Real-Time MR-Guided Lumbosacral Periradicular Injection Therapy Using a 0.55 T MRI System: A Phantom Study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided periradicular nerve root injection therapy (PRT) using a 0.55 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with fast dynamic imaging in a phantom. Five radiologists with varying levels of experience in PRT performed nine randomly assigned PRT procedures: three under MR guidance, three under CT guidance using a fully integrated laser navigation system, and three under conventional CT guidance, all on a specialized phantom of the lumbar spine.

Photon-counting computed tomography in esophageal cancer: correlation of iodine concentration with histopathology and treatment response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy.

Objectives: Evaluating esophageal cancer (EC) response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NARC) has been challenging, but photon-counting CT (PCCT) provides multiparametric data, including iodine concentration (IC), which can be utilized for evaluation. This study explored the relationship between IC and histopathological features of EC, assessing its role in predicting NARC responses.

Materials And Methods: Of 105 patients with EC, 85 (67 men; mean age 66.

Dental implant artifacts: Evaluation of photon counting CT-derived virtual monoenergetic images in combination with iterative metal artifact reduction algorithms.

Objectives: To examine photon counting-CT (PCCT)-derived virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in combination with iterative metal artifacts reduction algorithms (iMAR) for artifact reduction in patients with dental implants (DI).

Methods: 49 patients with DI were retrospectively included in the study. Polyenergetic CT images (CI), VMIs with different energy levels (70-190 keV) without and the same images with iMAR were examined.

Gyroscope-Assisted CT-Guided Puncture Improves Accuracy and Hit Rate Compared with Free-Hand Puncture: A Phantom Study.

Purpose: To evaluate gyroscope-assisted CT-guided needle puncture (GAP) compared to free hand puncture (FHP) in a phantom.

Material And Methods: A simple, low-cost gyroscope was equipped with a magnetic rail to attach it to common puncture needles. 18 radiologists with different levels of training and experience in CT-guided punctures first punctured three targets in free hand technique in a special biopsy phantom with different difficulty levels of the puncture path (T1: not angulated, needle path 7.

Impact of an online reference system on the diagnosis of rare or atypical abdominal tumors and lesions.

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate whether an online reference system (ORS, STATdx Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands) impacts finding the histologically confirmed diagnosis of rare or atypical abdominal tumors and lesions in radiologic imaging. In total, 101 patients with rare tumor entities or lesions and atypical manifestations of common tumors were enrolled retrospectively. Blinded readings were performed by four radiologists with varying levels of experience, who reported on: (a) correct diagnosis (CD), (b) time needed to find the diagnosis, and (c) diagnostic confidence, initially without followed by the assistance of the ORS.

Dedicated virtual non-contrast images adapted for liver tissue in clinical photon counting CT improve virtual non-contrast imaging in various organs beyond the liver.

Purpose: Purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the accuracy and diagnostic reliability of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images acquired with the photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) after an update of the CT scanner software.

Methods: Fifty-four patients were retrospectively enrolled. VNC images were reconstructed from true non-contrast (TNC) images (VNCn) and contrast-enhanced images in portal venous contrast phase (VNCv).

Minimizing Contrast Media Dose in CT Pulmonary Angiography with Clinical Photon Counting Using High Pitch Technique.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the potential to reduce the amount of iodinated contrast media (CM) for computer tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with a novel photon-counting-detector CT (PCCT).

Materials And Methods: Overall, 105 patients referred for CTPA were retrospectively included in this study. CTPA was performed using bolus tracking and high-pitch dual-source scanning (FLASH mode) on a novel PCCT (Naeotom Alpha, Siemens Healthineers).

Mechanical thrombectomy using the Nimbus stent-retriever - initial experiences in a single-center observational study.

Background: The Nimbus stent-retriever (NSR) was developed for mechanical thrombectomy of wall-adherent thrombi in cerebral arteries. It features a novel geometry with a proximal spiral section and a distal barrel section. The new device is designed to retrieve tough clots with a micro-clamping technique.

Image-Quality Assessment of Polyenergetic and Virtual Monoenergetic Reconstructions of Unenhanced CT Scans of the Head: Initial Experiences with the First Photon-Counting CT Approved for Clinical Use.

In 2021, the first clinical photon-counting CT (PCCT) was introduced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the image quality of polyenergetic and virtual monoenergetic reconstructions in unenhanced PCCTs of the head. A total of 49 consecutive patients with unenhanced PCCTs of the head were retrospectively included.

Assessment of hepatic steatosis based on virtual non-contrast computed tomography: Initial experiences with a photon counting scanner approved for clinical use.

Purpose: The present study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images acquired with the first clinical photon counting CT scanner for the assessment of hepatic steatosis.

Method: 140 patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The following CT indices were calculated according to the attenuation on VNC and true non-contrast (TNC) images: Liver attenuation CT (L), difference between liver and spleen attenuation CT (L-S) and the ratio between liver and spleen attenuation CT (L/S).