Early Imaging Research Articles

A retrospective study on two different surgical robots to assist total knee arthroplasty

To compare early clinical and imaging results of domestic HURWA and imported Brainlab Knee3 surgical robot-assisted knee replacement. A retrospective analysis was performed on 93 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who underwent robot-assisted descending total knee arthroplasty(TKA) from January 2021 to July 2023, and they were divided into BRATKA group and HRATKA group according to use of robotic system. There were 40 patients in BRATKA group, including 16 males and 24 females, aged from 55 to 90 years old with an average of (64.3±7.0) years old;27 patients with grade Ⅲ and 13 patients with grade Ⅳ according to Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L);18 patients on the right side and 22 patients on the left side;the courses of disease ranged from 1 to 30 years with an average of (15.3±7.6) years;imported Brainlab Knee3 surgical robot assisted system was adopted. There were 53 patients in HRATKA group, including 18 males and 35 females, aged from 52 to 81 years old with an average of (64.4±8.5) years old;30 patients with grade Ⅲ and 23 patients with grade Ⅳ;21 patients on the right side and 32 patients on the left side;the courses of disease ranged from 1 to 32 years with an average of (16.4±7.9) years;HURWA surgical robot assisted system was adopted. Operation time, perioperative total blood loss, incision length and postoperative complications were compared between two groups. Deviation angle of hip-knee-ankle angle(HKAA) before operation and on the first day after operation was compared between two groups. Later tibal component (LTC), frontal femoral component (FFC), later femoral component (LFC) and frontal tibal component(FTC) at 1 day after on the first day after operation was compared between two groups. Knee Society score(KSS), visual analogue scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) of knee joint were compared between two groups before operation and on the 3rd and 90th day after operation. Both groups were followed up for 11 to 18 months with an average of (14.4±2.1) months, and the wounds of all patients healed well. Operation time and incision length of BRATKA group were (132.1±34.6) min and (12.9±1.9) cm, while (94.1±10.8) min and (14.8±2.1) cm in HRATKA group, respectively, and the differences between two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). There were no significant difference in perioperative total blood loss and preoperative deviation angle of HKAA between two groups(P>0.05). Deviation angle of HKAA, FFC angle and LFC angle in BRATKA group were (1.90±0.91) °, (87.90±1.51) ° and(9.00±3.2) °, respectively;while (0.93±1.04) °, (89.03±0.96) ° and (7.63±0.59) ° in HRATKA group, respectively, and the differences between two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in FTC and LTC between two groups(P>0.05). There were no significant differences in VAS of knee rest and exercise, KSS score and ROM of knee joint between two groups before operation and 3 days and 90 days after operation(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in complications between two groups (P>0.05). Postoperative imaging of two robot systems showed good lower limb force line. The domestic HRATKA group had better LFC, FFC angle and HKA deviation angle than the imported BRATKA group, but there were no significant difference in postoperative knee function and pain relief.

Philip Mallory Jones’s Electronic Consciousness in Afrodiasporic Video

Abstract Philip Mallory Jones’s videomation was an early video image processing technique from the 1970s that superimposed multiple forms of image-making to convey the aesthetics of Afrodiasporic rhythms. While videomation’s application in Jones’s collaboration with Gunilla Mallory Jones in Beyond the Mountains, More Mountains (1975) was a disillusionment that tested the limits of Afrodiasporic connections between the US and Haiti, he later refined this technique through splicing and weaving of visual polyrhythms in his collaboration with the Burkinabe media pioneer Moustapha Thiombiano, Wassa (1989), as an expression of double consciousness.

Archaeologies and Organologies: Towards an alternative history of early synthetic video and image processing practices 1939–1969

Abstract This article focuses on the early history of two related techniques deployed within artistic contexts; the distortion of pre-existing television raster images and the generation of synthetic images through the application of external signals to cathode-ray tube deflection systems. Organology and media archaeological techniques are used to begin to trace an additional technical history of these complex visual instruments.

