scholarly journals Computed tomography in intestinal obstruction: a tertiary care perspective from Northern India

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Varun Dogra ◽  
Shyam Gupta ◽  
Ishfaq Ahmad Gilkar ◽  
Silvi Sandhu

Background: Intestinal obstruction is a very common surgical emergency faced today in surgical ERs (emergency rooms) all around the globe. With the advent of newer technology, management of intestinal obstruction has changed significantly. Today computed tomography (CT) employs both intravenous as well as oral contrast for determining the cause and the level of obstruction. It also gives additional information regarding any malignancy causing the obstruction, its staging and status of vessels. Thus, a surgeon can go in the procedure with a plan already in mind which can be discussed in detail with experienced surgeons beforehand.Methods: This was a prospective observational study that was done in department of surgery at GMC Jammu over a period of two years. Patients of intestinal obstruction who presented to our department were enrolled in this study. They were subjected to a contrast enhanced CT after due preparation and managed accordingly. Data was recorded in a tabulated fashion and evaluated.Results: After implementing the exclusion criteria’s, a total of 163 patients were included in this study, majority being males in the age group of 20-40 years. Major cause of intestinal obstruction was attributed to post-operative adhesions followed by band obstruction due to various cause. CT findings were seen to be quite significant in evaluation and management of intestinal obstruction. About 30 % of the patients enrolled in our study were treated conservatively while 70 % required operative intervention in form of exploratory laparotomy.Conclusions: Computed tomography is widely available now a days at a cheaper cost. It greatly increases the armamentarium of the surgeon in dealing with this condition. A lot many cases today are dealt conservatively due to high utilisation of CT scan. It also helps the surgeon to preoperatively plan a proper surgical approach

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés Califano ◽  
Fabian Pitoia ◽  
Roxana Chirico ◽  
Alejandra de Salazar ◽  
Maria Bastianello

Abstract Purpose 18F-DOPA Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (18F-DOPA PET/CT) is a sensitive functional imaging method (65-75%) for detecting disease localization in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). We aimed: i) to assess the clinical usefulness of 18F-DOPA PET/CT in patients with MTC and elevated calcitonin (Ctn) and CEA levels and, ii) to evaluate changes in disease management secondary to the findings encountered with this methodology. Methods thirty-six patients with MTC and Ctn levels ≥150 pg/ml were prospectively included. Neck ultrasound, chest contrast-enhanced CT, liver magnetic resonance imaging/ abdominal 3-phase contrast-enhanced CT and bone scintigraphy were carried out up to 6 months before the 18F DOPA PET/CT. Results 77.7% were female and 27% had hereditary MTC. Median Ctn level was 1450 pg/ml [150-56620], median CEA level 413 ng/ml [2.9-7436]. Median Ctn DT was 37.5 months [5.7-240]; median CEA DT was 31.8 [4.9-180]. 18F-DOPA PET/CT was positive in 33 patients (91.6%); in 18 (56%) uptake was observed in lymph nodes in the neck or mediastinum, in 7 cases (22%) distant metastases were diagnosed, and in 8 additional patients (24%) both locoregional and distant sites of disease were found. Ctn and CEA levels were higher in patients with ≥ 3 foci of distant metastases. In 14 patients (38.8%), findings on 18F-DOPA PET/CT led to changes in management; surgery for locoregional lymph nodes was the most frequent procedure in 8 patients (22%). Conclusion 18F-DOPA PET/CT was useful for the detection of recurrent disease in MTC and provided helpful information for patient management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-86
Author(s):  
Umesh P Khanal ◽  
Keshav Sah ◽  
Ram B Chand

Introduction Measurement of ventricles of the brain is important for evaluating changes due to growth, ageing, intrinsic and extrinsic pathologies. The aim of this study was to determine the various parameters of the third ventricle and to assess their association with gender and age using computed tomography (CT) scans of head. MethodsThis retrospective, quantitative, cross sectional study was performed in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from July to October 2019 (4 months) on images of 100 patients (50 males and 50 females) whose age group were 18-87 years, who underwent non-contrast and contrast enhanced CT scan of head. ResultsThe total mean of width of third ventricle was found to be 0.33±0.09 cm, 0.35±0.10 cm in male and 0.31±0.06 cm in female. Third ventricle width (TVW) showed statistically significant correlation with male and also with Age. Mean of third ventricle sylvian fissure distance index was 0.41±0.67 cm, 0.42±0.65 cm in male and 0.39±0.06 cm in female respectively. Mean of third ventricle ratio was 0.03±0.09 cm, 0.03±0.09 cm in male and 0.02±0.09 in female respectively. The value were slightly higher in male. ConclusionThe third ventricle width in CT in this study was 0.33±0.09 cm. CT was very useful to determine the upper limits of normal value and its variation with age.


