Search

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical utility of CT voiding urethrography (2D/3D reformatted CT images and virtual cystourethroscopy) in terms of its ability to detect urethral stricture associated with fistula.In the study period, 80 patients were found to have signs or symptoms of urine leakage, as detected by voiding CT scanning. 2D/3D reformatted CT images and the virtual cystourethroscopic view were generated by the software. Conventional urethrography and traditional cystourethroscopy were also used prior to operation. The accuracy of these techniques was compared to the actual findings during the operation.For 58 male patients suffering from urethral strictures associated with fistulas, the detection rate of the fistulas by 2D/3D reformatted CT images was superior to conventional urethrography for characterizing the site of the fistula and the length of the urethral stricture (P 0.05). The detection rate of the fistula by 3D virtual cystourethroscopy was similar to that by traditional cystourethroscopy (P 0.05). The duration of the examination was shorter for 3D virtual cystourethroscopy than for traditional cystourethroscopy (P 0.05). The same results were observed in 22 cases that featured a urethrovaginal fistula.CT voiding urethrography is a useful technique for the diagnosis of urethral disease, especially in male patients suffering from urethral stricture associated with fistula.

To compare the values of CT virtual cystourethroscopy and of conventional cystourethroscopy in diagnosing complex urethral strictures. From January 2012 to December 2012, 33 patients, suspected of having complex urethral strictures before operation, were enrolled in this study. After CT scanning, a virtual cystourethroscopic view was software-generated. Conventional cystourethroscopy was also used before operation. The time durations of virtual cystourethroscopy and conventional cystourethroscopy were recorded. The accuracies of both techniques were compared using the actual findings from the operation. For 16 patients suffering from urethral strictures associated with various fistulas, the duration of examination with virtual cystourethroscopy was statistically significantly shorter than with conventional cystourethroscopy (P

Early gastric cancer (EGC) is defined as a carcinoma in which invasion is limited to the mucosa and submucosa, regardless of lymph node status and distant metastasis. Recent advances in multidetector computed tomography (CT) with multiplanar reformation (MPR) provide a powerful tool for identifying gastric wall invasion and the perigastric extent of gastric cancer. In addition, MPR images confer advantages in the assessment of both intra- and extraluminal processes of the gastric wall and the evaluation of more distant regions, such as the paraaortic lymph nodes and other abdominal organs. Virtual endoscopy performed after air distention of the stomach can aid in the evaluation of gastric endoluminal morphologic features and the extent of EGC. Moreover, virtual endoscopy helps in detecting subtle mucosal changes and differentiating them from submucosal lesions in the same way as conventional endoscopy. Virtual endoscopy can depict abnormal endoluminal lesions within a wider field of view than can conventional endoscopy, and there are no "blind spots" because retrospective image reformation is available, which provides useful information for preoperative mapping. Multidetector CT with MPR and virtual endoscopy is a powerful, noninvasive tool for the early detection and accurate preoperative staging of EGC.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of in vivo 3T MRS with short TE for prescreening various brain diseases. Together with ten normal volunteers, 12 brain tumor patients(2 lymphomas, 5 malignant gliomas) and 5(benign meningiomas) and 10 brain ischemic disease patients(6 acute and 4 subacute infarctions) participated. Lymphomas showed increased intensities of Cho and Lac. Likewise, gliomas showed increased Cho and Lac, but with decreased NAA and -Glx; in higher grade of gliomas, Lac, Cho, mI and Lip predominantly increased with decrease of NAA. Benign meningiomas showed increased Cho, Lac and -Glx; with decreased of NAA. The alanine peak at 1.47 ppm is a neuronal marker for meningiomas. Infarctions showed increased Lac and Lip and decreased NAA, -Glx and -Glx where Lac increased with decreased of -Glx in acute, and Cho, Lac and Lip increased with decrease of NAA in subacute. Elevated Lac and decreased NAA levels were more aggravated in subacute. Clinical application of the MRS with short TE at 3T is able to povide valuable spectral information for prescreening various brain diseases by monitoring the changes of disease-specific cerebral metabolite concentrations in vivo, and consequently, it can be applicable to assessment of differential diagnosis and malignancy as well.

Purpose: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is one of the most dramatic abdominal emergencies. The most common cause of AMI is a thrombo-embolism of the mesenteric artery or vein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of CT angiography for evaluating mesenteric vascular steno-occlusive lesion in AMI. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with clinically and angiographically proven AMI underwent a twophase CT. The CT angiographic images were reconstructed using a 3D rendering algorithm, such as the maximum intensity projection and volume-rendering. All the CT angiographic images were reviewed with respect to stenosis or occlusion of mesenteric vessel by the consensus of two radiologists, and were correlated with the findings of digital subtraction angiography. Results: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) visualized 60 mesenteric vessels including the superior mesenteric artery (n=15) and vein (n=15), and the inferior mesenteric artery (n=15) and vein (n=15). DSA showed steno-occlusive lesions in 16 mesenteric vessels (13 superior mesenteric arteries, two superior mesenteric veins, and one inferior mesenteric artery). CT angiography detected steno-occlusive lesions in 16 mesenteric vessels (12 superior mesenteric arteries, one superior mesenteric vein, and three inferior mesenteric arteries). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT angiography for evaluating mesenteric vascular steno-occlusive lesion were 87.5%, 95.4%, and 93.3%, respectively. Conclusion: CT angiography is an useful adjunct to abdominal CT in an AMI setting on account of its ability to detect the causes of AMI such as a steno-occlusive lesion of the mesenteric vessel.