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1.
Noncontrast Chest Computed Tomographic Imaging of Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome: Part II Noncardiovascular Findings.
Nattenmüller, J, Schlett, CL, Tsuchiya, N, Reeder, SB, Pickhardt, PJ, Kramer, H, Kauczor, HU, Wielpütz, MO, Seo, JB, Hatabu, H, et al
Journal of thoracic imaging. 2019;(2):126-135
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Abstract
The purpose of this review article is to acquaint the reader with the current state of the art for the noncardiovascular imaging biomarkers of metabolic syndrome found on noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) of the chest and their prognostic significance. Routine chest NCCT includes quantitative information with regard to tissue density and organ volumes in the neck, chest, and upper abdomen. The specific imaging biomarkers that may be seen in association with metabolic syndrome include low thyroid iodine organification, hepatic steatosis, sarcopenia (muscle volume and density), demineralization of the thoracic and upper lumbar vertebral bodies, loss of axial skeletal muscle mass, premature lung inflammation, and an increased deposition of subcutaneous and visceral fat. These easily identified imaging biomarkers can have prognostic implications, which include nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, hypothyroidism, early lung fibrosis with interstitial abnormalities, sarcopenia, and osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar spine vertebral body compression fractures. NCCT examinations of the chest have the opportunity to become an important imaging tool for outcomes research.
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A semi-automatic approach for epicardial adipose tissue segmentation and quantification on cardiac CT scans.
Militello, C, Rundo, L, Toia, P, Conti, V, Russo, G, Filorizzo, C, Maffei, E, Cademartiri, F, La Grutta, L, Midiri, M, et al
Computers in biology and medicine. 2019;:103424
Abstract
Many studies have shown that epicardial fat is associated with a higher risk of heart diseases. Accurate epicardial adipose tissue quantification is still an open research issue. Considering that manual approaches are generally user-dependent and time-consuming, computer-assisted tools can considerably improve the result repeatability as well as reduce the time required for performing an accurate segmentation. Unfortunately, fully automatic strategies might not always identify the Region of Interest (ROI) correctly. Moreover, they could require user interaction for handling unexpected events. This paper proposes a semi-automatic method for Epicardial Fat Volume (EFV) segmentation and quantification. Unlike supervised Machine Learning approaches, the method does not require any initial training or modeling phase to set up the system. As a further key novelty, the method also yields a subdivision into quartiles of the adipose tissue density. Quartile-based analysis conveys information about fat densities distribution, enabling an in-depth study towards a possible correlation between fat amounts, fat distribution, and heart diseases. Experimental tests were performed on 50 Calcium Score (CaSc) series and 95 Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CorCTA) series. Area-based and distance-based metrics were used to evaluate the segmentation accuracy, by obtaining Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) = 93.74% and Mean Absolute Distance (MAD) = 2.18 for CaSc, as well as DSC = 92.48% and MAD = 2.87 for CorCTA. Moreover, the Pearson and Spearman coefficients were computed for quantifying the correlation between the ground-truth EFV and the corresponding automated measurement, by obtaining 0.9591 and 0.9490 for CaSc, and 0.9513 and 0.9319 for CorCTA, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed EFV quantification and analysis method represents a clinically useable tool assisting the cardiologist to gain insights into a specific clinical scenario and leading towards personalized diagnosis and therapy.
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Contrast Material Injection Protocol With the Dose Determined According to Lean Body Weight at Hepatic Dynamic Computed Tomography: Comparison Among Patients With Different Body Mass Indices.
Matsumoto, Y, Masuda, T, Sato, T, Arataki, K, Nakamura, Y, Tatsugami, F, Awai, K
Journal of computer assisted tomography. 2019;(5):736-740
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare enhancement of the aorta and liver on hepatic dynamic computed tomography scans acquired with contrast material doses based on the lean body weight (LBW) or the total body weight (TBW). METHODS We randomly divided 529 patients (279 men, 250 women; median age, 66 years) scheduled for hepatic dynamic computed tomography into 2 groups. The LBW patients (n = 278) were injected with 679 mg iodine/kg (men) or 762 mg iodine/kg (women). The TBW group (n = 251) was injected with 600 mg iodine/kg TBW. Each group was subdivided into the 3 classes based on the body mass index (BMI; low, normal, high). Aortic enhancement during the hepatic arterial phase and hepatic enhancement during the portal venous phase was compared. The aortic and hepatic equivalence margins were 100 and 20 Hounsfield units, respectively. RESULTS Comparison of the median iodine dose in patients with a normal or high BMI showed that it was significantly lower under the LBW protocol than the TBW protocol (558.2 and 507.0 mg iodine/kg, P < 0.001, respectively). However, in patients with a low BMI, the LBW protocol delivered a significantly higher dose than the TBW protocol (620.7 vs 600.0 mg iodine/kg, P < 0.001). The 95% confidence interval for the difference in aortic and hepatic enhancement between the 2 protocols was within the range of the predetermined equivalence margins in all BMI subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Contrast enhancement was equivalent under both protocols. The LBW protocol can avoid iodine overdosing, especially in patients with a high BMI.
