CT Perfusion Imaging Can Predict Patients' Survival and Early Response to Transarterial Chemo-Lipiodol Infusion for Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancers

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the performance of computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTPI) in predicting the early response to transarterial chemo-lipiodol infusion (TACLI) and survival of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography perfusion imaging was performed before and 1 month after TACLI in 61 consecutive patients. Therapeutic response was evaluated on CT scans 1 month and 4 months after TACLI; the patients were classified as responders and non-responders based on 4-month CT scans after TACLI. The percentage change of CTPI parameters of target lesions were compared between responders and non-responders at 1 month after TACLI. The optimal parameter and cutoff value were determined. The patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to the cutoff value. The log-rank test was used to compare the survival rates of the 2 subgroups. RESULTS: Four-month images were obtained from 58 patients, of which 39.7% were responders and 60.3% were non-responders. The percentage change in hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) 1 month after TACLI was the optimal predicting parameter (p = 0.003). The best cut-off value was -21.5% and patients who exhibited a > or = 21.5% decrease in HAP had a significantly higher overall survival rate than those who exhibited a < 21.5% decrease (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Computed tomography perfusion imaging can predict the early response to TACLI and survival of patients with CRLM. The percentage change in HAP after TACLI with a cutoff value of -21.5% is the optimal predictor.

Diagnostic value of radionuclide imaging combined with routine CT in detecting hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia / 中华核医学杂志

Objective To investigate radionuclide imaging and routine CT in diagnosing hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and the combined diagnostic value of the two modalities. Methods Thirty-two patients with hepatic FNH were retrospectively studied. All patients underwent routine CT scan. Twenty-four patients were examined by 99Tcm-sulfur colloid (SC) hepatic planar scintigraphy and SPECT/CT imaging, and then patients who had abnormal foci underwent 99Tcm-diethyl iminodiacetic acid (EHIDA) triple-phase hepatobiliary imaging. x2 -test of four-table or Fisher exact probabilities in 2 × 2 table was applied for statistical analysis. Results Of all 32 patients pathologically diagnosed as FNH with single solitary nodule, 25 were classified as classic type and the rest 7 as non-classic type. Although routine CT found all hepatic lesions, only 15 cases were diagnosed pathologically as FNH classic type but the rest were either misdiagnosed or left as indeterminate. On radionuclide imaging (hepatic colloid scintigraphy plus triple-phase hepatobiliary images), 11 patients with big foci (with maximal diameter ＞3 cm) out of 24 patients were correctly diagnosed as FNH, with 7 diagnosed as classic type FNH and 4 as non-classic. Other 13 patients were either misdiagnosed or simply missed. The diagnosing rates of routine CT and radionuclide imaging were60.0% (15/25) and 38.9% (7/18) for FNH classic type, 0/7 and 4/6 for non-classic type,50.0% (10/20) and 73.3% (11/15) for big foci, 41.7% (5/12) and 0/9 forsmall foci (with maximal diameter≤3 cm), respectively. The total diagnosing rate of radionuclide imaging combined with routine CT was significantly higher than that of routine CT or radionuclide imaging alone ( x2 = 4. 48, P ＜ 0. 05;x2 =4.27, P ＜0.05 ). Conclusion Radionuclide imaging in combination with routine CT may improve the diagnostic accuracy for hepatic FNH patients.

Diagnosis of hyperfunctioning ectopic parathyroid glands using ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT / 中华核医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of ~(99)Tc~m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) SPECT scintigraphy combined Iocalizable CT in the localization of ectopic parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism.Methods Retrospective data of surgery,pathology and imaging were collected from 28 patients with hyperfunctioning ectopic parathyroid glands.All cases underwent CT studies.Twenty-five patients had ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI planar imaging first:SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT was performed for the patients with abnormal radionuclide foci immediately.The fusion images obtained after reconstruction showed the exact location of the ectopic foci.Operative histopathologic results were regarded as "gold standards".Presuming 4 parathyroid glands as normal findings,findings confirmed by operation and pathology were regarded as positive,otherwise negative.The results of CT and radionuclide imaging were compared by X~2-test of four-foId table.Results Twenty-eight ectopic parathyroid glands were found in 28 patients,all pathologically confirmed as adenomss.CT found 22 foci,of which 17 were true positive,5 false positive,11 false negative,and 79 true negative.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT found 23 foci,no false positive,2 false negative,and 75 true negative.The results showed that the sensitivities were 61% (17/28),92%(23/25),specificities 94%(79/84),100%(75/75),accuracies 86%(96/112),98% (98/100),positive predictive values 77%(17/22),100%(23/23),and negative predictive values 88% (79190),97%(75/77),respectively,for CT and radionuclide imaging.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT was therefore significantly higher than CT in sensitivity(X~2=6.98,P＜0.01),specificity (X~2=4.61,P＜0.05),accuracy (X~2=10.30,P＜0.01),positive predictive value(X~2=5.88,P＜0.05) and negative predictive value (X~2=5.36,P＜0.05).Conclusion ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT scintigraphy combined localizable CT is superior to CT alone in the localization of ectopic parathyroid glands in hyperparathyroidism,but false negative can be found in some patients.