Acute Pulmonary Embolism and COVID-19.

Risk factors for pulmonary embolism in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 include obesity, an elevated d-dimer value, elevated C-reactive protein level, and a rising d-dimer value over time.

Quantitative Imaging Markers of Lung Function in a Smoking Population Distinguish COPD Subgroups with Differential Lung Cancer Risk.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous condition with respect to onset, progression, and response to therapy. Incorporating clinical- and imaging-based features to refine COPD phenotypes provides valuable information beyond that obtained from traditional clinical evaluations. We characterized the spectrum of COPD-related phenotypes in a sample of former and current smokers and evaluated how these subgroups differ with respect to sociodemographic characteristics, COPD-related comorbidities, and subsequent risk of lung cancer.

Chest Radiographic Appearance of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Implants and Support Devices: What the Radiologist Needs to Know.

Minimally invasive implantable cardiac devices used in valve repair and replacement, cardiovascular support, and partial chamber and appendageal occlusion represent a burgeoning area of both bioengineering and clinical innovation. In addition to familiarizing the reader with the radiographic appearance of the most commonly utilized and encountered newer devices, this review will also address the relevant clinical and pathophysiological indications for usage and deployment as well as potentially encountered complications.

Risk of Lung Cancer Associated with COPD Phenotype Based on Quantitative Image Analysis.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for lung cancer. This study evaluates alternative measures of COPD based on spirometry and quantitative image analysis to better define a phenotype that predicts lung cancer risk.

Methods: A total of 341 lung cancer cases and 752 volunteer controls, ages 21 to 89 years, participated in a structured interview, standardized CT scan, and spirometry.

Interval lung cancers not detected on screening chest X-rays: How are they different?

Background: The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial provides us an opportunity to describe interval lung cancers not detected by screening chest X-ray (CXR) compared to screen-detected cancers.

Methods: Participants were screened for lung cancer with CXR at baseline and annually for two (never smokers) or three (ever smokers) more years. Screen-detected cancers were those with a positive CXR and diagnosed within 12 months.

Asymptomatic bowel perforation by abandoned ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

We report a case of an abandoned abdominal ventriculoperitoneal shunt that migrated into the gastric antrum, colonic hepatic flexure, and liver parenchyma, which was discovered incidentally on an abdominal CT obtained for renal stones. In regards to the migrated abandoned VP shunt, the patient was asymptomatic. Upon review of prior CT scans, these findings had progressed over approximately 7 years.

Final results of the Lung Screening Study, a randomized feasibility study of spiral CT versus chest X-ray screening for lung cancer.

The Lung Screening Study (LSS) was a pilot study designed to assess the feasibility of conducting a large scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of low radiation dose spiral computed tomography (LDCT) versus chest X-ray (CXR) for lung cancer screening. Baseline results of LSS have been previously reported. Here, we report on the findings at the year one screen and on the final results of the LSS study.

Developmental lung anomalies in the adult: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Encountering a developmental lung anomaly in the adult can be a challenge, as the abnormality may be mistaken for something more sinister. The common anomalies encountered are classified into three broad categories: bronchopulmonary (lung bud) anomalies, vascular anomalies, and combined lung and vascular anomalies. The imaging features of these developmental anomalies at conventional radiography, ventilation-perfusion lung nuclear scanning, angiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are useful in differential diagnosis of thoracic lesions.