Influence of diffusion weighted imaging and contrast enhanced T1 sequences on the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance enterography for Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the additional diagnostic benefit of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and contrast enhanced (CE) images during MR enterography (MRE) of Crohn's disease. METHODS: Datasets from 73 patients (mean age 32; 40 male) (28 new-diagnosis, 45 relapsed) were read independently by two radiologists selected from a pool of 13. Radiologists interpreted datasets using three sequential sequence blocks: (1) T2 weighted and steady state free precession gradient echo (SSFP) images alone (T2^); (2) T2 weighted and SSFP images with DWI (T2 + DWI^) and; (3) T2 weighted images, SSFP, DWI and post-contrast enhanced (CE) T1 images (T2 + DWI + CE^), documenting presence, location, and activity of small bowel disease. For each sequence block, sensitivity and specificity (readers combined) was calculated against an outcome-based construct reference standard. RESULTS: 59/73 patients had small bowel disease. Per-patient sensitivity for disease detection was essentially identical (80 % [95 % CI 72, 86], 81 % [73,87], and 79 % [71,86] for T2^, T2 + DWI^and T2 + DWI + CE^respectively). Specificity was identical (82 % [64 to 92]). Per patient sensitivity for disease extent was 56 % (47,65), 56 % (47,65) and 52 % (43 to 61) respectively, and specificity was 82 % (64 to 92) for all blocks. Sensitivity for active disease was 97 % (90,99), 97 % (90,99) and 98 % (92,99), and specificity was also comparable between all sequence combination reads. Results were consistent across segments and newly diagnosed/relapse patients. CONCLUSION: There is no additional diagnostic benefit of adding either DWI or CE to T2 FSE and SSFP sequences for evaluating small bowel Crohn's disease, suggesting MRE protocols can be simplified safely.

Interobserver variation in the interpretation of magnetic resonance enterography in Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate interobserver variability for diagnosis of disease presence and extent of small bowel and colonic Crohn's disease using MR enterography (MRE). METHODS: Data from the first 73 consecutive patients (mean age 32, 33F, 28 new diagnosis, 45 suspected relapse) recruited to a multicentre, prospective diagnostic accuracy trial evaluating MRE for small bowel Crohn's disease were each read independently by three (from a pool of 20) radiologists. Radiologists documented presence and segmental location of small bowel Crohn's disease and recorded morphological mural/extramural parameters for involved segments. Per patient percentage agreement for disease presence and extent were calculated against an outcome-based construct reference standard (averaged between pairs of readers). Prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted κ (PABAK) was calculated. RESULTS: Agreement for small bowel disease presence for new diagnosis/relapsed patients was 68%(κ = 0.36)/ 78% (κ = 0.56) and 43%(κ = 0.14)/ 53% for disease extent (κ = 0.07), respectively. For disease presence, all three radiologists agreed correctly with the reference standard in 41/59 (69%) of patients with small bowel involvement, and in 8/14 (57%) cases of without small bowel disease. Agreement was highest for multisegment disease, greater than 5 cm in length, with mural thickness>6 mm, and increased mural T2 signal. Agreement for colonic disease presence was 61% (κ = 0.21 fair agreement) for new diagnosis/ 60% (κ = 0.20, slight agreement) for relapsed patients. CONCLUSION: There is a reasonable agreement between radiologists for small bowel disease presence using MRE for newly diagnosed Crohn's disease, and patients with suspected relapse, respectively. Agreement is lower for disease extent. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: There is reasonable agreement between radiologists for small bowel disease presence using MRE for newly diagnosed (68%) Crohn's disease, and patients with suspected relapse (78%). Agreement is lower for disease extent (43% new diagnosis and 53% suspected relapse).

CT colonography for surveillance of patients with colorectal cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic efficacy.

