A comparative study of experimental and simulated ultrasound beam propagation through cranial bones.

Transcranial ultrasound is used in a variety of treatments, including neuromodulation, opening the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapies. To ensure safety and efficacy of these treatments, numerical simulations of the ultrasound field within the brain are used for treatment planning and evaluation. This study investigates the accuracy of numerical modelling of the propagation of focused ultrasound through cranial bones.

Tips for success, managing the paediatric patient in radiology.

Paediatric radiology is a fascinating and diverse field of medicine with many opportunities to gain expertise in a range of imaging modalities and body areas. Working with children makes imaging both rewarding and challenging, due to the wide range of patient ages encountered and the inherent variation in developmental needs. This requires a patient-focussed approach to manage their anxiety and ensure cooperation of the patient and their carers.

Single-cell guided prenatal derivation of primary fetal epithelial organoids from human amniotic and tracheal fluids.

Isolation of tissue-specific fetal stem cells and derivation of primary organoids is limited to samples obtained from termination of pregnancies, hampering prenatal investigation of fetal development and congenital diseases. Therefore, new patient-specific in vitro models are needed. To this aim, isolation and expansion of fetal stem cells during pregnancy, without the need for tissue samples or reprogramming, would be advantageous.

Body weight-based iodinated contrast immersion timing for human fetal postmortem microfocus computed tomography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the length of time required to achieve full iodination using potassium tri-iodide as a contrast agent, prior to human fetal postmortem microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging.

Methods: Prospective assessment of optimal contrast iodination was conducted across 157 human fetuses (postmortem weight range 2-298 g; gestational age range 12-37 weeks), following micro-CT imaging. Simple linear regression was conducted to analyse which fetal demographic factors could produce the most accurate estimate for optimal iodination time.

An integrated single-cell analysis of human adrenal cortex development.

The adrenal glands synthesize and release essential steroid hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone, but many aspects of human adrenal gland development are not well understood. Here, we combined single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, IHC, and micro-focus computed tomography to investigate key aspects of adrenal development in the first 20 weeks of gestation. We demonstrate rapid adrenal growth and vascularization, with more cell division in the outer definitive zone (DZ).

Less-invasive autopsy for early pregnancy loss.

Autopsy investigations provide valuable information regarding fetal death that can assist in the parental bereavement process, and influence future pregnancies, but conventional autopsy is often declined by parents because of its invasive approach. This has led to the development of less-invasive autopsy investigations based on imaging technology to provide a more accessible and acceptable choice for parents when investigating their loss. Whilst the development and use of more conventional clinical imaging techniques (radiographs, CT, MRI, US) are well described in the literature for fetuses over 20 weeks of gestational age, these investigations have limited diagnostic accuracy in imaging smaller fetuses.

Computational investigation of the haemodynamics shows criticalities of central venous lines used for chronic haemodialysis in children.

Background: Haemodialysis is a life-saving treatment for children with kidney failure. The majority of children have haemodialysis through central venous lines (CVLs). The use of CVLs in pediatric patients is often associated to complications which can lead to their replacement.

Micro-CT Imaging of Pediatric Thyroglossal Duct Cysts: A Prospective Case Series.

To determine the feasibility of micro-CT as a high-resolution 3D imaging tool for thyroglossal duct cysts and to evaluate its role augmenting traditional histopathological examination of resected specimens. A single centre, prospective case series of consecutive children undergoing excision of a thyroglossal duct cyst was performed at a quaternary paediatric referral hospital in the United Kingdom. Consecutive children listed for excision of a thyroglossal duct cyst whose parents agreed to participate were included and there were no exclusion criteria.

Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration.

Background: Current clinical post-mortem imaging techniques do not provide sufficiently high-resolution imaging for smaller fetuses after pregnancy loss. Post-mortem micro-CT is a non-invasive technique that can deliver high diagnostic accuracy for these smaller fetuses. The purpose of the study is to identify the main predictors of image quality for human fetal post-mortem micro-CT imaging.

A pragmatic evidence-based approach to post-mortem perinatal imaging.

Post-mortem imaging has a high acceptance rate amongst parents and healthcare professionals as a non-invasive method for investigating perinatal deaths. Previously viewed as a 'niche' subspecialty, it is becoming increasingly requested, with general radiologists now more frequently asked to oversee and advise on appropriate imaging protocols. Much of the current literature to date has focussed on diagnostic accuracy and clinical experiences of individual centres and their imaging techniques (e.

Human fetal whole-body postmortem microfocus computed tomographic imaging.

Perinatal autopsy is the standard method for investigating fetal death; however, it requires dissection of the fetus. Human fetal microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) provides a generally more acceptable and less invasive imaging alternative for bereaved parents to determine the cause of early pregnancy loss compared with conventional autopsy techniques. In this protocol, we describe the four main stages required to image fetuses using micro-CT.

Improving uptake of perinatal autopsy.

Purpose Of Review: Uptake of perinatal autopsy has declined in the West over the past 30 years, largely because of reduced parental acceptance of a traditional invasive autopsy. Several studies have recently investigated the decline to identify the key factors and how they may be mitigated.