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Low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer in people with workplace exposure to asbestos.
Maisonneuve, P, Rampinelli, C, Bertolotti, R, Misotti, A, Lococo, F, Casiraghi, M, Spaggiari, L, Bellomi, M, Novellis, P, Solinas, M, et al
Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 2019;:23-30
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer, but environmental and occupational exposure to carcinogens also increase lung cancer risk. We assessed whether extending low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening to persons with occupational exposure to asbestos may be an effective way reducing lung cancer mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a nested case-control study within the COSMOS screening program, assessing past asbestos exposure with a questionnaire. LDCT scans of asbestos-exposed participants were reviewed to assess the presence of pulmonary, interstitial and pleural alterations in comparison to matched unexposed controls. We also performed an exhaustive review, with meta-analysis, of the literature on LDCT screening in asbestos-exposed persons. RESULTS Exposure to asbestos, initially self-reported by 9.8% of COSMOS participants, was confirmed in 216 of 544 assessable cases, corresponding to 2.6% of the screened population. LDCT of asbestos-exposed persons had significantly more pleural plaques, diaphragmatic pleural thickening and pleural calcifications, but similar frequency of parenchymal and interstitial alterations to unexposed persons. From 16 papers, including this study, overall lung cancer detection rates at baseline were 0.81% (95% CI 0.50-1.19) in asbestos-exposed persons, 0.94% (95% CI 0.47-1.53) in asbestos-exposed smokers (12 studies), and 0.11% (95% CI 0.00-0.43) in asbestos-exposed non-smokers (9 studies). CONCLUSION Persons occupationally exposed to asbestos should be monitored to gather more information about risks. Although LDCT screening is effective in the early detection lung cancer in asbestos-exposed smokers, our data suggest that screening of asbestos-exposed persons with no additional risk factors for cancer does is not viable due to the low detection rate.
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Role of dual energy CT to improve diagnosis of non-traumatic abdominal vascular emergencies.
Shaqdan, KW, Parakh, A, Kambadakone, AR, Sahani, DV
Abdominal radiology (New York). 2019;(2):406-421
Abstract
Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the modality of choice to evaluate abdominal vascular emergencies (AVE). CTA protocols are often complex and require acquisition of multiple phases to enable a variety of diagnosis such as acute bleeding, pseudoaneurysms, bowel ischemia, and dissection. With single energy CT (SECT), differentiating between calcium, coagulated blood, and contrast agents can be challenging based on their attenuation, especially when in small quantity or present as a mixture. With dual-energy CT (DECT), virtual monoenergetic (VM) and material decomposition (MD) image reconstructions enable more robust tissue characterization, improve contrast-enhancement, and reduce beam hardening artifacts. This article will demonstrate how radiologists can utilize DECT for various clinical scenarios in assessment of non-traumatic AVE.
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Current technologies in body composition assessment: advantages and disadvantages.
Ceniccola, GD, Castro, MG, Piovacari, SMF, Horie, LM, Corrêa, FG, Barrere, APN, Toledo, DO
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2019;:25-31
Abstract
The interest in non-invasive methods of body composition assessment is on the rise in health care, especially because of its association with clinical outcomes. Technology has revolutionized our understanding of body composition abnormalities, clinical prognostication, and disease follow-up, but translation to bedside is limited, especially in terms of cost effectiveness. Computed tomography gained increased attention in cancer and sarcopenia studies, for instance. Other methods also have interesting features and applications, including bedside ultrasonography, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and dual x-ray absorptiometry. Compelling evidence indicates these methods can be used to accurately and precisely measure skeletal muscle mass, adipose tissue, and edema; diagnose malnutrition-related diseases; and aid in determining prognoses. To apply this technology properly, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each technique in specific situations of interest. This review introduces concepts and reference studies published in the scientific literature about these techniques and describes important limitations and considerations necessary to incorporate these methods into clinical practice.
