Was heißt wie? Ansatz und Glossar zu Befundung und Verständnis in der HRCT der Lunge

In HRCT reports multiple different, often synonymous, German and English terms are used. The variety of terms impede understanding and acceptance of HRCT. Purpose of this paper is to present a scheme, which is based on the anatomic landmarks (secondary lobule), and the density of pathologic changes, as well as a glossary from the German HRCT-literature, including suitable terms, definitions, synonyms and English terms. Low attenuation changes include emphysemas, air-filled cavities (bullae, cysts, cavitations, honeycombing) and bronchial dilatation, changes with increased density consist of diffuse (ground glass opacity, consolidation) and focal processes (reticular and nodular densities). …

Multirotations-CT und ARDS

Purpose Aim of the study was to investigate alveolar inspiration and expiration using multiscan CT. Results of a visual assessment using a scoring system were compared with density ranges known to represent alveolar ventilation best. Method Pigs were examined before and after lavage-induced ARDS. All animals were examined using dynamic multiscan CT. The visual assessment was done by a scoring system proposed by Gattinoni. The results were compared with planimetric determination of defined density ranges. Results In the healthy lung, the visual analysis showed higher scores at lower airway pressures with a marked gradient, whereas at higher pressures neither opacities nor gradients were obse…

Ein Auswerteprogramm zur quantitativen Untersuchung der Lungenventilation mittels dynamischer MRT von hochpolarisiertem 3He

Purpose: 3 He-MRI is able to visualize the regional distribution of lung ventilation with a temporal and spatial resolution so far unmatched by any other technique. The aim of the study was the development of a new software tool for quantification of dynamic ventilation parameters in absolute physical units. Materials and Methods: During continuous breathing, a bolus of hyperpolarized 3 He (300 ml) was applied at inspiration and a series of 168 coronal projection images simultaneously acquired using a 2D FLASH-sequence. Postprocessing software was developed to analyze the 3 He distribution in the lung. After correction for lung motion, several ventilation parameters (rise time, delay time, …

Quantification of atelectatic lung volumes in two different porcine models of ARDS.

BACKGROUND: Cyclic recruitment during mechanical ventilation contributes to ventilator associated lung injury. Two different pathomechanisms in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are currently discussed: alveolar collapse vs persistent flooding of small airways and alveoli. We compare two different ARDS animal models by computed tomography (CT) to describe different recruitment and derecruitment mechanisms at different airway pressures: (i) lavage-ARDS, favouring alveolar collapse by surfactant depletion; and (ii) oleic acid ARDS, favouring alveolar flooding by capillary leakage. METHODS: In 12 pigs [25 (1) kg], ARDS was randomly induced, either by saline lung lavage or oleic acid (…

Bestimmung des Verteilungsvolumens von intrahepatisch injizierten Kontrastmittellösungen: Voruntersuchungen zur intratumoralen Gentherapie

PURPOSE Determination of the intrahepatic distribution volume of two contrast media (CM) by CT-guided application in an ex-vivo and an in-vivo model (pig liver). MATERIAL AND METHODS In pig livers ex-vivo and in-vivo, 131 CT-guided injections of two different CM (Imagopaque(R), Visipaque(R)) were performed using catheters and cannula with and without side-holes and documented by spiral CT. The distribution pattern was assessed visually: interstitial, subcapsular, vascular/tubular, the distribution volume was quantified using a density mask (thresholds 70/400 HE). RESULTS Purely interstitial applications were achieved more frequently in-vivo than ex-vivo (p = 0.001). There were no relevant d…

Hybrid segmentation and exploration of the human lungs

Segmentation of the tracheo-bronchial tree of the lungs is notoriously difficult. This is due to the fact that the small size of some of the anatomical structures is subject to partial volume effects. Furthermore, the limited intensity contrast between the participating materials (air, blood, and tissue) increases the segmentation of difficulties. In this paper, we propose a hybrid segmentation method which is based on a pipeline of three segmentation stages to extract the lower airways down to the seventh generation of the bronchi. User interaction is limited to the specification of a seed point inside the easily detectable trachea at the upper end of the lower airways. Similarly, the comp…

Stellenwert der Spirometertriggerung für die hochauflösende Computertomographie der Lunge in Inspiration und Exspiration

