Academic Radiology最新文献

Rationale and objectives: A consensus has not yet been reached regarding the optimal timing for the combination of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and partial splenic embolization (PSE) in patients with cirrhosis-related variceal bleeding and hypersplenism. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent either an early or late combination of TIPS and PSE.

Methods: A total of 84 consecutive patients with cirrhosis-related variceal bleeding and hypersplenism who underwent TIPS and PSE between September 2016 and April 2023 were included in this retrospective multicenter study. These patients were subsequently divided into early combination (n = 36) and late combination (n = 48) groups based on the timing of the combination therapy.

Results: Kaplan-Meier curves revealed a significant increase in cumulative survival in the late combination group, compared with that in the early combination group (log-rank P = 0.018). Additionally, the late combination group exhibited a lower cumulative incidence of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), compared with the early combination group (log-rank P = 0.002). In Cox regression models, noninfarcted splenic volume (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.995, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.991-0.999, P = 0.044) and grouping (HR = 0.101, 95% CI = 0.011-0.921, P = 0.034) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality. Furthermore, the independent risk factors for OHE were serum albumin (ALB) level (P = 0.032) and grouping (P = 0.028).

Conclusion: The early combination of TIPS and PSE was associated with higher risks of death and OHE than the late combination.

Rationale and objectives: In the United States, cirrhosis was the 12th leading cause of death in 2016. Despite end-stage cirrhosis being irreversible, earlier stages of hepatic fibrosis can be reversed via early diagnosis and intervention. The objective is to investigate the utility of a fully automated technique to measure liver surface nodularity (LSN) for staging hepatic fibrosis (stages F0-F4).

Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, a dataset consisting of patients with multiple etiologies of liver disease collected at Institution-A (METAVIR F0-F4, 2000-2016) was used. The LSN was automatically measured in contrast-enhanced CT volumes and compared against scores from a manual tool. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was used to distinguish between clinically significant fibrosis (≥ F2), advanced fibrosis (≥F3), and end-stage cirrhosis (F4).

Results: The study sample had 480 patients (304 men, 176 women, mean age, 49±9). Automatically derived LSN scores progressively increased with the fibrosis stage: F0 (1.64 [mean]±1.13 [standard deviation]), F1 (2.16±2.39), F2 (2.17±2.55), F3 (2.23±2.52), and F4 (4.21±2.94). For discriminating significant fibrosis (≥F2), advanced fibrosis (≥F3), and cirrhosis (F4), the automated tool achieved ROC AUCs of 73.9%, 82.5%, and 87.8% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for significant fibrosis (nodularity threshold 1.51) was 85.2% and 73.3%, advanced fibrosis (nodularity threshold 1.73) was 84.2% and 79.5%, and cirrhosis (nodularity threshold 2.18) was 86.5% and 79.5%. Statistical tests revealed that the automated LSN scores distinguished patients with advanced fibrosis (p<.001) and cirrhosis (p<.001).

Conclusion: The fully automated LSN measurement retained its predictive power for distinguishing between advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The clinical impact is that the fully automated LSN measurement may be useful for early interventions and population-based studies. It can automatically predict the fibrosis stage in ∼45 s in comparison to the ∼2 min needed to manually measure the LSN in a CT volume.

Rationale and objectives: To evaluate amide proton transfer (APT) imaging for assessing Ki-67, p53 and PD-L1 status in bladder cancer (BC) and compare its diagnostic efficacy with that of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials and methods: Consecutive patients suspected of BC were recruited for preoperative multiparametric MRI. APT signal was quantified by asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio (MTR_asym). MTR_asym and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured by two radiologists, with interobserver agreement assessed. Spearman's correlation analyzed MTR_asym values and molecular markers. The Whitney U test evaluated MTR_asym and ADC variation based on molecular marker status. Optimal cutoff points were determined using area under the curve (AUC) analysis.

Results: 88 patients (72 ± 10 years; 77 men) with BC were studied. MTR_asym values were significantly correlated with Ki-67, p53 and PD-L1 levels (P < 0.05). Higher MTR_asym values were found in high Ki-67 expression BCs (1.89% [0.73%] vs. 1.23% ± 0.26%; P < 0.001), high p53 expression BCs (1.63% [0.56%] vs. 1.24% [0.56%]; P < 0.001) and positive PD-L1 expression BCs (2.02% [0.81%] vs. 1.48% [0.38%]; P < 0.001). Lower ADCs were found in high Ki-67 expression BCs (1.06 ×10^-3 mm²/s [0.32 ×10^-3 mm²/s] vs. 1.38 ×10^-3 mm²/s [0.39 ×10^-3 mm²/s]; P < 0.001). For p53 status, an MTR_asym threshold of 1.27% had 95% sensitivity, 60% specificity, and AUC of 0.781. For PD-L1 status, a 1.90% threshold had 88% sensitivity, 92% specificity, and AUC of 0.859.

