Occult contrast retention post-thrombectomy on 24-h follow-up dual-energy CT: Associations and impact on imaging analysis.

BACKGROUND: Following reperfusion treatment in ischemic stroke, computed tomography (CT) imaging at 24 h is widely used to assess radiological outcomes. Even without visible hyperattenuation, occult angiographic contrast may persist in the brain and confound Hounsfield unit-based imaging metrics, such as net water uptake (NWU). AIMS: We aimed to assess the presence and factors associated with retained contrast post-thrombectomy on 24-h imaging using dual-energy CT (DECT), and its impact on the accuracy of NWU as a measure of cerebral edema. METHODS: Consecutive patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who had post-thrombectomy DECT performed 24-h post-treatment from two thrombectomy stroke centers were retrospectively studied. NWU was calculated by interside comparison of HUs of the infarct lesion and its mirror homolog. Retained contrast was quantified by the difference in NWU values with and without adjustment for iodine. Patients with visible hyperdensities from hemorrhagic transformation or visible contrast retention and bilateral infarcts were excluded. Cerebral edema was measured by relative hemispheric volume (rHV) and midline shift (MLS). RESULTS: Of 125 patients analyzed (median age 71 (IQR = 61-80), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 16 (IQR = 9.75-21)), reperfusion (defined as extended-Thrombolysis-In-Cerebral-Infarction 2b-3) was achieved in 113 patients (90.4%). Iodine-subtracted NWU was significantly higher than unadjusted NWU (17.1% vs 10.8%, p < 0.001). In multivariable median regression analysis, increased age (p = 0.024), number of passes (p = 0.006), final infarct volume (p = 0.023), and study site (p = 0.021) were independently associated with amount of retained contrast. Iodine-subtracted NWU correlated with rHV (rho = 0.154, p = 0.043) and MLS (rho = 0.165, p = 0.033) but unadjusted NWU did not (rHV rho = -0.035, p = 0.35; MLS rho = 0.035, p = 0.347). CONCLUSIONS: Angiographic iodine contrast is retained in brain parenchyma 24-h post-thrombectomy, even without visually obvious hyperdensities on CT, and significantly affects NWU measurements. Adjustment for retained iodine using DECT is required for accurate NWU measurements post-thrombectomy. Future quantitative studies analyzing CT after thrombectomy should consider occult contrast retention.

Giant haemorrhagic hepatic cyst with flame-like morphology in a patient with polycystic kidney and liver disease.

INTRODUCTION: Intracystic haemorrhage is a rare complication of hepatic cysts, and is often mistaken for a malignant lesion. CASE REPORT: A 55-year-old female with a history of polycystic kidney and liver disease presented with a six-month history of abdominal distension, abdominal pain, early satiety, shortness of breath and 5 kg of weight loss. Imaging revealed a 20 cm mixed solid-cystic hepatic lesion containing peripheral avascular mobile echogenic material with a flame-like morphology. After experiencing symptomatic relief from ultrasound-guided aspiration, the patient underwent cyst fenestration for more definitive treatment. DISCUSSION: Haemorrhagic hepatic cysts are uncommon and may present on imaging as having lace-like retractile clot, internal layering or shading of separating blood products or avascular mobile flame-like excrescences. The presence of avascular mobile flame-like excrescences appears to be a unique feature of haemorrhagic hepatic cysts. CONCLUSION: While haemorrhagic hepatic cysts are rare and commonly mistaken for biliary cystadenomas or adenocarcinomas, the identification of particular features on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound can lead to the correct diagnosis.

Assessment of muscle mass using ultrasound with minimal versus maximal pressure compared with computed tomography in critically ill adult patients.

