the imaging diagnosis of local recurrence of rectal cancer， which were published domestic and abroad in recent years， were collected and reviewed. Results In the diagnosis of local recurrence of rectal cancer， the sensitivity of CT was higher than that of MRI， while the specificity and accuracy were not. Perfusion CT， dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI， and diffusion weighted imaging were valuable in diagnosing local recurrence of rectal cancer， as new diagnostic techniques. Conclusion Both CT and MRI are important and valuable methods in diagnosing for local recurrence of rectal cancer.
Objective To assess value and limitations of non-invasive methods in assessing liver fibrosis．Methods By summarized current situation and advancement of serum fibrotic markers, ultrasound, CT and MRI in assessing liver fibrosis, we investigated their value and limitations. Results In addition to diagnosis, non-invasive methods of assessing liver fibrosis assess severity of liver fibrosis. For liver fibrosis, however, non-invasive methods can not monitor effectively reaction to therapy and progression. Conclusion Non-invasive methods play important roles in diagnosis and assessing severity of liver fibrosis, and reduce the need of liver biopsy.
Objective To explore the early diagnostic value of single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT), thoracic computed tomography(CT),and chest X-ray for closed chest trauma. Methods To establish the animal model of unilateral chest impact trauma,to adopt SPECT, thoracic CT, and chest X-ray for early diagnosis of closed chest trauma,and to compare these findings with postmortem examination. Results Thirty minutes after blunt chest trauma, the region of interesting (ROI) between traumatized lung and the heart (ROI2/ROI1) immediately increased to the peak six hours after trauma; on the contralateral lung, the ratio (ROI3/ROI1) increased slowly and reached the peak after six hours, these ratio was still smaller than that of the traumatized lung. These differences were significant (Plt;0.01). Conclusions Chest X-ray is still the most fundamental diagnostic method of chest trauma,but it was thought that the patients of severe chest trauma and multiple injuries should be examined early by thoracic CT. Radionuclide imaging have more diagnostic value than chest X-ray on pulmonary contusion. The diagnostic sensibility to pulmonary contusion of thoracic CT is superior to conventional radiograph,but thoracic CT is inferior to SPECT on exploring exudation and edema of pulmonary contusion. Thoracic CT is superior to conventional radiograph on diagnosis of chest trauma,therefore patients of severe chest trauma and multiple injuries should be adopted to thoracic CT examination at emergency room in order to be diagnosed as soon as possible.
Objective To evaluate the role of contrastenhanced CT (CECT) scanning in the diagnosis and treatment planning of some rare liver tumors. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the CECT imaging features of 10 cases with rare tumors of the liver proved by surgical pathology in 8 cases or by liver biopsy in 2 cases, with correlation of relevant clinical manifestations, laboratory results and surgical findings. ResultsThree cases were histopathologically proved to be benign, and 7 cases were malignant. On CT images, the liver lesions were mixed cysticsolid in 5 cases, totally solid in the other 5. Eight cases demonstrated heterogeneous enhancement, while 2 cases of liver lymphoma had no enhancement. The anatomic relationship of tumors to intrahepatic vasculature, the compression and infiltration of neighboring abdominal structures were accurately delineated by CT as compared with findings at operation. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were not useful for the qualitative diagnosis of rare liver tumors, except for hepatocellular carcinoma. ConclusionCECT is very useful for the detection of rare liver tumors and the fine depiction of local extent of these tumors. When correlated with clinical and laboratory information, it helps to differentiate rare liver tumors from hepatocellular carcinoma. But its role in the characterization of rare liver tumors is limited.
ObjectiveTo comparatively analyze the image features of tumorous acute pancreatitis (T-AP) and non-tumorous acute pancreatitis (NT-AP). MethodsSixteen cases of histopathologically proven pancreatic tumors inducing acute pancreatitis and 30 cases of non-tumorous acute pancreatitis were collected, and studied their CT and MRI features. ResultsThere were 16 cases (100%) with focal nodules or masses in T-AP group and none in NT-AP group. The average innerdiameter of main pancreatic ducts in T-AP group was (9.6±6.8) mm, in which 14 cases (87.5%) were dilated. And the average innerdiameter of main pancreatic ducts in NT-AP group was (2.9±0.9) mm, in which 7 cases (23.3%) were dilated. The cases of sinistral portal hypertension (SPH), accompanying cholelithiasis and lymphadenosis between the two groups were 10 (62.5%), 3 (18.8%), 14 (87.5%), and 1 (3.4%), 25 (83.3%), 30 (100%), respectively. The occurrence of manifestation of focal nodules or masses, dilated main pancreatic ducts, SPH, and accompanying cholelithiasis were significantly different (P=0.000) between T-AP and NT-AP groups. While, the differences in enhancement pattern and the occurrence of lymphadenosis between the two groups were not significant (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe image features of T-AP are various. The application of CT and MRI could provide effective diagnostic guidelines for patients with T-AP.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of spiral CT in diagnosing ischemic bowel changes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. MethodsThe clinical data and spiral CT imaging files of 23 SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain were retrospectively reviewed. Sixteen had contrastenhanced spiral CT scanning of the abdomen, the rest had plain CT study. Observation emphasis was placed on the changes of bowel wall (wall thickness, enhancement pattern, lumen size) and mesentery (mesenteric edema, engorgement of mesenteric vessels and their abnormal arrangement pattern). Other abnormal findings (e.g. fluid accumulation, changes of abdominal solid organs, lymphadenopathy) were also observed. ResultsNineteen patients had intestinal wall thickening (19/23, 82.6%), with the “target sign” in 12 patients (12/16, 75.0%); Bowel lumen dilatation was present in 16 patients (16/23, 69.6%). Mesenteric swelling with increased density of adipose tissue was noticed in 21 patients (21/23, 91.3%); 18 patients had engorgement of mesenteric vessels (18/23, 78.3%), with comb like arrangement in 4 patients (4/16, 25.0%). Other abnormal findings included ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, hepatosplenomegaly and so on. ConclusionThe most common CT findings in SLE patients presenting with acute abdominal pain are the signs associated with ischemic bowel disease. Contrastenhanced spiral CT is a preferable imaging method for both the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ischemic bowel disease associated with SLE.
Objective To evaluate the role of CT in diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract rupture after blunt abdominal trauma. MethodsTwenty preoperative CT scans and clinical data were obtained in 20 patients who subsequently had bowel ruptures verified surgically. CT findings were analyzed retrospectively in these patients. Retrospective interpretation was made by consensus of at least two radiologists. ResultsTwenty cases of CT scan showed intraperitoneal fluid (18 cases), pneumoperitoneum (18 cases), extravasations of gastrointestinal tract contents (2 cases), bowel wall findings (14 cases) and mesenteric injury (15 cases). Conclusion CT is fast, sensitive and noninvasive in diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract rupture after blunt abdominal trauma.
Objective To evaluate the value of medical imaging technology in qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of liver steatosis. Methods To describe the current status and advancement s of medical imaging technology such as sonography , CT and MRI in qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of liver steatosis , and to cont rast their advantages and shortages. Results Sonography could be used as the primary screening and evaluate measures in qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of liver steatosis , and CT was more reliable in quantitative diagnosis , MRI had significant improving with its high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion Medical imaging technology has significant clinical value in qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of liver steatosis , especially with the help of functional MR imaging techniques such as spect roscopy and chemical shif t Gradient-Echo technic.