Automatic segmentation of the liver from multi- and single-phase contrast-enhanced CT images

Objective: To assess the usefulness of a single-phase contrast-enhanced CT to differentiate subtypes of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) liver metastases and to evaluate the correlation between CT features and Ga-68 DOTATATE positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) findings. Methods: Between December 2017 and April 2019 patients with liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumours who underwent CT and Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT were enrolled in the study. All patients involved in the study had undergone a standardised single-phase contrast-enhanced CT. Whole body PET/CT images were obtained with a combined PET/CT scanner. All CT images were retrospectively analysed by two radiologists. Enhancement patterns of lesions were assessed. For quantitative examination; CT attenuation values of metastatic lesions, liver parenchyma and aorta were measured using a freehand ROI and tumour-to-liver ratio [T–L = (Tumour–Liver) / Liver] and tumour-to-aorta ratio [T–A = (Tumour–Aorta) / Aorta] were calculated. The lesion with the highest Ga-68 DOTATATE uptake in the liver was used for calculations. The metabolic tumour volume (MTV), maximum standardised uptake value (SUV max) and SUV mean were calculated for the target liver lesion. Results: A total of 137 NET liver metastases divided into in three groups: 49 (35.7%) pancreatic, 60 (44.5%) gastroenteric and 26 (18.9%) lung NET liver metastases were analysed. Gastroenteric NET metastases often showed heterogeneous enhancement which was significantly higher than in the pancreas and lung NET liver metastases (p < 0.001). 96.72% (n = 59) of the gastroenteric NET liver metastases were hypoattenuating whereas the most frequent presentation for the pancreatic group was hyperattenuation (63.26%,n = 31). The difference in enhancement patterns of the liver metastases was statistically significant (p < 0.001) with respect to the location of the primary tumour. For quantitative analysis; tumour CT values were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.001). The T–L ratio was statistically different between gastroenteric and pancreatic NET liver metastases and pancreatic and lung NET groups (p < 0.001). The T–A ratio was significantly higher in the pancreatic NET metastases (p < 0.001). SUVmax, SUVmean and MTV values, however, were not significantly different between the subgroups. There was a weak positive correlation between T–L ratio and SUV meanvalues. Conclusion: We noticed statistically significant differences in both qualitative and quantitative CT features between histologic subgroups of neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases at a single phase contrast-enhanced CT. Advances in knowledge: Our study will be the first in the literature which extensively focus on assessing the CT features of liver metastases of NETs at a single phase CT and Ga-68DOTATATE PET/CT. As the different histological subtypes of NET liver metastases exhibit different clinical outcomes, these features might help to identify the primary tumour to provide optimal treatment.

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Automatic segmentation of liver tumors from multiphase contrast-enhanced CT images based on FCNs

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.artmed.2017.03.008 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 83 ◽

pp. 58-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Changjian Sun ◽

Shuxu Guo ◽

Huimao Zhang ◽

Jing Li ◽

Meimei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Tumors ◽

Automatic Segmentation ◽

Ct Images ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Enhanced Ct

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Determination of a cutoff attenuation value on single-phase contrast-enhanced CT for characterizing adrenal nodules via chemical shift MRI

Abdominal Radiology ◽

10.1007/s00261-016-0654-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1170-1177 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yi-Wei Wu ◽

Cher Heng Tan

Keyword(s):

Chemical Shift ◽

Phase Contrast ◽

Single Phase ◽

Attenuation Value ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Enhanced Ct ◽

Chemical Shift Mri

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Combined Density, Texture and Shape Features of Multi-phase Contrast-Enhanced CT Images for CBIR of Focal Liver Lesions: A Preliminary Study

Innovation in Medicine and Healthcare 2015 - Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-23024-5_20 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 215-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yingying Xu ◽

Lanfen Lin ◽

Hongjie Hu ◽

Huajun Yu ◽

Chongwu Jin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Contrast ◽

Ct Images ◽

Focal Liver Lesions ◽

Liver Lesions ◽

Shape Features ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Enhanced Ct ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Multi Phase

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Retrospective evaluation of venous phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography images in patients who developed pancreatic adenocarcinomas after treatment for nonpancreatic primary cancer

