Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal-Journal De L Association Canadienne Des Radiologistes最新文献

Purpose: To develop Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) recommendations for musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging indications, informed by the 2024 Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Musculoskeletal System Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline. Methods: A Steering Committee comprising multidisciplinary MSK experts was convened to guide recommendation development. Using a two-round Delphi method, committee members selected the top 3 scenarios from the CAR MSK referral guidelines deemed most impactful for addressing overuse. Recommendations based on these scenarios were then drafted using the CWC format. Results: The 3 recommendations developed are: (1) Don't order MRI without first considering ultrasound for the assessment of rotator cuff pathology and bursitis; (2) Don't order MRI of the hip or knee when x-ray demonstrates greater than mild osteoarthritis, unless recommended by a musculoskeletal specialist; and (3) Don't order MRI of the hip just based on x-ray features of femoroacetabular impingement unless there are clinical signs and symptoms of joint impingement. Conclusions: This project represents a knowledge translation initiative to disseminate updated MSK imaging guideline recommendations. It strengthens the collaboration between CAR and CWC and establishes a reproducible structured consensus approach that can be applied to developing additional CWC imaging recommendations across the remaining 12 CAR referral guidelines in other subspecialties. This work supports value-based radiology, promoting optimized resource use.

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of breast MRI-guided vacuum assisted biopsies (MVAB) performed on lesions with high T2 signal. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected of all MVAB performed at our institution between January 2016 and December 2021 for high T2 lesions. T2 hyperintensity was defined as equal or higher signal than normal lymph node. The correlation between various demographic and imaging characteristics and the binary pathological outcome (benign vs malignant) was evaluated. Results: In total, 174 biopsies from 165 women met the inclusion criteria and were included in the cohort. Malignancy was detected in 35 lesions (20%), most commonly ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, 57%), followed by infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC, 40%). The most common benign diagnosis was fibrocystic changes (FCC, 38%). In 19 lesions MVAB detected high-risk pathology, 3 of which were upgraded to malignancy. Older age (Mean 61 vs 54 years, P = .04), washout kinetics (29% vs 13%, P = .01), and indication for extent of disease evaluation (53% vs 32%, P = .06) were the strongest predictors of malignancy. Lesion size and morphology were not significantly associated with outcome. Conclusions: Given the considerable cancer rate, T2 hyperintensity should be used with caution as a benign indicator and not as a sole criterion for ruling out malignancy. Additional factors such as patient age, kinetic features, and MRI indication should be considered to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has revolutionized oncology by stimulating the immune system to target cancer cells. While effective in treating various malignancies, ICI presents unique challenges in radiological response assessment. Traditional criteria, such as RECIST 1.1, were designed for cytotoxic chemotherapy and fail to account for pseudo-progression-an immune-related phenomenon where tumour size transiently increases due to immune cell infiltration before eventual shrinkage. This occurs in a minority of patients and can lead to misclassification of treatment response. To address this, new assessment criteria have been developed. The immune-related response criteria (irRC) introduced a delayed assessment of new lesions, followed by immune-related RECIST (irRECIST), which sought to align with RECIST 1.1. However, inconsistencies in its application led to the development of iRECIST in 2016, a standardized framework integrating RECIST 1.1 with immunotherapy-specific modifications. Despite its potential to become the gold standard, iRECIST is complex and challenging to implement consistently. This review outlines key differences between RECIST 1.1 and iRECIST, explains their necessity, and provides comprehensive flowcharts and graphical representations to aid interpretation. By addressing common clinical scenarios and frequently asked questions, this article aims to enhance understanding and application of iRECIST in clinical practice.

Radiology research at Canadian institutions is advancing patient care through multidisciplinary collaboration, technological innovation, and quality improvement initiatives. Investigators at Dalhousie University, the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Ottawa, and Université de Montréal are leading efforts in diverse areas of imaging research, including lung cancer detection, sports medicine imaging, mammography and supplemental screening, and advanced imaging modalities. Dalhousie researchers have developed initiatives for incidental lung nodule management and imaging protocol optimization to ensure efficient and high-quality care. At UBC, investigations into imaging appropriateness and sports medicine imaging at elite athletic competitions are shaping global practice standards. The University of Ottawa has played a key role in refining mammography guidelines, improving early breast cancer detection and influencing national screening practices. The Université de Montréal is advancing innovations in cardiovascular and neurovascular imaging, contributing to improved diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic planning. Collectively, these contributions highlight Canada's pivotal role in the global radiology community and its ongoing commitment to improving patient outcomes through research and innovation. This article reviews major research initiatives from several leading Canadian institutions and highlights the ongoing need for collaboration and innovation to further elevate the quality and effectiveness of radiology practices worldwide.

Radiomics is a mathematical approach to medical images to extract quantitative features generating a "radiomics signature." The radiomics workflow involves image acquisition and pre-processing, region of interest segmentation, feature extraction, and then model training and validation. It has generated promising results, however, clinical implementation for early detection remains a challenge. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common pancreatic cancer, has a highly aggressive nature with an aggregated 5-year survival rate of only 13%. Early detection of PDAC provides timely surgical intervention, hoping for improved survival rates. Radiomics has been applied to the detection of PDAC; however, its sensitivity to variations in image acquisition parameters has posed significant challenges, limiting the development of robust and generalizable models. This review explores the current landscape of radiomics for the early detection of PDAC, highlighting key challenges within the radiomics workflow and barriers to its progression from a proof-of-concept into clinical practice.

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) Working Group (WG) is a multidisciplinary working group composed of radiologists, hepatologists, and family physicians. In this 3-part series, we provide Delphi consensus-based guidance on clinical and imaging findings for patients with known or suspected MASLD (formerly termed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Part 1 focuses on the detection and grading of hepatic steatosis on imaging; Part 2 on risk stratification of patients with MASLD, including a patient pathway that applies blood-based and imaging-based investigations; and Part 3 on the implementation of practice recommendations for quality assurance using shear wave elastography (SWE) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) for disease staging. In the third part of these guidelines, the WG provides 18 recommendations for standardized implementation, remuneration, and quality assurance for SWE and MRE programs. Structured reporting templates for standardized SWE and MRE are provided. Introductory training presentations for technologists and radiologists are also provided. The goal of these guidelines is to enable standardized image-based screening and risk stratification of patients with MASLD across Canada.