Comparison of 96-kV and 120-kV cone-beam CT for the assessment of cochlear implants.

BACKGROUND: To compare the diagnostic value of 120-kV with conventional 96-kV Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) of the temporal bone after cochlear implant (CI) surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included CBCT scans after CI surgery between 06/17 and 01/18. CBCT allowed examinations with 96-kV or 120-kV; other parameters were the same. Two radiologists independently evaluated following criteria on 5-point Likert scales: osseous spiral lamina, inner and outer cochlear wall, semi-circular canals, mastoid trabecular structure, overall image quality, metal and motion artefacts, depiction of intracochlear electrode position and visualisation of single electrode contacts. Effective radiation dose was assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients (females, n = 39 [52.0%], mean age, 55.8 ± 16.5 years) were scanned with 96-kV (n = 32, 42.7%) and 120-kV (n = 43, 57.3%) protocols including CI models from three vendors (vendor A n = 7; vendor B n = 43; vendor C n = 25). Overall image quality, depiction of anatomical structures, and electrode position were rated significantly better in 120-kV images compared to 96-kV (all p < = 0.018). Anatomical structures and electrode position were rated significantly better in 120-kV CBCT for CI models from vendor A and C, while 120-kV did not provide improved image quality in CI models from vendor B. Radiation doses were significantly higher for 120-kV scans compared to 96-kV (0.15 vs. 0.08 mSv, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: 120-kV and 96-kV CBCT provide good diagnostic images for the postoperative CI evaluation. While 120-kV showed improved depiction of temporal bone and CI electrode position compared to 96-kV in most CI models, the 120-kV protocol should be chosen wisely due to a substantially higher radiation exposure.

Free-breathing accelerated whole-body MRI using an automated workflow: Comparison with conventional breath-hold sequences.

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become increasingly popular in oncology. However, the long acquisition time might hamper its widespread application. We sought to assess and compare free-breathing sequences with conventional breath-hold examinations in whole-body MRI using an automated workflow process. This prospective study consisted of 20 volunteers and six patients with a variety of pathologies who had undergone whole-body 1.5-T MRI that included T1-weighted radial and Dixon volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequences. Free-breathing sequences were operated by using an automated user interface. Image quality, diagnostic confidence, and image noise were evaluated by two experienced radiologists. Additionally, signal-to-noise ratio was measured. Diagnostic performance for the overall detection of pathologies was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Study participants were asked to rate their examination experiences in a satisfaction survey. MR free-breathing scans were rated as at least equivalent to conventional MR scans in more than 92% of cases, showing high overall diagnostic accuracy (95% [95% CI 92-100]) and performance (AUC 0.971, 95% CI 0.942-0.988; p < 0.0001) for the assessment of pathologies at simultaneously reduced examination times (25 ± 2 vs. 32 ± 3 min; p < 0.0001). Interrater agreement was excellent for both free-breathing (Ï° = 0.96 [95% CI 0.88-1.00]) and conventional scans (Ï° = 0.93 [95% CI 0.84-1.00]). Qualitative and quantitative assessment for image quality, image noise, and diagnostic confidence did not differ between the two types of MR image acquisition (all p > 0.05). Scores for patient satisfaction were significantly better for free-breathing compared with breath-hold examinations (p = 0.0145), including significant correlations for the grade of noise (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001), tightness (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001), and physical fatigue (r = 0.52, p = 0.0065). In summary, free-breathing whole-body MRI in tandem with an automated user interface yielded similar diagnostic performance at equivalent image quality and shorter acquisition times compared to conventional breath-hold sequences.

Reduction of radiation dose using real-time visual feedback dosimetry during angiographic interventions.

This prospective study sought to evaluate potential savings of radiation dose to medical staff using real-time dosimetry coupled with visual radiation dose feedback during angiographic interventions. For this purpose, we analyzed a total of 214 angiographic examinations that consisted of chemoembolizations and several other types of therapeutic interventions. The Unfors RaySafe i2 dosimeter was worn by the interventionalist at chest height over the lead protection. A total of 110 interventions were performed with real-time radiation dosimetry allowing the interventionalist to react upon higher x-ray exposure and 104 examinations served as the comparative group without real-time radiation monitoring. By using the real-time display during interventions, the overall mean operator radiation dose decreased from 3.67 (IQR, 0.95-23.01) to 2.36 µSv (IQR, 0.52-12.66) (-36%; p = 0.032) at simultaneously reduced operator exposure time by 4.5 min (p = 0.071). Dividing interventions into chemoembolizations and other types of therapeutic interventions, radiation dose decreased from 1.31 (IQR, 0.46-3.62) to 0.95 µSv (IQR, 0.53-3.11) and from 24.39 (IQR, 12.14-63.0) to 10.37 µSv (IQR, 0.85-36.84), respectively, using live-screen dosimetry (p ≤ 0.005). Radiation dose reductions were also observed for the participating assistants, indicating that they could also benefit from real-time visual feedback dosimetry during interventions (-30%; p = 0.039). Integration of real-time dosimetry into clinical processes might be useful in reducing occupational radiation exposure time during angiographic interventions. The real-time visual feedback raised the awareness of interventionalists and their assistants to the potential danger of prolonged radiation exposure leading to the adoption of radiation-sparing practices. Therefore, it might create a safer environment for the medical staff by keeping the applied radiation exposure as low as possible.

Comprehensive comparison of dual-energy computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of bone marrow edema and fracture lines in acute vertebral fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To compare dual-energy CT (DECT) and MRI for assessing presence and extent of traumatic bone marrow edema (BME) and fracture line depiction in acute vertebral fractures. METHODS: Eighty-eight consecutive patients who underwent dual-source DECT and 3-T MRI of the spine were retrospectively analyzed. Five radiologists assessed all vertebrae for presence and extent of BME and for identification of acute fracture lines on MRI and, after 12 weeks, on DECT series. Additionally, image quality, image noise, and diagnostic confidence for overall diagnosis of acute vertebral fracture were assessed. Quantitative analysis of CT numbers was performed by a sixth radiologist. Two radiologists analyzed MRI and grayscale DECT series to define the reference standard. RESULTS: For assessing BME presence and extent, DECT showed high sensitivity (89% and 84%, respectively) and specificity (98% in both), and similarly high diagnostic confidence compared to MRI (2.30 vs. 2.32; range 0-3) for the detection of BME (p = .72). For evaluating acute fracture lines, MRI achieved high specificity (95%), moderate sensitivity (76%), and a significantly lower diagnostic confidence compared to DECT (2.42 vs. 2.62, range 0-3) (p < .001). A cutoff value of - 0.43 HU provided a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 90% for diagnosing BME, with an overall AUC of 0.96. CONCLUSIONS: DECT and MRI provide high diagnostic confidence and image quality for assessing acute vertebral fractures. While DECT achieved high overall diagnostic accuracy in the analysis of BME presence and extent, MRI provided moderate sensitivity and lower confidence for evaluating fracture lines. KEY POINTS: • In the setting of spinal trauma, dual-energy CT (DECT) is highly accurate in the evaluation of acute vertebral fractures and bone marrow edema presence and extent. • MRI provides moderate sensitivity and lower diagnostic confidence for the depiction of acute fracture lines, when compared to DECT, which might result in potentially inaccurate and underestimated severity assessment of injuries in certain cases when no fracture lines are visible on MRI. • DECT may represent a valid imaging alternative to MRI in specific settings of acute spinal trauma and in follow-up examinations, especially in elderly or unstable patients and in cases of subtle or complex orientated fracture lines.

Diagnostic accuracy of quantitative dual-energy CT-based volumetric bone mineral density assessment for the prediction of osteoporosis-associated fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) assessment of the lumbar spine derived from phantomless dual-energy CT (DECT)-based volumetric material decomposition as an indicator for the 2-year occurrence risk of osteoporosis-associated fractures. METHODS: L1 of 92 patients (46 men, 46 women; mean age, 64 years, range, 19-103 years) who had undergone third-generation dual-source DECT between 01/2016 and 12/2018 was retrospectively analyzed. For phantomless BMD assessment, dedicated DECT postprocessing software using material decomposition was applied. Digital files of all patients were sighted for 2 years following DECT to obtain the incidence of osteoporotic fractures. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to calculate cut-off values and logistic regression models were used to determine associations of BMD, sex, and age with the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures. RESULTS: A DECT-derived BMD cut-off of 93.70 mg/cm3 yielded 85.45% sensitivity and 89.19% specificity for the prediction to sustain one or more osteoporosis-associated fractures within 2 years after BMD measurement. DECT-derived BMD was significantly associated with the occurrence of new fractures (odds ratio of 0.8710, 95% CI, 0.091-0.9375, p < .001), indicating a protective effect of increased DECT-derived BMD values. Overall AUC was 0.9373 (CI, 0.867-0.977, p < .001) for the differentiation of patients who sustained osteoporosis-associated fractures within 2 years of BMD assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospective DECT-based volumetric BMD assessment can accurately predict the 2-year risk to sustain an osteoporosis-associated fracture in at-risk patients without requiring a calibration phantom. Lower DECT-based BMD values are strongly associated with an increased risk to sustain fragility fractures. KEY POINTS: •Dual-energy CT-derived assessment of bone mineral density can identify patients at risk to sustain osteoporosis-associated fractures with a sensitivity of 85.45% and a specificity of 89.19%. •The DECT-derived BMD threshold for identification of at-risk patients lies above the American College of Radiology (ACR) QCT guidelines for the identification of osteoporosis (93.70 mg/cm3 vs 80 mg/cm3).

