OBJECTIVEThis study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the chronic oral mucosal disease questionnaire (COMDQ).

METHODSUsing translation, back-translation, quality evaluation, cross-cultural adaptation, and pre-assessment, a Chinese version of the COMDQ was drafted. A 26-item instrument which comprised of four domains: pain and functional limitation, medications and side effects, social and emotional aspects, and patient support was designed and tested. This questionnaire was given to patients who visited our clinic. After the patients accomplished the questionnaires, we analyzed the collected data to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale.

RESULTSA total of 130 patients were enrolled in our study. All the COMDQ questionnaires were completely filled out. The Chinese version of the COMDQ showed the following psychometric properties: Cronbach's alpha of 0.914, split-half reliability of 0.809, and correlation of 0.697. Factor analysis of construct validity demonstrated that the 26 items were classified into four domains, and the cumulative proportion was 67.62%. Thus, the scale had certain logical relation between the items in the same domains.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese version of the COMDQ demonstrate good reliability and validity by rigorous psychometric properties. It can be widely used to test the oral health-related quality of life of patients with oral mucosal diseases.

Objective To summarize the imaging features of intra-pancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS)with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and improve the awareness and correct diagnosis of IPAS.Methods MDCT images of seven consecutive patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed IPAS were reviewed retrospectively.The investigated features included the location,size,shape,margin,density,and enhancement of the lesions.Results Four patients were male and three were female with a mean age of 49 years old.All the lesions were located at the dorsal side of parenchyma under the capsule of pancreatic tail.Three lesions were in round-like shape,and 4 in oval shape and all were well-defined.All the lesions were mass-like without necrosis and calcification.The maximum diameter of lesion ranged from 0.9 ～ 1.8 cm with a mean value of 1.4 cm.Compared with pancreatic parenchyma,the density of lesions were homogeneous on unenhanced CT,in arterial phase,slightly increased heterogeneous density was observed in 3 patients,slightly increased homogeneous density was observed in 4 patients.All the lesions appeared as slightly increased homogeneous density in portal phase.The CT value in unenhanced phase ranged from 50 ～ 61 Hu with a mean number of 55 Hu; and it ranged from 80 ～ 110 Hu with a mean number of 97 Hu in arterial phase; and the corresponding value was from 99 ～ 120 Hu with a mean number of 102 Hu in portal phase.Among the three patients underwent MDCT angiography,neither artery nor vein was compressed or invaded,and there was no vessel connected with lesions.Conclusions IPAS has some MDCT characteristics.For small solid mass in pancreatic tail,if the density and enhancement pattern is similar to that of spleen,the diagnosis of IPAS should be considered.

Objective To explore the quantitative characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC) in single-source dual energy spectral CT imaging. Methods From January 2013 to December 2014, 113 patients underwent dual phase contrast-enhanced gemstone spectral imaging(GSI) on Discovery CT 750 HD. All diagnoses were pathologically confirmed by surgery or biopsy. The spectral HU curves of PDAC were observed, the monochromatic CT values, the effective atomic number(Zef ), the iodine concentration(IC), water concentration(WC), and the corresponding normalized values(normalized monochromatic CT values, normalized Zef , normalized IC, normalized WC)of the lesion and the pancreatic parenchyma in late arterial phase(AP) and portal venous phase(PP) were recorded . The measurements were performed three times repeatedly. Paired t test (normal distribution) or Wilcoxon test (non-normal distribution) were used for analyzing the differences between the two phases and between PDAC and pancreatic parenchyma. Results The monochromatic CT values of PDAC in AP were lower than in PP at each energy level and the difference was more marked at lower energy. The normalized monochromatic CT values increased with the increase of energy level in both AP and PP and the difference was more distinct at lower energy. The Zef , IC and normalized IC of PDAC all had significant differences(P<0.05), while the WC, normalized Zef , and normalized WC had no difference between AP and PP. The Zef and IC of pancreatic parenchyma had significant differences(P<0.05), while the WC had no difference between AP and PP. The differences of Zef , IC, and WC between PDAC and pancreatic parenchyma were significant in both two phases (P<0.05). Conclusions Dual phase CT spectral imaging showed characteristic quantitative parameters of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The monochromatic CT values, Zef , and iodine concentration of PDAC were lower than those of pancreatic parenchyma in both AP and PP. The monochromatic CT values, Zef , and iodine concentration of PDAC in late arterial phase were lower than those in portal venous phase. The differences were all more distinct at lower energy.

