Incidental findings in CT imaging of coronary artery bypass grafts: results from a Canadian multicenter prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and clinical significance of incidental findings identified during computed tomography imaging of coronary artery bypass grafts. RESULTS: This prospective study includes 144 patients undergoing coronary graft patency assessment using computed tomography. Incidental findings were classified as significant if they were considered to need an immediate action or treatment, short-term work-up or follow-up, or minor. A total of 211 incidental findings were present in 109 (75.7%) patients. Seventy-one incidental findings (33.6%) were cardiac and 140 (66.4%) were extracardiac. Most common cardiac incidental findings were atrial dilatation [39 patients, 48 incidental findings (67.6%)] and aortic valve calcifications (7 patients, 9.9%). Among the 140 extracardiac incidental findings, the most common were lung nodules (51 patients, 54 nodules, 38.6%), and emphysema (21 patients, 15%). Thirty-six (25.7%) extracardiac incidental findings were significant and notably, 23 (63.9%) were lung nodules. Follow-up was recommended in 37 cases, among which all patients with significant lung nodules (23 patients, 62.2%). In conclusion, most common computed tomography incidental findings in patients with coronary grafts were lung nodules and emphysema.

Hemorrhagic infiltration of the aortopulmonary adventitia: A complication of acute aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic infiltration of the common aortopulmonary adventitia is an infrequent complication of acute aortic dissection, most frequently Stanford type A. The radiological interpretation of this finding may be a diagnostic challenge. The objective of this multicenter case series is to review the radiological and pathological findings of hemorrhagic infiltration of the aortopulmonary adventitia secondary to acute aortic dissection, and to describe the pathophysiology underlying this complication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study includes 20 cases of aortic dissection with hemorrhagic infiltration of the aortopulmonary adventitia. These are 17 cases with computed tomography (CT) data obtained from 5 academic centers. Three other cases were retrieved through a search of autopsy reports. Clinical, radiological and pathological data were collected. RESULTS: Linear foci of moderately increased attenuation were seen along the wall of the proximal pulmonary arteries in 4 cases on unenhanced CT. Contrast-enhanced CT showed soft-tissue thickening along these walls in all imaging cases, with some degree of narrowing of the lumen of the pulmonary arteries. Peribronchovascular ground-glass opacities or consolidation were present in 4 cases. CONCLUSION: Hemorrhagic infiltration of the common aortopulmonary adventitia is an infrequent complication of acute type A aortic dissection. The radiologist should be aware of its pathophysiology and imaging findings in order to make a prompt diagnosis in an urgent setting.

Left heart disease: a frequent cause of early pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis, unrelated to elevated NT-proBNP levels or overt cardiac fibrosis but associated with increased levels of MR-proANP and MR-proADM: retrospective analysis of a French Canadian cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) causes mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and left heart disease (LHD) are frequent causes of PH. Therefore, we studied PAH and LHD in early PH. METHOD: A total of 432 French Canadian SSc patients were studied retrospectively. All underwent screening for PH. We analysed clinical, serological, and radiographic data from 26 patients with early PH diagnosed by right heart catheterization (RHC). SSc patients with (n = 21) and without PH (n = 19) were prospectively re-evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serial measurements of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the haemodynamic biomarkers mid-regional pro-atrial natriuritic peptide (MR-proANP) and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM). RESULTS: The most frequent cause of early PH was LHD (58%). PAH was seen in 34% of patients. No association was found between the type of PH and autoantibodies. Early LHD-PH, but not early PAH, was associated with lower NT-proBNP (p = 0.024), but MR-proANP and MR-proADM levels were higher in early LHD-PH than in patients without PH (p = 0.014 and p = 0.012, respectively). Only one patient had abnormal cardiac MRI explaining LHD-PH. CONCLUSIONS: Early PH in SSc, like late PH, is heterogeneous and RHC is essential for determining its underlying cause. The most frequent cause of early PH was LHD. Levels of MR-proANP and MR-proADM, but not NT-proBNP, were increased in early LHD-PH, and may be more reliable than NT-proBNP as a biomarker of early PH in this subgroup of patients. Cardiac MRI did not explain LHD-PH. This study is the first to identify a high frequency of LHD in early PH correlating with normal NT-proBNP levels but increased MR-proANP and MR-proADM levels in SSc patients.

Effect of the learning process on procedure times and radiation exposure for CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous biopsy procedures.