Diagnostic accuracy of color-coded virtual noncalcium reconstructions derived from portal venous phase dual-energy CT in the assessment of lumbar disk herniation.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of color-coded contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for the assessment of lumbar disk herniation compared to unenhanced VNCa imaging. METHODS: A total of 91 patients were retrospectively evaluated (65 years ± 16; 43 women) who had undergone third-generation dual-source dual-energy CT and 3.0-T MRI within an examination interval up to 3 weeks between November 2019 and December 2020. Eight weeks after assessing unenhanced color-coded VNCa reconstructions for the presence and degree of lumbar disk herniation, corresponding contrast-enhanced portal venous phase color-coded VNCa reconstructions were independently analyzed by the same five radiologists. MRI series were additionally analyzed by one highly experienced musculoskeletal radiologist and served as reference standard. RESULTS: MRI depicted 210 herniated lumbar disks in 91 patients. VNCa reconstructions derived from contrast-enhanced CT scans showed similar high overall sensitivity (93% vs 95%), specificity (94% vs 95%), and accuracy (94% vs 95%) for the assessment of lumbar disk herniation compared to unenhanced VNCa images (all p > .05). Interrater agreement in VNCa imaging was excellent for both, unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT (κ = 0.84 vs κ = 0.86; p > .05). Moreover, ratings for diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise differed not significantly between unenhanced and contrast-enhanced VNCa series (all p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Color-coded VNCa reconstructions derived from contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT yield similar diagnostic accuracy for the depiction of lumbar disk herniation compared to unenhanced VNCa imaging and therefore may improve opportunistic retrospective lumbar disk herniation assessment, particularly in case of staging CT examinations. KEY POINTS: • Color-coded dual-source dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions derived from portal venous phase yield similar high diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of lumbar disk herniation compared to unenhanced VNCa CT series (94% vs 95%) with MRI serving as a standard of reference. • Diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise levels differ not significantly between unenhanced and contrast-enhanced portal venous phase VNCa dual-energy CT series. • Dual-source dual-energy CT might have the potential to improve opportunistic retrospective lumbar disk herniation assessment in CT examinations performed for other indications through reconstruction of VNCa images.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning in musculoskeletal imaging: Current applications.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding in all technological fields. The medical field, and especially diagnostic imaging, has been showing the highest developmental potential. Artificial intelligence aims at human intelligence simulation through the management of complex problems. This review describes the technical background of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. The first section illustrates the general potential of artificial intelligence applications in the context of request management, data acquisition, image reconstruction, archiving, and communication systems. In the second section, the prospective of dedicated tools for segmentation, lesion detection, automatic diagnosis, and classification of musculoskeletal disorders is discussed.

Incremental diagnostic value of color-coded virtual non-calcium dual-energy CT for the assessment of traumatic bone marrow edema of the scaphoid.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of color-coded dual-energy CT virtual non-calcium (VNCa) reconstructions for the assessment of bone marrow edema (BME) of the scaphoid in patients with acute wrist trauma. METHODS: Our retrospective study included data from 141 patients (67 women, 74 men; mean age 43 years, range 19-80 years) with acute wrist trauma who had undergone third-generation dual-source dual-energy CT and 3-T MRI within 7 days. Eight weeks after assessment of conventional grayscale dual-energy CT scans for the presence of fractures, corresponding color-coded VNCa reconstructions were independently analyzed by the same six radiologists for the presence of BME. CT numbers on VNCa reconstructions were evaluated by a seventh radiologist. Consensus reading of MRI series by two additional radiologists served as the reference standard. RESULTS: MRI depicted 103 scaphoideal zones with BME in 76 patients. On qualitative analysis, VNCa images yielded high overall sensitivity (580/618 [94%]), specificity (1880/1920 [98%]), and accuracy (2460/2538 [97%]) for assessing BME as compared with MRI as reference standard. The interobserver agreement was excellent (κ = 0.98). CT numbers derived from VNCa images were significantly different in zones with and without edema (p < 0.001). A cutoff value of - 46 Hounsfield units provided a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 97% for differentiating edematous scaphoid lesions. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an overall area under the curve of 0.98. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed excellent diagnostic accuracy of color-coded VNCa reconstructions for assessing traumatic BME of the scaphoid compared to MRI. KEY POINTS: • Color-coded virtual non-calcium (VNCa) reconstructions yield excellent diagnostic accuracy in assessing bone marrow edema of the scaphoid. • VNCa imaging enables detection of non-displaced fractures that are occult on standard grayscale CT. • Diagnostic confidence is comparable between VNCa imaging and MRI.

