Quantitative multi-energy CT in oncology: State of the art and future directions.

Multi-energy computed tomography (CT) involves acquisition of two or more CT measurements with distinct energy spectra. Using the differential attenuation of tissues and materials at different X-ray energies, multi-energy CT allows distinction of tissues and materials. Multi-energy technology encompasses different types of CT systems, such as dual-energy CT and photon-counting CT, that can use information from the energy and type of material present in acquired images to create multiple datasets.

Bone marrow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): morphological and functional features from reconversion to infiltration.

Bone marrow is a dynamic organ with variable composition in relation to age or pathophysiological changes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the technique of choice to assess the different components of the bone marrow based on the different information provided by the different characteristics of the MRI sequences. This article provides an overview of the MRI appearances of normal and abnormal bone marrow.

What to Expect (and What Not) from Dual-Energy CT Imaging Now and in the Future?

Dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging has broadened the potential of CT imaging by offering multiple postprocessing datasets with a single acquisition at more than one energy level. DECT shows profound capabilities to improve diagnosis based on its superior material differentiation and its quantitative value. However, the potential of dual-energy imaging remains relatively untapped, possibly due to its intricate workflow and the intrinsic technical limitations of DECT.

How Imaging Advances Are Defining the Future of Precision Radiation Therapy.

Radiation therapy is fundamental in the treatment of cancer. Imaging has always played a central role in radiation oncology. Integrating imaging technology into irradiation devices has increased the precision and accuracy of dose delivery and decreased the toxic effects of the treatment.

Radiomics in CT and MR imaging of the liver and pancreas: tools with potential for clinical application.

Radiomics allows the extraction of quantitative imaging features from clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) studies. The advantages of radiomics have primarily been exploited in oncological applications, including better characterization and staging of oncological lesions and prediction of patient outcomes and treatment response. The potential introduction of radiomics in the clinical setting requires the establishment of a standardized radiomics pipeline and a quality assurance program.

Testicular Evaluation Using Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) in Patients with Varicocele.

Purpose: To assess the possible influence of the presence of varicocele on the quantification of testicular stiffness.

Methods: Ultrasound with shear wave elastography (SWE) was performed on 48 consecutive patients (96 testicles) referred following urology consultation for different reasons. A total of 94 testes were studied and distributed in three groups: testes with varicocele (group A, n = 19), contralateral normal testes (group B; n = 13) and control group (group C, n = 62).

CT-Based Radiomics to Predict Mutation in CRC Patients Using a Machine Learning Algorithm: A Retrospective Study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. The mutation is present in 30-50% of CRC patients. This mutation confers resistance to treatment with anti-EGFR therapy.

Current and Advanced Applications of Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced MRI in Hepatobiliary Disorders.

Gadoxetic acid is an MRI contrast agent that has specific applications in the study of hepatobiliary disease. After being distributed in the vascular and extravascular spaces during the dynamic phase, gadoxetic acid is progressively taken up by hepatocytes and excreted to the bile ducts during the hepatobiliary phase. The information derived from the enhancement characteristics during dynamic and hepatobiliary phases is particularly relevant in the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions and in the evaluation of the structure and function of the liver and biliary system.

Usefulness of balanced SSFP sequence in robot-assisted MRI-guided prostate biopsy: Beyond scouting.

Objectives: To determine whether bSSFP images are useful for visualizing prostatic lesionsin MRI-guided in-bore transrectal biopsy.

Methods: This retrospective studyincluded 67 men witha single suspected cancer on MRI (PI-RADS 2.1 category ≥ 3) who underwent in-bore transrectal MRI-guided biopsy.

Usefulness of Computed Tomography Angiography in the Preoperative Workup of Patients With Colorectal Cancer.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyze the main patterns of branching of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and to determine if your knowledge changes the surgical strategy in the colorectal cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study included 63 patients with cancer of the sigmoid or rectum. We assessed the patterns of IMA in 3 subtypes: type A (independent left colic artery [LCA]), type B (LCA and sigmoid artery arising in a common trunk) and type C (LCA, sigmoid artery, and superior rectal artery with a common origin).

"Rectal cancer survival: A retrospective analysis of MRI features and their association with prognosis".

Purpose: To assess rectal cancer aggressiveness using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features and to investigate their relationship with patient prognosis.

Materials And Methods: Clinical information and Pelvic MR scans of 106 consecutive patients with primary rectal cancer (RC) were analyzed. Clinical symptoms, age, sex, tumor location, and patient´s survival were recorded.

Assessing Immunotherapy with Functional and Molecular Imaging and Radiomics.

Immunotherapy is changing the treatment paradigm for cancer and has introduced new challenges in medical imaging. Because not all patients benefit from immunotherapy, pretreatment imaging should be performed to identify not only prognostic factors but also factors that allow prediction of response to immunotherapy. Follow-up studies must allow detection of nonresponders, without confusion of pseudoprogression with real progression to prevent premature discontinuation of treatment that can benefit the patient.

