Keywords:
Abdomen, Pancreas, Oncology, CT, Contrast agent-intravenous, Computer Applications-Detection, diagnosis, Cancer, Tissue characterisation
Authors:
A. Mazzaro1, G. A. Zamboni1, F. Lombardo2, M. Chincarini1, R. Pozzi-Mucelli1; 1Verona/IT, 2Bolzano/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-2985
Methods and materials
Patient population
We reviewed the follow-up MDCTs of patients with resected adenocarcinoma of the pancreas performed between 2011 and 2017,
and selected 42 consecutive patients with detection of solid hypodense tissue in the resection area at CT and with further follow-up imaging available.
The study population included 22 males and 19 females with an average age at the time of the examination of 65,7 years.
CT imaging
MDTC examinations were performed using on a 64-row scanner (Philips Brilliance 64,
Philips Medical System,
Eindhoven,
Netherlands).
Patients received a weight-based amount of iodinated contrast agent (1.5 ml/kg,
Ultravist 370,
Bayer Schering Pharma,
Germany).
A late-arterial phase and a venous phase were acquired,
timed with bolus-tracking with 15-seconds and 60-seconds post-threshold delay,
respectively.
Image analysis
Two readers with experience in abdominal imaging reviewed in consensus the scans.
The readers measured the longest diameter of the solid tissue.
They measured the attenuation of the solid tissue by drawing ROIs on the slice with the largest diameter in the late-arterial and in the venous phase.
They also assessed for the presence of metastases,
pathological lymph-nodes,
and peritoneal carcinomatosis.
The absolute (HUven-HUart) and ratio of enhancement (HUven-HUart/HUart) were calculated.
Statistical analysis was performed including t-test and Fisher’s test.