Zbigniew Serafin

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound for Detection of Crohn’s Disease Activity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Reports on imaging of active Crohns disease (aCD) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are encouraging. However, the statistical power of most published papers is limited due to the small size of the patient groups included. This study was performed to verify the diagnostic value of CEUS in detecting aCD. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed by two independent reviewers for articles on the test characteristics of CEUS for the identification of aCD. The quality of the analysed studies was evaluated using a quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2). Pooling was performed using a diagnostic random-effect model and bivariate analysis. RESULTS Eight articles were included in the final analysis, with a total of 332 patients. There was no significant publication bias. Significant heterogeneity was found regarding CEUS methodology and sonographic definitions of aCD. In a bivariate analysis, pooled sensitivity was 0.94 (95% CI 0.87-0.97) and pooled specificity was 0.79 (95% CI 0.67-0.88). Spearman correlation statistics presented no significant diagnostic threshold effect (r = 0.12, p > 0.9). Subgroup analysis showed that relative intestine wall enhancement had the highest diagnostic value (area under the curve 94%), while the presence of enhancement and analysis of the slope were less useful (area under the curve 91 and 90%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS CEUS presents good sensitivity and moderate specificity in the detection of the aCD. Large-scale randomized trials with quantitative evaluation of CEUS images are necessary to promote this technique in clinical practice.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of transplanted kidneys: Preliminary report.

Summary Background An aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of DWI in the early period after kidney transplantation. We also aimed to compare ADC and eADC values in the cortex and medulla of the kidney, to estimate image noise and variability of measurements, and to verify possible relation between selected labolatory results and diffusion parameters in the transplanted kidney. Material/Methods Examinations were performed using a 1.5 T MR unit. DWI (SE/EPI) was performed in the axial plane using b-values of 600 and 1000. ADC and eADC measurements were performed in four regions of interest within the renal cortex and in three regions within the medulla. Relative variability of results and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were calculated. Results The analysis included 15 patients (mean age 52 years). The mean variability of ADC was significantly lower than that of eADC (6.8% vs. 10.8%, respectively; p<0.0001). The mean variability of measurements performed in the cortex was significantly lower than that in the medulla (6.2% vs. 11.5%, respectively; p<0.005). The mean SNR was higher in the measurements using b600 than b1000, it was higher in ADC maps than in the eADC maps, and it was higher in the cortex than in the medulla. ADC and eADC measured at b1000 in the cortex were higher in the group of the patients with eGFR ≤30 ml/min./1.73 m2 as compared to patients with eGFR >30 ml/min./1.73 m2 (p<0.05). Conclusions Diffusion-weighted imaging of transplanted kidneys is technically challenging, especially in patients in the early period after transplantation. From a technical point of view, the best quality parameters offer quality ADC measurement in the renal cortex using b1000. ADC and eADC values in the renal cortex measured at b1000 present a relationship with eGFR.

Methods and time schedule for follow-up of intracranial aneurysms treated with endovascular embolization: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To review the diagnostic value of angiographic methods and the optimal timetable for follow-up imaging of patients after endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS A comprehensive computer-aided search for relevant primary papers was performed using the MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Collaboration database from January 1991 to March 2011. Original papers were included that reported either diagnostic value of angiographic modalities for follow-up vs. digital subtracted angiography (DSA) or comparison of aneurysm occlusion rate in delayed vs. early follow-up. RESULTS The systematic review identified 35 relevant studies: 3 on the diagnostic value of three-dimensional (3D) DSA, 30 on the performance of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and 3 on time schedules for follow-up. 3D DSA had sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 58.3-94.7%. Magnetic resonance angiography had sensitivity of 28.4-100%, and specificity of 50.0-100%. The proportion of aneurysms that recanalized between the early follow-up examination at 6 months and the delayed imaging at 1.5-6.0 years was 0-2.5%. CONCLUSIONS Magnetic resonance angiography seems to be the best imaging method for the follow-up. In selected cases, when invasive angiography is necessary, 3D DSA should be considered to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Most patients who present with stable and adequate aneurysm occlusion at 6 months after coiling may not require further follow-up. Key words: intracranial aneurysm, embolization, coils, digital subtracted angiography, magnetic resonance, computed tomography.

