Improved Cervical Lymph Node Characterization among Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using MR Texture Analysis Compared to Traditional FDG-PET/MR Features Alone.

Accurate differentiation of benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes is important for prognosis and treatment planning in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance image (MRI) texture analysis and traditional 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) features. This retrospective study included 21 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We used texture analysis of MRI and FDG-PET features to evaluate 109 histologically confirmed cervical lymph nodes (41 metastatic, 68 benign). Predictive models were evaluated using area under the curve (AUC). Significant differences were observed between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes for 36 of 41 texture features (p < 0.05). A combination of 22 MRI texture features discriminated benign and malignant nodal disease with AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.952, 92.7%, and 86.7%, which was comparable to maximum short-axis diameter, lymph node morphology, and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax). The addition of MRI texture features to traditional FDG-PET features differentiated these groups with the greatest AUC, sensitivity, and specificity (0.989, 97.5%, and 94.1%). The addition of the MRI texture feature to lymph node morphology improved nodal assessment specificity from 70.6% to 88.2% among FDG-PET indeterminate lymph nodes. Texture features are useful for differentiating benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Lymph node morphology and SUVmax remain accurate tools. Specificity is improved by the addition of MRI texture features among FDG-PET indeterminate lymph nodes. This approach is useful for differentiating benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.

Abnormal blood-brain barrier water exchange in chronic multiple sclerosis lesions: A preliminary study.

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is associated with persistent blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. The impact of this persistent dysfunction in both active and chronic MS lesions has yet to be investigated due to technological challenges associated with invasive assessment of BBB water transportation (e.g. 15O-PET). The purpose of this study was to test if persistent BBB dysfunction in RRMS manifests as lower BBB water exchange in chronic lesions using a recently developed noninvasive MRI paradigm. Patients with relapsing-remitting MS and healthy subjects were recruited for this prospective study. The novel Intrinsic Diffusivity Encoding of Arterial Labeled Spins (IDEALS) MRI method was used to map BBB water extraction fraction (Ew) and water permeability surface area product (PSw), as well as cerebral blood flow (CBF). Regional differences in BBB water exchange were evaluated between MS patients (normal appearing white matter [NAWM] and normal appearing gray matter [NAGM]) and healthy subjects (white matter [WM] and gray matter [GM]) and within MS subjects in non gadolinium-based contrast-agent (GBCA) enhancing chronic lesions, perilesional areas, and NAWM. Significantly lower PSw and Ew were observed in NAWM compared to WM (ΔPSw: -11.9 mL/100 g/min, p < .05; ΔEw: -4.3%, p < .01). Significantly lower Ew was observed in NAGM compared to GM (ΔEw: -12.1%, p < .01). Significantly lower PSw and CBF were observed in non-GBCA contrast enhancing lesions compared to NAWM (ΔPSw = -11.5 mL/100 g/min, p < .05; ΔCBF = -8.1 mL/100 g/min, p < .05). Ew was significantly higher in non-GBCA enhancing chronic MS lesions compared to NAWM (ΔEw = 1.6%, p < .05). The lower BBB water exchange in chronic MS lesions is consistent with previously reported observations and may demonstrate metabolic changes associated with MS.

Editorial for "Texture Analysis of High b-value Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Evaluating Consistency of Pituitary Macroadenomas".

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1514-1515.

Convolutional Neural Network Detection of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis Using Standard Clinical Breast MRI.

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node status is important for breast cancer staging and treatment planning as the majority of breast cancer metastasis spreads through the axillary lymph nodes. There is currently no reliable noninvasive imaging method to detect nodal metastasis associated with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were those from the peak contrast dynamic image from 1.5 Tesla MRI scanners at the pre-neoadjuvant chemotherapy stage. Data consisted of 66 abnormal nodes from 38 patients and 193 normal nodes from 61 patients. Abnormal nodes were those determined by expert radiologist based on 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography images. Normal nodes were those with negative diagnosis of breast cancer. The convolutional neural network consisted of 5 convolutional layers with filters from 16 to 128. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate prediction performance. For comparison, an expert radiologist also scored the same nodes as normal or abnormal. RESULTS: The convolutional neural network model yielded a specificity of 79.3% ± 5.1%, sensitivity of 92.1% ± 2.9%, positive predictive value of 76.9% ± 4.0%, negative predictive value of 93.3% ± 1.9%, accuracy of 84.8% ± 2.4%, and receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.91 ± 0.02 for the validation data set. These results compared favorably with scoring by radiologists (accuracy of 78%). CONCLUSION: The results are encouraging and suggest that this approach may prove useful for classifying lymph node status on MRI in clinical settings in patients with breast cancer, although additional studies are needed before routine clinical use can be realized. This approach has the potential to ultimately be a noninvasive alternative to lymph node biopsy.

