In-vitro Detection of Intramammary-like Macrocalcifications Using Susceptibility-weighted MR Imaging Techniques at 1.5T.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate the technical accuracy of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) created to detect intramammary-like calcifications depending on different TEs, volume, and type of calcification samples at 1.5T.

Methods: Jello-embedded particles of blackboard chalk and ostrich eggshell ranging in size from 4 to 25 mm were used to simulate intramammary calcifications after testing different base substances and calcifications for their suitability to be used in breast phantoms.

Quantifying and visualizing abdominal hemodynamics in patients with Fontan circulation by 4D phase-contrast flow magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T.

Background: Liver fibrosis has been recognized as a long-term morbidity associated with Fontan circulation (Fontan-associated liver disease, FALD). The pathophysiology of FALD is not completely understood and abnormal flow dynamics may be associated with this condition. Liver hemodynamics can be quantitatively evaluated with four-dimensional phase-contrast flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D PC flow MRI).

Tricuspid Regurgitation and TAVR: Outcomes, Risk Factors and Biomarkers.

. The significance of concomitant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the context of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the severity of TR before and after TAVR with regard to short- and long-term survival and to analyze the influencing factors.

Detection of Spinal Cord Multiple Sclerosis Lesions Using a 3D-PSIR Sequence at 1.5 T.

Purpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent autoimmune inflammatory disease. Besides cerebral manifestations, an affection of the spinal cord is typical; however, imaging of the spinal cord is difficult due to its anatomy. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of a 3D PSIR pulse sequencing at a 1.

Clinical Value of Using Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Before Elective CT Coronary Angiography to Reduce Heart Rate and the Need for Beta-Blockers.

The value of biofeedback before elective coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to reduce patients' heart rates (HR) was investigated in the current work. Sixty patients who received CCTA to exclude coronary artery disease were included in our study and separated into two groups: with biofeedback (W-BF) and without biofeedback (WO-BF). The W-BF group used a biofeedback device for 15 min before CCTA.

Pulmonary valve reconstruction for acquired pulmonary regurgitation in patients with treated congenital heart disease.

Objectives: Pulmonary valve regurgitation is a common problem after relief of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction with a transannular patch. Pulmonary valve replacement with a homograft or xenograft is the routine treatment. Longevity of biological valves and the availability of homografts are limited.

Evaluation of Lower Leg Arteries and Fibular Perforators before Microsurgical Fibular Transfer Using Noncontrast-Enhanced Quiescent-Interval Slice-Selective (QISS) Magnetic Resonance Angiography.

(1) Background: Preoperative imaging of the lower leg arteries is essential for planning fibular grafting. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of non-contrast-enhanced (CE) Quiescent-Interval Slice-Selective (QISS)-magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for reliably visualizing the anatomy and patency of the lower leg arteries and for preoperatively determining the presence, number, and location of fibular perforators. (2) Methods: The anatomy and stenoses of the lower leg arteries and the presence, number, and location of fibular perforators were determined in fifty patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors.

Clinical Evaluation of Non-Contrast-Enhanced Radial Quiescent-Interval Slice-Selective (QISS) Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Comparison to Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Angiography for the Evaluation of Endoleaks after Abdominal Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Purpose: Contrast-enhanced (CE) angiographic techniques, such as computed tomographic angiography (CE-CTA), are most commonly used for follow-up imaging after endovascular aneurysm repair. In this study, CE-CTA and non-CE QISS-MRA were compared for the first time for assessing endoleaks and aneurysms at follow-up after abdominal EVAR.

Methods: Our study included 20 patients (17 male, median age 79.

Influence of Spatial Resolution and Compressed SENSE Acceleration Factor on Flow Quantification with 4D Flow MRI at 3 Tesla.

Four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI allows quantifying flow in blood vessels-non invasively and in vivo. The clinical use of 4D flow MRI in small vessels, however, is hampered by long examination times and limited spatial resolution. Compressed SENSE (CS-SENSE) is a technique that can accelerate 4D flow dramatically.

Association between Duration of Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest and Surgical Outcome in Patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: A Large Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) is an established cerebral protection technique for the conduction of complex surgical procedures involving the aortic arch. It is controversial whether the duration of DHCA is associated with adverse outcome in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD). Our goal was to investigate whether DHCA time was associated with surgical outcome in patients undergoing a surgical treatment of AAAD.

Comparison of outcomes in DeBakey type I versus DeBakey type II aortic dissection: a 17-year single center experience.