Reproducibility of dynamic computed tomography brain perfusion measurements in patients with significant carotid artery stenosis

Background: Perfusion computed tomography (PCT) determination is a minimally invasive and widely available technique for brain blood flow assessment, but its application may be restricted by large variation of results. Purpose: To determine the intraobserver, interobserver, and interexamination variability of brain PCT absolute measurements in patients with significant carotid artery stenosis (CAS), and to evaluate the effect of the use of relative perfusion values on PCT reproducibility. Material and Methods: PCT imaging was completed in 61 patients before endarterectomy, and in 38 of these within 4 weeks after treatment. Cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), time to peak (TTP), and peak enhancement intensity (PEI) were calculated with the maximum slope method. Interexamination variability was evaluated based on perfusion of hemisphere contralateral to the treated CAS, from repeated examinations. Interobserver and intraobserver variability were established for the untreated side, based on pretreatment examination. Results: Interobserver and intraobserver variability were highest for CBF measurement (28.8% and 32.5%, respectively), and interexamination variability was the highest for CBV (24.1%). Intraobserver and interobserver variability were higher for absolute perfusion values compared with their respective ratios for CBF and TTP. The only statistically significant difference between perfusion values measured by two observers was for CBF (mean 78.3 vs. 67.5 ml/100 g/min). The interexamination variability of TTP (12.1%) was significantly lower than the variability of other absolute perfusion measures, and the interexamination variability of ratios was significantly lower than absolute values for all the parameters. Conclusion: In longitudinal studies of patients with chronic cerebral ischemia, PCT ratios and either TTP or CBV are more suitable measures than absolute CBF values, because of their considerably lower inter- and intraobserver variability. Differences in CBF between two examinations as high as 30% may be considered as significant in such patients.

Use of Diagnostic Imaging in the Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Tract Duplications

Summary Background Gastrointestinal tract duplication is a rare malformation associated with the presence of additional segment of the fetal gut. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review clinical features and imaging findings in intraoperatively confirmed cases of gastrointestinal tract duplication in children. Material/Methods The analysis included own material from the years 2002–2012. The analyzed group included 14 children, among them 8 boys and 6 girls. The youngest patient was diagnosed at the age of three weeks, and the oldest at 12 years of age. Results The duplication cysts were identified in the esophagus (n=2), stomach (n=5), duodenum (n=1), terminal ileum (n=5), and rectum (n=1). In four cases, the duplication coexisted with other anomalies, such as patent urachus, Meckel’s diverticulum, mesenteric cyst, and accessory pancreas. Clinical manifestation of gastrointestinal duplication cysts was variable, and some of them were detected accidently. Thin- or thick-walled cystic structures adjacent to the wall of neighboring gastrointestinal segment were documented on diagnostic imaging. Conclusions Ultrasound and computed tomography are the methods of choice in the evaluation of gastrointestinal duplication cysts. Apart from the diagnosis of the duplication cyst, an important issue is the detection of concomitant developmental pathologies, including pancreatic heterotopy.

Deep venous thrombosis in patients with chronic spinal cord injury

Context/Objective: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a well-known complication of an acute spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the prevalence of DVT in patients with chronic SCI has only been reported in a limited number of studies. The aim of our study was to examine the prevalence of DVT in patients with SCI beyond three months after injury. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Rehabilitation Department at the Bydgoszcz University Hospital in Poland. Participants: Sixty-three patients with SCI that were more than 3 months post injury. The patients, ranging in age from 13 to 65 years, consisted of 15 women and 48 men; the mean age of the patients was 32.1 years. The time from injury varied from 4 to 124 months. Outcome measures: Clinical assessment, D-dimer and venous duplex scan. Results: The venous duplex scan revealed DVT in 5 of the 63 patients. The post-injury time in four of the patients varied between 4 and 5 months; one patient was 42 months post-injury. Conclusion: DVT occurred in patients with chronic SCI, mainly by the 6th post injury month.

Follow-up of cerebral aneurysm embolization with hydrogel embolic system: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Hydrogel embolic system (HES) for endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms was developed to reduce the risk of aneurysm recurrence and the rate of retreatment. The aim of this systematic review was to verify the efficacy of HES, also in comparison to bare platinum coils (BPC). MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic literature search was performed by two independent reviewers for articles published until January 31st, 2013 on the follow-up recurrence rate of intracranial aneurysm embolization with hydrogel-coated coils. RESULTS Thirteen articles on the use of HES for embolization of cerebral aneurysms were included in this study, for a total of 1683 embolized aneurysms. Significant heterogeneity was found regarding patient populations, methods of aneurysm coiling, follow-up schedules, and recurrence definitions. The pooled rate of initial complete aneurysm occlusion was 55% (95%CI, 38-70%); 59% (95%CI, 43-74%) in the subgroup of aneurysms treated with the use of HES. The pooled total recurrence rate was 19% (95%CI, 15-24%); 17% (95%CI, 14-22%) in the HES-treated subgroup. The pooled major recurrence rate was 12% (95%CI, 8-18%); 11% (95%CI, 7-16%) in the HES-treated subgroup. Comparing both types of coils, the pooled odds ratio for total recurrence was 0.63 (95%CI, 0.45-0.88; p=0.008) in favor of HES. CONCLUSIONS Embolization of cerebral aneurysms using HES seems to result in a lower rate of recurrence than that obtained using BPC, which is in line with the only randomized controlled trial. High-quality prospective studies are needed to define specific indications for the use of hydrogel-coated coils.

