Objective To analyze the clinical presentations and radiological characteristics of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) . Methods Clinical and radiological data of 2 patients with acute exacerbation of IPF from April 2006 to July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed and literatures were reviewed. Results Both patients were senior male patients over 60 years old. Dyspnea, cough and inspiratory crackles were the major symptoms and signs. Two patients were experiencing an exacerbation of dyspnea for one week and half of month, respectively. PaO2 /FiO2 of both patients was less than225 mm Hg. In both patients, high-resolution computed tomography ( HRCT) scans at the exacerbation showed typical signs of IPF including peripheral predominant, basal predominant reticular abnormality, with honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis and bronchiolectasis, and newly developing alveolar opacity. HRCT scan showed peripheral area of ground-glass attenuation adjacent to subpleural honeycombing in one patient, and diffusely distributed ground-glass opacity in another patient. Two patients had received corticosteroid treatment. For one patient, the symptoms improved, and ground-glass attenuation adjacent to subpleural honeycombing had almostly resolved. The other patient died of respiratory failure. Conclusions Some acute exacerbation in idiopatic pulmonary fibrosis can be idiopathic. The clinical presentations mainly include the worsening of dyspnea within short time. HRCT generally demonstrates new bilateral ground-glass abnormality with or without areas of consolidation, superimposed on typical changes of IPF.
Objective To explore the imaging features of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( IPF) under high-resolution computed tomography ( HRCT) . Methods The HRCT imaging features of six patients who met the criteria for acute exacerbation of IPF were analyzed retrospectively. Results The manifestations of IPF on HRCT scan were various in forms and distribution, as multifocal, ground-glass opacity, reticular shadow, honeycombing densities, capillary bronchiectasis,subpleural lines, traction bronchiolectasis and emphysema. The characteristic lesions were newly diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacity at the time of acute exacerbation, superimposed on subpleural reticular and honeycombing densities. Conclusions Chest HRCT findings in acute exacerbation of IPF are characteristic.HRCT is accurate and superior in diagnosis of IPF and in determining acute exacerbation of IPF.
Objective To investigate the accuracy of preoperative high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to predict tumor stage, lymph node stage, and circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement. Methods Between September 2006 and May 2009, 42 patients with histologically proven rectal cancer by the colonoscopic biopsy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were staged preoperatively using MRI. All of the patients underwent total mesorectum excision (TME) operation within 1 week after MRI examination. The specimens were reported according to the 2002 TNM staging system for primary colorectal cancer of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). Concordance between radiologic staging of tumor, local lymph node, and CRM involvement and pathologic reporting was assessed by means of the Kappa statistic.Results For all of 42 patients, MRI correctly staged the tumor in 36 patients, understaged in 3 patients and overstaged in 3 patients. Statistically, there was a better correlation between pathologic and radiologic tumor staging (Kappa=0.731, P=0.000). MRI correctly staged lymph node status in 31 patients, understaged in 5 patients and overstaged in 6 patients. Statistically, there was a common correlation between pathologic and radiologic lymph node staging (Kappa=0.410, P=0.009). MRI correctly reported the status of the CRM in 40 patients. Statistically, there was the best correlation between pathologic and radiologic reporting of CRM involvement (Kappa=0.829, P=0.000). Conclusion Preoperative highresolution MRI scans has a good concordance with pathologic tumor stage but common with pathologic lymph node stage. Preoperative highresolution MRI can provide reliable information about CRM and thus help to choose which patient could benefit from the preoperative neoadjuvant therapy.
