Akitoshi Inoue1, Shinichi Ota2, Norihisa Nitta2, Kiyoshi Murata2, Tomoharu Shimizu3, Hiromichi Sonoda3, Masaji Tani3, Hiromitsu Ban4, Osamu Inatomi4, Akira Ando4, Ryoji Kushima5, Yoshiyuki Watanabe2. 1. Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan. akino@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp. 2. Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan. 3. Department of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan. 4. Department of Gastroenterology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan. 5. Department of Pathology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the computed tomography (CT) imaging differences between gastric and intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with 38 gastric GISTs and 27 with 31 intestinal GISTs were enrolled. Tumors were classified as small (< 5 cm) or large (≥ 5 cm). Qualitative and quantitative CT imaging characteristics on non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT were evaluated by two radiologists independently and statistically compared. RESULTS: Early venous return and higher CT number of the draining vein in the arterial phase were more frequent in small-sized intestinal GISTs than in small-sized gastric GISTs (p < 0.001). Small-sized intestinal GISTs demonstrated a wash-out pattern, whereas small-sized gastric GISTs showed a plateau pattern. Contrast enhancement was higher in small-sized intestinal GISTs than in small-sized gastric GISTs (p < 0.001). CT number was inversely proportional to the diameter of intestinal GISTs in both arterial and venous phases but not to that of gastric GISTs. CONCLUSION: Strong enhancement with wash-out pattern and early venous return are characteristic findings of small-sized intestinal GISTs. Radiologists should be aware that CT findings of GISTs have a wide spectrum and may differ according to size and site of origin.
PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the computed tomography (CT) imaging differences between gastric and intestinal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with 38 gastric GISTs and 27 with 31 intestinal GISTs were enrolled. Tumors were classified as small (< 5 cm) or large (≥ 5 cm). Qualitative and quantitative CT imaging characteristics on non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT were evaluated by two radiologists independently and statistically compared. RESULTS: Early venous return and higher CT number of the draining vein in the arterial phase were more frequent in small-sized intestinal GISTs than in small-sized gastric GISTs (p < 0.001). Small-sized intestinal GISTs demonstrated a wash-out pattern, whereas small-sized gastric GISTs showed a plateau pattern. Contrast enhancement was higher in small-sized intestinal GISTs than in small-sized gastric GISTs (p < 0.001). CT number was inversely proportional to the diameter of intestinal GISTs in both arterial and venous phases but not to that of gastric GISTs. CONCLUSION: Strong enhancement with wash-out pattern and early venous return are characteristic findings of small-sized intestinal GISTs. Radiologists should be aware that CT findings of GISTs have a wide spectrum and may differ according to size and site of origin.