Assessment of thoracic disk herniation by using virtual noncalcium dual-energy CT in comparison with standard grayscale CT.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard grayscale CT. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 87 patients (1131 intervertebral disks; mean age, 66 years; 47 women) who underwent third-generation dual-source DECT and 3.0-T MRI within 3 weeks between November 2016 and April 2020 were included. Five blinded radiologists analyzed standard DECT and color-coded VNCa images after a time interval of 8 weeks for the presence and degree of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement. Consensus reading of independently evaluated MRI series served as the reference standard, assessed by two separate experienced readers. Additionally, image ratings were carried out by using 5-point Likert scales. RESULTS: MRI revealed a total of 133 herniated thoracic disks. Color-coded VNCa images yielded higher overall sensitivity (624/665 [94%; 95% CI, 0.89-0.96] vs 485/665 [73%; 95% CI, 0.67-0.80]), specificity (4775/4990 [96%; 95% CI, 0.90-0.98] vs 4066/4990 [82%; 95% CI, 0.79-0.84]), and accuracy (5399/5655 [96%; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98] vs 4551/5655 [81%; 95% CI, 0.74-0.86]) for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT (all p < .001). Interrater agreement was excellent for VNCa and fair for standard CT (ϰ = 0.82 vs 0.37; p < .001). In addition, VNCa imaging achieved higher scores regarding diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise compared to standard CT (all p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Color-coded VNCa imaging yielded substantially higher diagnostic accuracy and confidence for assessing thoracic disk herniation compared to standard CT. KEY POINTS: • Color-coded VNCa reconstructions derived from third-generation dual-source dual-energy CT yielded significantly higher diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of thoracic disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement compared to standard grayscale CT. • VNCa imaging provided higher diagnostic confidence and image quality at lower noise levels compared to standard grayscale CT. • Color-coded VNCa images may potentially serve as a viable imaging alternative to MRI under circumstances where MRI is unavailable or contraindicated.

Radiohistologic Comparison Study of Temporal Bone Specimens After Cochlear Implant Electrode Array Insertion: Is Cone-Beam CT Superior to MDCT?

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to evaluate subjective image quality and diagnostic accuracy to determine cochlear implant (CI) electrode position in a temporal bone (TB) specimen on cone-beam CT (CBCT) versus MDCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In this retrospective study, two radiologists independently reviewed CBCT (96-kV and 120-kV settings) and MDCT images of 20 TB specimens after electrode implantation. Qualitative evaluation of bone structures of the otic capsule, inner and outer cochlear wall, osseous spiral lamina, electrode position relative to the osseous spiral lamina, visualization of single electrode contacts on the array, metal artifacts, and overall image quality was performed using a five-point scale. Intracochlear electrode position was subsequently correlated with histologic examination. RESULTS. Radiologic assessment of bone structures of the otic capsule, the cochlear wall (except the outer part), osseous spiral lamina, electrode position, visualization of single electrode contacts on the array, metal artifacts, and overall image quality were significantly higher in CBCT compared with MDCT (maximum p = .04). No significant differences were found between CBCT at 96 kV and 120 kV (minimum p = .21). The intracochlear electrode position with histologic correlation was correctly diagnosed in 100% and 97.5% of specimens on 120-kV and 96-kV CBCT, respectively, whereas 77.5% were correctly assessed using MDCT. CONCLUSION. The data suggest that CBCT shows a higher diagnostic accuracy in TB specimen imaging after CI compared with MDCT, in particular to determine the intracochlear localization of the implant.

