European Radiology

OBJECTIVES: The unprecedented surge in energy costs in Europe, coupled with the significant energy consumption of MRI scanners in radiology departments, necessitates exploring strategies to optimize energy usage without compromising efficiency or image quality. This study investigates MR energy consumption and identifies strategies for improving energy efficiency, focusing on musculoskeletal MRI. We assess the potential savings achievable through (1) optimizing protocols, (2) incorporating deep learning (DL) accelerated acquisitions, and (3) optimizing the cooling system...

Fibrotic lung diseases (FLDs) represent a subgroup of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), which can progress over time and carry a poor prognosis. Imaging has increased diagnostic discrimination in the evaluation of FLDs. International guidelines have stated the role of radiologists in the diagnosis and management of FLDs, in the context of the interdisciplinary discussion. Chest computed tomography (CT) with high-resolution technique is recommended to correctly recognise signs, patterns, and distribution of individual FLDs...

OBJECTIVES: Portal hypertension resulting from non-cirrhotic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) in children has been primarily managed with the Meso-Rex bypass, but only a few patients have a viable Rex recessus, required by surgery. This study reports a preliminary series of patients who underwent interventional radiology attempts at portal vein recanalization (PVR), with a focus on technical aspects and safety. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients with severe portal hypertension due to non-cirrhotic EHPVO at a single institution from 2022, who underwent percutaneous attempts at PVR, was performed...

For every patient, the MR safety evaluation should include the assessment of risks in three key areas, each corresponding to a specific hazard posed by the electromagnetic fields generated by the MR scanner: ferromagnetic attraction and displacement by the static field; stimulation, acoustic noise, and device interaction by the gradient fields; and bulk and focal heating by the radiofrequency field. MR safety guidelines and procedures are typically designed around the "average" patient: adult, responsive, and of typical habitus...

PURPOSE: This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the quality of radiomics research by examining unique papers from reviews using the radiomics quality score (RQS). METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed (last search date: April 14, 2024). Systematic or non-systematic reviews using the RQS to evaluate radiomic studies were potentially included. Exclusion was applied at two levels: first, at the review level, and second, at the study level (i.e., for the individual articles previously evaluated within the reviews)...

OBJECTIVE: Novel pericardial adipose tissue imaging biomarkers are currently under investigation for cardiovascular risk stratification. However, a specific compartment of the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum (LHIS), is included in the pericardial fat volume (PCFV) quantification software. Our aim was to evaluate LHIS by computed tomography angiography (CTA), to elaborate differences to other pericardial adipose tissue components (EAT) and paracardial adipose tissue (PAT), and to compare CT with [18 F]FDG-PET...

OBJECTIVES: To develop an MRI-based score that enables individualized predictions of the survival benefit of wide over narrow resection margins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective study (December 2011 to May 2022) included consecutive patients who underwent curative-intent resection for single Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) 0/A HCC and preoperative contrast-enhanced MRI. In patients with narrow resection margins, preoperative demographic, laboratory, and MRI variables independently associated with early recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified using Cox regression analyses, which were employed to develop a predictive score (named "MARGIN")...

OBJECTIVES: It is feasible to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and detect osteoporosis through an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted system by using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) as a reference without additional radiation exposure or cost. METHODS: A deep-learning model developed based on 3312 low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) scans (trained with 2337 and tested with 975) achieved a mean dice similarity coefficient of 95.8% for T1-T12, L1, and L2 vertebral body (VB) segmentation on test data...

OBJECTIVES: To generate sagittal T1-weighted fast spin echo (T1w FSE) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images from sagittal T2-weighted (T2w) FSE and axial T1w gradient echo Dixon technique (T1w-Dixon) sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study used three existing datasets: "Study of Health in Pomerania" (SHIP, 3142 subjects, 1.5 Tesla), "German National Cohort" (NAKO, 2000 subjects, 3 Tesla), and an internal dataset (157 patients 1.5/3 Tesla)...

