Extracoronary Thoracic and Coronary Artery Calcifications on Chest CT for Lung Cancer Screening: Association with Established Cardiovascular Risk Factors - The "CT-Risk" Trial.

Rationale And Objectives: To investigate the correlation between prevalence and degree of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and extracoronary calcifications (ECCs), scored quantitatively according to Agatston and semiquantitatively by visual analysis, in chest computed tomography (CT) studies obtained for lung cancer screening in asymptomatic subjects and in patients with known coronary heart disease (CHD), and to compare the association of ECC and CAC to established cardiovascular risk factors.

Materials And Methods: Prospective study on 501 males (67 ± 8 years) with a history of working dust exposure who underwent nongated low-dose chest CT for lung cancer screening. Of these, 63 (12.

Multicenter evaluation of dynamic three-dimensional magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging for the detection of coronary artery disease defined by fractional flow reserve.

Background: First-pass myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging yields high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, standard 2D multislice CMR perfusion techniques provide only limited cardiac coverage, and hence considerable assumptions are required to assess myocardial ischemic burden. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the diagnostic performance of 3D myocardial perfusion CMR to detect functionally relevant CAD with fractional flow reserve (FFR) as a reference standard in a multicenter setting.

Diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging versus positron emission tomography/computed tomography for early response assessment of liver metastases to Y90-radioembolization.

Objectives: Patients with hepatic metastases who are candidates for Y90-radioembolization (Y90-RE) usually have advanced tumor stages with involvement of both liver lobes. Per current guidelines, these patients have usually undergone several cycles of potentially hepatotoxic systemic chemotherapy before Y90-RE is at all considered, requiring split (lobar) treatment sessions to reduce hepatic toxicity. Assessing response to Y90-RE early, that is, already after the first lobar session, would be helpful to avoid an ineffective and potentially hepatotoxic second lobar treatment.

Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Monitor Surgical Meshes: Correlating Imaging and Clinical Outcome of Patients Undergoing Inguinal Hernia Repair.

Objectives: From a surgeon's point of view, meshes implanted for inguinal hernia repair should overlap the defect by 3 cm or more during implantation to avoid hernia recurrence secondary to mesh shrinkage. The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible meshes now offers the opportunity to noninvasively monitor whether a hernia is still covered sufficiently in the living patient. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the efficacy of hernia repair after mesh implantation based on MRI findings (mesh coverage, visibility of hernia structures) and based on the patient's postoperative symptoms.

Diffusion-weighted MRI does not reflect kidney fibrosis in a rat model of fibrosis.

Purpose: To assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a specific marker of renal fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

Materials And Methods: Thirteen rats were analyzed in group 1 (n = 4), group 2 (n = 3), and group 3 (n = 6) and measured using a clinical 3.0T MR scanner.

Surgical treatment of neonatal mastitis by periareolar drainage.

Purpose: Neonatal mastitis is a rare but challenging problem that commonly appears within the first 8 weeks after birth. Abscess formation in an infant's breast can lead to acute complications and longterm dysfunction. To our knowledge, no publication focuses on surgical techniques and postoperative care to avoid breast scarring in neonates.

Cell therapy for chemically induced ovarian failure in mice.

Cell therapy has been linked to an unexplained return of ovarian function and fertility in some cancer survivors. Studies modeling this in mice have shown that cells transplantation generates donor-derived oocytes in chemotherapy-treated recipients. This study was conducted to further clarify the impact of cell transplantation from different sources on female reproductive function after chemotherapy using a preclinical mouse model.

Digital breast tomosynthesis-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: initial experiences and comparison with prone stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy.

Purpose: To use digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) to sample target lesions identified at full-field digital screening mammography and compare clinical performance with that of prone stereotactic (PS) VAB.

Materials And Methods: In this institutional review board-approved study, 205 patients with 216 mammographic findings suspicious for cancer were scheduled to undergo mammography-guided VAB. Written informed consent was obtained.

Late enhanced computed tomography in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy enables accurate left-ventricular volumetry.

Objectives: Late enhancement (LE) multi-slice computed tomography (leMDCT) was introduced for the visualization of (intra-) myocardial fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). LE is associated with adverse cardiac events. This analysis focuses on leMDCT derived LV muscle mass (LV-MM) which may be related to LE resulting in LE proportion for potential risk stratification in HCM.

Assessment of BI-RADS category 4 lesions detected with screening mammography and screening US: utility of MR imaging.

Purpose: To investigate the utility of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging according to different types of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 findings from screening mammography and/or screening ultrasonography (US).

Materials And Methods: This institutional review board-approved prospective study included 340 patients in whom 353 lesions were detected at screening mammography or US and were rated BI-RADS category 4 after appropriate conventional work-up. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Influence of trigger type, tube voltage and heart rate on calcified plaque imaging in dual source cardiac computed tomography: phantom study.

Background: To investigate the impact of high pitch cardiac CT vs. retrospective ECG gated CT on the quantification of calcified vessel stenoses, with assessment of the influence of tube voltage, reconstruction kernel and heart rate.

Methods: A 4D cardiac movement phantom equipped with three different plaque phantoms (12.

Contrast-enhanced postmortem computed tomography in clinical pathology: enhanced value of 20 clinical autopsies.