PURPOSE: To assess if the learning process associated with computed tomography fluoroscopy (CTF) technology influences procedure and fluoroscopy times for percutaneous biopsy procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective analysis of the initial 250 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous biopsy with use of a CT scanner equipped with rapid image reconstruction and fluoroscopic capabilities in a 24-month period. All procedures were performed with both continuous and spot fluoroscopic technique, with typical radiation parameters of 50 mA, 120 kV, and a 10-mm-slice thickness. The procedures were all performed by a single experienced interventional radiologist to limit the variables of physician expertise, interventional materials used, and biopsy approach. The subject group was divided into five equal consecutive groups of 50 patients. In each subgroup, the authors recorded mean lesion size, success, and complication rates, as well as mean procedure and fluoroscopy times. RESULTS: The five subgroups were similar patient populations as documented by the absence of statistically significant differences when comparing mean lesion size, procedure success, and complication rates (P > .05; ANOVA test). A statistically significant decrease in mean fluoroscopy (groups 1-5: 50.26 vs 45.24 vs 33.86 vs 32.68 vs 25.8 sec/patient) and mean procedure times (groups 1-5: 30.08 vs 27.9 vs 26.34 vs 25.6 vs 21.6 min/patient) was recorded between the patient subgroups (P < .0001; ANOVA test). CONCLUSION: The learning process associated with CTF technology impacts procedure parameters by decreasing both mean procedure and fluoroscopy times, thereby increasing patient turnover and decreasing radiation exposure to the patient and the operator.

Value of CT fluoroscopy for percutaneous biopsy procedures.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical impact of computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy (CTF) with regard to procedure time and success rate for CT image-guided biopsy procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred ninety consecutive patients referred to the same radiologist underwent biopsy procedures performed with use of a CT scanner equipped with fluoroscopic capabilities during a 15-month period. CTF procedures were performed predominantly by means of a continuous fluoroscopic technique, with typical exposure factors of 50 mA at 120 kV and a slice thickness of 10 mm. The total procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and complication and procedure success rates were documented prospectively in this group. A control group consisted of retrospective analysis of 93 consecutive patients who had undergone a classic CT-guided procedure performed by the same radiologist. RESULTS: Procedure success rate was increased in the CTF group (93.7 versus 88.2%), although the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05: Fisher exact test). A statistically significant difference was noted when comparing mean procedure times (CTF, 27.56 minutes; range, 20-60 minutes versus control, 43.17 minutes; range, 35-80 minutes; P < .0001; Welch unpaired t test). CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy facilitates CT-guided biopsy procedures by allowing visualization of the needle trajectory from skin entry to the target point, allowing procedures to be performed more rapidly and efficiently.

Diaphragm and chest wall: assessment of the inspiratory pump with MR imaging-preliminary observations.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the thorax with three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and functional quantification was evaluated as a tool for structure-function evaluation of chest-wall mechanics. Good agreement was found between the corresponding spirometric and MR imaging values of lung volumes. Fast MR imaging of the thorax with 3D reconstruction should improve the ability to evaluate the inspiratory pump in clinical and research investigations.

Contrast-enhanced helical CT for pulmonary embolism detection: inter- and intraobserver agreement among radiologists with variable experience.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate inter- and intraobserver agreement in the diagnosis of central pulmonary embolism using contrast-enhanced helical CT among observers with variable experience in the interpretation of pulmonary CT angiograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Helical CT angiograms of 60 patients clinically suspected of having pulmonary embolism were analyzed retrospectively and independently by two chest radiologists, one cardiovascular radiologist, and three general radiologists. The films were rated a second time by the chest radiologists to assess intraobserver variability. Findings for pulmonary embolism were categorized as positive, negative, or indeterminate at the main, lobar, and segmental pulmonary artery levels. RESULTS: The observers interpreted 19-21 CT angiograms as positive for pulmonary embolism (mean, 19.7) and one to six as indeterminate (mean, 3.2). Agreement occurred among all observers in 50 patients (83.3%), among five observers in six patients (10.0%), among four observers in three patients (5.0%), and among three observers in one patient (1.7%). Interobserver agreement was very good (kappa, .85) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism on a per-patient basis. Agreement on a per-artery basis for all arteries was moderate (66%; kappa, .56); for lobar arteries was good (83%; kappa, .75); and for segmental arteries was moderate (57%; kappa, .47). Mean intraobserver agreement on a per-patient basis was very good (93%; kappa, .87). CONCLUSION: Inter- and intraobserver agreement in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with helical CT is very good despite a wide variety of experience among radiologists.

Respiratory bronchiolitis: radiographic and CT findings in a pathologically proven case.

A small number of cases of cigarette-smoking-associated respiratory bronchiolitis (RB) with positive findings on the chest radiograph have been reported in the literature. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings are available in even fewer cases. We describe the case of an asymptomatic female smoker presenting with a reticulomicronodular infiltrate on a routine chest radiograph. High-resolution CT was characterized by ground-glass opacities and centrilobular micronodules with an upper lobe predominance. Surgical biopsy revealed peribronchiolar lesions, with accumulation of brown pigmented macrophages in the lumen of alveolar and bronchiolar lumen, consistent with the pathologic diagnosis of RB.

[Cystic pulmonary metastasis simulating a diagnosis of histiocytosis X]. / Métastases pulmonaires kystiques simulant le diagnostic d'une histiocytose X.