PURPOSE To compare mean lung density (MLD) of paired inspiratory and expiratory thin-section CT scans acquired after patient instruction or using spirometric gating. MATERIALS AND METHODS 21 patients (13 m, 8 f. median age 59 years, two with normal lung function, 15 with obstructive, 4 with restrictive impairment) underwent thin-section CT. Paired inspiratory and expiratory scans were performed in the upper, middle and lower lung fields. They were acquired after automatic patient instruction with constant intervals between instruction and scan. Spirometrically gated scans were acquired within 4 days at 80% and 20% of vital capacity (VC) which has been determined on the CT scanner in supine …

Prospektive Machbarkeitsstudie zum Vergleich von Röntgenübersichtsaufnahme und Thorax-MRT in Atemanhaltetechnik am offenen Niederfeldgerät

PURPOSE MR investigations using a breath-hold sequence at an open low-field MR had to be compared to chest X-rays in patients with a wide spectrum of cardio-thoracic pathologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS 114 patients and three volunteers who actually received a chest X-ray due to different indications underwent triplanar breath-hold (17 - 20 s) True-FISP sequence using a 0.2 T low-field MR (Siemens Magnetom Open, TR/TE/alpha: 7.3/3.5/80 degrees, SD: 10 mm, Pixel: 2.81 x 1.41 mm) a mean of 5.1 (+/- 8.2) days later. RESULTS Signal-to-noise ratio as basics for pattern recognition was 3.2 in nodule, 5.0 in infiltration, and 12.0 in effusion, and therefore True-FISP is usable for the detection of th…

Morphologische und funktionelle Evaluation pulmonaler Gefäßanomalien mittels schneller MR-Techniken

Purpose: To evaluate breath-hold MR techniques for morphologic and functional assessment of vascular abnormalities of the pulmonary vasculature. Patients and Methods: 13 patients aged 11 to 60 years with different vascular abnormalities of the pulmonary vasculature (5 patients with 16 arteriovenous malformations, 8 patients with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return) underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T. For morphological assessment, a contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (ce-MRA) was performed after a timing run. Segmented cine- and velocity-encoded GRE sequences were used for delineation of associated cardiac septal defects and for determination of systemic left-to-right or intrapulmonary shu…

Das Pulmonalarteriensarkom - Prä- und postoperative radiologische Befunde bei der Tumorerstmanifestation und beim Rezidiv

Purpose Primary pulmonary artery sarcomas are very rare tumors. Their diagnosis is difficult due to their unspecific symptoms. Still, an early preoperative diagnosis is the only possibility for a potential therapy. Patients and methods 4 pre- and 5 postoperative CT- and three pre- and one postoperative MRT-examination(s) have been evaluated with respect to surgical and histological findings. Results The presence of a convex intraluminal bulging mass spreading mostly from the pulmonary trunc continuously into the peripheral pulmonary artery branches the filling and dilatation of the vessels, the tumor's inhomogeneity indicating hemorrhages and necrosis and the appearance of intrapulmonary no…

Repräsentiert der HRCT-Emphysemindex die gesamte Lunge?

Purpose: Comparison of emphysema index derived of thin section MD-CT of the entire lung volume and HRCT, simulated by calculation of every twentieth image of the whole data-set. Materials and Methods: Pulmonary emphysema was quantified by semiautomatic, segmentation of lung borders and assessment of lung volume and emphysema volume within these borders. The emphysema index (pixel index) was calculated. Statistical analysis was done by the sign-test and Bland-Altman-analysis. Results: Median lung volume, emphysema volume and emphysema index are significantly higher in simulated HRCT. Median lung volume (emphysema volume) calculated by HRCT is 5118 ml (407 ml) and 5040 ml (367 ml) calculated …

Multiple renal aspergillus abscesses in an AIDS patient: contrast-enhanced helical CT and MRI findings.

Renal insufficiency or allergic reactions for X-ray contrast agents are frequent limitations in immunocompromised hosts such as neutropenic or AIDS patients. Due to a better tolerance of contrast agents in MRI, this technique is well suited for investigation of parenchymal organs. We demonstrate an allergic AIDS patient who presented with fever and flank pain. At sonography, anechoic renal lesions were supposed to be non-complicated cysts; however, on T2-weighted MRI, the center was of high signal. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the kidneys demonstrated an enhancing rim with ill-defined margins. The lesions were supposed to be multiple bilateral abscesses. Due to the multiple dynamic cont…

Fokussuche bei neutro- penischem Fieber

Do we Need a Triple Antibiotic Therapy?

To compare the efficacy and toxicity of triple antibiotic therapy in patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood-stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) with literature data.

