Differentiation of Atherosclerotic Carotid Plaque Components With Dual-Energy Computed Tomography.

Objectives: Carotid plaque vulnerability is a strong predictor of recurrent ipsilateral stroke, but differentiation of plaque components using conventional computed tomography (CT) is suboptimal. The aim of our study was to evaluate the ability of dual-energy CT (DECT) to characterize atherosclerotic carotid plaque components based on the effective atomic number and effective electron density using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, where possible, histology as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Patients with recent cerebral ischemia and a ≥2-mm carotid plaque underwent computed tomography angiography and MRI.

Bullet characterization using Photon-Counting detector CT: A phantom study with intact bullets.

Objectives: Photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) is expected to substantially improve and expand CT-imaging applicability due to its intrinsic spectral capabilities, increased spatial resolution, reduced electronic noise, and improved image contrast. The current study aim is to evaluate PCD-CT efficacy in characterizing bullets based on their dimensions, shape, and material composition.

Materials And Methods: This is an observational phantom study examining 11 unfired, intact bullets of various common calibers, placed in ballistic gelatin.

Multienergy Cardiovascular CT Imaging: Current State and Future.

Multienergy cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) imaging can be defined as data acquisition at two (dual-energy) or multiple x-ray energies. Multienergy cardiovascular CT imaging provides additional qualitative and quantitative information such as material maps or virtual monoenergetic images, which are supposed to further improve the quality and diagnostic yield of CT. Recently introduced photon-counting detector CT scanners further address some of the challenges and limitations of previous, conventional CT machines, hereby enhancing and extending the applications of CT for cardiovascular imaging.

Acute Limb Ischemia in Patients on Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) Support: A Ten-Year Single-Center Experience.

Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been increasingly utilized as a life-saving modality in patients with cardiopulmonary compromise. Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has been reported when the femoral artery was accessed, and it was associated with higher mortality in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, prior studies were limited by small sample size and the lack of long-term follow-up.

Photon-Counting CT Iodine Maps for Diagnosing Chronic Pulmonary Thromboembolism: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of chronic pulmonary thromboembolism assessment using photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) iodine maps of the lung parenchyma.

Materials And Methods: This institutional review board-approved retrospective study included 83 subjects (49.4% male, aged 62.