Objective To assess the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the classification of solid nodules of brain parenchymal tuberculosis and response evaluation of patients.Methods Brain parenchymal lesions of 128 patients,with clinically and (or) pathologically confirmed brain parenchymal tuberculosis were analyzed retrospectively.Results Significant differences were observed in the average ADC values between enhanced areas and edematous areas of homogeneously enhancing and ring-enhancing lesions in all 128 patients before treatment(P<0.05).In 52 patients, the average ADC values of enhanced areas and edema areas in homogeneously enhancing and ring-enhancing lesions were significantly different before and after the treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion The ADC values in different areas of solid nodules of brain parenchymal tuberculosis are different, so can be used as a supplement to magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis and classification.After anti-tuberculosis treatment, the ADC values can be used as an observational indicator in follow-up.

Objective To explore the value of time-invariant CTA in assessing collateral circulation of patients with acute ischemic stroke and assisting clinicians in predicting clinical outcomes.Methods The score of collateral circulation was compared between single-phase and time-invariant CTA.NIHSS score was calculated at admission and two weeks after admission.A 50% or greater decrease in NIHSS score over two weeks was considered as major neurologic improvement,which showed good clinical outcome;otherwise,it indicated bad outcome.The predictive ability of time-invariant CTA for clinical outcomes was assessed based on ROC curves.Results Compared with single-phase CTA,more collateral vessels could be viewed on time-invariant CTA.The average score of collateral circulation on time-invariant and single-phase CTA was 1.50±0.69 and 1.15±0.49 respectively (P=0.006<0.05 ).Time-invariant CTA had the moderate predictive ability for clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AUC=0.810;P=0.032<0.05). Conclusion The time-invariant CTA showed potential value in assessing collateral circulation of patients with acute ischemic stroke and assisting clinicians in predicting clinical outcomes.

Objective To explore the value of computed tomography (CT)and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)in the diagno-sis and delineation of the extent of malignant external otitis (MEO).Methods Clinical manifestations and imaging features of 10 pa-tients with definite diagnosis of MEO were collected and analyzed.Plain and contrast-enhanced CT of the ear were performed on all 10 patients,of which 6 patients also received MRI scans.Results Abnormal soft tissue opacity within the external auditory canal and involvement of surrounding structures were found in all 10 patients.Bone erosion of the external auditory canal was showed in 7 pa-tients.Other CT findings included bone erosion of skull base and intracranial involvement.Abnormal soft tissue of the external audi-tory canal,effusion in the mastoid cavity and medullary abnormalities were showed very well on MR images in 6 patients while the cortical bone erosion was not well showed.Conclusion Imaging features of the lesions in the external auditory canal,bone erosion of skull base and intracranial involvement play crucial roles in the diagnosis and delineation of the extent of the lesion in patients with MEO.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of presurgically resting-state fMRI(rs-fMRI) with subject order-independent group independent component analysis(ICA), compared to electric cortical stimulations. Methods Twenty-three patients with the lesion in motor area, which were recorded by our hospital from Jan, 2014 to Dec, 2015, were collected as the study sample. The data of 9 patients were excluded because of excessive head motion. As a result, 14 patients were included in this study. Rs-fMRI data before the surgery and the results of electric cortical stimulations were collected. Results All of this 14 patients were preoperatively located by rs-fMRI with SOI-GICA, including all the SMA and the ipsilesional primary motor area. On the side with lesion, the number of functional location of motor area was decreased compared with healthy side. Evaluate the accuracy of ICA by comparing the coincidence rate of these two techniques, based on the standardized electrical cortical stimulation in operation. The completely concordance between rs-fMRI with the SOI-GICA and electrical cortical stimulation in operation was 11 (11/14). Meanwhile the basically concordance of corresponded case was 3(3/14). Conclusions Rs-fMRI with the ICA has a relatively high accuracy rate in localizing motor area. Rs-fMRI has a remarkably referential contribution to the presurgically function assessment and surgical planning in implementation.

Objective To discuss the clinical value of interventional management before surgical therapy for massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and to compare the clinical efficacy and re-bleeding rate between hypophysin infusion group and embolization group. Methods During the period of June 1998-Apr.2009, 31 patients with massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage in our institution underwent preoperative interventional managements before they received surgical treatment. According to DSA manifestations, the patients underwent trunsarterial hypophysin infusion or transcatheter embolization as interventional management. The clinical efficacy of interventional procedures and its influence on the surgery were evaluated, and the hemostasis rate and re-bleeding rate were compared the two kind of intervention managements. The numeration data were analyzed with Fisher's exact test, and the SPSS 11.0 was used as statistical software. Results The interventional managements were successfully performed in all the 31patients, with a total hemostasis rate of 83.9% (26/31) and a total re-bleeding rate 30.7% (8/26). The hemostasis rate and re-bleeding rate of hypephysin infusion group and embolization group were 69.2% (9/13), 94.4% (17/18) and 44.4% (4/9), 23.7% (4/17), respectively. All the 31 patients received surgery after interventional therapy, of which selective operation was carried out in 20. Neither surgery-related or intervention-related serious complications nor death occurred. Conclusion Preoperative interventional managements can provide patients with massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage with valuable chance of a successful surgery, enable the physician to take a selective operation to replace an emergency one, as a result, the surgical risk will be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is worth popularizing the preoperative interventional managements in clinical practice.

Objective To analyze the MR imaging performances and pathological characteristics of nodular muscular sarcoidosis,and to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Methods Six cases with pathologically confirmed nodular muscular sarcoidosis were included,the MRI imaging findings and pathologic appearance were analyzed,and the literature was reviewed.Results Six patients underwent plain and enhanced MRI examination with 3 cases of unilateral gastrocnemius muscle single lesion,1 case of unilateral anterior medial thigh muscle lesions,and 2 cases of bilateral gastrocnemius muscle lesions.MRI plain scan showed a strip-shaped or fusiform with slightly short TI-long T2 signal along the muscle fibers,and the occupancy effect was not obvious."Dark star" sign showed in lesion center with axial T2WI and enhanced T1WI,and "three stripes" sign could be seen along the long axis view image lesions.The lesion obviously enhanced after enhancement,with mild enhancement center.Similar small nodular satellite lesions were seen around 5 large lesions,and 4 cases showed similar small nodule enhancement in distant muscle groups.Pathological manifestations:granulomatous inflammation of muscle fibers,intermuscular epithelial cells,and multinucleated tissue cells with or without lymphocytic infiltration;no cheese-like necrosis in the nodules,visible fusion of nodules.Conclusion On MRI,it is characterized by strips or fusiform lesions along the muscle fibers,visible "three-layer stripe sign" and "black star sign",and the characteristics of the enhanced muscle nodules in the surrounding muscle groups,which contributes to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of muscular sarcoidosis.

Objective To investigate the imaging features of primary Rosa-i Dorfman disease (RDD)in the central nervous system and to increase the understanding of the disease.Methods The MRI findings of 5 cases with primary RDD of the central nervous system were analyzed retrospectively,and the related literatures were reviewed.Results Four cases located in the cranium,1 case located in the spinal cord,and 5 tumors were attached to the brain (ridge)membrane.The tumor was equal and low signal on T1 WI,and equal or slightly high signal on T2 WI.Obvious enhancement could be seen on enhance study,and obvious enhancementwas visible in adjacent brain (ridge)membrane,in which 1 case involved the skull,with thickening and strengthening of the skull.Tumors were attached to the meninges in a wide range,the local meninges of 3 cases were penetrated by tumor.Conclusion If young and middle-aged males have no obvious specific clinical manifestations,the images of MRI are single or multiple lesions that are closely related to the brain (ridge)membrane in larger extent and easily penetrate the brain (ridge)membrane,the possibility of RDD should be considered.

Objective:To investigate the value of CT tumor-thyroid marginal contact range (MCR) for predicting capsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with a diameter>1.0 cm and papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) with a diameter ≤ 1.0 cm, and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of direct CT signs for lymph node metastasis.Methods:The CT data of 148 patients with PTC (>1.0 cm) and 193 patients with PTMC confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed from January 2017 to April 2020 at Hangzhou First People′s Hospital. MCR was evaluated based on CT images and classified as<1/4 tumor circumference or ≥1/4 tumor circumference. Direct CT signs of cervical lymph nodes were observed, including cystic change, microcalcification, hyperenhancement, short/long diameter≥0.5, clustered lymph nodes or central area turbidity. The difference in the distribution of MCR between PTC (>1.0 cm) and PTMC was compared using the χ 2 test, and the efficiency of MCR and direct CT signs for diagnosing capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis was calculated using the pathological results as the gold standard. Results:In 148 PTC (>1.0 cm) and 193 PTMC patients, the pathological results showed capsular invasion in 88.5% (131/148) and 57.0% (110/193), and lymph node metastasis in 71.6% (106/148) and 44.0% (85/193), respectively. In PTC (>1.0 cm) patients, MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference was more common in patients with capsular invasion (χ2=22.211, P<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=4.746, P=0.029), and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity for predicting capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis were 84.7% (111/131) and 64.7% (11/17), 83.0% (88/106) and 33.3% (14/42), respectively. In PTMC patients, MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference was more common in patients with capsular invasion (χ2=66.066, P<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=5.343, P=0.021), and its sensitivity and specificity for predicting capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis were 87.3% (96/110) and 69.9% (58/83), 71.8% (61/85) and 44.4% (48/108), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of direct CT signs for diagnosing lymph node metastasis in PTC (>1.0 cm) and PTMC were 89.6% and 73.8%, 69.4% and 76.9%, respectively. Conclusions:Both direct CT signs and MCR ≥ 1/4 tumor circumference can predict cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients, and the former had higher sensitivity and specificity. MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference has high efficiency for predicting capsular invasion in PTC patients.

