Longitudinal interpretability of deep learning based breast cancer risk prediction.

Deep-learning-based models have achieved state-of-the-art breast cancer risk (BCR) prediction performance. However, these models are highly complex, and the underlying mechanisms of BCR prediction are not fully understood. Key questions include whether these models can detect breast morphologic changes that lead to cancer.

Evaluation of the flying focal spot technology in a wide-angle digital breast tomosynthesis system.

Purpose: We characterize the flying focal spot (FFS) technology in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), designed to overcome source motion blurring.

Approach: A wide-angle DBT system with continuous gantry and focus motion ("uncompensated focus") and a system with FFS were compared for image sharpness and lesion detectability. The modulation transfer function (MTF) was assessed as a function of height in the projections and reconstructed images, along with lesion detectability using the contrast detail phantom for mammography (CDMAM) and the L1 phantom.

An automated toolbox for microcalcification cluster modeling for mammographic imaging.

Background: Mammographic imaging is essential for breast cancer detection and diagnosis. In addition to masses, calcifications are of concern and the early detection of breast cancer also heavily relies on the correct interpretation of suspicious microcalcification clusters. Even with advances in imaging and the introduction of novel techniques such as digital breast tomosynthesis and contrast-enhanced mammography, a correct interpretation can still be challenging given the subtle nature and large variety of calcifications.

Limited impact of adding digital breast tomosynthesis to full field digital mammography in an elevated breast cancer risk population.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of adding digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to full field digital mammography (FFDM) in screening asymptomatic women with an elevated breast cancer life time risk (BCLTR) but without known genetic mutation.

Methods: This IRB-approved single-institution multi-reader study on prospectively acquired FFDM + DBT images included 429 asymptomatic women (39-69y) with an elevated BC risk on their request form. The BCLTR was calculated for each patient using the IBISrisk calculator v8.

Optimized signal of calcifications in wide-angle digital breast tomosynthesis: a virtual imaging trial.

Objectives: Evaluate microcalcification detectability in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and synthetic 2D mammography (SM) for different acquisition setups using a virtual imaging trial (VIT) approach.

Materials And Methods: Medio-lateral oblique (MLO) DBT acquisitions on eight patients were performed at twice the automatic exposure controlled (AEC) dose. The noise was added to the projections to simulate a given dose trajectory.

A spiculated mass target model for clinical image quality control in digital mammography.

Objectives: Quality assurance of breast imaging has a long history of using test objects to optimize and follow up imaging devices. In particular, the evaluation of new techniques benefits from suitable test objects. The applicability of a phantom consisting of spiculated masses to assess image quality and its dependence on dose in flat field digital mammography (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis systems (DBT) is investigated.

Investigation of test methods for QC in dual-energy based contrast-enhanced digital mammography systems: I. Iodine signal testing.

The technique of dual-energy contrast enhanced mammography (CEM) visualizes iodine uptake in cancerous breast lesions following an intravenous injection of a contrast medium. The CEM image is generated by recombining two images acquired in rapid succession: a low energy image, with a mean energy below the iodine K-edge, and a higher energy image. The first part of this study examines the use of both commercially available and custom made phantoms to investigate iodine imaging under different imaging conditions, with the focus on quality control (QC) testing.

Investigation of test methods for QC in dual-energy based contrast-enhanced digital mammography systems: II. Artefacts/uniformity, exposure time and phantom-based dosimetry.

Part II of this study describes constancy tests for artefacts and image uniformity, exposure time, and phantom-based dosimetry; these are applied to four mammography systems equipped with contrast enhanced mammography (CEM) capability. Artefacts were tested using a breast phantom that simulated breast shape and thickness change at the breast edge. Image uniformity was assessed using rectangular poly(methyl)methacrylate PMMA plates at phantom thicknesses of 20, 40 and 60 mm, for the low energy (LE), high energy (HE) images and the recombined CEM image.

Seven general radiography x-ray detectors with pixel sizes ranging from 175 to 76m: technical evaluation with the focus on orthopaedic imaging.

. Flat panel detectors with small pixel sizes general can potentially improve imaging performance in radiography applications requiring fine detail resolution. This study evaluated the imaging performance of seven detectors, covering a wide range of pixel sizes, in the frame of orthopaedic applications.

Impact of ultra-high-resolution imaging of the lungs on perceived diagnostic image quality using photon-counting CT.

Objectives: To compare clinical image quality and perceived impact on diagnostic interpretation of chest CT findings between ultra-high-resolution photon-counting CT (UHR-PCCT) and conventional high-resolution energy-integrating-detector CT (HR-EIDCT) using visual grading analysis (VGA) scores.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients who underwent a UHR-PCCT (matrix 512 × 512, 768 × 768, or 1024 × 1024; FOV average 275 × 376 mm, 120 × 0.2 mm; focal spot size 0.

Performance of Automated ASPECTS Software and Value as a Computer-Aided Detection Tool.

Background And Purpose: ASPECTS quantifies early ischemic changes in anterior circulation stroke on NCCT but has interrater variability. We examined the agreement of conventional and automated ASPECTS and studied the value of computer-aided detection.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected imaging data from consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke with large-vessel occlusion undergoing thrombectomy.

Technical note: Realization and uncertainty analysis for an adjustable 3D structured breast phantom in digital breast tomosynthesis.

Background: Projection imaging phantoms are often optimized for 2-dimensional image characteristics in homogeneous backgrounds. Therefore, evaluation of image quality in tomosynthesis (DBT) lacks accepted and established phantoms.

Purpose: We describe a 3D breast phantom with a structured, variable background.

Photon-counting CT allows better visualization of temporal bone structures in comparison with current generation multi-detector CT.