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a modern tool that complements autopsy diagnostics. In clinical autopsies, a major cause of death is cardiovascular disease. To improve the performance of PMCT in cardiovascular disease, full body angiography was developed (PMCT angiography [PMCTA]).

A miniature accelerometer-based guidance device for percutaneous computed tomography-guided punctures.

Purpose: Percutaneous punctures are often performed under computed tomography (CT) guidance using a freehand method. Especially in challenging cases, initial accuracy of the needle placement is highly dependent on the radiologist's experience. Thus, a miniature lightweight guidance device was developed which is capable of assisting a radiologist during the needle placement process.

Abbreviated breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): first postcontrast subtracted images and maximum-intensity projection-a novel approach to breast cancer screening with MRI.

Purpose: We investigated whether an abbreviated protocol (AP), consisting of only one pre- and one postcontrast acquisition and their derived images (first postcontrast subtracted [FAST] and maximum-intensity projection [MIP] images), was suitable for breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational reader study in 443 women at mildly to moderately increased risk who underwent 606 screening MRIs. Eligible women had normal or benign digital mammograms and, for those with heterogeneously dense or extremely dense breasts (n = 427), normal or benign ultrasounds.

In vivo MRI visualization of parastomal mesh in a porcine model.

Introduction: After two-dimensional plane MRI-visible mesh implants could be successfully visualized in phantom and small animal model, the aim of the underlying study was to explore the feasibility of an MRI visualization of complex three-dimensional mesh geometry in close contact to the intestine. We therefore used a MR-visible three-dimensional intra-peritoneal stoma (IPST) mesh in a porcine model.

Materials And Methods: Laparoscopic terminal sigmoid colostomy has been done with implantation of a prophylactic MRI-visible IPST mesh in two animals.

The use of contrast-enhanced post Mortem CT in the detection of cardiovascular deaths.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast enhanced post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in comparison to non-enhanced post mortem CT in the detection of cardiovascular causes of death (COD).

Background: As autopsy rates decline, new methods to determine CODs are necessary. So contrast enhanced PMCT shall be evaluated in comparison to established non-enhanced PMCT in order to further improve the method.

Vascular closure devices after endovascular procedures in swine: a reliable method?

Purpose: To investigate the safety and feasibility of the use of a vascular closure device (VCD) after endovascular procedures in swine.

Material And Methods: In a study on endovascular therapy, VCD (StarClose, Abbott Vascular, Il, USA) was used in 20 female swines to achieve immediate hemostasis after percutaneous right femoral artery (FA) access. 10 animals were sacrificed immediately after the study and 10 animals were sacrificed 28 days after the initial study.

Target lesion selection: an important factor causing variability of response classification in the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors 1.1.

Purpose: We conducted a systematic analysis of factors (manual vs automated and unidimensional vs 3-dimensional size assessment, and impact of different target lesion selection) contributing to variability of response categorization in the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors 1.1.

Patients And Methods: A total of 41 female patients (58.

Time-dependent changes of magnetic resonance imaging-visible mesh implants in patients.

Objectives: Shrinkage and deformation of mesh implants used for hernia treatment can be the cause of long-term complications. The purpose of this study was to quantify noninvasively time-dependent mesh shrinkage, migration, and configuration changes in patients who were surgically treated for inguinal hernia using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visible mesh implants.

Materials And Methods: In an agarose phantom, meshes in different shrinkage and folding conditions were used to validate the quantification process.

Jugular bulb abnormalities in patients with Meniere's disease using high-resolution computed tomography.

Temporal bone abnormalities such as hypoplasia of the vestibular aqueduct or hypopneumatization of the mastoid have been described in Meniere's disease (MD). Jugular bulb abnormalities (JBA) are one of the most common temporal bone abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of JBA in MD.

Effects of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors on breast tissue enhancement in dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging: a longitudinal intraindividual cohort study.

Purpose: To prospectively investigate the effects of two antihormonal medications, tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor (AI), on the degree of background enhancement in breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: This institutional review board-approved study was performed in 40 postmenopausal women (mean age, 63 years; range, 49-78 years) with unilateral breast cancer between January 2005 and December 2010. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

First in vivo visualization of MRI-visible IPOM in a rabbit model.

Background: Application of a mesh in presence of pneumoperitoneum may cause deformation or wave formation when gas is released. Moreover, mesh shrinkage during subsequent wound healing cannot be detected in vivo without invasive diagnostics. Using MRI-visible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mesh, the extend of mesh deformation and shrinkage could be objectified by MRI for the first time.

High-pitch carbon dioxide contrasted CT angiography: pilot study.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate CO2 computed tomography angiography (CO2-CTA) of the iliac and lower limb arteries in patients with contraindications for iodinated contrast agent (ICA).

Methods: Five patients with contraindications for ICA were examined using CO2-fluoroscopic enhanced angiography (CO2-FLA) and CO2-CTA using a high-pitch examination protocol. Objective (vessel diameter) and subjective (visual score) image quality parameters were evaluated.

Does MRI breast "density" (degree of background enhancement) correlate with mammographic breast density?

Purpose: To investigate whether mammographic breast densities and the respective degree of MRI background enhancement would correlate. Mammographic breast density is coded to communicate how likely a cancer is obscured by parenchyma. Similarly, background enhancement in breast MRI could obscure enhancing cancer tissue.