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Biomedical subjects

Tobias F Jakobs

Publications and source records attributed to Tobias F Jakobs.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Mid-term results in otherwise treatment refractory primary or secondary liver confined tumours treated with selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) using (90)Yttrium resin-microspheres.

The purpose was to determine the response and survival and to analyse the feasibility of single-session, whole-liver SIRT in patients with non-resectable, otherwise non-responding liver cancer. Thirty-nine patients qualified for SIRT. Eighteen patients suffered from colorectal-cancer metastases (CRC), breast-cancer metastases (MBC, 7), HCC (5) and other tumours (9). Response was assessed by tumour-markers and CT-imaging. At 2-4, 5-7 and 8-9 months follow-up in 3/17, 5/15 and 5/10 of CRC-patients CEA-levels were higher than before. In the MBC group 1-3 and 4-6 months after SIRT tumour-marker-levels were higher in 2/6 and 3/3 patients, respectively. In all HCC-patients AFP-levels dropped 1-3 months after SIRT. Using RECIST, in the CRC-group progressive liver disease (PD) was found in 4/17, 2/12, 2/10 and 2/5 patients at 2-4, 5-8, 9-10 and 12-14 months follow-up. Concerning MBC, after 3 months 7/7 patients presented with stable-disease (SD) or partial-response (PR). At 5-6 months, 1/5 patients showed PD. All HCC-patients showed SD/PR at 2-3 months with no PD at 5-8 months. In the mixed-group 5/6 patients presented with SD/PR at 3-4 months and with SD in 2/3 patients at 5-6 months. The median time-to-PD was 6.5, 8.5 and 8 months for the CRC-, MBC- and mixed-group, respectively. SIRT is a promising, liver-targeted approach for patients with otherwise treatment-refractory liver tumours.

Brachytherapy↗

Clinical value of MDCT in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients with a low pretest likelihood of significant disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of MDCT in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in a population having a low pretest likelihood of significant disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients with suspected coronary artery disease and a low pretest likelihood of significant disease according to the criteria of the American Heart Association underwent both MDCT of the heart and quantitative conventional coronary angiography (QCA). MDCT examinations were performed on a 16-MDCT scanner. CT data sets were evaluated on a per-patient basis and a per-segment basis and were classified as indicating no disease, nonsignificant disease (stenoses </= 50%), or significant disease (stenoses > 50%). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of 16-MDCT in the detection or exclusion of significant and nonsignificant coronary artery disease were evaluated on both per-patient and per-segment bases. RESULTS: Regarding the success rate of 16-MDCT, 94% (60/64) of patients and 92% (388/420) of vessel segments were of sufficient quality for diagnosis. In the remaining 60 patients evaluated, QCA revealed significant coronary artery disease, nonsignificant disease, and no disease in 8.3% (5/60), 75.0% (45/60), and 16.7% (10/60) of cases, respectively, on a per-patient basis, and in 1.3% (5/388), 23.2% (90/388), and 75.5% (293/388) of cases, respectively, on a per-segment basis. The sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 16-MDCT for the detection of significant coronary artery disease were 80.0%, 94.5%, 98.1%, and 57.1%, respectively, on a per-patient basis, and 80.0%, 99.2%, 99.7%, and 57.1% on a per-segment basis. CONCLUSION: In a population having a low pretest likelihood of significant coronary artery disease, 16-MDCT shows a moderate to high sensitivity and high NPV for the detection or exclusion of significant disease, but has a somewhat reduced PPV compared with QCA.

Adult↗

MDCT-imaging of peripheral arterial disease.

With the design and development of advanced computed tomography (CT) techniques and applications, like the newest generation of 16-detector-row CTs, CT angiography of the lower limb becomes a feasible tool for imaging peripheral vascular disease. Due to several advantages, compared with conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA), including minimal invasiveness, CT angiography competes against diagnostic DSA in several clinical situations. 16-DCT offers the possibility to acquire thin slices from the diaphragm to the ankle in less than 40 sec. Easily, a data set of 800 to 1200 transverse slices may be created. To use transverse reconstructions alone to read these volumetric data sets is not appropriate. Powerful post-processing tools for volumetric analysis are required so that routine interpretation can be performed as efficiently and accurately as transverse section review. Because of its widespread availability and applicability, CT angiography of the lower extremities may be applied to patients in a pre- or post-procedural situation and also serves as a first line modality in patients with acute onset of clinical symptoms. Although multidetector CT arteriography is rapidly achieving clinical acceptance, further studies need to be performed to fully evaluate the clinical value of this method of peripheral arterial imaging. This article reviews the current status of multidetector CT peripheral arteriography, including indications, technical details, image post-processing, radiation exposure, and clinical results.

