Computerâ aided detection of lung nodules: False positive reduction using a 3D gradient field method and 3D ellipsoid fitting

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134878/1/mp4667.pd

Pulmonary nodule registration in serial CT scans based on rib anatomy and nodule template matching

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135002/1/mp2575.pd

Computerâ aided diagnosis of pulmonary nodules on CT scans: Segmentation and classification using 3D active contours

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135040/1/mp7129.pd

Staging esophageal cancer1

Accurate staging of disease is necessary in patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer in order to prompt appropriate curative or palliative therapy. Computed tomography (CT) may be used to evaluate for local spread into adjacent structures (T4 disease) and to diagnose distant metastases (M1). Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is the modality of choice for distinguishing T1 tumors from higher stage lesions and for detecting and sampling regional lymph nodes (N1 disease). Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is most helpful for detecting previously occult distant metastases. Optimal staging generally requires a multimodality approach

Imaging of recurrent lung cancer

Local, regional and distant tumor recurrence is common following surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer. It is important to be familiar with the patterns of recurrence and to differentiate them from the normal post-operative appearance and post-radiation changes. The risks and types of recurrence are influenced by various factors including preoperative tumor stage, histological type and type of surgical resection. Treated patients are at risk for developing a second lung primary, reported to be 1–4% per year, and therefore follow-up must be aimed at detecting not only recurrent cancer, but also a new, primary lung cancer. Different follow-up imaging strategies have been suggested, including conventional radiography, CT and/or PET scanning

The Added Value of a High CT Coronary Artery Calcium Score in the Management of Patients Presenting with Acute Chest Pain vs. Stable Chest Pain

Background: Contrast computerized tomography (CT) scan is occasionally aborted due to a high coronary artery calcium score (CACS). For the same CACS in our clinical practice, we observed a higher occurrence of severe coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute chest pain (ACP) compared to patients with stable chest pain (SCP). Since it is known that ACP differs in many ways from SCP, the aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of a high CACS for the diagnosis of severe CAD between ACP and SCP patients. Methods: This single center observational retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent cardiac CT for chest pain and were found to have a CACS of >200 Agatston units. Patients were divided into two groups, ACP and SCP. Severe CAD was defined as ≥70% stenosis on coronary CT angiography or invasive coronary angiography. Baseline characteristics and final diagnosis of severe CAD were compared. Results: The cohort included 220 patients, 106 with ACP and 114 with SCP. ACP patients had higher severe CAD rates (60.4% vs. 36.8%; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis including cardiac risk factors, CACS > 400 au (OR = 2.34 95% CI [1.32–4.15]; p = 0.004) and ACP (OR = 2.54 95% CI [1.45–4.45]; p = 0.001) were independent predictors of severe CAD. The addition of the clinical setting of ACP added significant incremental predictive value for severe stenosis. Conclusion: A high CACS is more associated with severe CAD in patients presenting with ACP than SCP. The findings suggest that the CACS could impact the management of patients during the scan