Unexpected early pulmonary thrombi in war injured patients.

Objectives: Pulmonary embolism is commonly associated with deep vein thrombosis and the components of Virchow's triad: hypercoagulability, stasis, and endothelial injury. High-risk patients are traditionally those with prolonged immobility and hypercoagulability. Recent findings of pulmonary thrombosis (PT) in healthy combat soldiers, found on CT performed for initial trauma assessment, challenge this assumption.

X-ray2CTPA: leveraging diffusion models to enhance pulmonary embolism classification.

Chest X-rays or chest radiography (CXR), commonly used for medical diagnostics, typically enables limited imaging compared to computed tomography (CT) scans, which offer more detailed and accurate three-dimensional data, particularly contrast-enhanced scans like CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA). However, CT scans entail higher costs, greater radiation exposure, and are less accessible than CXRs. In this work, we explore cross-modal translation from a 2D low contrast-resolution X-ray input to a 3D high contrast and spatial-resolution CTPA scan.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis radiologic features in interstitial lung diseases.

Background: The radiologic criteria of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) guidelines focus on four HP compatible features (HPCF) in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT): ground glass opacities, mosaic attenuation, air-trapping, and centrilobular nodules. However, evidence to support these criteria are limited.

Methods: Consecutive interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients who underwent HRCT between 2016 and 2021 in three medical centers were included.

Optimizing Colon Identification by Window Setting Modulation on Noncontrast Computed Tomography Prior to Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Preoperative identification of the bowel on imaging is essential in planning renal access during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and avoiding colonic injury. We aimed this study to assess which noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) window setting provides the optimal colonic identification for PCNL preoperative planning. Ten urologic surgeons (four seniors, six residents) reviewed 22 images of NCCT scans in both abdomen and lung window settings in a randomized blinded order.

Adjusting Atrial Size Parameters for Body Surface Area: Does it Affect the Association With Pulmonary Embolism-related Adverse Events?

Purpose: Small left atrial (LA) volume was recently reported to be one of the best predictors of acute pulmonary embolism (PE)-related adverse events (AE). There is currently no data available regarding the impact that body surface area (BSA)-indexing of atrial measurements has on the association with PE-related adverse events. Our aim is to assess the impact of indexing atrial measurements to BSA on the association between computed tomography (CT) atrial measurements and AE.

Real-Life Diagnostic Performance of the Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guidelines: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a heterogeneous interstitial lung disease (ILD) that may be difficult to confidently diagnose. Recently, the 2020 ATS/JRS/ALAT HP diagnostic guidelines were published, yet data validating their performance in real-life settings are scarce. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of the HP guidelines compared to the gold-standard multidisciplinary discussion (MDD).

Left atrium volume and ventricular volume ratio algorithm as indication of pulmonary hypertension etiology.

Background: Pressure overload of the right heart (pulmonary hypertension [PH]) can be an acute or a chronic process with various pathophysiologic changes affecting the dimensions of the heart chambers. The automatic four-chamber volumetric analysis tool is now available to measure the volume of the cardiac chambers in patients undergoing a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA).

Purpose: To characterize the volumetric changes that occurred in response to increased systolic pulmonary arterial pressures (sPAP) in acute events, such as acute pulmonary embolism (APE), compared with other etiologies.

Evaluation of coronary disease among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is common among elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Current guidelines recommend performance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of any > 70% proximal coronary lesions prior to TAVI.

Aims: To evaluate the outcomes of two diagnostic approaches for CCS clearance pre-TAVI and to determine the reduction in the need of invasive angiography (IA).

The role of serum and urinary markers in predicting obstructing ureteral stones and reducing unjustified non-contrast computerized tomographic scans in emergency departments.

Introduction: The reported yield of non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) in assessing flank pain and obstructive urolithiasis (OU) in emergency departments (EDs) is only ~ 50%. We investigated the potential capability of serum and urinary markers to predict OU and improve the yield of NCCT in EDs.

Methods: All consecutive ED patients with acute flank pain suggestive of OU and assessed by NCCT between December 2019 and February 2020 were enrolled.

Data From a One-Stop-Shop Comprehensive Cancer Screening Center.

Purpose: Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. However, by implementing evidence-based prevention strategies, 30%-50% of cancers can be detected early with improved outcomes. At the integrated cancer prevention center (ICPC), we aimed to increase early detection by screening for multiple cancers during one visit.

Optimized definition of right ventricular dysfunction on computed tomography for risk stratification of pulmonary embolism.

Objectives: There is an ongoing discussion on the optimal right to left (RV/LV) diameter ratio threshold and the best definition of RV dysfunction on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for risk assessment of pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: On routine diagnostic CTPA, volumetric and diameter measurements (axial and reconstructed views) of the ventricles and reflux of contrast medium into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and hepatic veins were assessed in consecutive PE patients enrolled in a prospective single-center registry. In-hospital adverse outcome was defined as PE-related death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation or catecholamine administration.

