OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to compare a low-dose abdominal CT protocol, delivering a dose of radiation close to the dose delivered by abdominal radiography, with standard-dose unenhanced CT in patients with suspected renal colic.MATERIALS AND METHODS. One hundred twenty-five patients (87 men, 38 women; mean age, 45 years) who were admitted with suspected renal colic underwent both abdominal low-dose CT (30 mAs) and standard-dose CT (180 mAs). Low-dose CT and standard-dose CT were independently reviewed, in a delayed fashion, by two radiologists for the characterization of renal and ureteral calculi (location, size) and for indirect signs of renal colic (renal enlargement, pyeloureteral dilatation, periureteral or renal stranding). Results reported for low-dose CT, with regard to the patients' body mass indexes (BMIs), were compared with those obtained with standard-dose CT (reference standard). The presence of non-urinary tract-related disorders was also assessed. Informed consent was obtaine...

To evaluate abdominal ultrasonography (US) for indirect (with free fluid analysis only) and direct (with free fluid and parenchymal analysis) detection of organ injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, with findings at computed tomography (CT) and/or surgery as the standard of diagnosis. Abdominal US was performed at hospital admission in consecutive patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The presence of free peritoneal fluid and organ injury were recorded and compared with results of abdominal CT in all hemodynamically stable patients. When US results were considered false-negative for free fluid or organ injury compared with CT results, repeat US was performed within 6 hours. Admission and second US results were compared with CT and/or surgical results to determine sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of US with regard to the presence of free intraperitoneal fluid and/or organ injury. Two hundred five hemodynamically stable patients underwent abdominal US and CT. CT revealed free fluid in 83 patients and organ injury in 99. Thirty-one (31%) of 99 patients with organ injury did not have free fluid at CT. Three (10%) of the 31 patients required surgery or angiographic embolization. The sensitivity of admission US was 93% (77 of 83 cases) for the diagnosis of free fluid, 41% (39 of 99) for directly demonstrating organ injury, and 72% (71 of 99) for suggesting organ injury by means of both free fluid and organ analysis. At second US, these sensitivities were 96% (80 of 83 cases), 55% (54 of 99) and 84% (83 of 99), respectively. US is highly sensitive for the detection of free intraperitoneal fluid but not sensitive for the identification of organ injuries. In hemodynamically stable patients, the value of US is mainly limited by the large percentage of organ injuries that are not associated with free fluid.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare a conventional multiregional MDCT protocol with two continuous single-pass whole-body MDCT protocols in imaging of patients with polytrauma.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Ninety patients with polytrauma underwent whole-body 16-MDCT with a conventional (n = 30) or one of two single-pass (n = 60) protocols. The conventional protocol included unenhanced scans of the head and cervical spine and contrast-enhanced helical scans (140 mL, 4 mL/s, 300 mg I/mL) of the thorax and abdomen. The single-pass protocols consisted of unenhanced scans of the head followed by one-sweep acquisition from the circle of Willis through the pubic symphysis with a biphasic (150 mL, 6 and 4 mL/s, 300 mg I/mL) or monophasic (110 mL, 4 mL/s, 400 mg I/mL) injection. Acquisition times and interval delays between head, chest, and abdominal scans were recorded. Contrast enhancement was measured in the aortic arch, liver, spleen, and kidney. Diagnostic image quality in the same areas was assessed ...

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of IV administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on serum levels of creatinine and cystatin C, two markers of renal function, in patients with renal insufficiency who undergo emergency contrast-enhanced CT.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Eighty-seven adult patients with renal insufficiency who underwent emergency CT were randomized to two groups. In the first group, in addition to hydration, patients received a 900-mg injection of NAC 1 hour before and another immediately after injection of iodine contrast medium. Patients in the second group received hydration only. Serum levels of creatinine and cystatin C were measured at admission and on days 2 and 4 after CT. Nephrotoxicity was defined as a 25% or greater increase in serum creatinine or cystatin C concentration from baseline value.RESULTS. A 25% or greater increase in serum creatinine concentration was found in nine (21%) of 43 patients in the control group and in two (5%) of 44 patients in the NAC gr...

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to prospectively evaluate whether a second-generation sonography contrast agent (SonoVue) can improve the conspicuity of solid organ injuries (liver; spleen; or kidney, including adrenal glands) in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Two hundred ten consecutive hemodynamically stable trauma patients underwent both abdominal sonography and CT at admission. The presence of solid organ injuries and the quality of sonography examinations were recorded. Patients with false-negative sonography findings for solid organ injuries in comparison with CT results underwent control sonography. If a solid organ injury was still undetectable, contrast-enhanced sonography was performed. Findings of admission, control, and contrast-enhanced sonograms were compared with CT results for their ability to depict solid organ injuries. Contrast-enhanced sonography was also performed in patients in whom a vascular injury (pseudoaneurysm) was shown on admission or con...

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to determine whether MDCT with perfusion imaging could help in assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis in the initial phase of the disease. One hundred six patients with abdominal pain were prospectively enrolled in this study.CONCLUSION. Patients were separated into two groups: P1 (severe) and P2 (mild) acute pancreatitis. Mean perfusion value was 24.8 mL/100 mL/min in the P1 group and 50.5 mL/100 mL/min in the P2 group (p = 0.0016, significant). Our preliminary data suggest that pancreatic perfusion measurement using MDCT with perfusion imaging could help in assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis.