ABSTRACT
Background: Tissue harmonic imaging (THI) is a newer method that can diagnose and differentiate various types of pancreatic masses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tissue harmonic imaging for detection and differentiation of pancreatic masses and its comparison with conventional B-mode ultrasound, biphasic CECT abdomen and tissue diagnosis. Methods: 31 patients who presented with a suspicion of pancreatic mass clinically or radiologically were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent both conventional B-mode ultrasound abdomen and THI. Biphasic CECT abdomen was done for diagnostic reference. Pancreatic lesions were documented regarding site, size, internal architecture, and status of peri-pancreatic vessels. The USG diagnosis was compared with biphasic CECT and tissue diagnosis. Results: There was statistically significant difference between THI and conventional B-mode USG in visualization of image quality (p<0.001) and solid-cystic differentiation (SCD) (p=0.001). Taking tissue diagnosis as the standard, out of the 25 (80.6%) cases which were diagnosed as malignant on USG and biphasic CECT, 18(72%) cases were confirmed to be malignant on tissue diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference between biphasic CECT and USG (conventional B-mode and THI) in the diagnosis of benign and malignant masses in pancreas (p=1). Conclusions: THI is superior to conventional B-mode USG in the Sonography of pancreatic masses because THI has better overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, visualization of lesion margin and fluid–solid differentiation. It should be routinely utilized as part of the diagnostic workup of patients with pancreatic masses.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the role of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) venography in the evaluation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), its accuracy as compared to digital subtraction venography (DSV) and the potential of this technique to replace venography for the defi nitive diagnosis of BCS. Methods Twenty-fi ve suspected cases of BCS were prospectively enrolled in this study and underwent both MDCT venography and DSV. Two observers independently evaluated and graded both the axial and reformatted MDCT images for the presence, site, degree and length of IVC narrowing. The collateral pathways and the hepatic veins were also assessed in all cases. The degree of correlation between MDCT venography and DSV was expressed using Spearman’s rank correlation coeffi cient (Rs). Results There was excellent correlation between MDCT venography and DSV in predicting the presence of stenosis and in grading the degree and length of IVC stenosis (Rs=0.58, p<0.05). Four patients had presence of a web within the IVC and the reconstructed MDCT venography images detected the fl ap of the membrane in all of them. In three cases of complete obstruction the cranial extent of the obstruction could be determined on the reconstructed MDCT venography images, while double catheter access through the femoral and jugular routes was needed to determine the same on DSV. MDCT venography was signifi cantly more informative in depicting the presence and site of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic collaterals as compared to DSV. Conclusion MDCT venography, in the present study, accurately provided information of both conventional CT and IVCgraphy, in the evaluation of the IVC in a non-invasive way. It helped overcome the shortcomings of CT in the evaluation of IVC and was better than DSV for the evaluation of collaterals, calcifi cation and complete IVC obstruction. We suggest that CT venography can be used as a frontline investigation for the diagnosis of IVC obstruction and for planning surgery or percutaneous endovascular intervention.