Purpose: To compare photon-counting CT (PCCT) and multi-detector CT (MDCT) for visualization of temporal bone anatomic structures.

Methods: Thirty-six exams of temporal bones without pathology were collected from consecutive patients on a MDCT, and another 35 exams on a PCCT scanner. Two radiologists independently scored visibility of 14 structures for the MDCT and PCCT dataset, using a 5-point Likert scale, with a 2-month wash-out period.

Uncertainty estimation for deep learning-based pectoral muscle segmentation via Monte Carlo dropout.

. Deep Learning models are often susceptible to failures after deployment. Knowing when your model is producing inadequate predictions is crucial.

Fetal brain maceration score on postmortem magnetic resonance imaging vs. conventional autopsy.

Background: Postmortem fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been on the rise since it was proven to be a good alternative to conventional autopsy. Since the fetal brain is sensitive to postmortem changes, extensive tissue fixation is required for macroscopic and microscopic assessment. Estimation of brain maceration on MRI, before autopsy, may optimize histopathological resources.

Radiological findings in low-dose CT for COVID-19 pneumonia in 182 patients: Correlation of signs and severity with patient outcome.

To characterize computed tomography (CT) findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia and their value in outcome prediction.Chest CTs of 182 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were evaluated for the presence of CT-abnormalities and their frequency. Regarding the patient outcome each patient was categorized in 5 progressive stages and the duration of hospitalization was determined.

Detection of pulmonary nodules with scoutless fixed-dose ultra-low-dose CT: a prospective study.

Objectives: To determine the accuracy of scoutless, fixed-dose ultra-low-dose (ULD) CT compared to standard-dose (SD) CT for pulmonary nodule detection and semi-automated nodule measurement, across different patient sizes.

Methods: Sixty-three patients underwent ULD and SD CT. Two readers examined all studies visually and with computer-aided detection (CAD).

Anatomical and diffusion-weighted imaging of brain abnormalities in third-trimester fetuses with cytomegalovirus infection.

Objectives: In this study of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected fetuses with first-trimester seroconversion, we aimed to evaluate the detection of brain abnormalities using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurosonography (NSG) in the third trimester, and compare the grading systems of the two modalities. We also evaluated the feasibility of routine use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) fetal MRI and compared the regional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values between CMV-infected fetuses and presumed normal, non-infected fetuses in the third trimester.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of MRI and NSG scans in fetuses with confirmed first-trimester CMV infection performed between September 2015 and August 2019.

The impact on lesion detection via a multi-vendor study: A phantom-based comparison of digital mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, and synthetic mammography.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to perform a test object-based comparison of the imaging performance of digital mammography (DM), digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and synthetic mammography (SM).

Methods: Two test objects were used, the CDMAM and the L1-structured phantom. Small-detail detectability was assessed using CDMAM and the microcalcification simulating specks in the L1-structured background.

Radiomics software for breast imaging optimization and simulation studies.

Background And Objective: The development, control and optimisation of new x-ray breast imaging modalities could benefit from a quantitative assessment of the resulting image textures. The aim of this work was to develop a software tool for routine radiomics applications in breast imaging, which will also be available upon request.

Methods: The tool (developed in MATLAB) allows image reading, selection of Regions of Interest (ROI), analysis and comparison.

Virtual clinical trial to compare cancer detection using combinations of 2D mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis and synthetic 2D imaging.

Objectives: This study was designed to compare the detection of subtle lesions (calcification clusters or masses) when using the combination of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and synthetic mammography (SM) with digital mammography (DM) alone or combined with DBT.

Methods: A set of 166 cases without cancer was acquired on a DBT mammography system. Realistic subtle calcification clusters and masses in the DM images and DBT planes were digitally inserted into 104 of the acquired cases.

CT-Guided Transthoracic Biopsy of Lung Lesions Using a Non-Coaxial Biopsy Needle Technique: CT Characteristics Predictive for Diagnostic Accuracy and Pneumothorax.

Objectives: To analyze computed tomography (CT) characteristics predictive for diagnostic accuracy and pneumothorax in CT fluoroscopy-guided transthoracic biopsy (CTF-TTB) of lung lesions using non-coaxial biopsy needle technique.

Methods: Retrospectively 274 lung lesion biopsies with confirmed histology were included in our study. CTF-TTB was done using an 18-gauge non-coaxial cutting needle.

On the relevance of modulation transfer function measurements in digital mammography quality control.

The relevance of presampling modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements in digital mammography (DM) quality control (QC) is examined. Two studies are presented: a case study on the impact of a reduction in MTF on the technical image quality score and analysis of the robustness of routine QC MTF measurements. In the first study, two needle computed radiography (CR) plates with identical sensitivities were used with differences in the 50% point of the MTF ( ) larger than the limiting value in the European guidelines ( change between successive measurements).

Comparing Visual Scoring of Lung Injury with a Quantifying AI-Based Scoring in Patients with COVID-19.

Objectives: Fast diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the detection of high-risk patients are crucial but challenging in the pandemic outbreak. The aim of this study was to evaluate if deep learning-based software correlates well with the generally accepted visual-based scoring for quantification of the lung injury to help radiologist in triage and monitoring of COVID-19 patients.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, the lobar analysis of lung opacities (% opacities) by means of a prototype deep learning artificial intelligence (AI)-based software was compared to visual scoring.

Performance of Low-Dose Chest CT as a Triage Tool for Suspected COVID-19 Patients.

Purpose: To investigate the role of low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) imaging in the triage of patients suspected of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an emergency setting.

Materials And Methods: Data from 610 patients admitted to our emergency unit from March 20, 2020, until April 11, 2020, with suspicion of COVID-19 were collected. Diagnostic values of low-dose chest CT for COVID-19 were calculated using consecutive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) as reference.