Potential of high dimensional radiomic features to assess blood components in intraaortic vessels in non-contrast CT scans.

BACKGROUND: To assess the potential of radiomic features to quantify components of blood in intraaortic vessels to non-invasively predict moderate-to-severe anemia in non-contrast enhanced CT scans. METHODS: One hundred patients (median age, 69 years; range, 19-94 years) who received CT scans of the thoracolumbar spine and blood-testing for hemoglobin and hematocrit levels ± 24 h between 08/2018 and 11/2019 were retrospectively included. Intraaortic blood was segmented using a spherical volume of interest of 1 cm diameter with consecutive radiomic analysis applying PyRadiomics software. Feature selection was performed applying analysis of correlation and collinearity. The final feature set was obtained to differentiate moderate-to-severe anemia. Random forest machine learning was applied and predictive performance was assessed. A decision-tree was obtained to propose a cut-off value of CT Hounsfield units (HU). RESULTS: High correlation with hemoglobin and hematocrit levels was shown for first-order radiomic features (p < 0.001 to p = 0.032). The top 3 features showed high correlation to hemoglobin values (p) and minimal collinearity (r) to the top ranked feature Median (p < 0.001), Energy (p = 0.002, r = 0.387), Minimum (p = 0.032, r = 0.437). Median (p < 0.001) and Minimum (p = 0.003) differed in moderate-to-severe anemia compared to non-anemic state. Median yielded superiority to the combination of Median and Minimum (p(AUC) = 0.015, p(precision) = 0.017, p(accuracy) = 0.612) in the predictive performance employing random forest analysis. A Median HU value ≤ 36.5 indicated moderate-to-severe anemia (accuracy = 0.90, precision = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS: First-order radiomic features correlate with hemoglobin levels and may be feasible for the prediction of moderate-to-severe anemia. High dimensional radiomic features did not aid augmenting the data in our exemplary use case of intraluminal blood component assessment. Trial registration Retrospectively registered.

Effects of Spaceflight on Astronaut Brain Structure as Indicated on MRI.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information regarding the effects of spaceflight on the anatomical configuration of the brain and on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces. METHODS: We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare images of 18 astronauts' brains before and after missions of long duration, involving stays on the International Space Station, and of 16 astronauts' brains before and after missions of short duration, involving participation in the Space Shuttle Program. Images were interpreted by readers who were unaware of the flight duration. We also generated paired preflight and postflight MRI cine clips derived from high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of 12 astronauts after long-duration flights and from 6 astronauts after short-duration flights in order to assess the extent of narrowing of CSF spaces and the displacement of brain structures. We also compared preflight ventricular volumes with postflight ventricular volumes by means of an automated analysis of T1-weighted MRIs. The main prespecified analyses focused on the change in the volume of the central sulcus, the change in the volume of CSF spaces at the vertex, and vertical displacement of the brain. RESULTS: Narrowing of the central sulcus occurred in 17 of 18 astronauts after long-duration flights (mean flight time, 164.8 days) and in 3 of 16 astronauts after short-duration flights (mean flight time, 13.6 days) (P<0.001). Cine clips from a subgroup of astronauts showed an upward shift of the brain after all long-duration flights (12 astronauts) but not after short-duration flights (6 astronauts) and narrowing of CSF spaces at the vertex after all long-duration flights (12 astronauts) and in 1 of 6 astronauts after short-duration flights. Three astronauts in the long-duration group had optic-disk edema, and all 3 had narrowing of the central sulcus. A cine clip was available for 1 of these 3 astronauts, and the cine clip showed upward shift of the brain. CONCLUSIONS: Narrowing of the central sulcus, upward shift of the brain, and narrowing of CSF spaces at the vertex occurred frequently and predominantly in astronauts after long-duration flights. Further investigation, including repeated postflight imaging conducted after some time on Earth, is required to determine the duration and clinical significance of these changes. (Funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.).