BACKGROUND: Preserved skeletal muscle mass identified using computed tomography (CT) predicts improved outcomes from critical illness; however, CT imaging have few limitations such that it involves a radiation dose and transferring patients out of the intensive care unit. This study aimed to assess in critically ill patients the relationship between muscle mass estimates obtained using minimally invasive ultrasound techniques with both minimal and maximal pressure compared with CT images at the third lumber vertebra level. METHODS: All patients were treated in a single Australian intensive care unit. Eligible patients had paired assessments, within a 72-h window, of muscle mass by ultrasound (quadriceps muscle layer thickness in centimetres, with maximal and minimal pressure) and CT axial cross-sectional area (cm2). Data are presented as mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range), and frequencies [n (%)]. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients [mean (standard deviation) age = 55 (16) years, median (interquartile range) body mass index = 27 (25-32) kg/m2, and 26 (74%) men] contributed 41 paired measurements. Quadriceps muscle thickness measured using the maximal pressure technique was a strong independent predictor of lumbar muscle cross-sectional area. Within a multivariate mixed linear regression model and adjusting for sex, age, and body mass index, for every 1 cm increase in quadriceps muscle layer thickness, the lumbar muscle cross-sectional area increased by 35 cm2 (95% confidence interval = 11-59 cm2). Similar univariate associations were observed using minimal pressure; however, as per multivariate analysis, there was no strength in this relationship [8 cm2 (95% confidence interval = -5 to 22 cm2)]. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound assessment of the quadriceps muscle using maximal pressure reasonably predicts the skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra level of critically ill patients. However, there is substantial uncertainty within these regression estimates, and this may reduce the current utility of this technique as a minimally invasive surrogate for CT assessment of skeletal muscle mass.

Identification of the lateral femoral safe zone for drilling during LISS plate fixation of distal femur fractures.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of arterial injury associated with femoral fractures is approximately 1%. Lateral sub-muscular plate fixation is gaining popularity for the management of distal femoral fractures. The objective of this study was to assess the iatrogenic risk to the superficial femoral artery (SFA) during Less Invasive Stabilisation System (LISS) plate fixation of distal femoral fractures by analysing the range of distances and angles between LISS plate screws and the drilling line to the SFA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all patients who underwent LISS plate fixation of distal femoral fractures between 2008 and 2018 in our level-1 trauma centre. Patients who underwent postoperative computed tomography for any reason were eligible for inclusion in the study. Twenty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. The sample comprised 10 male and 15 female patients with a mean age of 55 years. The most common fracture type was a supracondylar femur fracture (56%), followed by an intercondylar fracture (36%). A 13-hole LISS plate was the most common plate length used (44%). A consultant radiologist reviewed all scans to verify the visibility and marking of the SFA. RESULTS: The median distance between the screw tip and the SFA was 21 mm (range, 8-65 mm). There was a negative correlation between the LISS plate hole number and the trajectory of drilling (Pearson coefficient: -0.87, p < 0.001). Using a linear regression model, the SFA was more likely to be in the line of drilling when the 6th to 10th holes in the LISS plate were used. CONCLUSION: Extra care is needed when drilling into the LISS plate holes from the lateral to the medial direction in order to reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury to the SFA, especially in the high-risk plate zone where the artery can be close to the drilling line.

Absence of renal phenotype in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia is characterised by abnormal blood vessel formation, producing telangiectasia and arteriovenous malformations in multiple organs. Information regarding possible renal involvement in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia is limited. This study assessed renal structure and function in 11 patients with genetically confirmed diagnosis and known arteriovenous malformations in lung, liver, gastrointestinal tract or brain. All had significant current or past epistaxis. Despite the vascularity of the kidneys, we found no evidence of renal involvement. This observation warrants further consideration.

Dynamic CT for Parathyroid Adenoma Detection: How Does Radiation Dose Compare With Nuclear Medicine?

OBJECTIVE: Dynamic CT is increasingly used for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas, but concerns remain about the radiation effective dose of CT compared with that of 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation dose delivered by three-phase dynamic CT with that delivered by 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT performed in accordance with our current protocols and to assess the possible reduction in effective dose achieved by decreasing the scan length (i.e., z-axis) of two phases of the dynamic CT protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effective dose of a 99mTc-sestamibi nuclear medicine parathyroid study performed with and without coregistration CT was calculated and compared with the effective dose of our current three-phase dynamic CT protocol as well as a proposed protocol involving CT with reduced scan length. RESULTS: The median effective dose for a 99mTc-sestamibi nuclear medicine study was 5.6 mSv. This increased to 12.4 mSv with the addition of coregistration CT, which is higher than the median effective dose of 9.3 mSv associated with the dynamic CT protocol. Reducing the scan length of two phases in the dynamic CT protocol could reduce the median effective dose to 6.1 mSv, which would be similar to that of the dose from the 99mTc-sestamibi study alone. CONCLUSION: Dynamic CT used for the detection of parathyroid adenoma can deliver a lower radiation dose than 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT. It may be possible to reduce the dose further by decreasing the scan length of two of the phases, although whether this has an impact on accuracy of the localization needs further investigation.

Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography: Clinical Impact for Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) has emerged as a new localization study for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the added value of 4DCT in our institution in the first 4 years of use. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from February 2004 to June 2015. Since 2011, patients over 50 years of age without concordant sestamibi-SPECT (SeS) and ultrasound (US) findings underwent 4DCT. Imaging results, surgical findings, histopathology, and postoperative biochemistry were collected. RESULTS: A total of 536 parathyroid operations in 510 patients were performed during the study period. The overall cure rate was 99.2% after reoperation in some patients, and the overall sensitivity for SeS was 76.0%, and 74.8% for US. Since 2011, 100 patients without concordant SeS/US findings have undergone 4DCT, with a sensitivity of 72.9%. This is in comparison to the sensitivities for SeS (48.3%) and US (52.3%). 4DCT was more sensitive in patients with persistent/recurrent disease (60.0% compared with SeS 43.8% and US 36.4%) and patients with multigland disease (67.4% compared with SeS 40.9% and US 42.1%). Comparison between outcomes in the pre- versus post-CT era demonstrated no difference in the initial cure rate (95.4 vs. 95.9%, p = 0.85) or the rate of minimally invasive parathyroidectomies (74.5 vs. 79.9%, p = 0.22). CONCLUSION: Parathyroid 4DCT can aid surgical planning in cases without concordant SeS/US findings; however, the introduction of 4DCT as a second-line test did not change our overall cure rate or rate of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. The role of 4DCT as the primary localization study for pHPT merits further investigation.

Infiltrating caecal carcinoma versus appendicitis with caecal phlegmon-can computer tomography differentiate them?

Right iliac fossa pain is a common acute general surgery presentation, and computer tomography (CT) is often used as an aid in determining the diagnosis. CT can play an important role in differentiating malignant and inflammatory causes of caecal wall thickening if certain key features are identified. Two patients with similar presentations of right iliac fossa pain had pre-operative CT, which showed inflammation and caecal thickening, the first was focal with homogenous enhancement, and the second eccentric with stratification. At operation, these were proven to be malignant and inflammatory caecal thickening. Although the clinical presentation of appendicitis and caecal carcinoma may be similar, and the correct recognition and interpretation of differentiating CT characteristics enables the patient for an appropriately tailored operation.

CT brain perfusion: A static phantom study of contrast-to-noise ratio and radiation dose.

INTRODUCTION: Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is increasingly employed in the diagnosis and management of ischaemic stroke but radiation dose can be significant and optimising contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) is challenging. This study aimed to quantify and optimise the balance between CNR as a surrogate for image quality and radiation dose. METHODS: A perspex head phantom with vials of dilute contrast agent was scanned using a Siemens Definition Flash 128-slice scanner. The CTP protocol exposure parameters were adjusted over 70-120 kVp and 150-285 mAs. Measurements were obtained for the average dose per slice, Hounsfield Units (HU) for iodinated contrast agent, and the image noise for background regions of perspex. The CNR was measured as a function of the volumetric CT dose index (CTDIvol) and kVp. RESULTS: A change from 120 to 80 kVp, achieved the same CNR with 60% reduction in dose. Alternatively, for the same dose, the change from 120 to 80 kVp improved CNR by +58%. A change from 80 to 70 kVp while operating at the same CNR, led to 13% reduction in dose. Alternatively, maintaining the same dose while changing from 80 to 70 kVp improved the CNR by +7%. CONCLUSION: Lower beam energies achieved the same CNR with less dose, or improved CNR at the same dose. A reduction from 80 kVp to 70 kVp may be clinically useful to optimise CTP acquisitions.

Three-dimensional computed tomographic assessment of mandibular muscles in growing subjects with different vertical facial patterns.

AIM: The present study was undertaken to assess the relationship between the mandibular muscles and dentofacial skeletal morphology in children with different underlying vertical facial patterns, using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). METHOD: Thirty children (mean age 12.24 ± 1.57 years) underwent cranial CT examination for diagnostic purposes. 3D-CT images were reconstructed for the evaluation of the cross-sectional size, volume, and spatial orientation of the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles. These muscle parameters were also assessed in relation to the vertical facial pattern, gender and skeleto-dental form. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in muscular angulation for subjects with different underlying patterns. Greater masseter volumes were associated with increased facial width. Greater intermolar widths were found in brachyfacial subjects, with less acute muscular angulations in relation to horizontal reference lines, compared with dolichofacial subjects. This was also more obvious in the maxillary arch. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should note the likely differences in masseter and medial pterygoid orientation and volume in subjects with different underlying vertical facial patterns and that these differences may, in turn, be related to both facial skeletal width and naturally-occurring transverse dental arch dimensions.