Author(s):  
Yuichiro Nagase ◽  
Yukinori Harada

A 77-year-old man, who was on anticoagulation, presented with a painful lump on the right abdominal wall. Laboratory tests showed slight anaemia and elevated inflammatory markers. Abdominal plain computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass in the right rectus abdominis muscle. He was admitted with a diagnosis of primary rectus abdominis haematoma. However, on the next day, the diagnosis was corrected to primary rectus abdominis abscess, following contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen. This case illustrates the importance of considering primary rectus abdominis abscess in patients with suspected primary rectus abdominis haematoma, and contrast should be used when performing CT.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242475
Author(s):  
Stefanie Meiler ◽  
Okka Wilkea Hamer ◽  
Jan Schaible ◽  
Florian Zeman ◽  
Niels Zorger ◽  
...  

Background COVID-19 is frequently complicated by venous thromboembolism (VTE). Computed tomography (CT) of the chest—primarily usually conducted as low-dose, non-contrast enhanced CT—plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia. Performed as contrast-enhanced CT pulmonary angiography, it can reliably detect or rule-out pulmonary embolism (PE). Several imaging characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia have been described for chest CT, but no study evaluated CT findings in the context of VTE/PE. Purpose In our retrospective study, we analyzed clinical, laboratory and CT imaging characteristics of 50 consecutive patients with RT-PCR proven COVID-19 pneumonia who underwent contrast-enhanced chest CT at two tertiary care medical centers. Material and methods All patients with RT-PCR proven COVID-19 pneumonia and contrast-enhanced chest CT performed at two tertiary care hospitals between March 1st and April 20th 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patient characteristics (age, gender, comorbidities), symptoms, date of symptom onset, RT-PCR results, imaging results of CT and leg ultrasound, laboratory findings (C-reactive protein, differential blood count, troponine, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), fibrinogen, interleukin-6, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase muscle-brain (CKmb) and lactate,) and patient outcome (positive: discharge or treatment on normal ward; negative: treatment on intensive care unit (ICU), need for mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or death) were analyzed. Follow-up was performed until May 10th. Patients were assigned to two groups according to two endpoints: venous thromboembolism (VTE) or no VTE. For statistical analysis, univariate logistic regression models were calculated. Results This study includes 50 patients. In 14 out of 50 patients (28%), pulmonary embolism was detected at contrast-enhanced chest CT. The majority of PE was detected on CTs performed on day 11–20 after symptom onset. Two patients (14%) with PE simultaneously had evidence of deep vein thrombosis. 15 patients (30%) had a negative outcome (need for intensive care, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or death), and 35 patients (70%) had a positive outcome (transfer to regular ward, or discharge). Patients suffering VTE had a statistically significant higher risk of an unfavorable outcome (p = 0.028). In univariate analysis, two imaging characteristics on chest CT were associated with VTE: crazy paving pattern (p = 0.024) and air bronchogram (n = 0.021). Also, elevated levels of NT-pro BNP (p = 0.043), CK (p = 0.023) and D-dimers (p = 0.035) were significantly correlated with VTE. Conclusion COVID-19 pneumonia is frequently complicated by pulmonary embolism (incidence of 28% in our cohort), remarkably with lacking evidence of deep vein thrombosis in nearly all thus affected patients of our cohort. As patients suffering VTE had an adverse outcome, we call for a high level of alertness for PE and advocate a lower threshold for contrast-enhanced CT in COVID-19 pneumonia. According to our observations, this might be particularly justified in the second week of disease and if a crazy paving pattern and / or air bronchogram is present on previous non-enhanced CT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Myasoedova ◽  
E Fraschini ◽  
G Mostardini ◽  
L Bonfanti ◽  
M Chiesa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterized by fibro-calcific remodeling of aortic valve leaflets. Progressive aortic valve calcification (AVC) occurs in both sexes and cardiac computed tomography (CT) is recognized as a high-quality technique for AVC evaluation. To date, sex-specific CT thresholds of AVC have been implemented in clinical practice since it is now recognized that women have less AVC burden than men. In addition, recent evidences indicate that women have more fibrotic remodeling of aortic valve leaflet compared to men. Purpose Aortic valve fibrosis (AVF) being a significant contributor to valve gradient, we sought to evaluate the difference in AVF burden between men and women with severe AS using contrast-enhanced CT. Methods We included 56 patients matched for age and sex with severe AS. All patients underwent Doppler echocardiography and cardiac CT before intervention. Contrast attenuation values (Hounsfield Units, HU) and contrast-to-noise ratio were measured at the level of the ascending aorta. Total AVF was assessed based on HU ranging between 30 and 350, adjusting the upper threshold by increments of 25 HU in either direction until blood pool was not highlighted. Indexed contrast-enhanced CT calcium volume (iAVC) and fibrosis volume (iAVF) were calculated dividing the volumes by the aortic annular area. Fibro-calcific ratio was calculate dividing iAVF by iAVC volumes. Results There was no difference between men and women in major cardiovascular risk factors, valve phenotype (bicuspid vs. tricuspid), nor pharmacological treatment. Men had higher body surface area than women (1.89±0.14 vs. 1.67±0.17 m2, respectively; p<0.001), while women had lower aortic valve area than men (AVA; 0.74±0.2 vs. 0.91±0.2 cm2, respectively; p=0.007) but similar indexed AVA (0.44±0.15 vs. 0.48±0.12 cm2/m2, respectively; p=0.262). Women had significantly lower iAVC compared to men (36 [36–72] vs. 72 [67–123] mm3/cm2, respectively; p=0.03). However, iAVF was significantly higher in women compared to men (83 [78–123] vs. 63 [58–83] mm3/cm2, respectively; p=0.006). Finally, the fibro-calcific ratio, which indicates the predominance of valve fibrosis if >1.0, was significantly higher in women compared to men (2.57 [2.14–7.02] vs. 0.78 [0.84–2.02], respectively; p=0.003). Conclusions Our study highlights for the first time a sex difference in the fibrotic content of severe AS evaluated by contrast-enhanced CT. These findings might be valuable to promote further studies on the role of sex-specific tissue composition in AS progression and outcomes. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Fondazione Gigi e Pupa Ferrari ONLUS


