H Bai1, J Miao, Z He, C Liu, P Zhu. 1. Department of Radiology, The First University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P . R. China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To apply spiral CT angiography( SCTA) as imaging method of pulmonary angiography and study the imaging findings of cancerous invasion of central pulmonary artery (CICPA) in lung cancer patients by means of spiral CT pulmonary angiography (SCTPA) . METHODS: Thirty patients with central type of lung cancer proved by bronchoscopy biopsy or surgery underwent SCTPA, and 30 cases who had negative results on conventional CT as control. Technic parameters of SCTPA applied for both groups were as follows: contrast medium injection rate of 3-4ml/ s, collimation of 3mm, pitch of 1. 5, reconstruction interval of 1. 2 mm. The CT manifestations of vessel course and lumen of central pulmonary artery(CPA) were observed and the enhancement intensity of CICPA segment wasmeasured by 3-D imaging of CTA. RESULTS: The changes of vessel course were found in 18 cases( 60%) . The direction of displacement of CPA was different depending on predominant site of the mass and the pathway of CICPA. Centripetal or eccentric stenosis of CPA lumen in various degree with rigid and smooth contour was visualized in 26 cases( 86. 7%) . Decreased enhancement intensity of CPA was significantly shown in cases whose CPA lumen severely narrowed ( P < 0. 05) , and not distinct while stenosis of CPA lumen wasmild tomoderate degree ( P > 0. 05) . CONCLUSIONS: The direct CT signs of CICPA in lung cancer by SCTPA in this study include displacement of vessel course, stenosis of lumen and decreased intensity of contrast enhancement of CPA. SCTPA is a significant complement to conventional CT in diagnosis of CICPA in lung cancer.
BACKGROUND: To apply spiral CT angiography( SCTA) as imaging method of pulmonary angiography and study the imaging findings of cancerous invasion of central pulmonary artery (CICPA) in lung cancerpatients by means of spiral CT pulmonary angiography (SCTPA) . METHODS: Thirty patients with central type of lung cancer proved by bronchoscopy biopsy or surgery underwent SCTPA, and 30 cases who had negative results on conventional CT as control. Technic parameters of SCTPA applied for both groups were as follows: contrast medium injection rate of 3-4ml/ s, collimation of 3mm, pitch of 1. 5, reconstruction interval of 1. 2 mm. The CT manifestations of vessel course and lumen of central pulmonary artery(CPA) were observed and the enhancement intensity of CICPA segment wasmeasured by 3-D imaging of CTA. RESULTS: The changes of vessel course were found in 18 cases( 60%) . The direction of displacement of CPA was different depending on predominant site of the mass and the pathway of CICPA. Centripetal or eccentric stenosis of CPA lumen in various degree with rigid and smooth contour was visualized in 26 cases( 86. 7%) . Decreased enhancement intensity of CPA was significantly shown in cases whose CPA lumen severely narrowed ( P < 0. 05) , and not distinct while stenosis of CPA lumen wasmild tomoderate degree ( P > 0. 05) . CONCLUSIONS: The direct CT signs of CICPA in lung cancer by SCTPA in this study include displacement of vessel course, stenosis of lumen and decreased intensity of contrast enhancement of CPA. SCTPA is a significant complement to conventional CT in diagnosis of CICPA in lung cancer.