FDG-PET/CT characterization of adrenal nodules: diagnostic accuracy and interreader agreement using quantitative and qualitative methods.

PURPOSE: To determine interreader agreement and diagnostic accuracy across varying levels of reader experience using qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluating adrenal nodules using ((18)F)-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. METHODS: 132 adrenal nodules (96 adenomas, 36 metastases) were retrospectively identified in 105 patients (49 men and 56 women, mean age 66 years, age range 45-85 years) with a history of lung cancer who underwent ((18)F)-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. For each nodule, three readers independently performed one qualitative and two quantitative measurements: visual assessment, standardized uptake value (SUVmax), and standard uptake ratio (SUVratio). Interreader agreement was calculated using percent agreement with κ statistic for qualitative analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for quantitative analysis. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for distinguishing benign from malignant adrenal nodules were calculated for each method. RESULTS: Percent agreement between readers for visual (qualitative) assessment was 92% to 96% and κ statistic was 0.79 to 0.90 (95% confidence limits 0.66-0.99). ICC for SUVmax was 92% to 99% (95% CL 0.8-1.0), and ICC for SUVratio was 89% to 99% (95% CL 0.74-0.99). For diagnosis of malignancy, mean sensitivity and specificity for visual assessment were 80% and 97%, respectively. Mean sensitivity and specificity for SUVmax were 91% and 81%, respectively; for SUVratio, 90% and 80%. Mean diagnostic accuracy was 93%, 83%, and 84% for visual assessment, SUVmax, and SUVratio, respectively. CONCLUSION: Excellent interreader agreement is seen for quantitative and qualitative methods of distinguishing benign from malignant adrenal nodules. Qualitative analysis demonstrated higher accuracy but lower sensitivity compared with quantitative analysis.

Abdominopelvic and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis: evaluation with contrast-enhanced MR venography with a blood-pool agent.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to evaluate contrast-enhanced (CE) MR venography (MRV) with a blood-pool agent for detection of abdominopelvic and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) compared with a conventional unenhanced gradient-recalled echo (GRE) MRV technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was performed on 30 patients (mean age, 52.7 years; 15 men and 15 women) referred for MRV between March 2010 and November 2010 for evaluation of lower extremity or abdominopelvic DVT. All patients underwent a GRE sequence followed by a CE T1-weighted sequence with gadofosveset, a blood-pool agent. The abdominopelvic and lower extremity venous system was divided into 13 segments. The presence of acute or chronic DVT was assessed by six radiologists, as well as qualitative and quantitative assessments of each venous segment. Image acquisition and interpretation times were also tabulated. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for acute DVT were 91.0% and 99.8%, respectively, on CE MRV compared with 80.8% and 95.8%, respectively, on GRE MRV (p = 0.077 and p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity for chronic DVT were 84.4% and 98.4%, respectively, on CE MRV and 64.5% and 95.6%, respectively, on GRE MRV (p < 0.001 for both). Subjective ratings of vein visualization, signal homogeneity, and confidence pertaining to DVT diagnosis were significantly higher with the CE images (p < 0.001). The contrast-to-noise ratio for CE images was similar or significantly higher for all venous segments. Image acquisition and radiologist interpretation times on the CE studies were decreased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Gadofosveset-enhanced MRV had equal or higher sensitivity and specificity for detection of DVT than did GRE MRV, with decreased time for image acquisition and interpretation.

Defoliation increases nutritional quality and allelochemics of pine seedlings.

The concentration of phenols, procyanidins, and protein in pine foliage was determined at two and eight weeks following mechanical defoliation of 0, 25, 50, and 75%. Changes in both mature and immature ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws, foliage were monitored. The lowest level of defoliation (25%) produced the largest increase in phenols; 75% defoliation caused the largest increase in procyanidins. The number of phenolic compounds in mature foliage doubled following 25% defoliation. Maximum protein production also occurred at moderate defaliation levels. Mechanical defoliation had a significant effect on the production of all compounds tested. The implications of these results for induced resistance research are discussed.