Contrast vector imaging for differential diagnosis of focal liver lesions: Analysis of tumoral vascular structures and flow characteristics.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of contrast vector imaging (CVI) in detecting tumoral vascular structures and flow characteristics of focal liver lesions (FLLs) for differential diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, 65 participants with FLLs underwent CEUS using SonoVue with high-frame-rate imaging technique between July 2019 and October 2020. CVI was obtained by post-processing arterial cine imaging of CEUS.

Artificial intelligence-based body composition analysis using computed tomography images predicts both prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus.

Aim/introduction: We assess the efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI)-based, fully automated, volumetric body composition metrics in predicting the risk of diabetes.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional and 10-year retrospective longitudinal study. The cross-sectional analysis included health check-up data of 15,330 subjects with abdominal computed tomography (CT) images between January 1, 2011, and September 30, 2012.

Survey of Experts' Opinions on the Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms.

Objective: To survey experts' opinions in abdominal radiology (radiologists) and pancreas-specialized gastroenterology (pancreatologists) in South Korea regarding diagnosing and managing pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs).

Materials And Methods: Between August 25, 2023, and October 5, 2023, an online survey was conducted among members of the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology and the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association via email invitation.

Results: The responses from 100 radiologists and 41 pancreatologists were analyzed.

Comparison of image quality and lesion conspicuity between conventional and deep learning reconstruction in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI.

Objective: To compare the image quality and lesion conspicuity of conventional vs deep learning (DL)-based reconstructed three-dimensional T1-weighted images in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This prospective study (NCT05182099) enrolled participants scheduled for gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI due to suspected focal liver lesions (FLLs) who provided signed informed consent. A liver MRI was conducted using a 3-T scanner.

Imaging cholangiocarcinoma: CT and MRI techniques.

Cross-sectional imaging plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, staging, and resectability assessment of intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Despite this vital function, there is a lack of standardized CT and MRI protocol recommendations for imaging cholangiocarcinoma, with substantial differences in image acquisition across institutions and vendor platforms. In this review, we present standardized strategies for the optimal imaging assessment of cholangiocarcinoma including contrast media considerations, patient preparation recommendations, optimal contrast timing, and representative CT and MRI protocols with individual sequence optimization recommendations.

Effects of Side Flattening on Torsional and Cyclic Fracture Resistance of Nickel-Titanium File.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of side flattening of cutting flutes on the cyclic resistance and torsional resistance of nickel-titanium files.

Methods: Both novel flattened Platinum V.EU (PL) and standard nonflattened CC Premium V.

Erratum: Diagnostic Performance of Rectal CT for Staging Rectal Cancer: Comparison with Rectal MRI and Histopathology.

[This corrects the article on p. 1290 in vol. 84, PMID: 38107688.

Prognostic value of initial and longitudinal changes in body composition in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Background: Sarcopenia or visceral adipose tissue has been reported to be related to pancreatic cancer prognosis. However, clinical relevance of the comprehensive analysis of body compositions and their longitudinal changes is lacking. This study analysed the association between body composition changes after chemotherapy and survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography-CT/MRI fusion guidance for percutaneous ablation of inconspicuous, small liver tumors: improving feasibility and therapeutic outcome.

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is pivotal for treating small malignant liver tumors, but tumors often remain inconspicuous on B-mode ultrasound (US). This study evaluates the potential of CEUS-CT/MRI fusion imaging (FI) to improve tumor visibility and the associated RFA outcomes for small (≤ 3 cm) malignant liver tumors that were inconspicuous on US.

Methods: Between January 2019 and April 2021, a prospective study enrolled 248 patients with liver malignancies (≤ 3 cm) that were poorly visible on B-mode US.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: diagnostic value of MRI features in differentiating pathologic subclassifications-type 1 versus type 2.

Objectives: To identify MRI features for differentiating type 2 from type 1 intraductal papillary neoplasms of bile duct (IPNB) and assessing malignant potential of IPNB.

