CT-guided biopsies: quality, complications and impact on treatment: a retrospective initial quality control.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the quality and complications of CT-guided biopsies and their impact on treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 265 CT-guided interventions performed during a 6-month period were extracted by digital database query. These included 127 CT-guided biopsies, which were classified by patient age, organ/body area, histopathological biopsy diagnosis, complications, and performing physician. RESULTS: In 51 % of cases (65 / 127), CT-guided biopsies led to a malignant diagnosis and a change in the patient's treatment. Retrospectively, complications were to be expected in a range of 12 - 26 %, given a 95 % confidence interval. In terms of organ/body area, most complications occurred in lung biopsies (23 / 56; 41 %). 80 % of CT-guided biopsies were performed without complications. 2 of the 11 physicians performed 66 % of all biopsies (84 / 127) and had significantly fewer complications than the others. Patient age was a statistically significant factor for complications (p < 0.018) as well as for a malignant biopsy diagnosis (p < 0.009). CONCLUSION: Our initial quality control assessment suggests that frequent use of CT-guided biopsy by the performing physician rather than the general level of experience is associated with fewer complications for patients. Age is a significant factor for complications of CT-guided biopsies, thus leading to an increased risk/benefit ratio. As expected, age also significantly increases the risk of a malignant biopsy result. Complications and malignant biopsy results were not significantly associated. CT-guided biopsies triggered a change in treatment in over 50 % of cases.

Computer-aided pulmonary nodule detection - performance of two CAD systems at different CT dose levels.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of dose reduction on the performance of computer-aided lung nodule detection systems (CAD) of two manufacturers by comparing respective CAD results on ultra-low-dose computed tomography (ULD-CT) and standard dose CT (SD-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) data sets of 26 patients (13 male and 13 female, patients 31 - 74 years old) were retrospectively selected for CAD analysis. Indication for CT examination was staging of a known primary malignancy or suspected pulmonary malignancy. CT images were consecutively acquired at 5 mAs (ULD-CT) and 75 mAs (SD-CT) with 120 kV tube voltage (1 mm slice thickness). The standard of reference was determined by three experienced readers in consensus. CAD reading algorithms (pre-commercial CAD system, Philips, Netherlands: CAD-1; LungCARE, Siemens, Germany: CAD-2) were applied to the CT data sets. RESULTS: Consensus reading identified 253 nodules on SD-CT and ULD-CT. Nodules ranged in diameter between 2 and 41 mm (mean diameter 4.8 mm). Detection rates were recorded with 72 % and 62 % (CAD-1 vs. CAD-2) for SD-CT and with 73 % and 56 % for ULD-CT. Median false positive rates per patient were calculated with 6 and 5 (CAD-1 vs. CAD-2) for SD-CT and with 8 and 3 for ULD-CT. After separate statistical analysis of nodules with diameters of 5 mm and greater, the detection rates increased to 83 % and 61 % for SD-CT and to 89 % and 67 % for ULD-CT (CAD-1 vs. CAD-2). For both CAD systems there were no significant differences between the detection rates for standard and ultra-low-dose data sets (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dose reduction of the underlying CT scan did not significantly influence nodule detection performance of the tested CAD systems.

Linear and volume measurements of pulmonary nodules at different CT dose levels - intrascan and interscan analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the interobserver variability of the unidimensional diameter and volume measurements of pulmonary nodules in an intrascan and interscan analysis using semi-automated segmentation software on ultra-low-dose computed tomography (ULD-CT) and standard dose CT (SD-CT) data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 33 patients with pulmonary nodules, two chest multi-slice CT (MSCT) datasets (1 mm slice thickness; 20 % reconstruction overlap) had been consecutively acquired with an ultra-low dose (120 kV, 5 mAs) and standard dose technique (120 kV, 75 mAs). MSCT data was retrospectively analyzed using the segmentation software OncoTREAT (MeVis, Bremen, Germany, version 1.3). The volume of 229 solid pulmonary nodules included in the analysis as well as the largest diameter according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors) were measured by two radiologists. Interobserver variability was calculated and SD-CT and ULD-CT data compared in an intrascan and interscan analysis. RESULTS: The median nodule diameter (n = 229 nodules) was registered with 8.2 mm (range: 2.8 to 43.6 mm, mean: 10.8 mm). The nodule volume ranged between 0.01 and 49.1 ml (median 0.1 ml, mean 1.5 ml). With respect to interobserver variability, the intrascan analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between ULD-CT and SD-CT with broader limits of agreement for relative differences of RECIST measurements (-31.0 % + 27.0 % mean -2.0 % for SD-CT; -27.0 % + 38.6 %, mean 5.8 % for ULD-CT) than for volume measurements (-9.4 %, 8.0 %, mean 0.7 % for SD-CT; -13 %, 13 %, mean 0.0 % for ULD-CT). The interscan analysis showed broadened 95 % confidence intervals for volume measurements (-26.5 % 29.1 % mean 1.3 %, and -25.2 %, 29.6 %, mean 2.2 %) but yielded comparable limits of agreement for RECIST measurements. CONCLUSION: The variability of nodule volumetry assessed by semi-automated segmentation software as well as nodule size determination by RECIST appears to be independent of the acquisition dose in the CT source dataset. This is particularly important regarding size determination of pulmonary nodules in screening trials using low-dose CT data for follow-up imaging.

