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Due to the anatomical characteristics of the tumor and the specific variables of the patients, the accuracy of preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer needs to be further improved. This study investigated the effect of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) on the accuracy of clinical T-staging of gastric cancer.The clinical data of 455 patients who underwent gastrectomy from January 2013 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Taking the postoperative pathological results as the reference standard, the patients were divided into accurate staging group and mistaken staging group according to the comparison of clinical T stage (cT) and pathological T stage (pT). The individual characteristics of the two groups were compared, including visceral fat content at L2/L3 level calculated on computed tomography, age, sex, tumor size, tumor location (cardia, stomach body, stomach antrum), and degree of differentiation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent factors affecting the accuracy of cT staging.Among the 455 patients, 355 patients (78.0 %) had accurate preoperative cT staging and 100 patients (22.0 %) had inaccurate preoperative cT staging. The average area of VAT in the accurate staging group was (129.8 ± 72.6) cmPatients with lower visceral fat content (97.8 cm

The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) and hyperdense vessel sign (HDVS) on baseline non-contrast CT (NCCT) may benefit prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to investigate the agreement of ASPECTS between automated and manual interpretations, and further understand the roles of NCCT and CT Perfusion (CTP) in prognosis.From January 2019 to May 2020, thrombolysis-treated AIS patients undergoing NCCT and Perfusion imaging before treatment were retrospectively reviewed. A radiologist, a senior neuroradiologist and a neurologist blindly interpreted ASPECTS from NCCT images and a prototypical software produced automated results. Another independent radiologist determined presence of HDVS and CTP-ASPECTS. Three-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤ 2 indicated good functional outcome. NCCT ASPECTS were compared against CTP-ASPECTS using squared weighted kappa. Univariable, multivariable and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis were conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of clinical risk factors, NCCT and CTP findings.Seventy-five patients were included in this study, of whom 35 (46.7%) presented favorable outcome. Fair to substantial agreement with CTP-ASPECTS was witnessed for automated and manual interpretations (0.685, automated; 0.778, radiologist; 0.830, neuroradiologist; 0.313, neurologist). ASPECTS, HDVS, infarct core volume and mismatch ratio were univariably related to functional outcome, and infarct core volume remained as an independent prognostic factor in the multivariable analysis. The multivariable model achieved an area under ROC (AUC) of 0.768 (95% CI, 0.666-0.870).Automated ASPECTS achieves substantial agreement with reference CTP-ASPECTS, and comprehensive CT assessment may benefit AIS prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis.

To determine the value of the quantitative parameters obtained from gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the hepatobiliary phase for predicting post-hepatectomy liver failure and overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.This multicenter retrospective study included 307 patients who underwent gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI. The quantitative liver-to-portal vein contrast ratio (LPC) and liver-spleen contrast ratio (LSC) at the hepatobiliary phase were measured. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate risk factors for post-hepatectomy liver failure. The capacity of the LPC and LSC to predict post-hepatectomy liver failure was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS).Post-hepatectomy liver failure was observed in 69 patients (22.5%). The LPC and LSC were independent risk factors for the development of post-hepatectomy liver failure, and the areas under the ROC curves of LPC and LSC were 0.882 and 0.782, respectively. The predictive performance of LPC for post-hepatectomy liver failure was superior to LSC. The LPC and LSC were also significant prognostic factors for OS. The cut-off values for the LPC and LSC were 1.07 and 0.89, respectively. The 5-year OS rate was higher in patients with LPC 1.07 or LSC 0.89 than in patients with LPC ≤ 1.07 or LSC ≤ 0.89.The quantitative parameters obtained from gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI at the hepatobiliary phase were effective imaging biomarkers for predicting both post-hepatectomy liver failure and overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Perivascular fat attenuation index is considered a sensitive biomarker of vulnerable coronary plaques. However, its application in studying the carotid artery are unknown.This study aimed to explore the association between cerebrovascular symptoms and carotid attenuation density of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) on computed tomography angiography (CTA).A total of 206 participants (mean age, 63.9 ± 7.9 years, 145 men) who underwent CTA were retrospectively analyzed. Perivascular fat density (PFD) was evaluated via CTA. The association between PFD and the occurrence of cerebrovascular symptoms was examined via generalized estimating equations and receiver operating characteristic analysis.Among the 206 subjects, 49.5% (plaques were observed in 102 patients) presented cerebrovascular symptoms. Plaques with symptoms (-55.0 ± 10.0 Hounsfield units [HU]) had a higher PFD than those without symptoms (-68.0 ± 10.3 HU) (p 0.001). After adjusting for hyperlipidemia, statin use, antiplatelet use, calcification, degree of luminal stenosis, maximum plaque thickness, and ulceration, PFD was found to be strongly associated with cerebrovascular symptoms (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19; p 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.81 by using PFD measurements to discriminate between symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques with a sensitivity of 87.3% and a specificity of 60.6%.An increase in attenuation density of PVAT on CTA was found to be related to an increase in the risks of cerebrovascular symptoms. PFD might serve as an imaging marker of symptomatic carotid plaques.

