Virtual colonoscopy in paediatric patients Usefulness of a colon dissection technique.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of perspective-filet view for polypoid lesions in paediatric patients in comparison with conventional virtual colonoscopy (VC) analysis and optical colonoscopy. METHODS: Sixty-one patients (mean age 5 years old) with a previous episode of rectal bleeding were studied using a 16 slices CT scanner. All patients underwent a colonic preparation. Two acquisitions were done in supine and prone positions with slices of 2mm thickness; increment 1mm, 30-50mA; 90-120kV. In a workstation an experienced radiologist reviewed images twice. The first read was done using the conventional virtual colonoscopy technique with the evaluation of two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D) and endoscopical images. Later, in a second session, perspective-filet view was used. It shows a 360 degrees unrolled visualization of the inner colon. The presence, size and location of the lesions were determined. A record of the reading time was made. RESULTS: At per patient evaluation the conventional virtual colonoscopy analysis obtained a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 98%. The perspective-filet view obtained a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 99%. In the evaluation on a per lesion basis the conventional analysis had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 88%. Perspective-filet view, had a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 90%. The average total reading time using conventional colonoscopy technique was 18+/-3min, versus 4+/-1min using the perspective-filet view. CONCLUSION: Virtual colon dissection with perspective-filet view is more time-efficient than conventional virtual colonoscopy evaluation with correct correlation in results.

Clinical use of 64-row multislice computed tomography hysterosalpingography in the evaluation of female factor infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential clinical value of 64-row multislice computed tomography hysterosalpingography (MSCT-H) in the evaluation of female patients with a diagnosis of infertility and compare it with the use of standard X-ray hysterosalpingography (HSG). DESIGN: Comparative prospective study. SETTING: Outpatient Imaging Diagnostic Centre, Diagnóstico Maipú, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a university-affiliated fertility institute (Centro de Estudios en Ginecología y Reproducción, Buenos Aires, Argentina). PATIENT(S): Twenty-two female patients with a diagnosis of infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Sixty-four-row MSCT-H and conventional X-ray HSG. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Diagnostic accuracy of MSCT-H for the evaluation of cervical, uterine, and tubal pathology. RESULT(S): We found that 64-row MSCT-H was useful in identifying female reproductive tract abnormalities, showing in the per patient analysis a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85.71%. This new procedure can be performed without a tenaculum, making it well tolerated. Clinical complications did not occur in any of the patients participating in the study. CONCLUSION(S): Sixty-four-row MSCT-H is a valuable alternative diagnostic technique in the infertility workup algorithm for the evaluation of the female reproductive tract.

Virtual hysteroscopy by multidetector computed tomography.

Currently accepted techniques that evaluate the uterus and female reproductive system in the infertility workup algorithm include hysterosonography, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography. Based on high speed multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) which can acquire high-quality volumetric data of the pelvic region in a single brief scan, MDCT virtual hysteroscopy is proposed as a developing, non-invasive alternative diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of uterine pathology and other gynecologic disorders. Findings of the technique are illustrated.

Multidetector computed tomography virtual hysterosalpingography in the investigation of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of multidetector CT virtual hysterosalpingography (MDCT-VH) with conventional X-ray hysterosalpingography (HSG) in the evaluation of patients with diagnosis of infertility. METHODS: Sixty patients with diagnosis of infertility scheduled to perform a HSG, were evaluated with 16-row (n=50) and 64-row (n=10) MDCT-VH. In 35 patients the examination was performed without a tenaculum. The HSGs were carried out using standard technique. The HSG and MDCT-VH findings were compared. The duration for both examinations and patient discomfort were documented. The sensitivity and specificity of MDCT-VH for the detection of uterine pathology and tubal obstruction were calculated using the exact binomial method. Agreement between the two methods was assessed by the Cohen's kappa method (k). RESULTS: The mean duration for MDCT-VH (16 and 64-rows) was 5+/-3 min, whereas for HSG was 28+/-3. The MDCT-VH without a tenaculum was the procedure with less patient discomfort. Sensitivity, specificity and inter-method agreement for the detection of uterine pathology were 100%, 92% and k=0.92 for 16-row MDCT-VH and 100%, 100% and k=1 for 64-row MDCT-VH, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of tubal obstruction were 80% and 80% for 16-row MDCT-VH and 100% and 100% for 64-row MDCT-VH, respectively; inter-method agreement for the visualization of the tubes was k=0.54 for 16-row MDCT-VH and k=1 for 64-row MDCT-VH. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the feasibility of evaluating the female reproductive system by MDCT-VH. 64-Row MDCT-VH could be an alternative diagnostic technique in the infertility workup algorithm. A larger study is in progress to validate these encouraging results.

