Published in:
01-11-2008
Detection of upper tract urothelial neoplasms: sensitivity of axial, coronal reformatted, and curved-planar reformatted image-types utilizing 16-row multi-detector CT urography
Published in: Abdominal Radiology | Issue 6/2008
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Background
The purpose of our study was to determine the sensitivity of 16-row multi-detector computed tomography urography (CTU) axial, coronal reformatted, and curved-planar reformatted image-types for upper tract urothelial neoplasm detection.
Methods
Twenty-one CTU examinations were identified that contained one or more pathology-proven upper tract urothelial neoplasms during our study period. Two readers independently reviewed 1.25 and 2.5 mm axial, coronal reformatted, and curved-planar reformatted excretory phase CTU images. Each reader then documented the location and appearance of lesions suspicious for upper tract urothelial neoplasm. These results were correlated with relevant endoscopic/surgical procedure notes as well as pathology results.
Results
Reader #1 detected 72%, 63%, 75%, and 72% of the known 32 upper tract urothelial neoplasms using 1.25 mm axial, 2.5 mm axial, coronal reformatted, and curved-planar reformatted image-types, respectively. Reader #2 detected 72% of the known neoplasms using each of the four image-types. No significant difference in sensitivity between image-types was identified. After combining the results for all four image-types, readers #1 and #2 had overall sensitivities of 94% and 91%.
Conclusions
Axial, coronal reformatted, and curved-planar reformatted image-types have similar sensitivities for the detection of upper tract urothelial neoplasm in 16-row multi-detector CTU. Reviewing multiple image-types increases the sensitivity of urothelial lesion detection.