To access the effect of iodinate contrast agent (ICA) on DNA double-stand breaks (DSBs) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes during computed tomography (CT) examinations.This present study was approved by the institutional ethics committee; written informed patient consent was obtained from 70 patients. A total of 48 patients underwent computed tomography urography (CTU), in which only one time CT scanning was examined after injecting ICA, and 22 patients received unenhanced whole abdominal CT, among them 10 patients were selected to get ICA injection immediately after irradiation. Blood samples were taken from all patients prior to and immediately after CT scan, as well as 8min after the injection of ICA. The lymphocytes in these blood samples were separated by using density-gradient centrifugation, fixed and immunostained with γH2AX antibody. The average number of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) foci per lymphocyte was counted under a fluorescence microscopy. Differences in the number of γH2AX-foci were statistically analyzed using independent sample t test and one way ANOVA.The three patient groups had no significant differences in the baseline foci numbers(P0.05). The γH2AX-focus levels increased in both groups after CT scan. Patients who underwent CTU examinations had a greater DSBs level (mean±standard error of mean, 0.945±0.184 foci per cell) than those who received unenhanced whole abdominal CT scan (mean±standard error of mean, 0.700±0.112 foci per cell), increasing by about 37.9%; The ICA injected before CT scan itself had an effect on the DSBs, which increased DSBs level by approximately 90.3% (0.059±0.018vs 0.031±0.025, P0.05), but no significant difference was found if added after irradiation, increasing DSBs level only by 3.2% approximately (0.711±0.091vs 0.689±0.108, P=0.499).The iodinated contrast agent itself can lead to an increase in the level of DSBs as assessed with γH2AX foci formation, and the application of ICA can amplify DNA damage induced by diagnostic x-ray procedures such as whole abdominal CT.

To select the best imaging method for clinical otologic patients through evaluating 3D constructive interference of steady state (CISS) image quality in visualizing the facial, vestibulocochlear nerves (CN:VII-VIII) and their abnormal changes.The CN:VII-VIII as well as inner ear structures in 48 volunteers were examined using 3D-CISS and 3D turbo spin echo (TSE) sequences respectively, and displayed to the full at the reformatted and maximum intensity projection (MIP) images. The nerve identification and image quality were graded for the CN:VII-VIII as well as inner ear structures. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxin test, p0.05 was considered significant. In addition, 8 patients with abnormality in facial or vestibulocochlear nerves were also examined using 3D-CISS sequence.The identification rates for the cisternal segment of facial, vestibulocochlear nerves and corresponding membranous labyrinth were 100%. Abnormal changes of the facial or vestibulocochlear nerves were clearly shown in 8 patients, among them 1 was caused by bilateral acoustic neurinoma, 1 by cholesteatoma at cerebellopontine angle, 1 by arachnoid cyst, 1 by neurovascular adhesion, 4 by neurovascular compression.With 3D-CISS sequence the fine structure of the CN:VII-VIII and corresponding membranous labyrinth can be clearly demonstrated; lesions at the site of cerebellopontine angle can also be found easily.