Evaluation of hemodynamically significant pericardial effusion by analysis of cardiac chambers volume by computed tomography.

Objective: Pericardial effusion may present clinically as pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, or hemodynamic compromise and is a frequent finding in computerized tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) exams. We hypothesized that CTPA-based analysis of the cardiac chamber volumes can be used to predict the hemodynamic significance of pericardial effusion (HsPE) as compared with echocardiography.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent CTPA and echocardiography between January 2009 and November 2017 that ruled-out acute pulmonary embolism was included.

Querying the significance of patient position during computerized tomography on the reliability of pre-percutaneous nephrolithotomy planning.

Background: Computerized tomography (CT) is considered indispensable in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) planning. We aimed to define the reliability of pre-PCNL CT for planning renal access by assessing renal positional changes between supine and prone CTs.

Subjects And Methods: CT urographies (CTU) of 30 consecutive patients were reviewed for distances upper pole (UP)-diaphragm, UP-diaphragm attachment, renal pelvis (RP)-lateral body wall, RP- posterior body wall, and lower pole (LP)- anterior-superior iliac spine (ASIS).

Emergency department non-contrast computed tomography for suspicion of obstructive urolithiasis: Yield and consequences.

Introduction: We aimed to analyze patterns of referral, yield, and clinical implications of non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) in the acute evaluation of flank pain suspected as obstructive urolithiasis (OU) in a high-volume emergency department (ED).

Methods: The study comprised 506 consecutive NCCTs performed in the ED over four months. Detection rates of OU, incidental, and alternative findings were calculated.

Evidence for Left Atrial Volume Being an Indicator of Adverse Events in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Retrospective Case-control Pilot Study.

Purpose: To assess the association between computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) atrial measurements and both 30-day pulmonary embolism (PE)-related adverse events and mortality, and non-PE-related mortality, and to identify the best predictors of these outcomes by comparing atrial measurements and widely used clinical and imaging variables.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective single-center pilot study. Acute PE patients diagnosed on CTPA who also had a transthoracic echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and troponin T were included.

Correlation between CT-derived cardiac chamber volume, myocardial injury and mortality in acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: The release of troponin in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is assumed to be secondary to elevated intracardiac chamber pressure. Since right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy does not develop in the acute setting, pressure overload correlates with chamber dilatation, causing myocardial injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate correlations between cardiac chamber volume, troponin and subsequent early mortality in patients with acute PE and refine risk stratification.

High Prevalence of Right Ventricular/Left Ventricular Ratio ≥1 Among Patients Undergoing Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography.

Aim: Increased ratio between the right and left ventricular (RV/LV) diameters ≥1 is considered an important imaging marker for risk stratification among patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Our goal was to assess the prevalence of RV/LV≥1 among consecutive patients undergoing computed tomography pulmonary angiography, and to compare the prevalence of RV/LV≥1 between patients with and without PE.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography due to clinical suspicion of PE between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.

Prognostic value of right atrial dilation in patients with pulmonary embolism.

Aims: Right atrial (RA) dilation and stretch provide prognostic information in patients with cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the prevalence, confounding factors and prognostic relevance of RA dilation in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Overall, 609 PE patients were consecutively included in a prospective single-centre registry between September 2008 and August 2017.

Deep Learning-based Approach for Automated Assessment of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis on CT Images.

Purpose: To develop a deep learning algorithm for the automatic assessment of the extent of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) on chest CT images.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 208 patients with SSc (median age, 57 years; 167 women) evaluated between January 2009 and October 2017. A multicomponent deep neural network (AtlasNet) was trained on 6888 fully annotated CT images (80% for training and 20% for validation) from 17 patients with no, mild, or severe lung disease.

Detection of severe pulmonary hypertension based on computed tomography pulmonary angiography.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is often diagnosed late in the disease course. As many patients may undergo computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE), we aimed to create a model that can detect the existence of PH and grade its severity. Consecutive patients who underwent CTPA which was negative for PE, and echocardiography study within 24 h, were included.

Cardiac Gated Computed Tomography Angiography Discloses a Correlation Between the Volumes of All Four Cardiac Chambers and Heart Rate in Men But Not in Women.

Currently, normal values of the cardiac chambers' volumes are adjusted only for gender and body surface area (BSA). We aim to investigate the association between the heart rate and the volume of each of the four cardiac chambers using cardiac-gated computed tomography angiography (CCTA). A total of 350 consecutive patients without known cardiac diseases or significant (>50%) stenosis undergoing CCTA between January 2009 and June 2014 for suspected coronary artery disease were included.