Background: It is controversial if the type or the size of aortic dissection is associated with the mortality in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) type I or type II according to DeBakey. Due to the pronounced aortic pathology in DeBakey type I compared to DeBakey type II, it is to be expected, that the DeBakey type I is associated with a significant higher morbidity and mortality. But we hypothesize that the current advances in surgical techniques, circulatory management, and postoperative care improve the clinical outcome of patients with DeBakey type I and II.

Non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for characterization of Fontan associated liver disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to characterize Fontan associated liver disease (FALD) in adolescent and adult Fontan patients.

Methods: Fontan patients (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 13) underwent an MRI protocol with T, T and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) mapping. Routine FALD screening included abdominal ultrasound and laboratory testing.

Implementing a standardized and symptom-oriented flowchart "Kielsflow" for advanced cardiac imaging in a 24/7 interdisciplinary emergency department using spectral CT.

This work focuses on implementing a standardized and symptom-oriented flowchart for advanced cardiac imaging in a 24/7 emergency setting using a dual-layer spectral detector CT system. This flowchart was designed to optimize patient management and standardize imaging workflow. It includes acquisition parameters and contrast agent protocols for the most relevant clinical questions regarding cardiac CT imaging in the interdisciplinary emergency department.

Does the primary soft-tissue sarcoma configuration predict configuration of recurrent tumors on magnetic resonance imaging?

Background: Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignancies of the soft tissue.

Purpose: To assess whether the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) configuration of primary STS can predict the configuration of a recurring tumor and whether the MRI configuration of multiple recurrences differs in one and the same patient.

Material And Methods: Thirty-nine patients with histologically proven recurrent STS were included in this retrospective study and underwent pre- and post-treatment MRI.

Myocardial deformation in patients with a single left ventricle using 2D cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking: a case-control study.

Ventricular dysfunction is a well-known complication in single ventricle patients in Fontan circulation. As studies exclusively examining patients with a single left ventricle (SLV) are sparse, we assessed left ventricular (LV) function in SLV patients by using 2D-cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) feature tracking (2D-CMR-FT) and 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). 54 SLV patients (11.

Practicability and Diagnostic Yield of One-Stop Stroke CT with Delayed-Phase Cardiac CT in Detecting Major Cardioembolic Sources of Acute Ischemic Stroke : A Proof of Concept Study.

Purpose: Recurrent stroke is considered to increase the incidence of severe disability and death. For correct risk assessment and patient management it is essential to identify the origin of stroke at an early stage. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the initial standard of care for evaluating patients in whom a cardioembolic source of stroke (CES) is suspected but its diagnostic capability is limited.

Configuration of soft-tissue sarcoma on MRI correlates with grade of malignancy.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess whether the configuration of primary soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) on MRI correlates with the grade of malignancy.

Patients And Methods: 71 patients with histologically proven STS were included. Primary STS were examined for configuration, borders, and volume on MRI.

High-resolution, non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the wrist, hand and digital arteries using optimized implementation of Cartesian quiescent interval slice selective (QISS) at 1.5 T.

Purpose: Non-contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) techniques are of considerable interest for diagnosing vascular diseases in the upper extremities owing to the possibility of repeated examinations, sufficient coverage of the measurement volume, and because possible side effects of administering iodine- or gadolinium-based contrast agents and radiation exposure can be avoided. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an optimized electrocardiogram (ECG) triggered Cartesian quiescent interval slice selective (QISS) technique for MRA of hand arteries.

Material And Methods: Both hands of 20 healthy volunteers (HVs) were examined using an optimized QISS-MRA pulse sequence at 1.

Clinical Value of Noncontrast-Enhanced Radial Quiescent-Interval Slice-Selective (QISS) Magnetic Resonance Angiography for the Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism Compared to Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography and Cartesian Balanced Steady-State Free Precession.

Background: Free-breathing noncontrast-enhanced (non-CE) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) techniques are of considerable interest for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE), due to the possibility for repeated examinations, avoidance of side effects from iodine-based contrast agents, and the absence of ionizing radiation exposure as compared to CE-computed tomographic angiography (CTA).

Purpose: To analyze the clinical performance of free-breathing and electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated radial quiescent-interval slice-selective (QISS)-MRA compared to CE-CTA and to Cartesian balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP)-MRA.

Study Type: Prospective.

Non-contrast enhanced diagnosis of acute myocarditis based on the 17-segment heart model using 2D-feature tracking magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of myocardial deformation analysis based on the 17-segment heart model using non-contrast enhanced (CE) 2D tissue feature tracking (2D-FT) technique.

Material And Methods: Seventy patients with suspected myocarditis underwent a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) examination at 1.5 Tesla.

Publisher Correction: Heart beat but not respiration is the main driving force of the systemic venous return in the Fontan circulation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.