Color-coded virtual non-calcium dual-energy CT for the depiction of bone marrow edema in patients with acute knee trauma: a multireader diagnostic accuracy study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) virtual non-calcium (VNCa) reconstructions for the depiction of traumatic knee bone marrow edema. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (mean age, 50 years; range, 20-82 years) with acute knee trauma further divided into 30 women and 27 men, who had undergone third-generation dual-source dual-energy CT and 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 7 days between January 2017 and May 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. Six radiologists, blinded to clinical and MRI information, independently analyzed conventional grayscale dual-energy CT series for fractures; after 8 weeks, readers evaluated color-coded VNCa reconstructions for the presence of bone marrow edema in six femoral and six tibial regions. Quantitative analysis of CT numbers on VNCa reconstructions was performed by a seventh radiologist. Two additional radiologists, blinded to clinical and CT information, analyzed MRI series in consensus to define the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve (AUC) were the primary metrics of diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: MRI revealed 197 areas with bone marrow edema (91/342 femoral, 106/342 tibial). In the qualitative analysis, VNCa showed high overall sensitivity (1108/1182 [94%]) and specificity (2789/2922 [95%]) for depicting bone marrow edema. The AUC was 0.96 (femur) and 0.97 (tibia). A cutoff value of - 51 Hounsfield units (HU) provided high sensitivity (102/106 [96%]) and specificity (229/236 [97%]) for differentiating tibial bone marrow edema. CONCLUSIONS: In both quantitative and qualitative analyses, dual-energy CT VNCa reconstructions yielded excellent diagnostic accuracy for depicting traumatic knee bone marrow edema compared with MRI. KEY POINTS: • Dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual non-calcium (VNCa) reconstructions are highly accurate in depicting bone marrow edema of the femur and tibia. • Diagnostic confidence, image noise, and image quality were rated as equivalent in VNCa reconstructions and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) series. • VNCa images may serve as an alternative imaging approach to MRI.

Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of Primary and Secondary Lung Cancer: Predictive Value for Response to Transpulmonary Chemoembolization and Transarterial Chemoperfusion.

PURPOSE: To examine predictive value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for response of patients with primary and secondary lung neoplasms undergoing transpulmonary chemoembolization (TPCE) and transarterial chemoperfusion (TACP) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients (mean age ± SD 64 ± 12.4 y) with 42 lung target lesions (13 primary and 29 secondary) underwent DWI and subsequent ADC analysis on a 1.5T MR imaging scanner before and 30.3 days ± 6.4 after first session of TPCE or TACP. After 3.1 treatment sessions ± 1.4 performed in 2- to 4-week intervals, morphologic response was analyzed by comparing tumor diameter and volume before and after treatment on unenhanced T1-weighted MR images. On a per-lesion basis, response was classified according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors. RESULTS: Threshold ADC increase of 20.7% indicated volume response with 88% sensitivity and 78% specificity (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.84). Differences between ADC changes in volume response groups were significant (P = .002). AUC for volume response predicted by ADC before treatment was 0.77. Median ADC before treatment and mean ADC change were 1.09 × 10-3 mm2/second and 0.36 × 10-3 mm2/second ± 0.23, 1.45 × 10-3 mm2/second and 0.14 × 10-3 mm2/second ± 0.16, and 1.30 × 10-3 mm2/second and 0.06 × 10-3 mm2/second ± 0.19 in partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease groups. In primary lung cancer lesions, strong negative correlation of ADC change with change in diameter (ρ = -.87, P < .001) and volume (ρ = -.66, P = .016) was found. In metastases, respective correlation coefficients were ρ = -.18 (P = .356) and ρ = -.35 (P = .061). CONCLUSIONS: ADC quantification shows considerable diagnostic value for predicting response and monitoring TPCE and TACP treatment of patients with primary and secondary lung neoplasms.

Extra-abdominal dual-energy CT applications: a comprehensive overview.

Unlike conventional computed tomography, dual-energy computed tomography is a relatively novel technique that exploits ionizing radiations at different energy levels. The separate radiation sets can be achieved through different technologies, such as dual source, dual layers or rapid switching voltage. Body tissue molecules vary for their specific atomic numbers and electron density, and the interaction with different sets of radiations results in different attenuations, allowing to their final distinction. In particular, iodine recognition and quantification have led to important information about intravenous contrast medium delivery within the body. Over the years, useful post-processing algorithms have also been validated for improving tissue characterization. For instance, contrast resolution improvement and metal artifact reduction can be obtained through virtual monoenergetic images, dose reduction by virtual non-contrast reconstructions and iodine distribution highlighting through iodine overlay maps. Beyond the evaluation of the abdominal organs, dual-energy computed tomography has also been successfully employed in other anatomical districts. Although lung perfusion is one of the most investigated, this evaluation has been extended to narrowly fields of application, such as musculoskeletal, head and neck, vascular and cardiac. The potential pool of information provided by dual-energy technology is already wide and not completely explored, yet. Therefore, its performance continues to raise increasing interest from both radiologists and clinicians.

