Radiology. Cardiothoracic imaging最新文献

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by noncaseating granulomas. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on three criteria: clinical history, consistent imaging findings, and histopathology. Radiologists play an important role for the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of patients with sarcoidosis, which often require a multimodal approach. This imaging essay will explore the typical and atypical imaging manifestations of sarcoidosis at chest radiography, CT, PET/CT, and MRI, provide imaging examples, and discuss relevant differential diagnoses for clinical practice. Keywords: Thorax, MR-Imaging, Staging, PET/CT, CT, Conventional Radiography, Sarcoidosis, Thoracic Imaging, Scintigraphy Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

Purpose To evaluate the accuracy of chest ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT) as compared with normal-dose CT in the evaluation of pneumonia in individuals who are immunocompromised. Materials and Methods This prospective study included 54 adults who were immunocompromised (median age, 62 years [IQR, 47.75-69.25 years]; 34 [63%] male participants) referred for a chest CT scan between September 2020 and December 2022 to evaluate for pneumonia. Each participant underwent two scans: normal-dose CT (120 kVp and automatic current modulation) and ULDCT (100 kVp and constant current of 10 mA). ULDCT images underwent a postprocessing procedure using an artificial intelligence algorithm to reduce image noise. Two radiologists, blinded to all clinical information, examined the images obtained from the three methods (normal-dose CT, ULDCT, and denoised ULDCT) for the presence of pneumonia and associated findings. The normal-dose CT was used as the reference standard, and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were calculated. Results The median effective radiation dose of ULDCT scans (0.12 mSV) was 1.95% of that of the normal-dose CT (6.15 mSV). Ten of the 54 participants were correctly identified as having no pneumonia, with similar accuracy between denoised ULDCT and ULDCT (100% vs 96%-98%, respectively). Both methods allowed for detection of pneumonia and features associated with invasive fungal pneumonia, but accuracy was slightly better with denoised ULDCT (accuracy, 100% vs 91%-98%). Fine details were better visualized in denoised ULDCT images: tree-in-bud pattern (accuracy, 93% vs 78%-80%), interlobular septal thickening (accuracy, 78%-83% vs 61%-67%), and intralobular septal thickening (accuracy, 85%-87% vs 0%). Conclusion Denoised ULDCT imaging showed better accuracy than ULDCT in identifying lungs with or without pneumonia in individuals who were immunocompromised. Keywords: CT, Pulmonary, Lung, Infection, Technology Assessment Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

Purpose To evaluate the relationship between cardiac radiation doses and subclinical changes in cardiac function using cardiac MRI during 2 years of follow-up in patients with breast cancer treated with radiation therapy without chemotherapy after lumpectomy. Materials and Methods This prospective multicenter study (NCT03297346) enrolled female individuals with breast cancer treated with radiation therapy between December 2017 and September 2019. Participants underwent cardiac MRI at baseline, 6 months, and 24 months. Cardiac radiation doses were assessed for the whole heart (WH) and right and left ventricles (LV). A persistent decrease in LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) from baseline to the other two measurement points over the 2-year follow-up was considered an adverse subclinical change in cardiac function. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon tests for continuous variables and odds ratios for risk assessment. Results The study included 138 female participants (mean age, 58.4 years ± 8.0 [SD]). Mean WH and LV doses were 1.42 Gy (IQR, 1.03-2.01) and 1.46 Gy (IQR, 0.64-2.34). At the 2-year follow-up, all participants had reduced LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) (-4.0% ± 13.2; P < .001) and stroke volume (-3.4% ± 15.2; P < .001), preserved LV ejection fraction, and increased LV remodeling (LV mass/EDV ratio) (4.2% ± 18.1; P < .04) without associated symptoms. Twenty-three (16.6%) participants showed a persistent decrease in LV GLS and received higher mean WH and LV doses compared with participants without persistent decrease in LV GLS (WH: 2.09 Gy [IQR, 1.50-2.45] vs 1.36 Gy [IQR, 1.01-1.87], P < .001; LV: 2.40 Gy [IQR, 1.09-2.88] vs 1.34 Gy [IQR, 0.63-2.02], P = .002). The relative changes in LV EDV and LV mass/EDV were -12.7% ± 9.0 versus -2.2% ± 13.3 (P < .001) and 14.2% ± 15.5 versus 2.2% ± 18.1 (P = .002), respectively, in participants with and without a persistent decrease in LV GLS. A higher WH cardiac radiation dose was associated with a higher risk of a persistent decrease in LV GLS (odds ratio, 1.09 [95% CI: 1.02, 1.16]). Conclusion In participants with recent breast cancer radiation therapy, a modest but persistent reduction in LV GLS over a 2-year follow-up period was associated with the cardiac radiation dose. Keywords: Radiotherapy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cardiotoxicity, Strain Clinical trial registration no. NCT03297346 Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