Objective To evaluate the detailed anatomic features, neurovascular relationships of the cisternal segment of the posterior group of cranial nerves (PGCN: IX, X, XI, XII); to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance (MR) in demonstrating the PGCN with disorders caused by abnormal compression related to artery or tumor. Methods A total of 59 volunteers, 12 patients with abnormal symptom in the PGCN underwent three-dimensional (3D) Fourier transformation constructive interference in steady-state (CISS) MR imaging, and 22 of these volunteers and 12 patients also underwent MR angiography in which a time-of-flight (TOF) sequence was used to further distinguish the PGCN from the adjacent blood vessels. Anatomical features, neurovascular relationships of the PGCN in 59 volunteers and abnormal changes in 12 patients caused by neurovascular compression or tumor were observed from multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) images, cryomicrotome section and 3D-CISS MR imaging of cranial cadaver were used to testify the PGCN displayed in 59 volunteers. Results 3D-CISS MR imaging depicted the proximal cisternal segment of the cranial nerves complex (CN IX, X, XI) at the oblique axial, sagittal planes in 100% (118/118), 99% (117/118) of 118 sides; CNXII in the oblique axial, sagittal planes in 90% (106/118), 91% (107/118) of 118 sides. At the sagittal planes, the CN IX, X, XI were found parallel to each other in the cisternal segment in 45.2% (53/117) of 117 sides, gathering into a bundle of nerves complex before entering the jugular foramen (JF) in 54.7% (64/117) of 117sides. VAs were blood vessels more often identified, they were found to be in contact with the PGCN in 28.0% (33/118) of 118 sides, and not in contact in 72.0% (85/118) of 118 sides. 3D-CISS MR imaging of volunteers revealed the similar result corresponding to cryomicrotome section and 3D-CISS MR imaging of cranial cadaver. Twelve patients with abnormal changes in the PGCN were all displayed well, among them 8 were pressed by arteries, 1 by arachnoid cyst, and 3 caused by tumors. Conclusion Use of 3D-CISS sequence enables accurate identification of the cisternal segment of the PGCN, neurovascular relationships and abnormal changes caused by neurovascular compression or tumor.

To evaluate dose performance and image quality of 64-slice dual source CT (DSCT) in comparison to 64-slice single source CT (SSCT) in cardiac CT angiography (CTA).100 patients examined by DSCT and 60 patients scanned by SSCT were included in this study. Objective indices such as image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio and signal-to-noise ratio were analyzed. Subjective image quality was assessed by two cardiovascular radiologists in consensus using a four-point scale (1=excellent to 4=not acceptable). Estimation of effective dose was performed on the basis of dose length product (DLP).At low heart rates (70 bpm), image quality of SSCT was equivalent to that of DSCT (P0.05), but, at high heart rates (70 bpm), DSCT provided robust image quality (P0.05). The average effective dose of SSCT was 9.3+/-0.9 mSv at low heart rates (70 bpm) while, the average estimated effective doses of DSCT were 9.1+/-1.3 mSv, 8.3+/-1.1 mSv, 7.9+/-1.1 mSv, 6.9+/-0.7 mSv, and 5.9+/-1.3 mSv, corresponding to heart rates of 50-59 bpm, 60-69 bpm, 70-79 bpm, 80-89 bpm, and 90-100 bpm.For cardiac CTA, both DSCT and SSCT can get good image quality at low heart rates (70 bpm) with a similar radiation dose, but, at high heart rates (70 bpm), DSCT is able to provide robust diagnostic image quality at doses far below that of SSCT.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) in the diagnosis and planning the treatment of splenic aneurysms. Methods: Eight cases with splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty four-slice spiral CT scans were performed. Intravenous contrast material was injected at 4 ml/s, and arterial and venous phase images were obtained. Subsequently, arterial phase images were analyzed and made for CT angiography. The diagnosis was made by using axial and reconstructive images. All of the patients were also performed Doppler color echocardiography. Results: All patients showed splenic artery and splenic artery aneurysms clearly with CT arterial phase images. Among them, six patients had splenic artery aneurysms, one had giant splenic artery aneurysms (GSAA) and one had splenic artery pseudoaneurysms. Ultrasound examination only diagnosed six of them. Conclusion: MDCT is a noninvasive and valuable method in diagnosis of splenic artery aneurysms and has high value in determination of treatment plan.