[Whole-body MR angiography: comparison of two protocols for contrast media injection]. / Ganzkörper-MR-Angiographie: Vergleich von zwei Protokollen zur Kontrastmittelinjektion.

PURPOSE: To compare two injection strategies for contrast media injection in whole-body MR angiography quantitatively and qualitatively with regard to contrast and image quality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 patients were examined at 1.5 Tesla using either a single injection protocol or a double injection protocol with two separate bolus injections. Vessel regions I (supraaortic/thoracic), II (abdominal/pelvic), III (upper legs) and IV (lower legs) were examined in the following order: single injection: I, II, III, IV, double injection: I and IV after the first injection, II and III after the second bolus injection. Quantitative evaluation: SI measurements were carried out in 2 arteries per region. Contrast values were calculated. Qualitative evaluation: Evaluation of regions I-IV regarding vessel contrast, venous overlay and image quality on a five-point scale by two reviewers in consensus. The Mann-Whitney-U test was used to test the differences for significance. RESULTS: Quantitative evaluation: Using the double injection protocol, significantly higher contrast values in regions I and II and significantly lower contrast values in the subregions IIIa (upper part of III) and IVb (lower part of IV) were obtained (p < 0.05). The mean contrast values in subregions IIIb (lower part of III) and IVa (upper part of IV) were lower using the double injection protocol, but not significantly. Qualitative evaluation: Using the double injection protocol, region II was rated significantly higher (mean ratings: 3.55, 3.45 and 3.5 versus 2.7, 2.5 and 2.55; p < 0.05) and region III significantly lower (mean ratings: 3.1, 2, 2.5 versus 3.9, 3.1 and 3.55; p < 0.05) for all three examined criteria. When using the double injection protocol, ratings were significantly lower in region IV regarding vessel contrast and image quality (mean ratings: 2.4 and 2.15 versus 3.45 and 3.15; p < 0.05). The ratings regarding venous overlay in region IV showed no significant differences (mean ratings: 2.15 versus 2.75; p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Due to the better results in the supraaortic/thoracic and abdominal/pelvic regions, the double injection protocol is preferred. However, both protocols require further improvement.

Complex genital malformation in a female with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging.

This is a case of complex genital malformation in a young patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings included ostium of the vagina into the urethra (common urogenital opening), prostate-like tissue surrounding the urethra, and hyperplasia of the left adrenal gland. The report provides information on the clinical findings, the MRI examination, including the applied sequences and the MR findings, and gives an overview of the disease pattern and its frequency of occurrence.

[Diffusion-weighted MRI--a new parameter for advanced rectal carcinoma?]. / Diffusionsgewichtete Magnetresonanztomographie--Ein neuer Prognoseparameter beim fortgeschrittenen Rektumkarzinom?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on therapy outcome of combined chemoradiation in patients with primary carcinoma of the rectum. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Prior to standardized, combined, neoadjuvant chemoradiation, 16 patients with primary carcinoma of the rectum (cT3) were examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diffusion-weighted spin echo echo-planar images (SE-EPI) and contrast-enhanced T 1 -weighted spin echo (SE) images at 1.5 Tesla were obtained. The mean ADC of the tumor region was calculated and correlated with the therapy outcome substantiated by postsurgical histopathologic staging. RESULTS: Tumor down-staging (pT0-2) occurred in 9 patients (therapy responders) and no down-staging (pT3) in 7 patients (therapy non-responders). The mean ADC measured 0.476 +/- 0.114 x 10(-3) mm 2/s in the responder group and 0.703 +/- 0.085 x 10(-3) mm 2/s in the non-responder group. Comparison of the mean ADC between the groups reached statistical significance (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The mean ADC might be a new quantitative parameter to predict therapy outcome of combined preoperative chemoradiation in patients with primary carcinoma of the rectum.