Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J T Ferrucci

Publications and source records attributed to J T Ferrucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Colon cancer screening with virtual colonoscopy: promise, polyps, politics.

Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) promises to become a primary method for colorectal cancer screening and return radiologists to a major role in colon cancer prevention. Results from major centers in the United States show accuracy to be comparable to conventional colonoscopy for detection of polyps of significant size--that is, greater than 10 mm--with few false-positives. The advent of virtual colonoscopy has also heightened awareness of the natural history of colonic polyps, particularly in terms of identifying an appropriate target size for detection in colorectal screening programs. Small polyps (<10 mm) are often either hyperplastic on histology or are unlikely to progress to frank cancer in the patient's lifetime and are therefore of little clinical significance for the average adult. Thus, the rationale for detecting and removing each and every colonic polyp regardless of size has come under increasing scrutiny in the context of cost-benefit analysis of various test strategies for colorectal cancer screening. Virtual colonoscopy may allow patients to obtain reliable information about the status of their colonic mucosa noninvasively and thus make a more informed decision as to whether to proceed to conventional colonoscopy for polypectomy.

Colonic Polyps↗
PubMed2000

Periventricular leukomalacia: relationship between lateral ventricular volume on brain MR images and severity of cognitive and motor impairment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of lateral ventricular volume measurements in predicting motor and cognitive impairment severity in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), with or without seizures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of children with spastic cerebral palsy and PVL documented on brain magnetic resonance (MR) images were reviewed. Affected children were grouped by motor and cognitive impairment severity and seizure disorder. An age-matched control group was established. Lateral ventricular volumes were measured on two-dimensional T2-weighted spin-echo MR images. Analysis of variance was used to identify significant differences in mean lateral ventricular volume between groups. Paired analyses of differences were performed with the Bonferroni t method. RESULTS: Thirty-six children (24 boys, 12 girls) with spastic cerebral palsy and PVL and 21 age-matched control subjects (14 boys, seven girls) were identified. Mean lateral ventricular volumes of the moderate and marked motor deficit groups were significantly larger than those of the control and mild motor deficit groups (F = 29.24; alpha = .01). Mean lateral ventricular volumes of all cognitive impairment groups were significantly larger than those of the control and no-cognitive-impairment groups (F = 21.101 alpha = .01). There was no difference in mean lateral ventricular volume between children with PVL with or without seizures. CONCLUSION: Lateral ventricular volume measurements can be used as quantitative markers of clinical impairment severity and as clinical outcome predictors before formal testing is possible.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗
PubMed1999

A comparison of virtual and conventional colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Virtual colonoscopy is a new method of imaging the colon in which thin-section, helical computed tomography (CT) is used to generate high-resolution, two-dimensional axial images. Three-dimensional images of the colon simulating those obtained with conventional colonoscopy are then reconstructed off-line. We compared the performance of virtual and conventional colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients at high risk for colorectal neoplasia (60 men and 40 women; mean age, 62 years). We performed virtual colonoscopy immediately before conventional colonoscopy. We inserted a rectal tube and insufflated the colon with air to the maximal level that the patient could tolerate. We administered 1 mg of glucagon intravenously immediately before CT scanning to minimize the degree of smooth-muscle spasm and peristalsis and to reduce the patient's discomfort. RESULTS: The entire colon was clearly seen by virtual colonoscopy in 87 patients and by conventional colonoscopy in 89. Fifty-one patients had normal findings on conventional colonoscopy. In the other 49, we identified a total of 115 polyps and 3 carcinomas. Virtual colonoscopy identified all 3 cancers, 20 of 22 polyps that were 10 mm or more in diameter (91 percent), 33 of 40 that were 6 to 9 mm (82 percent), and 29 of 53 that were 5 mm or smaller (55 percent). There were 19 false positive findings of polyps and no false positive findings of cancer. Of the 69 adenomatous polyps, 46 of the 51 that were 6 mm or more in diameter (90 percent) and 12 of the 18 that were 5 mm or smaller (67 percent) were correctly identified by virtual colonoscopy. Although discomfort was not specifically recorded, none of the patients requested that virtual colonoscopy be stopped because of discomfort or pain. CONCLUSIONS: In a group of patients at high risk for colorectal neoplasia, virtual and conventional colonoscopy had similar efficacy for the detection of polyps that were 6 mm or more in diameter.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

MRI and MRCP in pancreaticobiliary malignancy.

