Acute pulmonary embolism: epidemiologic and tomodensitometric study.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism is a common disease with substantial morbidity and mortality in untreated patients. It requires an urgent positive diagnosis. AIM: To assess the prevalence of acute pulmonary embolism and calculate the sensitivity and specificity of multidetector CT for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism in a hospital specialized in cardio-thoracic diseases. METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted at Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, which included 200 consecutive patients suspected of acute pulmonary embolism and explored by a multidetector CT pulmonary angiography (16 slices). RESULTS: Prevalence of acute pulmonary embolism was calculated at 37.5%. The multidetector CT has enabled an alternative diagnosis in 46 patients (40%). The sensitivity and specificity of multidetector CT were calculated respectively 89.6% and 100%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of acute pulmonary embolism, in a hospital specialized in cardio-thoracic diseases, is higher than that found in general hospitals. High sensitivity and specificity of multidetector CT makes it the gold standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

High-resolution computed tomography to differentiate chronic diffuse infiltrative lung diseases with chronic multifocal consolidation patterns using logical analysis of data.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lung consolidation has a limited number of differential diagnoses requiring distinct managements. The aim of the study was to investigate how logical analysis of data (LAD) can support their diagnosis at HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography). METHODS: One hundred twenty-four patients were retrospectively included and classified into 8 diagnosis categories: sarcoidosis (n=35), connective tissue disease (n=21), adenocarcinoma (n=17), lymphoma (n=13), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (n=11), drug-induced lung disease (n=9), chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (n =7) and miscellaneous (n=11). First, we investigated the patterns and models (association of patterns characterizing a disease) built-up by the LAD from combinations of HRCT attributes (n=51). Second, data were recomputed by adding simple clinical attributes (n=14) to the analysis. Third, cluster analysis was performed to explain LAD failures. RESULTS: HRCT models reached a sensitivity >80% and a specificity >90% for adenocarcinoma and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. The same thresholds were obtained for sarcoidosis, connective tissue disease, and drug-induced lung diseases when clinical attributes were added to HRCT. LAD failed to provide a satisfactory model for lymphoma and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, with overlap between both diseases shown on cluster analysis. CONCLUSION: LAD provides relevant models that can be used as a diagnosis support for the radiologist. It highlights the need to add clinical data in the analysis due to frequent overlap between diseases at HRCT.

Imaging of thoracic textiloma.

OBJECTIVE: Intrathoracic textiloma or gossypiboma, a retained surgical sponge in the thoracic cavity, is an exceptional but serious complication following thoracic or abdominal surgery. The purpose of this work is to highlight the topographic features of thoracic textiloma and to describe imaging aspects, and, particularly, computed tomography (CT) features. METHODS: Eight patients have been operated in our thoracic surgery department for thoracic gossypiboma. In the past, three patients had undergone hepatic surgery and the five others had a history of thoracic surgery. All the patients had a chest radiograph, five of them had a thoracic ultrasonography, all had a chest CT, and one patient had a chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: In patients with a history of abdominal surgery, the foreign body was located in the parenchyma of the right lower lobe. In the other patients, the foreign body was either intrapleural or mediastinal. Ultrasonography suggested the diagnosis of textiloma in three of the five patients by demonstrating a non-calcified hyperechoic mass with acoustic shadow. At CT, the gossypiboma was a low-attenuating mass containing trapped gas lucencies in six patients and it was a high-attenuating mass in two patients. MRI showed a diaphragmatic defect in one patient with an intrapulmonary gossypiboma that migrated from the abdomen. CONCLUSIONS: The CT aspect of thoracic gossypiboma may be different according to pleural or parenchymal location. The spongiform appearance, characteristic in abdominal gossypiboma, is not the only CT presentation of thoracic gossypiboma. The confrontation of the surgical history with the CT signs helps to have a preoperative diagnosis.