Dark papillary muscles sign is a new prognostic indicator in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: A multi-center study

ObjectivesThe prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) papillary muscle anomalies in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients is unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of LV papillary muscle anomalies in DCM patients using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods369 DCM patients who underwent CMR at two Chinese medical facilities from January 2019 to June 2023 were retrospectively and consecutively included in total. The various features of the LV papillary muscles were taken into consideration: thickness, attachment, supernumerary papillary muscles, angles, and signal intensity. The end-systolic signal hypointensity of both papillary muscles in early post-contrast cine CMR images was identified as Dark-Paps. Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were assessed, and all patients were followed up. Results119 patients (32.2 %) had Dark-Paps and 141 patients (38.2 %) experienced MACE during a median follow-up of 22 months. According to Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, patients who had Dark-Paps had a lower survival rate free from MACE (log-rank, p < 0.001). Dark-Paps maintained an independent predictor of MACE in a multivariate model that included left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent (HR: 3.49; p < 0.001). Furthermore, adding Dark-Paps to the multivariate model greatly enhanced the prognostic role of endpoint events (C-statistic improvement: 0.652–0.777, Delong test: p < 0.001). ConclusionDark-Paps is a potent independent indicator of major adverse cardiac events in dilated cardiomyopathy patients. In addition, Dark-Paps can provide additional prognostic value over the multivariable baseline clinical model.

Assessing the Need for Imaging after Distal Radius Fracture Fixation

Abstract Background Distal radius fractures are extremely common. Patients routinely undergo early imaging (around 2 weeks) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of distal radius fractures despite no clinical concerns. We analyzed the need for these radiographs by evaluating when imaging identifies complications after surgery. Methods All distal radius fractures treated with ORIF via a volar approach by the senior surgeon were included. Intraoperative and postoperative images were analyzed for maintenance of reduction and complications. Demographic data, fracture characteristics, and postoperative complications were also recorded. Results A total of 342 patients were identified. Postoperative images were obtained from 0 to 14, 15 to 90, 91 to 180, 181 to 365, or greater than 365 days after surgery. Some patients had multiple images. Measurements on postoperative images were statistically equivalent across all time points. Complications mostly occurred &gt;90 days after surgery. Of the 26 patients with complications, 5 had a failure of reduction or plating seen on postoperative imaging. Two occurred after unrelated trauma; only three patients had unanticipated complications caught on routine imaging within 3 months after surgery. These patients had extraordinarily complex fractures in poor bone stock. Conclusion Early postoperative imaging is not necessary after ORIF for distal radius fractures unless the patient is elderly, or the fracture is severely comminuted with ulnar column or die-punch components. Thus, we suggest that patients have imaging only in the 3- to 6-month period to determine if the union has been achieved, which could provide cost savings to both surgeon and patient.

Can a Carbonated Lemon Drink Reduce Extracardiac Activity in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging?

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) provides physiologic and functional information about the heart muscle and its blood flow. Extracardiac radioactivity can interfere with visualization of the inferior wall of the myocardium, leading to poor-quality images, difficulties in interpretation, and delays in routine practice. This study aimed to identify the efficiency of having the patient consume a carbonated lemon drink to minimize the extracardiac radioactivity of 99mTc-sestamibi in comparison to 99mTc-tetrofosmin during MPI. Methods: This was a retrospective study that recruited 158 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease referred to undergo 99mTc-sestamibi or 99mTc-tetrofosmin rest/stress single-day MPI. The patients were divided into 2 groups of mixed sexes and different ages. The first group comprised 78 patients injected with 99mTc-sestamibi, and the second group comprised 80 patients injected with 99mTc-tetrofosmin. For both groups, the patients drank 30 mL of fresh lemon juice diluted with 150 mL of soda water, and then we gave the patients about 100 mL of straight soda water, before imaging for both the rest and the stress phases. Results: Generally, in both groups, the 99mTc-tetrofosmin produced a good-quality image in comparison with the 99mTc-sestamibi. The mean rank of the total score for 99mTc-tetrofosmin (62.75) was less than that for 99mTc-sestamibi (96.68), and this difference was highly statistically significant (P = 0.000). There were statistically significant differences in the ratios and mean ranks for both groups in favor of 99mTc-tetrofosmin in patients having coronary artery disease. Conclusion: The use of a carbonated lemon drink minimizes extracardiac activity from both 99mTc-labeled MPI radiopharmaceuticals. This finding was more statistically significant for 99mTc-tetrofosmin MPI, providing better image quality and earlier imaging in both the rest and the stress phases because of faster hepatobiliary clearance.

