Whole tumour first-pass perfusion using a low-dose method with 64-section multidetector row computed tomography in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To propose a low-dose method at tube current-time product of 50 mAs for whole tumour first-pass perfusion of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma using 64-section multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT), and to assess the original image quality and accuracy of perfusion parameters.


METHODS
Fifty-nine consecutive patients with confirmed oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas were enrolled into our study, and underwent whole tumour first-pass perfusion scan with 64-section MDCT at 50 mAs. Image data were statistically reviewed focusing on original image quality demonstrated by image-quality scores and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios; and perfusion parameters including perfusion (PF, in ml/min/ml), peak enhanced density (PED, in HU), time to peak (TTP, in seconds) and blood volume (BV, in ml/100 g) for the tumour. To test the interobserver agreement of perfusion measurements, perfusion analyses were repeatedly performed.


RESULTS
Original image-quality scores were 4.71±0.49 whereas S/N ratios were 5.21±2.05, and the scores were correlated with the S/N ratios (r=0.465, p<0.0001). Mean values for PF, PED, TTP and BV of the tumour were 33.27±24.15 ml/min/ml, 24.06±9.87 HU, 29.42±8.61 s, and 12.45±12.22 ml/100 g, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient between the replicated measurements of each perfusion parameter was greater than 0.99, and mean difference of the replicated measurements of each parameter was close to zero.


CONCLUSIONS
Whole tumour first-pass perfusion with 64-section MDCT at low-dose radiation could be reproducible to assess microcirculation in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma without compromising subjective original image quality of the tumour.
Chen
Tian-wu
TW
Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, and Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, 63# Wen Hua Lu, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, China. twchenscu@yahoo.com.cn
Yang
Zhi-gang
ZG
Dong
Zhi-hui
ZH
Li
Yuan
Y
Yao
Jin
J
Wang
Qi-ling
QL
Qian
Ling-ling
LL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide