Contrast-enhanced pseudo-CT of finger joints: Improved diagnostic confidence for detection of inflammatory erosions.

Purpose: To evaluate the interest of additional pseudo-CT images to standard clinical contrast-enhanced MR images (CE-MRI) in the detection of inflammatory erosions and to differentiate them from intraosseous ganglia at the finger joints.

Method: 47 prospectively included patients with suspected or diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis received a CE-MRI of the fingers. Additionally, pseudo-CT images were derived from non-contrast MRI (pCT) and from contrast-enhanced MRI data (CE-pCT) using a high-resolution gradient-echo 3D fast low-angle shot sequence (FLASH), respectively.

Reducing Metal Artifacts in Clinical Photon Counting Detector Computed Tomography-A Phantom Study of an Exemplary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Objective: To examine how different photon-counting detector (PCD) CT scanning and reconstruction methods affect the volume of metal artifacts and image quality for a hip prosthesis phantom.

Methods: A titanium and cobalt-chromium-molybdenum-alloy total hip prosthesis phantom was scanned using a clinical PCD-CT with a constant tube potential (140 kV) and Computed-Tomography-Dose- Index (7 mGy). Different scan settings were used: with/without tin-filter (Sn), with/without ultra-high resolution (UHR), both individually and combined, resulting in four modes: Quantumplus (Standard), UHR Quantumplus (HighRes), QuantumSn (Standard-Tin) and UHR QuantumSn (HighRes-Tin).

Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Bone Quality in Metabolic Bone Diseases.

Metabolic bone diseases (MBDs) are a diverse group of diseases, affecting the mass or structure of bones and leading to reduced bone quality. Parameters representing different aspects of bone health can be obtained from various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods such as proton MR spectroscopy, as well as chemical shift encoding-based water-fat imaging, that have been frequently applied to study bone marrow in particular. Furthermore, T2* mapping and high-resolution trabecular bone imaging have been implemented to study bone microstructure.

A visual marker for early atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle on conventional MRI: introduction of the blackbird sign.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to introduce the blackbird sign as a fast, qualitative measure of early supraspinatus (SSP) muscle atrophy and to correlate the sign with quantitatively assessed muscle volume and intramuscular fat fraction (FF) in patients with full-thickness SSP tears.

Materials And Methods: The blackbird sign describes the asymmetric pattern of early SSP atrophy: on sagittal MR images, the supero-posterior contour of the muscle becomes concave, resembling the shape of a blackbird. MRIs of patients with full-thickness SSP tears were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of the blackbird and tangent signs.

Accelerated High-Resolution Deep Learning Reconstruction Turbo Spin Echo MRI of the Knee at 7 T.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the image quality of 7 T turbo spin echo (TSE) knee images acquired with varying factors of parallel-imaging acceleration reconstructed with deep learning (DL)-based and conventional algorithms.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective single-center study. Twenty-three healthy volunteers underwent 7 T knee magnetic resonance imaging.

Radiopalmar ganglion cysts: prevalence, morphology, and clinical significance in wrist MRI.

Objectives: To assess radiopalmar ganglion cysts' (RPG) prevalence, morphology, and clinical significance in consecutive patients.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, two radiologists assessed the presence of RPG and morphologic features on wrist MRI. Radiopalmar complaints and scapholunate ligament (SLL) tears were evaluated.

Tumor-Like Distal Femoral Cortical Irregularities of the Knee in Adolescent Competitive Alpine Skiers: Longitudinal Assessment Over 48 Months.

Background: Tumor-like distal femoral cortical irregularities (DFCIs) are a frequent incidental finding on knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and are common in young competitive athletes.

Purpose: To assess and compare the morphology and prevalence of DFCIs in competitive alpine skiers over 48 months during adolescence.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Quantifying Tendon Degeneration Using Magic Angle Insensitive Ultra-Short Echo Time Magnetization Transfer: A Phantom Study in Bovine Tendons.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively assess changes in bovine flexor tendons before and after collagen degradation and at different angles in relation to the static B 0 field using 3-dimensional ultra-short echo time (UTE) magnetization transfer (MT) imaging within a clinically feasible acquisition time.

Materials And Methods: Eight bovine flexor tendons were examined at 3 T magnetic resonance imaging including 3-dimensional UTE MT and UTE T2* research application sequences (acquired within 4:04 and 6:38 minutes, respectively) before and after enzyme-induced degradation. The tendons were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (controls) treated with phosphate-buffered saline and group 2 treated with collagenase I to induce collagen degeneration.

Deep Learning to Differentiate Benign and Malignant Vertebral Fractures at Multidetector CT.

Background Differentiating between benign and malignant vertebral fractures poses diagnostic challenges. Purpose To investigate the reliability of CT-based deep learning models to differentiate between benign and malignant vertebral fractures. Materials and Methods CT scans acquired in patients with benign or malignant vertebral fractures from June 2005 to December 2022 at two university hospitals were retrospectively identified based on a composite reference standard that included histopathologic and radiologic information.

Natural History of Quantitative Fatty Infiltration and 3D Muscle Volume After Nonoperative Treatment of Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears: A Prospective MRI Study of 79 Patients.

Background: The severity of fatty infiltration (FI) predicts the treatment outcome of rotator cuff tears. The purpose of this investigation was to quantitatively analyze supraspinatus (SSP) muscle FI and volume at the initial presentation and after a 3-month minimum of conservative management. We hypothesized that progression of FI could be predicted with initial tear size, FI, and muscle volume.

Managing hardware-related metal artifacts in MRI: current and evolving techniques.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) around metal implants has been challenging due to magnetic susceptibility differences between metal implants and adjacent tissues, resulting in image signal loss, geometric distortion, and loss of fat suppression. These artifacts can compromise the diagnostic accuracy and the evaluation of surrounding anatomical structures. As the prevalence of total joint replacements continues to increase in our aging society, there is a need for proper radiological assessment of tissues around metal implants to aid clinical decision-making in the management of post-operative complaints and complications.

Superolateral Hoffa fat pad edema in adolescent competitive alpine skiers: temporal evolution over 4 years and risk factors.

Objectives: To longitudinally assess and correlate the prevalence of superolateral Hoffa fat pad (SHFP) edema with changes in features of the knee extensor mechanism in adolescent competitive alpine skiers over 48 months.

Methods: Competitive alpine skiers were prospectively enrolled in 2018 and underwent bilateral knee MRI at baseline and after 48 months. MRI was assessed for the prevalence of SHFP edema.

Evaluation of Spectral X-Ray Imaging for Panoramic Dental Images Based on a Simulation Framework.

Modern photon counting detectors allow the calculation of virtual monoenergetic or material decomposed X-ray images but are not yet used for dental panoramic radiography systems. To assess the diagnostic potential and image quality of photon counting detectors in dental panoramic radiography, ethics approval from the local ethics committee was obtained for this retrospective study. Conventional CT scans of the head and neck region were segmented into bone and soft tissue.

Deep-learning-based image quality enhancement of CT-like MR imaging in patients with suspected traumatic shoulder injury.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of CT-like MR images reconstructed with an algorithm combining compressed sense (CS) with deep learning (DL) in patients with suspected osseous shoulder injury compared to conventional CS-reconstructed images.

Methods: Thirty-two patients (12 women, mean age 46 ± 14.9 years) with suspected traumatic shoulder injury were prospectively enrolled into the study.

How accurate is MRI for diagnosing tarsal coalitions? A retrospective diagnostic accuracy study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, inter-reader agreement, and associated pathologies on MR images of patients with confirmed TC.

Methods And Materials: In this retrospective study, 168 ankle MRI exams were included, consisting of 56 patients with clinically or surgically confirmed TC and 112 controls without TC, matched for age and sex. Images were analyzed independently by three radiologists blinded to clinical information.

7 T MRI of the Cervical Neuroforamen: Assessment of Nerve Root Compression and Dorsal Root Ganglia in Patients With Radiculopathy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of 3-dimensional dual-echo steady-state (DESS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine at 7 T compared with 3 T in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Materials And Methods: Patients diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy were prospectively recruited between March 2020 and January 2023 before undergoing surgical decompression and received 3-dimensional DESS imaging at 3 T and 7 T MRI. Cervical nerve root compression and the dimensions of the dorsal root ganglia were assessed by 2 radiologists independently.

Photon-Counting Detector CT With Denoising for Imaging of the Osseous Pelvis at Low Radiation Doses: A Phantom Study.

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT may allow lower radiation doses than used for conventional energy-integrating detector (EID) CT, with preserved image quality. The purpose of this study was to compare PCD CT and EID CT, reconstructed with and without a denoising tool, in terms of image quality of the osseous pelvis in a phantom, with attention to low radiation doses. A pelvic phantom comprising human bones in acrylic material mimicking soft tissue underwent PCD CT and EID CT at various tube potentials and radiation doses ranging from 0.

Photon-Counting Detector CT Versus Energy-Integrating Detector CT of the Lumbar Spine: Comparison of Radiation Dose and Image Quality.

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT could be useful to help address the typically high radiation doses of conventional energy-integrating detector (EID) CT of the lumbar spine. The purpose of our study was to compare PCD CT and EID CT of the lumbar spine, both performed using tin filtration, in terms of radiation dose and image quality. This study included a prospective sample of 39 patients (22 men, 17 women; mean age, 27.

Dark-field X-ray imaging for the assessment of osteoporosis in human lumbar spine specimens.

Dark-field imaging is a novel imaging modality that allows for the assessment of material interfaces by exploiting the wave character of x-ray. While it has been extensively studied in chest imaging, only little is known about the modality for imaging other tissues. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a clinical X-ray dark-field scanner prototype allows for the assessment of osteoporosis.