Electrocardiographic alterations by pneumothorax: a case-control study with review of the literature.

Background: Numerous ECG alterations due to pneumothorax have been reported. The objective of the study was to establish the presence of ECG changes associated with pneumothorax in the literature, and in a cohort of patients with proven pneumothorax compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Methods: A systematic review for ECG alterations associated with pneumothorax was performed.

Nano-analytical characterization of endogenous minerals in healthy placental tissue: mineral distribution, composition and ultrastructure.

Despite its crucial role, the placenta is the least understood human organ. Recent clinical studies indicate a direct association between placental calcification and maternal and offspring health. This study reveals distinct characteristics of minerals formed during gestational ageing using cutting-edge nano-analytical characterization and paves the way for investigations focused on the identification of potential markers for disease risks in a clinical setting based on atypical placental mineral fingerprints.

Organ-specific response to nivolumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Response to immune checkpoint inhibitors depends on tumor intrinsic properties and also on host factors in the tumour microenvironment including the presence of immune cells (IC). We hypothesized that nivolumab efficacy varies across different metastatic sites.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed computed tomography scans of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) receiving nivolumab.

Ultralow dose CT for pulmonary nodule detection with chest x-ray equivalent dose - a prospective intra-individual comparative study.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of ultralow radiation dose CT of the chest with tin filtration at 100 kV for pulmonary nodule detection.

Materials And Methods: 202 consecutive patients undergoing clinically indicated chest CT (standard dose, 1.8 ± 0.

Impact of Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction on Coronary Artery Calcium Quantification.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the influence of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) on the coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores by computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients underwent CAC imaging with dual-source 192-slice CT. Agatston, volume and mass score were calculated from filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstructions with different levels of ADMIRE.

Noise Texture Deviation: A Measure for Quantifying Artifacts in Computed Tomography Images With Iterative Reconstructions.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to introduce the measure noise texture deviation as quantitative parameter for evaluating iterative reconstruction (IR)-specific artifacts in computed tomography (CT) images and to test whether IR-specific artifacts, quantified through this measure, are reduced in advanced modeled IR (ADMIRE) as compared with sinogram-affirmed IR (SAFIRE) images of the liver ex vivo and in patients with hypodense liver lesions.

Materials And Methods: In the ex vivo study part, an abdominal phantom was used. In the institutional review board-approved in vivo study part, 40 consecutive patients (mean age, 63 years) with hypodense liver lesions undergoing abdominal CT in the portal-venous phase were included.

Correlation between Dual-Energy and Perfusion CT in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose To develop a dual-energy contrast media-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) protocol by using time-attenuation curves from previously acquired perfusion CT data and to evaluate prospectively the relationship between iodine enhancement metrics at dual-energy CT and perfusion CT parameters in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods Institutional review board and local ethics committee approval and written informed consent were obtained. The retrospective part of this study included the development of a dual-energy CT contrast-enhanced protocol to evaluate peak arterial enhancement of HCC in the liver on the basis of time-attenuation curves from previously acquired perfusion CT data in 20 patients.

Optimizing radiation dose by using advanced modelled iterative reconstruction in high-pitch coronary CT angiography.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) for optimizing radiation dose of high-pitch coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Methods: High-pitch 192-slice dual-source CCTA was performed in 25 patients (group 1) according to standard settings (ref. 100 kVp, ref.

Advanced virtual monoenergetic computed tomography of hyperattenuating and hypoattenuating liver lesions: ex-vivo and patient experience in various body sizes.

Objective: To determine the value of advanced virtual monoenergetic images (mono+) from dual-energy computed tomography (CT) of hyperattenuating and hypoattenuating liver lesions in various phantom sizes and patients in comparison with standard monoenergetic images (mono).

Materials And Methods: Anthropomorphic phantoms simulating 4 patient sizes (S, 300 × 200 mm; M, 350 × 250 mm; L, 400 × 300 mm; and XL, 600 × 450 mm) with a liver insert containing both hyperattenuating and hypoattenuating iodine-containing lesions were imaged with dose-equivalent dual-energy (100/150 Sn kilovolt [peak] [kV{p}]) and single-energy (120 kV[p]) protocols on a 192-slice dual-source CT system. In addition, 4 patients with 3 hypoattenuating and 3 hyperattenuating hepatocellular carcinoma were included and underwent dual-energy CT imaging with the same scanner at similar kV(p) settings (100/150 Sn kV[p]).

