Assessing immunotherapy response: going beyond RECIST by integrating early tumor growth kinetics.

Objective: Assess the contribution of early tumor growth dynamics modeling to predict clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy, alongside standard RECIST 1.1 criteria.

Methods: Our retrospective studies used data from 861 patients with advanced NSCLC enrolled in three randomized Phase III trials evaluating immunotherapy plus chemotherapy were analyzed.

The ins and outs of errors in oncology imaging: the DAC framework for radiologists.

With the increasingly central role of imaging in medical diagnosis, understanding and monitoring radiological errors has become essential. In the field of oncology, the severity of the disease makes radiological error more visible, with both individual consequences and public health issues. The quantitative trend radiology allows to consider the diagnostic task as a problem of classification supported by the latest neurocognitive theories in explaining decision making errors, this purposeful model provides an actionable framework to support root cause analysis of diagnostic errors in radiology and envision corresponding risk-management strategies.

RECIST 1.1 assessments variability: a systematic pictorial review of blinded double reads.

Reader variability is intrinsic to radiologic oncology assessments, necessitating measures to enhance consistency and accuracy. RECIST 1.1 criteria play a crucial role in mitigating this variability by standardizing evaluations, aiming to establish an accepted "truth" confirmed by histology or patient survival.

Can we predict discordant RECIST 1.1 evaluations in double read clinical trials?

Background: In lung clinical trials with imaging, blinded independent central review with double reads is recommended to reduce evaluation bias and the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumor (RECIST) is still widely used. We retrospectively analyzed the inter-reader discrepancies rate over time, the risk factors for discrepancies related to baseline evaluations, and the potential of machine learning to predict inter-reader discrepancies.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed five BICR clinical trials for patients on immunotherapy or targeted therapy for lung cancer.

Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Radiomics Quality Score Assessment of CT Radiomics-Based Models Predicting Tumor EGFR Mutation Status in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Assessment of the quality and current performance of computed tomography (CT) radiomics-based models in predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Two medical literature databases were systematically searched, and articles presenting original studies on CT radiomics-based models for predicting EGFR mutation status were retrieved. Forest plots and related statistical tests were performed to summarize the model performance and inter-study heterogeneity.

Breaking down the RECIST 1.1 double read variability in lung trials: What do baseline assessments tell us?

Background: In clinical trials with imaging, Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) with double reads ensures data blinding and reduces bias in drug evaluations. As double reads can cause discrepancies, evaluations require close monitoring which substantially increases clinical trial costs. We sought to document the variability of double reads at baseline, and variabilities across individual readers and lung trials.

Differences in sensitivity to new therapies between primary and metastatic breast cancer: A need to stratify the tumor response?

Objective: We compared therapeutic response of Varlitinib + Capecitabine (VC) versus Lapatinib + Capecitabine (LC) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer after trastuzumab therapy by assessing changes in target lesion (TL) diameter and volume per location.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the CT data of the ASLAN001-003 study (NCT02338245). We analyzed TL size and number at each location focusing on therapeutic response from baseline to Week 12.

Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) in New Therapeutic Lung Cancer Trials.

Background: Double reads in blinded independent central reviews (BICRs) are recommended to control the quality of trials but they are prone to discordances. We analyzed inter-reader discordances in a pool of lung cancer trials using RECIST 1.1.

Intra-scan inter-tissue variability can help harmonize radiomics features in CT.

Objective: We studied the repeatability and the relative intra-scan variability across acquisition protocols in CT using phantom and unenhanced abdominal series.

Methods: We used 17 CT scans from the Credence Cartridge Radiomics Phantom database and 20 unenhanced multi-site non-pathologic abdominal patient series for which we measured spleen and liver tissues. We performed multiple measurements in extracting 9 radiomics features.

Letter to the editor: "Not all biases are bad: equitable and inequitable biases in machine learning and radiology".

Artificial intelligence algorithms are booming in medicine, and the question of biases induced or perpetuated by these tools is a very important topic. There is a greater risk of these biases in radiology, which is now the primary diagnostic tool in modern treatment. Some authors have recently proposed an analysis framework for social inequalities and the biases at risk of being introduced into future algorithms.

RECIST 1.1 and lesion selection: How to deal with ambiguity at baseline?

Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) is still the predominant criteria base for assessing tumor burden in oncology clinical trials. Despite several improvements that followed its first publication, RECIST continues to allow readers a lot of freedom in their evaluations. Notably in the selection of tumors at baseline.

