Modern Multimodal Imaging Research Articles

Manifestations of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: Lessons From Multimodality Imaging and Pathological Correlation.

Heart valve replacement has steadily increased over the past decades due to improved surgical mortality, an aging population, and the increasing use of transcatheter valve technology. With these developments, prosthetic valve complications, including prosthetic valve endocarditis, are increasingly encountered. In this review, we aim to characterize the manifestations of prosthetic valve endocarditis using representative case studies from our institution to highlight the advances and contributions of modern multimodality imaging techniques.

Diagnostic Challenges in Inflammatory Choroidal Neovascularization.

Inflammation plays a key role in the induction of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV) is a severe but uncommon complication of both infectious and non-infectious uveitides. It is hypothesized that its pathogenesis is similar to that of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and involves hypoxia as well as the release of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha, and other mediators. Inflammatory CNV develops when inflammation or infection directly involves the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-Bruch's membrane complex. Inflammation itself can compromise perfusion, generating a gradient of retinal-choroidal hypoxia that additionally promotes the formation of choroidal neovascularization in the course of uveitis. The development of choroidal neovascularization may be a complication, especially in conditions such as punctate inner choroidopathy, multifocal choroiditis, serpiginous choroiditis, and presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. Although the majority of iCNV cases are well defined and appear as the "classic" type (type 2 lesion) on fluorescein angiography, the diagnosis of iCNV is challenging due to difficulties in differentiating between inflammatory choroiditis lesions and choroidal neovascularization. Modern multimodal imaging, particularly the recently introduced technology of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (noninvasive and rapid imaging modalities), can reveal additional features that aid the diagnosis of iCNV. However, more studies are needed to establish their role in the diagnosis and evaluation of iCNV activity.

Passive Microwave Radiometry as a Component of Imaging Diagnostics in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a disease with unknown causes in all forms of arthritis in children under 16 years of age. It is diagnosed when other joint pathologies are excluded. Difficulties in early and differential diagnoses lead to rapid disability and an unfavorable life prognosis. Therefore, a timely diagnosis is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to joints and preserve their function. Due to the widespread use of new technologies, modern multimodal imaging has gained recognition, including radiography, ultrasound, and MRI. The combination of methods plays a key role in confirming the diagnosis, monitoring the disease activity, the prognosis during the disease course, and the outcome in children with JIA. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. The introduction of passive microwave radiometry (MWR), in combination with other imaging methods, makes it possible to expand the possibilities of screening the disease in the preclinical and early clinical phases.

Multimodal imaging of soccer ball-related ocular posterior segment injuries.

To investigate the clinical and anatomic characteristics of soccer ball-induced posterior segment injuries in the era of modern multi-modal imaging. Retrospective case series of patients with soccer ball injury and diagnostic imaging from 2007 to 2020 at a single vitreoretinal practice. Eight patients met inclusion criteria. Fundus photographs (FP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were obtained in eight patients, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) in five patients, fluorescein angiography (FA) in three patients, and en-face OCT and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A) were obtained in two patients each. FA and FAF identified traumatic pigment epitheliopathy secondary to commotio. Increased hypo-autofluorescence was associated with shallow, peripheral retinal detachment on FAF. OCT of the macula displayed outer retinal changes associated with commotio, and offered insight into the acute and subacute changes of traumatic macular hole formation. A patient displayed foveal hyper-reflectivity in the shape of an hourglass with retinal cyst at the level of the external limiting membrane (ELM) as seen on OCT and En-face OCT. A patient with commotio involving the macula lacked microvascular changes on OCT-A. OCT, FA, and FAF imaging may aid in the work-up and management of the soccer ball-related posterior segment injuries.

Electronegative electroretinogram in the modern multimodal imaging era.