Virtual Noncalcium Dual-Energy CT: Detection of Lumbar Disk Herniation in Comparison with Standard Gray-scale CT.

Purpose To assess the diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT with reconstruction of virtual noncalcium (VNCa) images for the detection of lumbar disk herniation compared with standard CT image reconstruction. Materials and Methods For this retrospective study, 41 patients (243 intervertebral disks; overall mean age, 68 years; 24 women [mean age, 68 years] and 17 men [mean age, 68 years]) underwent clinically indicated third-generation, dual-source, dual-energy CT and 3.0-T MRI within 2 weeks between March 2017 and January 2018. Six radiologists, blinded to clinical and MRI information, independently evaluated conventional gray-scale dual-energy CT series for the presence and degree of lumbar disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement. After 8 weeks, readers reevaluated examinations by using color-coded VNCa reconstructions. MRI evaluated by two separate experienced readers, blinded to clinical and dual-energy CT information, served as the standard of reference. Sensitivity and specificity were the primary metrics of diagnostic performance. Results A total of 112 herniated lumbar disks were depicted at MRI. VNCa showed higher overall sensitivity (612 of 672 [91%] vs 534 of 672 [80%]) and specificity (723 of 786 [92%] vs 665 of 786 [85%]) for detecting lumbar disk herniation compared with standard CT (all comparisons, P < .001). Interreader agreement was excellent for VNCa and substantial for standard CT (κ = 0.82 vs 0.67; P < .001). VNCa achieved superior diagnostic confidence, image quality, and noise scores compared with standard CT (all comparisons, P < .001). Conclusion Color-coded dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium reconstructions show substantially higher diagnostic performance and confidence for depicting lumbar disk herniation compared with standard CT. © RSNA, 2018.

Review of Clinical Applications for Virtual Monoenergetic Dual-Energy CT.

In this article, the authors discuss the technical background and summarize the current body of literature regarding virtual monoenergetic (VM) images derived from dual-energy CT data, which can be reconstructed between 40 and 200 keV. Substantially improved iodine attenuation at lower kiloelectron volt levels and reduced beam-hardening artifacts at higher kiloelectron volt levels have been demonstrated from all major manufacturers of dual-energy CT units. Improved contrast attenuation with VM imaging at lower kiloelectron volt levels enables better delineation and diagnostic accuracy in the detection of various vascular or oncologic abnormalities. Low-kiloelectron-volt VM imaging may be useful for salvaging CT studies with suboptimal contrast material delivery or providing additional information on the arterial vasculature obtained from venous phase acquisitions. For patients with renal impairment, substantial reductions in the use of iodinated contrast material can be achieved by using lower-energy VM imaging. The authors recommend routine reconstruction of VM images at 50 keV when using dual-energy CT to exploit the increased contrast properties. For reduction of beam-hardening artifacts, VM imaging at 120 keV is useful for the initial assessment.

Transvenous pulmonary chemoembolization (TPCE) for palliative or neoadjuvant treatment of lung metastases.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate tumor response, local tumor control, and patient survival after the treatment of pulmonary metastases using transpulmonary chemoembolization (TPCE) in palliative and neoadjuvant intent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-three patients (mean age 56.7 ± 13.4 years) underwent repetitive TPCE (mean number of sessions 5.8 ± 2.9) between June 2005 and April 2017 for the treatment of unresectable lung metastases, not responding to systemic chemotherapy. Patients had predominant lung metastases with bilateral lung involvement in 80.4% of the cases. Regional delivery of the chemotherapeutic agents was performed through selective catheterization of the tumor-supplying pulmonary arteries with subsequent injection of iodized oil and microspheres. Patients, who underwent subsequent ablation (n = 51), either for all lesions (complete) or dominant lesions (incomplete), constituted the neoadjuvant group, and those who underwent TPCE alone represented the palliative treatment intent (n = 92). The response was assessed according to the revised Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). RESULTS: Partial response was achieved in 11.9% (n = 17), stable disease in 66.4% (n = 95), and progressive disease in 21.7% (n = 31). The mean survival time and time to progression were 24.5 ± 1.7 and 7.5 ± 0.5 months, respectively. The mean survival time was shorter for the palliative group (19.7 ± 2), compared to the neoadjuvant group (30.1 ± 2.6 months). The use of TPCE alone or with incomplete ablation had a significantly increased hazard of death of 4.6- (p = 0.002) and 3.1-fold (p = 0.027), respectively, in comparison with TPCE with subsequent complete ablation. CONCLUSION: TPCE has the potential to improve local tumor control and to prolong survival with a neoadjuvant potential when combined with ablation therapy. KEY POINTS: • Transpulmonary chemoembolization (TPCE) is a locoregional technique for delivering chemotherapy in higher intratumoral concentrations and with reduced systemic toxicity. • TPCE can be an alternative treatment for patients with pulmonary metastases who failed prior systemic chemotherapy or with post-operative recurrence. • The current retrospective study revealed that TPCE is a feasible treatment option for patients with unrespectable lung secondaries in both palliative and neoadjuvant intent and has the potential of improving local control and prolonging survival.

