Reducing energy consumption in musculoskeletal MRI using shorter scan protocols, optimized magnet cooling patterns, and deep learning sequences.

Objectives: The unprecedented surge in energy costs in Europe, coupled with the significant energy consumption of MRI scanners in radiology departments, necessitates exploring strategies to optimize energy usage without compromising efficiency or image quality. This study investigates MR energy consumption and identifies strategies for improving energy efficiency, focusing on musculoskeletal MRI. We assess the potential savings achievable through (1) optimizing protocols, (2) incorporating deep learning (DL) accelerated acquisitions, and (3) optimizing the cooling system.

Quantitative differentiation of minimal-fat angiomyolipomas from renal cell carcinomas using grating-based x-ray phase-contrast computed tomography: An ex vivo study.

Background: The differentiation of minimal-fat-or low-fat-angiomyolipomas from other renal lesions is clinically challenging in conventional computed tomography. In this work, we have assessed the potential of grating-based x-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (GBPC-CT) for visualization and quantitative differentiation of minimal-fat angiomyolipomas (mfAMLs) and oncocytomas from renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) on ex vivo renal samples.

Materials And Methods: Laboratory GBPC-CT was performed at 40 kVp on 28 ex vivo kidney specimens including five angiomyolipomas with three minimal-fat (mfAMLs) and two high-fat (hfAMLs) subtypes as well as three oncocytomas and 20 RCCs with eight clear cell (ccRCCs), seven papillary (pRCCs) and five chromophobe RCC (chrRCC) subtypes.

T2 mapping for the characterization of prostate lesions.

Purpose: Purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative T2/ADC values in differentiating between PCa and lesions showing non-specific inflammatory infiltrates and atrophy, features of chronic prostatitis, as the most common histologically proven differential diagnosis.

Methods: In this retrospective, single-center cohort study, we analyzed 55 patients suspected of PCa, who underwent mpMRI (3T) including quantitative T2 maps before robot-assisted mpMRI-TRUS fusion prostate biopsy. All prostate lesions were scored according to PI-RADS v2.

Automated Morphometric Analysis of the Hip Joint on MRI from the German National Cohort Study.

Purpose: To develop and validate an automated morphometric analysis framework for the quantitative analysis of geometric hip joint parameters in MR images from the German National Cohort (GNC) study.

Materials And Methods: A secondary analysis on 40 participants (mean age, 51 years; age range, 30-67 years; 25 women) from the prospective GNC MRI study (2015-2016) was performed. Based on a proton density-weighted three-dimensional fast spin-echo sequence, a morphometric analysis approach was developed, including deep learning-based landmark localization, bone segmentation of the femora and pelvis, and a shape model for annotation transfer.

Correlation between thoracolumbar disc degeneration and anatomical spinopelvic parameters in supine position on MRI.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between spinopelvic parameters in supine position (pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL)), disc degeneration and herniation of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as cardiovascular risk factors and back pain in a southern German cohort from the general population.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, case-control study drawn from a prospective cohort of the "Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg" study (KORA). In total, 374 participants (mean age 56.

Association between cardiovascular risk factors and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine in the general population: results from the KORA MRI Study.

Background: Little is known about the associations between cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) and disc degeneration (DD).

Purpose: To evaluate the potential association between CRFs and intervertebral DD in a population-based sample.

Methods: A total of 400 participants from the community-based KORA-study were assessed in terms of CRFs, specifically obesity, hypertension, diabetes, elevated LDL-c, low HDL-c, elevated triglycerides, smoking status, and alcohol consumption.

Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Detecting Lung Infection in Supine Chest Radiographs of Critically Ill Patients With a Diagnostic Accuracy Similar to Board-Certified Radiologists.

Objectives: Interpretation of lung opacities in ICU supine chest radiographs remains challenging. We evaluated a prototype artificial intelligence algorithm to classify basal lung opacities according to underlying pathologies.

Design: Retrospective study.

Long-term effect of physical inactivity on thoracic and lumbar disc degeneration-an MRI-based analysis of 385 individuals from the general population.

Background Context: The correlation between physical inactivity, thoracolumbar disc degeneration, and back pain remains unclear.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between short- and long-term physical inactivity and degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine in a southern German cohort from the general population over a time period of 14 years.

Study Design/setting: This study was designed as a cross-sectional case-control study, nested in a prospective cohort from the "Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg/Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg" (KORA) study.

Association between metabolic syndrome and hip osteoarthritis in middle-aged men and women from the general population.

Objective: To investigate the impact of metabolic syndrome and its components on osteoarthritis of the hip joints compared to a healthy cohort in the KORA MRI-study.

Methods: Randomly selected men and women from the general population were classified as having metabolic syndrome, defined as presence of central obesity plus two of the following four components: elevated blood pressure (BP), elevated fasting glucose, elevated triglycerides (TG) and low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c), or as controls without metabolic syndrome. Therefore, each subject underwent detailed assessment of waist circumference as well as fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic BP, TG, and HDL-c concentrations as well as a full-body MR scan.

