64-Slice Multi-detector Computed Tomography for Detection of Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding
HS Fung, PC Kwok, S Lau, WK Wong, SCH Chan
Hong Kong J Radiol 2008;11:13-8
Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography for the detection of acute gastrointestinal bleeding.
Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, 20 patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal bleeding from 1 October 2005 to 31 October 2006 had undergone digital subtraction angiography. Eleven patients had also undergone 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography and were enrolled in the study.
Results: Ten of the 11 patients had positive 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography findings for detection of mass, abnormal vessel, or active contrast extravasation into the bowel lumen. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography with arterial phase to detect acute intestinal bleeding was 100%, 50%, 90%, and 50%, respectively.
Conclusions: Despite the limited number of patients, 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography with arterial phase is sensitive for the detection and localisation of bleeding sites in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Further studies are needed to confirm its role in clinical management.