CT colonoscopy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Virtual colonoscopy is used worldwide for the detection of colon polyps, but this technique has not been used much for the evaluation of inflammatory bowel diseases. The advent of multidetector-computed tomography and the use of high quality 3D and virtual images opened up the opportunity to assess these patients with this non-invasive technique. Early and late colonic changes are illustrated.

Multidetector CT colonoscopy: evaluation of the perspective-filet view virtual colon dissection technique for the detection of elevated lesions.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to determine the usefulness of a virtual computed tomography colon dissection visualization technique for the detection of polypoid lesions in comparison with conventional virtual colonoscopy analysis and optical colonoscopy. METHODS: Twenty-three patients were evaluated with optical colonoscopy and computed tomography colonoscopy using 16-row MDCT on the same day. CT images were analyzed by the colon dissection workup with unfolded haustra visualization and also using the conventional virtual colonoscopy technique (axial images and endoluminal views). The CT analysis was performed by an experienced radiologist using both viewing methods in a randomized order and blinded to optical colonoscopy results. RESULTS: Optical colonoscopy revealed 35 colonic lesions; 15 < 5 mm, 18 between 5-9 mm and 2 > 9 mm. For conventional virtual colonoscopy analysis the overall sensitivity was 86.67%; for the colon dissection visualization technique, the overall sensitivity was 82.86%. The average reading time for conventional virtual colonoscopy was 15 +/- 3 vs. 8 +/- 2 min for the colon dissection visualization technique. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that there is a significant reduction in the reading time using the colon dissection visualization technique without detriment to the detection rate, that is, competitive to conventional virtual colonoscopy interpretation results.

Evaluación hepática con TC multidetector. Angiotomografía, determinación volumétrica y hepatectomía virtual / Liver evaluation with multidetector CT. Angiotomography, volume determination and virtual hepatectomy

Objetivo: mostrar una nueva técnica de evaluación prequirúrgica del hígado utilizando tomografía computada multidetector (TCMD), determinando la utilidad de las reconstrucciones angiográficas, la volumetría hepática y la hepatectomía virtual, en correlación con los hallazgos quirúrgicos. Métodos: veinte pacientes con tumores hepáticos primarios o secundarios fueron evaluados con TCMD y luego operados. Las TC se efectuaron con técnica de doble fase (arterial y venosa) con un tomógrafo de 4 filas de detectores (Mx8000; Philips Medical Systems) luego de la inyección de 120ml de contraste endovenoso con una bomba inyectora. La adquisición se realizó con una colimación de 4x2.5mm. Las imágenes se evaluaron en conjunto con los cirujanos. Se calcularon los volúmenes hepáticos, se realizaron reconstrucciones vasculares y se efectuó la hepatectomía virtual. Se determinó la correlación del volumen de hígado a resecar establecido por la hepatectomía virtual y el de la pieza quirúrgica mediante el método de Bland y Altman. Resultados: la hepatectomía virtual permitió planificar y realizar en todos los pacientes la cirugía en un solo tiempo quirúrgico. No se produjeron complicaciones. El coeficiente de correlación fue 0.83 (IC 95%: -132.08- 159.78). Conclusiones: la hepatectomía virtual prequirúrgica es una nueva herramienta diagnóstica de la TCMD que, junto con las reconstrucciones vasculares, es útil para determinar la técnica quirúrgica a realizar en cada paciente y para estimar si el volumen hepático remanente será suficiente para evitar el desarrollo de una insuficiencia hepática post-quirúrgica.

