Predictive Value of Total Metabolic Tumor Burden Prior to Treatment in NSCLC Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibition.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the predictive value of the total metabolic tumor burden prior to treatment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: Pre-treatment 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans performed in two consecutive years for staging in adult patients with confirmed NSCLC were considered. Volume, maximum/mean standardized uptake value (SUVmax/SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were assessed per delineated malignant lesion (including primary tumor, regional lymph nodes and distant metastases) in addition to the morphology of the primary tumor and clinical data.

Additional Primary Tumors Detected Incidentally on FDG PET/CT at Staging in Patients with First Diagnosis of NSCLC: Frequency, Impact on Patient Management and Survival.

We aimed to assess the frequency of additional primary malignancies detected incidentally on [F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) at staging in NSCLC patients. Moreover, their impact on patient management and survival was assessed. Consecutive NSCLC patients with available staging FDG-PET/CT between 2020 and 2021 were retrospectively enrolled.

Predictive Value of Baseline FDG-PET/CT for the Durable Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in NSCLC Patients Using the Morphological and Metabolic Features of Primary Tumors.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the predictive value of baseline 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for durable responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) by linking the morphological and metabolic features of primary tumors (PTs) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: For the purpose of this single-center study, the imaging data of the patients with a first diagnosis of NSCLC and an available baseline FDG-PET/CT between 2020 and 2021 were retrospectively assessed. The baseline characteristics were collected based on clinical reports and interdisciplinary tumor board documentation.

Automatic determination of differential coronary artery motion minima for cardiac computed tomography optimal phase selection.

Rationale And Objectives: Selecting the optimal phase for coronary artery evaluation can be challenging, especially at higher heart rates, given that the optimal phase may differ for each of the coronary arteries. This study aimed to evaluate a novel vessel-specific algorithm which automatically outputs the minimum motion phase per coronary artery.

Materials And Methods: The study included 44 patients who underwent 256-slice cardiac computed tomography for evaluation of chest pain.

Quantification of aortic valve area at 256-slice computed tomography: comparison with transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization in subjects with high-grade aortic valve stenosis prior to percutaneous valve replacement.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare planimetric aortic valve area (AVA) measurements from 256-slice CT to those derived from transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and cardiac catheterization in high-risk subjects with known high-grade calcified aortic stenosis.

Methods And Materials: The study included 26 subjects (10 males, mean age: 79±6; range, 61-88 years). All subjects were clinically referred for aortic valve imaging prior to percutaneous aortic valve replacement from April 2008 to March 2009.

Coronary plaque imaging with 256-slice multidetector computed tomography: interobserver variability of volumetric lesion parameters with semiautomatic plaque analysis software.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential clinical value of coronary plaque imaging with a new generation CT scanner and the interobserver variability of coronary plaque assessment with a new semiautomatic plaque analysis application. Thirty-five isolated plaques of the left anterior descending coronary artery from 35 patients were evaluated with a new semiautomatic plaque analysis application. All patients were scanned with a 256-slice MDCT scanner (Brilliance iCT, Philips Healthcare, Cleveland OH, USA).

Prospectively gated axial CT coronary angiography: comparison of image quality and effective radiation dose between 64- and 256-slice CT.

Purpose: To compare image quality and effective radiation dose for prospectively gated axial CT coronary angiography on 64- and 256-slice CT.

Methods: The patient cohort consisted of 80 consecutive patients undergoing imaging with 256-slice CT and 80 patients with 64-slice CT. The two patient groups were demographically matched according to age, gender, body mass index and heart rate.

Pitfalls in abdominal diffusion-weighted imaging: how predictive is restricted water diffusion for malignancy.

Objective: As diffusion-weighted imaging is increasingly implemented into routine protocols of abdominal MRI, abnormal findings in expected and unexpected locations become more common. The aim of our retrospective study was to investigate the specificity of restricted diffusion in differentiation of benign from malignant abdominal disease.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred thirty consecutively registered patients underwent abdominal MRI including diffusion-weighted imaging (single-shot spin-echo echo-planar sequence) with b values of 0, 150, 500, and 1,000 s/mm(2).

Objective evaluation of vessel attenuation in multidetector-row computed tomographic pulmonary angiography using high-density contrast material for the detection of pulmonary embolism.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the pulmonary vessel enhancement obtainable using high-density contrast material and saline flushing with automated bolus tracking for multidetector-row computed tomographic (MDCT) pulmonary angiography in a routine clinical setting.

Methods: Attenuation values of pulmonary vessels were retrospectively measured in 51 CT scans performed on a 40-channel MDCT for unselected emergency patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism.

Results: Mean vascular attenuation measured 326.

Coronary MR imaging: navigator echo biofeedback increases navigator efficiency--initial experience.

