CT-determined resectability of borderline resectable and unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma following FOLFIRINOX therapy.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the ability of CT-determined resectability, as defined by a recent version of NCCN criteria, and associated CT findings to predict margin-negative (R0) resection in patients with PDAC after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy.

Methods: Sixty-four patients (36 men and 28 women; mean age, 58.8 years) with borderline resectable or unresectable PDAC who received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX were evaluated retrospectively.

Value of apparent diffusion coefficient for differentiating peripancreatic tuberculous lymphadenopathy from metastatic lymphadenopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate effectiveness of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the peripancreatic lymphadenopathy to differentiate tuberculous lymphadenopathy from metastatic lymphadenopathy.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine patients with 65 peripancreatic necrotic tuberculous lymphadenopathy and 31 patients with 47 peripancreatic necrotic metastatic lymphadenopathy from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were included in this study. MRI features in the T1-weighted image (WI), T2WI, and diffusion-weighted image were analyzed.

Feasibility of non-enhanced CT for assessing longitudinal changes in hepatic steatosis.

To evaluate the feasibility of computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of the change in hepatic steatosis (HS) in longitudinal follow-up by employing pathological HS as the reference standard.We retrospectively evaluated 38 living liver donor candidates (27 men and 11 women; mean age, 29.5 years) who underwent liver biopsy twice and had liver CT scans within 1 week of each biopsy.

Differentiating focal autoimmune pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: contrast-enhanced MRI with special emphasis on the arterial phase.

Objectives: To compare focal-type autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) using contrast-enhanced MR imaging (CE-MRI), and to assess diagnostic performance of the lesion contrast at arterial phase (AP) (Contrast) for differentiating between the two diseases.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with focal-type AIP and 72 patients with PDA were included. All included patients underwent CE-MRI with triple phases.

Diagnostic performance of [F]FDG-PET/MRI for liver metastasis in patients with primary malignancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To systematically determine the diagnostic accuracy of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging ([F]FDG-PET/MRI) for the detection of liver metastases and evaluate the sources of heterogeneity in the reported results.

Methods: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched up until December 31, 2017, to identify original research studies reporting the diagnostic performance (Se and Sp) of PET/MRI for liver metastases, in comparison with PET/CT. Study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2.

Radiomics Analysis of Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced MRI for Staging Liver Fibrosis.

Purpose To develop and validate a radiomics-based model for staging liver fibrosis by using gadoxetic acid-enhanced hepatobiliary phase MRI. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 436 patients (mean age, 51 years; age range, 18-86 years; 319 men [mean age, 51 years; age range, 18-86 years]; 117 women [mean age, 50 years; age range, 18-79 years]) with pathologic analysis-proven liver fibrosis who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI from June 2015 to December 2016 were randomized in a three-to-one ratio into development (n = 329) and test (n = 107) cohorts, respectively. In the development cohort, a model was developed to calculate radiomics fibrosis index (RFI) by using logistic regression with elastic net regularization to differentiate stage F3-F4 from stage F0-F2.

CT indices for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis using non-enhanced CT images: development and validation of diagnostic cut-off values in a large cohort with pathological reference standard.

Objectives: To compare the performances of CT indices for diagnosing hepatic steatosis (HS) and to determine and validate the CT index cut-off values.

Methods: Three indices were measured on non-enhanced CT images of 4413 living liver donor candidates (2939 men, 1474 women; mean age, 31.4 years): hepatic attenuation (CT), hepatic attenuation minus splenic attenuation (CT), and hepatic attenuation divided by splenic attenuation (CT).

LI-RADS Classification and Prognosis of Primary Liver Cancers at Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced MRI.

Purpose To (a) evaluate the postsurgical prognostic implication of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categories of primary liver cancers and (b) determine the performance of LI-RADS version 2017 in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) at gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 194 patients with cirrhosis and surgically proven single primary liver cancer (53 with cHCC-CC, 44 with IHCC, and 97 with HCC) were evaluated with gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI between 2009 and 2014. The mean patient age was 57 years (age range, 30-83 years).

Comparison of diagnostic performance between CT and MRI in differentiating non-diffuse-type autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To intraindividually compare the diagnostic performance of CT and MRI in differentiating non-diffuse-type autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

Methods: Sixty-one patients with non-diffuse-type AIP and 122 patients with PDA, who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI with MR pancreatography, were included. Two blinded radiologists independently rated their confidence in differentiating the two diseases on a 5-point scale, and the diagnostic performances of CT and MRI were compared.

Genome-wide assessment of gene-by-smoking interactions in COPD.

Cigarette smoke exposure is a major risk factor in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its interactions with genetic variants could affect lung function. However, few gene-smoking interactions have been reported. In this report, we evaluated the effects of gene-smoking interactions on lung function using Korea Associated Resource (KARE) data with the spirometric variables-forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV).

Imaging and clinical features of xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis: an analysis of 10 cases at a single institution.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the imaging and clinical features of xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis (XGP).

