J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle
February 2025
Background: CT-based body composition analysis (BCA) enables the extraction of biomarkers from routine CT data. The influence of body composition on the prognosis of different patient groups has been highlighted in recent years. Typically, the segmentation of muscle and fat compartments is performed with a thresholding-based subsegmentation, which might be influenced by the image noise as a function of radiation dose.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this retrospective study, we aimed to assess the objective and subjective image quality of different reconstruction techniques and a deep learning-based software on non-contrast head computed tomography (CT) images. In total, 152 adult head CT scans (77 female, 75 male; mean age 69.4 ± 18.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-contrast computed tomography (CT) is commonly used for the evaluation of various pathologies including pulmonary infections or urolithiasis but, especially in low-dose protocols, image quality is reduced. To improve this, deep learning-based post-processing approaches are being developed. Therefore, we aimed to compare the objective and subjective image quality of different reconstruction techniques and a deep learning-based software on non-contrast chest and low-dose abdominal CTs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study is to examine the precision of semi-automatic, conventional and automatic volumetry tools for pulmonary nodules in chest CT with phantom N1 LUNGMAN. The phantom is a life-size anatomical chest model with pulmonary nodules representing solid and subsolid metastases. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were contoured using various approaches: manually (0); as a means of semi-automated, conventional contouring with (I) adaptive-brush function; (II) flood-fill function; and (III) image-thresholding function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this retrospective study, we aimed to predict the body height and weight of pediatric patients using CT localizers, which are overview scans performed before the acquisition of the CT. We trained three commonly used networks (EfficientNetV2-S, ResNet-18, and ResNet-34) on a cohort of 1009 and 1111 CT localizers of pediatric patients with recorded body height and weight (between January 2013 and December 2019) and validated them in an additional cohort of 116 and 127 localizers (acquired in 2020). The best-performing model was then tested in an independent cohort of 203 and 225 CT localizers (acquired between January 2021 and March 2023).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is essential in diagnosing coronary heart disease. However, a disadvantage is the associated radiation exposure to the patient which depends in part on the scan range. This study aimed to develop a deep neural network to optimize the delimitation of scan ranges in CT localizers to reduce the radiation dose.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We investigated about optimization of contrast media (CM) dose or radiation dose in thoracoabdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA) by automated tube voltage selection (ATVS) system configuration and CM protocol adaption.
Methods: In six minipigs, CTA-optimized protocols were evaluated regarding objective (contrast-to-noise ratio, CNR) and subjective (6 criteria assessed by Likert scale) image quality. Scan parameters were automatically adapted by the ATVS system operating at 90-kV semi-mode and configured for standard, CM saving, or radiation dose saving (image task, quality settings).
The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the newly developed Similar patient search (SPS) Web Service, which supports reading complex lung diseases in computed tomography (CT), on the diagnostic accuracy of residents. SPS is an image-based search engine for pre-diagnosed cases along with related clinical reference content ( https://eref.thieme.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Computed tomography (CT) studies are requested by specialists from most medical disciplines and play a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. It follows that physicians of all specialties should possess basic knowledge of computed tomography, its proper use, and the radiation exposure associated with it.
Methods: This review is based on publications retrieved by a selective search of the literature.
Purpose: Endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) requires a risk-benefit analysis and adherence to diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). The national DRL (250 Gy·cm) is only determined for intracranial aneurysm coiling in general, including ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs). This study aims to investigate the dose in the treatment of UIAs and RIAs separately.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFY radioembolisation (RE) is an angiographic procedure used in patients with both primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. Local tumour control can be achieved by short range tumour irradiation by the regional intra-arterial administration of glass or resin microspheres loaded with 90yttrium that accumulate in the tumorous tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation exposure of RE and to establish a local diagnostic reference level (DRL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComputed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsies play an important role in the diagnostic workup of liver lesions. Because radiation dose accumulates rapidly due to repeated image acquisition in a relatively small scan area, analysing radiation exposure is critical for improving radiation protection of CT-guided interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the radiation dose of CT-guided liver biopsies and the influence of lesion parameters, and to establish a local diagnostic reference level (DRL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In uveal melanoma patients, liver metastases can be treated by hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). During this procedure, melphalan or, less frequently, fotemustine is infused into the hepatic artery or the hepatic lobe arteries in regularly repeated interventions to achieve local tumor control. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiation exposure of HAIC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Radiation exposures from computed tomography (CT) in children are inadequately studied. Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) can help optimise radiation doses.