Lemierre’s Syndrome – Case Report of a 20-Year-Old Male with Post-Anginal Sepsis

&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Lemierre’s syndrome, first described by André Lemierre in 1936, is a rare but life-threatening condition. It is characterized by a triad of symptoms: pharyngeal infection, internal jugular vein thrombosis, and sepsis with distant abscesses, usually in the lungs. The primary pathogen is the anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium &lt;i&gt;Fusobacterium necrophorum&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;F. necrophorum&lt;/i&gt;). In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of Lemierre’s syndrome.&lt;b&gt;Case report:&lt;/b&gt; A 20-year-old male was admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with jaundice, dyspnea, sore throat, fever up to 39C, neck pain, and left lower limb weakness. Examination revealed enlarged palatine tonsils with purulent exudates and a right-sided peritonsillar abscess. Laboratory tests showed elevated inflammatory markers, thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis. Computed topography (CT) confirmed internal jugular vein thrombosis, abscesses in the right sternocleidomastoid muscle, and bilateral pleural effusions. The patient received oxygen therapy, antibiotics, anticoagulation, and pleural drainage. After 26 days of hospitalization, he was discharged with a recommendation to continue antibiotic therapy and low-molecular-weight heparin, as well as planned removal of the palatine tonsils (tonsillectomy).&lt;b&gt;Discussion:&lt;/b&gt; Lemierre’s syndrome is a severe complication of upper respiratory tract infections, mainly affecting young individuals. Symptoms include pharyngeal infection, sepsis, and internal jugular vein thrombosis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including prolonged antibiotics and sometimes anticoagulation, are crucial. The rise in incidence may be linked to the irrational use of antibiotics. Educating clinicians is vital to improve outcomes and reduce complications.&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Initial symptoms of Lemierre’s syndrome are nonspecific, complicating early diagnosis. Neck imaging and/or positive blood cultures are key for diagnosis. The incidence is 1–2.5 cases per million annually, making it rare but potentially fatal. Mortality before antibiotics was around 90%; currently, it is 5–18%, but higher without proper diagnosis. Early imaging significantly improves prognosis.

ANew Perspective On Arterioectatic Spinal Angiopathy with aReversible Pattern: Cause or Consequence?

In 2022, arterioectatic spinal angiopathy (AESA) of childhood was reported as afatal, progressive, multi-segment myelopathy associated with aunique form of non-inflammatory spinal angiopathy involving diffuse dilatation of the anterior spinal artery and cord congestion in children. In this study, we present four more cases of AESA, using early and long-term conventional imaging and flat detector computed tomography angiography (FDCTA) imaging to assess the probability of disease regression and prevent unnecessary interventions. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological findings of four patients with AESA seen in two neuroradiology departments between 2014 and 2023. The study included three boys and one girl. Two of the boys were siblings. Although the clinical and radiological presentation in the early stages of the clinical course overlapped the definition of AESA, the clinical course was more benign in three of the cases. The clinical courses of the two siblings with monosegmental cord involvement and largely reversible radiological findings suggest that some of the features in the initial definition of the disease cannot be standardized for all patients. The siblings had amutation of the NDUFS gene, which is involved in mitochondrial function and clinical-radiological reversibility in these patients. Many mitochondrial diseases, such as this NDUFS mutation, present with myelopathy, and mitochondrial diseases can sometimes show spontaneous recovery. It is crucial to identify other genetic mutations or environmental factors that trigger the accompanying vascular ectatic findings in AESA in larger multicenter studies to prevent its potential lethal course and possible unnecessary surgical-endovascular interventions.

The Early Perfusion Image Is Useful to Support the Visual Interpretation of Brain Amyloid-PET With 18F-Flutemetamol in Borderline Cases.