Erfassung hämodynamischer Parameter bei Patienten mit chronischer thromboembolischer pulmonaler Hypertonie mittels MRT vor und nach Thrombendarteriektomie

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of MRI to grade cardiac impairment and pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in comparison with invasive pressure measurements before and after surgery. Materials and Methods: We examined 35 patients with CTEPH before and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). For assessment of hemodynamics, velocity-encoded segmented GE-sequences (pulmonary arteries and ascending aorta) and segmented cine GE-sequences along the short axis of the heart were performed. The analysis comprised calculation of ejection fractions, peak velocities, mean pulmonary arterial flow and vessel diameter. 10 volunteers served …

Automatische Berechnung des Milzvolumens aus Spiral-CT-Daten mit Hilfe neuronaler Netze und „Fuzzy Logik”∗

PURPOSE To assess spleen segmentation and volumentry in spiral CT scans with and without pathological changes of splenic tissue. METHODS The image analysis software HYBRIKON is based on region growing, self-organized neural nets, and fuzzy-anatomic rules. The neural nets were trained with spiral CT data from 10 patients, not used in the following evaluation on spiral CT scans from 19 patients. An experienced radiologist verified the results. The true positive and false positive areas were compared in terms to the areas marked by the radiologist. The results were compared with a standard thresholding method. RESULTS The neural nets achieved a higher accuracy than the thresholding method. Cor…

Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) der Leber und des Gehirns bei hämatologisch-onkologischen Patienten mit Fieber unbekannter Ursache

PURPOSE To examine the advantage of liver and brain MRI in clinically anomalous haematological patients with fever of unknown origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty liver MRI (T2-TSE, T2-HASTE, T1-FLASH +/- Gd dynamic) and 16 brain MRI (T2-TSE, FLAIR, T1-TSE +/- Gd) were performed searching for a focus of fever with a suspected organ system. Comparison with clinical follow-up. RESULTS A focus was detected in 11/20 liver MRI. Candidiasis (n = 3), mycobacteriosis (n = 2), relapse of haematological disease (n = 3), graft versus host disease (n = 1), non-clarified (n02). The remaining 9 cases with normal MRI were not suspicious of infectious hepatic disease during follow-up. In brain MRI, 3/16 sho…

Detection of coronary artery calcifications predicting coronary heart disease: comparison of fluoroscopy and spiral CT.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of coronary artery calcifications detected by spiral CT, congruence with fluoroscopy (FS) and coronary angiography, and comparison with studies reporting on application of double-helical CT and ultrafast CT. Forty patients underwent spiral CT (2-mm slice thickness, table feed 3 mm/s), coronary angiography, and FS (performed in the usual manner). Stenosis and calcifications were evaluated semiquantitatively. Nineteen patients suffering from a stenosis ≥ 75 % were verified at coronary angiography. All had coronary artery calcification on spiral CT. Fluoroscopy did not detect 8 of 19 patients with a stenosis ≥ 75 % (1 vessel: n = 1; …

Diagnostik der trachealen Instabilität: Spiral-CT in Inspiration und Exspiration und respiratorische cine-CT∗

ry Spiral CT and Cine CT. Purpose: In tracheo- and broncho-malacia, localization and determination of collapse is necessary for planning a surgical procedure. We compared inspiratory and spiral CT, cine CT, and bronchoscopy and evaluated the relevance of each method. Methods: Seventeen patients with suspected or verified tracheal stonosis or collapse underwent paired inspiratory and exspiratory spiral CT and cine CT during continuous respiration (temporal increment 100 ms). The tracheal cross-sectional area was calculated and compared. Results : In addition to bronchoscopy, further information concerning localization, extent, collapse, stability of the tracheal wall, distal portions of the …

Akute oder chronische Transplantat-Abstoßung? - HRCT des Thorax bei Patienten nach Lungentransplantation

Purpose: Aim of the study was to evaluate the postoperative changes in patients with single (SLTX) or double lung transplantation (DLTX) with HRCT and to correlate those findings with the clinical diagnosis. Material and methods: 29 patients with SLTX (n = 14) or DLTX (n=15) were observed for more than 6 years after transplantation by HRCT (n =82). CT examinations were performed in inspiration and expiration (n=70) with a slice thickness of 1 mm and a feed of 10 mm. The image material was evaluated by 2 experienced radiologists in consensus. Criteria for acute rejection at HRCT were: ground glass opacities and focal air trapping in expiration. Criteria for chronic transplant rejection were:…

Computerunterstützte Diagnostik in der Thoraxradiologie - aktuelle Schwerpunkte und Techniken

The proliferation of digital data sets and the increasing amount of images, e. g. through the use of multislice spiral CT or multiple follow-up examinations in the context of new therapies, are ideal prerequisites for computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) in chest radiology. Multiple studies have described the applications and advantages of computer assistance in performing different diagnostic tasks. More powerful computers will enable the introduction of these systems into the clinical routine and could provide an enormous increase in morphological and functional information. The commercial introduction of tools for detection and visualization of pulmonary nodules has already begun. This is one …

Funktionelle Bildgebung der Lunge mit gasförmigem Kontrastmittel: ³Helium-Magnetresonanztomographie

Current imaging methods of the lung concentrate on morphology as well as on the depiction of the pulmonary parenchyma. The need of an advanced and more subtle imaging technology compared to conventional radiography is met by computed topography as the method of choice. Nevertheless, computed tomography yields very limited functional information. This is to be derived from arterial blood gas analysis, spirometry and body plethysmography. These methods, however, lack the scope for regional allocation of any pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lung has been advanced by the use of hyperpolarised (3)Helium as an inhaled gaseous contrast agent. The inhalation of the gas provides function…

CT-guided intratumoral gene therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer.

The objective of this study was to prove the principle of CT-guided gene therapy by intratumoral injection of a tumor suppressor gene as an alternative treatment approach of incurable non-small-cell lung cancer. In a prospective clinical phase I trial six patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and a mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 were treated by CT-guided intratumoral gene therapy. Ten milliliters of a vector solution (replication-defective adenovirus with complete wild-type p53 cDNA) were injected under CT guidance. In four cases the vector solution was completely applied to the tumor center, whereas in two cases 2 ml aliquots were injected into different tumor areas. For the …

CT-Densitometrie zur Analyse der statischen Druckvolumenkurve der Lunge bei experimentell induziertem Lungenschaden

Purpose: To study quantitative changes of lung density distributions when recording in- and expiratory static pressure-volume curves by single slice computed tomography (CT). Materials und Methods: Static in- and expiratory pressure volume curves (0 to 1000ml, increments of 100ml) were obtained in random order in 10 pigs after induction of lung damage by saline lavage. Simultaneously, CT acquisitions (slice thickness 1 mm, temporal increment 2 s) were performed in a single slice (3 cm below the carina). In each CT image lung segmentation and planimetry of defined density ranges were achieved. The lung density ranges were defined as: hyperinflated (-1024 to -910 HU), normal aerated (-910 to …

Visuelle Abschätzung der funktionellen Lungenanteile in der HRCT und 3He-MRT bei Patienten nach Einzel-Lungentransplantation: Vergleich mit der absoluten Volumetrie

Purpose: Visual assessment of the ventilation using HRCT and 3 He-MRI in patients after single lung transplantation (SLTX). Analysis of specific ventilation defects found with 3 He-MRI and morphological changes found with HRCT. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 8male patients (54 ′ 6 years) suffering from emphysema and six patients (3males and 3 females, 58 ′ 9.5 years) suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) after SLTX. The morphological changes at HRCT were classified and localized. In 3 He-MRI (2D FLASH), 10 to 14 slices (slice thickness 10 mm, gap 5 mm) were acquired in coronal orientation to cover the whole lung. Ventilation defects were localized and characterized. The vi…

Update on diagnostic strategies of pulmonary embolism

Acute pulmonary embolism is a frequent disease with non-specific findings, high mortality, and multiple therapeutic options. A definitive diagnosis must be established by accurate, non-invasive, easily performed, cost-effective, and widely available imaging modalities. Conventional diagnostic strategies have relied on ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy complemented by venous imaging. If the results are inconclusive, pulmonary angiography, which is regarded as the gold standard, is to be performed. Recently, marked improvements in CT and MRI and shortcomings of scintigraphy led to an update of the diagnostic strategy. Spiral CT is successfully employed as a second-line procedure to clarify i…

