Texture analysis of chest X-ray images for the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Purpose: Medical imaging is one of the main methods of diagnosing COVID-19, along with real-time reverse trans-cription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. The purpose of the study was to analyse the texture parameters of chest X-rays (CXR) of patients suspected of having COVID-19.

Material And Methods: Texture parameters of the CXRs of 70 patients with symptoms typical of COVID-19 infection were analysed using LIFEx software.

Misidentification as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospital water supply samples.

Drinking water in hospitals is often tested for Pseudomonas aeruginosa because of its virulence potential. This article describes a case where, based on EN ISO 16266, seven of 11 (64%) samples taken simultaneously from the drinking water system at a single hospital tested positive for P. aeruginosa.

Tandem autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation with sequential use of total marrow irradiation and high-dose melphalan in multiple myeloma.

The goal of this phase II trial was to evaluate safety and efficacy of a tandem autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) using sequentially total marrow irradiation (TMI) at the dose of 12 Gy (4 Gy on days -3, -2, and -1) and melphalan 200 mg/m for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). TMI was performed using helical tomotherapy. Additional "boosts" (total 24 Gy) were applied for patients with active lesions as revealed by PET-FDG.

Improved imaging of colorectal liver metastases using single-source, fast kVp-switching, dual-energy CT: preliminary results.

Purpose: Computed tomography remains the first-choice modality for assessment of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is a relatively new technique that is becoming increasingly available. One of the advantages of DECT is the ability to maximise iodine detection.

Contemporary follow-up imaging after endovascular repair of lower extremity atherosclerotic lesions.

Atherosclerotic disease is currently one of the most important problems of modern medicine because it is a leading cause of increased morbidity, morbidity and mortality, and disability in the Western World. Atherosclerosis of the lower limbs (peripheral arterial disease - PAD) significantly affects the quality of life and in a considerable proportion of patients is a cause of disability. Radical treatment of PAD, both surgical and endovascular, aims at revascularisation of ischaemic tissues distal to obstructed arteries.

Contemporary imaging methods for the follow-up after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair: a review.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is defined as a localized enlargement of the aortic cross-section where the diameter is greater than 3 cm or more than 50% larger than the diameter in a normal segment. The most important complication of AAA is rupture, which, if untreated, results in mortality rates of up to 90%. Conventional open surgical repair is associated with significant 30-day mortality.

Coronary age, based on coronary calcium measurement, is increased in patients with morbid obesity.

Purpose: Obesity is a well-known of risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, recently an "obesity paradox" has been discussed, which is considered as a protective effect of obesity on the development coronary artery disease (CAD). An aim of the study was to investigate the risk of CAD in morbidly obese patients using coronary artery calcium measurement.

IMRT/VMAT dose distributions generated for and collimators and accelerators.

Aim: The aim of this study is to answer the question whether the calculated dose distributions for HD and Millennium collimators (Varian Medical Systems) are equivalent for large treatment volumes.

Background: Modern biomedical linacs are equipped with multileaf collimators where leaves can be of different widths. Thinner leaves allow better fit to desired (tumor) shape.

Chest adipose tissue distribution in patients with morbid obesity.

Purpose: Obesity is a well-known of risk factor for atherosclerosis and the amount of visceral adipose tissue is considered as an independent predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). An aim of the study was to investigate the distribution of intrathoracic adipose tissue in morbidly obese patients.

Material And Methods: Fifty-one patients with morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m) and thirty controls were scanned in a coronary calcium scoring protocol.

18-Fluorodeoxy-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography- Computed Tomography (18-FDG-PET/CT) for Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) Delineation in Gastric Cancer Radiotherapy.

Purpose: Evaluation of the 18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18-FDGPET/ CT) for gross tumor volume (GTV) delineation in gastric cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: In this study, 29 gastric cancer patients (17 unresectable and 7 inoperable) were initially enrolled for radical chemoradiotherapy (45Gy/25 fractions + chemotherapy based on 5 fluorouracil) or radiotherapy alone (45Gy/25 fractions) with planning based on the 18-FDG-PET/CT images. Five patients were excluded due to excess blood glucose levels (1), false-negative positron emission tomography (1) and distant metastases revealed by 18-FDG-PET/CT (3).