Visual interpretation of brain amyloid-β (Aβ) PET can be difficult in individuals with borderline Aβ burden. Coregistration with individual MRI is recommended in these cases, which, however, is not always available. This study evaluated coregistration with the early perfusion frames acquired immediately after tracer injection to support the visual interpretation of the late Aβ-frames in PET with 18F-flutemetamol (FMM). Fifty dual-time-window FMM-PET scans of cognitively normal subjects with 0 to 60 Centiloids were included retrospectively (70.1 ± 6.9 years, 56% female, MMSE score 28.9 ± 1.3, 42% APOE ɛ4 carrier). Regional Aβ load was scored with respect to a 6-point Likert scale by 3 independent raters in the 10 regions of interest recommended for FMM reading using 3 different settings: Aβ image only, Aβ image coregistered with MRI, and Aβ image coregistered with the perfusion image. The impact of setting, within- and between-readers variability, region of interest, and Aβ-status was tested by repeated-measure analysis of variance of the Likert score. The Centiloid scale ranged between 2 and 52 (interquartile range, 7-19). Support of visual scoring by the perfusion image resulted in the best discrimination between Aβ-positive and Aβ-negative cases, mainly by improved certainty of excluding Aβ plaques in Aβ-negative cases (P = 0.030). It also resulted in significantly higher between-rater agreement. The setting effect was most pronounced in the frontal lobe and in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus area (P = 0.005). The early perfusion image is a suitable alternative to T1-weighted MRI to support the visual interpretation of the late Aβ image in FMM-PET.

Back pain: diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms in outpatient practice

Back pain is a common reason for seeking primary care from older and younger people. Early spinal imaging by a therapist is indicated to eliminate potentially dangerous causes of pain. Independent magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography examination at the patient’s initiative in the absence of “red flags” back pain in most cases does not come close to identifying the obvious cause of pain syndrome, and it creates the preconditions for the formation of an exaggerated picture of the disease in the patient himself, driving him into the “trap” of chronic pain. Attention of the polyclinic doctor to the clinical symptoms detailed in the article, following the standard algorithms of diagnosis will allow timely suspicion of “red flags” back pain, avoid hyperdiagnosis of the cause, and minimize the risk of its chronization. The algorithm for treatment of acute and chronic episodes of pain should include informing the patient about the favorable outcome in the vast majority of cases, optimizing the physical activity of the patient, the use of complex drug therapy, the basis of which are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (predominantly selective), muscle relaxants and other pathogenetically based medicines.

279. NOVEL REFLUX MICROASPIRATION SCINTIGRAPHY ALLOWS EFFECTIVE PATIENT SELECTION FOR ANTIREFLUX SURGERY IN PROXIMAL REFLUX EVENTS

Abstract Background and Aims There is currently no reference standard test for the detection of the extra-esophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The current suite of diagnostic tests principally assess reflux events in the oesophagus have problematic accuracy issues in the pharynx. A new scintigraphic technique has been developed and validated against 24-hour oesophageal monitoring with pH, impedance. It allows direct visualization of refluxate in the laryngopharynx and lungs. This was utilised to evaluate patients having laparoscopic fundoplication for severe proximal reflux resistant to maximal medical therapy. Scanning may allow succesful patient selection for antireflux surgery. Methodology Following Institutional Ethics approval, 50 patients were assessed by scintigraphy before and after laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) at a single nuclear medicine facility. Standardised Reflux Symptom Indices (RSI) were obtained from each patient before and after surgery. Patients were scanned after oral 99m technetium Fyton administration with early dynamic images and delayed SPECT/CT images of the head, neck and lungs. Background corrected time-activity curves were generated for the pharynx and upper oesophagus from which frequency of reflux was estimated by counting events with activities greater than 2 standard deviations above fitted values. Frequencies, Spearman correlation and the student’s t test were utilised for analysis. Results The study population (35F, 15M) had a mean age of 63.9 years (Range 21-86). All patients underwent LF. Mean BMI was 26.8 with 67% being over-weight or obese. All patients had proximal reflux events in the early dynamic study. SPECT/ CT showed LPR events in 45/50 and pulmonary micro-aspiration (PMA) in 45/50 pre-operatively and in 36/50 and 20/50 post-operatively. The RSI, cough and throat clearing indices showed a significant fall post-operatively (p&amp;lt; 0.001). The frequency of scintigraphic pharyngeal reflux events was reduced from a mean of 4.5 in 30 minutes to 2.9 (t=9.1, p=0.004). Conclusion The novel scintigraphic test detects oesophageal and extra-oesophageal reflux events and permits direct visualization of refluxate in the head and neck structures and lungs. Scintigraphy correlates well with symptoms of reflux in the oesophagus and extra-esophageal structures such as the laryngopharynx (chronic cough and throat clearing) and the response to LF albeit partial. PMA was significantly reduced.

