ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of multidetector computed tomography with water filling (Hydro-MDCT) in the T-staging of patients with oesophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were 131 consecutive patients who were preoperatively and prospectively examined in the prone position on arterial phase contrast-enhanced MDCT, after ingestion of 1,000-1,500 ml tap water and effervescent granules. Two readers staged the local tumour growth (T-staging) independently. They assessed tumour location, size, presence of stenosis, and morphology of the outer border of the oesophageal wall and perioesophageal fat planes on CT. CT findings were compared with histopathological results from resected specimens. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. RESULTS: Both readers obtained a high sensitivity of 95% and a high positive predictive value of 96%. Accurate local staging was achieved in 76.3% and 68.7% for readers 1 and 2, respectively. Inter-reader agreement was excellent (weighted κ value of 0.93 and un-weighted κ of 0.89). CONCLUSION: Using the hydro-technique and applying specific assessment criteria, MDCT appears to be an accurate, non-invasive diagnostic tool for local tumour staging of oesophageal cancer.
Subject(s)
Esophageal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Histological Techniques/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging/methods , Observer Variation , Postoperative Period , Preoperative Period , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
MRI has become the most important imaging modality for detecting and characterizing focal liver lesions. The introduction of high-field-strengths, such as 3 Tesla MR imaging, in combination with the parallel imaging technique, has led to significant improvements in spatial and temporal resolution and has established this technique as a valuable asset in daily clinical practice. New techniques, such as diffusion-weighted imaging, may improve MR imaging sensitivity and specificity in the diagnostic workup of focal liver lesions. The tailored administration of various nonspecific and liver-specific contrast agents enables clinicians to increase the detection rate and improve the characterization of the different focal liver lesions. This article describes the usefulness of these imaging techniques in detecting and characterizing the most common benign focal liver lesions.