Optimal virtual monochromatic images for assessing metastatic lateral cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma using dual‑layer spectral detector computed tomography.

Purpose: To determine the optimal virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) from dual-layer spectral detector computed tomography for the visualization and diagnosis of metastatic lateral cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: Ninety-five lateral cervical LNs (49 metastatic and 46 non-metastatic) derived from 24 patients (16 females; mean age, 40.0 ± 13.

Effect of Hashimoto's thyroiditis on the dual-energy CT quantitative parameters and performance in diagnosing metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: To evaluate the effect of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) quantitative parameters of cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and its effect on the diagnostic performance and threshold of DECT in preoperatively identifying metastatic cervical LNs.

Methods: A total of 479 LNs from 233 PTC patients were classified into four groups: HT+/LN+, HT+/LN-, HT-/LN + and HT-/LN - group. DECT quantitative parameters including iodine concentration (IC), normalized IC (NIC), effective atomic number (Z), and slope of the spectral Hounsfield unit curve (λ) in the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase were compared.

Added value of arterial enhancement fraction derived from dual-energy computed tomography for preoperative diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer: initial results.

Objectives: To explore the added value of arterial enhancement fraction (AEF) derived from dual-energy computed tomography CT (DECT) to conventional image features for diagnosing cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: A total of 273 cervical LNs (153 non-metastatic and 120 metastatic) were recruited from 92 patients with PTC. Qualitative image features of LNs were assessed.

Influence of sex, age and thyroid function indices on dual-energy computed tomography-derived quantitative parameters of thyroid in patients with or without Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Purpose: To study the influence of sex, age and thyroid function indices on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)-derived quantitative parameters of thyroid in patients with or without Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).

Material And Methods: A total of 198 consecutive patients who underwent DECT scan of neck due to unilateral thyroid lesions were retrospectively enrolled. Iodine concentration (IC), total iodine content (TIC) and volume of normal thyroid lobe were calculated.

Texture analysis of diffusion kurtosis imaging for differentiating malignant from benign sinonasal lesions: added value to conventional imaging features.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of texture analysis (TA) of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in differentiating malignant from benign sinonasal lesions, and its added value to the conventional imaging features.

Methods: Fifty-eight patients with malignant and 40 patients with benign sinonasal lesions were retrospectively enrolled. Conventional CT and MRI features were reviewed.

Extracellular Volume Fraction Derived From Dual-Layer Spectral Detector Computed Tomography for Diagnosing Cervical Lymph Nodes Metastasis in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Preliminary Study.

Objectives: The current study evaluates the performance of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) derived extracellular volume (ECV) fraction based on dual-layer spectral detector CT for diagnosing cervical lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis from papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and compares it with the value of ECV derived from conventional single-energy CT (SECT).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-seven cervical LNs (81 non-metastatic and 76 metastatic) were recruited. Among them, 59 cervical LNs (27 non-metastatic and 32 metastatic) were affected by cervical root artifact on the contrast-enhanced CT images in the arterial phase.

Texture analysis of conventional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging for distinguishing sinonasal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of texture analysis (TA) of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis between sinonasal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Forty-two patients with sinonasal SCC and 30 patients with NHL were retrospectively enrolled. TAs were performed on T2-weighted image (T2WI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted image (T1WI).

Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: association between quantitative parameters derived from dual-energy CT and histopathological prognostic factors.

Background: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) can provide objective evaluation of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC).

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between quantitative parameters acquired from DECT and histopathological prognostic factors in LHSCC.

Material And Methods: A total of 65 patients with LHSCC who underwent arterial phase and venous phase DECT scans were retrospectively enrolled.

Radiomics from Primary Tumor on Dual-Energy CT Derived Iodine Maps can Predict Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Rationale And Objectives: To develop and validate 2 iodine maps based radiomics nomograms for preoperatively predicting cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) and central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Materials And Methods: A total of 346 patients with PTC were enrolled and allocated to training (242) and validation (104) sets. Radiomics features were extracted from arterial and venous phase iodine maps, respectively.

Influence of post-label delay time on the performance of 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging in the characterization of parotid gland tumors.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of post-label delay times (PLDs) on the performance of 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) magnetic resonance imaging for characterizing parotid gland tumors and to explore the optimal PLDs for the differential diagnosis.

Materials And Method: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with parotid gland tumors were enrolled, including 33 patients with pleomorphic adenomas (PAs), 16 patients with Warthin's tumors (WTs), and 9 patients with malignant tumors (MTs). 3D pCASL was scanned for each patient five times, with PLDs of 1025 ms, 1525 ms, 2025 ms, 2525 ms, and 3025 ms.

Longitudinal Multiparametric MRI Assessment of Irradiated Salivary Gland in a Rat Model: Correlated With Histological Findings.

Background: Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences have been applied to assess injured glands but without histological validation.

Purpose: To evaluate longitudinal changes in multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) of irradiated salivary glands in a rat model and investigate correlations between mp-MRI and histological findings.

Study Type: Prospective.