Methods: This retrospective study included 60 patients with surgically proven IPNB who had undergone preoperative MRI between January 2007 and December 2020. All surgical specimens were reviewed retrospectively to classify types 1 and 2 IPNBs and assess tumor grade.

Diagnostic Performance of Rectal CT for Staging Rectal Cancer: Comparison with Rectal MRI and Histopathology.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of rectal CT with that of high-resolution rectal MRI and histopathology in assessing rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-seven patients with rectal cancer who underwent rectal CT with rectal distension using sonographic gel and high-resolution MRI were enrolled in this study. The distance from the anal verge/anorectal junction, distance to the mesorectal fascia (MRF), extramural depth (EMD), extramesorectal lymph node (LN) involvement, extramural venous invasion (EMVI), and T/N stages in rectal CT/MRI were analyzed by two gastrointestinal radiologists.

Application of a deep learning algorithm for three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo imaging of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in patients at a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a vendor-specific deep learning reconstruction algorithm (DLRA) in enhancing image quality and focal lesion detection using three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo images in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients at a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 83 high-risk patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI using a 3-T scanner. Triple arterial phase, high-resolution portal venous phase, and high-resolution hepatobiliary phase images were reconstructed using conventional reconstruction techniques and DLRA (AIR Recon DL; GE Healthcare) for subsequent comparison.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound With Perfluorobutane for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnosis: Comparison of Imaging Phases and Diagnostic Criteria.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with perfluorobutane has used varying protocols and diagnostic criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this article was to assess diagnostic performance for HCC of CEUS with perfluorobutane in high-risk patients using various criteria. This retrospective post hoc study evaluating individual patient data from three earlier prospective studies from one hospital included 204 patients (136 men, 68 women; mean age, 63 ± 11 [SD] years) at high risk of HCC with 213 liver observations.

Renal protection CT protocol using low-dose and low-concentration iodine contrast medium in at-risk patients of HCC and with chronic kidney disease: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Although efforts have been made to reduce the dose of Contrast Medium (CM) to improve patient safety, there are ongoing concerns regarding its potential effects on image quality and diagnostic performance. Moreover, research is lacking to establish a lower limit for safe and effective CM dose reduction. To determine whether the image quality of contrast-enhanced liver computed tomography (CT) using a reduced amount of iodinated CM was similar to that of standard liver CT.

Comparison Between Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography and Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography for Resectability Assessment in Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement between contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for evaluating the resectability in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included treatment-naïve patients with pathologically confirmed eCCA, who underwent both CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP using extracellular contrast media between January 2015 and December 2020. Among the 214 patients (146 males; mean age ± standard deviation, 68 ± 9 years) included, 121 (56.

Deep learning-based iodine contrast-augmenting algorithm for low-contrast-dose liver CT to assess hypovascular hepatic metastasis.

Purpose: To investigate the image quality and diagnostic performance of low-contrast-dose liver CT using a deep learning-based iodine contrast-augmenting algorithm (DLICA) for hypovascular hepatic metastases.

Methods: This retrospective study included 128 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT for hepatic metastasis surveillance between July 2019 and June 2022 using a 30% reduced iodine contrast dose in the portal phase. Three image types were reconstructed: 50-keV virtual monoenergetic images (50-keV VMI); linearly blended images simulating 120-kVp images (120-kVp); and post-processed 120-kVp images using DLICA (DLICA 120-kVp).

Anatomical ablation for small hepatocellular carcinomas using multiple applicators: a preliminary study.

Background: Anatomical ablation, defined as thermal ablation of tumor-bearing small portal territories, may provide excellent local tumor control in peripherally-located small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), which has been a major concern with percutaneous ablation alone.

Purpose: To evaluate the technical feasibility and therapeutic outcomes of anatomical ablation using multiple radiofrequency (RF) applicators for the ablation of tumor-bearing small portal territories of peripherally-located small (≤ 4 cm) HCCs.

Materials And Methods: Patients with peripherally-located single HCCs (≤ 4 cm) to be treated with anatomical ablation using multiple RF applicators between January 2020 and March 2022 were enrolled in this prospective study.