Renal and renal sinus fat volumes as quantified by magnetic resonance imaging in subjects with prediabetes, diabetes, and normal glucose tolerance.

Purpose: We hypothesize that MRI-based renal compartment volumes, particularly renal sinus fat as locally and potentially independently acting perivascular fat tissue, increase with glucose intolerance. We therefore analyze the distribution of renal volumes in individuals with normal glucose levels and prediabetic and diabetic individuals and investigate potential associations with other typical cardiometabolic biomarkers.

Material And Methods: The sample comprised N = 366 participants who were either normoglycemic (N = 230), had prediabetes (N = 87) or diabetes (N = 49), as determined by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.

Radiological Monitoring of Modern Immunotherapy: A Novel Challenge for Interdisciplinary Patient Care.

Background:  Immunotherapy represents an effective therapeutic approach for many malignant diseases that were previously difficult to treat. However, since immunotherapy can lead to atypical therapy response patterns in the form of pseudo-progression or mixed responses and comprise an altered spectrum of adverse reactions, they present a new challenge for oncologic imaging. Detailed knowledge in this area is essential for oncologic clinical radiologists, since the radiological report is a cornerstone of response assessment, and increasingly influences therapy regimens and coverage by health insurances.

Correction to: Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal diffusion-weighted MRI.

The article Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal diffusion-weighted MRI.

Consensus-based technical recommendations for clinical translation of renal diffusion-weighted MRI.

Objectives: Standardization is an important milestone in the validation of DWI-based parameters as imaging biomarkers for renal disease. Here, we propose technical recommendations on three variants of renal DWI, monoexponential DWI, IVIM and DTI, as well as associated MRI biomarkers (ADC, D, D*, f, FA and MD) to aid ongoing international efforts on methodological harmonization.

Materials And Methods: Reported DWI biomarkers from 194 prior renal DWI studies were extracted and Pearson correlations between diffusion biomarkers and protocol parameters were computed.

Platelet GPIbα is a mediator and potential interventional target for NASH and subsequent liver cancer.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ranges from steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), potentially progressing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we show that platelet number, platelet activation and platelet aggregation are increased in NASH but not in steatosis or insulin resistance. Antiplatelet therapy (APT; aspirin/clopidogrel, ticagrelor) but not nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment with sulindac prevented NASH and subsequent HCC development.

Reduced scan range abdominopelvic CT in patients with suspected acute appendicitis - impact on diagnostic accuracy and effective radiation dose.

Background: To evaluate a reduced range CT protocol in patients with suspected acute appendicitis as compared to standard abdominal CT regarding diagnostic performance, effective radiation dose and organ doses.

Methods: In this study, we retrospectively included 90 patients (43 female, mean age 56.7 ± 17 years) with suspected acute appendicitis who underwent CT of abdomen and pelvis.

Screening and evaluation of potential recipients and donors for living donor uterus transplantation: results from a single-center observational study.

Objective: To report our experience with the screening and selection of potential recipients and living donors of our uterus transplantation (UTx) program.

Design: Part of an observational program.

Setting: University hospital.

Precision of T2 TSE MRI-CT-image fusions based on gold fiducials and repetitive T2 TSE MRI-MRI-fusions for adaptive IGRT of prostate cancer by using phantom and patient data.

Introduction: To increase precision of radiation treatment (RT) delivery in prostate cancer, MRI-based RT as well as the use of fiducials like gold markers (GMs) have shown promising results. Their combined use is currently under investigation in clinical trials. Here, we aimed to evaluate a workflow of image registration based on GMs between CT and MRI as well as weekly MRI-MRI adaption based on T2 TSE sequence.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to assess diffuse renal pathology: a systematic review and statement paper.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a non-invasive method sensitive to local water motion in the tissue. As a tool to probe the microstructure, including the presence and potentially the degree of renal fibrosis, DWI has the potential to become an effective imaging biomarker. The aim of this review is to discuss the current status of renal DWI in diffuse renal diseases.

Acceleration of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography Using Compressed Sensing at 1.5 and 3 T: A Clinical Feasibility Study.

Objectives: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an established technique in routine magnetic resonance examination. By applying the compressed sensing (CS) acceleration technique to conventional MRCP sequences, scan time can be markedly reduced. With promising results at 3 T, there is a necessity to evaluate the performance at 1.

Fast Abdominal Contrast-Enhanced Imaging With High Parallel-Imaging Factors Using a 60-Channel Receiver Coil Setup: Comparison With The Standard Coil Setup.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess a novel 60-channel receiver body coil (B60) setup for accelerated contrast-enhanced abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MR) imaging with respect to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and image quality using high parallel-imaging technique (PAT) factors in comparison to a standard 30-channel coil setup.

Methods: All imaging data were acquired on a 3 T MR scanner using a novel B60 receiver coil setup in comparison to a standard 30-channel setup serving as reference standard. Phantom measurements were performed to systematically evaluate SNR and geometry factor performance in an ex vivo setting.