ObjectiveTo discuss the 3D high resolution Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in children.MethodsMRI data of 42 children with FCD confirmed by pathology, from April 2015 to June 2018, which were admitted to Qilu Children’s Hospital of Shandong University, were retrospectively analyzed. The following MRI signs were observed, blurring of junction of the gray matter-white matter, abnormality of structure with focal cortex (thick or thin), gray matter and white matter signal, white matter signal increased with T2WI/FLAIR, with or without transmantle sign (abnormal signal of white matter extending in the direction of ventricle), gray matter signal increased with T2WI/FLAIR, the abnormal sulci or gyri morphology and segmental and/or hypoplasia/atrophy of the lobes.ResultsAmong the 42 cases, 37 cases (88.1%) showed MRI positive signs, FCD typeⅠ accounted for 13 cases (35.1%), the main MRI features are focal blurring of junction in the gray matter-white matter, abnormality of structure with focal cortex in the corresponding part,and white matter signal increased with T2WI/FLAIR. FCD TypeⅡ accounted for 17 cases (45.9%), the MRI features are focal blurring of junction in the gray matter-white matter, abnormality of structure with focal cortex, white matter signal increased with T2WI/FLAIR, and transmantle sign. FCD TypeⅢ accounted for 7 cases (18.9%), among which hippocampal atrophy 2 cases (28.6%), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET) 2 cases (28.6%), section cell tumor 1 case (14.3%), softening lesion with gliosis 2 cases (28.6%).ConclusionThe 3D high-resolution MRI features of FCD in children are specific and could improve the detection rate of FCD lesions.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility and clinical application value of low attenuation areas (LAA) scoring system in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).MethodsA total of 380 patients with AECOPD were included. Clinical data including general information, laboratory examinations and treatments during hospitalization were collected. According to the high-resolution computed CT (HRCT) imaging performance, the patients were divided into bronchitis phenotype and emphysema phenotype. The clinical data between these two groups were compared to analyze the differences between different phenotypes and the feasibility of LAA scoring system.ResultsIn patients of bronchitis phenotype, the levels of body mass index, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, procalcitonin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and eosinophil counts on admission were higher than those of emphysema phenotype (P<0.05). Patients with emphysema phenotype had a higher proportion of male, a higher smoking index, higher cystatin C levels and lower bilirubin levels on admission (P<0.05), the rates of using mechanical ventilation and systemic glucocorticoids were higher as also (P<0.05). LAA scores had a positive correlation with the use of mechanical ventilation and systemic glucocorticoids and cystatin C levels, and a negative correlation with interleukin-6 levels (P<0.05).ConclusionsFor patients with AECOPD, using LAA scoring system to classify different phenotype through HRCT has relevant accuracy and clinical practicability. The LAA scoring system might help to evaluate the patient's condition and prognosis to a certain extent.
ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of chest high-resolution CT in common-type coronavirus disease 2019 patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 35 patients in the Fever Clinic of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 21 to February 23, 2020. According to the nucleic acid test results, the patients were divided into a nucleic acid positive group of 14 cases, and a nucleic acid negative group of 21 cases. The clinical characteristics and high-resolution CT results (including lesion distribution, morphology, density, paving stone sign, air bronchial sign, vascular thickening sign, pleural effusion and enlarged lymph nodes, etc.) of the patients in each group were compared.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the ratio of males to females, age distribution, clinical symptoms, or absolute lymphocyte values between the nucleic acid positive group and the nucleic acid negative group (P>0.05). The difference in epidemiological history between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The proportions of abnormal lymphocytes and white blood cell counts in the nucleic acid negative group were higher than those in the nucleic acid positive group (66.7% vs. 28.6%, P=0.041; 42.9% vs. 7.1%, P=0.028). The proportion of air bronchial signs in the nucleic acid negative group was higher than that in the nucleic acid positive group (47.6% vs. 7.1%, P=0.023). There was no significant difference in other high-resolution CT imaging findings between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsCommon-type coronavirus disease 2019 patients have certain positive findings on chest high-resolution CT imagings. In clinical practice, high-resolution CT and other factors can be combined to assist in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019.
In recent years, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) has become a useful clinical and research tool. HRMRI can be used to observe intracranial vascular wall lesions in vivo, providing more valuable pathophysiological information, and providing guidance for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of intracranial atherosclerosis. For stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis, the morphology of the vessel wall can effectively differentiate various vascular stenosis diseases. Further, plaque composition, vessel wall enhancement, remodel mode provide information of plaque vulnerability. For non-stenotic intracranial atherosclerosis, the location of the plaque can reveal the pathophysiological mechanism. In addition, HRMRI can show the lesion in lenticulostriate artery. Therefore, this article will summarize the clinical application of HRMRI.
Objective To clarify the specific clinical predictive efficacy of CT and serological indicators for the progression of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) to progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Methods Patients who were diagnosed with CTD-ILD in Chest Hospital of Zhengzhou University Between January 2020 and December 2021 were recruited in the study. Clinical data and high-resolution CT results of the patients were collected. The patients were divided into a stable group and a progressive group (PPF group) based on whether PPF occurred during follow-up. COX proportional hazards regression was used to identify risk factors affecting the progression of CTD-ILD to PPF, and a risk prediction model was established based on the results of the COX regression model. The predictive efficacy of the model was evaluated through internal cross-validation. Results A total of 194 patients diagnosed with CTD-ILD were enrolled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among them, 34 patients progressed to PPF during treatment, and 160 patients did not progress. The variables obtained at lambda$1se in LASSO regression were ANCA associated vasculitis, lymphocytes, albumin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum ferritin. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the extent of fibrosis, serum ferritin, albumin, and age were independent risk factors for the progression of CTD-ILD to PPF (all P<0.05). A prediction model was established based on the results of the multivariate COX regression analysis. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve at 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months was 0.989, 0.931, and 0.797, respectively, indicating that the model has good discrimination and sensitivity, and good predictive efficacy. The calibration curve showed a good overlap between predicted and actual values. Conclusions The extent of fibrosis, serum ferritin, albumin, and age are independent risk factors for the progression of CTD-ILD to PPF. The model established based on this and externally validated shows good predictive efficacy.