Objective To retrospectively analyze imaging features of multi-slica computed tomography (MSCT) and clinical characteristics of male patients with pancreas solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) and compare with that of female patients.Methods From November 2000 to October 2012,clinical data of 18 male patients and 94 female patients underwent MSCT examination and pathological diagnosed as SPT were retrospectively analyzed.Clinical characteristics and imaging features of MSCT of male and female patients with SPT were analyzed,which included lesion location,size,shape,encapsulation,calcification,internal composition,density and enhancement pattern of tumors.Rank sum test or x2 test was performed for statistical analysis.Results The median age of male patients with SPT was significantly older than that of female patients (39.0 (15.0,67.0) years vs 27.5 (11.0,63.0) years; U=2.865,P =0.005).There were no significant differences in clinical manifestation,lesion location and composition ratio of benign and malignant tumors between male and female patients with SPT (all P＞0.05).Imaging of MSCT indicated that the median maximum tumor diameter of male patients with SPT was significantly shorter than that of female patients (5.1 (1.0,11.6) cm vs 7.9 (2.5,18.7) cm; U=3.161,P=0.002).Solid tumors were more common in male patients compared with female patients (9/18 vs 5.3％ (5/94) ; x2 =30.606,P＜0.01).Conclusions The imaging features of male patients with SPT are different with those of females.For pancreas lesion in males,if imaging of MSCT shows more solid composition,small lesion and with typical enhancement patterns of SPT,the possibility of SPT should be considered.

Objective To investigate the CT spectral imaging features of pancreatic serous oligocystic adenoma and mucinous cystic neoplasms and to assess the value of spectral CT in differentiating between pancreatic serous oligocystic adenoma and mucinous cystic neoplasms. Methods From Feb.2010 to Dec. 2010, 27 patients with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas (group one with 15 serous oligocystic adenomas and group two with 12 mucinous cystic neoplasms) underwent dual-phase CT spectral imaging followed by surgery. Quantitative values (age, tumor size, CT value change as function of photon energy,effective-Z, iodine-water concentration, and calcium-water concentration) were compared with independent samples t test and Mann-Whitney test and non-quantitative parameters (gender, symptom, and tumor location) were compared with Chi-square test (Fisher exact). The parameters with significant differences between two groups were analyzed further and the performance of multiple parameters for joint differential diagnosis was evaluated with discriminant analysis. Results Compared to patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms, patients with serous oligocystic adenoma had younger age, lower frequency of being symptomatic and smaller tumor size. The CT values on 40 keV to 60 keV( with 10 keV increment) in late arterial phase [(36±13)HU vs. (62±23)HU, (26 ±8)HU vs. (40±15)HU, and (19±6)HU vs. (27±10)HU respectively] and 40 keV to 50 keV (with 10 keV increment) in portal venous phase [ (43 ± 14 )HU vs.(61 ±25)HU and (30 -10)HU vs. (40 ± 16)HU respectively], effective-Z (late arterial phase 7.80 ± 0. 16 vs. 8.05 ± 0. 21, and portal venous phase 7. 87 ± 0. 15 vs 8.02 ± 0. 22 ), concentration of calcium (water) [late arterial phase (5 ±3) g/L vs. (11 ±4) g/L, t= -3.836, P=0.001 and portal venous phase (7 ± 3 ) g/L vs. ( 10 ± 5 ) g/L, t = - 2.071, P = 0. 049 ] and iodine (water) [ late arterial phase (0.38 ±0.24) g/L vs. (0.78 ±0.32) g/L, t = -3.755, P=0.001 and portal venous phase (0.48 ± 0. 24) g/L vs. (0. 72 ± 0. 34 ) g/L, t = - 2. 161, P = 0. 041 ] were lower in serous oligocystic adenoma than those in mucinous cystic neoplasms. In discriminant analysis, multiple parameters [ age, symptom,tumor size, CT values on 40 keV to 50 keV, effective-Z, concentration of iodine (water) in late arterial phase and concentration of calcium (water) in portal venous phase] showed high accuracy (100%, 27/27 )of joint diagnosis between serous oligocystic adenoma (100%, 15/15 ) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (100%, 12/12). Conclusions The serous oligocystic adenoma and mucinous cystic neoplasms had distinct characteristic findings on CT spectral imaging. CT spectral imaging is highly accurate in the differential diagnosis between serous oligocystic adenoma and mucinous cystic neoplasms.

Objective To compare the two liver volume measurements using multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT)for clinical reference.Methods Twenty-four patients with hepatic disease awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation underwent muhiphase MSCT of the upper abdomen.Liver volumes using two measurements(manual volume measurement and semi-automated volume measurement)before transplantation were compared with the actual liver volume(ALV)measured during transplantation by means of water displacement.Both measurements were timed.Correlation coefficient.one way ANOVA and Bland-Altman tests were used for statistical analysis.Results The mean liver volume estimated with the manual method and the semi-automated method were(1360±157)cm3 and(1345±152)cm3.respectively.The actual liver volume was(1307±153)cm3.There was no significant diffierence between the volumes measured using the three methods(F=0.032,P＞0.05).For all the patients,there Was significant correlation between liver volume measured by MSCT and the actual liver volume.There was a good correlation between the liver volume measured by manual method and the actual liver volume(r=0.976,P＜0.05),so did the correlation between the liver volume measured by semi-automated method and the actual liver volume (r=0.987,P＜0.05).And the semi-automated method took much shorter time[(9.2±1.8)min]compared with the manual method [(23.2±5.8)min ].Conclusion Semi-automated method provided acceptable measurements for liver volume.

Objective To study the application of multi-slice spiral CT(MSCT) portography in diagnonsis of pancreatic portal hypertension. Methods Forty-seven patients with lesion in body or tail of pancrease,47 normal subjects and 126 patients with portal hypertension underwent MSCT portography with LightSpeed 16 CT scanner. The inner diameter of portal system and the main collateral veins were measured in maximun intensity projection (MIP) image. The volume of liver and spleen were also measured in volume rendering (VR) image. The liver parenchyma and main portal vein enhancement in portal vein phase were also taken. The endoscopy examination was made in 57 patiens with portal hypertension. Results In 47 patiens with lesion in body or tail of pancreas , stenosis or occlusion of spleen vein were found in 38 patients(pancreatic portal hypertension in 27 patients, chronic and acute pancreatitis in 11 patients). In 38 patients with pancreatic portal hypertension, esophageal varices was found in 5 patients(13.2%), gastric fundus varix in 25 patients (65.8%), gastric body variees in 22 patients (57.9%), short-gastric vein/post-gastric vein(SGV/PGV) in 26 patients (68.4%), coronal gastric vein in 26 patients (68.4%),dilated gasto-omenta vein in 24 patients(63.2%), mesenterica varicesin 1 patient, splenic vein occlusion in 14 patients (36.8%), splenic vein stenosis in 23 patinets(63.2%). Conclusions The patients with pancreatic portal hypertension were demonstrate characteristic changes in MSCT portography. The MSCT portography is helpful in etiological diagnosis of pancreatic portal hypertension by supplying images in vessel morphology.

Objective To assess the value of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNEN) and to analyze the factors influencing thepreoperative imaging diagnosis of PNEN.Methods From January 2016 to November 2016, patients with PNEN diagnosed by surgery and biopsy were collected. CT and MRI data of them were analyzed. The CT values or signal intensity of the lesions and the pancreatic parenchyma were measured and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the lesion was calculated. Detecting sensitivity and diagnosis accuracy of CT and MRI were compared. Detecting sensitivity of different MRI sequences was also analyzed. Diagnosis accuracy of non-functional PNEN and functional PNEN was compared and analyzed. Lesion CNR was compared between arterial phase and portal venous phase of the contrast enhanced CT. The sensitivity, accuracy and constituent ratio were compared by nonparametric analysis. Independent sample t test and one-way analysis of variancewere performed for the quantitative parameters comparison. Results A total of 54 patients with 56 lesions of PNEN were included for two of whom had two lesions each. CT and MRI were both performed in 44 patients (46 lesions).Detecting sensitivity and diagnosis accuracy of CT were 97.8% (45/46) and87.0% (40/46), respectively. Detecting sensitivity of MRI were 97.8% (45/46) and89.1% (41/46), respectively. There was no significant difference in detecting sensitivity and diagnosis accuracy between CT and MRI (both P>0.05). The CNR of lesion in arterial phase was higher than that of portal venous phase(4.7±3.8 vs 3.4±2.5), and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.949, P<0.05). Detecting rates of T1 weighted imaging with fat suppression (T1WI-FS) image, T2 weighted imaging with fat suppression (T2WI-FS) image, diffusion weighted imagingand dynamic contrast enhanced T1WI-FS image were 90.0% (45/50), 88.0%(44/50), 86.0%(43/50), and 91.7% (44/48), respectively. There was no significant difference in detecting rate among these images sequences (Q=2.526, P=0.510). Tumor diameter in non-functional PNEN was significantly larger than that in functional PNEN ((2.9±1.6) cm vs (1.7±0.7) cm)(t=3.479,P<0.05). The overall diagnosis rate of non-functional PNEN with CT and MRI before operation was 70.8% (17/24), which was significantly lower than that of functional PNEN (100.0%, 31/31) (χ2=10.360，P=0.002).Conclusions CT and MRI are both sensitive in detectingPNEN, and they were two complementary modalities. CT image in arterial phase delineated the lesion better than that in portal venous phase. MRI images with different sequences can becomplementary and there is no significant difference in detecting sensitivity for PNEN among different sequences. CT and MRI play an equal rolein the diagnosis of PNEN before operation. Because of atypical CT and MRI findings, the diagnosis of non-functional PNEN is more difficult thanfunctional PNEN.

