The anatomy of the renal pyelocaliceal system studied by CTU.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Knowledge of the pyelocaliceal system anatomy is essential for the safe and successful performance of endourologic procedures. The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of the full three-dimensional pyelocaliceal system anatomy. METHODS: Morphometric parameters of the three-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomography intravenous urography scans (n = 25 scans) were analyzed. Both kidneys were divided into three equal-sized segments (US: upper segment, MS: mid segment, LS: lower segment). Infundibular length (IL), infundibular width (IW), the number of calyces, and the transverse orientation in hours of a clock of each calyx as well as the dimension of the pyelum were determined. RESULTS: The mean upper IL (n = 92) was longer than the middle (n = 154) and lower IL (n = 112) (30.6 ± 7.9 mm vs. 16.4 ± 7.7 mm vs. 16.0 ± 6.0 mm, respectively; P = < 0.0001). IW was significantly smaller in the MS [3.7 ± 1.9 mm], followed by the US [4.6 ± 1.9 mm], and the LS [4.9 ± 2.2] in the increasing order. No correlation was found between IL and IW (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.1). The US calyces were predominantly orientated lateral (8-10 o'clock: 44.5%) and medial (2-4 o'clock: 30.5%), in the MS lateral (8-10 o'clock: 87.6%) and anterolateral in the LS (9-12 o'clock: 67.9%). 74% of the kidneys consisted of 6-8 calyces (mean 7.2 ± 1.4, range 4-10), with the majority of the calyces in the MS (3.1 ± 0.8) followed by the LS (2.24 ± 0.8), and US (1.8 ± 0.7). There were no statistical differences between the right and left kidneys in terms of IL (P = 0.112) and number of calyces (P = 0.685). CONCLUSION: Anatomic differences between the three segments of the pyelocaliceal system in terms of IL, IW, calyces number, and orientation are seen and should be considered when performing an endourologic procedure.

Prostate cancer detection rates of magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy related to Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score.

PURPOSE: Recent studies have shown that multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy in patients with suspected prostate cancer increase detection rate and clinical significance of diagnosed tumors. Purpose of this study is to evaluate the detection rates of prostate cancer for magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy related to Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score. METHODS: We included all patients with cancer-suspicious lesions on 3-Tesla multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging-prostate who underwent magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy in Haga Teaching Hospital between January 2013 and January 2015. RESULTS: In total, 155 patients were included. In 100 of 155 (65 %) men, MRI-guided prostate biopsy was positive for prostate cancer. No biopsy of PI-RADS 2-lesions was positive. PI-RADS 3- and 4-lesions were, respectively, in 10 and 77 % prostate cancer positive. Biopsies of PI-RADS 5-lesions were in 89 % of the cases positive. The majority of detected cancers (63 %) were Gleason score ≥ 7, and this number increases to 75 % in positive PI-RADS 5-lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate biopsy has a high detection rate of prostate cancer in men with cancer-suspicious lesions on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging-prostate, and this rate (65 %) increases with the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System score (81 % in PI-RADS 4- and 5-lesions).

Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with spiral CT as a second procedure following scintigraphy.

Our objective was to evaluate, in a routine clinical setting, the role of spiral CT as a second procedure in patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and abnormal perfusion scan. We prospectively studied the role of spiral CT in 279 patients suspected of PE. All patients started their diagnostic algorithm with chest radiographs and perfusion scintigraphy. Depending on the results of perfusion scintigraphy, patients proceeded to subsequent levels in the algorithm: stop if perfusion scintigraphy was normal; CT and pulmonary angiography if subsegmental perfusion defects were seen; ventilation scintigraphy followed by CT when segmental perfusion defects were seen; and pulmonary angiography in this last group when results of ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy and CT were incongruent. Reference diagnosis was based on normal perfusion scintigraphy, high probability perfusion/ventilation scintigraphy in combination with abnormal CT, or pulmonary angiography. If PE was present, the largest involved branch was noted on pulmonary angiography, or on spiral CT scan in case of a high-probability ventilation/perfusion scan and a positive CT scan. A distinction was made between embolism in a segmental branch or larger, or subsegmental embolism. Two hundred seventy-nine patients had abnormal scintigraphy. In 27 patients spiral CT and/or pulmonary angiography were non-diagnostic and these were excluded for image analysis. Using spiral CT we correctly identified 117 of 135 patients with PE, and 106 of 117 patients without PE. Sensitivity and specificity was therefore 87 and 91%, respectively. Prevalence of PE was 53%. Positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 91 and 86%. In the high-probability group, sensitivity and specificity increased to 97 and 100%, respectively, with a prevalence of 90%. In the non-high probability-group sensitivity and specificity decreased to 61 and 89%, respectively, with a prevalence of 25%. In a routine clinical setting single-detector spiral CT technology has limited value as a second diagnostic test because of low added value in patients with a high-probability lung scan and low sensitivity in patients with non-high-probability lung scan result.

Single-detector helical computed tomography as the primary diagnostic test in suspected pulmonary embolism: a multicenter clinical management study of 510 patients.

BACKGROUND: Helical computed tomography (CT) is a readily available tool for diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE); however, its role in the management of patients with clinically suspected PE has not been fully established. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of using helical CT of the pulmonary arteries as the primary diagnostic test in patients with suspected PE. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective clinical outcome study. SETTING: Two academic hospitals and one large teaching hospital in the Netherlands. PATIENTS: 510 consecutive inpatients and outpatients with clinically suspected PE followed for 3 months. INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent helical CT of the pulmonary arteries within 24 hours after presenting with signs and symptoms of PE. If CT results were normal or inconclusive, compression ultrasonography was performed on the same day as CT and repeated on days 4 and 7 if findings on the first compression ultrasonography were normal. When CT or compression ultrasonography results were positive for thromboembolism, anticoagulation was started. Anticoagulation was not started when results of CT were negative for PE or indicated an alternative diagnosis that explained the clinical signs and symptoms, or when results on serial compression ultrasonography were normal. MEASUREMENTS: Patients received instructions to report any symptoms or signs of PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) during the 3-month follow-up period. The authors performed compression ultrasonography or phlebography for suspected DVT and pulmonary angiography for suspected PE. RESULTS: Computed tomography identified PE in 124 of 510 patients (24.3%) and an alternative diagnosis in 130 patients (25.5%); CT scans were normal in 248 patients (48.6%). The CT scan could not be interpreted in 8 patients (1.6%) and was not obtained in 2. Compression ultrasonography revealed DVT in 2 patients at the first examination; findings on repeated compression ultrasonography at days 4 and 7 were normal. Mortality in the patients with normal helical CT scans was 4.1% (10 of 246 patients). No patients in this group died of fatal PE, 1 patient developed nonfatal PE, and venous thromboembolism occurred in 0.4% of these patients (95% CI, 0% to 2.2%). In the patients with alternative diagnoses, 1 patient had DVT on objective testing during follow-up. Mortality in this group was 21.5% (28 of 130 patients); in 1 of these patients, PE could not be confidently ruled out as a contributing cause of death. Venous thromboembolism occurred in 1.5% of these patients (CI, 0.2% to 5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspected PE, helical CT can be used safely as the primary diagnostic test to rule out PE. Serial compression ultrasonography has limited additional value.