METhodological RadiomICs Score (METRICS): a quality scoring tool for radiomics research endorsed by EuSoMII.

PURPOSE: To propose a new quality scoring tool, METhodological RadiomICs Score (METRICS), to assess and improve research quality of radiomics studies. METHODS: We conducted an online modified Delphi study with a group of international experts. It was performed in three consecutive stages: Stage#1, item preparation; Stage#2, panel discussion among EuSoMII Auditing Group members to identify the items to be voted; and Stage#3, four rounds of the modified Delphi exercise by panelists to determine the items eligible for the METRICS and their weights. The consensus threshold was 75%. Based on the median ranks derived from expert panel opinion and their rank-sum based conversion to importance scores, the category and item weights were calculated. RESULT: In total, 59 panelists from 19 countries participated in selection and ranking of the items and categories. Final METRICS tool included 30 items within 9 categories. According to their weights, the categories were in descending order of importance: study design, imaging data, image processing and feature extraction, metrics and comparison, testing, feature processing, preparation for modeling, segmentation, and open science. A web application and a repository were developed to streamline the calculation of the METRICS score and to collect feedback from the radiomics community. CONCLUSION: In this work, we developed a scoring tool for assessing the methodological quality of the radiomics research, with a large international panel and a modified Delphi protocol. With its conditional format to cover methodological variations, it provides a well-constructed framework for the key methodological concepts to assess the quality of radiomic research papers. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: A quality assessment tool, METhodological RadiomICs Score (METRICS), is made available by a large group of international domain experts, with transparent methodology, aiming at evaluating and improving research quality in radiomics and machine learning. KEY POINTS: • A methodological scoring tool, METRICS, was developed for assessing the quality of radiomics research, with a large international expert panel and a modified Delphi protocol. • The proposed scoring tool presents expert opinion-based importance weights of categories and items with a transparent methodology for the first time. • METRICS accounts for varying use cases, from handcrafted radiomics to entirely deep learning-based pipelines. • A web application has been developed to help with the calculation of the METRICS score ( https://metricsscore.github.io/metrics/METRICS.html ) and a repository created to collect feedback from the radiomics community ( https://github.com/metricsscore/metrics ).

High-pitch non-gated scans on the second and third generation dual-source CT scanners: comparison of coronary image quality.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in image quality of the coronary arteries when performing high-pitch non-electrocardiography (ECG)-gated scans on the second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) dual-source CT scanners. METHODS: We retrospectively examined patients with high-pitch non-ECG-gated CT angiography (CTA) of the chest or chest/abdomen/pelvis. Outpatient scans from 59 patients in the 3G high-pitch group and 53 patients in the 2G high-pitch group were included. Two blinded cardiac imagers independently scored the coronary image quality using a 4-point Likert scale (from completely diagnostic to completely non-diagnostic) and evaluated the presence of coronary artery disease. RESULTS: Diagnostic image quality of the coronaries in high-pitch CTA exams using 3G scanner was improved compared to 2G scanner, both on a per-vessel basis (45-94% versus 23-86%) and on a per-study basis (34% versus 14%). The 3G group showed a statistically significant improvement in image quality when evaluating the left main coronary, right coronary, and overall coronary arteries. Coronary artery disease was detected in 65% of high-pitch scans. Radiation doses in terms of CTDIvol and DLP were lower for 3G high-pitch scans (7.5 mGy and 491 mGy∗cm) compared to 2G high-pitch scans (14.8 mGy and 911 mGy∗cm). CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher proportion of diagnostic image quality of the coronary arteries in high-pitch non-ECG-gated CTA exams using a 3G dual-source CT scanner, compared to 2G. In scans with diagnostic image quality, underlying coronary artery disease may be confidently diagnosed and should prompt considerations for further management in the appropriate clinical setting.

Radial artery pseudoaneurysm after transradial cardiac catheterization: A case presentation.

Cardiac catheterization through the radial artery has reduced the percentage of complications seen previously in the femoral approach. Computed tomographic angiography is a noninvasive technique that can accurately diagnose pseudoaneurysms and other vascular pathologies. A 93-year-old female presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling of her right distal arm and wrist after a transradial cardiac catheterization procedure, as part of a transcatheter aortic valve replacement evaluation for severe aortic stenosis. Angiography is the standard diagnosing technique for aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms, but it is an invasive procedure. We show this case in order to highlight the importance of computed tomographic angiography as a noninvasive approach in diagnosing uncommon complications in the clinical setting.