AI-driven body composition monitoring and its prognostic role in mCRPC undergoing lutetium-177 PSMA radioligand therapy: insights from a retrospective single-center analysis.

Background: Body composition (BC) analysis is performed to quantify the relative amounts of different body tissues as a measure of physical fitness and tumor cachexia. We hypothesized that relative changes in body composition (BC) parameters, assessed by an artificial intelligence-based, PACS-integrated software, between baseline imaging before the start of radioligand therapy (RLT) and interim staging after two RLT cycles could predict overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective analysis of 92 patients with mCRPC undergoing [Lu]Lu-PSMA RLT between September 2015 and December 2023.

Automatic 3D Tracking of Liver Metastases: Follow-Up Assessment of Cancer Patients in Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

Background: Tracking differential growth of secondary liver metastases is important for early detection of progression but remains challenging due to variable tumor growth rates. We aimed to automate accurate, consistent, and efficient longitudinal monitoring.

Methods: We developed an automatic 3D segmentation and tracking algorithm to quantify differential growth, tested on contrast-enhanced MRI follow-ups of patients with neuroendocrine liver metastases (NELMs).

Advances in IPMN imaging: deep learning-enhanced HASTE improves lesion assessment.

Objective: The prevalence of asymptomatic pancreatic cysts is increasing due to advances in imaging techniques. Among these, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are most common, with potential for malignant transformation, often necessitating close follow-up. This study evaluates novel MRI techniques for the assessment of IPMN.

Ultrafast T2-weighted MR imaging of the urinary bladder using deep learning-accelerated HASTE at 3 Tesla.

Objective: This prospective study aimed to assess the feasibility of a half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo sequence (HASTE) with deep learning (DL) reconstruction for ultrafast imaging of the bladder with reduced susceptibility to motion artifacts.

Methods: 50 patients underwent pelvic T2w imaging at 3 Tesla using the following MR sequences in sagittal orientation without antiperistaltic premedication: T2-TSE (time of acquisition [TA]: 2.03-4.

From Faster Frames to Flawless Focus: Deep Learning HASTE in Postoperative Single Sequence MRI.

Background: This study evaluates the feasibility of a novel deep learning-accelerated half-fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo sequence (HASTE-DL) compared to the conventional HASTE sequence (HASTE) in postoperative single-sequence MRI for the detection of fluid collections following abdominal surgery. As small fluid collections are difficult to visualize using other techniques, HASTE-DL may offer particular advantages in this clinical context.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 76 patients (mean age 65±11.

Disease entity impacts muscle wasting in the ICU with COVID-19 patients losing muscle nearly twice as fast.

Muscle loss in critically ill patients, particularly during prolonged ICU stays, poses significant challenges to recovery and long-term outcomes. ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) manifests as severe muscle depletion, correlating with illness severity and hospitalization duration. This study aims to characterize long-term muscle loss trajectories in ICU patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 and severe acute pancreatitis (AP) and to explore contributing factors to elevated muscle decay.

Concordance between single-slice abdominal computed tomography-based and bioelectrical impedance-based analysis of body composition in a prospective study.

Objectives: Body composition analysis (BCA) is a recognized indicator of patient frailty. Apart from the established bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), computed tomography (CT)-derived BCA is being increasingly explored. The aim of this prospective study was to directly compare BCA obtained from BIA and CT.

Sarcopenia as a Risk Factor in Patients Undergoing Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) Implantation.

: Prior studies suggest that patients' body composition changes following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation, potentially influencing complications and survival. : A prototype artificial intelligence (AI)-based, automated computed tomography (CT) body composition analysis tool was used to assess body composition imaging parameters in pre- and postinterventional scans of TIPS patients: visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas, psoas muscle area (PMA), and total abdominal muscle area (TAMA). Sarcopenia was defined as a lumbar skeletal muscle index (LSMI) ≤ 38.

Transcriptomic Signature of Frailty in Older Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Undergoing Cardiac Surgery or TAVI.

Background: Deterioration of functional capacity mostly determinates frailty in older patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms of physical frailty is an important goal for improving functional health-related outcomes. Our objective was the determination of the transcriptomic signature of physical frailty phenotypes in older patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Deep Learning CAIPIRINHA-VIBE Improves and Accelerates Head and Neck MRI.

Rationale And Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate image quality for contrast-enhanced (CE) neck MRI with a deep learning-reconstructed VIBE sequence with acceleration factors (AF) 4 (DL4-VIBE) and 6 (DL6-VIBE).

Methods: Patients referred for neck MRI were examined in a 3-Tesla scanner in this prospective, single-center study. Four CE fat-saturated (FS) VIBE sequences were acquired in each patient: Star-VIBE (4:01 min), VIBE (2:05 min), DL4-VIBE (0:24 min), DL6-VIBE (0:17 min).

The extent of Skeletal muscle wasting in prolonged critical illness and its association with survival: insights from a retrospective single-center study.

Objective: Muscle wasting in critically ill patients, particularly those with prolonged hospitalization, poses a significant challenge to recovery and long-term outcomes. The aim of this study was to characterize long-term muscle wasting trajectories in ICU patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 and acute pancreatitis (AP), to evaluate correlations between muscle wasting and patient outcomes, and to identify clinically feasible thresholds that have the potential to enhance patient care strategies.

Materials And Methods: A collective of 154 ICU patients (100 AP and 54 COVID-19 ARDS) with a minimum ICU stay of 10 days and at least three abdominal CT scans were retrospectively analyzed.