PURPOSE: To review primary research evidence investigating performance of CT colonography for colorectal cancer surveillance. The financial impact of using CT colonography for surveillance was also estimated. METHODS: We identified primary studies of CT colonography for surveillance of colorectal cancer patients. A summary ROC curve was constructed. Inter-study heterogeneity was explored using the I2 value. Financial impact was estimated for a theoretical cohort of patients, based on Cancer Research UK statistics. RESULTS: Seven studies provided data on 880 patients. Five of seven studies (765 patients) were included for qualitative analysis. Sensitivity of CT colonography for detection of anastomotic recurrence was 95 % (95 % CI 62 - 100), specificity 100 % (95 % CI 75 - 100) and sensitivity for metachronous cancers was 100 %. No statistical heterogeneity was detected (I2 = 0 %). We estimated that CT colonography as a 'single test' alternative to colonoscopy and standard CT for surveillance would potentially save €20,785,232 (£14,803,404) for an annual cohort of UK patients. CONCLUSION: CT colonography compares favourably to colonoscopy for detection of anastomotic recurrence and metachronous colorectal cancer, and appears financially beneficial. These findings should be considered alongside limitations of small patient numbers and high clinical heterogeneity between studies. KEY POINTS: • CT colonography compares favourably to colonoscopy/standard CT for colorectal cancer surveillance. • CT colonography offers single-test luminal, serosal and extra-colonic assessment. • CT colonography is a potentially cost-saving alternative to standard surveillance protocols.

A Role for Tumor Volume Assessment in Resectable Esophageal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis, and many patients undergoing surgery have a low chance of cure. Imaging studies suggest that tumor volume is prognostic. The study aimed to evaluate pathological tumor volume (PTV) as a prognostic variable in esophageal cancer. METHODS: This single-center cohort study included 283 patients who underwent esophageal cancer resections between 2000 and 2012. PTVs were obtained from pathological measurements using a validated volume formula. The prognostic value of PTV was analyzed using multivariable regression models, adjusting for age, tumor grade, tumor (T) stage, nodal stage, lymphovascular invasion, resection margin, resection type, and chemotherapy response, which provided hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Primary outcomes were time to death and time to recurrence. Secondary outcomes were margin involvement and lymph node positivity. Correlation analysis was performed between imaging and PTVs. RESULTS: On unadjusted analysis, increasing PTV was associated with worse overall mortality (HR 2.30, 95 % CI 1.41-3.73) and disease recurrence (HR 1.87, 95 % CI 1.14-3.07). Adjusted analysis demonstrated worse overall mortality with increasing PTV but reached significance in only one subgroup (HR 1.70, 95 % CI 1.09-2.38). PTV was an independent predictor of margin involvement (OR 2.28, 95 % CI 1.02-5.13) and lymph node-positive status (OR 2.77, 95 % CI 1.23-6.28). Correlation analyses demonstrated significant positive correlation between computed tomography (CT) software and formula tumor volumes (r = 0.927, p < 0.0001), CT and positron emission tomography tumor volumes (r = 0.547, p < 0.0001), and CT and PTVs (r = 0.310, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume may predict survival, margin status, and lymph node positivity after surgery for esophageal cancer.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is a risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency due to frequent involvement of the terminal ileum. Conventional screening for B12 deficiency with serum B12 is relatively insensitive and measures total B12 concentration, of which a minority is present in a biologically active form. Holotranscobalamin (holoTC) combined with methylmalonic acid (MMA) is believed to be more accurate in identifying impaired B12 status. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for B12 deficiency using holoTC supported by MMA among patients with CD. METHODS: We performed a single-center service evaluation of 381 patients with CD who underwent B12 assessment (holoTC/MMA) and compared them with 141 patients with ulcerative colitis. Eighty-nine patients with CD underwent paired serum B12 and holoTC. Among patients with CD, risk factors including terminal ileal resection length, ileal inflammation on endoscopy, and disease characteristics on magnetic resonance imaging were recorded. RESULTS: Prevalence of B12 deficiency among patients with CD was 33% compared with 16% in ulcerative colitis (P < 0.0001). In 89 patients who underwent paired tests, conventional testing identified B12 deficiency in 5% of patients with CD, which increased to 32% using holoTC/MMA. Independent risk factors for B12 deficiency were ileal resection length ≤20 cm (odds ratio: 3.0, 95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.0, P = 0.002) and >20 cm (odds ratio: 6.7, 95% confidence interval, 3.0-14.7, P < 0.0001) and ileal inflammation (odds ratio: 3.9, 95% confidence interval, 2.2-6.9, P < 0.0001). On magnetic resonance imaging, active terminal ileal inflammation (P = 0.02) and an increased disease burden (≥1 skip lesion, P = 0.01 and prestenotic dilatation >3 cm, P = 0.01) were associated with B12 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in patients with CD. holoTC supported by MMA identifies patients with B12 deficiency considered replete on conventional testing.