Diffuse Infiltrative Splenic Lymphoma: Diagnostic Efficacy of Arterial-Phase CT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of obliteration of normal heterogeneous enhancement of the spleen (ONHES) on arterial phase (AP) computed tomography (CT) images in diffuse infiltrative splenic lymphoma (DISL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients with lymphoma who had undergone two-phase (arterial and portal venous) abdominal CT were included in this study. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of ONHES on AP CT in diagnosing DISL. Two observers evaluated ONHES on AP CT using the 5-point confidence level and assessed the presence or absence of subjective splenomegaly on axial CT images. Another two observers measured the splenic index as proposed by objective CT criteria. Statistical analysis included interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance of CT findings. RESULTS: Eleven of the 136 patients with lymphoma had DISL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ONHES (0.948 for observer 1 and 0.922 for observer 2) was superior to that of the splenic index (0.872 for observer 3 and 0.877 for observer 4), but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The diagnostic performance of ONHES in conjunction with subjective splenomegaly showed higher diagnostic performance, as compared with subjective splenomegaly alone (accuracy: 100% and 85.3% for observer 1, 98.5% and 87.5% for observer 2; positive predictive value: 100% and 35.5% for observer 1, 90.9% and 39.3% for observer 2, respectively). CONCLUSION: Obliteration of normal heterogeneous enhancement of the spleen in conjunction with subjective splenomegaly can improve the diagnostic performance for DISL. Our results suggest that ONHES on AP CT images could be useful as an adjunctive diagnostic indicator of DISL in patients with lymphoma.

Usefulness of Doppler Parameter in Patients with Renal Transplantation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of Doppler parameters in transplanted kidney function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Doppler parameters, including resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured in the interlobar artery of 55 transplant recipients. Patients were grouped according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR): Group A (GFR or = 30 ml / min / 1.73 m2, n = 28). Doppler parameters were compared between groups and correlated with the GFR. RESULTS: GFR (40.1 +/- 26.9) showed a significant negative correlation with RI (0.69 +/- .08) (p = .002, r = -.414). RI (0.72 vs. 0.67), PI (1.42 vs. 1.23), and EDV (10.5 vs. 15.3) differed significantly between groups (p < .05), however, PSV was not (36.9 vs. 47.1). Patients in group A (n = 11) with a lower RI than the mean had significantly lower PSV (31.7 vs. 45.1; p = .027) and EDV (11.1 vs. 16.7; p = .017), compared with such patients in group B (n = 21). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler parameters are useful for evaluation of function of transplanted kidney. Even if the RI is normal, PSV and EDV may be used as hemodynamic indicators.