Predictors of renal function decline in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors undergoing [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE therapy.

Background: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE is an established treatment for advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). While overall renal safety is high, the kidneys remain an organ at risk. This study aimed to determine whether clinical parameters can predict the risk of PRRT-associated renal function decline.

Evaluation of a Novel Tantalum Oxide-Based Contrast Agent for Liver Imaging and Tumor Detection in Dual-Energy CT: A Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Study.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate an experimental intravascular carboxybetaine zwitterionic tantalum oxide (TaCZ) nanoparticle CT contrast agent versus iopamidol for hepatic imaging and tumor detection using a multiphase dual-layer spectral CT (DLCT).

Materials And Methods: Rabbits with small (0.6 - 0.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound with VEGFR2-targeted microbubbles for monitoring combined anti-PD-L1/anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy effects in a murine melanoma model with immunohistochemical validation.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a highly effective treatment option for patients with metastatic melanoma. As not all patients respond to ICI immunotherapy, imaging biomarkers are required to accurately monitor early response to therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with VEGFR2-targeted microbubbles for monitoring the effects of combined anti-PD-L1/anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy in a murine melanoma model.

Association of integrated biomarkers and progression-free survival prediction in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors undergoing [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE therapy.

Integrated biomarkers that predict survival in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) receiving peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) are still limited. This study aims to identify predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with GEP-NET undergoing two cycles of PRRT. This single-center retrospective study included 178 patients with GEP-NET (G1 and G2) who received at least two consecutive cycles of PRRT with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE and underwent somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-PET/CT before and after therapy.

Quantitative response assessment of combined immunotherapy in a murine melanoma model using multiparametric MRI.

Background: We assessed immunotherapy response in a murine melanoma model using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) features with ex vivo immunohistochemical validation.

Methods: Murine melanoma cells (B16-F10) were inoculated into the subcutaneous flank of n = 28 C57BL/6 mice (n = 14 therapy; n = 14 control). Baseline mpMRI was acquired on day 7 at 3 T.

PET- and CT-Based Imaging Criteria for Response Assessment of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Under Radiopharmaceutical Therapy.

Despite well-documented limitations, current guidelines recommend the use of size-based RECIST 1.1 for response assessment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) under radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT). We hypothesize that functional criteria are superior to RECIST 1.

Performance of an Intravascular Tantalum Oxide-Based Nanoparticle Computed Tomography Contrast Agent in Preclinical Hepatic Tumor Detection.

Background: Noniodinated intravenous contrast agents have shown significant potential to improve computed tomography (CT) imaging; however, in vivo evidence for impact on lesion detection remains scarce.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare a novel intravenous carboxybetaine zwitterionic-coated tantalum oxide (TaCZ) nanoparticle contrast agent to clinical iodinated contrast agent for the detection of liver tumors in a rabbit tumor model at CT.

Methods: Following hepatic implantation of VX2 tumors, n = 10 rabbits were repeatedly scanned on a clinical CT system before and at 40, 105, and 180 seconds after intravenous contrast injection of 540 mg element (Ta or I) per kilogram of body weight using TaCZ or iopamidol.

Replication study of PD-L1 status prediction in NSCLC using PET/CT radiomics.

This study investigates the predictive capability of radiomics in determining programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (>=1%) status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients using a newly collected [18F]FDG PET/CT dataset. We aimed to replicate and validate the radiomics-based machine learning (ML) model proposed by Zhao et al. [1] predicting PD-L1 status from PET/CT-imaging.

Software-assisted structured reporting and semi-automated TNM classification for NSCLC staging in a multicenter proof of concept study.

Objectives: In this multi-center study, we proposed a structured reporting (SR) framework for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and developed a software-assisted tool to automatically translate image-based findings and annotations into TNM classifications. The aim of this study was to validate the software-assisted SR tool for NSCLC, assess its potential clinical impact in a proof-of-concept study, and evaluate current reporting standards in participating institutions.

Methods: A framework for SR and staging of NSCLC was developed in a multi-center collaboration.

Novel intravascular tantalum oxide-based contrast agent achieves improved vascular contrast enhancement and conspicuity compared to Iopamidol in an animal multiphase CT protocol.

Background: To assess thoracic vascular computed tomography (CT) contrast enhancement of a novel intravenous tantalum oxide nanoparticle contrast agent (carboxybetaine zwitterionic tantalum oxide, TaCZ) compared to a conventional iodinated contrast agent (Iopamidol) in a rabbit multiphase protocol.

Methods: Five rabbits were scanned inside a human-torso-sized encasement on a clinical CT system at various scan delays after intravenous injection of 540 mg element (Ta or I) per kg of bodyweight of TaCZ or Iopamidol. Net contrast enhancement of various arteries and veins, as well as image noise, were measured.

Oral CT Contrast Agents: What's New and Why, From the Special Series on Contrast Media.

Current CT oral contrast agents improve the conspicuity of and confidence in bowel and peritoneal findings in many clinical scenarios, particularly for outpatient and oncologic abdominopelvic imaging. Yet, existing positive and neutral oral contrast agents may diminish the detectability of certain radiologic findings, frequently in the same scans in which the oral contrast agent improves the detectability of other findings. With ongoing improvements in CT technology, particularly multienergy CT, opportunities are opening for new types of oral contrast agents to further improve anatomic delineation and disease detection using CT.

Dual center validation of deep learning for automated multi-label segmentation of thoracic anatomy in bedside chest radiographs.

Background And Objectives: Bedside chest radiographs (CXRs) are challenging to interpret but important for monitoring cardiothoracic disease and invasive therapy devices in critical care and emergency medicine. Taking surrounding anatomy into account is likely to improve the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence and bring its performance closer to that of a radiologist. Therefore, we aimed to develop a deep convolutional neural network for efficient automatic anatomy segmentation of bedside CXRs.

Validation of the SSTR-RADS 1.0 for the structured interpretation of SSTR-PET/CT and treatment planning in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients.

Objectives: The recently proposed standardized reporting and data system for somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-targeted PET/CT SSTR-RADS 1.0 showed promising first results in the assessment of diagnosis and treatment planning with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in neuroendocrine tumors (NET). This study aimed to determine the intra- and interreader agreement of SSTR-RADS 1.

Artificial Intelligence in Oncological Hybrid Imaging.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) applications have become increasingly relevant across a broad spectrum of settings in medical imaging. Due to the large amount of imaging data that is generated in oncological hybrid imaging, AI applications are desirable for lesion detection and characterization in primary staging, therapy monitoring, and recurrence detection. Given the rapid developments in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods, the role of AI will have significant impact on the imaging workflow and will eventually improve clinical decision making and outcomes.

Semi-Automatic MRI Feature Assessment in Small- and Medium-Volume Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia after Prostatic Artery Embolization.

(1) Background: To assess the treatment response of benign prostatic syndrome (BPS) following prostatic artery embolization (PAE) using a semi-automatic software analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and clinical indexes. (2) Methods: Prospective, monocenter study of MRI and clinical data of n = 27 patients with symptomatic BPS before and (1, 6, 12 months) after PAE. MRI analysis was performed using a dedicated semi-automatic software for segmentation of the central and the total gland (CG, TG), respectively; signal intensities (SIs) of T1-weighted (T1w), T2-weighted (T2w), and diffusion-weighted images (DWI), as well as intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) and prostatic volumes (CGV, TGV), were evaluated at each time point.

F-FDG-PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MRI for monitoring a BRAF and CDK 4/6 inhibitor combination therapy in a murine model of human melanoma.

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate a novel BRAF and CDK 4/6 inhibitor combination therapy in a murine model of BRAF-V600-mutant human melanoma monitored by F-FDG-PET/CT and diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI).

Methods: Human BRAF-V600-mutant melanoma (A375) xenograft-bearing balb/c nude mice (n = 21) were imaged by F-FDG-PET/CT and DW-MRI before (day 0) and after (day 7) a 1-week BRAF and CDK 4/6 inhibitor combination therapy (n = 12; dabrafenib, 20 mg/kg/d; ribociclib, 100 mg/kg/d) or placebo (n = 9). Animals were scanned on a small animal PET after intravenous administration of 20 MBq F-FDG.