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N Hortling

Publications and source records attributed to N Hortling.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

[Combined FDG PET/CT imaging for restaging of colorectal cancer patients: impact of image fusion on staging accuracy].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic impact of positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18-labeled deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) combined with non-contrast computed tomography (CT) as PET-CT modality in restaging colorectal cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 29 consecutive patients with histologically proven colorectal cancer (17 female, 12 male, aged 51-76 years) underwent whole body scans in one session on a dual modality PET-CT system (Siemens Biograph) 90 min. after i.v. administration of 370 MBq 18F-FDG. The CT imaging was performed with 40 mAs, 130 kV, slice-thickness 5 mm and without i.v. contrast administration. PET and CT images were reconstructed with a slice-thickness of 5 mm in coronal, sagittal and transverse planes. During a first step of analysis, PET and CT images were scored blinded and independently by a group of two nuclear medicine physicians and a group of two radiologists, respectively. For this purpose, a five-point-scale was used. The second step of data-analysis consisted of a consensus reading by both groups. During the consensus reading, first a virtual (meaning mental) fusion of PET and CT images and afterwards the "real" fusion (meaning coregistered) PET-CT images were also scored with the same scale. The imaging results were compared with histopathology findings and the course of disease during further follow-up. RESULTS: The total number of malignant lesions detected with the combined PET/CT were 86. For FDG-PET alone it was n = 68, and for CT alone n = 65. Comparing PET-CT and PET, concordance was found in 81 of 104 lesions. Discrepancies predominantly occurred in the lung, where PET alone often showed true positive results in lymph nodes and soft tissue masses, where CT often was false negative. Comparing mental fusion and "real" co-registered images, concordance was found in 94 of 104 lesions. In 13 lesions or, respectively, in 7 of 29 patients, a relevant information was gathered using fused images. CONCLUSION: Combined PET/CT leads to greater accuracy in the interpretation of data and is a valuable tool for diagnosis and anatomic localization of metastases in colorectal cancer patients.

Aged↗

[Follow-up in patients with head and neck tumors: evaluation of CT criteria for local tumor recurrence].

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study was to evaluate morphologic criteria for diagnosis of locally recurrent head and neck tumors in helical CT. METHODS: Retrospective study, 44 examinations with radiologically abnormal findings were re-read by two radiologists; findings were analysed and correlated with histological diagnosis and clinical findings. RESULTS: 25 cases of local tumor recurrence were confirmed histologically. The accuracy of helical-CT in our preselected examinations for a local tumor recurrence was 93.5 %, the specificity 83.3 %. But 13/44 cases showed radiologically equivocal findings, among them 6 tumor recurrences. The most common characteristics of the 25 proven tumor recurrences were: contrast medium enhancement (96 %), increased volume in comparison to previous examination (92 %), inhomogenity (72 %); however contrast medium-enhancement and increasing volume were also seen in 68.4 % and 63.1 % of the benign changes. CONCLUSION: Contrast medium enhancement and increasing volume are criteria with a high sensitivity but low specifity in predicting a local tumor recurrence in head and neck cancer.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[Dynamic imaging in diagnosis of dysphagia and globus sensation].

BACKGROUND: Videofluoroscopy has gained high significance for the evaluation of deglutition disorders. Imaging alone cannot clarify whether the subjective symptom is represented morphologically or whether it is the substrate of a functional disorder. METHOD: The videofluoroscopies of 101 patients with dysphagia (n = 55) and globus pharyngitis (n = 46) were evaluated. Morphologic abnormalities were registered as well as sequential movement patterns. These data were compared with clinical and endoscopic findings. RESULTS: In 87% of the dysphagia and 74% of the globus patients videofluoroscopy revealed pathologic findings. Functional disorders were seen significantly more often than morphologic abnormalities. Highest incidence was found for cricopharyngeal dyskinesia (42%). Hypopharyngeal pouches and degeneration signs of the cervical spine with bolus impression less than 40% are common but functionally not important. Additional esophago-gastroduodenoscopy was pathological in 83% in the dysphagia group and 96% in the globus group. CONCLUSION: Videofluoroscopy is indispensable for the differential diagnosis of dysphagia and globus sensation, especially for the detection of functional disorders in the pharyngoesophageal segment thus documenting the dynamic aspect of deglutition. Videofluoroscopy should be completed by a gastroenterologic examination in order to improve diagnosis.

Adult↗

[Spiral CT of the head-neck area: the advantages of the early arterial phase in the detection of squamous-cell carcinomas].

PURPOSE: To determine if scanning in the arterial phase improves detection of squamous cell carcinomas in the pharynx and larynx. METHODS: In a prospective clinical study 20 patients with a pharyngeal or laryngeal carcinoma were examined with by spiral CT. 80 ml lopromid were intravenously injected as a bolus with a rate of 3 ml/sec. Two consecutive spiral CT scans were performed with start-delay times of 20 and 70 seconds respectively. Delineation and contrast enhancement of tumours, cervical lymph nodes and vessels were evaluated. The radiodensities (HU) of tumors, lymph nodes vessels, pharyngeal wall and muscle were measured. RESULTS: Comparing early and late start delay time scans tumor assessment in the early phase was better in 58%, less in 16% and equal in both scans in 26%. 82% of the pathologic lymph nodes had more peripheral enhancement than surrounding muscle tissue. During the arterial phase the measured radiodensities of the common carotid artery and jugular vein were significantly higher than in the second phase. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced special CT permits accurate morphologic assessment (size, infiltration) of pharyngeal and supraglottic laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, while pathologic lymph nodes already have a sufficient contrast enhancement for the detection.