Ultrasonography and CT scanning have been the standard techniques for demonstrating pancreatic carcinoma, although MR and more recently even endoscopic ultrasound have shown excellent results. MRCP is a specialized MR technique that shows fluid containing structures in a 2D image display similar to direct ERCP findings. Accuracy of MRCP (sensitivity, specificity) equals or exceeds ERCP for both biliary and pancreatic duct morphology. MRCP does not provide information with regard resectability. MRI can be applied to pancreaticobiliary malignancies as conventional MR, as MR angiography/venography or as MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). The technique and applications of each method differ. Although all have been well documented in the literature, their clinical role when compared to other evolving technologies such as helical CT and endoscopic ultrasound is still evolving.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1999

Occlusive colon carcinoma: virtual colonoscopy in the preoperative evaluation of the proximal colon.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of preoperative virtual colonoscopy to examine the proximal colon in patients with distal occlusive carcinomas, defined as cancers that cannot be traversed endoscopically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with occlusive colorectal carcinomas underwent preoperative virtual colonoscopy with use of a standard protocol. Patients with acute bowel obstruction were excluded. Results of virtual colonoscopy were compared with the findings of preoperative colonoscopy, preoperative barium enema examination, intraoperative colon palpation, histopathologic outcome, and postoperative colonoscopy and barium enema examination, where possible. RESULTS: Virtual colonoscopy helped identify all 29 occlusive carcinomas and demonstrated two cancers and 24 polyps in the proximal colon. Both synchronous cancers were confirmed intraoperatively and resected. Postoperative conventional colonoscopy in 12 patients confirmed 16 polyps identified at virtual colonoscopy and demonstrated two subcentimeter polyps missed at virtual colonoscopy. Postoperative barium enema examination was performed in two patients and helped confirm two polyps identified at virtual colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy successfully demonstrated the proximal colon in 26 of 29 patients examined compared with preoperative barium enema examination, which failed to adequately demonstrate the proximal colon in any patient examined. CONCLUSION: Virtual colonoscopy is a feasible and useful method for evaluating the entire colon before surgery in patients with occlusive carcinomas.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Biliopancreatic malignancy current diagnostic possibilities: an overview.

Modern imaging of pancreatic cancer remains a daily challenge both for detection and staging. Helical CT scanning, MRI, and more recently endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) all contribute. Demonstration of local vascular anatomy for assessing resectability is increasingly performed by non-invasive methods such as CT and MR angiography avoiding the need for traditional catheter angiograms. While a variety of primary tumors can occur in the pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma is by far the most important clinically accounting for c.80% of pancreatic neoplasms. Moreover, cancer of the pancreas presents more frequent and complex diagnostic imaging problems than carcinomas of the biliary tract and will form the focus of this discussion.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Virtual colonoscopy--technique and applications.

Virtual colonoscopy is a new method for evaluating the colon which uses thin section computed tomography of the clean air distended colon. The acquired computed tomography data is then subjected to computer manipulation to demonstrate the colonic mucosa. It is a safe, non-invasive, well-tolerated method that has potential as a method of colorectal cancer screening. This review will describe the technique, review preliminary results, and discuss the present and future applications of this technique.

Colon↗
PubMed1998

Colorectal neoplasm detection using virtual colonoscopy: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Virtual colonoscopy is a potentially powerful tool for non-invasive colorectal evaluation. In vitro studies have established its accuracy in simulated polyp detection but little data exist regarding its use in clinical practice. AIMS: To evaluate the ability of virtual colonoscopy to detect colorectal cancers and polyps in patients with endoscopically proven colorectal neoplasms and to correlate the findings of virtual colonoscopy with those of conventional colonoscopy, surgery, and histopathology. PATIENTS: Thirty eight patients with endoscopic findings suggestive of colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Virtual colonoscopy was performed using thin section helical computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis after rectal insufflation of room air. Commercially available software was used to generate endoscopic "fly through" examinations of the colon from the CT data. Results were correlated with the findings of conventional colonoscopy and with the surgical and histopathological outcome in each case. RESULTS: Thirty eight pathologically proven colorectal cancers and 23 adenomatous polyps were present. On virtual colonoscopy, all cancers and all polyps measuring greater than 6 mm in size were identified; there were two false positive reports of polyps. On conventional colonoscopy, there was one false positive report of a malignant sigmoid stricture; four subcentimetre polyps were overlooked. Virtual colonoscopy enabled visualisation of the entire colon in 35 patients; conventional colonoscopy was incomplete in 14 patients. Virtual colonoscopy correctly localised all 38 cancers, compared with 32 using conventional colonoscopy. CONCLUSION: Virtual colonoscopy is a feasible method for evaluating the colon; it may have role in diagnosis of colorectal cancer and polyps.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

MR cholangiopancreatography challenges invasive methods.

To gain acceptance, MRCP must accurately visualize both normal and abnormal biliary and pancreatic ducts. Imaging of the non-dilated system remains a technical challenge due to the small caliber of normal ducts. Using either nonbreath-hold or breath-hold techniques, however, the normal common bile duct can be visualized in as many as 98% of patients.

Bile Duct Diseases↗