3157: Profiling PCa pts with BCR in the era of early imaging detection: a ML nomogram

3157: Profiling PCa pts with BCR in the era of early imaging detection: a ML nomogram

Scintigraphic Imaging of Extra-Esophageal Manifestation of Gastresophageal Reflux Disease.

There is currently no reference standard test for the detection of the extra-esophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The current suite of diagnostic tests principally assesses reflux events in the esophagus. A new scintigraphic technique has been developed and validated against reference standards. It allows direct visualization of refluxate in the laryngopharynx and lungs. Fifty patients were assessed by scintigraphy before and after fundoplication at a single nuclear medicine facility. Standardized reflux symptomindices (RSIs) were obtained from each patient before and after surgery. Patients were scanned after oral 99 m technetium Fyton administration with early dynamic images and delayed SPECT/CT images of the head, neck, and lungs. ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and the Student's t-test were utilized for analysis. The study population (35F, 15 M) had a mean age of 63.9 years. Mean BMI was 26.8 with 67% being overweight or obese. All patients had significant reflux. SPECT/CT showed LPR events in 45/50 and pulmonary micro-aspiration (PMA) in 45/50 preoperatively and in 36/50 and 20/50 postoperatively, respectively. The RSI, cough, and throat clearing indices showed a significant fall postoperatively (p < 0.001). Frequency of scintigraphic reflux events was reduced from a mean of 4.5 in 30 min to 2.9 (t = 9.1, p = 0.004). The novel scintigraphic test detects esophageal and extra-esophageal reflux events and permits direct visualization of refluxate in the head and neck structures and lungs. It correlates well with symptoms of reflux in the esophagus and extra-esophageal structures and the response to therapy. Although prospective, the study did not randomize patients and in effect each patient became their own control following an intervention (fundoplication). Thus, the study is Level 3 evidence Laryngoscope, 2024.

Atypical arachnoid cyst with progression: a case report

A 26-year-old female patient applied to the outpatient clinic in 2018 due to pain that had been present for a long time (16 years) and had recently spread from the top of the head to the nape of the neck. It was learned from the patient's anamnesis that her pain was relieved with analgesics. Although no pathological findings were found in the neurological examination, brain MRI was requested to reveal possible intracranial pathological conditions. In the MRI images taken, a cystic mass with a lobulated contour and thin septa of 24x31x40 mm and similar intensity to CSF was detected in the right parasagittal area posteriorly at the vertex level. The patient's control brain MRI images 3 months later showed no increase in cyst size. However, the patient's anamnesis, which came for a control in 2022, showed that his current complaints and headaches had increased. The MR images showed that the existing cyst had reached a size of approximately 60x35 mm. Medical treatment was initially planned for the patient (Acetazolamide, 750 mg/day). The MR taken one month later showed that there was no reduction in the cyst size and the optic discs were slightly swollen in the fundus examination. Considering the cyst growth, the patient's failure to benefit from medical treatment and the swelling noted in the optic discs, the patient was fitted with a cystoperitoneal shunt. The patient's early postoperative tomography image showed a significant reduction in the cyst (50.15x25.66) and a slightly swollen optic disc image with blurred borders was detected in the fundus examination. The patient's complaints regressed, and in the radiological images it was determined that the cyst continued to shrink [(45.8x23.19 mm) and (41.1x20.3 mm)], the shunt was in place, and she had no clinical complaints. As a result, it was argued that patients with atypically located arachnoid cysts, as in this case, should be taken under close clinical and radiological follow-up, and surgical treatment methods should definitely be considered in patients who are found to have an increase in cyst size and clinical findings during this follow-up and who do not respond despite medical treatment.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography and stress computed tomography myocardial perfusion: potential for early imaging of asymptomatic patients with myocardial bridges