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CT-assessed sarcopenia is a predictive factor for both long-term and short-term outcomes in gastrointestinal oncology patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Su, H, Ruan, J, Chen, T, Lin, E, Shi, L
Cancer imaging : the official publication of the International Cancer Imaging Society. 2019;(1):82
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of sarcopenia on the outcome of gastrointestinal (GI) oncological patients is still controversial. We aim to discuss the prevalence of sarcopenia and its relation to the oncological outcome. METHODS Embase, Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched for related keywords. Studies using CT to assess sarcopenia and evaluate its relationship with the outcome of GI oncological patients were included. Long-term outcomes, including overall survival and disease-free survival, were compared by hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Short-term outcomes, including total complications and major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥IIIa) after curable surgery, were compared by the risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI. RESULTS A total of 70 studies including 21,875 patients were included in our study. The median incidence of sarcopenia was 34.7% (range from 2.1 to 83.3%). A total of 88.4% of studies used skeletal muscle index (SMI) in the third lumbar level on CT to define sarcopenia, and a total of 19 cut-offs were used to define sarcopenia. An increasing trend was found in the prevalence of sarcopenia when the cut-off of SMI increased (β = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.12-0.33, p < 0.001). The preoperative incidence of sarcopenia was associated both with an increased risk of overall mortality (HR = 1.602, 95% CI = 1.369-1.873, P < 0.001) and with disease-free mortality (HR = 1.461, 95% CI = 1.297-1.646, P < 0.001). Moreover, preoperative sarcopenia was a risk factor for both total complications (RR = 1.188, 95% CI = 1.083-1.303, P < 0.001) and major complications (RR = 1.228, 95% CI = 1.042-1.448, P = 0.014). CONCLUSION The prevalence of sarcopenia depends mostly on the diagnostic cut-off points of different criteria. Preoperative sarcopenia is a risk factor for both long-term and short-term outcomes.
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Evaluation and Management of Enterocutaneous Fistula.
Bhama, AR
Diseases of the colon and rectum. 2019;(8):906-910
Abstract
A 36-year-old woman presents with an abscess at her midline wound 4 weeks following an ileocecectomy for Crohn's disease. After the abscess is incised, there is purulent drainage followed by the drainage of enteric contents; the output is 750 mL per 24 hours.
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Superior mesenteric artery syndrome: a radiographic review.
Warncke, ES, Gursahaney, DL, Mascolo, M, Dee, E
Abdominal radiology (New York). 2019;(9):3188-3194
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide a review of the etiology, clinical presentation, and imaging findings of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome. METHODS A literature review of 24 relevant articles regarding SMA syndrome was performed. RESULTS Clinicians and radiologists with a high index of suspicion based on symptomatology may pursue radiologic investigation in the form of upper gastrointestinal (GI) series and contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) are less commonly utilized modalities in the work-up of SMA syndrome, but provide imaging alternatives without the use of ionizing radiation. Imaging can assist in diagnosis by demonstrating characteristic findings of reduced aortomesenteric angle, reduced aortomesenteric distance, gastroduodenal distention, bowel caliber narrowing at the takeoff of the superior mesenteric artery from the aorta, as well as delayed gastric emptying or positional obstruction observed with real time with fluoroscopy. CONCLUSION SMA syndrome is a rare disease that can go unrecognized and undiagnosed, exacerbating weight loss in an already significantly malnourished patient population. The diagnosis of SMA syndrome must be based on clinical symptomatology correlated with radiographic information. Once diagnosed, SMA syndrome can be safely treated by conservative measures although occasionally requires invasive intervention in the form of enteral tube placement, percutaneous jejunostomy tube placement, total parenteral nutrition, ligament of Treitz lysis, or duodenojejunostomy.
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Anatomical References to Evaluate Thoracic Aorta Calcium by Computed Tomography.
Pedrosa, JF, Barreto, SM, Bittencourt, MS, Ribeiro, ALP
Current atherosclerosis reports. 2019;(12):51
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Thoracic aortic calcium (TAC) has received some interest in recent studies as an important subclinical marker of atherosclerosis. Besides that, using computed tomography (CT) scans performed with cardiac or chest protocols, ECG-gated, or non-gated, TAC can be easily evaluated with no addition in radiation dose. This review discusses the particularities of the aortic wall calcium formation, as well as the differences between the aortic segments and summarizes the current status of TAC evaluation, mainly concerning the anatomical references used in the studies. RECENT FINDINGS The studies have evaluated TAC considering different anatomical references. It was identified two different study groups. In the first one, researchers have analyzed the aorta as the sum of calcium in the ascending aorta (ATAC), aortic arch (AAC), and descending thoracic aorta (DTAC). The second group has used cardiac CT scans to assess TAC; therefore, they did not include AAC; however, the aortic root calcium (ARC) was added in the analysis. So, caution is advisable when interpreting and comparing studies that used different TAC anatomical references. The broad methodological variability, in addition to the variations in the population characteristics of the studies on TAC, may be in part contributing to the differences between results of different studies. Currently TAC does not have a role in clinical decisions, so it is necessary to create a standard protocol for the aortic calcium research as well as exists for the coronary artery calcium evaluation.