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The purpose of this study was to assess the role of multi-detector row CT urography (MDCTU), on a 16-row CT scanner in the evaluation of patients with painless hematuria, with emphasis placed in the detection of urothelial tumors. We retrospectively reviewed the MDCT urographies of 75 patients, referred for painless hematuria. The CT protocol included unenhanced images, obtained with a detector configuration of 16x1.5 mm and pitch of 1.2, nephrographic and excretory-phase images, obtained with a detector collimation of 16x0.75 mm and pitch of 1.2. Axial and coronal reformatted images were evaluated. Three-dimensional reformation of the excretory-phase images was performed using the volume-rendering technique. The standard of reference included clinical and imaging follow-up, cystoscopic, surgical and histologic findings. In 55 (73%) of 75 patients, the cause of hematuria was identified on MDCTU; the most common cause was urothelial cancer, including seven tumors with a diameter equal or smaller than 0.5 cm in diameter. Sixteen-row MDCTU provided satisfactory results in the investigation of patients with painless hematuria. The main advantage of the technique is its ability to detect uroepithelial malignancies.

To determine which cross-sectional imaging findings predict the short-term outcome of cervical facet joint blocks (FJB) and to evaluate the effect of combined intra-/periarticular versus periarticular injection on pain. Fifty facet joints in 37 patients were included in the study. Single, unilateral FJBs in 24 patients, and bilateral single level FJBs in 13 patients were performed, respectively. In all patients, pain relief was assessed using a visual analogue scale. All computed tomography (CT) examinations were blindly reviewed by two radiologists. Osteoarthritis was rated using the Kellgren classification. The presence of combined intra-/periarticular vs. sole periarticular injection of contrast was evaluated. Kellgren Grades 0 (n=23), 1 (n=5), 2 (n=3), 3 (n=9), and 4 (n=10) were found. Mean pain relief after injection was 35% (range: 0-100%). 40% of all injections were combined intra-/periarticular. There was neither a statistically significant difference between pain relief and combined intra-/periarticular versus sole periarticular injection (p=0.64) nor the grade of osteoarthritis (p=0.49). Pain relief after cervical FJBs does not correlate with morphologic alterations seen on CT. Periarticular FJBs are not less successful than combined intra-/periarticular FJBs.

The accuracy of coronary calcium scoring using 16-row MSCT comparing 1- and 3-mm slices was assessed. A thorax phantom with calcium cylinder inserts was scanned applying a non-enhanced retrospectively ECG-gated examination protocol: collimation 12 x 0.75 mm; 120 kV; 133 mAs(eff). Thirty-eight patients were examined using the same scan protocol. Image reconstruction was performed with an effective slice thickness of 3 and 1 mm. The volume score, calcium mass and Agatston score were determined. Image noise was measured in both studies. The volume score and calcium mass varied less than the Agatston score. The overall measured calcium mass compared to the actual calcium mass revealed a relative difference of +2.0% for 1-mm slices and -1.2% for 3-mm slices. Due to increased image noise in thinner slices in the patient study (26.1 HU), overall calcium scoring with a scoring threshold of 130 HU was not feasible. Interlesion comparison showed significantly higher scoring results for thinner slices (all P<0.001). A similar accuracy comparing calcium scoring results of 1- and 3-mm slices was shown in the phantom study; therefore, the potentially necessary increase of the patient's dose in order to achieve assessable 1-mm slices with an acceptable image-to-noise-ratio appears not to be justified.