Vessel Probe Research Articles

Application value of MDCT with vessel probe for isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection

To assess the value of MDCT with vessel probe(VP) in the diagnosis and treatment of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD). Clinical and imaging data of 15 patients with ISMAD admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from June 2008 to May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Relationship among radiograpic features, clinical symptoms and therapeutic options of ISMAD was examined based on the imaging of 64-MDCT with VP. The dissection crevasse of all the 15 patients located in anterior arterial wall, and the distance was(24.3±9.7) mm from the origin of SMA. Meanwhile dissection crevasse of 73.3%(11/15) patients located in the zone within 1 cm of proximal end and 1 cm of distal end of the proximal SMA curvature. There were significant differences between patients without abdominal pain(8 cases) and those with abdominal pain(7 cases) in dissection length, minor diameter ratio of true lumen to false lumen, major diameter ratio of true lumen to false lumen(all P<0.01). According to classification of Yun, there were 5 patients of typeI( and 3 type II(a, whose conservative treatment were successful. In other 7 patients of type II(b, 3 patients received successful conservative treatment, and 4 patients had symptom remission after turning to interventional treatment or surgery. 64-MDCT with VP can clearly depict the image manifestation of ISMAD, which provides evidence for the diagnosis and therapeutic options of ISMAD.

Vessel probe CT protocol in the study of esophageal carcinoma: Can it improve preoperative T staging?

Aims This study aims to compare transverse images and vessel probe (VP) in MPR mode reconstructions obtained by 16-row MDCT with the histological findings in the preoperative T staging of esophageal cancer. Materials and methods Thirty-one patients (23 M, 8 F, mean age 63.2) with endoscopic and histological diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma underwent CT examination. Esophageal lumen was distended by CO 2 and a biphasic technique with 35 s and 70 s delay was used after intravenous injection of contrast material. Transverse and VP in MPR mode images were evaluated and the following parameters were considered: presence and location of the tumor; esophageal wall thickness and enhancement; depth of visceral wall invasion; periesophageal fat morphology and infiltration of adjacent organs. Preoperative staging was performed and then it was compared with the histological findings considered as reference standard. Results Sensibility, negative predictive and accuracy values were 67%, 64% and 79% by using axial images for preoperative T staging, while the use of VP increased the previous values up to 83%, 78% and 89%, respectively. Conclusions In the preoperative staging of esophageal cancer, VP in MPR mode reconstructions obtained by 16-row MDCT increase the sensibility and diagnostic accuracy values in the T parameter evaluation compared with axial images.