Objective To evaluate the clinical value of dual-energy CT in the detection of monosodium urate crystals in patients with gout.Methods One hundred and eight patients who experienced unilateral arthrocele and (or) joint pain in the past two weeks were enrolled into our study.DECT were performed for the upper or lower extremity.Ninety-five patients were enrolled into the gout study group based on the American rheumatism association (ACR) classification standard;The 0.3 linear blended images group were regarded as conventional CT group,DE (80 kV and 140 kV) datasets were reconstructed via gout-recognition software,the pseudo-color images group as the postprocessed group.Imagings were reviewed independently by two senior radiologists.Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis with the SPSS 13.0software.Results In the conventional CT group,DECT scans revealed a total of 298 areas of urate deposition in 51 patients;The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy were 53.7％,84.6％,and 57.4％.In the postprocessed group,401 areas of green urate deposition were detected in 69 patients,the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy were 72.6％,100.0％,75.9％ respectively,the differences had statistical significance (x2 =7.329 and 8.333,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions DECT gout recognition technology can detect smaller amount of monosodium urate in the other parts of the body,with a great potential in early diagnosis and treatment monitoring of patients with gout.

Objective To evaluate the dose reduction technology using in CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy of pulmonary lesions using automated core needle biopsies (ACNB).Methods 412 ACNB cases included 146 consecutive conventional patients (group A,120 kV/100 mA) and 266 consecutive patients (group B,120 kV/20 mA,low-dose scanning,reduce scanning width and scanning frequency).The quality of images was compared by grain homogeneity,fine structure,clearness of tissue interface and artifacts.The total diagnostic accuracy rate,the examination time and radiation dose between group A and group B were compared.Results The fine structure of group B was significantly lower (X~2 ＝7.0508,P ＜ 0.05).The total diagnostic accuracy rate was 95.9% vs 95.1% (X~2 ＝0.1296,P ＜ 0.05).The examination time for biopsy procedure was (16 ±2.2)min vs (15.9 ±2.0)min (t ＝ 1.3579,P ＜ 0.05) ,and the mean effective dose (E) was (1.74 ± 0.7) mSv vs (0.59 ± 0.14) mSv (t ＝ 19.3415 ,P ＜ 0.05) .The E of group B decreased by 66%.Conclusions ACNB is a feasible and accurate method for diagnosing pulmonary lesions,and the E can significantly reduce the dose received in low-dose scanning.

Objective To explore the CT features of pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis (PLAM).Methods Clinical and high resolution CT (HRCT)data of 14 patients with pathologically proved PLAM were analyzed retrospectively.The clinical and CT features were summarized by combining the literatures.Results All 14 cases were female.They all presented with dyspnea in different degree after the activity. Scattered or widely distributed translucent and cystic lesions with indistinct walls in bilateral lungs were seen on routine CT images. HRCT showed homogeneous clear thin-walled cysts with diameter ranging from several millimeters to 25 mm,wall thickness of 1-2 mm,and surrounded by normal lung tissue.Meanwhile,blood vessels were found around the cysts,and there were no central lobular cores.The cysts were different sizes and irregular distribution.6 patients had extra-pulmonary CT manifestations:1 case with intracranial multiple sclerosis, hepatic and renal angiomyolipomas,and hepatic multiple hemangiomas,3 cases with mediastinal,hepatic and renal angiomyolipomas, and 2 cases with retroperitonea lymphangioleiomyomatosis.Conclusion The CT of PLAM is characterized by the diffuse distribution of thin-walled cystic cavities and the wall thickness is generally uniform.The typical manifestations of HRCT combined with clinical data have great values in the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; Ferroptosis ; Iron/metabolism* ; Sequestosome-1 Protein/metabolism* ; Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases/metabolism*