Radiodiagnostik der Lunge

Die radiologischen Schnittbildverfahren, insbesondere die CT, haben sich innerhalb kurzer Zeit einen herausragenden Stellenwert in der Diagnostik von Lungenerkrankungen erworben. Dies umfasst in erster Linie die morphologische Darstellung pathologischer Prozesse mit hoher raumlicher Auflosung. Moderne technische Entwicklungen und kombinierte Untersuchungsstrategien eroffnen neue Einsatzgebiete und auch funktionelle Aussagen, die nach einer aktuellen Standortbestimmung gemeinsam mit den nuklearmedizinischen Verfahren verlangen. Dazu gehort die Diagnostik der Lungenembolie mittels Spiral-CT-Angiographie und MR-Angiographie der Pulmonalarterien. Hier hat sich mittlerweile die CT als alternativ…

Klinische Relevanz der NNH-CT vor Knochenmarktransplantation

PURPOSE To investigate the clinical necessity of CT of the paranasal sinuses before bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS 80 patients with malignant disease underwent coronal CT of the paranasal sinuses prior to transplantation to exclude sinusitis. RESULTS CT revealed sinusitis requesting therapy in 17/80 patients (21%). Patients with leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were significantly more affected. Chronic sinusitis was found in two patients, mucosal swelling not requesting therapy in 22, and normal findings in 39. CONCLUSION CT of the paranasal sinuses is advised in patients suffering haemoblastoses with an increased risk of infectious complic…

Vollautomatische Detektion und Quantifizierung des Lungenemphysems in Dünnschicht-MD-CT des Thorax durch eine neue, speziell entwickelte Software

Purpose: Introduction of a novel software tool (YACTA - yet another CT analyzer) for detection and quantification of pulmonary emphysema in thin-slice chest MDCT data sets. Materials and Methods: Consisting of grey-level threshold-based algorithms (e. g., region-growing), expert rules and morphological image postprocessing YACTA segments the tracheobronchial tree prior to the detection and quantification of pulmonary emphysema. In addition to general parameters, such as the mean lung density (MLD) and the emphysema index (EI - also described as pixel index PI), the previously described bullae index (BI) is transformed into a three-dimensional parameter for a morphological description of emp…

Quantifizierung von Atelektasen bei kontrollierter Beatmung: Spiral-CT versus dynamische Einzelschicht-CT

Ziel: Dynamische CT-Untersuchungen (dCT) erlauben die Darstellung und Quantifizierung ventilierter Lungenflache und Atelektasenbildung wahrend kontinuierlicher Beatmung. Diese Studie ­vergleicht eine quantitative Auswertung einer infrakarinalen dCT-Einzelschicht mit der einer Spiral-CT der gesamten Lunge, um zu untersuchen, ob eine dynamisch gemessene Einzelschicht bezuglich der intrapulmonalen Atelektasenverteilung reprasentativ fur die Gesamtlunge ist. Material und Methoden: An 8 gesunden Schweinen erfolgte eine dCT (Schichtdicke 1 mm, zeitliches Inkrement 100 ms) wahrend kontinuierlicher Beatmung, gefolgt von einer Spiral-CT der gesamten Lunge (Schichtdicke 2 mm; Pitch 1,5; Inkrement 2 m…

Artefaktreduzierung bei der Lungenemboliediagnostik mittels Spiral-CT unter Verwendung eines Kochsalzbolus

nary Arteries Using a Saline Push. Purpose: To improve the diagnostic efficacy of bolus-enhanced spiral CT (SCT) in the detection of pulmonary embolism using a saline push immediately after bolus injection of the contrast medium. Patients and Methods: The study included 90 patients with suspected acute or chronic pulmonary embolism. The CT scan was performed in a caudocephaled direction. In Group I (n=60) we applied a bolus contrast injection (120 ml, 3 ml/s, 300 mg J/ml), after a median delay of 25 s. Group II (n = 30) had the same contrast injection which was immediately followed by an additional saline push (60 ml, 2 ml/s). Streak artifacts originating from high contrast concentrations i…

Focal airtrapping at expiratory high-resolution CT: comparison with pulmonary function tests

This study was undertaken to determine prevalence, extent, and severity of focal airtrapping at expiratory high-resolution CT, and to compare focal airtrapping with age, gender, pulmonary function tests, and blood gas analysis. Two-hundred seventeen patients with and without pulmonary disease underwent paired inspiratory/expiratory high-resolution CT. Six scan pairs with corresponding scan levels were visually assessed for focal – not diffuse – airtrapping using a four-point scale. Pulmonary function tests and blood gas analysis were available for correlation in all patients (mean interval 5 days). Focal airtrapping with lower lung predominance was observed in 80 % of patients. Twenty-six o…