ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo analyze the value of grey-scale reversed T1-weighted （rT1） MRI in the detection of structural lesions of the sacroiliac joint （SIJ） in patients with axial spondyloarthritis （ax-SpA）. MethodsFifty-two ax-SpA patients who underwent both MRI and CT in our hospital within a week from February 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively included. Both sacral and iliac side of each SIJ on oblique coronal images were divided into anterior， middle and posterior portion. Two radiologists reviewed independently three groups of MRI including T1-weighted imaging （T1WI）， rT1 and T1WI + rT1 images to evaluate the structural lesions like erosions， sclerosis and joint space changes in each of the 6 regions of the SIJ. One of the radiologist did the evaluation again one month later. CT images were scored for lesions by a third radiologist and served as the reference standard. Intra-class correlation coefficients （ICC） were calculated to test the inter- and intra-reader agreement for the assessment of SIJ lesions. A Friedman test was performed to compare the lesion results of MRI and CT image findings. We examined the diagnostic performance ［accuracy， sensitivity （SE） and specificity］ of different groups of MRI in the detection of lesions by using diagnostic test. A McNemar test was used to compare the differences of three groups of MRI findings. ResultsCT showed erosions in 71 joints， sclerosis in 65 and joint space changes in 53. Good inter-and intra-reader agreements were found in three groups of MRI images for the assessment of lesions， with the best agreement in T1WI + rT1. There were no difference between T1WI + rT1 and CT for the assessment of all lesions， nor between rT1 and CT for the assessment of erosions and joint space changes （P>0.05）. T1WI + rT1 yielded better accuracy and SE than T1WI in detection of all lesions （Accuracy erosions： 90.3% vs 76. 9%； SE erosions： 91.6% vs 76.1%； Accuracy sclerosis： 89.4% vs 80.8%； SE sclerosis： 84.6% vs 73.9%； Accuracy joint space changes： 86.5% vs 73.1%； SE joint space changes： 84.9% vs 60.4%； P<0.05）. rT1 yielded better accuracy and SE than T1WI in detection of erosions and joint space changes （Accuracy erosions： 87.5% vs 76.9%； SE erosions： 88.7% vs 76.1%； Accuracy joint space changes： 85.6% vs 73.1%； SE joint space changes： 83.0% vs 60.4%； P<0.05）. ConclusionsIn the detection of SIJ structural lesions in ax-SpA， rT1 improves the diagnostic performance and T1WI + rT1 is more superior to others.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the value of volume rendering (VR) interpretation in assessing the growth of pulmonary nodular ground-glass opacity (nGGO). A total of 47 nGGOs (average size, 9.5 mm; range, 5.7-20.6 mm) were observed by CT scanning at different time under identical parameter settings. The growth of nGGO was analyzed by three radiologists by comparing the thin slice (TS) CT images of initial and repeat scans with side-by-side cine mode. One week later synchronized VR images of the two scans were compared by side-by-side cine mode to evaluate the nGGO growth. The nodule growth was rated on a 5-degree scale: notable growth, slight growth, dubious growth, stagnant growth, shrinkage. Growth standard was defined as: Density increase ≥ 30 HU and (or) diameter increase (by 20% in nodules ≥10 mm, 30% in nodules of 5-9 mm). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was performed. The results showed that 32 nGGOs met the growth criteria (29 nGGOs showed an increase in density; 1 nGGO showed an increase in diameter; 2 nGGOs showed an increase in both diameter and density). Area under ROC curve revealed that the performance with VR interpretation was better than that with TS interpretation (P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.05 for observers A, B and C respectively). Consistency between different observers was excellent with both VR interpretation (κ=0.89 for observers A&C, A&B, B&C) and TS interpretation (κ=0.71 for A&B, κ=0.68 for A&C, κ= 0.74 for B&C), but time spending was less with VR interpretation than with TS interpretation (P<0.0001, P<0.0001 and P<0.05 for observers A, B and C, respectively). It was concluded that VR is a useful technique for evaluating the growth of nGGO.
ABSTRACT
0bjective To investigate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels or bronchi by 16-row muhislice computed tomography(MSCT)and analyze the related factors.Methods Fifty-four patients with peripheral lung cancer confirmed pathologically underwent contrast-erdaanced MSC TI Multiplanar reformation(MPR)and maximum intensity projection(MIP)in all patients were used to demonstrate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels,bronchi.The relationships were categorized five types:Type 1,erupted at the edge of nodule. Type 2,erupted at the center of nodule.Type 3,penetrated through the nodule.Type 4,contacting the nodule but stretched or encased.Type 5,contacting the nodule but smoothly compressed.The pathology type,stage,size,density and location of the peripheral lung cancer were recorded and the relationships with five types were evaluated by using Chi-square test and correlation analysis.Results (1)Tumor-bronchi relationship:type 1(33,61.1%)was more often seen in≥2.0 cm and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2(14,25.9%)was often seen in<2.0 am and part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(2)Tumor-PA relationship:Type 1 was more often seen in≥2.0 am and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2 was often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(3)Tumor-PV relationship:type 4 was the most common type(29,53.7%).Type 2(13,24.1%)was more often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions.(4)Tumor-bronchi relationship and tumor-PA relationship had a positive correlation(r=0.5265,P<0.01).Conclusions MSCT can demonstrate the relations between the peripheral lung cancer and bronchi.PA and PV.It is useful for the differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of the lung csncer.