BJR|Open ◽

10.1259/bjro.20200069 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 20200069

Author(s):

Ryo Takaji ◽

Yasunari Yamada ◽

Ryuichi Shimada ◽

Shunro Matsumoto ◽

Tsutomu Daa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma ◽

Phase Contrast ◽

Ct Images ◽

Pancreatic Cancers ◽

Ct Findings ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Enhanced Ct ◽

Venous Phase

Objectives: To clarify venous phase contrast-enhanced CT findings in early pancreatic adenocarcinomas by retrospectively evaluating CT images of pancreatic adenocarcinomas that developed during follow-up after treatment for non-pancreatic cancers. Methods: The study cohort comprised six patients who developed pancreatic adenocarcinomas between April 2005 and April 2020 during follow-up after treatment for non-pancreatic primary cancers. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated CT images and reached consensus on previously reported CT findings that were suggestive of small pancreatic adenocarcinomas; namely pancreatic duct interruption and dilatation, pancreatic parenchymal atrophy, focal hypoattenuated areas, and appearance of cystic lesions. Time intervals between the first CT with these suggestive findings and the latest pre-operative CT were recorded. Doubling times were calculated in patients with hypoattenuated areas on initial CT scans. Results: Small (<10 mm) focal hypoattenuated areas with (n = 2) or without rim enhancement (n = 1) were identified on initial CT images of three patients. Pancreatic duct interruption and dilatation, pancreatic parenchymal atrophy, and cystic lesion were identified in two, one and one patient, respectively. Time intervals between initial and latest preoperative CT examination were 6–19 months (median, 14.5 months). Tumor doubling time according to CT findings was calculated as 46–407 days (median 106 days). Conclusion: Venous phase contrast-enhanced CT can provide findings that are suggestive of early pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Pancreatic phase contrast-enhanced CT should therefore be performed in patients with such findings with the aim of early detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Advances in knowledge: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma can develop subsequently in patients with non-pancreatic malignancies. Patients with non-pancreatic cancers are often followed up with monophasic contrast-enhanced CT in venous phase timing. Venous phase contrast-enhanced CT can provide some findings suggestive of early pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Knowledge of these findings is important for early detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

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Multi-factorial considerations for intra-thoracic lymph node evaluations of healthy cats on computed tomographic images

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-02771-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ninlawan Thammasiri ◽

Chutimon Thanaboonnipat ◽

Nan Choisunirachon ◽

Damri Darawiroj

Keyword(s):

Lymph Node ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Ct Images ◽

Slice Thickness ◽

Maximum Width ◽

Post Contrast ◽

Computed Tomographic ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ct ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Enhanced Ct

Abstract Background It is difficult to examine mild to moderate feline intra-thoracic lymphadenopathy via and thoracic radiography. Despite previous information from computed tomographic (CT) images of intra-thoracic lymph nodes, some factors from animals and CT setting were less elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of internal factors from animals and external factors from the CT procedure on the feasibility to detect the intra-thoracic lymph nodes. Twenty-four, client-owned, clinically healthy cats were categorized into three groups according to age. They underwent pre- and post-contrast enhanced CT for whole thorax followed by inter-group evaluation and comparison of sternal, cranial mediastinal, and tracheobronchial lymph nodes. Results Post contrast-enhanced CT appearances revealed that intra-thoracic lymph nodes of kittens were invisible, whereas the sternal, cranial mediastinal, and tracheobronchial nodes of cats aged over 7 months old were detected (6/24, 9/24 and 7/24, respectively). Maximum width of these lymph nodes were 3.93 ± 0.74 mm, 4.02 ± 0.65 mm, and 3.51 ± 0.62 mm, respectively. By age, lymph node sizes of these cats were not significantly different. Transverse lymph node width of males was larger than that of females (P = 0.0425). Besides, the detection score of lymph nodes was affected by slice thickness (P < 0.01) and lymph node width (P = 0.0049). Furthermore, an irregular, soft tissue structure, possibly the thymus, was detected in all juvenile cats and three mature cats. Conclusions Despite additional information on intra-thoracic lymph nodes in CT images, which can be used to investigate lymphatic-related abnormalities, age, sex, and slice thickness of CT images must be also considered.

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