Investigation of the Environmental and Genetic Basis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) through the Emory NAFLD Research Group: a Multidisciplinary Project Uniting Liver Experts
Principal Investigators: Diego Martin, MD; Miriam Vos, MD
Co-Investigators: Xiaoping Hu; PhD, Rene Romero, MD; Jennifer Buechner, RD, CSP; Enrique Martinez, MD; James Spivey, MD; Frank Anania, MD; Andy Muir, MD; Mark Bouzyk, PhD; Veda Johnson, MD; Thomas Heffron, MD; Bahig Shehata, MD
This is a cross-departmental collaborative project funded by the Woodruff Fund for one year to support the initiatives of Visions 2012. The departmental contributors include members from Radiology, Pediatrics, Medicine, Center for Medical Genomics, General Pediatrics, Transplant Surgery and Pathology.
Obesity and liver disease related to NAFLD is highly prevalent and represents a major and growing disease burden in the U.S., including children. The etiology of disease, the factors leading to individual risk and therapy are not yet well understood. This project objective includes the formulation of a comprehensive liver expert multi-disciplinary program to address these problems. Successful implementation and validation of imaging diagnostic technology in pediatric and adult NAFLD patients will allow us to pursue predictive modeling, evaluate the genetic basis of the disease, investigate its cellular-biochemical composition, therapeutic strategies, and facilitate therapy monitoring. Current technology is not suitable for these endeavors.
Comparing the Accuracy of CT Colonography to Standard Colonoscopy to Detect Clinically Important Colorectal Neoplasia
Radiology: Todd Fibus, M.D., Leon Rubinsztain, M.D.
Gastroenterology: Mohammad Wehbi M.D., Kamil Obideen M.D.
- Compare sensitivity and specificity of CT Colonography to standard colonoscopy for polyp detection stratified by polyp size.
- Determine radiologist time necessary for exam interpretation.
- Assess patient preference for CTC compared to standard colonoscopy.
- Assess adequacy of colonic preparation and distention using this technique in the VA patient population.
- Assess reader interobserver variability
Significance: Diagnostic CT Colonography has been offered on a routine clinical basis at the Atlanta VA since January 2006.
Comparison of acute and delayed adverse reactions between Visipaque and Isovue: A prospective study in 1000 patients.
PI: William Small MD, PhD
Co-Contributors: Sunit Sebastian, MD, William Torres, MD, FACR, Alberto Spinazzi, MD
Compare the incidence of acute and delayed reactions for Visipaque and Isovue.
Significance: This study will help identify which of the two intravenous contrast agents have higher incidence of acute and delayed reactions.
Determination of appropriate slice thickness of coronal reformats for accurate detection and characterization of liver lesions using 16 slice MDCT.
PI: William Small MD, PhD
Co-Contributors: Sunit Sebastian, MD, Alex Lewis, MD, David Kooby, MD,
William Torres, MD, FACR
What is the appropriate slice thickness of coronal reformats for accurate detection and characterization of liver lesions using 16 slice MDCT?
Preliminary findings: 5mm coronal MPR images suffice for accurate detection and characterization of liver lesions using 16 slice MDCT.
Significance: Protocol optimization.
Dual energy MDCT to differentiate between polyps and fecal matter in a
colon phantom
PI: William Small MD, PhD
Co-Contributors: Sunit Sebastian, MD, Tim Fox, PhD, William Torres, MD, FACR
Can dual energy MDCT differentiate between polyps and fecal matter in a colon phantom?
Preliminary findings: Lower kVp settings (80) may allow differentiation between polyps and fecal matter
Significance: Dual energy CT Colonography may obviate cumbersome colonic preparation, further enhancing patient compliance of CT Colonography.
Multi-Detector Row CT of Abdomen and Pelvis: Optimization of Contrast Dose Based on Patient Weight.
Contributors: Unni K Udayasankar MD, FRCR, Jianhai Li MD, William C Small MD, PhD
Can routine contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT (MDCT) of the abdomen could be performed with the contrast dose optimized to patient weight?
Significance: MDCT studies of smaller patients can be performed with much less contrast dose compared to standard dose protocols.
Reader performance for detection and characterization of liver lesions using near isotropic coronal MPR reformats with 16 and 64-slice MDCT.
PI: William Small MD, PhD
Co-Contributors: Sunit Sebastian, MD, Alex Lewis, MD, David Kooby, MD,
William Torres, MD, FACR
What is the level of reader performance for liver lesion detection and characterisation using independent coronal MPR’s for primary interpretation?
Preliminary findings: Coronal MPR images are as good as axial images for liver lesion detection and characterisation.
Significance: Better delineation of anatomy, fewer images to review using coronal MPR images.
Low Dose Non-Enhanced Head CT Protocol for Follow-Up Evaluation of Children with Ventriculo-Peritoenal Shunt: Effect on Image Quality and Radiation Dose.
Contributors: Unni K. Udayasankar MD, FRCR, Kiery Braithwaite MD, Marioula Arvaniti MD, William C Small MD, PhD, Susan Palasis MD
Can low dose follow-up CT study provide relevant information in patients with hydrocephalus and ventriculo-peritoneal shunts?
Significance: A low dose CT scan may replace standard dose study without affecting visualization of pertinent findings in children scanned for ventriculo-peritoneal shunt evaluation.
Effect of Tube Potential on CT Histogram Analysis of Adrenal Masses
Contributors: Unni K Udayasankar MD, FRCR, Jianhai Li MD, William C Small MD, PhD
Do different tube energy levels alter attenuation characteristics and CT histogram analysis of adrenal masses?
Significance: Non-contrast CT histogram analysis using dual energy mode may help characterise adrenal masses and preclude subsequent studies including contrast CT and washout studies.