Dual-energy CT in early acute pancreatitis: improved detection using iodine quantification.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)-based technique using iodine quantification and fat fraction analysis for the diagnosis of early acute pancreatitis METHODS: In this retrospective study, 45 patients (35 men and 10 women; mean age, 54.9 ± 14.0 years) with early acute pancreatitis were included. Serum lipase levels and follow-up examinations served as the reference standard. A matched control group (n = 45) was assembled for evaluation of material decomposition values of normal pancreatic parenchyma. Three blinded radiologists independently interpreted all cases on conventional grayscale DECT series. In addition, readers re-evaluated all cases by manually performing region-of-interest (ROI) measurements on pancreatic-phase DECT material density images of the head, body, and tail of each patient's pancreas. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to estimate the optimal threshold for discriminating between inflammatory and normal pancreas parenchyma. RESULTS: DECT-based iodine density values showed significant differences between inflammatory (1.8 ± 0.3 mg/mL) and normal pancreatic parenchyma (2.7 ± 0.7 mg/mL) (p ≤ 0.01). Fat fraction measurements showed no significant differences (p = 0.08). The optimal iodine density threshold for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was 2.1 mg/mL with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 77%. Iodine quantification revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86, significantly higher compared to standard image evaluation of the radiologists (AUC, 0.80; sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 82%) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: DECT using iodine quantification allows for diagnosis of early acute pancreatitis with higher sensitivity compared to standard image evaluation. KEY POINTS: • Iodine density values showed significant differences between inflammatory and normal pancreatic parenchyma. • DECT using iodine quantification allows for diagnosis of early acute pancreatitis. • An iodine density of ≤ 2.1 mg/mL optimizes the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

Single- and dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography using second- and third-generation dual-source CT systems: comparison of radiation dose and image quality.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate radiation exposure and image quality in matched patient cohorts for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) acquired in single- and dual-energy mode using second- and third-generation dual-source CT (DSCT) systems. METHODS: We retrospectively included 200 patients (mean age, 65.5 years ± 15.7 years) with suspected pulmonary embolism-equally divided into four study groups (n = 50) and matched by gender and body mass index. CTPA was performed with vendor-predefined second-generation (group A, 100-kV single-energy computed tomography (SECT); group B, 80/Sn140-kV dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)) or third-generation DSCT (group C, 100-kV SECT; group D, 90/Sn150-kV DECT) devices. Radiation metrics were assessed using a normalized scan range of 27.5 cm. For objective image quality evaluation, dose-independent figure-of-merit (FOM) contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated. Subjective image analysis included ratings for overall image quality, reader confidence, and image artifacts using five-point Likert scales. RESULTS: Calculations of the effective dose (ED) of radiation for a normalized scan range of 27.5 cm showed nonsignificant differences between SECT and DECT acquisitions for each scanner generation (p ≥ 0.253). The mean effective radiation dose was lower for third-generation groups C (1.5 mSv ± 0.8 mSv) and D (1.4 mSv ± 0.7 mSv) compared to second-generation groups A (2.5 mSv ± 0.9 mSv) and B (2.3 mSv ± 0.6 mSv) (both p ≤ 0.013). FOM-CNR measurements were highest for group D. Qualitative image parameters of overall image quality, reader confidence, and image artifacts showed nonsignificant differences among the four groups (p ≥ 0.162). CONCLUSIONS: Third-generation DSCT systems show lower radiation dose parameters for CTPA compared to second-generation DSCT. DECT can be performed with both scanner generations without radiation dose penalty or detrimental effects on image quality compared to SECT. KEY POINTS: • Radiation exposure showed nonsignificant differences between SECT and DECT for both DSCT scanner devices. • Dual-energy CTPA provides equivalent image quality compared to standard image acquisition. • Subjective image quality assessment was similar among the four study groups.