Publications by authors named "Azien Laqmani"
Background Ultrahigh-field-strength MRI at 7 T may permit superior visualization of noninflammatory wrist pathologic conditions, particularly due to its high signal-to-noise ratio compared with the clinical standard of 3 T, but direct comparison studies are lacking. Purpose To compare the subjective image quality of 3-T and 7-T ultrahigh-field-strength wrist MRI through semiquantitative scoring of multiple joint tissues in a multireader study. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, healthy controls and participants with chronic wrist pain underwent 3-T and 7-T MRI (coronal T1-weighted turbo spin-echo [TSE], coronal fat-suppressed proton-density [PD]-weighted TSE, transversal T2-weighted TSE) on the same day, from July 2018 to June 2019.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Diffuse interstitial lung disease have been described in Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), but its diversity and prevalence remain unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of (NF1)-associated lung manifestations in a large single-center study using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and to evaluate the smoking history, patients' age, genetics, and the presence of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) as potential influencing factors for lung pathologies.
Methods: In this retrospective study, 71 patients with NF1 were evaluated for the presence of distinctive lung manifestations like reticulations, consolidations, type of emphysema, pulmonary nodules and cysts.
Purpose: Feasibility of a highly reduced-dose lumbar spine CT protocol using iterative reconstruction (IR) in a human cadaver model.
Materials And Methods: The lumbar spine of 20 human cadavers was repeatedly examined using three different reduced-dose protocols (RDCT) with decreasing reference tube current-exposure time products (RDCT-1: 50 mAs; RDCT-2: 30 mAs; RDCT-3: 10 mAs) at a constant tube voltage of 140 kV. A clinical standard-dose protocol (SDCT) served as the reference (reference tube current-exposure time product: 70 mAs; tube voltage: 140 kV).
Background: Asbestos-related lung diseases are one of the leading diagnoses of the recognized occupational diseases in Germany, both in terms of their number and their socio-economic costs. The aim of this study was to determine whether pulmonary function testing (spirometry and CO diffusion measurement (D)) and computed tomography of the thorax (TCT) are relevant for the early detection of asbestos-related pleural and pulmonary fibrosis and the assessment of the functional deficiency.
Methods: The records of 111 formerly asbestos-exposed workers who had been examined at the Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, with data on spirometry, D and TCT were reviewed.
Background: According to the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle, radiation exposure in computed tomography (CT) should be minimized while maintaining adequate image quality. Dedicated CT protocols combined with iterative reconstruction (IR) can reduce radiation dose and/or improve image quality.
Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of extremely reduced-dose (RD) CT of the thoracic spine in human cadavers using a standard-dose (SD) and three different RDCT protocols reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and IR.
Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of sub-milliSievert CT of the cervical spine in fresh human cadavers using a standard-dose (SD) and four different reduced-dose (RD) protocols reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR).
Methods: The cervical spine of 29 cadavers was examined using different RDCT protocols with decreasing reference tube currents (RDCT-1:70 mAs; RDCT-2:50 mAs; RDCT-3:30 mAs; RDCT-4:10 mAs) at 140 kV. A clinical SDCT (160 mAs, 120 kV) served as reference.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of submillisievert CT of the skeletal pelvis of human cadavers using a standard-dose protocol and four different reduced-dose protocols reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR). The pelvis of 25 human cadavers was repeatedly examined using different reduced-dose CT (RDCT) protocols with decreasing reference tube current-exposure time products (RDCT protocol 1, 80 mAs; RDCT protocol 2, 60 mAs; RDCT protocol 3, 40 mAs; and RDCT protocol 4, 10 mAs) and a tube voltage of 120 kV. A standard-dose CT (SDCT) protocol (reference tube current-exposure time product, 100 mAs; tube voltage, 120 kV) used for the same cadavers served as the reference.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate the influence of the urinary bladder volume on the detectability of urolithiasis at the ureterovesical junction (UVJ) using a low-dose CT (LD-CT) with iterative reconstruction (IR) and a standard-dose CT (SD-CT) without IR in a large cohort.
Methods: Four hundred patients (278 males (69.5%), mean 44.
Objective: To quantify standard values of the discus interpubicus in healthy subjects and to determine reliability and repeatability using T2 relaxation time measurements at 3T.
Methods: 20 asymptomatic participants (10 male, 10 female; mean age: 27.3 years ±4.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of iterative model reconstruction (IMR) on reader confidence with respect to stone detection and image quality in comparison to filtered back-projection (FBP) and iDose level 4 (iDose4) in abdominal MDCT with radiation doses below 2 mSv.