Hepatic contrast-enhanced ultrasound: impact of its introduction in the Australian context.

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a relatively new imaging modality in Australia. We discuss our early experience with CEUS at Royal Melbourne Hospital in assessment of focal liver lesions and its clinical impact. METHOD: Radiology department and hospital computerised information systems were used to identify and collate information regarding the indication, previous and follow-up imaging, CEUS findings and subsequent final diagnoses of patients who underwent hepatic CEUS from 12/12/2007 to 20/4/2012. RESULTS: A total of 388 hepatic CEUS were performed, examining 409 lesions. The cases were grouped as either 'initial study' or 'follow-up' group, with main focus on the former group. Of the 367 lesions in the 'initial study' group, CEUS was able to distinguish benign from malignant pathology in 344 cases (93.8%). This was especially beneficial in setting of known malignancy with indeterminate liver lesions found on CT to confidently exclude metastatic disease. For 124 of 162 patients who had an incidentally detected indeterminate liver lesion, CEUS was the final imaging investigation required to make a diagnosis. CONCLUSION: CEUS is a valuable tool in assessment of focal liver lesions in conjunction with other conventional modalities in a variety of clinical settings. In particular, it provided definitive diagnosis in a significant proportion of incidentally identified liver lesions many of which are benign, saving patient anxiety and further unnecessary follow-up.

Diagnostic challenges and pitfalls in MR imaging with hepatocyte-specific contrast agents.

The use of gadolinium-based hepatocyte-specific contrast agents (HSCAs) has increased markedly since their introduction, and hepatocellular phase imaging performed with an HSCA is now a key part of the standard magnetic resonance (MR) imaging work-up for focal liver lesions. An understanding of the mechanisms of action of HSCAs helps ensure their effective use. The optimal delay for hepatocellular phase image acquisition differs between the two currently available HSCAs, gadoxetic acid and gadobenate dimeglumine, and MR imaging protocols must be adjusted accordingly. In addition, familiarity with typical and atypical appearances of benign and malignant focal liver lesions at HSCA-enhanced hepatocellular phase MR imaging, along with knowledge of the processes that are most likely to produce atypical appearances, is required to achieve optimal diagnostic accuracy.

Justifying the use of abdominal wall computed tomographic angiography in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap planning.

Abdominal wall computed tomography angiography (CTA) is used to guide preoperative planning and intraoperative technique for deep inferior epigastric artery perforator free flap breast reconstructive surgery. This study considers the amount of radiation delivered to the patient, outlining how scan parameters can be optimized to minimize the radiation exposure whilst maintaining image quality. Results of scan parameters and dose reports for 34 patients undergoing abdominal wall CTA are compared with those patients undergoing routine abdominal computed tomography. The links between computed tomography dose quantities are explained, including their conversion to effective dose (in mSv) and risk as the probability for inducing deterministic effects (eg, skin burns) and stochastic effects (ie, cancer induction). The mean effective dose by using our technique for routine abdominal computed tomography is 9.9 and for abdominal wall CTA is 6.0 mSv. All doses are far below the thresholds for deterministic effects to the skin. Abdominal wall CTA can be justified before major reconstructive surgery if the surgeon believes that the very low estimated risk of fatal radiation-induced cancer (1 in 4270 for 6 mSv) is outweighed by the benefits.

Assessing signal intensity change on well-registered images: comparing subtraction, color-encoded subtraction, and parallel display formats.

PURPOSE: To assess the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and interobserver reliability of subtraction, color-encoded subtraction, and parallel display formats in assessing signal intensity (SI) differences between well-registered images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional ethics approval for the study and a waiver of individual patient consent were obtained. Five radiologists graded the severity of fatty liver by using a seven-point scale for four imaging sets created from 179 pairs of dual-echo in- and opposed-phase magnetic resonance images from 179 patients. The four sets contained images displayed in parallel, subtraction images, color-encoded subtraction images, and images from the three previous formats presented together. The order of the images and sets was randomized. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed with the McNemar test. Accuracy was assessed by using three-way analysis of variance, with Tukey post hoc methods used to assess differences between the four formats. Interobserver reliability was assessed by using the Fleiss κ value. RESULTS: Subtraction (P = .016 at a 5% SI difference threshold) and color-encoded subtraction (P = .031 at a 4% SI difference threshold) formats had higher sensitivity than did the parallel format. The accuracy of the subtraction format was superior to that of the parallel format (P < .0001). Interobserver reliability of the subtraction (κ = 0.53) and color-encoded subtraction (κ = 0.39) formats was superior to that of the parallel format (κ = 0.33) (P < .0001 and P = .0085, respectively). CONCLUSION: When images are well registered, subtraction and color-encoded subtraction techniques offer advantages over the traditional parallel presentation format for the assessment of SI differences.