Novel Variant Associated to Bilateral Phaeochromocytoma with an Uncommon Clinical Presentation.

Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumours arising from the adrenal medulla or sympathetic paraganglia. It is known that 20-30% of all cases occur as a result of germline variants in several well known genes. The gene was recently identified as a new phaeochromocytoma susceptibility gene.

Radiologic Clues to Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is uncommon, representing approximately 0.5% of all cases of cerebrovascular disease worldwide. Many factors, alone or combined, can cause CVT.

Update on Whole-body MRI in Musculoskeletal Applications.

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is a powerful tool increasingly used to assess oncologic and nononcologic diseases. WB-MRI provides information about diffuse multifocal pathologies with excellent anatomical definition through high soft tissue contrast and spatial resolution as well as valuable functional information from diffusion-weighted images. In addition to its roles in establishing the diagnosis and assessing the extent and severity of disease, WB-MRI is also useful for monitoring the response to treatment for malignant and benign systemic diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system.

How clinical imaging can assess cancer biology.

Human cancers represent complex structures, which display substantial inter- and intratumor heterogeneity in their genetic expression and phenotypic features. However, cancers usually exhibit characteristic structural, physiologic, and molecular features and display specific biological capabilities named hallmarks. Many of these tumor traits are imageable through different imaging techniques.

Corpus cavernosum thrombosis: The membrane may play its role.

Partial thrombosis of corpus cavernosum is an uncommon condition that needs a high level of suspicious to be diagnosed. Imaging techniques may be very useful, and MR is the state-of-the-art technique. We present a case of a young male who presented to the emergency department with perineal and painful mass.

Scrotal Peripheral Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor.

The peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET) is a rare malignant tumor originating from neuroectoderm that usually occurs in children or adolescent and is frequently located in the extremities, chest cavity, pelvic cavity and chest wall. We present a rare case of an 84-year-old man with a history of pPNET in the scrotal sac, to our knowledge not previously published in the literature. The presence of a large irreducible mass in the inguinal sac forced to exclude a tumor.

Advanced Imaging Techniques in Evaluation of Colorectal Cancer.

Imaging techniques are clinical decision-making tools in the evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this article is to discuss the potential of recent advances in imaging for diagnosis, prognosis, therapy planning, and assessment of response to treatment of CRC. Recent developments and new clinical applications of conventional imaging techniques such as virtual colonoscopy, dual-energy spectral computed tomography, elastography, advanced computing techniques (including volumetric rendering techniques and machine learning), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-based magnetization transfer, and new liver imaging techniques, which may offer additional clinical information in patients with CRC, are summarized.

The morphological and functional diagnosis of a rare entity: lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas.

Lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas is a rare entity characterized by a replacement, focal or diffuse, of the normal pancreatic tissue by mature fatty tissue. Its definitive diagnosis is made based on histopathologic analysis. Nevertheless, typical imaging findings can allow a non-invasive diagnosis and help its clinical approach.

Cortical blindness secondary to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, recovered by successful blood pressure management.

We report a case of cortical blindness secondary to posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome, which was successfully treated by blood pressure management. A 66-year-old white man presented at the emergency room complaining of severe frontal headache, disorientation, and progressive blurred vision. The initial physical examination disclosed a blood pressure of 200/176 mmHg.

Advanced imaging of colorectal cancer: From anatomy to molecular imaging.

Unlabelled: Imaging techniques play a key role in the management of patients with colorectal cancer. The introduction of new advanced anatomical, functional, and molecular imaging techniques may improve the assessment of diagnosis, prognosis, planning therapy, and assessment of response to treatment of these patients. Functional and molecular imaging techniques in clinical practice may allow the assessment of tumour-specific characteristics and tumour heterogeneity.

Splenosis: Non-invasive diagnosis of a great mimicker.

Unlabelled: Splenosis is defined as the location of heterotopic splenic tissue implants in the abdominal cavity or other atypical location. This entity may mimic different benign and malignant processes, which may cause an inappropriate management of the patient. A previous history of splenic trauma or splenectomy should introduce this entity in the differential diagnosis in these patients.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in oncology: the fingerprints of cancer?

Abnormal metabolism is a key tumor hallmark. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) allows measurement of metabolite concentration that can be utilized to characterize tumor metabolic changes. 1H-MRS measurements of specific metabolites have been implemented in the clinic.

Therapy Monitoring with Functional and Molecular MR Imaging.

Cancer therapy is mainly based on different combinations of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Additionally, targeted therapies (designed to disrupt specific tumor hallmarks, such as angiogenesis, metabolism, proliferation, invasiveness, and immune evasion), hormonotherapy, immunotherapy, and interventional techniques have emerged as alternative oncologic treatments. Conventional imaging techniques and current response criteria do not always provide the necessary information regarding therapy success particularly to targeted therapies.