Coronary CT angiography: First comparison of model-based and hybrid iterative reconstruction with the reference standard invasive catheter angiography for CAD-RADS reporting.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare CCTA images generated using HIR and IMR algorithm with the reference standard ICA, and to determine to what extend further improvements of IMR over HIR can be expected.

Methods: This retrospective study included 60 patients with low to intermediate CAD risk, who underwent coronary CTA (with HIR and IMR) and ICA. ICA was used as reference standard.

Standardized 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomic features provide information on PD-L1 expression status in treatment-naïve patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To study the relationship between standardized 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomic features and clinicopathological variables and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: 58 NSCLC patients with preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT scans and postoperative results of PD-L1 expression were retrospectively analysed. A standardized, open-source software was used to extract 86 radiomic features from PET and low-dose CT images.

Evaluation of superficial femoral artery-lesions after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: color-coded summation images vs. monochromatic digital subtraction angiography.

Background: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is increasingly requested in the therapy of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The evaluation of the technical result after balloon angioplasty with regard to bailout stenting is highly dependent on the operators´ subjective assessment and mainly based on the monochromatic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images. The aim of this study was to compare color-coded single image as a novel diagnostic tool with monochromatic DSA for the analysis of flow limitation and need for stent implantation after PTA of superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenoses.

Correction to: Differing X-ray patterns in seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

The first and family names of the authors were interchanged and are now presented correctly. The original article has been corrected.

Differing X-ray patterns in seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) status are important predictors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) erosivity. Qualitative differences on hand/feet radiographs have been described, indicating more carpal fusion in seronegative RA. This study explores these differences further using the total Sharp/van der Heijde score (TSS), digital X-ray radiogrammetry (DXR), and qualitative description.

Left Ventricular Structure in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate CKD-a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Introduction: The high burden of left ventricular (LV) abnormalities in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well established. However, less is known about the prevalence, patterns, and determinants of LV abnormalities in patients with early CKD.

Methods: We examined LV structure in 290 patients with a median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 51 ml/min per 1.

Interdisciplinary complication management of dislodged lumbar interbody spacer in pulmonary artery.

We report the case of an intraoperatively dislodged transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion spacer with creation of a traumatic arteriovenous fistula and device migration to the pulmonary artery. Successful minimally invasive angiographic retrieval of the spacer is discussed with special reference to angiographic and surgical treatment strategies and pitfalls.

Blood Pressure Pattern and Target Organ Damage in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

In patients with chronic kidney disease, data on blood pressure (BP) pattern and its association with target organ damage, which indicates elevated cardiovascular risk, are sparse. In 305 treated hypertensive chronic kidney disease patients, we assessed BP pattern, left ventricular mass (magnetic resonance imaging), intima-media thickness (ultrasound), 24-hour-pulse wave velocity and 24-hour-central augmentation index (Mobil-O-Graph). Controlled hypertension (normal office and ambulatory BP) was found in 41% and sustained uncontrolled hypertension (elevated office and ambulatory BP) in 30% of patients.

Increased myocardial sodium signal intensity in Conn's syndrome detected by 23Na magnetic resonance imaging.

Aims: Sodium intake has been linked to left ventricular hypertrophy independently of blood pressure, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA), a condition characterized by tissue sodium overload due to aldosterone excess, causes accelerated left ventricular hypertrophy compared to blood pressure matched patients with essential hypertension. We therefore hypothesized that the myocardium constitutes a novel site capable of sodium storage explaining the missing link between sodium and left ventricular hypertrophy.

EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging in large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice.

To develop evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV) including giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) standardised operating procedures were followed. A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve data on the role of imaging modalities including ultrasound, MRI, CT and [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) in LVV.

Single-shot late Gd enhancement imaging of myocardial infarction with retrospectively adjustable contrast and heart-phase.

Object: To enable a retrospective adjustment of image contrast and heart phase in inversion recovery prepared late gadolinium enhancement (LE) imaging in the myocardium.

Materials And Methods: After one inversion pulse, unsegmented data were acquired over multiple cardiac cycles using a radial spoiled gradient-echo sequence with golden angle increments between subsequent readouts. Model-based acceleration of parameter mapping (MAP) was combined with an image registration technique ("MOCO-MAP") to enable the reconstruction of images with arbitrary inversion time TI.

Impact of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction on interreader agreement in coronary artery measurements.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) on coronary artery computed tomography angiography (cCTA) measurements in comparison to filtered back projection (FBP).

Material And Methods: Phantom scans and coronary CTA studies of 27 patients were acquired with a third generation dual-source CT scanner. Images were reconstructed using FBP and ADMIRE.

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in large-vessel vasculitis.

Objective: To evaluate contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in diagnosis of inflammatory aortic involvement in patients with clinical suspicion of large-vessel vasculitis.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-five patients, mean age 62 years (range 16-82 years), 44 female and 31 male, underwent gadolinium-enhanced MRA and were evaluated retrospectively. Thoracic MRA was performed in 32 patients, abdominal MRA in 7 patients and both thoracic and abdominal MRA in 36 patients.

Dual-Energy CTA in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease: Study of Diagnostic Accuracy and Impeding Factors.

 The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT angiography (DE-CTA) in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) and to identify factors that impede its diagnostic accuracy.  Dual-source DE-CTA scans of the lower extremities of 94 patients were retrospectively compared to the diagnostic reference standard, digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Two independent observers assessed PAOD incidence, image quality, artifacts, and diagnostic accuracy of DE-CTA in 1014 arterial segments on axial, combined 80/140 kVp reconstructions and on 3 D maximum intensity projections (MIP) after automated bone and plaque removal.

Contrast agents and ionization with respect to safety for patients and doctors.

In hemodialysis patients, radiographic imaging with iodinated contrast medium (ICM) application plays a central role in the diagnosis and/or follow-up of disease-related conditions. Therefore, safety aspects concerning ICM administration and radiation exposure have a great impact on this group of patients. Current hardware and software improvements including the design and synthesis of modern contrast compounds allow the use of very small amounts of ICM in concert with low radiation exposure.

Diagnosis of cardiac metastasis from cervical cancer in a 33-year-old patient using multimodal imaging studies: a case report and literature review.

We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with emergency admission due to dyspnoea and fever. History included squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in complete remission. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning of the chest, which was indicated to rule out pneumonia, revealed an infiltrative cardiac mass.

Giant cell arteritis: diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging of superficial cranial arteries in initial diagnosis-results from a multicenter trial.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of superficial cranial arteries in the initial diagnosis of giant cell arteritis ( GCA giant cell arteritis ).

Materials And Methods: Following institutional review board approval and informed consent, 185 patients suspected of having GCA giant cell arteritis were included in a prospective three-university medical center trial. GCA giant cell arteritis was diagnosed or excluded clinically in all patients (reference standard [final clinical diagnosis]).

Reducing CT radiation dose with iterative reconstruction algorithms: the influence of scan and reconstruction parameters on image quality and CTDIvol.

Objectives: In this phantom CT study, we investigated whether images reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR) with reduced tube voltage and current have equivalent quality. We evaluated the effects of different acquisition and reconstruction parameter settings on image quality and radiation doses. Additionally, patient CT studies were evaluated to confirm our phantom results.

MRI displays involvement of the temporalis muscle and the deep temporal artery in patients with giant cell arteritis.

Purpose: To assess deep temporal artery and temporalis muscle involvement in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Material And Methods: Ninety-nine patients who received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and superficial temporal artery biopsy (TAB) were included in this study. Patients with positive TAB (n = 61) were defined as GCA patients, those with negative TAB (n = 38) as the GCA-negative reference group.