A case of cystic pulmonary metastases from a renal origin simulating lung histiocytosis on high-resolution CT is presented. This diagnosis was suggested because of the presence of cystic lung lesions, micronodules and recurrent pneumothoraces in a male smoker. The diagnosis was reviewed after lung biopsy and demonstration of a renal mass.

[Thoracic infections in immunocompetent patients. The contribution of computed tomography]. / Infections thoraciques chez le sujet immunocompétent. Apport de la tomodensitométrie.

Chest X-Ray is the most accurate method of imaging for infectious diseases in an immunocompetent patient. Computed tomography (CT) may be useful in certain circumstances, particularly in case of atypical findings at the time of diagnosis or in case of complications. CT helps to detect and perform a complete study of the lesions, some aspects being very suggestive of a diagnosis, as in post-primary active tuberculosis. CT may also detect an unknown underlying etiology. Multiplanar reformations with helical CT can be useful for example in case of empyema. In case of non tuberculous bacterial infections, CT is mainly recommended when abscess and empyema are difficult to differentiate or in case of pleural complications with possible percutaneous treatment. In case of tuberculosis, CT may be indicated when clinical and chest X-Ray findings are discordant, in case of mediastinal adenopathies, when reactivation is suspected or in case of complications as hemoptysis. A baseline CT examination could be proposed at the end of a specific treatment to facilitate the diagnosis of reactivation tuberculosis. A nontuberculous mycobacterial infection should finally be suspected in front of peculiar CT findings.

Association of small cell lung cancer and the anti-Hu paraneoplastic syndrome: radiographic and CT findings.

OBJECTIVE: The anti-Hu syndrome (bearing the name of the patient in whom the antibody was first discovered) is characterized by a paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis or sensory neuronopathy and the presence of a specific antibody in the serum or CSF and is associated with lung cancer in most patients who have the syndrome. The objective of this study was to determine the relative merits of chest radiography and CT in the imaging of patients with the anti-Hu syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographic and CT findings of 11 patients with anti-Hu syndrome were reviewed and correlated with results of bronchoscopy, surgery, or autopsy. RESULTS: Ten of the 11 patients had small cell lung cancer; in the remaining patient, no cancer was found. Small cell lung cancer was first revealed on radiographs in one patient and solely on CT in the remaining nine patients with small cell lung cancer. In six of these nine patients, the initial CT findings were positive for lung cancer. Tumor was found on follow-up CT in 4-8 months when initial CT findings were negative. Mediastinal adenopathy was present in all 10 cancer patients. Hilar adenopathy was present in four. Parenchymal involvement was seen in three of the 10 patients with cancer. In two patients, the only CT finding of small cell lung cancer was one mediastinal lymph node of 10 mm in each patient. CONCLUSION: Chest CT should be recommended for patients with anti-Hu syndrome, even when chest radiographic findings are interpreted as normal.

Congenital anomalies of tracheobronchial branching patterns: spiral CT aspects in adults.

Congenital abnormalities of the bronchi have been classically described with chest X-rays, conventional tomography, bronchography, CT and MR imaging. Recently, the capacity of spiral CT to explore a complete volume with no gap and excellent multiplanar reformations has been emphasized. The contribution of this technique to the analysis of congenital anomalies of tracheobronchial branching patterns encountered in adult patients is illustrated. Agenesis, aplasia, and hypoplasia are discussed, followed by bronchial atresia and abnormalities of bronchial divisions. In most cases spiral CT permits a full and correct evaluation of the malformation as well as its associated anomalies. It appears therefore to be the preferable technique for studying such anomalies of the tracheobronchial tree. Moreover, knowledge of CT aspects of the main congenital bronchial abnormalities along with complete visualization of the tracheobronchial tree will probably lead to detection of more incidental anomalies.

Direct intraoperative sclerotherapy of an aneurysmal bone cyst of the sphenoid.

A young boy presented with a symptomatic aneurysmal bone cyst of the left great wing of the sphenoid bone. Arterial embolization had failed to produce thrombosis, and the lesion could not be resected surgically. Direct intraoperative sclerotherapy resulted in immediate thrombosis of 80% of the volume of the vascular malformation with no progression of symptoms. Two years later, the symptoms had completely resolved, and CT scans showed total ossification of the lesion.

Iatrogenic injury to the bile duct: a working classification for radiologists.

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of the Bismuth classification method in the preoperative localization of iatrogenic bile duct lesions with cholangiography and to correlate these cholangiographic findings with surgical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 33 patients who underwent open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy and who sustained injuries to the biliary tract during the course of these procedures were reviewed retrospectively. The accuracy of the cholangiographic localization of bile duct injury was assessed with the Bismuth classification method, which is based on the localization of the traumatic lesion according to the distance from the biliary confluence. RESULTS: An exact correspondence between cholangiographic and surgical findings was found in 85% of the subjects. A minimal discrepancy was found in the remainder. There was no interobserver variation. CONCLUSION: The use of the Bismuth classification method appears to be an accurate and practical method for the grading of postoperative bile duct lesions with cholangiography.