Objective: To determine local DRLs for paediatric chest CT performed mainly on modern dual-source, multi-slice CT scanners as a function of patient size.
According to a position paper of the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC), DBT is close to being introduced in European breast cancer screening programmes. Our study aimed to examine radiation dose delivered by digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and digital mammography (FFDM) in comparison to sole FFDM in a clinical follow-up setting and in an identical patient cohort. Retrospectively, 768 breast examinations of 96 patients were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The aim of this study was to determine local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) during endovascular diagnostics and therapy of carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCF).
Methods: In a retrospective study design, DRLs, achievable dose (AD) and mean values were assessed for all patients with CCF undergoing diagnostic angiography (I) or embolization (II). All procedures were performed with the flat-panel angiography system Allura Xper (Philips Healthcare).
Background Lack of standardization in CT protocol choice contributes to radiation dose variation. Purpose To create a framework to assess radiation doses within broad CT categories defined according to body region and clinical imaging indication and to cluster indications according to the dose required for sufficient image quality. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine metadata.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCT myelography (CTM) is a diagnostic technique for the evaluation of various spinal pathologies, and plays an important role in diagnosis of different diseases such as spontaneous intracranial hypotension and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks. The aims of this study were to examine radiation exposure, establish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) and compare radiation doses of single- and dual-source examinations and different CTM protocols. In this retrospective study, 183 CTMs comprising 155 single-source and 28 dual-source examinations, performed between May 2015 and December 2020, were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe selective intra-arterial nimodipine application for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) in patients after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSAH) is widely employed. The purpose of this study is to examine the radiation exposure and to determine local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) of intra-arterial nimodipine therapy. In a retrospective study design, DRLs and achievable dose (AD) were assessed for all patients undergoing (I) selective intra-arterial nimodipine application or (II) additional mechanical angioplasty for CVS treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOb Jectives: The European Society of Radiology identified 10 common indications for computed tomography (CT) as part of the European Study on Clinical Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs, EUCLID), to help standardize radiation doses. The objective of this study is to generate DRLs and median doses for these indications using data from the UCSF CT International Dose Registry.
Methods: Standardized data on 3.
The purpose of this study is to examine radiation doses and image quality of a low-dose (LD) protocol for chest and abdomen/pelvis (CAP) CT compared with a standard (STD) protocol. A total of 361 patients were included between October 2019 and April 2020; 104 patients with LD-protocol (100 kV, ref mAs 80 (chest)/145 (abdomen/pelvis)) and 257 patients with STD-protocol (100 kV, ref mAs 100 (chest)/180 (abdomen/pelvis)) at second-generation dual-source CT. Radiation doses for CTDIvol and DLP, and objective and subjective image qualities of 50 examinations from each group were evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study aims to determine local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in the endovascular therapy (EVT) of patients with cranial and spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF).
Methods: In a retrospective study design, DRLs and achievable dose (AD) were assessed for all patients with cranial and spinal dAVF undergoing EVT (I) or diagnostic angiography (II). All procedures were performed at the flat-panel angiography-system Allura Xper (Philips Healthcare).
Cardiac and liver computed tomography (CT) perfusion has not been routinely implemented in the clinic and requires high radiation doses. The purpose of this study is to examine the radiation exposure and technical settings for cardiac and liver CT perfusion scans at different CT scanners. Two cardiac and three liver CT perfusion protocols were examined with the N1 LUNGMAN phantom at three multi-slice CT scanners: a single-source (I) and second- (II) and third-generation (III) dual-source CT scanners.
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