Aim: to show a new technique of presurgical liver tumor evaluation using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), determining the usefulness of angiographic reconstructions, presurgical virtual hepatectomy and 3D liver volume determination, in correlation with surgery findings. Methods: twenty patients with primary or secondary liver tumors were evaluated with MDCT and then operated on. Dualphase CT was performed in all patients on a 4-row multidetector CT scanner (Mx8000; Philips Medical Systems) after mechanical injection of 120ml of iodinated contrast medium. Scanning was performed using a detector configuration of 4x2.5mm. Images were sent to a workstation and they were analysed with the surgeons. The 3D volumes of each lesion, of the total liver and of the segments to be resected were calculated. Vascular reconstructions and virtual hepatectomy were also performed. Correlation of the liver volume between MDCT and surgery was calculated using the Bland and Altman method. Results: virtual liver segmentation allowed to perform the surgery in 100 % of the patients in one time and there were no complications. The correlation coefficient was 0.83 (CI 95%: -132.08, 159.78). Conclusions: presurgical liver hepatectomy is a new application tool of MDCT. The angiographic findings and the volume determination are useful to determine the surgical technique for each patient and this information allows the surgeons to know if the remnant liver will be enough for the patients to avoid a post-surgical liver insufficiency.

Evaluación hepática con TC multidetector. Angiotomografía, determinación volumétrica y hepatectomía virtual / Liver evaluation with multidetector CT. Angiotomography, volume determination and virtual hepatectomy

Objetivo: mostrar una nueva técnica de evaluación prequirúrgica del hígado utilizando tomografía computada multidetector (TCMD), determinando la utilidad de las reconstrucciones angiográficas, la volumetría hepática y la hepatectomía virtual, en correlación con los hallazgos quirúrgicos. Métodos: veinte pacientes con tumores hepáticos primarios o secundarios fueron evaluados con TCMD y luego operados. Las TC se efectuaron con técnica de doble fase (arterial y venosa) con un tomógrafo de 4 filas de detectores (Mx8000; Philips Medical Systems) luego de la inyección de 120ml de contraste endovenoso con una bomba inyectora. La adquisición se realizó con una colimación de 4x2.5mm. Las imágenes se evaluaron en conjunto con los cirujanos. Se calcularon los volúmenes hepáticos, se realizaron reconstrucciones vasculares y se efectuó la hepatectomía virtual. Se determinó la correlación del volumen de hígado a resecar establecido por la hepatectomía virtual y el de la pieza quirúrgica mediante el método de Bland y Altman. Resultados: la hepatectomía virtual permitió planificar y realizar en todos los pacientes la cirugía en un solo tiempo quirúrgico. No se produjeron complicaciones. El coeficiente de correlación fue 0.83 (IC 95%: -132.08- 159.78). Conclusiones: la hepatectomía virtual prequirúrgica es una nueva herramienta diagnóstica de la TCMD que, junto con las reconstrucciones vasculares, es útil para determinar la técnica quirúrgica a realizar en cada paciente y para estimar si el volumen hepático remanente será suficiente para evitar el desarrollo de una insuficiencia hepática post-quirúrgica. (AU)

Aim: to show a new technique of presurgical liver tumor evaluation using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), determining the usefulness of angiographic reconstructions, presurgical virtual hepatectomy and 3D liver volume determination, in correlation with surgery findings. Methods: twenty patients with primary or secondary liver tumors were evaluated with MDCT and then operated on. Dualphase CT was performed in all patients on a 4-row multidetector CT scanner (Mx8000; Philips Medical Systems) after mechanical injection of 120ml of iodinated contrast medium. Scanning was performed using a detector configuration of 4x2.5mm. Images were sent to a workstation and they were analysed with the surgeons. The 3D volumes of each lesion, of the total liver and of the segments to be resected were calculated. Vascular reconstructions and virtual hepatectomy were also performed. Correlation of the liver volume between MDCT and surgery was calculated using the Bland and Altman method. Results: virtual liver segmentation allowed to perform the surgery in 100 % of the patients in one time and there were no complications. The correlation coefficient was 0.83 (CI 95%: -132.08, 159.78). Conclusions: presurgical liver hepatectomy is a new application tool of MDCT. The angiographic findings and the volume determination are useful to determine the surgical technique for each patient and this information allows the surgeons to know if the remnant liver will be enough for the patients to avoid a post-surgical liver insufficiency.(AU)