Objective To explore the value of gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) in the detection and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods The spectral CT images in 88 patients with thyroid nodules were analyzed retrospectively.All the patients underwent spectral CT scanning,including 33 patients undergoing biphase enhanced CT imaging.Nodules were divided into benign and malignant ones according to histopathologic results.The iodine concentration,slope of spectral curve,effective atomic number in non-enhanced and enhanced scanning were compared between benign and malignant group by the Wilcoxon rank sum test,respectively.The optimal iodine concentration threshold to predict malignancy was obtained by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC),sensitivity and specificity were achieved.Results A total of 106 nodules were detected,including 76 benign and 30 malignant nodules.In non-contrast CT imaging,the average iodine concentration,slope of spectral curve,effective atomic number of were 2.35 × 100 μg/ml,0.29 and 7.71 for benign group:-0.51 × 100 μg/ml,-0.06 and 7.52 for malignant group (Z value were-3.072,-3.107 and-3.055,respectively ; P ＜ 0.05).In the arterial phase,the average iodine concentration,slope of spectral curve,effective atomic number of the two group were 27.22 × 100 μg/ml,3.23 and 9.10 for benign group; 18.81 × 100 μg/ml,2.24 and 8.69 for malignant group (Z value were-2.582,-2.582 and-2.564,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).In venous phase,no significant difference was found for each parameter between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The optimal iodine concentration to predict malignancy was-0.35 × 100 μg/ml in non-enhanced phase with 56.7％ sensitivity and 73.7％ specificity.The optimal iodine concentration was 22.91 × 100 μg/ml in arterial phase,with 76.2％ sensitivity and 75.0％ specificity.Using iodine concentration to predict malignancy in both noncontrast phase and arterial phase,the sensitivity and specificity were 81.2％ and 73.3％,while the accuracy was 81.6％.Conclusion Gemstone spectral CT imaging can quantitatively evaluate the iodine content of thyroid nodules,having a potential value in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Objective To study the clinical value of 64-slice spiral computed tomography(64SCT) contrast-enhanced scan and three-dimensional reconstructed techniques in the diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease(CCHD). Methods 39 patients with CCHD underwent CT angiography and transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE). Of them, the electrocardiographic-gating technique was used in 8 cases. The accurate rates in diagnosing CCHD with CT, TTE and CT with or without electrocardiographic-gating were analysed compared with that of operation and χ~2 test using SPSS13.0 tool. Results A total of 102 cardiac deformities con-firmed by operations,those included 47 intracardiac deformities,the diagnostic accuracys with CT and TTE were 85.1% and 95.7%, respectively, and there was no obvious difference among them (χ~2=2.68, P>0.05). 55 extracardiac deformities, the definite diagnos-tic rates with CT and TTE were 98.2% and 78.2%, respectively. CT was superior to TTE in the indentification of extracardiac de-formities(χ~2= 14.64 ,P<0.01). There was no obvious difference between with and without electrocardiographic-gating technique during CT scanning in diagnosis of cardiac deformities(χ~2=1.84, P>0.05). Conclusion 64SCT has significant value in diagnosis of CCHD,and there was no obvious difference in diagnosis of cardiac deformities by 64SCT between with and without electrocardio-graphic-gating technic.

Gastrointestinal duplication cyst is a rare congenital disease which can occur in any part of the digestive tract between the root of tongue and the anus,and it is commonly seen in the ileum.About 45％ of the gastrointestinal duplication cyst occurs in the ileocecus and the epityphlon.Multiple gastric duplication cyst is a rare type of the gastrointestinal duplication cyst,which accounted for 3.8％-5.0％.Gastric duplication cyst mostly occurs in the greater curvature of the stomach,and it connects with the stomach wall.Multiple gastric duplication cysts in the mediastina is rarely seen.In this article,the imaging presentations of 1 patient with multiple gastric duplication cysts inside the mediastina were analyzed.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on salivary gland function in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Methods:In total, 101 NPC patients who were admitted from March 2010 to November 2012 were enrolled in this study. The parotid gland, the submandibular gland, and the oral cavity were sketched as the organs at risk (OARs). The patients were treated with IMRT and were evaluated through a face-to-face interview using a dry mouth assessment ques-tionnaire during the follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The dose volume histogram of the salivary gland of the patients was also considered. Results:The mean doses (MDs) in the parotid gland were 37.4 and 33.8 Gy in the affected and uninjured sides, respec-tively. Meanwhile, the MDs in the submandibular glands were 51.6 and 45.7 Gy in the affected and uninjured sides, respectively. The MD of the oral cavity was 38.2 Gy. At 6 months after the treatment, the symptom of xerostomia was significantly improved in 77.2%of the patients (78/101). One year later, only less than 5%of the patients complained of having G3 or higher-grade xerostomia. Conclu-sion:With time, xerostomia significantly improved after the radiotherapy. At least one of the V30 to V35 of the parotid gland was≤50.0%, whereas at least one of the V40 to V45 of the submandibular glands was≤66.7%~50.0%. The MD for the oral cavity should be<40 Gy to effectively protect salivary gland function.