Lobar and segmental liver atrophy associated with hilar cholangiocarcinoma and the impact of hilar biliary anatomical variants: a pictorial essay.

The radiological features of lobar and segmental liver atrophy and compensatory hypertrophy associated with biliary obstruction are important to recognise for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons. Atrophied lobes/segments reduce in volume and usually contain crowded dilated bile ducts extending close to the liver surface. There is often a "step" in the liver contour between the atrophied and non-atrophied parts. Hypertrophied right lobe or segments enlarge and show a prominently convex or "bulbous" visceral surface. The atrophied liver parenchyma may show lower attenuation on pre-contrast computed tomography (CT) and CT intravenous cholangiography (CT-IVC) and lower signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hilar biliary anatomical variants can have an impact on the patterns of lobar/segmental atrophy, as the cause of obstruction (e.g. cholangiocarcinoma) often commences in one branch, leading to atrophy in that drainage region before progressing to complete biliary obstruction and jaundice. Such variants are common and can result in unusual but explainable patterns of atrophy and hypertrophy. Examples of changes seen with and without hilar variants are presented that illustrate the radiological features of atrophy/hypertrophy.

Magnetic resonance colonography for colorectal cancer screening in patients with Lynch syndrome gene mutation.

Lynch syndrome gene carriers have a 50-80% risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Current guidelines recommend yearly colonoscopy, with associated procedure-related risks. Magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) was evaluated as a non-invasive alternative for CRC screening in this high-risk population. Adult Lynch syndrome gene carriers underwent both screening procedures on the same day. MRI radiologists read the scans and rated image quality. Endoscopists performed colonoscopy unaware of MRC findings until after procedure completion. If lesions were detected, their number, size and location were noted. Post-procedure, patients compared discomfort and inconvenience of MRC and colonoscopy on a visual analogue scale. Thirty patients were recruited. 83% of the MRC scans were of adequate to good quality. MRC detected three lesions in three patients (70, 36, 17 mm). All 3 were independently detected on colonoscopy, excised and found to be CRC. MRC failed to detect a 3 mm CRC found on colonoscopy. CRC prevalence was 13%. Colonoscopy detected a further 30 polyps, all <10 mm. Of these, 17 were hyperplastic polyps and 10 normal mucosa. Colonoscopy had a false positive rate of 32% as defined by histology. MRC failed to detect any polyp <10 mm. Mean patient discomfort scores were 20% for MRC and 68% for colonoscopy, P = 0.003. Mean patient inconvenience scores were 54% for MRC and 52% for colonoscopy, P = 0.931. MRC was reliable in detecting large polyps, potentially CRC. However MRC currently has poor sensitivity in detecting small polyps, limiting its utility in adenoma screening at this time. MRC was associated with less discomfort than CC.

Mentoring in the management of hematological malignancies.

AIM: The Mentoring in Management of Haematological Malignancies (MMHM) project aimed to improve treatment outcomes, coordinate care and provide best practice for patients with hematological cancers, by developing a program of mentoring and multidisciplinary care between a regional and a metropolitan centre. METHODS: A regular multidisciplinary meeting conducted by teleconference was established between a tertiary metropolitan site and a regional practice to discuss cases of patients with hematological malignancies. Information from multidisciplinary team meetings was recorded to capture adherence to process and clinician outcomes. An educational program was developed. A gap analysis was performed to identify differences in routine practice between the two centers. Clinician satisfaction with mentoring and educational interventions was assessed by structured survey. RESULTS: The MMHM project developed a formal mentoring system to improve the management of patients by building on established links and developing an innovative model of web-based multidisciplinary care. The project established a novel multidisciplinary meeting between a metropolitan and regional site. Common treatment policies were adopted between the two sites. Development of an educational framework and mentoring for health-care professionals in regional areas was achieved by tutorials and workshops. Most participating clinicians indicated their high level of satisfaction with the mentoring project. CONCLUSION: The MMHM project was a successful pilot of a mentoring program in hematological cancers between metropolitan and regional centers that resulted in improved referral links, facilitated better care coordination, updated treatment policies and guidelines and increased clinician satisfaction and knowledge.