COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY: CRITERIA FOR ACCURATE NEEDLE TIP IDENTIFICATION

Precise localization of the needle tip during CT-guided percutaneous biopsy is considered to be a key element of a successful procedure. To ensure accuracy, the true needle tip must be differentiated from a false or simulated tip which appears when the CT slice encompasses only the shaft of an angled needle. By obtaining images of an aspiration biopsy needle inserted vertically into a phantom and then incrementally tilting the gantry, the authors were able to compare the characteristic features of the true tip to the simulated tip. The true tip was abrupt and distinct and had an adjacent flame-like low density artifact. The simulated tip was indistinct and tapered, yet still produced the adjacent artifact. We concluded that the shape and distinctness of the end portion of the needle itself, rather than the attendant artifact, were the most reliable criteria for accurate needle tip identification.     

单轴压缩条件下岩石破损过程的CT试验分析

采用工业计算机层析(ICT)设备与全数字液压实验系统EHF-EG200KN试验机,对大台煤矿冲击倾向性煤层底板岩石试样进行了单轴压缩荷载作用下的CT试验,得到了单轴压缩荷载作用下不同应力阶段岩石试样微裂纹发展的CT图像。通过对CT图像灰度值的分析,得到单轴压缩荷载作用下岩石的损伤破裂过程。为进一步研究煤层底板岩石的破坏及冲击地压的发生机理提供依据。     

DIAGNOSTIC SENSITIVITY OF ULTRASOUND,RADIOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR GENDER DETERMINATION IN FOUR SPECIES OF LIZARDS

Gender determination is frequently requested by reptile breeders, especially for species with poor or absent sexual dimorphism. The aims of the current study were to describe techniques and diagnostic sensitivities of ultrasound, radiography, and computed tomography for gender determination (identification of hemipenes) in four species of lizards. Nineteen lizards of known sex, belonging to four different species (Pogona vitticeps, Uromastyx aegyptia, Tiliqua scincoides, Gerrhosaurus major) were prospectively enrolled. With informed owner consent, ultrasound, noncontrast CT, contrast radiography, and contrast CT (with contrast medium administered into the cloaca) were performed in conscious animals. Imaging studies were reviewed by three different operators, each unaware of the gender of the animals and of the results of the other techniques. The lizard was classified as a male when hemipenes were identified. Nineteen lizards were included in the study, 10 females and nine males. The hemipenes were seen on ultrasound in only two male lizards, and appeared as oval hypoechoic structures. Radiographically, hemipenes filled with contrast medium appeared as spindle‐shaped opacities. Noncontrast CT identified hemipenes in only two lizards, and these appeared as spindle‐shaped kinked structures with hyperattenuating content consistent with smegma. Hemipenes were correctly identified in all nine males using contrast CT (accuracy of 100%). Accuracy of contrast radiography was excellent (94.7%). Accuracy of ultrasound and of noncontrast CT was poor (64.3% and 63.1%, respectively). Findings from the current study supported the use of contrast CT or contrast radiography for gender determination in lizards.     

MRI has limited agreement with CT in the evaluation of vertebral fractures of the canine trauma patient

Complete assessment of vertebral trauma in dogs currently requires CT and MRI for evaluation of the osseous and soft tissue structures that contribute to vertebral stability. Some studies in people have suggested that MRI may be sensitive and specific at detecting vertebral fractures making this potentially a single modality that could be used in spinal trauma evaluation. This study aimed to assess the ability for observers to evaluate vertebral fractures using MRI when compared to CT, which was used as the reference standard. Twenty‐nine dogs with previously diagnosed acute vertebral fractures and four dogs with no vertebral fracture that had undergone sequential CT and MRI were included into the study. One hundred twenty‐eight vertebrae were evaluated for the presence of fractures. Imaging studies were read by two observers blinded to the history. While both observers had similarly high sensitivity and specificity for simple detection of any fractured vertebrae, interobserver agreement was only moderate (κ = 0.584). When evaluations were specifically limited to detection of structurally unstable fractured vertebrae both observers showed improved specificity and interobserver agreement became substantial (κ = 0.650). Complete agreement for exact fracture location between MRI and CT results was only achieved in 14.3‐32.6% of fractured vertebra with up to 79% of fractures being missed in some vertebral structures. This suggests that although MRI may be able to detect the presence of fractured vertebrae, it is not able to replace CT for the complete evaluation of the traumatized spine and documentation of fracture morphology.     

基于序列信息的土壤CT图像超分辨率重建

受部分容积效应影响,土壤计算机断层扫描（Computed Tomography,CT）图像存在孔隙边界模糊现象,影响土壤孔隙结构研究的准确性。针对该问题,该研究提出基于序列信息的生成式对抗网络（Sequence information Generative Adversarial Network,SeqGAN）,实现土壤CT图像的超分辨率重建。针对土壤CT序列图像具有较高相似性的特点,SeqGAN法引入序列卷积块挖掘前后图像的序列信息,并将多重特征增强融合于目标图像中;利用多层残差块提取图像特征,构建残差块输入和输出的直接连接,以减少模型退化;利用对抗网络实现损失间接反馈,提高模型的特征学习能力。在序列相似性较高的土壤图像数据集验证了该方法性能。结果表明,SeqGAN法均方误差比次优方法GAN降低25%,峰值信噪比提升1.4 dB,结构相似性提升0.2%。重建的土壤图像具有较高准确率和清晰度,可为后续土壤物理学研究提供准确的数据基础。     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—URETHROVAGINAL FISTULA CAUSED BY A MIGRATING GRASS AWN IN THE VAGINA

A young intact female dog was presented with urinary incontinence. Abdominal ultrasound revealed the presence of hyperechoic linear structures within the cranial vagina suggestive of foreign material. A computed tomography (CT) retrograde vaginourethrogram demonstrated the presence of a fistulous tract between the urethra and vagina. A presumptive diagnosis of urethrovaginal fistula due to migration of foreign material was made. The grass awn was removed with vaginoscopic‐guided retrieval. Fourteen days later, surgical repair of the fistula and an ovariohysterectomy were done. This case report emphasizes the usefulness of CT for diagnosis and precise anatomical localization of genitourinary tract fistulas.