Delineation of Margins for the Planning Target Volume (PTV) for Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) of Gastric Cancer Based on Intrafraction Motion.

Background: Application of the image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) system for gastric cancer involving daily verification of patient positioning on the treatment machine allows minimisation of geometrical errors as a consequence of intra- and inter-fraction motion. The purpose of this study was to define the intrafraction motion in gastric cancer patients during a treatment session based on the IGRT system and designation of margins around the clinical target volume CTV (internal target volume ITV) necessary to delineate the planning target volume (PTV). Methods: Twenty gastric cancer patients were analysed.

Can we obtain planning goals for conformal techniques in neoadjuvant and adjuvant radiochemotherapy for gastric cancer patients?

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare conformal radiotherapy techniques used in the treatment of gastric cancer patients. The study is dedicated to radiotherapy centres that have not introduced dynamic techniques in clinical practice.

Background: The implementation of multi-field technique can minimise the toxicity of treatment and improve dose distribution homogeneity in the target volume with simultaneous protection of organs at risk (OaRs).

Protection of organs at risk during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer based on a comparison between conformal and intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

The aim of the present study was to compare the techniques of dynamic intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in patients with gastric cancer. Implementation of the IMRT technique does not significantly affect the minimum and maximum dose levels in the planning target volume (PTV), but more effectively protects the critical organs. The study group consisted of 25 patients.

Influence of interfraction motion on margins for radiotherapy of gastric cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate interfraction uncertainties using kilovoltage (kV) radiographs for patients with gastric cancer during chemoradiotherapy and to calculate the planning target volume (PTV) margins.

Methods: 1284 measurements of set-up errors were analysed for treated patients. The measurements of craniocaudal (axis y), laterolateral (axis x) and anteroposterior (axis z) shifts in kV radiographs were performed.

Use of diagnostic imaging in the evaluation of gastrointestinal tract duplications.

Background: Gastrointestinal tract duplication is a rare malformation associated with the presence of additional segment of the fetal gut. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review clinical features and imaging findings in intraoperatively confirmed cases of gastrointestinal tract duplication in children.

Material/methods: The analysis included own material from the years 2002-2012.

[Evaluation of GoldAnchorTM fiducial marker migration during the planning of radiation treatment for patients with prostate cancer].

Introduction: The use of fiducial markers in patients undergoing teleradiotherapy increases the precision of treatment under the condition that the marker does not displace itself during this treatment. In order to determine the accuracy of the verification method used to establish patient position, it is necessary to establish the possible marker migration range during planning and treatment with radiation therapy.

Material And Method: An analysis of the migration of GoldAnchorTM fiducial markers implanted in the prostate conducted on a group of 29 patients treated with image-guided radiation therapy at the Radiotherapy Department of the Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology in Gliwice.

Comparison of dose distribution in IMRT and RapidArc technique in prostate radiotherapy.

Aim: The aim was to provide a dosimetric comparison between IMRT and RapidArc treatment plans with RPI index with simultaneous comparison of the treatment delivery time.

Background: IMRT and RapidArc provide highly conformal dose distribution with good sparing of normal tissues. However, a complex spatial dosimetry of IMRT and RapidArc plans hampers the evaluation and comparison between plans calculated for the two modalities.

[Comparison of two image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) methods used for prostate cancer patients--CBCT and 2D-2D kV].

The IGRT notion (image guided radiation therapy) comprises all techniques enabling checking and correction of patients position directly before or during an irradiation session. In last years they became a standard in radiotherapy due to decreasing of geographical misses. The aim of our study was a comparison of two IGRT techniques--CBCT and 2D-2D kV performed for prostate cancer patients and a comparison of two immobilization systems used for them.