BackgroundThe electronegative electroretinogram (ERG) reflecting inner retinal dysfunction can assist as a diagnostic tool to determine the anatomical location in eye disease. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and aetiology of electronegative ERG in a tertiary ophthalmology centre and to develop a clinical algorithm to assist patient management.MethodsRetrospective review of ERGs performed at the Save Sight Institute from January 2011 to December 2020. ERGs were performed according to ISCEV standard. The b:a ratio was analysed in dark adapted (DA) 3.0 or 12.0 recordings. Patients with ratio of ≤1.0 were included.ResultsA total of 4421 patients had ERGs performed during study period, of which 139 patients (3.1%) had electronegative ERG. The electronegative ERG patients' median age at referral time was 37 (0.7–90.6) years. The causative aetiologies were photoreceptor dystrophy (48, 34.5%), Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB) (33, 23.7%), retinal ischemia (18, 12.9%), retinoschisis (15, 10.8%), paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (PAIR) and nonPAIR (14, 10.1%), batten disease (4, 2.9%), and inflammatory retinopathy (4, 2.9%). There were three patients with an unclassified diagnosis. Thirty‐two patients (23%) had good vision and a normal fundus appearance. Eleven patients (7.9%) had good vision and normal results in all multimodal imaging.ConclusionsThe frequency of electronegative ERG in our referral centre was 3.1% with photoreceptor dystrophy as the main aetiology. A significant number of the cases had good vision with normal fundus or normal multimodal imaging. This further highlights the value of an ERG in this modern multimodal imaging era.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance of cardiac tumors and masses.

Cardiac masses diagnosis and treatment are a true challenge, although they are infrequently encountered in clinical practice. They encompass a broad set of lesions that include neoplastic (primary and secondary), non-neoplastic masses and pseudomasses. The clinical presentation of cardiac tumors is highly variable and depends on several factors such as size, location, relation with other structures and mobility. The presumptive diagnosis is made based on a preliminary non-invasive diagnostic work-up due to technical difficulties and risks associated with biopsy, which is still the diagnostic gold standard. The findings should always be interpreted in the clinical context to avoid misdiagnosis, particularly in specific conditions (e.g., infective endocarditis or thrombi). The modern multi-modality imaging techniques has a key role not only for the initial assessment and differential diagnosis but also for management and surveillance of the cardiac masses. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows an optimal non-invasive localization of the lesion, providing multiplanar information on its relation to surrounding structures. Moreover, with the additional feature of tissue characterization, CMR can be highly effective to distinguish pseudomasses from masses, as well as benign from malignant lesions, with further differential diagnosis of the latter. Although histopathological assessment is important to make a definitive diagnosis, CMR plays a key role in the diagnosis of suspected cardiac masses with a great impact on patient management. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cardiac masses, from clinical and imaging protocol to pathological findings.

High-performance sonographical multimodal imaging of non cystic thyroid lesions: Chances of the preoperative diagnostics in relation to histopathology.

