Patient Radiological Imaging Research Articles

Radiological Imaging in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma

Diagnostic imaging is carried out in patients with esophageal carcinoma in order to decide on the therapeutical procedure, to control therapy, to document complications and to assess concomitant diseases. Chest X-rays and esophagograms give a 2-dimensional view of the X-ray absorption in 3-dimensional examination volumes, the diagnostic accuracy thus being limited by overshadowing. Because of the robust examination technique, the broad availability and the low costs chest X-rays are usually used for short-term controls under therapy and follow-up. Esophagography is carried out in order to asses the exact location and length of a known esophageal carcinoma prior to therapy and in order to assess peristaltic disturbances and fistulas. CT and MRI provide tomographic images with a spatial resolution of up to 1 mm3 allowing the reconstruction of high-resolution images not only in the transversal but also in any other plain. The diagnostic accuracy of esophagography is comparatively high in T1--T3 stages (80%--90%). T1 and T2 tumors cannot be diagnosed by CT and MRI, because both methods do not visualize the mucosa (unlike esophagography and endoscopy) and the esophageal wall layers (unlike EUS). Infiltration depth tends to be overestimated in T1 and T2 carcinomas and to be underestimated in T3 and T4 cancers. CT and MRI cannot detect metastases in normally sized lymph nodes and cannot accurately differentiate between benign and malignant lymphadenopathy in enlarged nodes with a reported sensitivities and specifities of 60% and 74%, respectively. However, further prospective studies using up to date CT and MR technology are needed to assess the present diagnostic situation. CT and MRI do not only visualize the mediastinum, but also the lungs, the pleura and the skeleton as well as the neck and the abdomen thus providing a comprehensive overview of the TNM stage in 3 body regions.

Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: Spectrum of Imaging Findings with Clinical and Pathologic Features

Most radiologists are unfamiliar with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) because PTCL represents a relatively small proportion of lymphomas and has a lower prevalence in Western countries. The World Health Organization classification of lymphoid neoplasms announced in 1999 resolved criticisms about lymphoma classification and aroused new interest in PTCL. The specific clinicopathologic entities of PTCL have particular primary locations and particular clinical and pathologic features. Radiologic images of patients with pathologically proved PTCL were retrospectively reviewed; clinical and pathologic data were also reviewed. PTCL involves various organs including the sinonasal cavity, airway, intestinal tract, skin, lymph nodes, liver, lung, and musculoskeletal system. The pattern of disease involvement in PTCL is not random. There is a correlation between specific clinicopathologic entities and the primary site of involvement, although the findings in the disseminated stage of disease do not allow differential diagnosis. It is significant that the radiologic features or locations of several entities are different from those of lymphoma with the B-cell phenotype. Radiologic demonstration of disease progression beyond the primary site is clinically important because systemic dissemination in most of the entities leads to a dramatic change in the prognosis.

Reinterpretation of radiological images of patients with the suspicion of a hepatic, pancreatic or biliary malignancy

Reinterpretation of radiological images of patients with the suspicion of a hepatic, pancreatic or biliary malignancy

Reinterpretation of radiological images of patients with the suspicion of a hepatic, pancreatic or biliary malignancy

Reinterpretation of radiological images of patients with the suspicion of a hepatic, pancreatic or biliary malignancy

Recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer without elevation of serum thyroglobulin.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a reliable tumor marker in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). We identified 11 patients who had undetectable serum Tg and no thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) in the presence of clinical disease. Three had residual disease after ablation of the thyroid by surgery plus radioiodine and 8 relapsed after a disease-free interval. Histologic review confirmed that 7 of the tumors were papillary carcinomas and 4 were follicular carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining for Tg was positive in 6 of 7 papillary and in 3 of 4 follicular carcinomas. There were no identifiable histologic or clinical features that could be used to predict further patients who may relapse with absence of this serum marker. Negative serum Tg did not appear to be an adverse prognostic feature. During follow-up, measurement of Tg and TgAb should be supplemented by radioiodine scanning and radiological imaging in patients in whom recurrence is likely or suspected.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy: who responds?

Our purpose was to identify clinical or radiologic features predictive of response to percutaneous cholecystostomy performed for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. The clinical records and radiologic images of patients who underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy for suspected acute cholecystitis between January 1987 and July 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. A response to percutaneous cholecystostomy was defined as an improvement in clinical symptoms and signs or reduction in fever and WBC to normal within 72 hr of percutaneous cholecystostomy. The number and type of radiologic investigations were reviewed by two radiologists. The presence of gallstones, gallbladder wall thickening, distention, and pericholecystic fluid was recorded. The clinical and radiologic findings were analyzed for their relationship to response to percutaneous cholecystostomy. Sixty-one percutaneous cholecystostomies were performed in 37 male and 24 female patients and were technically successful in 59. Thirty-one patients had gallstones, 28 did not. Thirty-one patients were in the intensive care unit, and 15 were ventilated. Complications occurred in six (10%): misplacement of the percutaneous cholecystostomy catheter in the colon (one), exacerbation of sepsis (three), and bile leakage (two). The mortality rate was 2%--one of the patients with septic shock succumbed to a cardiac arrest 3 days after the procedure. Forty-three patients (73%) responded to percutaneous cholecystostomy. Patients with gallstones and symptoms and signs localized to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen were more likely to respond (p = .006). The only individual radiologic feature predictive of a positive response was the presence of pericholecystic fluid in patients with gallstones (p = .03). The presence of all four radiologic findings was also associated with a positive response (p = .039). The results of bile cultures were not predictive of response. Of the 16 nonresponders, six had documented biliary sepsis and cholecystitis. Clinical symptoms and signs referable to the gallbladder, the presence of pericholecystic fluid in patients with gallstones, and the presence of an increasing number of radiologic findings in any one patient are predictive of a positive response to percutaneous cholecystostomy.