Objective: To investigate the imaging characteristics and the cause for the misdiagnosis and mistreatment of epidermoid cyst in intrapancreatic accessory spleen (ECIPAS) in order to improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis. Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 8 patients with ECIPAS confirmed by pathology in Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital between June 2008 and February 2018 were collected. The reason for doctor visit included CA19-9 elevation (n=1) and pancreatic occupying mass (n=9) during physical examination and no obvious symptoms were reported. CT and MRI imaging features, diagnosis and treatment were analyzed. Results: The lesions in 8 cases of ECIPAS were all located in the tail of the pancreas and were cystic and solid. The lesions in 3 cases were mainly cystic and the cystic wall was linear, whose CT density, MRI signal and enhancement pattern cannot be compared with those of the spleen. Solid components can be seen in 5 cases, and the CT density or MR signal of the solid part was similar to that of the spleen. After enhancement, the solid part at the artery stage was uniformly enhanced and the enhancement degree was higher than that of the pancreas. Similar to the spleen, it was uniformly enhanced at the portal vein stage and the enhancement degree of the spleen was consistent. All 8 patients were diagnosed with pancreatic neoplastic lesions before surgery, and 1 patient had pancreatic fistula and peripancreatic necrosis after surgery. Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of ECIPAS. Conclusions Improving the radiologists and clinicians′ cognition of the imaging manifestations of ECIPAS can improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgery due to misdiagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of texture analysis of magnetic resonance images (MRI) in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(nCRT) for rectal cancer.

METHODSA total of 34 rectal cancer patients who were hospitalized at Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from February 2015 to April 2017 were prospectively enrolled and received 3.0T MRI examination at pre-nCRT (1 day before nCRT), early stage (at 10-day after nCRT) and middle stage (at 20-day after nCRT).

INCLUSION CRITERIAdistance from tumor lower margin to anal edge was less than 12 cm under rectoscope; rectal cancer was confirmed by preoperative pathology; clinical stage was T3 or above; lymph node metastasis existed but without distant metastasis; functions of liver, kidney and heart present no contraindications of operation.

EXCLUSION CRITERIAunfinished nCRT, surgery and three examinations of MRI; image motion artifacts; lack of postoperative pathological results. All the patients underwent rectal cancer long-term three-dimensional radiotherapy and chemotherapy combined with nCRT (oxaliplatin plus capecitabine). The tumor regression grading (TRG) was divided into TRG 0 to 4 grade after nCRT, and TRG 4 was classified as pathological complete remission (pCR); TRG 2 to 3 was classified as partial remission (PR); the rest was no remission (NR). Extraction and analysis of texture features in T2-weighted MR-defined tumor region were performed using Omni Kinetics texture software. The texture values of each time point were statistically analyzed, and the differences of texture values and change differences between pCR and PR+NR, and NR and pCR+PR were compared respectively. Statistically significant texture values were screened and were used in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess the prediction of the efficacy of nCRT.

RESULTSOf 34 patients, 21 were males and 13 were females with median age of 49.3 years. Nineteen (55.9%) patients were low rectal adenocarcinoma and 15 (44.1%) patients were middle rectal adenocarcinoma. Nine (26.5%) cases belonged to pCR, 13 (38.2%) belonged to PR, and 12 (35.3%) belonged to NR. Before nCRT, the entropy of tumor area in pCR patients was significantly higher than that in PR+NR patients (7.164±0.272 vs. 6.823±0.309, t=2.925, P=0.006). At the middle stage of nCRT, as compared with PR+NR patients for the texture features of tumor region, the variance (1566±281 vs. 2883±867, t=-4.435, P=0.000) and entropy(5.436±0.934 vs. 6.803±0.577, t=-4.118,P=0.002) of pCR patients were significantly lower; kurtosis(4.800±1.288 vs. 3.206±1.211, t=3.333, P=0.002) and energy (0.016±0.005 vs. 0.010±0.004, t=3.240, P=0.003) of pCR patients were significantly higher. As compared to pCR+PR patients, the kurtosis(2.461±0.931 vs. 4.264±1.205, t=-4.493, P=0.000) and energy (0.011±0.004 vs. 0.014±0.004, t=-3.453, P=0.000) of the NR patients were significantly lower. As for texture change values between early stage and middle stage, the entropy difference was significant between pCR and PR+NR, NR and pCR+PR (1.344±0.819 vs. 0.489±0.319, t=3.047, P=0.014; 0.446±0.213 vs. 0.917±0.677, t=-3.638, P=0.001, respectively). As for texture change values between pre-nCRT and middle stage, variance and entropy differences between pCR and PR+NR (1759±1226 vs. 977±842, t=2.113, P=0.042; 1.728±0.918 vs. 0.524±0.355, t=3.832, P=0.004), and the change values of entropy between NR and pCR+PR (0.475±0.349 vs. 1.044±0.860, t=-2.722, P=0.011) were statistically significant. The above indicators were included in the ROC curve. The results revealed that at the middle stage, entropy value >5.983 indicated the best efficacy for the diagnosis of pCR, with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.885, the sensitivity of 100%, and the specificity of 66.7%; the energy <0.010 indicated the best AUC for diagnosis of NR was 0.902, with the sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 81.8%.

CONCLUSIONSTexture analysis based on T2 weighted images can predict the efficacy of nCRT for rectal cancer. The middle stage of nCRT is the best time of prediction. The entropy and energy of this period are texture parameters having higher predictive ability.

Chemoradiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome