Iodine density mapping for the diagnosis of acute bowel ischemia using fast kV-switching dual-energy CT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of a supplementary color ramped iodine density map compared to virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) at 74 keV in the diagnosis of acute bowel ischemia (ABI). METHODS: Data for this study were prospectively gathered and retrospectively evaluated. Patients referred to the Department of Diagnostic Radiology between October 2020 and August 2022 on the suspicion of ABI and underwent surgery < 12 h following fast kV-switching venous phase abdominal dual-energy CT (DECT) were consecutively included. Images were evaluated by two board-certified radiologists and two radiology residents. First round included only 74 keV VMIs resembling conventional 120 kVp images, and the second round included a supplementary iodine density map. Readers were asked to register presence of ABI as well as their confidence in their diagnosis based on a 5-point Likert scale. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each observer with the surgical findings as the gold-standard. McNemar's and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare registrations and diagnostic confidence across assessment rounds. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients resulting in 31 DECT scans were included. Fourteen cases of ischemic/necrotic bowel were reported following surgery. Sensitivity and NPV were decreased with the use of supplementary iodine map images compared to 120 kVp-like images without supplementary iodine map images for three of four observers (round 1 range: 71.4-92.9% and 78.0-94.8%; round 2 range: 57.1-78.6% and 70.1-83.3%, respectively), while specificity and PPV were increased for three of four observers (round 1 range: 64.7-94.1% and 67.4-93.1%; round 2 range: 88.2-94.1% and 73.8-91.1%, respectively). However, no significant difference in ABI diagnosis or diagnostic confidence was found (p-value range: 0.07-1.00 and 0.23-0.58, respectively). CONCLUSION: No significant difference for the diagnosis of ABI was found using supplementary iodine mapping. Our study may suggest a trend of increased specificity and decreased sensitivity, hence, the use of supplementary iodine mapping should be carefully considered.

[Alternative food fortification during Christmas time]. / Alternative berigede fødevarer i juletiden.

Alcohol consumption is known to increase during Christmas time and excessive alcohol consumption has been proven to be associated with gastrointestinal bleeding and certain vitamin deficiencies. While food fortification is well known and practiced in most countries, food or beverages fortified with medicine has never been practiced on a wider scale, just as alcohol rarely is fortified. In this article it is speculated how alcohol fortified with proton pump inhibitor and vitamin B would effect alcohol-related morbidity.

[Magnetic resonance colonography: a new diagnostic tool]. / Magnetisk resonans-kolografi: et nyt diagnostisk vaerktøj.

Magnetic resonance colonography (MR colonography) is a three-dimensional imaging of the colon. Data postprocessing also allows for virtual colonoscopy, depicting the intraluminal morphology. Acquisition and postprocessing of high-resolution images require a state-of the-art modern MR scanner and a workstation. Regarding patient preparation, a bowel cleansing is necessary. The results of cancer screening have shown MR colonography to be superior to the traditional double-contrast barium enema. In inflammatory bowel disease, MR colonography can be used to assess disease activity, including spreading.