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anish Subedee

Objective: To find out the proportion of intracranial abnormalities in patients with chronic headache without neurologic abnormality with the use of computed tomography (CT) and to compare the results with similar studies done previously. Materials and methods: CT images of 56 patients with chronic/recurrent headache and normal neurological findings were reviewed retrospectively. In 38 of 56 patients, both plain and contrast enhanced CT were done. Patients were divided into three groups according to the CT findings: those with no abnormality, those with minor abnormality (that did not alter patient management) and those with clinically significant abnormality. Proportion of patients in each group was found out and results were compared with previous studies with similar study design. Z test was used to evaluate whether the difference in proportions of patients in our study and previous study was statistically significant or not. Results: Of the 56 patients, 50 had normal CT (89.28 %), four had minor abnormality (7.14%) that did not alter patient management and two had significant lesions (3.57%). Contrast enhanced CT did not improve lesion detection. The minor findings detected were sub-ependymal calcifications of Tuberous sclerosis, calcified neurocysticercosis and old lacunar infarctions in external capsule. Clinically significant lesions detected were small ring enhancing lesion (neurocysticercosis or tuberculoma) and pineal cyst. Results of this study were compared with previous study with similar study design. The Z test showed that the difference in proportions in these studies was not statistically significant (p =0.0708 for minor findings and p =0.2033 for significant findings). Conclusion: The proportion of intracranial abnormalities detected by CT in this study was similar to that of previous studies. The use of intravenous contrast material administration did not improve its yield. This corroborates the evidence that the ability of CT scan in detecting significant intracranial pathology is poor in patients with chronic headache without neurologic abnormality.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v1i2.7301 Journal of Nobel Medical College (2012), Vol.1 No.2 p.57-63


1989 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kälebo ◽  
J. Wallin

The usefulness of computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) was demonstrated in two cases. Employing dynamic, contrast-enhanced CT, both direct and indirect signs of PE may be rapidly and conveniently demonstrated. Possible contraindications for therapy may be diagnosed simultaneously and follow-up examinations after therapy may be readily performed. The method serves as a good complement when PE must be verified before treatment with potent agents.


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