The aim of this study was to compare unenhanced MRI, MnDPDP-enhanced MRI, and spiral CT in the detection of hepatic colorectal metastases. Forty-four patients with hepatic colorectal metastases were examined with unenhanced and MnDPDP-enhanced MRI and with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced spiral CT. The MR examination protocol included baseline T1-weighted spin-echo (SE), T1-weighted gradient-recalled-echo (GRE), and T2-weighted fast-SE sequences; and T1-weighted SE and T1-weighted GRE sequences obtained 30-60 min after administration of 0.5 micromol/kg (0.5 ml/kg) mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP). Images were interpreted by three blinded readers. Findings at CT and MRI were compared with those at intraoperative US, which were used as term of reference. Intraoperative US detected 128 metastases. In a lesion-by-lesion analysis, the overall detection rate was 71% (91 of 128) for spiral CT, 72% (92 of 128) for unenhanced MRI, and 90% (115 of 128) for MnDPDP-enhanced MRI. MnDPDP-enhanced MRI was more sensitive than either unenhanced MRI ( p<0.0001) or spiral CT ( p=0.0007). In a patient-by-patient analysis, agreement with gold standard was higher for MnDPDP-enhanced MRI (33 of 44 cases) than for spiral CT (22 of 44 cases, p=0.0023) and unenhanced MRI (21 of 44 cases, p=0.0013). MnDPDP-enhanced MRI is superior to unenhanced MRI and spiral CT in the detection of hepatic colorectal metastases.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a genetically engineered glucagon (geG) and hyoscine N-butylbromide (HBB) on the quality of double-contrast barium meal (DCBM) study. Two hundred sixty-four patients scheduled for DCBM were randomized to receive intravenously geG 0.25 mg (geG-25), or geG 0.5 mg (geG-50), or HBB 20 mg as hypotonic agent. The evaluation concerned: duration of isolated visualization of the stomach (A); gastric mucosal coating (B); visualization of areae gastricae (C); quality of duodenal cap (D) and loop (E) study; delay, if any, of duodenal study (F). Global significant differences (P from 0.0183 to < 0.0001) were found for A, C, D, and F. GeG-50 allowed the longest isolated gastric visualization (P < 0.0001); geG-25 allowed more extensive visualization of areae gastricae than HBB (P = 0.0006); HBB allowed a better study of duodenal cap (P = 0.0052) and loop (P = 0.0190) than geG-25; geG-50 prolonged the examination time (P < 0.01). No adverse effect was observed with geG within 1 h after DCBM. In conclusion, geG can be safely used as a hypotonic agent in DCBM. When DCBM is focused on the stomach, 0.25 mg of geG is the optimal choice; if DCBM is focused on the duodenum, 0.5 mg of geG (with a prolonged examination time) or 20 mg of HBB (with a less effective study of the stomach) should be used.

No abstract

No abstract