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“Purpose: PHA-739358 To retrospectively evaluate radiation dose, image quality, and the ability to differentiate urinary calculi of differing compositions by using low-dose dual-energy computed tomography (CT).

Materials and Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study; informed consent was waived. A low-dose dual-energy CT protocol (tube voltage and reference effective tube current-time product, 140

kV and 23 mAs and 80 kV and 105 mAs; collimation, 64 x 0.6 mm; pitch, 0.7) for the detection of urinary calculi was implemented into routine clinical care. All patients (n = 112) who were examined with this protocol from July 2008 to August 2009 were included. The composition of urinary calculi was assessed by using commercially available postprocessing software and was compared with results of the reference standard (ex vivo infrared spectroscopy) in 40 patients for whom the reference standard was available. Effective doses were calculated. Image quality was rated subjectively and objectively

and was correlated with patient size expressed as body cross-sectional area at the level of acquisition by using Spearman correlation coefficients.

Results: One calcified learn more concrement in the distal ureter of an obese patient was mistakenly interpreted as mixed calcified and uric acid. One struvite calculus was falsely interpreted as cystine. All other uric acid, cystine, and calcium-containing calculi were correctly identified by using dual-energy CT. The mean radiation dose was 2.7 mSv. The average image quality was rated as acceptable, with a decrease in image quality in larger patients.

Conclusion: Low-dose unenhanced dual-source dual-energy CT can help differentiate between calcified, uric acid, and cystine calculi at a radiation dose comparable to that of conventional intravenous pyelography. Because of decreased image

quality in obese patients, only nonobese patients should JQ-EZ-05 manufacturer be examined with this protocol. (C) RSNA, 2010″
“Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) have been gaining acceptance as tools in the evaluation of prostate cancer. We compared the accuracy of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI combined with three-dimensional (3D) MRSI in locating prostate tumours and determined the influence of prostate weight on MRI accuracy. Patients and Methods: Between March 1999 and October 2006, 507 patients with localised prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at the Jules Bordet Institute. Of these, 220 had undergone endorectal MRI (1.5 T Siemens Quantum Symphony) and 3D-MRSI prior to RP. We retrospectively reviewed data on tumour location and compared the results obtained by MRI and by TRUS-guided biopsy with those obtained on histopathology of the RP specimen. Results: Patient data were as follows: median age 62.4 years (45-74); median PSA 6.36 ng/ml (0.5-22.6); 73.