CT and 18F-FDG PET for noninvasive detection of splenic involvement in patients with malignant lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of (18)F-FDG PET, CT, and combined PET/CT in the detection of splenic involvement at initial staging of lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal analysis was performed on the records of 111 patients with proven lymphoma who had undergone PET and CT before and after treatment. CT scans were evaluated independently by two radiologists, and PET scans by two nuclear medicine physicians. Abnormal CT findings were defined as low-attenuation nodules or a splenic index greater than 725 cm(3) (> 2 SDs above the mean in 100 controls). An abnormal PET finding was defined as splenic uptake greater than hepatic uptake. True splenic involvement was defined retrospectively on the basis of the treatment response assessed with criteria revised in the International Harmonization Project on lymphoma. Observer agreement and sensitivity and specificity values were calculated. RESULTS: Observer agreement for CT splenic index and PET findings was good. For initial splenic staging, the sensitivity and specificity of CT, PET, and PET/CT were 91% and 96%, 75% and 99%, and 100% and 95%. CONCLUSION: For initial staging of splenic involvement in malignant lymphoma, the sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT can reach 100% and 95%. The sensitivity of the combined approach is higher than that of either technique alone.

Prospective study of color duplex ultrasonography compared with contrast venography in patients suspected of having deep venous thrombosis of the upper extremities.

BACKGROUND: The optimal strategy for diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is less well established for the upper extremities than for the lower extremities. Duplex color ultrasonography can be difficult to perform in the upper extremities because of their anatomy, and contrast venography is often indicated. Moreover, limited data exist on the use of duplex color ultrasonography in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of duplex ultrasonography for diagnosis of DVT of the upper extremities. DESIGN: Prospective study of duplex ultrasonography compared with venography. SETTING: A teaching hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. PATIENTS: 126 consecutive inpatients and outpatients with suspected DVT of the upper extremities. MEASUREMENTS: Contrast venography was obtained after duplex ultrasonography and was judged independently. A three-step protocol, involving compression ultrasonography, color ultrasonography, and color Doppler ultrasonography, was used. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios for ultrasonography as a whole were calculated. The independent value of each step was assessed. RESULTS: Venography and ultrasonography were not feasible in 23 of 126 patients (18%) and 1 of 126 patients (0.8%), respectively. Results of ultrasonography were inconclusive in 3 patients. Venography demonstrated thrombosis in 44 of 99 patients (44%); in 36 patients (36%), thrombosis was related to intravenous catheters or malignant disease. Sensitivity and specificity of duplex ultrasonography were 82% (95% CI, 70% to 93%) and 82% (CI, 72% to 92%), respectively. Venous incompressibility correlated well with thrombosis, whereas only 50% of isolated flow abnormalities proved to be thrombosis-related. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex ultrasonography may be the method of choice for initial diagnosis of patients with suspected thrombosis of the upper extremities. However, in patients with isolated flow abnormalities, contrast venography should be performed.

Mechanical thrombectomy for early treatment of massive pulmonary embolism.

We report our technique and results of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in a consecutive series of eight patients with massive PE. We also discuss the possible role of mechanical PE thrombectomy. Eight consecutive patients with acute massive PE, with or without hemodynamic impairment, were treated with mechanical thrombectomy. We used a modified 7-fr hydrolyzer catheter. The treatment was combined with systemic fibrinolysis. From the logistic and technical point we encountered no problems. All patients showed significant improvement while still in the angiography suite. There were no bleeding complications and no other events related to the procedure. Despite the clinical improvement, one patient died shortly after the procedure from cardiac failure. In all patients there was an acute increase in PO2 to normal values. Only a mean of about 50% of all local thrombus could be removed (range 30-80%). The mean PAP pre-intervention decreased only minimally from 42.5 mmHg to 36.3 mmHg post-intervention (not significant). In three patients, the PAP continues to remain high at follow-up. The most important feature of mechanical thrombectomy for massive PE is the immediate improvement of the cardiac output, PO2, and clinical situation, overcoming the first critical hours after massive PE. The amount of thrombus reduction seems not to be an important parameter.