Purpose To investigate whether pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCATa) provides incremental prognostic value over commonly used coronary CT angiography (CCTA) parameters for predicting major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods This prospective study included consecutive patients with type 2 DM who underwent CCTA due to suspected coronary artery disease between January 2015 and December 2017. PCATa of three coronary arteries was measured and evaluated. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to investigate the prognostic value of PCATa for predicting MACCE. The incremental prognostic value of PCATa for MACCE was evaluated by comparing area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of four models (model 1: clinical characteristics, model 2: model 1 + conventional CCTA findings [coronary artery calcium score, Leiden score], model 3: model 2 + advanced CCTA findings [high-risk plaque, CT fractional flow reserve], model 4: model 3 + PCATa). Results Of the 1029 participants (mean age, 60.2 years ± 9.9 [SD]; 539 male) included in the study, 152 (14.8%) experienced MACCE during a median follow-up of 56.5 months. PCATa independently predicted MACCE after adjustment for clinical characteristics and commonly used CCTA findings (hazard ratio, 1.86 [95% CI: 1.24, 2.80]; P = .003). The model incorporating PCATa improved predictive performance for MACCE compared with the model including clinical characteristics and conventional and advanced CCTA parameters (AUC, 0.75 [95% CI: 0.71, 0.79] vs 0.73 [95% CI: 0.68, 0.77]; P = .009). Conclusion PCATa provided incremental prognostic value beyond clinical characteristics and other CCTA findings for prediction of MACCE in individuals with DM. Keywords: CT Angiography, Cardiac, Coronary Arteries, Inflammation, Outcomes Analysis, Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography, Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Inflammation, Pericoronary Adipose Tissue Attenuation Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

Purpose To estimate the extent in which coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and incident lung cancer diagnosis are associated and determine if use of CAC score to predict lung cancer could improve lung cancer screening (LCS). Materials and Methods This retrospective analysis analyzed data from an ongoing, prospective, population-based cohort study (Heinz Nixdorf Recall study) in which participants aged 45-75 years underwent electron-beam CT of the heart. The association between CAC score and incident lung cancer was assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for potential confounders. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess predictive performance of CAC score for lung cancer in all participants, eligible participants, and ineligible participants for LCS. Results The study included 4605 participants (mean age, 59.7 [SD, 7.8] years; 2328 female). During a median follow-up time of 15.2 years, incident lung cancer was diagnosed in 111 participants. CAC score as a continuous variable (log CAC+1) was associated with incident lung cancer (hazard ratio [HR] in the fully adjusted model: 1.21 [95% CI: 1.10, 1.32]). A CAC score of 400 or higher versus 0 was associated with a more than fourfold higher risk of lung cancer (adjusted HR: 4.31 [95% CI: 2.19, 8.51]). CAC score alone showed poor performance for predicting lung cancer in the total study sample (AUC, 0.63) and subgroups of participants eligible (AUC, 0.56) and ineligible (AUC, 0.61) for LCS. Conclusion CAC score was associated with incident lung cancer but did not demonstrate potential to improve the efficiency of LCS. Keywords: Epidemiology, Screening, Arteriosclerosis, Cardiac, Thorax, CT, Lung Cancer Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

