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Published in: European Radiology 10/2016

01-10-2016 | Computed Tomography

Isoattenuating insulinomas at biphasic contrast-enhanced CT: frequency, clinicopathologic features and perfusion characteristics

Authors: Liang Zhu, Hua-dan Xue, Hao Sun, Xuan Wang, Yong-lan He, Zheng-yu Jin, Yu-pei Zhao

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 10/2016

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Abstract

Objectives

We aimed to determine the frequency of isoattenuating insulinomas, to investigate their clinicopathological features and to assess their regional pancreatic perfusion characteristics.

Methods

Institutional review board approval was obtained, and patient informed consent was waived. From July 2010 to June 2014, 170 patients (66 male, 104 female) with endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia underwent biphasic contrast-enhanced CT before surgery, and 129 of those patients also received preoperative whole-pancreas CT perfusion. A total of 181 tumours were proved histopathologically after surgery. Enhancement pattern and regional pancreatic perfusion characteristics were analyzed. Clinical features, tumour size and pathological grading were investigated.

Results

The frequency of isoattenuating tumours was 24.9 %. Tumour size and WHO grading was not significantly different between isoattenuating and hyperattenuating tumours. Tumour-free regions had identical blood flow (BF) regardless of their location (p = 0.35). Isoattenuating tumour-harbouring regions had lower BF compared with hyperattenuating tumour-harbouring regions; both showed higher BF compared with tumour-free neighbourhood regions (all p < 0.01). For patients with isoattenuating tumours, the overall hospital stay was longer (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

A substantial subset of insulinomas were isoattenuating on biphasic CT. CT perfusion showed higher BF in tumour-harbouring regions compared to tumour-free regions, providing a clue for tumour regionalization.

Key Points

About a quarter of all insulinomas were isoattenuating on biphasic contrast-enhanced CT.
CT perfusion finds tumour-harbouring regions have higher blood-flow compared to tumour-free regions.
CT perfusion provides important information for tumour regionalization, for isoattenuating tumours.
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Metadata
Title
Isoattenuating insulinomas at biphasic contrast-enhanced CT: frequency, clinicopathologic features and perfusion characteristics
Authors
Liang Zhu
Hua-dan Xue
Hao Sun
Xuan Wang
Yong-lan He
Zheng-yu Jin
Yu-pei Zhao
Publication date
01-10-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 10/2016
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4216-7

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