AIM:To improve preoperative diagnostics of solid non-cystic thyroid lesions by using new high-performance ultrasound techniques: optimized B-mode morphology, elastography, Color-Coded Doppler-Sonography (CCDS) and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)MATERIALS AND METHODS:In 33 cases solid, non-cystic thyroid lesions were rated as TIRADS 3 and up from conventional B-mode examinations. Additional high resolution Power Doppler including HR- and Glazing-Flow as optimized macrovascularization techniques, shear wave elastography and CEUS were performed on these patients by one experienced examiner. For CEUS a bolus of 1–2.4 ml Sulfurhexafluorid microbubbles (SonoVue®, Bracco, Milan, Italy) was injected into a cubital vein and then the distribution kinetics of the contrast agent were documented from the early arterial phase (10 to 15 seconds after injection) to the late venous phase (5 minutes after injection). Postoperative histopathology was the diagnostic gold standard as it provides the most reliable proof.RESULTS:33 patients (13 males, 20 females; age 29 –77 years; mean 55 years; SD 13 years) were included in this study. 28 of them had benign regressive thyroid nodules, 3 had adenomas and 4 were diagnosed with carcinomas (3 were histologically identified as papillary thyroid carcinomas, one as a medullary thyroid carcinoma). The volume of the thyroid gland ranged from 6.6 to 401.3 cm2 (mean 72.6±92.0 cm2).The adenoma diameters ranged from 9 to 40 mm (mean 22±16 mm) and the carcinoma diameters ranged from 19 to 33 mm (mean 26±6 mm). The 3 adenomas had different echogenicities: One was completely echofree, one was hypoechoic and one isoechoic. The 4 carcinomas however were equally characterized as hypoechoic and echofree. Two of three adenomas and all of the carcinomas showed an incomplete or diffuse margin. Micro-calcifications were found in one adenoma and in every carcinoma. However, no micro-calcifications were observed in cases of benign regressive nodules.Performing shear-wave elastography the adenomas showed lower values than the carcinomas: The tissue velocity of the adenomas ranged from 2.86 m/s to 3.85 m/s (mean 3.32±0.5 m/s) and in carcinomas from 3.89 m/s to 5.66 m/s (mean 4.18±0.3 m/s).Marginal hypervascularization was detected in two adenomas after applying CCDS. One adenoma was hypovascularized. The four carcinomas showed an irregular extreme hypervascularization along their margins as well as an irregular central normo- or hypervascularization in CCDS. The additional HR-Flow helped reducing artefacts.In CEUS the dynamic capillary microvascularization of all carcinomas was very irregular with early enhancement and followed by partial or complete wash-out. In CEUS two adenomas had no wash-out and the other one showed a partial wash-out.CONCLUSION:Using modern multimodal imaging offers new possibilities for the differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid lesions. It is a very important diagnostic tool in addition to the B-Mode TIRADS classification and eases the decision between TIRADS 3, 4 and 5. However, additional multicenter studies are required for more detailed evaluations.

Versatile Microfluidic Platform for Automated Live-Cell Hyperspectral Imaging Applied to Cold Climate Cyanobacterial Biofilms.

Microfluidic bioanalytical platforms are driving discoveries from synthetic biology to the health sciences. In this work, we present a platform for in vivo live-cell imaging and automated species detection in mixed cyanobacterial biofilms from cold climate environments. Using a multimodal microscope with custom optics applied to a chip with six parallel growth channels, we monitored biofilm dynamics via continuous imaging at natural irradiance levels. Machine learning algorithms were applied to the collected hyperspectral images for automatic segmentation of mixed-species biofilms into individual species of cyanobacteria with similar filamentous morphology. The coupling of microfluidic technology with modern multimodal imaging and computer vision systems provides a versatile platform for the study of cause-and-effect scenarios of cyanobacterial biofilms, which are important elements of many ecosystems, including lakes and rivers of the polar regions.

Vascular findings in primarily affected and fellow eyes of middle-aged patients with Coats’ disease using multimodal imaging

AimsTo investigate the retinal vascular structure and capillary anomalies of affected and fellow eyes of patients with unilateral Coats’ disease using multimodal imaging.MethodsClinical investigation of both eyes of each patient...

Biomedical image analysis challenges should be considered as an academic exercise, not an instrument that will move the field forward in a real, practical way.

The biomedical imaging community has witnessed innovative algorithmic developments in quantitative imaging biomarkers taking advantage of modern multimodality imaging technologies. These developments encompass a wide methodological portfolio including but not limited to image registration, segmentation, classification, and prediction. Despite the enormous progress in technical developments, including rigorous peer-review preceding publication in the scientific literature, extensive testing, and feedback from users of the associated open-source software tools, validation of these advanced image analysis tools prior to their deployment in the clinic is still one of the main challenges faced by developers and end-users.

Where is the right ventricle? Accurate diagnosis with cardiovascular multimodality imaging

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a globally unattended disease with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. It has a higher prevalence in tropical and subtropical countries compared to the rest of the world. Endomyocardial fibrosis can affect the atrioventricular valves, along with all four chambers of the heart, but spares the myocardium. Patients currently undergo symptomatic treatment with diuretics and vasodilators to enhance quality of life, although medical therapy alone is associated with poor prognosis. Hence, patients with severe symptoms prefer surgical treatment. Modern multimodality imaging, however, can help these definitions to be made more accurately.