Objective To study the influence of various doses and injection rates of contrast agent on CT perfusion in rabbits' liver with a deconvolution mathematical model. Methods Eight rabbits were enrolled in the experiment. Randomized block design was adopted. The treatment factor (contrast medium injection rate) was classified into 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 ml/s, while the subjects were divided into 3 blocks with contrast medium injection dose of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ml/kg. The data obtained at CT perfusion imaging were then transferred to the workstation. Absolute values of 7 perfusion parameters (hepatic arterior fraction, blood flow, blood volume, permeability surface, mean transmit time, hepatic artery perfusion and portal vein perfusion) were measured with perfusion software (Perfusion 3). Results The dose of contrast medium had significant effect on peak enhancement of the aorta, the portal vein and liver tissue (P<0.05), whereas the injection rates had significant influence on the arrival time to peak enhancement of the aorta and the portal vein. However, the dose of contrast medium and injection rates had no significant effect on perfusion parameters (P>0.05). Conclusion CT perfusion imaging with a deconvolution mathematical model can quantify the hemodynamic functional status in liver with stable results. This technique does not need strict confinement to dose and injection rate of contrast medium, and has great potential value to be put into clinical use.

Objective To investigated the protective ways of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)for submandibular gland function in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods From March 2010 to November 2012,101 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled into study.They were treated with IMRT and evaluated by face to face dry mouth questionnaire during the follow-up of 3,6,12,18,24 and more than 24 months,meanwhile,their dose volume histogram of submandibular gland were taken into consideration.Results The average contralateral median dose and that of ipsilateral submandibular gland were (45.69±7.22) Gy and (51.64±8.20) Gy,respectively,and the V35,V40,V45,V50 were 95.82 ％,69.99 ％,46.90 ％,25.50 ％,and 100 ％,96.50 ％,82.24 ％,60.98 ％,respectively.There were positive relationship between the xerostomia grading of 3,6,and 12 months after radiotherapy and the average dose of submandibular gland or the V35,V40,V45,V50.After 6 month,the xerostomia in 77.2 ％ (78/101) was significantly improved,and after 12 months,less than 5 ％ of patient complained about G3 or more grade of xerostomia.Conclusions When using IMRT in nasopharyngeal carcinoma,it' s necessary to reduce the irradiated volume and the dose of submandibular gland.It is confined that the median dose of contralateral submandibular gland should be less than 40-45 Gy,and V40 or V45 ≤66.7 ％ or ≤50 ％,which can effectively protect the function of salivary gland.

Objective:To provide scentific evidence for determining the harvest period of Cortex Abizziae by studying the dynamic variation of the content of lignan glycoside I in Cortex Abizziae.Methods:Chromatography was performed on a Boston Green ODS C18 (250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) column,the mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.04% phosphate (18∶82),the flow rate was 1.0 ml·min-1,the detection wavelength was 204 nm,and the column temperature was at 25℃.Results:There were differences in the contents of lignan glycoside I in Cortex Abizziae at different harvest periods.The content of lignan glycoside I reached the highest level in January,decreased quickly from January to March,and gradually increased from April to December.Conclusion:The content of lignan glycoside I in Cortex Abizziae at different harvest periods is different,and the optimum harvest time of Cortex Abizziae is determined from November to January of the following year.

Objective To study the accuracy and practical value in the clinical diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome by B ultrasonography and postcaval vein contrast examination.Methods 42 patients received B ultrasonographic scanning of the postcaval vein and the liver before the use of angiography.Angiography included Seldinger single-direction postcaval intubation(14 cases) and double-direction intubation(28 cases),and quick photographic observation.Results B ultrasonography showed that 18 cases had postcaval segmental or membranous obstruction 24 cases had postcaval stricture at its opening,and 20 cases complicated with single right hepatic stricture,8 cases with left vein stricture and 12 cases with central hepatic caval stricture.Communicating branched vessels were formed among 16 cases between hepatic vessels were formed among 8 cases between hepatic left-middle,and middle-right hepatic veins each.Reticular communicating vessels were formed in 8 cases between left middle and right.5 cases had slight postcaval stricture and their blood flowed non-obstructedly postcaval veinography showed 12 cases had postcaval stricture at proximal end,28 cases total segmental or membranous obstruction.There were 8 cases respectively for hepatic central vein and right hepatic vein development each.The remaining 26 cases had no hepatic venous development.There were 30 cases who had obvious branched circulaltion formation,and even their branched circular vessels had tumous-like expansion.Conclusion B ultrasonography,as a way of easy,and no-trauma examination,is the first-choice means to screen the patients.Postcaval angiography is a means to diagnose Budd-Chiari syndrome,which is neccessary for the cases with total segmental or membranous obstruction to have double-direction postcaval angiography,especially for the cases to have interventive therapy.

Objective To evaluate clinical features,therapeutic effects and outcomes of patients with non-human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected cryptococcal meningitis treated with fluconazole or fluconazole and flucytosine.Methods Twenty-four cases of non-HIV-infected cryptococcal meningitis(fluconazole with or without flucytosine as initial therapy)in Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from 1997 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.Clinical manifestations,therapeutic effects and outcomes of the patients were collected.Results Fluconazole was administered with median dosage of 400 mg/d,for a median duration of 20.5 days.After fluconazole initial therapy for 2 weeks,16.7% showed partial response,83.3% showed no response,and the overall response rate was 16.7%.After 10 weeks,33.3% showed partial response,29.2% showed complete response,16.7% showed no response,and the overall response rate was 62.5%.Mortality at week 10 was 20.8%.Twenty-two patients who failed to respond to initial therapy were switched to other antifungal drugs(amphotericin B,amphotericin B colloidal dispersion,itraconazole)or other fluconazole containing combined therapy.Eleven out of the 24 patients died during one-year follow-up,8 of whom died of eryptococcal meningitis,and 3 died of other diseases.Conclusions The initial therapy of fluconazole with or without flucytosine is inefficient,and most of the patients need other antifungal drugs because of initial therapy failure.Therefore,fluconazole might not be appropriate for initial therapy in non-HIV-infected cryptococcal meningitis.