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  • Diagnostic Performance of W...
    Afat, S; Pjontek, R; Nikoubashman, O; Kunz, W G; Brockmann, M A; Ridwan, H; Wiesmann, M; Clusmann, H; Othman, A E; Hamou, H A

    American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR, 11/2022, Letnik: 43, Številka: 11
    Journal Article

    Radiographic shunt series are still the imaging technique of choice for radiologic evaluation of VP-shunt complications. Radiographic shunt series are associated with high radiation exposure and have a low diagnostic performance. Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic performance of whole-body ultra-low-dose CT for detecting mechanical ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications. This retrospective study included 186 patients (mean age, 54.8 years) who underwent whole-body ultra-low-dose CT (100 kVpeak; reference, 10 mAs). Two radiologists reviewed the images for the presence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications, image quality, and diagnostic confidence. On a 5-point Likert scale, readers scored image quality and diagnostic confidence (1 = very low, 5 = very high). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Radiation dose estimation of whole-body ultra-low-dose CT was calculated and compared with the radiation dose of a radiographic shunt series. 34 patients positive for VP-shunt complications were correctly identified on whole-body ultra-low-dose CT by both readers. No false-positive or -negative cases were recorded by any of the readers, yielding a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 87.3%-100%), a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 96.9%-100%), and perfect agreement (κ = 1). Positive and negative predictive values were high at 100%. Shunt-specific image quality and diagnostic confidence were very high (median score, 5; range, 5-5). Interobserver agreement was substantial for image quality (κ = 0.73) and diagnostic confidence (κ = 0.78). The mean radiation dose of whole-body ultra-low-dose CT was significantly lower than the radiation dose of a conventional radiographic shunt series (0.67 SD, 0.4 mSv versus 1.57 SD, 0.6 mSv; 95% CI, 0.79-1.0 mSv; < .001). Whole-body ultra-low-dose CT allows detection of ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications with excellent diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic confidence. With concomitant radiation dose reduction on contemporary CT scanners, whole-body ultra-low-dose CT should be considered an alternative to the radiographic shunt series.