The multimodal imaging characteristics of multiple evanescent white dot syndrom

Objective To observe the multimodal imaging characteristics of multiple evanescent white dot syndrom (MEWDS). Methods This was a retrospective series case study. Eighteen patients (18 eyes) diagnosed with MEWDS in Eye Center of The Second People’s Hospital of Foshan from September 2015 to April 2017 were enrolled in this study. There were 12 females and 6 males, with the mean age of 35.9 years. The disease course ranged from 3 to 90 days, with the mean of 14 days. All the patients underwent BCVA, slit-lamp microscope with +90D preset lens, fundus photography, spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) and FAF examinations. FFA was simultaneously performed in 6 eyes, FFA and ICGA were simultaneously performed in 12 eyes. Ten patients received the treatment of glucocorticoids and vasodilator substance, and other 8 patients without any treatment. The follow-up duration was 4.5 months. The multimodal imaging characteristics were reviewed and analyzed. Results Fundus color photography showed a variable number of small dots and large spots lesions (14 eyes), and/or fovea granularity (7 eyes) and disk swelling (5 eyes). A variable number of little dots and larger spots lesions showed respectively in FFA, FAF and ICGA were needle-like dots distributed in a wreathlike pattern and a large plaque occasionally confluent of early highly fluorescent, highly autofluorescence and hypofluoresence. Combined hypofluorescent spots with overlying dots were observed in 10 eyes of the late stages of the ICGA. Black lesions in the gray background show in ICGA were the most obvious and the most extensive, gray-white lesions in the gray-black show in FAF were the second, light gray-black lesions in the gray show in FFA were the least. Gray-white lesions in an orange background show in fundus photography were not obvious and transient. SD-OCT showed disruption of the ellipsoid zone and/or accumulations of hyperreflective material from the ellipsoid layer toward the outer plexiform layer and vitreous cells. During the period of following-up, some patients were prescribed low-dose glucocorticoid and some not, almost all the patients except one patient experienced recovery in BCVA and the lesions in fundus imaging. Conclusions The lesions in MEWDS eyes in modern multimodal imaging modalities among fundus photography (fovea granularity), FFA (needle-like dots distributed in a wreathlike pattern and a large plaque occasionally confluent of early highly fluorescent), ICGA (flake hypofluorescent) and SD-OCT (disruption of the ellipsoid zone) showed good consistency. Almost eyes were recovery. Key words: Retinal diseases/diagnosis; Multimodal imaging characteristics

DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY AND ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIA IN A PATIENT WITH A PRIOR REPAIRED ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT: DON'T LET THE HISTORY FOOL YOU

Unrepaired sinus venosus ASD is a rare but recognized congenital cardiac lesion. Modern multimodality imaging is required for comprehensive diagnosis and to direct surgical management. A 58 year old male with history of remote surgical ASD closure presented with dilated cardiomyopathy thought to be

Characteristics of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome with multimodal imaging

Objective To observe the characteristics of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) with modern multimodal imaging modalities. Methods This was a retrospective case study. Eleven patients (11 eyes) diagnosed with MEWDS were enrolled. There were 10 females and 1 male, mean age was 27.6 years (range 15 - 41 years). The period between disease onset and visiting to the hospital was between 2 to 13 days, the average time was 4.7 days. All the patients underwent examinations of best corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscope, indirect ophthalmoscope, fundus color photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The mean follow up duration was 3.2 months. The imaging characteristics were compared. Results Fundus color photography showed foveal orange-red granularity in all eyes. FAF showed strong autofluorescence with a vague boundary. FFA showed a variable number of highly fluorescent fine needle-like dots arranged in a ring in the early stage, and fluorescence remained in the late stage. ICGA showed advanced lesions of vague boundary merged into a large plaque of deep retinal hypofluorescence. SD-OCT showed the hyperreflectant material deposit over the retinal pigment epithelium and extending anteriorly through the interdigitation zone, ellipsoid layer, and toward the external limiting membrane. At the site of extrafoveal lesions, SD-OCT revealed the presence of discontinuities or disruptions centered on the ellipsoid zone to include the interdigitation. Conclusions In MEWDS patients, fundus photography showed foveal orange-red granularity; FFA showed early fluorescent dots distributed in a ring pattern; ICGA showed hypofluorescent lesions in the later stage; SD-OCT showed disruption of the interdigitation zone and ellipsoid zone and accumulations of hyperreflective material that was of variable size and shape; FAF showed strong autofluoresce areas that correlated to spots observed with FFA and ICGA. Key words: Retinal diseases/diagnosis; Fluorescein angiography; Indocyanine green; Tomography, optical coherence; Diagnostic imaging