Recent Findings: Three main themes were identified that have been found to improve uptake of perinatal autopsy: improved communication, in particular ensuring the consent process was conducted as a conversation with time spent talking through the procedure and allowing time for questions; health professional training to ensure staff discussing autopsy with parents have adequate understanding of the procedure and are able to convey confidence and empathy; and availability of less invasive autopsy, including noninvasive as well as minimally invasive options.

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for the assessment of myocardial disarray, fibrosis and ventricular mass in a feline model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high-resolution imaging modality that provides accurate tissue characterization. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) occurs as a spontaneous disease in cats, and is characterized by myocardial hypertrophy, disarray and fibrosis, as in humans. While hypertrophy/mass (LVM) can be objectively measured, fibrosis and myocyte disarray are difficult to assess.

Postmortem microfocus computed tomography for noninvasive autopsies: experience in >250 human fetuses.

Background: Noninvasive imaging autopsy alternatives for fetuses weighing <500 grams are limited. Microfocus computed tomography has been reported as a viable option in small case series with the potential to avoid an invasive autopsy. Implementation of postmortem microfocus computed tomography in a large cohort as part of routine clinical service has yet been unreported, and realistic "autopsy prevention rates" are unknown.

Investigation of optimal sample preparation conditions with potassium triiodide and optimal imaging settings for microfocus computed tomography of excised cat hearts.

Objective: To determine optimal sample preparation conditions with potassium triiodide (IKI) and optimal imaging settings for microfocus CT (micro-CT) of excised cat hearts.

Sample: 7 excised hearts (weight range, 10 to 17.6 g) obtained from healthy adult cats after euthanasia by IV injection of pentobarbital sodium.

Assessment of the Spatial Heterogeneity of Breast Cancers: Associations Between Computed Tomography and Immunohistochemistry.

Background: Tumour heterogeneity is considered an important mechanism of treatment failure. Imaging-based assessment of tumour heterogeneity is showing promise but the relationship between these mathematically derived measures and accepted 'gold standards' of tumour biology such as immunohistochemical measures is not established.

Methods: A total of 20 women with primary breast cancer underwent a research dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography prior to treatment with data being available for 15 of these.

3D printing from microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) in human specimens: education and future implications.

Microfocus CT (micro-CT) is an imaging method that provides three-dimensional digital data sets with comparable resolution to light microscopy. Although it has traditionally been used for non-destructive testing in engineering, aerospace industries and in preclinical animal studies, new applications are rapidly becoming available in the clinical setting including post-mortem fetal imaging and pathological specimen analysis. Printing three-dimensional models from imaging data sets for educational purposes is well established in the medical literature, but typically using low resolution (0.

Early clinical applications for imaging at microscopic detail: microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT).

Microfocus CT (micro-CT) has traditionally been used in industry and preclinical studies, although it may find new applicability in the routine clinical setting. It can provide high-resolution three-dimensional digital imaging data sets to the same level of detail as microscopic examination without the need for tissue dissection. Micro-CT is already enabling non-invasive detailed internal assessment of various tissue specimens, particularly in breast imaging and early gestational fetal autopsy, not previously possible from more conventional modalities such as MRI or CT.

Predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer using volumetric helical perfusion computed tomography: a preliminary study.

Objectives: To investigate whether CT-derived vascular parameters in primary breast cancer predict complete pathological response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: Twenty prospective patients with primary breast cancer due for NAC underwent volumetric helical perfusion CT to derive whole tumour regional blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV) and flow extraction product (FE) by deconvolution analysis. A pCR was achieved if no residual invasive cancer was detectable on pathological examination.

Reproducibility of 2D and 3D fractal analysis techniques for the assessment of spatial heterogeneity of regional blood flow in rectal cancer.

Purpose: To characterize the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) fractal properties of rectal cancer regional blood flow assessed by using volumetric helical perfusion computed tomography (CT) and to determine its reproducibility.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Ten prospective patients (eight men, two women; mean age, 72.

Diffusion tensor imaging of the anal canal at 3 tesla: feasibility and reproducibility of anisotropy measures.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and reproducibility of 3-tesla diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the anal canal.

Materials And Methods: DTI was performed in 25 men with no clinical history of anal canal disease undergoing MRI for prostate cancer. Analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), relative anisotropy (RA), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were determined for the epithelial/subepithelial layer, internal sphincter, external sphincter, and puborectalis.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of desmoid tumours in familial adenomatous polyposis: initial experience.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of desmoid tumours in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Materials And Methods: Following ethical approval and informed consent, FAP patients with desmoids underwent DTI. Fractional anisotropy (FA), relative anisotropy (RA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were compared to control muscle using Mann-Whitney test; and to tumour site and signal intensity using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Radiation dose from volumetric helical perfusion CT of the thorax, abdomen or pelvis.

Purpose: To evaluate the radiation doses delivered during volumetric helical perfusion CT of the thorax, abdomen or pelvis.

Materials And Methods: The dose-length product (DLP) and CT dose index (CTDIvol) were recorded and effective dose (E) determined for patients undergoing CT (4D adaptive spiral) for tumour evaluation. Image noise and contrast to noise (CNR) at peak enhancement were also assessed for quality.