Performance of turbo high-pitch dual-source CT for coronary CT angiography: first ex vivo and patient experience.

Objectives: To evaluate image quality, maximal heart rate allowing for diagnostic imaging, and radiation dose of turbo high-pitch dual-source coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).

Methods: First, a cardiac motion phantom simulating heart rates (HRs) from 60-90 bpm in 5-bpm steps was examined on a third-generation dual-source 192-slice CT (prospective ECG-triggering, pitch 3.2; rotation time, 250 ms).

High-pitch coronary CT angiography with third generation dual-source CT: limits of heart rate.

To determine the average heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) required for diagnostic imaging of the coronary arteries in patients undergoing high-pitch CT-angiography (CTA) with third-generation dual-source CT. Fifty consecutive patients underwent CTA of the thoracic (n = 8) and thoracoabdominal (n = 42) aorta with third-generation dual-source 192-slice CT with prospective electrocardiography (ECG)-gating at a pitch of 3.2.

Systematic analysis on the relationship between luminal enhancement, convolution kernel, plaque density, and luminal diameter of coronary artery stenosis: a CT phantom study.

To systematically investigate into the relationships between luminal enhancement, convolution kernel, plaque density, and stenosis severity in coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography. A coronary phantom including 63 stenoses (stenosis severity, 10-90%; plaque densities, -100 to 1,000 HU) was loaded with increasing solutions of contrast material (luminal enhancement, 0-700 HU) and scanned in an anthropomorphic chest. CT data was acquired with prospective triggering using 64-section dual-source CT; reconstructions were performed with soft-tissue (B26f) and sharp convolution kernels (B46f).

Stenosis quantification in coronary CT angiography: impact of an integrated circuit detector with iterative reconstruction.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the value of an integrated circuit (IC) detector, potentially improving spatial resolution by means of reduced cross talk between detector channels, in coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography regarding image quality and stenosis quantification compared with conventional detector technology.

Materials And Methods: In the ex vivo part of the study, a coronary phantom including 63 defined stenoses and 7 plaque densities (degree of stenosis, 10%-90%; plaque densities, -100 to 1000 Hounsfield unit [HU]) was loaded with contrast agent diluted to 300 HU and placed in an anthropomorphic chest phantom. The phantom was scanned in 0-, 45-, and 90-degree orientations to the z-axis of the CT scanner table.

Prediction model to estimate presence of coronary artery disease: retrospective pooled analysis of existing cohorts.

Objectives: To develop prediction models that better estimate the pretest probability of coronary artery disease in low prevalence populations.

Design: Retrospective pooled analysis of individual patient data.

Setting: 18 hospitals in Europe and the United States.

Ventricular short-axis measurements in patients with pulmonary embolism: effect of ECG-gating on variability, accuracy, and risk prediction.

Objective: To assess prospectively the intra- and interobserver variability, accuracy, and prognostic value of right and left ventricular short-axis diameter (RVd and LVd) measurements for risk stratification in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) using ECG-gated compared to non-gated CT.

Materials And Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (33 women; mean age 58.7±10.

Computed high concentrations of low-density lipoprotein correlate with plaque locations in human coronary arteries.

Subendothelial accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in arterial walls is an initiator of atherosclerotic plaque formation. We report here on the correlation between healthy state subendothelial LDL concentration distribution and sites of subsequent plaque formation in coronary arteries of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We acquired left (LCA) and right coronary artery (RCA) and atherosclerotic plaque geometries of 60 patients with CAD using dual-source computed tomography angiography.

Coronary artery plaques and myocardial ischaemia.

Objective: To prospectively examine coronary artery plaques as predictors of myocardial ischaemia using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: Fifty-two patients (46 men; age 64 ± 10) with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) referred for catheter coronary angiography (CA) underwent CMR and computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA). All coronary segments were evaluated for morphological stenosis based on CA.

