Poster: "ECR 2013 / C-0912 / Abnormalities of the thoracic veins" by: "D. Bulja, S. Beslic; Sarajevo/BA"

Percutaneous transthoracic CT guided biopsies of lung lesions; fine needle aspiration biopsy versus core biopsy Background. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the results and complication rate in CT guided percutaneous trans-thoracic fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) and core biopsies of lung lesions, and to determine the applicability of these needles. Patients and methods. In 242 patients (166 males; 76 females) with mean age of 58.9 years (13-84 years) CT guided biopsies of lung lesions were performed on dual slice CT equipment. The average diameter of lung lesion was 2.9 cm (1.2-6.3 cm). For FNAB's 20 - 22 G Chiba needles and for core biopsies 14 G biopsy needles were used. The samples were sent for the histological analysis. The cytological or histological results and the eventual complications were compared. Results. FNAB's cytological samples were adequate for definitive diagnosis in 117 patients (79.60 %) and inadequate in 30 patients (20.40 %). Core biopsies samples were adequate in 92 (96.85 %) patients and non-representative (necrotic tissue) in 3 (3.15 %). Pneumothorax as the most frequent complication was detected in 14 (9.7 %) of the patients in the group of FNAB's and in 30 (31.5 %) of the patients with the core biopsy group. Conclusions. The results showed that percutaneous transthoracic CT guided biopsies of lung lesions were an effective and safe procedure in the diagnosis of lung lesions. Core biopsy gives a higher percentage of representative samples than FNAB, and is a preferred method regardless of the higher rate of complications.

MRI in evaluation of perianal fistulae Background. Fistula is considered to be any abnormal passage which connects two epithelial surfaces. Parks' fistulae classification demonstrates the biggest practical significance and divides fistulae into: intersphincteric, transsphincteric, suprasphincteric and extrasphincteric. Etiology of perianal fistulae is most commonly linked with the inflammation of anal glands in Crohn's disease, tuberculosis, pelvic infections, pelvic malignant tumours, and with the radiotherapy. Diagnostic method options are: RTG fistulography, CT fistulography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of pelvic organs. Patients and methods. We have included 24 patients with perirectal fistulae in the prospective study. X-rays fistulography, CT fistulography, and then MRI of the pelvic cavity have been performed on all patients. Accuracy of each procedure in regards to the patients and the etiologic cause have been statistically determined. Results. 29.16% of transphincteric fistulae have been found, followed by 25% of intersphincteric, 25% of recto-vaginal, 12.5% of extrasphincteric, and 8.33% of suprasphincteric. Abscess collections have been found in 16.6% patients. The most frequent etiologic cause of perianal fistulae was Crohn's disease in 37.5%, where the accuracy of classification of MRI was 100%, CT was 11% and X-rays 0%. Ulcerous colitis was the second cause, with 20.9% where the accuracy of MRI was 100%, while CT was 80% and X-rays was 0%. All other etiologic causes of fistulae were found in 41.6% patients. Conclusions. MRI is a reliable diagnostic modality in the classification of perirectal fistulae and can be an excellent diagnostic guide for successful surgical interventions with the aim to reduce the number of recurrences. Its advantage is that fistulae and abscess are visible without the need to apply any contrast medium.

Diagnostic imaging of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta Background. The purpose of the study was the presentation of findings and diagnostic imaging in patients with traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic aorta, as a rare consequence of road traffic accidents. Patients and methods. In 22 years we have found 8 traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic aorta, out of which 7 (87.5%) in male and 1 (12.5%) in female patients. At the time of accidents the youngest patient was 21 and the oldest was 55 (mean age 33.8 years), and at the moment of diagnosing a pseudoaneurysm they were 26 and 55 years old, respectively (mean age 38.7 years). In all patients chest radiography was performed as well as CT scan, in 6 (75%) patients intra-venous digital subtraction angiography was performed (i.v. DSA) and in 1 (12.5%) MRI. CT was performed with the application of 120 ml, and i.v. DSA with 60 ml of contrast medium, respectively. Results. In 8 (100%) patients, who suffered a road traffic accident, and whose chest radiograph showed the enlargement of the aortic knob and widening of the mediastinum, CT, i.v. DSA and MRI revealed a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta. Periods of time between the accidents and the initial diagnosis of the pseudoaneurysm varied from 7 days to 18 years (median 2.0 years). The diameter of the pseudoaneurysm was from 4.5 to 9.2 cm (median 5.5 cm). In 7 (87.5%) isthmus was involved, and in 1 (12.5%) descending thoracic aorta, respectively. The chest radiograph revealed marginal calcifications in 4 (50%), and on the CT in 5 (62.5%) patients. Intraluminal thrombosis was found by CT in 2(25%) traumatized patients. Conclusions. Traumatic pseudoaneurysm should be taken into consideration in blunt chest trauma, where a chest radiograph shows suspicious regions. A multislice CT is a diagnostic method of choice.

CT colonography in detection of colorectal carcinoma Background. Diagnostic methods used in screening and detecting colorectal carcinoma are digitorectal examination, faecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, DNA stool analysis, barium enema, colonoscopy, and as of recently CT colonography. The aim of this study was to establish diagnostic accuracy and comfort of CT colonography compared to colonoscopy and barium enema. Patients and methods. We included 231 patients in the prospective study. For all patients CT colonography and barium enema followed by colonoscopy were performed. After the procedures a comfort assessment was done in all patients. Diagnostic positive results were verified by the pato-histological examination. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicative value (PPV) and negative predicative value (NPV) were calculated for each procedure. Results. With CT colonography, barium enema and colonoscopy 95 lesions were found, 56 (59%) of them were tumours and 39 (41%) were polyps. Among polyps pato-histology revealed 34 adenomas, 3 tubulovillous adenomas and 2 lipomas, among tumours there were 55 adenocarcinomas and 1 lymphoma. Results showed CT colonography sensitivity to polyps to be 89.7%, barium enema 48.7%, and colonoscopy 94.9%. Sensitivity to tumours of CT colonography and colonoscopy was 100% and of barium enema 94.6%. Specificities and PPV were 100% in all procedures. The comfort assessment showed CT colonography as the far most comfortable out of three procedures.

Background. Diagnostic methods used in screening and detecting colorectal carcinoma are digitorectal examination, faecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy, DNA stool analysis, barium enema, colonoscopy, and as of recently CT colonography. The aim of this study was to establish diagnostic accuracy and comfort of CT colonography compared to colonoscopy and barium enema. Patients and methods. We included 231 patients in the prospective study. For all patients CT colonography and barium enema followed by colonoscopy were performed. After the procedures a comfort assessment was done in all patients. Diagnostic positive results were verified by the pato-histological examination. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicative value (PPV) and negative predicative value (NPV) were calculated for each procedure. Results. With CT colonography, barium enema and colonoscopy 95 lesions were found, 56 (59%) of them were tumours and 39 (41%) were polyps. Among polyps pato-histology revealed 34 adenomas, 3 tubulovillous adenomas and 2 lipomas, among tumours there were 55 adenocarcinomas and 1 lymphoma. Results showed CT colonography sensitivity to polyps to be 89.7%, barium enema 48.7%, and colonoscopy 94.9%. Sensitivity to tumours of CT colonography and colonoscopy was 100% and of barium enema 94.6%. Specificities and PPV were 100% in all procedures. The comfort assessment showed CT colonography as the far most comfortable out of three procedures.

In order to analyze possibilities of HRCT and its contribution in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis on existing material from everyday clinical practice, we prospectively analyzed the CT scans of 35 patients with suspicion on this disease. The results of comparison of quality in displaying pathological changes in standard radiography and HRCT confirmed the HRCT superiority and showed significant differences in favor of the images obtained by HRCT. This applies to all specific image features: localization, form, size, distribution and relationship to surrounding parenchyma. Accuracy analysis of HRCT method findings with the final diagnosis was in high degree (99%). It was concluded that HRCT is a valuable radiological diagnostic method as imaging option for visualization of bronchiectasis in almost all cases (99%).

MR rectum imaging with ultra sound gel as instrumental contrast media in tubulovillous adenoma Bacground. Colorectal polyps are frequent and can be found in 10% of adults, most common in elderly with prevalence of 20% in age group of 60. Over 90% cases of cancer are being developed from benign adenomas. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significantly large cause of death right after bronchial cancer in males, and breast cancer in women. Therefore, a standpoint was adopted that the removal of polyps as precursor will prevent the development of colorectal area cancer. Polyps can occur as peduncular or sessile. Adenomas are grouped in three subtypes based on histological criteria: tubular, tubulovillous and villous. Villous adenomas are larger than others and show a higher level of dysplasia. The prevalence of adenomas increases with the patient's age. Having in mind that the risk of malign adenoma transformation is 10 years average, and that small lesions have no clinical potential to turn into cancer, their removal would lead to unnecessary complications and additional costs. CRC risk grows both with the size and the number of adenomas. In patients who refuse polypectomy, we can expect cancer development in average of 5 years 4% and in 10 years 14%. Case report. We present a patient with a years long history of rectal polyp. She has refused any treatment of polyp removal up so far. Due to stool problems, mostly constipation, occasional bleeding and falling out feeling, she has decided to remove the polyp. The polyp has been detected through colonoscopy and described as very risky for polypectomy due to its suspected malign appearance. We did rectum MR on 1.5T Siemens, so that the patient came with clean lumen into which we applied ultra sound gel with huge 60 ml syringe (no needle) simply and pain free with three fillings (total 180 ml of gel). We have concluded that the polyp was of uneven outline and stretched partially along the inner rectum wall without extra rectal infiltration into mesorectal area. After that, we performed endoscopic polypectomy according to peace meal method resection up to real muscular layer after adrenalin undermining. Pathohistological finding which was done in HE technique showed tubulovillous adenoma. Conclusions. Rectal MR is a new, very reliable method of contemporary radiological imaging that gives better characterization of polyp tissue and of other tumours. It is currently the best imaging modality enabling very accurate evaluation and topographic ratio of tumour growth within the rectum wall and outside the wall, especially compared to mesorectal fascia. In addition, it is a very comfortable procedure without radiation. The application of ultra sound gel as intra luminal rectal contrast agent can distend the lumen and make an excellent contrast of lumen against the rectum wall and thus can better show polyps and tumours.