scholarly journals Chest Pain of Uncertain Aetiology: Role of Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography in the Emergency Department

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-211
Author(s):  
Firas Yassin ◽  
Chris Sawh ◽  
Pankaj Garg

There is increasing role of computed tomographic (CT) in the assessment of acute chest pain in the emergency department especially when the diagnosis is not clear. We report a case where non ECG gated contrast enhanced CT in the emergency department for rule-out of pulmonary embolus guided to the actual diagnosis, which was, acute coronary event, as evidenced by the presence of perfusion defect.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazumasa Emori ◽  
Nobuhiro Takeuchi ◽  
Junichi Soneda

A 46-year-old male with a history of hypertension visited the emergency department (ED) by ambulance complaining of sudden pain in the left side of his back. Ultrasonography (USG) performed at ED revealed splenic infarction along with occlusion and dissection of the celiac and splenic arteries without abdominal artery dissection. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed the same result. Consequently, spontaneous isolated celiac artery dissection (SICAD) was diagnosed. Because his blood pressure was high (159/70 mmHg), antihypertensive medicine was administered (nicardipine and carvedilol). After his blood reached optimal levels (130/80 mmHg), symptoms disappeared. Follow-up USG and contrast enhanced CT performed 8 days and 4 months after onset revealed amelioration of splenic infarction and improvement of the narrowed artery. Here, we report a case of SICAD with splenic infarction presenting with severe left-sided back pain and discuss the relevance of USG in an emergency setting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninlawan Thammasiri ◽  
Chutimon Thanaboonnipat ◽  
Nan Choisunirachon ◽  
Damri Darawiroj

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.


Author(s):  
Monica Maher Amin Nawar ◽  
Sameh Abdel Aziz Zaky Hanna ◽  
Shereen Sadik El-Sawy ◽  
Sally Yehia Shokralla

Abstract Background The term adrenal incidentaloma (AI), by definition, is an adrenal mass that is unexpectedly detected through an imaging procedure performed for reasons unrelated to adrenal dysfunction or suspected dysfunction. Despite their frequent appearance, the challenge remains in recognizing and treating the small percentage of AI that poses a significant risk, either because of their hormonal activity or because of their malignant histology. The aim of this study is to study the role of MRI, specifically chemical shift imaging (CSI), against various MDCT scans (non-enhanced, enhanced, and delayed) in the characterization of incidentally discovered adrenal masses to offer a way for the patients to avoid unnecessary time and money-wasting imaging modalities used to reach a diagnosis of their incidentally discovered adrenal lesions. We examined a total number of 20 patients with total of 22 adrenal lesions. The mean age was 51.1 ± 15.27. Results In our study, we found that among CT parameters, APW and RPW showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for detection of lipid-rich adenomas. CSI has also proven to be the best MR technique. However, there is no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic capability of CSI versus the CT washout technique. Both modalities could be conducted, according to specific patient preferences and/or limitations, with comparable highly accurate outcomes. Conclusion This study demonstrates that a similar diagnostic outcome is obtained from contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and MRI with CSI of adrenal lesions.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dash ◽  
A. Goel ◽  
S. Sogani

Purpose: To evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET with contrast enhanced CT (PET-CECT) in early detection of recurrence in follow up patients of carcinoma cervix. Methods: Patients with histopathologically proven carcinoma cervix who underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery and on follow up were recruited in the study. Fifty-two patients underwent 18F-FDG PET-CECT for detection of recurrence. The median age was 51.5 (average = 53.4) years. PET-CECT studies were evaluated and analyzed separately by an experienced nuclear medicine physician and a radiologist independently. The physicians were blinded for the patient history. PET-CECT results were validated with histopathological correlation, conventional radiologic imaging/follow up PET-CECT study and clinical follow up. Results: Out of 52 patients, 34 patients were reported as positive for recurrence, 17 of these were having active local recurrence and 31 patients had regional lymph nodal metastases, 14 patients had distant metastases (out of them 6 patients had distant lymph node metastases, 6 had pulmonary metastases, 4 had skeletal metastases and two had liver metastases). Remaining 18 patients were reported as negative for recurrence. The lung was the most common site for distant metastasis. Patient were then further evaluated based on histopathological correlation, conventional radiologic imaging and follow up PET-CECT scan and five were found to be false positive and one patient was identified as false negative. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were derived to be 96.7%, 77.3%, 85.3% and 94.4%, respectively. Accuracy was calculated to be 88.5%. Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET-CECT is a very useful non-invasive modality for the early detection of recurrence and metastatic workup in patients with carcinoma cervix with a very high sensitivity and negative predictive value. It is also useful in targeting biopsy sites in suspected cases of recurrence.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-55
Author(s):  
Sohely Sultana ◽  
Mohammad Faisal Ibn Kabir ◽  
Tarana Yasmin ◽  
Shyamal KR Roy ◽  
Asish Sarkar ◽  
...  

A 52 year old female reported to surgery department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with dysphasia and exertional chest pain. With detailed history and examination she was diagnosed as a case of epigastric mass and undergone X-ray chest. The report revealed enlarged mediastinal shadow with suspicion of thoracic aortic aneurysm. X-ray chest was followed by contrast enhanced CT scan which revealed a large partially thrombosed aneurysmal dilatation of the aortic arch with sharp kinking (bend) at distal end of aneurysm and beginning of descending aorta. Then the patient was referred to cardiac surgery for immediate management. But the patient refused to have a surgery. Then two months later the patient again presented with chest pain and admitted in DMCH. But the patient died.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v16i1.22405 J MEDICINE 2015; 16 : 53-55


Author(s):  
David J. Brinkman ◽  
Stephanie Troquay ◽  
Wouter J. de Jonge ◽  
Eric D. Irwin ◽  
Margriet J. Vervoordeldonk ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the morphology and course of the splenic artery, which might impact the surgical implantation of systems that stimulate the nerves surrounding the splenic artery. Experimental studies indicate that these nerves play an important part in immune modulation, and might be a potential target in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Methods This retrospective cohort study made use of contrast-enhanced CT images from 40 male and 40 female patients (age 30–69) that underwent a CT examination of the aorta, kidneys or pancreas. Anatomic features were described including total splenic artery length, calibers, tortuosity, the presence of arterial loops and the branching pattern of the splenic artery. Results No age-gender-related differences could be found related to tortuosity or branching pattern. The length of splenic artery in contact with pancreatic tissue decreased with increasing age, but was not different between genders. Artery diameters were wider in male compared to female subjects. Loops of variable directions, that represent a part of the artery that curls out of the pancreatic tissue, were identified in each age-gender category and were present in nearly all subjects (86%). Conclusion This study suggests that although some anatomic features of the splenic artery are subject to factors as age and gender, the tortuosity of the splenic artery is not age dependent. Most subjects had one or multiple loops, which can serve as a target for neuromodulatory devices. Future studies should investigate whether splenic nerve stimulation is safe and feasible.


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