Michalis Mazonakis1, John Stratakis, John Damilakis. 1. Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 71003, Iraklion, Crete, Greece, mazonak@med.uoc.gr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To introduce efficient stereological approaches for estimating the volume of a normal or enlarged spleen from MDCT. METHODS: All study participants underwent an abdominal MDCT. The first group included 20 consecutive patients with splenomegaly and the second group consisted of 20 subjects with a normal spleen. Splenic volume estimations were performed using the stereological point counting method. Stereological assessments were optimized using the systematic slice sampling procedure. Planimetric measurements based on manual tracing of splenic boundaries on each slice were taken as reference values. RESULTS: Stereological analysis using five to eight systematically sampled slices provided enlarged splenic volume estimations with a mean precision of 4.9 ± 1.0 % in a mean time of 2.3 ± 0.4 min. A similar measurement duration and error was observed for normal splenic volume assessment using four to seven systematically selected slices. These stereological approaches slightly but insignificantly overestimated the volume of a normal and enlarged spleen compared to planimetry (P > 0.05) with a mean difference of -1.3 ± 4.3 % and -2.7 ± 5.2 %, respectively. The two methods were highly correlated (r ≥ 0.96). The variability of repeated stereological estimations was below 3.8 %. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed stereological approaches enable the rapid, reproducible, and accurate splenic volume estimation from MDCT data in patients with or without splenomegaly. KEY POINTS: • New efficient stereological approaches are proposed for spleen volumetry from MDCT • These volumetric approaches are applicable in patients with or without splenomegaly • Stereological splenic volume estimations from MDCT are rapid, reproducible, and accurate.
OBJECTIVES: To introduce efficient stereological approaches for estimating the volume of a normal or enlarged spleen from MDCT. METHODS: All study participants underwent an abdominal MDCT. The first group included 20 consecutive patients with splenomegaly and the second group consisted of 20 subjects with a normal spleen. Splenic volume estimations were performed using the stereological point counting method. Stereological assessments were optimized using the systematic slice sampling procedure. Planimetric measurements based on manual tracing of splenic boundaries on each slice were taken as reference values. RESULTS: Stereological analysis using five to eight systematically sampled slices provided enlarged splenic volume estimations with a mean precision of 4.9 ± 1.0 % in a mean time of 2.3 ± 0.4 min. A similar measurement duration and error was observed for normal splenic volume assessment using four to seven systematically selected slices. These stereological approaches slightly but insignificantly overestimated the volume of a normal and enlarged spleen compared to planimetry (P > 0.05) with a mean difference of -1.3 ± 4.3 % and -2.7 ± 5.2 %, respectively. The two methods were highly correlated (r ≥ 0.96). The variability of repeated stereological estimations was below 3.8 %. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed stereological approaches enable the rapid, reproducible, and accurate splenic volume estimation from MDCT data in patients with or without splenomegaly. KEY POINTS: • New efficient stereological approaches are proposed for spleen volumetry from MDCT • These volumetric approaches are applicable in patients with or without splenomegaly • Stereological splenic volume estimations from MDCT are rapid, reproducible, and accurate.
Authors: D Cotter; K Miszkiel; S Al-Sarraj; I D Wilkinson; M Paley; M J Harrison; M A Hall-Craggs; I P Everall Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 2.804
Authors: N Eriksen; E Rostrup; K Andersen; M J Lauritzen; M Fabricius; V A Larsen; J P Dreier; A J Strong; J A Hartings; B Pakkenberg Journal: Br J Radiol Date: 2009-08-18 Impact factor: 3.039
Authors: Georgios Bontzos; Michael Mazonakis; Efrosini Papadaki; Thomas G Maris; Styliani Blazaki; Eleni E Drakonaki; Efstathios T Detorakis Journal: Natl J Maxillofac Surg Date: 2020-06-18