Harmonization of radiomic feature distributions: impact on classification of hepatic tissue in CT imaging.

Objectives: Following the craze for radiomic features (RF), their lack of reliability raised the question of the generalizability of classification models. Inter-site harmonization of images therefore becomes a central issue. We compared RF harmonization processing designed to detect liver diseases in CT images.

Enhanced vertebra to disk ratio as a new semi-quantitative imaging biomarker for Gaucher disease patients.

Purpose: Gaucher disease (GD) is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder. The Vertebral Disk Ratio (VDR) is a semi-quantitative imaging biomarker designed to diagnose and monitor GD. Computed from standard T1 MRI images, the VDR is derived from 2D segmentations.

Myoma Hot Spot: Tumor-to-Tumor Metastasis of Thyroid Origin into Uterine Leiomyoma.

Introduction: Distant metastases of papillary thyroid cancers are rare. Most common metastatic sites include bone and lung, whereas metastases to brain, eye, breast, liver, kidney, muscle, and skin are infrequent and almost always appear in advanced-stage tumor disease. Metastases to ovary and/or uterus are even scarcer.

Mental health status of cancer research center's care givers: should we worry?

The status of mental health of physicians practicing in cancer research centers is evaluated. To date little information is given in research to date concerning the burnout syndrome. Recommendations are made for a better psychological development of caregivers.

Radiology workflow for RECIST assessment in clinical trials: Can we reconcile time-efficiency and quality?

Purpose: In oncology clinical trials, nonconformity issues are frequently reported. Radiological workload is increasing, thus reducing radiologists' availability and affecting diagnostic quality. We compared performances of a standard radiological workflow (SW) and a novel "hybrid workflow" (HW).

One-bloc percutaneous large biopsy of soft-tissue tumours: feasibility study and possible indications.

Aim: To report the early results of the Intact lesion excision system (LES) regarding feasibility, tolerance and efficiency in obtaining soft-tissue tumour samples under ultrasound guidance.

Materials And Methods: The feasibility and tolerance of Intact LES procedures under ultrasound guidance were studied prospectively in 15 patients. The procedure was performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia by a single interventional radiologist with 6 years of experience and lasted around 30 min.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Gastrostomy without Preliminary Placement of a Nasogastric Tube.

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) requires preliminary gastric inflation through a nasogastric tube (NGT) to safely perform gastric puncture. However, in case of pharyngeal or esophageal obstruction, NGT placement may be impossible even with a hydrophilic angiography catheter and wire. This brief report describes percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided gastrostomy with a 2-stick approach without nasogastric insufflation in 13 patients.

Focused ultrasound for the treatment of bone metastases: effectiveness and feasibility.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the treatment of bone metastases.

Methods: A single-center prospective study was made involving 17 consecutive patients with symptomatic bone metastases. Patients were treated by Focused Ultrasound (FUs) performed with magnetic resonance (MR) guidance.

Effects of relaxing therapies on patient's pain during percutaneous interventional radiology procedures.

Background: Interventional radiology procedures in cancer patients cause stress and anxiety. Our objective was to relate our experience in the use of sophrology techniques during interventional radiology procedures and evaluate the effects on patient's pain and anxiety.

Methods: We present a prospective observational study on 60 consecutive patients who underwent interventional radiology procedures in a context of oncologic management from September 2017 to March 2018.

A review of existing and potential computer user interfaces for modern radiology.

The digitalization of modern imaging has led radiologists to become very familiar with computers and their user interfaces (UI). New options for display and command offer expanded possibilities, but the mouse and keyboard remain the most commonly utilized, for usability reasons. In this work, we review and discuss different UI and their possible application in radiology.

How reliable are ADC measurements? A phantom and clinical study of cervical lymph nodes.

Objective: To assess the reliability of ADC measurements in vitro and in cervical lymph nodes of healthy volunteers.

Methods: We used a GE 1.5 T MRI scanner and a first ice-water phantom according to recommendations released by the Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance (QIBA) for assessing ADC against reference values.

Computer tomography-based body surface area evaluation for drug dosage: Quantitative radiology versus anthropomorphic evaluation.

Objective: The measure of body surface area (BSA) is a standard for planning optimal dosing in oncology. This index is derived from a model having questionable performances. In this study, we proposed measurement of BSA from whole body CT images (iBSA).