Degui Zu MA, Presenter:

Ge Wu BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Qingyu Zeng BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jianwei Huo BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jianying Li PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, General Electric Company

Jingmin Liao, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

‡ To determine the benefit of multiplanar reformatted (MPR) images of the entire abdomen and pelvis for the diagnosis of acute abdomen by comparing the use of MPR images and single transverse images.

ˆ128 consecutive patients with clinically suspected acute abdomen underwent CT scans of the entire abdomen and pelvis using GE LightSpeed 64-row VCT. Axial, sagittal, coronal, and oblique MPR images are created on an advantage workstation with three-dimensional functionalities. Two experienced abdominal radiologists reviewed images together. Statistical analysis was performed by using the 2 test and the Spearman correlation coefficient.

–59 of 128 patients (46.1%) were diagnosed with acute abdominal diseases by the two readers. These included acute appendicitis (n = 16); bowel obstruction (n = 21); acute pancreatitis (n = 5); appendagitis and adnexal tumor (n = 3); colon diverticulitis (n = 2); aortic aneurysm (n = 2); cholecystolithiasis(n = 6) and stone of urinary system (n = 4). Two readers diagnosed acute abdomen diseases with 85.3% sensitivity and 92.4% specificity with transverse images alone, and 89.6% sensitivity and 97.8% specificity with the MPR images. For 6 of the 59 patients (10.7%) the diseases can only be detected with the MPR images, while the single transverse CT findings were indeterminate.

•The isotropic, high resolution "Microvoxel" technology of GE LightSpeed VCT system gives excellent IQ in any plane, and the use of MPR images provides excellent anatomic delineation, and may help identify the site, level, and cause of various kinds of acute abdomen diseases when transverse CT findings are indeterminate. It may improve the ability to make an early and accurate diagnosis for abdominal patients, and provide optimal treatment planning.

˜The use of MPR images provides excellent anatomic delineation, and may help identify the site, level, and cause of various kinds of acute abdomen diseases when transverse CT findings are indeterminate.

Zu, D, Wu, G, Zeng, Q, Huo, J, Li, J, Liao, J, Multi-detector Helical CT in the Diagnosis of Acute Abdomen: Comparative Assessment of Using Multiplanar Reformatted and Single Transverse Images.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4437302.html