Prognostic Value of Computed Tomography-Detected Extramural Venous Invasion to Predict Disease-Free Survival in Patients With Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between the computed tomography-detected extramural venous invasion (ctEMVI) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with gastric cancer using pathologic lymphovascular invasion as a reference standard. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 153 patients with gastric cancer who underwent computed tomography during 1 year. Differences in pathological findings between the ctEMVI-positive and ctEMVI-negative groups were analyzed. Disease-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors affecting DFS were analyzed with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The ctEMVI-positive group was correlated more with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.008). The 1- and 2-year DFS rates were 92% and 80%, respectively, in the ctEMVI-negative group, but 77% and 54%, respectively, in the ctEMVI-positive group. A multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size, ctEMVI, and pathological stage remained associated with DFS (Ps = 0.037, 0.015, and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The ctEMVI was an independent prognostic factor for worse DFS in patients with gastric cancer.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the differentiation of endometriomas from hemorrhagic cysts in the ovary.

BACKGROUND: The classic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature of endometriomas is the shading sign, which is characterized by T2-shortening in ovarian cystic lesions that are hyperintense on T1-weighted images. The shading sign is infrequently observed in hemorrhagic ovarian cysts. PURPOSE: To investigate the value of MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for distinguishing endometriomas from hemorrhagic cysts in the ovary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 91 patients with 98 ovarian endometriomas and 21 hemorrhagic ovarian cysts that were confirmed pathologically, who had undergone MRI with DWI. Two radiologists compared MRI features, including size, bilaterality, multilocularity, the shading sign, the ovarian lesion/muscle signal intensity ratio at T2-weighted images, and T2 dark spots, between endometriomas and hemorrhagic cysts. We also compared the mean ADC value between endometriomas and hemorrhagic cysts, and determined the optimal cutoff ADC value for differentiating endometriomas from hemorrhagic cysts. RESULTS: The size and mean ADC values were significantly different between endometriomas and hemorrhagic cysts. The mean ADC values of endometriomas and hemorrhagic cysts were 1.06 ± 0.38 × 10 (-3) mm(2)/s and 0.73 ± 0.29 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively (P < 0.002). The optimal cutoff ADC value for differentiating endometriomas from hemorrhagic cysts was 0.849 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s (sensitivity, 77.6%; specificity, 76.2%). CONCLUSION: The addition of DWI could help in differentiating endometriomas from hemorrhagic cysts in the ovary, when conventional MRI is challenging.

Inflammatory fibroid polyps of the gastrointestinal tract: a 14-year CT study at a single institution.

PURPOSE: To investigate the computed tomography (CT) features of pathology-proven inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFPs) in the gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: This retrospective series study included 27 patients with pathology-proven IFPs in the stomach (n = 16), small (n = 9), and large (n = 2) intestine, who underwent contrast-enhanced CT. Two radiologists reviewed the CT images of the patients to determine in consensus the long diameter, shape, margin, contour, and growth pattern of the lesions, the presence of an ulcer and overlying mucosal hyperenhancement, the lesion enhancement patterns including the homogeneity and the degree of contrast enhancement, and the presence of intussusception and obstruction. The CT results and clinical data of the gastric and intestinal lesions were compared. RESULTS: The IFPs typically manifested as well-defined (89%), round or ovoid (81%), slightly lobulated-contoured (70%) masses with a purely endoluminal growth pattern (96%) and an overlying mucosal hyperenhancement (67%). Lesion homogeneity and the degree of contrast enhancement varied. The intestinal IFPs were significantly larger (3.5 vs. 2 cm), more symptomatic (82% vs. 19%), and more frequently associated with intussusception (73% vs. 0%) and obstruction (46% vs. 6%) than the gastric lesions (p ≤ 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristic CT features of IFPs were well-defined, round or ovoid, lobulated-contoured, and endoluminal masses with overlying mucosal hyperenhancement and various enhancement patterns. IFP should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with a soft-tissue mass in the gastrointestinal tract, especially if a large endoluminal mass in the small intestine is accompanied by intussusception.

Septic liver: clinical relevance of early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver in patients with acute pyelonephritis.

BACKGROUND: CT scans of patients with febrile illness occasionally show hepatobiliary changes, although infection does not originate in the hepatobiliary system. These findings may cause radiologists and clinicians to misrecognize hepatobiliary diseases and initiate an inappropriate treatment. Thus, it is important to recognize hepatobiliary CT findings in cases of extrahepatobiliary infectious disease. PURPOSE: To evaluate extrarenal CT manifestations in patients with acute pyelonephritis and to determine the correlation between these extrarenal CT findings and septic liver based on laboratory parameters of sepsis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 157 retrospectively identified patients with confirmed acute pyelonephritis based on CT imaging and urine test, and who had also undergone multi-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scan. Two radiologists reviewed CT findings including early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver, periportal low density and gallbladder edema, which were correlated with laboratory data including liver function enzymes, albumin, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and results of a blood culture by using the Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Forty-six patients (29.3%) showed early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver, which was associated with increased C-reactive protein (P < 0.001), a positive blood culture (P < 0.005), and decreased albumin level (P < 0.002). The periportal low density and gallbladder wall edema were noted in 15 patients (9.6%) and six patients (3.8%), respectively. These two CT findings were significantly associated with only decreased albumin level (P < 0.001 and P < 0.040). CONCLUSION: Early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver in patients with acute pyelonephritis was significantly associated with increased CRP level, a positive blood culture and decreased albumin level, reflecting sepsis and sepsis-associated liver dysfunction, requiring rapid and appropriate intensive treatment.