Angiography↗

Ultra-low-dose coronary artery calcium screening using multislice CT with retrospective ECG gating.

The aim of this study was to reduce radiation exposure in multislice CT (MSCT) coronary artery calcium screening using different tube settings, and to determinate its impact on the detection and quantification of coronary artery calcification. Forty-eight patients underwent routine MSCT coronary artery calcium scoring (Somatom VolumeZoom, Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) with retrospective ECG-gated data acquisition. Scanning was performed with a 4 x 2.5-mm collimation. In each patient data acquisition was performed twice using tube settings of 120 kVp with 133 mAs (protocol 1) and of 80 kVp with 300 mAs (protocol 2). Together with the 80-kVp protocol additional online ECG-related tube current modulation (ECG pulsing) was used. Three-millimeter overlapping slices (increment 1.5 mm) were calculated for each data set. Semi-automated calcium quantification was performed calculating absolute Ca-hydroxylapatite mass. In addition to patient examinations, the radiation exposure for both protocols was evaluated using computed tomography dose index (CTDI) phantom measurements. Protocol 2 showed a significantly lower patient radiation exposure than protocol 1 (0.72 vs 2.04 mSv; p<0.0001). The CTDI phantom measurements revealed a 65% reduction of radiation dose. Calcium scoring results of both protocols showed a high correlation ( r=0.99; p<0.0001) for absolute Ca-Hydroxylapatite mass measurements. Using 80-kVp protocols patient radiation exposure can be significantly reduced in MSCT coronary artery calcium screening without affecting the detection and quantification of coronary artery calcification; therefore, this technique should be used with retrospective ECG-gated cardiac CT examinations in patients with regular sinus rhythm.

Calcinosis↗

Multi-detector-row CT angiography of peripheral arteries.

The development of multi-detector-row CT (MDCT), within recent years, dramatically improved image quality and expanded the applications for non-invasive CT angiography. Since the introduction of four-detector-row CT (4-DCT) systems in 1998, MDCT technology has spread rapidly and is now widely available. This technique already meets the requirements for many vascular applications with respect to acquisition speed, anatomical coverage and spatial resolution. The newest MDCT scanners offer the advantages of up to 16 detector rows and gantry rotation as fast as 500 msec, further expanding the possibilities for CT angiography. For the assessment of the aorta and the iliac vessels MDCT has already proven to be superior to single detector CT and comparable to conventional angiography. This article reviews the status of MDCT angiography, including technical aspects, reformation methods and limitations, and clinical applications at the current state of the art.

Angiography↗

Multislice helical CT of the heart with retrospective ECG gating: reduction of radiation exposure by ECG-controlled tube current modulation.

Our objective was to evaluate image quality and radiation exposure of retrospectively ECG-gated multislice helical CT (MSCT) investigations of the heart with ECG-controlled tube current modulation. One hundred patients underwent MSCT scanning (Somatom VolumeZoom, Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) for detection of coronary artery calcifications. A continuous helical data set of the heart was acquired in 50 patients (group 1) using the standard protocol with constant tube current, and in 50 patients (group 2) using an alternative protocol with reduced radiation exposure during the systolic phase. The standard deviations (SD) of predefined regions of interest (ROIs) were determined as a measure of image noise and were tested for significant differences. There was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 with respect to image noise. Radiation exposure with and without tube current modulation was 1.0 and 1.9 mSv ( p<0.0001), respectively, for males and 1.4 and 2.5 mSv ( p<0.0001), respectively, for females; thus, there was a mean dose reduction of 48% for males and 45% for females, respectively. The ECG-controlled tube current modulation allows significant dose reduction when performing retrospectively ECG-gated MSCT of the heart.

Calcinosis↗

Radiofrequency ablation of colorectal liver metastases: mid-term results in 68 patients.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and medium-term survival, after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), in patients suffering from hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2004, 68 patients (42 men, 26 women; mean age 63 years, range: 38-87 years), with non-resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer, were treated by RFA subsequently or parallel to chemotherapy. The procedures were mainly performed under conscious sedation and local anesthesia using computed tomography fluoroscopy guidance. The number of lesions, the primary success rate, complications, follow-up time and disease-free survival, as well as the local recurrence rate, were evaluated. RESULTS: One-hundred and eighty-three metastases with a mean diameter of 22.8 mm (5-50 mm) in 68 patients (2.7 +/- 1.1 lesions / patient) were successfully treated using RFA. No major complications and only 4 minor complications were noted. Over an average follow-up period of 21.4 +/- 10.6 months (range, 8 to 38 months), Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a probability of 82% of remaining locally disease-free and a probability of 68% of surviving the first 38 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: For patients with non-resectable hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer, RFA is a safe option in a multimodal treatment concept and may lead to an improvement in survival.

Adult↗