A case of pediatric paraspinal arteriovenous fistula with multiple fistulas

Paraspinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare vascular malformation. This is the first described case of a pediatric paraspinal AVF along nonvertebral segmental nerve with multiple fistulas. An 8 months-old girl was found to have a continuous murmur on the back on chest auscultation. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a segmental nerve AVF of the right thoracic spine. Selective angiography of the right T8 and T9 intercostal arteries demonstrated a high flow fistula at the level of the neural foramen, with drainage to the epidural and azygos veins. The fistulas point was visualized using Volume rendering(VR) and Minimum Intensity Projection(MIP) images. Endovascular treatment from the right T8 and T9 feeding arteries was provided using coils and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate(NBCA). Postembolization angiography demonstrated complete occlusion of the fistulas. The postoperative course was uneventful. We discuss the first case of a pediatric paraspinal AVF along nonvertebral segmental nerve with double holes of fistulas with literature review.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IMAGE RESULTS OF PANCREAS IN PORTAL VEIN PHASE ON CT SCAN ABDOMEN CONTRAST WITHOUT AND WITH MINIMUM INTENSITY PROJECTION IN CT SCAN 64 SLICE

Background: Minimum Intensity Projection is a post-proccesing technique on CT Scan that useful for showing structures with low Hounsfiled Unit (HU) values such as pancreas. To demonstrate the anatomy and pathology of the pancreatic organs, a contrast CT scan was performed on pancreatic phase but pancreatic phase was rarely used, so it was replaced by the portal venous phase, but this technique is still rarely used among the radiographers. Objective: This study aimed to prove the image of the portal venous pancreatic vein on contrast contrast CT scan by using minimum intensity projection (MinIP) on CT scan 64 slices will produce a more optimal image than without the minimum intensity projection (MinIP). Methods: This study is a retrospective study with an observational analytic method to assess differences of pancreatic image in contrasting contrast CT scans with and with MinIP reforms on CT 64 slice modalities Philips Briliance. 30 images as samples, with the criteria set by the researchers. The image will be post proccesing without and by using MinIP reformat. Image results will be evaluated by two radiologist, then the data obtained will be tabulated and processed using SPSS software version 17. Result: From this research obtained the result that MinIP reformat able to produce pancreas image more optimal than image without MinIP reformat on CT scan 64 slice and shows a significant difference. Overall assessment of the image has an improvement with the MinIP but for the homogeneity of pancreatic images decreased. Conclusions: There was a significant difference between pancreatic venous porta port results in contrasting CT scans of the abdomen without and with MinIP reformat.

Determination of subcarinal angle of trachea using computed tomography

Background: Change in tracheal bifurcation angle (subcarinal angle) is an indirect marker of various cardiac, pulmonary and mediastinal pathologies. Helical computed tomography (CT) allows acquisition of volumetric set of data of the chest and can be used for accurate measurements of subcarinal angle using reconstructed images on a workstation using minimum intensity projection (MinIP).The objective of this study was to estimate normal subcarinal angle (SCA) of trachea by computed tomography and to assess its relationship with gender.Methods: This was an observational study comprising a study cohort of 552 patients comprising of 312 males and 240 females who were subjected to CT chest for various indications in our department. Patients with no underlying cardiac, mediastinal or pulmonary disease were included in the study. Spiral CT scan of chest was performed on 64-slice seimens CT SOMATOM and images were reconstructed with thickness of 1.5mm and the images were viewed in coronal reformatted minimum intensity projection (MinIP) for determination of subcarinal angle using the angle measuring tool provided in the workstationResults: The mean subcarinal angle (SCA) in males was (67.60±14.55). The mean subcarinal angle (SCA) in females was (78.90±11.04). Females had a higher mean SCA compared to males with a statistically significant difference (p-value <0.05).Conclusions: The mean SCA in females was higher compared to males with a statistically significant difference between the two. This study holds practical relevance with regard to the performance of invasive trachea-bronchial procedures like bronchoscopy and tracheal/bronchial intubation.

ESTIMATION OF SUBCARINAL ANGLE USING MINIMUM INTENSITY PROJECTION IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to determine the normal subcarinal angle (SCA) in an adult patient, to compare the relationship of SCA with patient gender and age, and to correlate the SCA with body mass index (BMI).Methods: A total of 193 subjects (109 males and 85 females) in the age group of 20–60 years scheduled for computed tomography thorax at the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, were included in the study. Plain images were reconstructed into 1.4 mm reformatted image and processed into minimum intensity projection, and measurement was taken using angle tool. Mean and standard deviation was used to determine normal SCA, and independent t-test was used to compare the relationship of SCA with patient’s age and gender. “Pearson correlation” was used to correlate SCA with BMI.Results- The mean SCA of the adult patient was 69.75±3.38°. The mean SCA in female was 69.90±4.07° and in male was 69.63±2.75°. In the age group of 20–40 years, the mean SCA was 70.38±3.85°, and in the age group of 41–60 years, it was 69.25±2.88°.Conclusion: There was no relationship between SCA and patient’s gender; however, the mean SCA of the age group 20–40 was found greater than that of 41–60 which was statistically significant. BMI has no significant correlation with SCA.