Vascular access is the initial, very important, step of endovascular procedures. Various access sites include the common femoral artery, brachial artery, radial artery, popliteal artery, and distal tibial vessels (pedal arteries). Successful arterial access requires advanced knowledge of anatomy, as well as proper training and experience. Today, vascular access should be obtained using real-time, ultrasound guidance to reduce access time, patient discomfort, and puncture-related complications including dissection, arteriovenous communication, and bleeding...

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the accuracy of radiomics in predicting lymph node metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer, which is crucial for patient management and prognosis. METHODS: Adhering to PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines, we systematically reviewed literature from March 2012 to December 2023 using databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Radiomics studies utilizing computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging were included...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the transjugular mesenteric-caval shunt (TMCS) as a treatment for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) and recurrent variceal bleeding. METHODS: This retrospective case series was conducted with approval from the institutional review board. It involved seven patients diagnosed with CTPV and recurrent variceal bleeding who underwent the TMCS procedure. We analyzed the rate of procedural complications, incidents of rebleeding, stent stenosis, hepatic encephalopathy, and overall survival to assess treatment outcomes...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of transit time (TT) assessment in the systemic circulation and organ perfusion in patients with ventricular dysfunction (VD). The primary endpoint was defined as death, heart failure admission, or ventricular arrhythmias, and the secondary endpoint was worsening renal function. METHODS: A retrospective study on 139 patients who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance for VD evaluation and 50 controls. TT was measured as peak-to-peak time in signal intensity over time curves obtained at different stages of circulation (right cavities, left cavities, aorta, and peripheral organs) from first-pass perfusion images...

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the performance of a multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) model capable of analyzing both images and textual data (GPT-4V), in interpreting radiological images. It focuses on a range of modalities, anatomical regions, and pathologies to explore the potential of zero-shot generative AI in enhancing diagnostic processes in radiology. METHODS: We analyzed 230 anonymized emergency room diagnostic images, consecutively collected over 1 week, using GPT-4V...

OBJECTIVES: Implementing personalization protocol in clinical routine necessitates diverse low-dose PET/CT scan protocols. This study explores the clinical feasibility of one-third (1/3) dose regimen and evaluates the diagnostic image quality and lesion detectability of BMI-based 1/3-injection doses for 2-[18 F]FDG PET/CT imaging. METHODS: Seventy-four cancer patients underwent total-body 2-[18 F]FDG PET/CT examination, with 37 retrospectively enrolled as full-dose group (3...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing need for objective treatment monitoring in perianal fistulising Crohn's disease (pfCD). Therefore, the magnetic resonance novel index for fistula imaging in CD (MAGNIFI-CD) index has been designed and internally validated on the ADMIRE-CD trial cohort. The aim of this study was to externally validate the MAGNIFI-CD index to monitor response to medical and surgical treatment regimens in pfCD. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal cohort was established of consecutive patients with complex pfCD treated with surgical and/or medical therapy and a baseline and follow-up MRI between January 2007 and May 2021...

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral ultrasound (CUS) is the main imaging screening tool in preterm infants. The aim of this work is to develop deep learning (DL) models that classify normal vs abnormal CUS to serve as a computer-aided detection tool providing timely interpretation of the scans. METHODS: A population-based cohort of very preterm infants (220 -306 weeks) born between 2004 and 2016 in Nova Scotia, Canada. A set of nine sequential CUS images per infant was retrieved at three specific coronal landmarks at three pre-identified times (first, sixth weeks, and term age)...

OBJECTIVES: With SARS-CoV-2 evolving, disease severity and presentation have changed due to changes in mechanisms of entry and effector site as well as due to effects of vaccination- and/or infection-acquired immunity. We re-assessed fetal lung pathology in pregnancies with uncomplicated SARS-CoV-2 infections during the late, omicron-dominated pandemic phase to inform disease understanding and pregnancy consultation. METHODS: In this case-control study, fetal lung volumes were assessed by fetal MRI in 24 pregnancies affected by mild maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during the omicron-dominated pandemic phase with prevailing immunity through vaccination and/or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection...