Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE: To determine if simple renal cysts may be accurately characterized with helical computed tomography (CT) during peak levels of renal enhancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water-filled 'cysts' were suspended in varying concentrations of iodine solution, meant to simulate varying levels of renal enhancement, within an abdominal phantom. Volume-averaging effects were minimized by scanning cylindric 5-30-mm cysts with a helical technique (collimation, 5 mm; pitch, 1:1). Axial and helical techniques were then compared, and volume-averaging effects were evaluated by scanning 10- and 20-mm round cysts with 3-, 5-, and 7-mm collimation at background attenuation levels of 100 and 200 HU. RESULTS: Cylindric cyst attenuation increased consistently with increasing background attenuation. As background attenuation increased by 90 HU, attenuation increased by 11-17 HU in small (5- or 10-mm) cysts, and by 7-9 HU in large (15-30-mm) cysts. As background attenuation increased by 180 HU, attenuation increased by 18-28 HU in small cysts and by 10-15 HU in large cysts. Spherical cyst attenuation differences were maximized when smaller cysts were imaged with larger collimation, which is when volume-averaging effects became apparent. Axial and helical CT numbers did not differ substantially. Computer simulation studies showed that the observed effect could not be explained by beam hardening alone. CONCLUSION: Pseudoenhancement of renal cysts may occur if helical CT is performed during peak renal enhancement. CT algorithm modification may be necessary to correct for this effect, which is likely related to an inadequate algorithmic correction for beam hardening

PURPOSE: To evaluate a bolus-tracking technique in helical computed tomography (CT) for identifying the onset of the nephrographic phase and to determine the effect of varying the volume and injection rate of contrast material on nephrographic phase onset. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients underwent bolus tracking of contrast material followed by helical renal CT. In 50 patients, 150 mL of 60% iodinated contrast material (iohexol or iothalamate meglumine) was injected at either 2 mL/sec (25 patients [group 1]) or 3 mL/sec (25 patients [group 2]). In 25 patients who had previously undergone nephrectomy, 100 mL of 60% iodinated contrast material was injected at 3 mL/sec (group 3). Nephrographic phase onset was determined by visually assessing the transition to a homogeneous nephrogram during a monitoring scan series starting 40 seconds after injection. RESULTS: Nephrographic phase onset ranged from 60 to 136 seconds (mean, 89 seconds +/- 17 [+/- SD]). Statistically significant differences in mean onset times were observed among groups 1 (103 seconds +/- 12), 2 (91 seconds +/- 16), and 3 (75 seconds +/- 9) (P < .001). Multiple regression analysis showed patient age, contrast material volume, and injection rate to be independent predictors of nephrographic phase onset. Contrast material volume, patient age, and patient weight were independent predictors of the degree of renal enhancement. CONCLUSION: Nephrographic phase onset is highly dependent on methods of contrast material administration and patient characteristics

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to develop quantitative and qualitative criteria for diagnosing fatty liver on contrast-enhanced helical CT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Differential liver-spleen attenuation was evaluated between 80 and 120 sec after injection in 76 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced helical CT. Unenhanced CT images had earlier established fatty liver when the liver minus spleen attenuation difference was less than or equal to -10 H (n = 18). Four observers who had not seen the unenhanced images used contrast-enhanced CT images to assess the presence of fatty liver on a five-point Likert scale, the presence of geographic areas spared from fatty infiltration, and the relative liver-spleen attenuation. The diagnostic accuracies of various imaging criteria were compared using McNemar's chi-square test (for sensitivity and specificity) and analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curve areas for observers' qualitative judgments were 54%, 95%, and .91, respectively; for quantitative differential liver-spleen attenuation (80-100 sec; -20.5 H discriminatory value), the values were 86%, 87%, and .94, respectively; and for quantitative differential liver-spleen attenuation (101-120 sec; -18.5 H discriminatory value), the values were 93%, 93%, and .98, respectively. Differential liver-spleen attenuation was time-dependent; overlap was noted between healthy subjects and patients with fatty liver. Qualitatively, geographic sparing was highly specific (94%) for fatty liver, whereas liver attenuation greater than or equal to spleen attenuation excluded fatty liver in all but one case. CONCLUSION: Although quantitative and qualitative criteria for diagnosing fatty liver on helical CT can be determined, they are protocol-specific. Limited unenhanced hepatic CT remains the optimal technique for detection of fatty infiltration of the liver

