Optimizing lower extremity CT angiography: A prospective study of individualized vs. fixed post-trigger delays in bolus tracking.

Purpose: To compare the contrast media opacification and diagnostic quality in lower-extremity runoff CT angiography (CTA) between bolus-tracking using conventional fixed trigger delay and patient-specific individualized post-trigger delay.

Methods: In this prospective study, lower-extremity runoff CTA was performed in two cohorts, using either fixed or individualized trigger delay. Both cohorts had identical CT protocols, contrast media applications, and image reconstructions.

Effect of artificial intelligence-aided differentiation of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps at CT colonography on radiologists' therapy management.

Objectives: Adenomatous colorectal polyps require endoscopic resection, as opposed to non-adenomatous hyperplastic colorectal polyps. This study aims to evaluate the effect of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted differentiation of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps at CT colonography on radiologists' therapy management.

Materials And Methods: Five board-certified radiologists evaluated CT colonography images with colorectal polyps of all sizes and morphologies retrospectively and decided whether the depicted polyps required endoscopic resection.

The spine-brain axis: is spinal anatomy associated with brain volume?

First small sample studies indicate that disturbances of spinal morphology may impair craniospinal flow of cerebrospinal fluid and result in neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of cervical spinal canal width and scoliosis with grey matter, white matter, ventricular and white matter hyperintensity volumes of the brain in a large study sample. Four hundred participants underwent whole-body 3 T magnetic resonance imaging.

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.

[Automatic ICD-10 coding : Natural language processing for German MRI reports].

Background: The medical coding of radiology reports is essential for a good quality of care and correct billing, but at the same time a complex and error-prone task.

Objective: To assess the performance of natural language processing (NLP) for ICD-10 coding of German radiology reports using fine tuning of suitable language models.

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included all magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiology reports acquired at our institution between 2010 and 2020.

Standardization of a CT Protocol for Imaging Patients with Suspected COVID-19-A RACOON Project.

CT protocols that diagnose COVID-19 vary in regard to the associated radiation exposure and the desired image quality (IQ). This study aims to evaluate CT protocols of hospitals participating in the RACOON (Radiological Cooperative Network) project, consolidating CT protocols to provide recommendations and strategies for future pandemics. In this retrospective study, CT acquisitions of COVID-19 patients scanned between March 2020 and October 2020 (RACOON phase 1) were included, and all non-contrast protocols were evaluated.

Strong Association of Depression and Anxiety With the Presence of Back Pain While Impact of Spinal Imaging Findings is Limited: Analysis of an MRI Cohort Study.

Development of back pain is multifactorial, and it is not well understood which factors are the main drivers of the disease. We therefore applied a machine-learning approach to an existing large cohort study data set and sought to identify and rank the most important contributors to the presence of back pain amongst the documented parameters of the cohort. Data from 399 participants in the KORA-MRI (Cooperative health research in the region Augsburg-magnetic resonance imaging) (Cooperative Health Research in the Region Augsburg) study was analyzed.

Reducing Visceral-Motion-Related Artifacts on the Liver with Dual-Energy CT: A Comparison of Four Different CT Scanner Techniques.

Purpose: To assess the influence of different dual-energy CT (DECT) scanner techniques on the severity of visceral-motion-related artifacts on the liver. Methods: Two independent readers retrospectively evaluated visceral-motion-related artifacts on the liver on 120-kVp(-like), monoenergetic low- and high-keV, virtual non-contrast (VNC), and iodine images acquired on a dual-source, twin-beam, fast kV-switching, and dual-layer spectral detector scanner. Quantitative assessment: Depth of artifact extension into the liver, measurements of Hounsfield Units (HU) and iodine concentrations.

Hepatobiliary Dual-Energy Computed Tomography.

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) increases confidence in hepatobiliary computed tomography (CT) evaluation by boosting visible iodine enhancement and differentiating between materials based on relative attenuation of 2 different X-ray energy spectra. Image reconstructions from DECT scans improve the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions, allows for quantification of diffuse liver disease, and reveals gallstones that may be missed on standard CT imaging. Our article aims to illustrate the basic concepts of DECT and types of image reconstruction relevant for the assessment of hepatobiliary diseases.

Comparison of the performance of conventional and spectral-based tagged stool cleansing algorithms at CT colonography.

Objectives: To compare the performance of conventional versus spectral-based electronic stool cleansing for iodine-tagged CT colonography (CTC) using a dual-layer spectral detector scanner.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated iodine contrast stool-tagged CTC scans of 30 consecutive patients (mean age: 69 ± 8 years) undergoing colorectal cancer screening obtained on a dual-layer spectral detector CT scanner. One reader identified locations of electronic cleansing artifacts (n = 229) on conventional and spectral cleansed images.

Reduction of Peristalsis-Related Streak Artifacts on the Liver with Dual-Layer Spectral CT.

Background: Peristalsis-related streak artifacts on the liver compromise image quality and diagnostic accuracy. Purpose: To assess dual-layer spectral-detector computed tomography (CT) image reconstructions for reducing intestinal peristalsis-related streak artifacts on the liver. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 220 contrast-enhanced abdominal dual-energy CT scans in 131 consecutive patients (mean age: 68 ± 10 years, 120 men) who underwent routine clinical dual-layer spectral-detector CT imaging (120 kVp, 40 keV, 200 keV, virtual non-contrast (VNC), iodine images).

Deep learning in CT colonography: differentiating premalignant from benign colorectal polyps.

Objectives: To investigate the differentiation of premalignant from benign colorectal polyps detected by CT colonography using deep learning.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of an average risk colorectal cancer screening sample, polyps of all size categories and morphologies were manually segmented on supine and prone CT colonography images and classified as premalignant (adenoma) or benign (hyperplastic polyp or regular mucosa) according to histopathology. Two deep learning models SEG and noSEG were trained on 3D CT colonography image subvolumes to predict polyp class, and model SEG was additionally trained with polyp segmentation masks.

Course of Early Neurologic Symptom Severity after Endovascular Treatment of Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: Association with Baseline Multiparametric CT Imaging and Clinical Parameters.

Background: Neurologic symptom severity and deterioration at 24 hours (h) predict long-term outcomes in patients with acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke of the anterior circulation. We aimed to examine the association of baseline multiparametric CT imaging and clinical factors with the course of neurologic symptom severity in the first 24 h after endovascular treatment (EVT).

Methods: Patients with LVO stroke of the anterior circulation were selected from a prospectively acquired consecutive cohort of patients who underwent multiparametric CT, including non-contrast CT, CT angiography and CT perfusion before EVT.

Computed Tomography Perfusion Deficit Volumes Predict Functional Outcome in Patients With Basilar Artery Occlusion.

Background And Purpose: Basilar artery occlusion is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Optimal imaging and treatment strategy are still controversial and prognosis estimation challenging. We, therefore, aimed to determine the predictive value of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) parameters for functional outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion in the context of endovascular treatment.

Significant Impact of Coffee Consumption on MR-Based Measures of Cardiac Function in a Population-Based Cohort Study without Manifest Cardiovascular Disease.

Subclinical effects of coffee consumption (CC) with regard to metabolic, cardiac, and neurological complications were evaluated using a whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol. A blended approach was used to estimate habitual CC in a population-based study cohort without a history of cardiovascular disease. Associations of CC with MRI markers of gray matter volume, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microhemorrhages, total and visceral adipose tissue (VAT), hepatic proton density fat fraction, early/late diastolic filling rate, end-diastolic/-systolic and stroke volume, ejection fraction, peak ejection rate, and myocardial mass were evaluated by linear regression.

Decomposing Acute Symptom Severity in Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: Association With Multiparametric CT Imaging and Clinical Parameters.

Acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) is a multifactorial process, which causes neurologic symptoms of different degree. Our aim was to examine the impact of neuromorphologic and vascular correlates as well as clinical factors on acute symptom severity in LVO stroke. We selected LVO stroke patients with known onset time from a consecutive cohort which underwent multiparametric CT including non-contrast CT, CT angiography and CT perfusion (CTP) before thrombectomy.

Machine Learning-based Differentiation of Benign and Premalignant Colorectal Polyps Detected with CT Colonography in an Asymptomatic Screening Population: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background CT colonography does not enable definite differentiation between benign and premalignant colorectal polyps. Purpose To perform machine learning-based differentiation of benign and premalignant colorectal polyps detected with CT colonography in an average-risk asymptomatic colorectal cancer screening sample with external validation using radiomics. Materials and Methods In this secondary analysis of a prospective trial, colorectal polyps of all size categories and morphologies were manually segmented on CT colonographic images and were classified as benign (hyperplastic polyp or regular mucosa) or premalignant (adenoma) according to the histopathologic reference standard.

Associated factors of white matter hyperintensity volume: a machine-learning approach.

To identify the most important parameters associated with cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH), in consideration of potential collinearity, we used a data-driven machine-learning approach. We analysed two independent cohorts (KORA and SHIP). WMH volumes were derived from cMRI-images (FLAIR).

Liver Function Changes After Technetium-99m-Macroaggregated Albumin Administration and Their Predictive Value Regarding Hepatotoxicity in Patients Undergoing Yttrium-90-Radioembolization.

Background/aim: Intraarterial Technetium-99m-Macroaggregated Albumin (Tc-MAA) administration is an established method to predict particle distribution prior to radioembolization. This study aimed to analyse the impact of intraarterial administration of Tc-MAA on changes in liver-specific laboratory parameters and to assess whether such changes are associated with post-radioembolization hepatotoxicity.

Patients And Methods: A total of 202 patients treated with radioembolization received prior mapping angiography with Tc-MAA administration.

High-Spatial-Resolution Three-dimensional Imaging of Human Spinal Cord and Column Anatomy with Postmortem X-ray Phase-Contrast Micro-CT.

Background Modern high-spatial-resolution radiologic methods enable increasingly detailed volumetric postmortem investigations of human neuroanatomy for diagnostic, research, and educational purposes. Purpose To evaluate the viability of postmortem x-ray phase-contrast micro-CT to provide tissue-conserving, high-spatial-resolution, three-dimensional neuroimaging of the human spinal cord and column by comparing quality of x-ray phase-contrast micro-CT images of nondissected Thiel-embalmed human spines with images of extracted formalin-fixed human spinal cords. Specific focus was placed on assessing the detection of micrometric spinal cord soft-tissue structure and vasculature.

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound versus computed tomography for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective, single-center evaluation of 234 patients.

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of primary liver cancer. A major part of diagnostic HCC work-up is based on imaging findings from sonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) allows for the dynamic assessment of the microperfusion pattern of suspicious liver lesions.

Splenogonadal fusion evaluation using Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound and Elastography. A case report.

We present the case of splenogonadal fusion in a 53-year-old male patient assessed by ultrasound and MRI, confirmed by pathologic examination. In addition to B-mode and colour-coded Doppler ultrasound, shear wave elastography and CEUS were performed and are presented in detail. Splenogonadal fusion is a rare congenital anomaly presumably caused by an abnormal attachment of splenic tissue to the gonad during gestation.

Differentiating locally recurrent rectal cancer from scar tissue: Value of diffusion-weighted MRI.

Objectives: To determine a cut-off apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value distinguishing local recurrence from scar tissue in patients with rectal cancer treated with complete surgical tumour removal.

Methods: 72 patients were retrospectively included. Patients underwent 1.