Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Lung in patients of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize findings of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and dual-energy CT (DECT) (80 keV, 140 keV, and mixed) in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and to compare and correlate HRCT and DECT findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 67 patients of 18-65 years of age who were suspected cases of pulmonary TB with signs and symptoms of cough, fever, hemoptysis, sputum, night sweats, and weight loss with positive sputum AFB examinations/bronchoalveolar lavage. All the patients subjected to HRCT scan and followed with DECT scan. Comparison of various imaging techniques (DECT 80 keV, DECT 140 keV, and DECT mixed) with HRCT was done for detecting lung findings and data so obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: On comparing the various imaging techniques with HRCT for detecting consolidation, tree in bud pattern, cavitary lesions, ground-glass opacity, bronchiectasis, atelectasis, nodules, granuloma, peribronchial thickening, and fibrosis, the maximum agreement of HRCT was found with DECT 80 keV and minimum agreement was found with DECT 140 keV. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that DECT 80 keV monochromatic reconstructions among 80 keV, mixed, and 140 keV monochromatic reconstructions in lung parenchyma window settings are a faster and better analytical tool for the assessment of findings of pulmonary TB when compared with HRCT.

Role of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography in Characterization of Ureteric Calculi and Urinary Obstruction.

Objective The present study was carried out to assess the accuracy of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the morphological and chemical characterization of ureteric calculi along with the prediction of the grade of urinary obstruction. Methods This was a prospective observational study that included 100 cases with ultrasonography (USG)-diagnosed ureteric calculi that underwent surgery or had spontaneous expulsion of ureteric calculi. At enrolment, DECT was performed for an in vivo evaluation of volume, chemical composition, and grade of obstruction by subjective assessment of the perinephric edema. After surgical intervention, in vitro evaluation of volume was done by fluid displacement followed by infrared spectroscopy (IRS) for chemical composition. DECT findings were compared with the biochemical analysis and degree of obstruction was validated against excretory CT urograms. Sensitivity, specificity, and the positive predictive and negative predictive values of DECT were assessed. Results No significant difference was observed between the mean volume of stones by fluid displacement (65.1±77.61 mm3) and DECT assessment (66.09±81.78 mm3). IRS revealed the composition of stones as hydroxyapatite, uric acid, cysteine, oxalic acid, and mixed type in 48, 23, 15, five, and nine cases. The sensitivity and specificity of DECT for hydroxyapatite, uric acid, cysteine, oxalic acid, and mixed types were 89.6% and 88.5%, 82.6% and 97.5%, 86.7% and 96.5%, 80% and 98.9%, and 88.9% and 98.9%, respectively. On CT urography, a total of 35 had a high-grade and 65 had a low-grade obstruction, whereas DECT revealed high- and low-grade obstructions in 42 and 58 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of DECT for a high-grade obstruction were 94.3% and 86.2%. Conclusions The findings of the study showed that DECT provides comprehensive information regarding the morphological, chemical, and anatomical characterization of ureteric stones.

Mid-Second Trimester Measurement of Nasal Bone Length in North Indian Population.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective for this study was to establish a reference range of normal fetal nasal bone length (NBL) from 14 to 22 weeks in a North Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant women with gestational age (GA) from 14 to 22 weeks undergoing ultrasonography with a single live fetus and no complications in the fetus or mother were selected for the study. The fetal nasal bone was measured in 2060 pregnant women from 2014 to 2018. The measurement was done by the double operator method; three measurements were taken for each woman when her fetus was in the midsagittal plane, and the nasal bone was located between a 45 and 135° angle to the ultrasound beam. We performed follow-up evaluations of all neonates. RESULTS: The rate of growth of the fetal nasal bone during different weeks of gestation is described by an equation where NBL =0.365×GA+ 2.5885, with a fit estimate of R2 = 0.97, P < 0.001. The median NBL increased with GA from 2.9 mm at 14 weeks to 5.8 mm at 22 weeks in a linear relationship. Our results in the North Indian population are similar to those in the South Indian population and differ from those in Chinese and Japanese populations. CONCLUSIONS: The NBL in North Indian fetuses at 14-26 weeks of GA has a linear relationship to the week of gestation.

Abdominal Hydatidosis: Unusual and Usual Locations in a North Indian Population.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess various locations in the abdomen wherein hydatid cysts can occur in an Indian population. Materials and methods A retrospective study was conducted on 38 patients of 20-55 years of age in an Indian population, who were diagnosed with hydatidosis on ultrasound and computed tomography. The measurement and location of the cysts were taken by the double operator method. Patients were followed up until post-surgical and histopathological diagnosis. Results Among the observed patients, the most common age group was 30-40 years (36.85%), with male predominance (76%). The most commonly involved organ was liver (71.1%) followed by the kidney (10.5%) and peritoneum (8%), pancreas (2.6%), spleen (2.6%), common bile duct (2.6%) and adnexa (2.6%). Conclusion In spite of the usual presenting features, the locations of the cysts were unusual, thus warranting the importance of making the diagnosis before rupture of the cysts and thereby preventing life-threatening complications such as anaphylactic shock.

The Utility of Dual Energy Computed Tomography in Musculoskeletal Imaging.

The objective of this article is to review the mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages of dual energy computed tomography (DECT) over conventional tomography (CT) in musculoskeletal imaging as DECT provides additional information about tissue composition and artifact reduction. This provides clinical utility in detection of urate crystals, bone marrow edema, reduction of beam hardening metallic artifact, and ligament and tendon analysis.

Caffey's Disease Sans Mandibular and Clavicular Involvement: A Rare Case Report.

Caffey's disease, also known as Infantile Cortical Hyperostosis, is a rare, self-limited, benign, inflammatory gene-related disorder of infants that causes bone changes, soft tissue swelling, and irritability. The mandible (75%), clavicles, and ulnae are the bones most frequently involved, others being long bones, lateral ribs, ilia with skull being the rarest. However, we report a case of a 5-month-old male diagnosed with Infantile cortical hyperostosis but with absent mandibular and clavicular involvement, thus depicting the unusual presentation of this disease.