Conclusion: APT may significantly enhance the preoperative assessment of BC aggressiveness and inform targeted immunotherapy decisions, with performance superior to DWI.

Rationale and objectives: The success of dental implants is heavily dependent on the implant's efficient integration with the surrounding bone, a process known as osseointegration. This integration is influenced by a range of individual characteristics of each patient, as well as the accuracy of diagnostic imaging techniques. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is capable of capturing detailed three-dimensional images with high resolution. It may offer superior capabilities for assessing the connections between bones and implants compared to older techniques such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral radiography. This systematic review will discuss the uses of micro-CT in dental implant osseointegration, compare it to other radiography methods, and discuss it's effect on patients, especially those with previous history of periodontal disease.

Materials and methods: This research performed an extensive search across multiple databases, choosing papers based on specific criteria for inclusion and exclusion. The study focus was on using micro-CT to evaluate bone osseointegration. Meta-analyses were conducted to measure the impact of micro-CT on bone loss and the success rates of implants, while comparing various surgical procedures and depths of implantation. This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42023482747.

Results: The result of this study comprised 28 papers, incorporating a meta-analysis of 8. It emphasized the exceptional spatial resolution of micro-CT, which enables accurate assessments of bone volume and density, crucial factors for implant success. Micro-CT, when compared to CBCT and intraoral radiography, provides more comprehensive information, but it faces limitations due to its elevated expenses and radiation exposure. The analysis also indicated that micro-CT could be particularly advantageous in tailored therapy planning, particularly for patients with impaired conditions. Systemic factors like diabetes or periodontal disease can cause bone conditions.

Conclusion: Micro-CT is a highly advanced imaging technique that offers extensive information about dental implants, which is essential for evaluating osseointegration. Although micro-CT has several limitations, it has the capacity to improve clinical outcomes by providing more accurate diagnoses and tailored implant techniques. Subsequent investigations should focus on assessing its cost-effectiveness and establishing protocols to mitigate radiation exposure.

Rationale and objectives: To evaluate the validity of multiparametric MRI-based intratumoral and peritumoral habitat imaging for predicting cervical stromal invasion (CSI) in patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma (EC) and to compare the performance of structural and functional habitats.

Materials and methods: The preoperative MRI and clinical data of 680 patients with early-stage EC from three centers were retrospectively analyzed. Based on cohort-level, gaussian mixture model (GMM) algorithm was used for habitat clustering of MRI images. Structural habitats were clustered using T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-T1WI), and functional habitats were clustered using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping and CE-T1WI. Habitat parameters were extracted from four volumes of interest (VOIs): intratumoral regions (ROI), peritumoral loops of 3 mm dilation (L3), intratumoral regions + peritumoral loops of 3 mm dilation (R3), and peritumoral loops of 3 mm dilation + peritumoral loops of 3 mm erosion (DE3). Clinical-habitat models were constructed by combining clinical independent predictors and optimal habitat models. The model performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC).

Results: Deep myometrial invasion (DMI) was an independent predictor. L3 models showed the best performance for both structural and functional habitats, and the L3 functional habitat model had the highest average AUC (0.807) in external test groups, and the average AUC increased to 0.815 when combing with the clinical independent predictor.

Conclusion: Multiparametric MRI-based intratumoral and peritumoral habitat imaging provides a noninvasive approach to predict CSI in EC patients. The combination of the clinical predictor with the L3 functional habitat model improved predictive performance.

Rationale and objectives: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vessel hyperintensities (FVHs) reflect the haemodynamic state and may aid in predicting the prognosis of border zone (BZ) infarct patients. This study was to explore the relationship between FVHs and functional outcomes for different BZ infarct subtypes following medical therapy administration.

Materials and methods: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were retrospectively enrolled and classified into internal BZ (IBZ) infarct, cortical BZ (CBZ) infarct and mixed-type infarct patients. FVHs were quantified using the FVH-Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) system, and the scores were used to divide the patients into low-FVH (0-3) and high-FVH (4-7) groups. The FVH location and the cerebrovascular stenotic degree were recorded. Logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for poor outcomes (modified Rankin scale score ≥3).

Results: A total of 207 BZ infarct patients (IBZ, n = 130; CBZ, n = 52; mixed-type, n = 25) were included. The FVH score was positively correlated with cerebrovascular stenosis (r = 0.332, P < 0.001) in all patients. A high FVH score was associated with poor outcomes in all (OR 2.568, 95% CI (1.147 to 5.753), P = 0.022) and in CBZ infarct patients (OR 9.258, 95% CI 1.113 to 77.035), P = 0.040). FVH-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch was not significantly associated with outcomes in the entire patient group or in any subgroup.

Conclusions: A high FVH score is associated with poor long-term outcomes in patients with CBZ infarcts but not in those with IBZ or mixed-type infarcts.