Application of CD34 expression combined with three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning in preoperative staging of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Accurate preoperative staging of gastric cancer(GC),a common malignant tumor worldwide,is critical for appropriate treatment plans and prognosis.Dynamic three-phase enhanced computed tomography(CT)scanning for preoperative staging of GC has limitations in evaluating tumor angiogenesis.CD34,a marker on vascular endothelial cell surfaces,is promising in evaluating tumor angiogenesis.We explored the value of their combination for preoperative staging of GC to improve the efficacy and prognosis of patients with GC.Medical records of 106 patients with GC treated at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang between February 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively studied.All patients underwent three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scanning before surgery,and CD34 was detected in gastroscopic biopsy specimens.Using surgical and pathological results as the gold standard,the diagnostic results of three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scanning at different T and N stages were analyzed,and the expression of CD34-marked microvessel density(MVD)at different T and N stages was determined.The specificity and sensitivity of three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and CD34 in T and N staging were calculated;those of the combined diagnosis of the two were evaluated in parallel.Independent factors affecting lymph node metastasis were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.RESULTS The accuracy of three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scanning in diagnosing stages T1,T2,T3 and T4 were 68.00%,75.00%,79.41%,and 73.68%,respectively,and for diagnosing stages N0,N1,N2,and N3 were 75.68%,74.07%,85.00%,and 77.27%,respectively.CD34-marked MVD expression increased with increasing T and N stages.Specificity and sensitivity of three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT in T staging were 86.79%and 88.68%;for N staging,89.06%and 92.86%;for CD34 in T staging,64.15%and 88.68%;and for CD34 in N staging,84.38%and 78.57%,respectively.Specificity and sensitivity of joint diagnosis in T staging were 55.68%and 98.72%,and N staging were 75.15%and 98.47%,respectively,with the area under the curve for diagnosis improving accordingly.According to multivariate analysis,a longer tumor diameter,higher pathological T stage,lower differ-entiation degree,and higher expression of CD34-marked MVD were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with GC.CONCLUSION With high accuracy in preoperatively determining the invasion depth and lymph node metastasis of GC,CD34 expression and three-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT can provide a reliable basis for surgical resection.

Changes of CT dynamic contrast-enhanced scan parameters in patients with lung cancer before and after radiofrequency ablation

Objective:To study the changes of CT dynamic contrast-enhanced scan parameters in patients with lung cancer before and after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and their correlation with serum tumor markers.Methods:A total of 60 patients who were diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma in the Second Hospital of Yulin City between May 2015 and January 2017 were selected and randomly divided into the RFA group and control group who received RFA combined with GP chemotherapy and GP chemotherapy alone respectively. Before and after treatment, CT dynamic contrast-enhanced scan was performed to calculate blood perfusion parameters, and serum was collected to determine the contents of cancer cell proliferation activity molecules, angiogenesis molecules and cell invasion molecules.Results: After treatment, BF, BV, MTT and PS levels as well as serum CYFRA21-1, SCC-Ag, TK-1, HE-4, TPS, HDGF, VEGF, PCDGF, bFGF, NGAL, MMP7, MMP9 and OPN contents of both groups of patients were significantly lower than those before treatment, and BF, BV, MTT and PS levels as well as serum CYFRA21-1, SCC-Ag, TK-1, HE-4, TPS, HDGF, VEGF, PCDGF, bFGF, NGAL, MMP7, MMP9 and OPN contents of RFA group after treatment were significantly lower than those of control group.Conclusions:The changes of CT dynamic contrast-enhanced scan parameters in patients with lung cancer before and after radiofrequency ablation suggest that the blood perfusion significantly reduces and is closely related to cancer cell proliferation and invasion as well as angiogenesis.

Utility of positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan in detecting residual hepatocellular carcinoma post treatment:Series of case reports

BACKGROUND Multi-phase computed tomography(CT)or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)has been the standard of care for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)diagnosis for years.CASE SUMMARY We report a case series of four patients in whom positron emission tomographycomputed tomography(PET-CT)scan complemented the conventional CT/MRI scans in evaluating treatment response.In these four cases the conventional multi-phase CT and MRI failed to identify residual HCC disease post-treatment,while PET-CT complemented and aided in treatment response evaluation.In each case,the addition of PET-CT identified and located residual HCC disease,allowed retreatment,and altered medical management.CONCLUSION This case series suggests that PET-CT should perhaps play a role in the HCC management algorithm,in addition to the conventional contrast-enhanced multiphase scans.

Aorto-enteric fistula:A case report

Aorto-enteric fistula(AEF)is a rare entity that accounts for high mortality. Early diagnosis is paramount to improving the survivals of patients with AEF but the diagnosis tends to be delayed in practice due to extremely variable clinical presentations. Contrasted computer tomography(CT),oesophagastroduodenoscopy(OGDS)or angiography should be prompted in a timely manner based on a high index of clinical suspicion. In this article,a case of primary AEF(PAEF)with herald gastroenteric tract haemorrhage is presented. In addition to the pathophysiology and managements,the pitfalls of the diagnostic studies are discussed,pinpointing the importance of high index of clinical suspicion.