Prediction of Late Postoperative Hemorrhage after Whipple Procedure Using Computed Tomography Performed During Early Postoperative Period.

Objective: Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is an uncommon but serious complication of Whipple surgery. To evaluate the radiologic features associated with late PPH at the first postoperative follow up CT, before bleeding. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the radiological features associated with late PPH at the first follow-up CT, two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the initial postoperative follow-up CT images of 151 patients, who had undergone Whipple surgery. Twenty patients showed PPH due to vascular problem or anastomotic ulcer. The research compared CT and clinical findings of 20 patients with late PPH and 131 patients without late PPH, including presence of suggestive feature of pancreatic fistula (presence of air at fluid along pancreaticojejunostomy [PJ]), abscess (fluid collection with an enhancing rim or gas), fluid along hepaticojejunostomy or PJ, the density of ascites, and the size of visible gastroduodenal artery (GDA) stump. Results: CT findings including pancreatic fistula, abscess, and large GDA stump were associated with PPH on univariate analysis (p ≤ 0.009). On multivariate analysis, radiological features suggestive of a pancreatic fistula, abscess, and a GDA stump > 4.45 mm were associated with PPH (p ≤ 0.031). Conclusion: Early postoperative CT findings including GDA stump size larger than 4.45 mm, fluid collection with an enhancing rim or gas, and air at fluid along PJ, could predict late PPH.

A case of epidermoid cyst in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen mimicking pancreas neoplasms: MRI with DWI.

We report on a rare case of an epidermoid cyst in an intrapancreatic accessory spleen (ECIAS) that presented as a cystic lesion in the tail of the pancreas, in a 21-year-old woman. ECIAS is very rare; thus, accurate diagnosis before surgery is difficult. When a wall within the lesion presents with similar imaging features to accessory splenic tissues on magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging, ECIAS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in the tail of the pancreas.

Pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of the fallopian tube mimicking tubal cancer: a radiological and pathological diagnostic challenge.

BACKGROUND: Pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of the fallopian tube is a rare, benign disease characterized by florid epithelial hyperplasia. CASE PRESENTATION: The authors present the history and details of a 22-year-old woman with bilateral pelvic masses and a highly elevated serum CA-125 level (1,056 U/ml). Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis showed bilateral adnexal complex cystic masses with a fusiform or sausage-like shape. Contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted images showed enhancement of papillary projections of the right adnexal mass and enhancement of an irregular thick wall on the left adnexal mass, suggestive of tubal cancer. Based on MRI and laboratory findings, laparotomy was performed under a putative preoperative diagnosis of tubal cancer. The final pathologic diagnosis was pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of tubal epithelium associated with acute and chronic salpingitis in both tubes. CONCLUSION: The authors report a rare case of pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of the fallopian tubes mimicking tubal cancer.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of gallbladder adenocarcinoma: analysis with emphasis on histologic grade.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for differentiating gallbladder adenocarcinoma from adenoma, and predicting histologic grades of gallbladder adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty-three gallbladder adenocarcinomas and 8 adenomas were included. We compared apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between adenocarcinoma and adenoma, and ADC values of gallbladder adenocarcinoma among the histologic grade. RESULTS: Gallbladder adenocarcinoma (1.041×10(-3)mm(2)/s) showed significantly lower ADC values than adenoma (2.039×10(-3)mm(2)/s) (P<.001). Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (1.290×10(-3)mm(2)/s) showed significantly higher ADC values than higher-grades (1.104×10(-3) and 0.915×10(-3)mm(2)/s in moderately- and poorly-differentiated, respectively) (P<.001). CONCLUSION: DWI can help to differentiate gallbladder adenocarcinoma from adenoma, and well-differentiated from higher-grade adenocarcinoma.

Development of differential criteria on tongue coating thickness in tongue diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop differential criteria on the tongue coating thickness (TCT), and especially propose the standard for judgment on thin and thick coating in tongue diagnosis. METHODS: Sixty oriental medical doctors evaluated the TCT (none, thin, and thick coating) in 50 realistic tongue photographs revealing from tip-to-root. The photographs were obtained with a digital tongue imaging system (DTIS) which measured the percentages of tongue coating on the tongue surface. We calculated the match rate which is the ratio in which the assessor's judgment is consistent with the decision standard on the tongue coating, and then 24 assessors (≥80% match rate) were selected to improve the reliability of the decision. The agreement level among 24 assessors was examined to assess the inter-rater reliability. The correlation between TCT judgments and DTIS-measured values was examined to ascertain the reliability of DTIS measurements. Finally, the assumption probability for the analysis of quantified characteristics of the tongue coating was calculated with a proportional odds model. RESULTS: The inter-rater reliability was assessed as moderate (κ=0.56) among 24 assessors, the level of correlation between TCT judgments and DTIS measurements in 24 assessors was relatively high (0.76, p<0.01). As the analysis of the proportional odds model, 29.06% was a cut-off point to separate no coating and thin coating, 63.51% was a cut-off point to separate thin and thick coating. CONCLUSIONS: The differential criteria for TCT in tongue diagnosis were suggested, and particularly thick coating is defined as one that tongue coating which tongue body is invisible, occupy approximately more than two third areas on the tongue surface.