Anemia and the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing contrast-enhanced MDCT.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of anemia on the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with renal impairment undergoing MDCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was waived for this retrospective review of 843 patients with stable renal insufficiency (eGFR between 15 and 60 mL/min) who had undergone contrast-enhanced MDCT. Baseline hematocrit and hemoglobin values were measured. Serum creatinine (SCr) was assessed at the baseline and at 48-72 h after contrast administration. RESULTS: The overall incidence of CIN in the patient population with renal insufficiency was 6.9%. CIN developed in 7.8% (54 of 695) of anemic patients, and in 2.8% (4 of 148) of non-anemic patients (P=.027). After adjustment for confounders, low hemoglobin and low hematocrit values remained independent predictors of CIN (odds ratio 4.6, 95% CI 1.0-20.5, P=.046). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is associated with a higher incidence of CIN in patients with renal insufficiency. Anemia is a potentially modifiable risk factor for CIN, and has an unfavorable impact on prognosis in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing contrast-enhanced MDCT.

Detection of breast cancer with a computer-aided detection applied to full-field digital mammography.

A study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of computer-aided detection (CAD) with full-field digital mammography in detection of breast cancer, based on mammographic appearance and histopathology. Retrospectively, CAD sensitivity was assessed in total group of 152 cases for subgroups based on breast density, mammographic presentation, lesion size, and results of histopathological examination. The overall sensitivity of CAD was 91 % (139 of 152 cases). CAD detected 100 % (47/47) of cancers manifested as microcalcifications; 98 % (62/63) of those manifested as non-calcified masses; 100 % (15/15) of those manifested as mixed masses and microcalcifications; 75 % (12/16) of those manifested as architectural distortions, and 69 % (18/26) of those manifested as focal asymmetry. CAD sensitivity was 83 % (10/12) for cancers measuring 1-10 mm, 92 % (37/40) for those measuring 11-20 mm, and 92 % (92/100) for those measuring >20 mm. There was no significant difference in CAD detection efficiency between cancers in dense breasts (88 %; 69/78) and those in non-dense breasts (95 %; 70/74). CAD showed a high sensitivity of 91 % (139/152) for the mammographic appearance of cancer and 100 % sensitivity for identifying cancers manifested as microcalcifications. Sensitivity was not influenced by breast density or lesion size. CAD should be effective for helping radiologists detect breast cancer at an earlier stage.

Contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing contrast-enhanced MDCT.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety of contrast-enhanced MDCT in patients with renal impairment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 938 patients with stable renal insufficiency (eGFR between 15 and 60 ml/min) who underwent contrast-enhanced MDCT. SCr levels were measured at baseline and 48-72 h after contrast medium administration. The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in the total study population was assessed. As a control group, 1,164 separate patients with renal insufficiency who did not receive contrast medium for CT were also reviewed. RESULTS: The overall incidence of CIN in the patient population with renal insufficiency was 6.1 %; the incidence was 4.4 %, 10.5 % and 10.0 % for patients whose eGFR was 45-60, 30-45 and ≤30 ml/min, respectively (P < 0.01). In the control group, 5.8 % of patients showed an increase in the SCr level from the baseline. The increase in the SCr level showed no significant difference between the patients who received CM and those who did not (P = 0.82) CONCLUSIONS: The risk of CIN from contrast-enhanced MDCT in patients with renal insufficiency appeared to be low, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of CIN in comparison with patients who did not receive CM. KEY POINTS : • The contrast medium used for multidetector CT can induce nephropathy. • Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) developed in 6.1 % of patients with renal insufficiency. • However, nephropathy developed in 5.8 % of similar patients not receiving contrast medium. • Thus, the risk of CIN associated with MDCT appears to be low. • Special care should still be taken in patients with renal insufficiency.