Feasibility study of using virtual non-contrast images derived from dual-energy CT to replace true non-contrast images in patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using virtual non-contrast (VNC) images derived from dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to replace true non-contrast (TNC) images of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients.

Methods: Images of 96 PTC patients were retrospectively analyzed. TNC images were acquired under the single-energy mode of DECT after the plain scanning.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Parotid Gland Tumors: Correlation and Comparison with Arterial Spin Labeling Imaging.

Objective: To compare and correlate the findings of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging in characterizing parotid gland tumors.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 56 patients with parotid gland tumors evaluated by MR imaging. The true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and fraction of perfusion (f) values of IVIM imaging and tumor-to-parotid gland signal intensity ratio (SIR) on ASL imaging were calculated.

Texture analysis of dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Computed tomography texture analysis (CTTA) provides objective and quantitative information regarding tumor heterogeneity beyond visual inspection. However, no study has yet used CTTA to differentiate metastatic from non-metastatic cervical lymph node in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Purpose: To evaluate the value of texture analysis of dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT images in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC.

Radiomics analysis of dual-energy CT-derived iodine maps for diagnosing metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Objective: To investigate the value of radiomics analysis of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)-derived iodine maps for preoperative diagnosing cervical lymph nodes (LNs) metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-five LNs (143 non-metastatic and 112 metastatic) were enrolled and allocated to training and validation sets (7:3 ratio). Radiomics features were extracted from arterial and venous phase iodine maps, respectively.

Added value of susceptibility-weighted imaging to diffusion-weighted imaging in the characterization of parotid gland tumors.

Purpose: To assess the added value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the characterization of parotid gland tumors.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients with pathologically confirmed parotid gland tumors, who underwent DWI and SWI for pre-surgery evaluation, were enrolled. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and degree of intratumoral susceptibility signal intensity (ITSS) were measured and compared between benign and malignant groups, and among pleomorphic adenoma (PA), Warthin tumor (WT) and malignant tumor (MT).

Utility of T2 mapping in the staging of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: efficiency of region of interest selection methods.

Background: Discriminating the stage of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is crucial for the treatment strategy and prognosis prediction. Utility of conventional magnetic resonance imaging in the disease staging is limited.

Purpose: To investigate the performance of T2 mapping based on different region of interest (ROI) selection methods in the staging of TAO.

Mechanics and Biology Interact in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Novel Composite Mouse Model.

The aim of this study was to distinguish the characteristics of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) originating from mechanics imbalance, biology disruption, and their communion, and to develop a composite IVDD model by ovariectomy combined with lumbar facetectomy for mimicking elderly IVDD with osteoporosis and lumbar spinal instability. Mice were randomly divided into four groups and subjected to sham surgery (CON), ovariectomy (OVX), facetectomy (mechanical instability, INS) or their combination (COM), respectively. Radiographical (n = 4) and histological changes (n = 8) of L4/5 spinal segments were analyzed.

Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Foraminoplasty and Decompression by Using a Visualization Reamer for Lumbar Lateral Recess and Foraminal Stenosis in Elderly Patients.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy has been widely used to treat lumbar disc herniation; its advantages are less trauma, faster recovery, lower costs, and higher percentage of patient satisfaction compared with open surgery. Treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with percutaneous full-endoscopic surgery is still challenging, especially for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and complex pathologic factors. The aim of this study was to introduce percutaneous full-endoscopic lumbar foraminoplasty and decompression using a visualization reamer in elderly patients with lateral recess and foraminal stenosis and evaluate efficacy and safety.

Differentiation between orbital malignant and benign tumors using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging: Correlation with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

To evaluate the performance of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for differentiating orbital malignant from benign tumors, and to assess the correlation between IVIM-DWI parameters and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters.Twenty-seven patients (17 benign and 10 malignant) with orbital tumors underwent 3.0T MRI examination for pre-treatment evaluation, including IVIM-DWI and DCE-MRI.

Cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis: A process of osteochondral remodeling resembles the endochondral ossification in growth plate?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative disease which causes pain and disability of joint and brings heavy socioeconomic burden in the world. However, the pathogenesis of OA has not been fully understood. Articular cartilage degradation or loss was often regarded as the characteristic of osteoarthritis.

Effect of laterality, gender, age and body mass index on the fat fraction of salivary glands in healthy volunteers: assessed using iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation method.

Objectives:: To evaluate the effect of laterality, gender, age and body mass index (BMI) on fat fraction (FF) measurements of both parotid glands (PGs) and submandibular glands (SMGs) by using: Iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation method (IDEAL-IQ).

Methods:: A total of 87 healthy participants were enrolled in our study. IDEAL-IQ image was scanned using a 3.

Osteoporosis of the vertebra and osteochondral remodeling of the endplate causes intervertebral disc degeneration in ovariectomized mice.

Background: Studies on the relationship between osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) are inconsistent. Therefore, we assessed whether IVDD is affected by vertebral osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice and investigated the underlying pathogenesis of IVDD related to osteoporosis.

Methods: Thirty healthy female C57BL/6 J mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (sham operation, n = 15) and an ovariectomy group (OVX; bilateral ovariectomy, n = 15).