Methods: This retrospective series study included 10 patients with pathology-proven XGP. Two radiologists reviewed the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in consensus to determine the morphological features of XGP.

Clinical impact of preoperative liver MRI in the evaluation of synchronous liver metastasis of colon cancer.

Objectives: To investigate whether additional MRI including gadoxetic acid enhancement is associated with survival rate (SR) in patients with synchronous liver metastasis of colon cancer (sCLM), compared with patients assessed only with CT.

Methods: Fifty-two patients underwent only CT (CT group) and 65 underwent additional MRI (CT+MRI group) for preoperative work-up of sCLM. In the CT+MRI group, the discrepancy between CT and MRI was analyzed.

Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct: Clinical, Imaging, and Pathologic Features.

Objective: We outline the concept of intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB), discuss the morphologic features of IPNB and the differential diagnoses, and describe the radiologic approaches used in multidisciplinary management.

Conclusion: The concept of IPNB has been evolving. Because the imaging features of IPNB can be variable, different mimickers according to IPNB subtype can be considered.

Diagnostic performance of CT, gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI, and PET/CT for the diagnosis of colorectal liver metastasis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Imaging studies, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET), have an essential role in the detection and localization of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM).

Purpose: To systematically determine the diagnostic accuracy of multidetector row CT (MDCT), gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI, and PET/CT for diagnosing CRLM and the sources of heterogeneity between the reported results.

Study Type: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Effect of Pregnancy on Quantitative Medication Use and Relation to Exacerbations in Asthma.

Background: The quantification of asthma medication reduction and its relation to an aggravation of asthma during pregnancy at an individual level are unclear.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study of asthmatic pregnant women in South Korea. All of the asthma medications were ranked from 1 to 4 according to the guideline-based stepwise approach.

Pancreatic Duct in Autoimmune Pancreatitis: Intraindividual Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Pancreatography at 1.5 T and 3.0 T.

Objective: The aim of this study was to intraindividually compare magnetic resonance pancreatography (MRP) image quality at 1.5 T and 3.0 T when demonstrating main pancreatic duct (MPD) abnormalities in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).

Subtraction Images of Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI: Effect on the Diagnostic Performance for Focal Hepatic Lesions in Patients at Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of subtraction images of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI on the image interpretation of focal hepatic lesions in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 255 malignant nodules from 233 patients with chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis (187 men and 46 women; mean age, 55.2 years) who underwent preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and surgical resection.

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI findings correlated with pathologic features and prognosis.

Purpose: To evaluate gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) with special emphasis on correlation of MRI findings with histopathologic tumor characteristics and survival outcomes after curative surgery.

Materials And Methods: Our Institutional Review Board approved this study, with a waiver of informed consent. For 82 patients (64 men, 18 women; mean age, 54.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI of the abdomen: The effect of fitting algorithms on the accuracy and reliability of the parameters.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of fitting methods on the accuracy and reliability of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters, with a particular emphasis on the constraint function.

Materials And Methods: Diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging data were analyzed using IVIM-based full-fitting (simultaneous fit of all parameters) and segmented-fitting (step-by-step fit of each parameter), each with and without the constraint function, to estimate the molecular diffusion coefficient (D ), perfusion fraction (f), and flow-related diffusion coefficient (D ). Computational simulations were performed at variable signal-to-noise ratios to evaluate the relative error (RE) and coefficient of variation (CV) of the estimated IVIM parameters.

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in Patients with Cirrhosis: Differentiation from Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Using Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced MR Imaging and Dynamic CT.

Purpose To determine the imaging features at gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) in a cirrhotic liver, with an emphasis on the distinction between IHCC and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and on the comparison of nodule enhancement patterns between MR imaging and computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods The institutional review board approved this study and waived the requirement for informed consent. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR and CT images in 72 consecutive patients (61 men; mean age, 56.

What we need to know when performing and interpreting US elastography.

According to the increasing need for accurate staging of hepatic fibrosis, the ultrasound (US) elastography techniques have evolved significantly over the past two decades. Currently, US elastography is increasingly used in clinical practice. Previously published studies have demonstrated the excellent diagnostic performance of US elastography for the detection and staging of liver fibrosis.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging for characterizing focal hepatic lesions: Correlation with lesion enhancement.

Purpose: To evaluate the value of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters for characterizing focal hepatic lesions, and to assess the correlation between IVIM parameters and arterial nodule enhancement.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 161 lesions (91 hepatocellular carcinomas [HCCs], 27 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas [IHCCs], 20 hemangiomas, 9 combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinomas, 9 metastases, and 5 other tumors) in 161 patients (105 men and 56 women; mean age, 56.4 years).

Malignant pancreatic serous cystic neoplasms: systematic review with a new case.

Background: This study analyzes the clinicopathologic and radiologic characteristics of malignant serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) of the pancreas through systematic review and an institutional case report.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the MEDLINE database to identify studies on malignant SCNs of the pancreas that had detailed clinicopathologic and radiologic information. A computerized systematic search of our institutional database was also performed to identify cases of malignant SCN for addition to the systematic review.