title: Prognostic value of Tissue Transition Projection 3D transparent wall CT reconstructions in bowel ischemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) represents the gold standard in patients with acute abdomen syndrome and suspected bowel ischemia. It provides a correct diagnosis and contributes to appropriate treatment planning. This study aims to evaluate the role of 3D Tissue Transition Projection (TTP) transparent wall CT reconstruction for detecting the degree of bowel dilatation and to correlate this finding with the aetiology and prognosis in patients affected by mesenteric infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients affected by bowel infarction due to vascular obstruction (arterial in 66% of cases, venous in 34%) were assessed by MDCT examination searching for the degree of bowel dilatation (subdivided into 4 groups: entire small bowel (SB); ≥50% of SB; < 50% of SB; large bowel only). Two blinded radiologists evaluated TTP 3D transparent wall and multi-planar reconstructions. Chi square test was used to correlate CT findings with the disease course and the mortality rate. Cohen's kappa statistics was used in order to assess inter-observer agreement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mortality rate was 64%, with a 90% value for arterial forms and 10% in case of venous infarctions. The entire SB (n = 10) or a ≥50% SB dilatation (n = 16) correlated with poor prognosis in all cases (p < 0.05); a <50% SB dilatation (n = 16) correlated with good prognosis in 87.5% of cases (p < 0.05). A large bowel only dilatation (n = 5) did not show a significant prognostic value (p = 0.13). Almost perfect agreement between the two readers was found (k = 0.84).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDCT offers different reconstruction software for diagnosing bowel ischemia. 3D TTP transparent wall reconstructions represent a rapid and automatic tool for identifying loop dilatation, which significantly correlates with an arterial aetiology and poor prognosis.
authors: DETO - Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. Electronic address: marco.moschetta@gmail.com.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Moschetta
authors: DIM - Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Arnaldo
authors: A
authors: Scardapane
authors: DIM - Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Telegrafo
authors: DIM - Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Nicola Maria
authors: NM
authors: Lucarelli
authors: DIM - Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Lorusso
authors: DIM - Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Angelelli
authors: DIM - Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Aldo Moro University of Bari Medical School, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Amato Antonio
authors: AA
authors: Stabile Ianora
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D065666:Mesenteric Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Bowel dilatation; Bowel ischemia; Computed tomography; MDCT