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of left ventricular (LV) peak global longitudinal strain and potential of computed tomography myocardial perfusion (CT perfusion) for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic patients with myocardial bridges (MBs).Material and methods. Forty patients were examined (20 with asymptomatic MBs in the area of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and 20 without MBs) at the S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy in the period from 2021 to 2023. The patients were divided into 2 equal groups consisting of 20 people (10 with MBs — the main group; 10 without MBs — the comparison group), one of which underwent speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), and the other — stress CT perfusion performed (adenosine triphosphate 160 mg/kg). The results were assessed in accordance with the 17-segment classification of LV proposed by the American Heart Association (2002).Results. When performing STE, 5 (50%) patients with MBs showed a decrease in LV local strain in the segments, the blood supply of which comes from the LAD artery and its branches, while in the comparison group — 1 (10%) (x2=5; p=0,025). When assessing the global longitudinal peak strain (GLPS), a significant difference was revealed among the study groups, amounting to -20,9±1,5% in patients with MBs and -22,1±0,9% in those without MBs (p=0,04). Using ROC analysis, the effectiveness of GLPS in prediction of asymptomatic MBs was calculated as follows: AUC=0,93 (95% confidence interval: 0,819-1,0; p=0,001), the cut-off point — -20,55% (sensitivity 80%, specificity 100%). According to CT perfusion data, impaired myocardial blood supply in the group of asymptomatic patients with MBs was noted in 6 (60%) cases, and in the comparison group — 2 (20%) (x2=9,8; p=0,002).Conclusion. Imaging of initial LV changes according to two-dimensional STE and detection of coronary circulatory disorders according to CT myocardial perfusion in asymptomatic patients with MBs makes it possible to timely suspect intramyocardial course of the coronary artery, as well as to consider further management tactics and carry out early prevention of possible cardiovascular events.

The association of cardiovascular disease risk with coronary artery calcification and thoracic aortic dilation: a study in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and systemic lupus erythematosus.

We aim to explore the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and ascending/descending thoracic aorta (AA/DA) dilation in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and to assess associations between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and these imaging signatures. This study recruited 151 IIM patients, 140 SLE patients, and 195 controls. The CAC and AA/DA diameters were quantified using non-gated chest CT images. The independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney test was chosen for comparisons of continuous variables between patients and healthy controls. For categorical data, comparisons were made using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Multivariate regression or Spearman's correlation analysis was employed to probe the associations between CVD risk factors and Framingham risk score (FRS) with imaging signatures. The IIM and SLE patients showed significantly higher prevalence of CAC and AA/DA dilatation (P < 0.01). Age was a risk factor for both CAC and AA/DA dilatation in all cohorts (P < 0.01). In IIM patients, the AA/DA dilatation was associated with BMI (P = 0.05). In SLE patients, CAC was associated with the elevated CRP level (P = 0.05). Without CAC, both IIM and SLE patients showed significant correlations between AA/DA diameters and FRS (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). Only in SLE patients, the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level correlated with AA/DA diameters. The IIM and SLE patients more commonly exhibit CAC and AA/DA dilation. These subclinical atherosclerosis signs are associated with traditional CVD risk factors. For AID patients without CAC, AA/DA diameters could serve as a potential biomarker for early CVD risk. Key Points • The study characterized the manifestation of subclinical atherosclerosis imaging biomarkers (CAC, AA/DA dilation) in IIM and SLE patients. • AA/DA diameters could serve as an early imaging biomarker in clinical management for IIM and SLE patients with early-onset and no CAC present.

Patterns of Growth of Tumors in Li-Fraumeni Syndrome by Imaging: A Case Series.

Although tumors of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) have a premalignant or dormant phase that could be exploited by early imaging detection, this has been underevaluated in the literature. We present a case series of patients with LFS followed by imaging over time to highlight patterns of growth of tumors and hotspots of missed tumors in this population. Clinical and imaging features were available for 29 tumors of 24 carriers of a germline TP53 pathogenic variant, developed between 1999 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed in a single tertiary pediatric center. Imaging characteristics of tumors were evaluated with MRI, CT, and radiographs. Local invasion, time interval for developing primary cancer, and/or recurrent disease and metastasis, and factors that delayed the tumor diagnosis were assessed. In patients with multiple tumors the median time intervals for development of first, second, and third primary cancers were 45.9, 79.8, and 28.1 months, respectively. Hotspots of missed tumors included superficial soft tissues, areas close to bones, on the scalp, in tissues around the adrenal region and in small hypodense lesions on brain CT. In conclusion, the pattern of growth of tumors is variable and erratic in LFS patients with some tumors presenting with a dormant pattern.

Super-resolution reconstruction for early cervical cancer magnetic resonance imaging based on deep learning

This study aims to develop a super-resolution (SR) algorithm tailored specifically for enhancing the image quality and resolution of early cervical cancer (CC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. The proposed method is subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analyses, thoroughly investigating its performance across various upscaling factors and assessing its impact on medical image segmentation tasks. The innovative SR algorithm employed for reconstructing early CC MRI images integrates complex architectures and deep convolutional kernels. Training is conducted on matched pairs of input images through a multi-input model. The research findings highlight the significant advantages of the proposed SR method on two distinct datasets at different upscaling factors. Specifically, at a 2× upscaling factor, the sagittal test set outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in the PSNR index evaluation, second only to the hybrid attention transformer, while the axial test set outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in both PSNR and SSIM index evaluation. At a 4× upscaling factor, both the sagittal test set and the axial test set achieve the best results in the evaluation of PNSR and SSIM indicators. This method not only effectively enhances image quality, but also exhibits superior performance in medical segmentation tasks, thereby providing a more reliable foundation for clinical diagnosis and image analysis.

Early polar-orbiting satellite-based fire remote sensing during the 1960s

ABSTRACT Satellite-based sensors such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) now routinely provide a detailed picture of global fire activity on a daily basis. These systems explicitly included biomass burning as a phenomenon of interest, and their design was heavily influenced by experience gained with the comparatively primitive Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) first deployed on the TIROS-N satellite in the late 1970s. The AVHRR is generally recognized as the earliest spaceborne sensor to provide a middle infrared (MWIR) channel sensitive to actively burning vegetation fires and other high-temperature, sub-pixel thermal anomalies, forming the basis of countless fire studies before higher quality MODIS data became available. Here, we consider in the context of active fire monitoring a sensor much older than the AVHRR, namely the High Resolution Infrared Radiometer (HRIR) on board NASA’s Nimbus-I, -II, and -III satellites, launched in 1964, 1966, and 1969, respectively. This early imaging sensor had a single MWIR channel primarily intended for night-time meteorological observations (a complementary daytime near-infrared channel was added for Nimbus-III) that could potentially serve as a source of pre-AVHRR active fire data. To this end, we inspected night-time HRIR imagery acquired over the western United States and found unambiguous evidence of multiple confirmed wildfires in 1966. In addition, we found strong evidence of actively burning fires in Africa, specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo, western Zambia, and northern Namibia, and in northern Australia, commensurate with their fire seasons. Our findings indicate that it was actually the HRIR that acquired the earliest MWIR imagery that could be used for identifying biomass burning from space, well over a decade before the first AVHRR was deployed. We found in addition that the retrieval of fire radiative power (FRP) from higher dynamic-range HRIR observations was potentially possible pending refined calibration.

Extraosseous Plasmacytomas: A Radiologist's Perspective-A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Extraosseous plasmacytomas (EPs) are rare neoplasms originating from plasma cells, often associated with multiple myeloma. EPs are classified into three subtypes: extramedullary myeloma, solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (SEP), and multiple solitary plasmacytomas. They can manifest in various anatomical sites, including the lung, mediastinum, breast, liver, pancreas, stomach, mesentery, kidney, small and large bowel, testis, and soft tissue. Despite their rarity, EPs present a diagnostic challenge due to their non-specific imaging appearances, which can mimic other neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. This review aims to describe the radiographic features of EPs in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis based on a thorough analysis of the existing literature. While imaging plays a crucial role in the detection and characterization of EPs, histological confirmation is necessary to differentiate them from other neoplastic entities. The review underscores the importance of considering EPs in the differential diagnosis, particularly in patients with a history of multiple myeloma. Understanding the imaging characteristics of EPs is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. Early imaging is crucial in these patients to exclude the possibility of EP, as timely diagnosis can significantly impact patient outcomes.