PURPOSE: To evaluate the belief that the frequencies of contrast material extravasation and minor, nonidiosyncratic contrast material reactions correlate with intravenous injection rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Complications of 6,660 consecutive injections of contrast material for computed tomography were prospectively recorded. Ionic (n = 4,851) or nonionic (n = 1,809) contrast material was injected at 0.5-4.0 mL/sec. The injection rate was 1.9 mL/sec or less in group 1 (n = 2,899), 2.0-2.9 mL/sec in group 2 (n = 2,475), and 3.0-4.0 mL/sec in group 3 (n = 1,286). RESULTS: The extravasation rate (0.6%) did not differ significantly between the groups. The reaction rate (8.4%) also did not differ significantly between the groups. The rate of minor reactions (8.0%) was higher with ionic (9.9%) than nonionic (2.9%) contrast material (relative risk = 3.4). The rate of major reactions (0.4%) did not vary significantly with type of contrast material. The rate of nausea or vomiting (3.8%) did not differ significantly between the groups but was higher with ionic (4.9%) than nonionic (1.1%) contrast material (relative risk = 4.5). The rate of severe warmth (2.1%) was significantly higher in group 3 (2.8%) than group 1 (2.0%) or 2 (1.8%). CONCLUSION: No correlations exist between injection rate and extravasation rate or overall reaction rate

PURPOSE: To describe the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of hepatic infarcts resulting from arterial insufficiency in native livers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and imaging findings in 10 patients (five men, five women; age range, 28-70 years) with 14 hepatic infarcts seen over 3 years. CT scans were analyzed for infarct appearance, vessel patency, and evolution of infarct pattern over time. RESULTS: Hepatic infarction resulted from hepatobiliary surgery (n = 6), radiologic intervention (n = 3), and celiac occlusion secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 1). All 14 infarcts were of low attenuation, peripheral, and wedge-shaped. Occluded arterial vessels were identified in eight patients. Follow-up CT revealed infarct diminution with parenchymal atrophy and scarring (n = 5), progressive liquefaction (n = 2), or both parenchymal atrophy and progressive liquefaction (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Sudden interruption of hepatic arterial flow may cause acute native liver infarction. Patients at risk include those with underlying vascular disease who undergo complicated surgical procedures and those undergoing peripheral arterial embolization

The computed tomographic (CT) findings of extensive visceral calcification involving both the liver and spleen in a patient with primary amyloidosis are presented. Although the CT imaging appearances of amyloidosis are often nonspecific, visceral calcification represents an important diagnostic clue for differentiating this entity from other infiltrative parenchymal diseases

Neoplastic infiltration of the greater omentum is most commonly caused by metastatic ovarian, gastric, colonic, or pancreatic carcinoma. Because the omentum lacks lymphoid elements, lymphomatous infiltration is uncommon. To date, omental involvement by lymphoma has been reported exclusively in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In this report, the computed tomography findings of omental caking caused by Hodgkin's lymphoma are described. Although rare, both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of omental caking

OBJECTIVE: Heterotopic ossification of a midline surgical incision in a form of myositis ossificans traumatica in which osseous, cartilaginous, and, occasionally, myelogenous elements develop within an abdominal wound. When large amounts of internal ossification are present, the scar may demonstrate a complex radiologic appearance and potentially may be misinterpreted as a retained foreign body or incisional neoplastic recurrence. This report describes the CT and MR imaging findings of this entity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the cross-sectional imaging findings of 11 patients with ossified midline abdominal wounds. All but one of the patients were men, and the median age at diagnosis was 40 years old (range, 20-76 years old). Initial imaging was performed 7 days to 36 months after surgery (mean, 6.7 months). CT and MR imaging scans were reviewed, and lesion size, location, distance from the xiphoid, shape, and stability were assessed. Pathologic proof was obtained in one patient. RESULTS: CT and MR imaging examination in all patients showed ossified surgical scars, with the attenuation or signal intensity of the ossified components equivalent to that of the spine. Intralesional, fat-density components suggestive of marrow were present in two patients. All scars were located in the upper abdomen between the anterior abdominal fascia and the peritoneal surface, at the level of or inferior to the xiphoid process. Scars ranged in length from 0.7 to 13.4 cm (mean, 6.9 cm). Distances from the inferior tip of the xiphoid to the superior aspect of the ossified scar ranged from 0 to 4.9 cm (mean, 2.2 cm). Time from surgery to the initial postoperative demonstration of scar ossification ranged from 11 days to 36 months (mean, 6.8 months). None of the five patients who underwent preoperative CT examinations had abnormalities in the location of subsequent scar ossification. Of the nine patients with multiple postoperative examinations, scar size and appearance remained stable in six. In the remaining three patients, scar size was stable but showed progressive internal ossification. CONCLUSION: Heterotopic ossification within midline abdominal scars can be diagnosed by both CT and MR imaging examination. Recognition of the imaging appearances of such ossification should help prevent diagnostic confusion when attending postoperative patients