Materials And Methods: For 32 consecutive patients with suspected ureteral stone disease, the raw data of unenhanced 256 slice MDCT (120 kV, 40 reference mAs, mean CTDIvol: 2.7 ± 0.
Objectives: Diagnosing acute pancreatitis (AP) may be challenging in patients with acute abdominal pain but missing threefold increased serum lipase levels (Lip-). This studyaims both to characterize these patients using clinical, radiological and mortality data, and to assess the group of patients who need contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).
Methods: In this retrospective, IRB approved study 234 consecutive patients with AP were investigated.
Purpose: To compare T * relaxation times of the tibiotalar cartilage between professional football players and matched healthy male volunteers.
Materials And Methods: Twenty-two ankles of professional football players (24.3 ± 3.
Objective: To compare both image quality and visibility of normal and abnormal findings at submillisievert chest CT (smSv-CT) using filtered back projection (FBP) and the two different iterative reconstruction (IR) techniques iterative model reconstruction (IMR) and iDose™.
Materials And Methods: This institutional review board approved study was based on retrospective interpretation of clinically indicated acquired data. The requirement to obtain informed consent was waived.
Purpose: To assess image quality of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) at reduced radiation exposure (RD-CTPA) and contrast medium (CM) volume using two different iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms (iDose4 and iterative model reconstruction (IMR)) in comparison to filtered back projection (FBP).
Materials And Methods: 52 patients (body weight < 100 kg, mean BMI: 23.9) with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) underwent RD-CTPA (tube voltage: 80 kV; mean CTDIvol: 1.
Objective: To quantitatively assess the immediate effect of long-distance running on T2 and T2* relaxation times of the articular cartilage of the knee at 3.0 T in young healthy adults.
Methods: 30 healthy male adults (18-31 years) who perform sports at an amateur level underwent an initial MRI at 3.
Unlabelled: Our objective was to assess the feasibility of F-FDG PET/CT for noninvasive monitoring of treatment response after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for myelofibrosis.
Methods: Twelve patients with myelofibrosis underwent F-FDG PET/CT before and after SCT. Bone marrow uptake, spleen uptake, and spleen size were assessed before and after SCT and compared with hematologic response criteria and bone marrow biopsies.
Background: An algorithm for distinguishing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients (AspICU) has been proposed but not tested.
Methods: This was a prospective observational study applying the AspICU protocol to patients with positive Aspergillus culture (PAC group) and those with negative aspergillus culture but positive galactomannan test in respiratory tract samples (only positive galactomannan (OPG group)). Patients underwent a standardized diagnostic workup with bronchoscopy, computed tomography (CT), and galactomannan determination in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
Background: The value of computed tomography (CT) of the chest in the management of patients with ARDS is poorly defined. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of thoracic CT scans in subjects with ARDS using the Berlin definition.
Methods: This was a retrospective, observational study in a university hospital ARDS center on all subjects with ARDS in whom a CT scan of the chest was performed immediately before or during an ICU stay between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2013.
Purpose: To determine the metabolically active whole-body tumor volume (WB-MTV) on F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET/CT) in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) using a three-dimensional (3D) segmentation and computerized volumetry technique, and to compare PET WB-MTV between patients with benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs).
Patients And Methods: Thirty-six NF1 patients (18 patients with malignant PNSTs and 18 age- and sex-matched controls with benign PNSTs) were examined by F-18-FDG PET/CT. WB-MTV, whole-body total lesion glycolysis (WB-TLG) and a set of semi-quantitative imaging-based parameters were analyzed both on a per-patient and a per-lesion basis.
Objectives: To assess the effect of hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and filtered back projection (FBP) on abdominopelvic CT with reduced-dose (RD-APCT) in the evaluation of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis (ALCD).
Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients with suspected ALCD who underwent RD-APCT (mean CTDIvol 11.2 ± 4.
Aim: To determine the diagnostic accuracy and radiation dose of conventional radiography and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in suspected scaphoid fractures.
Methods: One hundred twenty-four consecutive patients were enrolled in our study who had suffered from a wrist trauma and showed typical clinical symptoms suspicious of an acute scaphoid fracture. All patients had initially undergone conventional radiography.
Objectives: To determine the diagnostic performance of MR enterography (MRE) for detection and grading of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI GvHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT).
Methods: Forty-one patients with known GvHD or suspected GvHD underwent MRE and GI endoscopy with multi-level biopsies. MRE images were reviewed for presence of intestinal wall inflammation.
Objectives: To determine the impact of hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) on image quality in 80 kV CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in comparison to filtered-back-projection (FBP).
Methods: Fifty patients (body weight <80 kg) with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) underwent CTPA at 80 kV (mean CTDIvol, 2.3 mGy; effective dose, 1.