Adult↗

[Native and signal-enhanced power Doppler sonography for characterization of liver lesions].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characterisation of liver lesions using power Doppler sonography before and after intravenous injection of the ultrasound contrast agent Levovist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 39 patients with 41 liver lesions (10 haemangiomas, 2 focal nodular hyperplasias (FNH), 2 focal fatty infiltrations, 1 echinococcal lesion, 11 hepatocellular carcinomas, 14 metastases and one cholangiocarcinoma) were evaluated prospectively. Power Doppler images before and after intravenous injection of the ultrasound contrast agent Levovist were analysed by two radiologists and one gastroeterologist, who subjectively classified the distribution (peripheral, central, diffuse) and amount (none, minimal, moderate and strong) of flow pattern in each sonographic examination. Histological verification was obtained in all liver lesions, except in haemangiomas, where MR imaging and in one FNH where scintigraphy was regarded as sufficient proof. RESULTS: On the whole, power Doppler sonography after contrast injection was superior to unenhanced power Doppler-sonography in 20 liver lesions and equal in 7. After contrast injection, previously visible flow was enhanced in 14 patients, in 6 lesions flow was detected, which was not seen before in the power mode. Moderate or strong flow signals were detected before contrast injection in 8/26, post contrast injection in 18/26 malignant tumours. Contrawise, 13/15 benign lesions did show any or only minimal flow signals before and 10/15 after contrast injection. CONCLUSION: Intratumoural flow signals favour a malignant tumour. The absence of flow signals is a frequent finding in benign lesions but does not rule out malignancy.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

[Visualization of renal arteries and value of color-coded duplex sonography in renal artery stenoses using an ultrasound signal enhancing agent].

PURPOSE: To assess whether the use of an echo-enhancing agent reliably allows the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis with colour-coded Doppler sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the main, segmental, and, if present, the accessory renal arteries of 31 patients before and after intravenous injection of Levovist using colour-coded Doppler sonography and compared the results with digital subtraction angiography. A rise in peak systolic velocity in the main renal artery and a reduction of the acceleration index in segmental arteries were used as parameters to detect renal artery stenosis. RESULTS: After i.v. administration of Levovist the main stem of the renal arteries could be well delineated in 36 of 62 cases (58%) during colour-coded Doppler sonography against 31 cases without Levovist. Taking only the visible cases in account the sensitivity of native as well as of enhanced colour-coded Doppler sonography of the renal main stem was 100%, the specificity was 96% and 94%, respectively. Only one of 11 accessory renal arteries was identified after echo enhancement. The segmental arteries were seen only after echo enhancement in 12 cases so that 60 of the total of 62 renal arteries (95%) could be evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of the native examination were 67% and 70%. After echo enhancement sensitivity was 75% and specificity was 81%. CONCLUSION: Using an echo-enhancing agent the sensitivity and specificity for detection of relevant renal artery stenosis could only be slightly improved compared to the native examination.

Aged↗

[Non-aortic extracranial arterial aneurysm].

Aortic and intracranial arterial aneurysms constitute frequent clinical entities for which sophisticated vascular surgical and interventional radiological therapeutic procedures have been established. To a much lesser extent arterial aneurysms can also occur at any other vascular site due to a large number of possible reasons. In this article we conducted a Medline search of the world literature for reports on these rare vascular disorders and summarize the most important clinical aspects on this subject. Altogether 5535 cases of non-aortic extracranial aneurysms are reviewed.

Aneurysm↗

[Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with septic lung metastases and infiltration of the colon. Difficult preoperative differential pulmonary hypernephroma metastasis diagnosis].

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare and aggressive form of chronic pyelonephritis for which partial or complete nephrectomy is mandatory [1.2]. The diagnosis and, in particular, the differentiation from hypernephroma is mostly established by the histopathological examination only. We have reviewed the literature and present an unusual case of XGP with septic spreading into the lungs mimicking pulmonary metastasis and with an inflammatory infiltration of the descending colon.

Adult↗

[Clinical aspects and diagnosis of jejunal diverticulosis].

Jejunal diverticulosis consists of multiple acquired jejunal herniations of the mucosa and submucosa with an incidence of 1.3 to 2.3%. Clinical symptoms are rare. Numerous and large diverticulae, however, can cause severe abdominal complaints. Etiologically factors always consist of a motility disorder with bacterial overgrowth and rise of intraluminal pressure. An enteroclysis helps to determine the diagnosis. Plain x-rays and a CT of the abdomen are other helpful radiological tools.

Aged↗