Purpose To develop and evaluate a free-breathing, highly accelerated, multisection, single-beat cine sequence for cardiac MRI. Materials and Methods This prospective study, conducted from July 2022 to December 2023, included participants with various cardiac conditions as well as healthy participants who were imaged using a 3-T MRI system. A single-beat sequence was implemented, collecting data for each section in one heartbeat. Images were acquired with an in-plane spatiotemporal resolution of 1.9 × 1.9 mm² and 37 msec and reconstructed using resolution enhancement generative adversarial inline neural network (REGAIN), a deep learning model. Multibreath-hold k-space-segmented (4.2-fold acceleration) and free-breathing single-beat (14.8-fold acceleration) cine images were collected, both reconstructed with REGAIN. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) parameters between the two methods were evaluated with linear regression, Bland-Altman analysis, and Pearson correlation. Three expert cardiologists independently scored diagnostic and image quality. Scan and rescan reproducibility was evaluated in a subset of participants 1 year apart using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results This study included 136 participants (mean age [SD], 54 years ± 15; 69 female, 67 male), 40 healthy and 96 with cardiac conditions. k-Space-segmented and single-beat scan times were 2.6 minutes ± 0.8 and 0.5 minute ± 0.1, respectively. Strong correlations (P < .001) were observed between k-space-segmented and single-beat cine parameters in both LV (r = 0.97-0.99) and RV (r = 0.89-0.98). Scan and rescan reproducibility of single-beat cine was excellent (ICC, 0.97-1.0). Agreement among readers was high, with 125 of 136 (92%) images consistently assessed as diagnostic and 133 of 136 (98%) consistently rated as having good image quality by all readers. Conclusion Free-breathing 30-second single-beat cardiac cine MRI yielded accurate biventricular measurements, reduced scan time, and maintained high diagnostic and image quality compared with conventional multibreath-hold k-space-segmented cine images. Keywords: MR-Imaging, Cardiac, Heart, Imaging Sequences, Comparative Studies, Technology Assessment Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.

Purpose To assess the predictive value of left atrial (LA) fast long-axis strain derived from cardiac MRI for thrombotic events (TEs) in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and Methods This secondary analysis of an ongoing prospective trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024094) included consecutive participants with HCM without atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent cardiac MRI from January 2012 to December 2020. The LA fast long-axis strain was obtained by semiautomatically tracking the distance between the atrioventricular junction and the midposterior LA wall. The primary end point was the occurrence of TEs, including ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and systemic thromboembolism. The predictive value of LA strain was determined with Cox analysis. Results Overall, 714 participants with HCM (mean age ± SD, 50.1 years ± 14.3; 441 men, 273 women; obstructive HCM, n = 289; apical HCM, n = 144) were included (median follow-up: 51 months). Twenty-eight (3.9%) participants with HCM experienced TEs, 60% (17 of 28) of whom had no new-onset AF. Those who experienced TEs had lower LA reservoir and conduit strains (16.2% ± 7.3 vs 21.8% ± 8.3, P = .001; 5.9% ± 3.5 vs 9.7% ± 5.5, P = .01, respectively), with no evidence of a difference in LA booster strain between groups. LA reservoir and conduit strain were independent predictors of TEs in different multivariable models, even after adjusting for age, diabetes, and left ventricular ejection fraction (adjusted hazard ratios: reservoir strain [per 5% decrease], 1.29-1.34 [95% CI: 1.05, 1.50]; conduit strain [per 5% decrease], 1.42-1.47 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.67]). Conclusion Cardiac MRI-derived LA reservoir and conduit strain were independent predictors for the occurrence of TEs in individuals with HCM without AF. Keywords: MR-Imaging, Left Atrium, Cardiomyopathies, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Thromboembolism, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Chinese Clinical Trial Registry no. ChiCTR1900024094 Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2025.