Objective To explore the value of CT spectral imaging in the demonstration of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).Methods 113 patients were scanned by CT spectral,and gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) was performed in late arterial phase (AP) and portal venous phase (PP).All diagnosis were pathologically confirmed.The ROIs were placed on the lesion and on the pancreatic parenchyma.The ROI files including the CTmono values and the normalized CTmono values (normalized to pancreatic parenchyma) were saved.The works were performed three times repeatedly.CNR values ranged from 40 keV to 140 keV and the optimal keV in AP and PP were calculated.The differences of CTmono values, normalized CTmono values,and CNR were compared between the optimal keV and 70 keV(equivalent to conventional 120 kVp energy level).Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were performed.P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results The optimal monochromatic energy of PDAC were 40 keV in both AP and PP.The optimal CNR values(mean±standard) were 2.31±1.02 and 2.38±1.02 in AP and PP,while the corresponding values of 70 keV were 2.08±0.98 and 2.12±0.96.The CNR of 40 keV was higher than that of 70 keV in both AP and PP.The CTmono values of PDAC were (58±13) HU and (71±19) HU at 70 keV and were (111±44) HU and (155±57) HU at 40 keV in AP and PP.The CTmono value in PP was higher than in AP.The median of normalized CTmono values of PDAC at 40 keV were 47.0% and 53.9% in AP and PP, and were lower than those of 70 keV,which were 57.7% and 61.8%.The differences of normalized CTmono values between 40 keV and 70 keV were significant.Conclusion CT spectral imaging manifests that PDAC is hypovascular both in AP and PP and is progressively enhanced form AP to PP.There is maximal conspicuity of tumor in AP, and the optimal monochromatic imaging can improve the conspicuity of PDAC lesion.

Objective To discuss the application of spectral CT imaging in evaluating the early therapeutic response of 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy for pancreatic carcinoma in experimental nude mice.Methods BxPC-3 human pancreatic cancer cell xenografts were subcutaneously inoculated at the dorsal part of the limbs in 16 BABL/c nude mice. When the tumor developed to the size of 1-1.5 cm, the tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into the study group (n=8,receiving implantation of 125I seeds of 1.0 mCi) and the control group (n=8,receiving implantation of ghost shell particles of 0 mCi). Two weeks after the procedure, plain spectral CT scan as well as enhanced multiphase (10 s, 25 s and 60 s) spectral CT scan were performed to obtain multi-phasic image series. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and iodine concentration (IC) inside the lesions were determined, and the normalized iodine concentrations (nIC) of tumor were thus obtained. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor was used to measure microvessel density (MVD) within the tumor;the correlation between nIC and MVD was analyzed. Results The lesion's nICs measured on each of three phases (10 s,25 s and 60 s) in the study group were lower than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). MVD count in the study group was lower than that in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (t=5.957,P<0.01). A parallel linear correlation existed between nIC obtained from each phase of three phases and MVD count (r=0.63,P<0.000 1;r=0.51,P=0.002;and r=0.48,P=0.001 7 for 10 s, 25 s and 60 s phases respectively). Conclusion Spectral CT imaging is an effective method for evaluating the therapeutic effect of 125I seed interstitial brachytherapy for pancreatic carcinoma of experimental mice.