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Isoattenuating insulinomas at biphasic contrast-enhanced CT: frequency, clinicopathologic features and perfusion characteristics

  • Computed Tomography
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

We aimed to determine the frequency of isoattenuating insulinomas, to investigate their clinicopathological features and to assess their regional pancreatic perfusion characteristics.

Methods

Institutional review board approval was obtained, and patient informed consent was waived. From July 2010 to June 2014, 170 patients (66 male, 104 female) with endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia underwent biphasic contrast-enhanced CT before surgery, and 129 of those patients also received preoperative whole-pancreas CT perfusion. A total of 181 tumours were proved histopathologically after surgery. Enhancement pattern and regional pancreatic perfusion characteristics were analyzed. Clinical features, tumour size and pathological grading were investigated.

Results

The frequency of isoattenuating tumours was 24.9 %. Tumour size and WHO grading was not significantly different between isoattenuating and hyperattenuating tumours. Tumour-free regions had identical blood flow (BF) regardless of their location (p = 0.35). Isoattenuating tumour-harbouring regions had lower BF compared with hyperattenuating tumour-harbouring regions; both showed higher BF compared with tumour-free neighbourhood regions (all p < 0.01). For patients with isoattenuating tumours, the overall hospital stay was longer (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

A substantial subset of insulinomas were isoattenuating on biphasic CT. CT perfusion showed higher BF in tumour-harbouring regions compared to tumour-free regions, providing a clue for tumour regionalization.

Key Points

• About a quarter of all insulinomas were isoattenuating on biphasic contrast-enhanced CT.

• CT perfusion finds tumour-harbouring regions have higher blood-flow compared to tumour-free regions.

• CT perfusion provides important information for tumour regionalization, for isoattenuating tumours.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computed tomography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

EUS:

Endoscopic ultrasound

PET:

Positron emission tomography

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Professor Zheng-yu Jin. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. This study has received funding by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program, No. 81371608). No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board. None of the study subjects or cohorts have been previously reported. Methodology: retrospective, observational, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Shuaifuyuan No.1, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

    Liang Zhu, Hua-dan Xue, Hao Sun, Xuan Wang, Yong-lan He & Zheng-yu Jin

  2. Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Shuaifuyuan No.1, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

    Yu-pei Zhao

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  1. Liang Zhu
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Correspondence to Hua-dan Xue.

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Zhu, L., Xue, Hd., Sun, H. et al. Isoattenuating insulinomas at biphasic contrast-enhanced CT: frequency, clinicopathologic features and perfusion characteristics. Eur Radiol 26, 3697–3705 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4216-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4216-7

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