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Purpose: To clarify features of lymph nodes associated with leukemia purposing to offer help for imaging diagnosis and differential diagnosis of leukemia. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 47 patients with clinically proven leukemia involving the abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes. Of these 47 patients, 10 had acute myeloid leukemia, 9 had acute lymphocytic leukemia, and 28 had chronic lymphocytic leukemia. MDCT was used to determine lymph node features such as morphology, growth patterns, size, enhancement patterns, anatomical distribution, and manifestations in extramedullary organs. Results: Incidence of leukemia was higher in men than in women. Enlarged lymph nodes were more frequently conglomerated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (96.4%) than in acute myeloid leukemia (50%) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (55.6%; P < 0.05 for both). Lymph nodes associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were larger than those associated with acute myeloid and lymphocytic leukemias ( P < 0.05 for both). The enlarged lymph nodes appeared homogeneous (80.9%) and homogeneous mixed with peripheral (19.1%). No statistically significant differences were observed between the three types of leukemias with respect to enhancement patterns (all P > 0.05). The lymph nodes commonly associated with these three leukemias were located in the lesser omentum, upper and lower para-aortic regions, and groin region. Conclusions: Our study showed that contrast-enhanced MDCT could accurately determine the enhancement patterns and anatomical distribution of lymph nodes associated with leukemia. Therefore, it is helpful for imaging diagnosis and differential diagnosis of leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perfusion CT is an attractive technique to assess tumor vascularity, and no studies have addressed the relationship between CT perfusion imaging and gastric tumor angiogenesis with volume-based technique. This study aims to assess the correlation between perfusion CT parameters using a volume-based technique and immunohistochemical markers of angiogenesis in gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: 37 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who completed whole tumor CT perfusion examination with volume-based technique were studied. Post surgical specimens were stained using a polyclonal antibody to VEGF and CD34. Perfusion measurements were correlated with microvessel density (MVD) and VEGF by using Pearson or Spearman rank correlation analysis, in which a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean MVD of all 37 tumors was 108.9 ± 38.2 vessels/0.723 mm². 70.3% (26 of 37) of tumors expressed VEGF positively. MVD of gastric adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with blood volume (the Pearson correlation coefficient being 0.420, P = 0.001). No correlations were found between VEGF expression and perfusion CT parameters. There were no significant differences in the parameters between the high and low MVD groups, and between the positive and negative VEGF groups. Conclusions: Blood volume was significantly correlated with MVD. It could reflect the angiogenesis in gastric adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perfusion CT has been applied in many clinical areas, but few studies have addressed gastric cancer. This study is to investigate the feasibility of first-pass perfusion CT with volume-based technique to assess microcirculation of gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: Perfusion CT of gastric adenocarcinoma was performed with 64-section MDCT in 58 patients, which were subdivided into three subgroups according to the location of the tumor. Perfusion, peak enhancement, time to peak, and blood volume were computed in the tumor and in normal gastric wall. Mean values of perfusion parameters were compared between the tumor and normal stomach, between tumors with and without lymph node metastases, and between different stages. Results: Blood volume was significantly increased in gastric adenocarcinoma compared with normal stomach (19.75 +/- 14.74 vs. 13.59 +/- 11.46 mL/100 g, in total stomach, P = 0.004). A total of 10.55 mL/100 g of blood volume was employed as the cut-off value to discriminate the microcirculation of the tumor from that of the normal stomach. There were no significant differences of any perfusion parameters between the subgroups with and without lymph node metastases, or between early and advanced cancer. Conclusions: The first-pass perfusion CT with whole tumor acquisition technique is a feasible technique for quantifying tumor vascularity and angiogenesis in gastric adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are no reports regarding entire gastric fundic and esophageal varices evaluated with 64-row multidetector CT (MDCT). We attempt to clarify the feasibility of portal venography with this scanner in evaluation of these varices. Methods: A total of 33 patients, with clinically confirmed gastric fundic and esophageal varices secondary to posthepatitic cirrhosis, underwent thoracicoabdominal triphasic enhancement scans using 64-row MDCT along with conventional angiographic portography. CT portography and conventional portography were compared by statistical agreement to determine whether CT maximum intensity projection (CT-MIP) portography is useful in evaluation of entire gastric fundic and esophageal varices. Results: CT-MIP portography demonstrated gastric fundic and esophageal varices, and the inflowing and outflowing vessels of the varices. Gastric fundic varices were shown in 32 cases (97.0%), and esophageal varices were in 27 (81.8%). The inflowing vessels including the left gastric vein and posterior gastric vein/short gastric vein were illustrated in 31 (94.0%) and 17 (51.5%) cases, respectively. The outflowing vessels including the azygos vein, hemiazygos vein, and gastro-renal shunts were seen in 30 (90.9%), 8 (24.2%), and 12 (36.4%) cases, respectively. Findings of CT-MIP portography and conventional angiographic portography were in close agreement (Kappa value ranged from 0.621 to 1.000). Conclusion: CT-MIP venography with 64-row MDCT could be considered as a method for detecting entire gastric fundic and esophageal varices developed from posthepatitic cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]