ABSTRACT
Even though plasma paraquat (PQ) levels have known to be an informative predictor, many patients succumb at low PQ levels in acute PQ intoxication. This study was designed to see whether the high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the lungs would be a predictive measure in acute PQ intoxication. HRCT of the lungs was obtained from 119 patients with acute PQ intoxication on 7 days after PQ ingestion. The areas with ground glass opacities (GGOs) were evaluated at five levels with the area measurement tool of the picture archiving and communication systems. Among 119 patients, 102 survived and 17 died. The plasma PQ levels were significantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (2.6+/-4.0 microgram/mL vs. 0.2+/-0.4 microgram/mL, P=0.02). The area with GGOs was 2.0+/-6.4% in the survivors and 73.0+/- 29.9% in the non-survivors (P<0.001). No patients survived when the area with GGOs was more than 40% but all of the patients survived when the area affected by GGOs was less than 20%. In conclusion, the area of GGOs is a useful predictor of survival in acute PQ intoxication, especially in patients with low plasma PQ levels.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Acute Disease , Diagnosis, Differential , Herbicides/blood , Lung Injury/chemically induced , Paraquat/blood , Predictive Value of Tests , Retrospective Studies , Survivors , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the application of CT lamellar scanning and HRCT technique in thoracic dis- eases. Methods Sixty cases were lamellar scanned (lamella thick 2mm～5mm) with double helix CT machine, and twenty cases were scanned by HRCT technique. Results Thirty cases pulmonary carcinoma,sixteen pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and tuberculoma, four metastatic tumor (MT),eight thoracic inflammation, five interstitial pneumonia , five inflammatory pseudotumor, eight bronchiectasis and four primary mediastinal tumor were proved after CT scanning. Conclusion Minute focus can be found by thoracic lamellar scanning. The specific character of focus can be showed in HRCT technique. The resolution of focus can be raised.