Merging Orthovoltage X-Ray Minibeams spare the proximal tissues while producing a solid beam at the target.

Conventional radiation therapy of brain tumors often produces cognitive deficits, particularly in children. We investigated the potential efficacy of merging Orthovoltage X-ray Minibeams (OXM). It segments the beam into an array of parallel, thin (~0.3 mm), planar beams, called minibeams, which are known from synchrotron x-ray experiments to spare tissues. Furthermore, the slight divergence of the OXM array make the individual minibeams gradually broaden, thus merging with their neighbors at a given tissue depth to produce a solid beam. In this way the proximal tissues, including the cerebral cortex, can be spared. Here we present experimental results with radiochromic films to characterize the method's dosimetry. Furthermore, we present our Monte Carlo simulation results for physical absorbed dose, and a first-order biologic model to predict tissue tolerance. In particular, a 220-kVp orthovoltage beam provides a 5-fold sharper lateral penumbra than a 6-MV x-ray beam. The method can be implemented in arc-scan, which may include volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Finally, OXM's low beam energy makes it ideal for tumor-dose enhancement with contrast agents such as iodine or gold nanoparticles, and its low cost, portability, and small room-shielding requirements make it ideal for use in the low-and-middle-income countries.

Added Value of Including Entire Brain on Body Imaging With FDG PET/MRI.

OBJECTIVE: FDG PET/MRI examination of the body is routinely performed from the skull base to the mid thigh. Many types of brain abnormalities potentially could be detected on PET/MRI if the head was included. The objective of this study was therefore to identify and characterize brain findings incidentally detected on PET/MRI of the body with the head included. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 269 patients with FDG PET/MRI whole-body scans that included the head. PET/MR images of the brain were reviewed by a nuclear medicine physician and neuroradiologist, first individually and then concurrently. Both PET and MRI findings were identified, including abnormal FDG uptake, standardized uptake value, lesion size, and MRI signal characteristics. For each patient, relevant medical history and prior imaging were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 269 subjects, 173 were women and 96 were men (mean age, 57.4 years). Only the initial PET/MR image of each patient was reviewed. A total of 37 of the 269 patients (13.8%) had abnormal brain findings noted on the PET/MRI whole-body scan. Sixteen patients (5.9%) had vascular disease, nine patients (3.3%) had posttherapy changes, and two (0.7%) had benign cystic lesions in the brain. Twelve patients (4.5%) had serious nonvascular brain abnormalities, including cerebral metastasis in five patients and pituitary adenomas in two patients. Only nine subjects (3.3%) had a new neurologic or cognitive symptom suggestive of a brain abnormality. CONCLUSION: Routine body imaging with FDG PET/MRI of the area from the skull base to the mid thigh may miss important brain abnormalities when the head is not included. The additional brain abnormalities identified on whole-body imaging may provide added clinical value to the management of oncology patients.

Ectopic craniopharyngioma of the fourth ventricle in a patient with Gardner syndrome.

Ectopic craniopharyngioma is uncommon and a craniopharyngioma confined purely within the fourth ventricle is extremely rare. We report a craniopharyngioma of the fourth ventricle in a 20-year-old man with Gardner syndrome. Imaging characteristics of craniopharyngiomas and fourth ventricle lesions are discussed with a review of the literature regarding the pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas and the possible association with Gardner syndrome.

Dysphagia and Neck Swelling in a Case of Undiagnosed Lhermitte-Duclos Disease and Cowden Syndrome.

We report a case of a 37-year-old woman presenting with dysphagia and thyroid masses who was subsequently diagnosed with Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) based on MRI scan and histopathology. Additional imaging subsequently revealed the presence of thyroid nodules and bilateral breast cancers. Genetic testing later confirmed the diagnosis of Cowden syndrome. This case illustrates the importance of the overlap between LDD, Cowden syndrome, thyroid disease, and breast cancer.

Rare isolated trigeminal nerve sarcoidosis mimicking schwannoma.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology involving multiple organ systems. Isolated neurosarcoidosis is exceedingly rare. This case report presents isolated trigeminal nerve sarcoidosis mimicking schwannoma in a patient presenting with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Neuroimaging revealed a mass associated with trigeminal nerve which prospectively thought to represent schwannoma. However, surgical pathology was consistent with sarcoidosis. Given great overlap in imaging characteristic of tumors in the Meckel's cave intraoperative frozen section biopsy may be considered to rule out an inflammatory lesion.