Rationale And Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a respiratory biofeedback system could increase navigator efficiency and maintain image quality compared to conventional respiratory-gated magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA).

Materials And Methods: Eighteen healthy volunteers underwent MRCA using three different respiratory-gating protocols. A conventional expiratory free-breathing (FB) sequence was compared to two approaches using navigator echo biofeedback (NEB), a midinspiratory approach (NEBin) and an expiratory approach (NEBex).

Prospectively gated axial CT coronary angiography: preliminary experiences with a novel low-dose technique.

To assess image quality and radiation exposure with prospectively gated axial CT coronary angiography (PGA) compared to retrospectively gated helical techniques (RGH). Forty patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) and a stable heart rate below 65 bpm underwent CT coronary angiography (CTCA) using a 64-channel CT system. The patient cohort consisted of 20 consecutive patients examined using a PGA technique and 20 patients examined using a standard RGH technique.

Multienergy photon-counting K-edge imaging: potential for improved luminal depiction in vascular imaging.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether spectral computed tomography (CT) has the potential to improve luminal depiction by differentiating among intravascular gadolinium-based contrast agent, calcified plaque, and stent material by using the characteristic k edge of gadolinium. A preclinical spectral CT scanner with a photon-counting detector and six energy threshold levels was used to scan a phantom vessel. A partially occluded stent was simulated by using a calcified plaque isoattenuated to a surrounding gadolinium chelate solution.

Bowel preparation for CT-colonography: comparison of two different cleansing protocols.

Objective: Comparison of cleansing effects and colonic distension observed with two polyethyleneglycol-solution (PEG) containing bowel preparation techniques prior to CT-colonography (CTC).

Materials And Methods: One hundred and three patients that received CTC in our institution were retrospectively evaluated. Fifty-one patients received preparation 1 (BP1; based on a GoLytely formulation+bisacodyl), 52 preparation 2 (BP2; based on a NuLytely formulation+bisacodyl).

Noninvasive detection of coronary artery stenosis using 16-slice spiral CT: a comparison with selective X-ray coronary angiography.

The role of 16-slice spiral CT was evaluated in the diagnosis of coronary stenosis, with selective X-ray coronary angiography (SCA) serving as the reference standard. Sixty-five patients who were suspected of having coronary heart disease, without percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary bypass-grafting, were investigated using 16-slice CT. Eight patients with pre-scan heart rate of more than 80 beats/min were given beta-blockers.

Accuracy of 16-row multidetector computed tomography for the assessment of coronary artery stenosis.

Context: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been proposed as a noninvasive method to evaluate coronary anatomy.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of 16-row MDCT for the detection of obstructive coronary disease based exclusively on quantitative analysis and performed in a multicenter study.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Eleven participating sites prospectively enrolled 238 patients who were clinically referred for nonemergency coronary angiography from June 2004 through March 2005.

Enhancing gray-to-white matter contrast in 3T T1 spin-echo brain scans by optimizing flip angle.

Background And Purpose: Compared with MR imaging at 1.5T T1-weighted spin-echo imaging at 3T shows up with reduced gray-to-white matter contrast. The purpose of the present study was to show the effects of alterations of different flip angles as an easily accessible parameter to increase gray-to-white matter contrast.

Automatic determination of minimal cardiac motion phases for computed tomography imaging: initial experience.

Low motion phases for cardiac computed tomography reconstructions are currently detected manually in a user-dependent selection process which is often time consuming and suboptimal. The concept of motion maps was recently introduced to achieve automatic phase selection. This pilot study compared the accuracy of motion-map phase selection to that with manual iterative selection.

Noninvasive coronary angiography with multislice computed tomography.

Context: Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has recently evolved as a modality for noninvasive coronary imaging.

Objective: To assess the accuracy and robustness of MSCT vs the criterion standard of invasive coronary angiography for detection of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Prospective, single-center study conducted in a referral center setting in Germany and enrolling 103 consecutive patients (mean age, 61.

Multislice MR first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging: impact of the receiver coil array.

Purpose: To compare a new 12-element body phased-array coil with a conventional four-element surface receiver coil array to provide increased signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for cardiac steady state free precession (SSFP) perfusion imaging.

Materials And Methods: Thirteen consecutive patients were included in the study. Patients were examined both with a four-element surface coil array and a 12-element body coil array.

Noninvasive coronary angiography with 16-detector row CT: effect of heart rate.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of heart rate on the quality of coronary angiograms obtained with 16-detector row computed tomography (CT) by using temporally enhanced three-dimensional (3D) approaches.

Materials And Methods: The local ethics committee approved the study, and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Fifty patients underwent coronary CT angiography (heart rate range, 45-103 beats per minute).