Management of IgG4-related cholangitis: diagnosis, therapy, and long-term surveillance.

IgG4-related cholangitis (IRC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease that often occurs concomitantly with autoimmune pancreatitis type 1. Both conditions are manifestations of IgG4-related disease, a systemic autoimmune-mediated fibroinflammatory disorder. Patients often present with jaundice and weight loss, mimicking hepatobiliary malignancies, such as cholangiocarcinoma, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and pancreatic cancer.

Future liver remnant hypertrophy and postoperative outcomes: a retrospective comparison between segmental and main right portal vein embolization.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of segmental right portal vein embolization (SRPVE) versus main right portal vein embolization (MRPVE) in preoperative preparation for major hepatectomy.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 220 consecutive patients who underwent portal vein embolization (PVE) before (extended) right hemihepatectomy between January 2014 and June 2021. Seventy-one patients underwent selective segmental embolization (SRPVE) and 149 patients underwent MRPVE.

CT-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy ablation of HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

Background: We assessed the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

Methods: From January 2010 to January 2022, 56 patients (median age 67.5 years) with HCC and PVTT underwent 64 procedures.

Reduced monocytic IL10 expression in PD1 inhibitor-treated patients is a harbinger of severe immune-related adverse events.

Background: Despite remarkable clinical efficacy, little is known about the system-wide immunological alterations provoked by PD1 blockade. Dynamics of quantitative immune composition and functional repertoire during PD1 blockade could delineate cohort-specific patterns of treatment response and therapy-induced toxicity.

Methods: We longitudinally assessed therapy-induced effects on the immune system in fresh whole blood using flow cytometry-based cell quantifications, accompanied by analyses of effector properties of all major immune populations upon cell-type specific stimulations.

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging outcome after proximal hamstring tendon repair at mean 3 years follow-up.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess clinical and radiological outcome in patients after proximal hamstring tendon repair. We hypothesized that there is a significant correlation among subjective clinical outcome and interlimb asymmetries in muscle strength, fatty infiltration, and hamstring volume.

Methods: This retrospective monocentric case series included patients with surgical repair after proximal hamstring tendon rupture.

Deep learning enabled near-isotropic CAIPIRINHA VIBE in the nephrogenic phase improves image quality and renal lesion conspicuity.

Background: Deep learning (DL) accelerated controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA)-volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE), provides high spatial resolution T1-weighted imaging of the upper abdomen. We aimed to investigate whether DL-CAIPIRINHA-VIBE can improve image quality, vessel conspicuity, and lesion detectability compared to a standard CAIPIRINHA-VIBE in renal imaging at 3 Tesla.

Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients with 23 solid and 45 cystic renal lesions underwent MRI with clinical MR sequences, including standard CAIPIRINHA-VIBE and DL-CAIPIRINHA-VIBE sequences in the nephrographic phase at 3 Tesla.

Trans-arterial embolization for treatment of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding-a multicenter analysis.

Purpose: To assess the technical feasibility, safety, and clinical success rate of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) as an emergency treatment for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB).

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients who received urgent TAE due to active LGIB at five academic centers in Germany were retrospectively analyzed. LGIB was confirmed and localized using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or endoscopy.

Clinical and radiological outcome of acute quadriceps tendon repair at 2 - year follow-up.

Purpose: Though previous studies on surgical quadriceps tendon repair reported good to satisfactory results its impact on knee extensor strength and patellofemoral joint is unknown. The purpose of the study was to assess the clinical and functional outcome by quantifying subjective knee related outcome, isokinetic extensor strength complemented by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: For this retrospective clinical trial twenty-one patients with a mean age of 59.

Quantification of muscle recovery in post-ICU patients admitted for acute pancreatitis: a longitudinal single-center study.

Objectives: Critically ill patients with severe pancreatitis exhibit substantial muscle wasting, which limits in-hospital and post-hospital outcomes. Survivors of critical illness undergo extensive recovery processes. Previous studies have explored pancreatic function, quality of life, and costs post-hospitalization for AP patients, but none have comprehensively quantified muscle loss and recovery post-discharge.

Evaluation of a prototype metal artifact reduction algorithm for cone beam CT in patients undergoing radioembolization.

Metal artifacts notoriously pose significant challenge in computed tomography (CT), leading to inaccuracies in image formation and interpretation. Artifact reduction tools have been designed to improve cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image quality by reducing artifacts caused by certain high-density materials. Metal artifact reduction (MAR) tools are specific algorithms that are applied during image reconstruction to minimize or eliminate artifacts degrading CBCT images.

Multifrequency Magnetic Resonance Elastography Detects Small Abdominal Lymph Node Metastasis by High Stiffness.

Objectives: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 is a clinical and research standard for evaluating malignant tumors and lymph node metastasis. However, quantitative analysis of nodal status is limited to measurement of short axis diameter (SAD), and metastatic lymph nodes below 10 mm in SAD are often not detected.

Updated 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline Improves Concordance Between TTE and CT in Monitoring Marfan Snydrome and Related Disorders, but Relevant Measurement Differences Remain Frequent.

Background: Patients diagnosed with Marfan syndrome or a related syndrome require frequent aorta monitoring using imaging techniques like transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and computed tomography (CT). Accurate aortic measurement is crucial, as even slight enlargement (>2 mm) often necessitates surgical intervention. The 2022 ACC/AHA guideline for Aortic Disease Diagnosis and Management includes updated imaging recommendations.