A clinical prediction rule for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease: validation, updating, and extension.

Aims: The aim was to validate, update, and extend the Diamond-Forrester model for estimating the probability of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in a contemporary cohort.

Methods And Results: Prospectively collected data from 14 hospitals on patients with chest pain without a history of CAD and referred for conventional coronary angiography (CCA) were used. Primary outcome was obstructive CAD, defined as ≥ 50% stenosis in one or more vessels on CCA.

Computed tomography of the lung in the high-pitch mode: is breath holding still required?

Objectives: To prospectively investigate whether the high-pitch mode (HPM) for computed tomography (CT) enables the diagnostic visualization of the lung parenchyma without suspended respiration.

Materials And Methods: A total of 40 consecutive patients (age, 67 ± 11 years) underwent 128-slice dual-source CT of the chest including nonenhanced, arterial, and venous phase of contrast. CT was performed in the HPM with a pitch of 3.

High-pitch 128-slice dual-source CT for the assessment of coronary stents in a phantom model.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the quality of stent lumen delineation using dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in the standard-pitch mode (SP) as compared to the high-pitch mode (HP) in a phantom study.

Materials And Methods: Forty different coronary stents placed in plastic tubes filled with contrast agent were imaged with a second generation DSCT system in a SP (pitch 0.23) and HP (pitch 3.

Dual-energy CT with tin filter technology for the discrimination of renal lesion proxies containing blood, protein, and contrast-agent. An experimental phantom study.

Purpose: To differentiate proxy renal cystic lesions containing protein, blood, iodine contrast or saline solutions using dual-energy CT (DECT) equipped with a new tin filter technology (TFT).

Materials And Methods: 70 proxies (saline, protein, blood and contrast agent) were placed in unenhanced and contrast-enhanced kidney phantoms. DECT was performed at 80/140 kV with and without tin filtering.

Coronary artery disease: which degree of coronary artery stenosis is indicative of ischemia?

Purpose: To prospectively determine the best cut-off value of stenosis degree for low-dose computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) to predict the hemodynamic significance of coronary artery stenoses compared to catheter angiography (CA) using a cardiac magnetic resonance based approach as standard of reference.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two patients (mean age, 64±10 years) scheduled for CA underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at 1.5-T and dual-source CTCA using prospective ECG-triggering the same day.

High-pitch dual-source CT angiography of the aortic valve-aortic root complex without ECG-synchronization.

Purpose: To compare image quality and radiation dose of high-pitch computed tomography angiography(CTA) of the aortic valve-aortic root complex with and without prospective ECG-gating compared to a retrospectively ECG-gated standard-pitch acquisition.

Materials And Methods: 120 patients (mean age 68±13 years) were examined using a 128-slice dual-source CT system using prospectively ECG-gated high-pitch (group A; n=40), non-ECG-gated high-pitch (group B; n=40) or retrospectively ECG-gated standard-pitch (C; n=40) acquisition techniques. Image quality of the aortic root, valve and ascending aorta including the coronary ostia was assessed by two independent readers.

High-pitch dual-source CT coronary angiography: systolic data acquisition at high heart rates.

Objective: To assess the effect of systolic data acquisition for electrocardiography (ECG)-triggered high-pitch computed tomography (CT) on motion artefacts of coronary arteries in patients with high heart rates (HRs).

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients (15 women, age 67 ± 14 years) with HR ≥ 70 bpm underwent CT angiography of the thoracic aorta (CTA) on 128-slice dual-source CT in ECG-triggered high-pitch acquisition mode (pitch = 3.2) set at 60% (group A, n = 40) or 30% (group B, n = 40) of the RR interval.

Low-dose, 128-slice, dual-source CT coronary angiography: accuracy and radiation dose of the high-pitch and the step-and-shoot mode.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy and radiation doses of two low-dose protocols for coronary artery imaging with second-generation, dual-source CT in comparison with catheter angiography (CA).

Design, Setting And Patients: Prospective, single-centre study conducted in a referral centre enrolling 100 patients with low-to-intermediate risk and suspicion of coronary artery disease. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced, 128-slice, dual-source CT coronary angiography and CA.