Pneumatoza pęcherzykowa jelit - jedno z powikłań choroby przeszczep przeciw gospodarzowi. Opis dwóch przypadków.

Summary Background: Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of multiple gas collections in the subserosal or submucosal intestinal wall of the large or small intestine. We report two cases of PCI in the course of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Case Report: A 5-year-old girl was treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Twenty-four months after the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in the course of graft-versus-host disease, she developed subcutaneous emphysema of the right inguinal and pudendal region. PCI was diagnosed based on a CT examination. A 3-year-old boy was treated for juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Fourteen months after the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation he presented with an increased severity of intestinal symptoms, including intermittent bleeding from large intestine. PCI was diagnosed based on a CT exam and was confirmed by a colonoscopy. Conclusions: Pneumatosis cystoides interstitialis in the course of chronic graft-versus-host disease has a heterogeneous clinical presentation that does not correlate with results of imaging. CT is a method of choice to diagnose PCI. In patients with PCI, the presence of free air in the peritoneal cavity does not confirm an intestinal perforation.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the determination of Crohn’s disease activity – preliminary experience

Summary Background Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a recent non-invasive modality, which may partially replace currently used techniques (endoscopy, CT enterography and MR enterography) in the diagnostics and assessment of Crohn’s disease (CD). The aim of the study was to analyze early experience in the use of CEUS for the measurement of activity and staging of CD. Material/Methods Eleven patients previously diagnosed with CD were included in the study. They underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (SonoVue, Bracco), low-dose CT enterography (LDCTE), assessment of laboratory markers of inflammation and clinical CD activity index (CDAI). Contrast enhancement was evaluated using a semi-quantitative method and a quantitative method that included measurement of peak enhancement (PE), enhancement curve rise time (RT) and wash-in-rate (WiR). Results Ileal wall thickening was observed in all patients. Semi-quantitative method was used to observe CD activity in CEUS in 10 cases that perfectly matched LDCTE findings. There was a moderate positive correlation between PE and CDAI (r=0.65, p<0.001). There was no significant relationship between perfusion parameters and laboratory markers of inflammation. Conclusions CEUS is a promising modality for non-invasive assessment of pathologic ileal vascularization in the course of Crohn’s disease. Intensity of enhancement in CEUS reflects activity of the disease detected in LDCTE and correlates with CDAI.

Predictors of residual flow in embolized intracranial ruptured aneurysms at early follow-up.

BACKGROUND The possibility of recanalization and the need for retreatment are the most important drawbacks of intracranial aneurysm embolization. The purpose of the study was to prospectively analyze the results of early follow-up angiography of embolized ruptured aneurysms in an attempt to determine factors predicting the presence of residual flow. MATERIAL/METHODS Evaluation included 72 patients with 72 aneurysms, which were followed-up 3 months after the treatment. Analysis of residual flow predictors included: age and gender, clinical state in Hunt-Hess scale, aneurysm localization, aneurysm three dimensions and volume, neck width, sac-to-neck ratio, initial result of embolization, number of coils used and the use of hydrogel coils and stents. RESULTS Mean sac diameter was 6.5±3.9 mm, and mean neck width was 2.9±1.4 mm. Follow-up angiography presented residual flow in 26 aneurysms (36.1%): class 2 in 8 aneurysms (11.1%), and class 3 in 18 cases (25.0%). Stable aneurysm filling was observed in 45 cases (62.5%), progression of residual flow in 25 cases (34.7%), and regression in 2 cases (2.8%). According to ROC analysis independent predictors of residual flow were aneurysm neck diameter (AUC 0.857, 95% CI: 0.755-0.928, p<0.0001) and sac-to-neck ratio (AUC 0.817, 95% CI: 0.708-0.898, p<0.0001). Cut-off point of the ROC curve was established at 2.8 mm for neck diameter, and 1.73 for sac-to-neck ratio. CONCLUSIONS Aneurysm neck diameter and sac-to-neck ratio are independently related to the residual flow in embolized ruptured aneurysms at early follow-up.