Objective To determine the influence and significance of combinative assessment of 64 multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) with serum amyloid A protein (SAA) or C-reactive protein (CRP) on the selection of operative procedures of rectal cancer under the multi-disciplinary team. Methods Prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed definitely as rectal cancer at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from February to August 2009 were randomly assigned into two groups. In one group named MSCT+SAA group, both 64 MSCT and SAA combinative assessment were made for the preoperative evaluation. In another group named MSCT+CRP group, both MSCT and CRP combinative assessment were made for preoperative evaluation. Furthermore, the preoperative staging and predicted operation procedures were compared with postoperative pathologic staging and practical operation procedures, respectively, and the relationship between the choice of operation procedures and clinicopathologic factors was analyzed. Results All 165 patients were randomly assigned into MSCT+SAA group (n=83) and MSCT+CRP group (n=82). The baseline characteristics of two groups were statistically similar (Pgt;0.05). For MSCT+SAA group, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 74.7%， 68.7%, 100% and 66.3%, respectively. For MSCT+CRP group, the accuracies of preoperative staging T, N, M and TNM were 72.0%, 86.6%, 100% and 81.7%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the accuracies of N staging and TNM staging between two groups (P＜0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference of the accuracy of prediction to operative procedures between two groups (90.4% vs. 95.1%, Pgt;0.05). The pathological T staging (P＜0.001), N staging (P＜0.001), TNM staging (P＜0.001), preoperative serum level of SAA (P=0.010), serum level of CRP (P=0.042), and distance of tumor to the dentate line (P=0.011) were associated with the operative procedures. Conclusion Combinative assessment of MSCT+CRP could improve the accuracy of preoperative staging and operative procedures prediction, which may be superior to MSCT+SAA.
Objective To establish the optimal morphological criteria combined with fibrinogen level for evaluation of lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer. Methods A consecutive series of 690 patients who underwent curative surgery for colorectal cancer, were examined by abdominopelvic enhanced multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) scan. If regional lymph nodes appeared, the maximal long-axis diameter (MLAD), maximal short-axis diameter (MSAD), and axial ratio (MSAD/MLAD) were recorded. At each lymph node size cut-off value, the following were calculated: accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Moreover, preoperative plasma level of fibrinogen was retrospectively examined to identify metastatic or inflammatory lymph node combined with MSCT image. Both modalities, MSCT plus fibrinogen and MSCT alone, were compared based on the pathologic findings. Results The study population consisted of 100 patients with regional lymph nodes show. No significant difference was found between metastatic and inflammatory lymph nodes in imaging characteristics (Pgt;0.05). The best cut-off value of MSAD was 6 mm for lymph node metastasis with the sensitivity of 46.8%, specificity of 68.4%, accuracy of 55.0%, PPV of 70.7% and NPV of 44.1%. The best cut-off value of MLAD was 8 mm with the sensitivity of 43.5%, specificity of 63.2%, accuracy of 51.0%, PPV of 65.9% and NPV of 40.7%. Using hyperfibrinogenemia (FIB ≥3.5 g/L) to identify small metastatic lymph node, of which MSAD lt;6 mm or MLAD lt;8 mm, showed statistical diagnostic value (Kappa=0.256, P=0.047). Compared with MSAD (6 mm) alone, MSAD (6 mm) combined with hyperfibrinogenemia had a higher sensitivity (79.0% vs. 46.8%, Plt;0.001), but a similar accuracy (66.0% vs. 55.0%, Pgt;0.05) and a lower specificity (44.7% vs. 68.4%, P=0.037). MLAD (8 mm) combined with hyperfibrinogenemia led to a greater diagnostic value in sensitivity (80.6% vs. 43.5%, Plt;0.001) and accuracy (66.0% vs. 51.0%, P=0.031) than MLAD (8 mm) alone, with a no-significantly decreasing specificity (42.1% vs. 63.2%, Pgt;0.05). Conclusions This present study recommend MSAD ≥6 mm or MLAD ≥8 mm as the optimal criteria for preoperative N staging in colorectal cancer. Moreover, the sensitivity and even accuracy could be improved by combining hyperfibrinogenemia for lymph node metastasis identification.
Objective To explore the diagnosis value of the low dose multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) imaging in pulmonary fungal infection in order to improve its diagnosis level. Methods CT manifestations of 106 cases of pulmonary fungal infection confirmed by operation, pathology, mycetes cultivation and follow-ups of clinical therapy were retrospectively analyzed. All cases underwent low dose MSCT examinations including CARE dose 4D and sinogram affirmed iterative reconstruction technology, and 6 cases underwent contrast-enhanced CT scanning. Results Among the basic MSCT findings of pulmonary fungal infection, they showed patch-nodular type in 54 cases, solid variant in 38 cases, and tumor type in 14 cases. In all cases, 91 cases displayed as mulifocality, 83 cases as polymorphism and 78 cases as polytropy. Among the 106 cases with comparative distinctive MSCT manifestations, bud of branch sign were showed in 39 cases, halo sign in 32 cases, wedge shape consolidation in 19 cases, ice needle sign in 15 cases, crescentic sign in 11 cases, air ring sign in 6 cases, and contra-halo sign in 4 cases. The nodules in the cavities were not enhanced in enhanced scan in 5 cases. Conclusions There are some distinctive MSCT findings in patients with pulmonary fungal infection. Pulmonary fungal infection can be diagnosed with typical MSCT findings in close combination with the clinical information.