Erdheim–Chester disease as assessed by modern multimodality imaging

Erdheim–Chester disease as assessed by modern multimodality imaging

EXPANDED CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF MULTIPLE EVANESCENT WHITE DOT SYNDROME WITH MULTIMODAL IMAGING.

To evaluate and characterize multiple evanescent white dot syndrome abnormalities with modern multimodal imaging modalities. This retrospective cohort study evaluated fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography, enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, short-wavelength autofluorescence, and near-infrared autofluorescence. Thirty-four multiple evanescent white dot syndrome patients with mean age of 28.7 years were studied (range, 14-49 years). Twenty-six patients were women, and eight were men. Initial mean visual acuity was 0.41 logMAR. Final mean visual acuity was 0.03 logMAR. Fluorescein angiography shows a variable number of mid retinal early fluorescent dots distributed in a wreathlike pattern, which correlate to fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, and indocyanine green angiography. Indocyanine green angiography imaging shows the dots and also hypofluorescent, deeper, and larger spots, which are occasionally confluent, demonstrating a large plaque of deep retinal hypofluorescence. Optical coherence tomography imaging shows multifocal debris centered at and around the ellipsoid layer, corresponding to the location of spots seen with photography, indocyanine green angiography, and fluorescein angiography. Protrusions of the hyperreflectant material from the ellipsoid layer toward the outer nuclear layer correspond to the location of dots seen with photography, indocyanine green angiography, and fluorescein angiography. Multimodal imaging analysis of the retina in patients with multiple evanescent white dot syndrome shows additional features that may help in the diagnosis of the disease and in further understanding its etiology. Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome is predominantly a disease of the outer retina, centered at the ellipsoid zone, but also involving the interdigitation zone and the outer nuclear layer.

Radiologically Unifocal Invasive Breast Carcinomas: Large-Section Histopathology Correlate and Impact on Surgical Management

Background: Most breast carcinomas are morphologically complex, comprising both in situ and invasive components that can be unifocal, multifocal, or diffuse. Pre-operative radiological mapping often reveals this complexity, but even in the era of modern multimodality breast imaging lesions may remain undetected. Methods: We studied the sub gross morphology of tumors in a series of invasive carcinomas determined to be unifocal on pre-operative multimodal radiological imaging. We focused on histological outcome, margin status, and type of surgery. All of the surgical specimens were documented in large-format histological slides. Results: A total of 44.5% (344/773) of the tumors had separate invasive and/or in situ foci in large-format histopathology slides, in addition to the radiologically detected tumor focus. The foci occupied an area ≥ 40 mm in 29.0% (224/773) of the cases, indicating extensive disease. Close/dirty margin upon histological examination was associated with extensive disease (32.1% vs 5.6%, RR 5.6924, p < 0.0001), multifocality of the invasive component (26.0% vs 3.3%, RR=7.9755, p=0.0001), and breast conservation (15.4% vs 6.3%, RR=2.4476, p=0.0036), but the differences were found only for extensive tumors. Mastectomy was chosen as the primary or complete intervention in 28.3% (219/773) of cases, mostly in multifocal and extensive tumors. Conclusion: Our results indicate the presence of extensive disease in a considerable number of breast cancer cases judged pre-operatively as unifocal. Removing the radiologically detectable tumor focus with “no ink on the tumor” may not be sufficient in such cases.

Neurovisualisation predictors of malignant cerebral infarction and hemorrhagic transformation

Neuroimaging plays a central role in the assessment of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Within a few minutes, modern multimodal imaging protocols can provide one with comprehensive information about prognosis, management, and outcome of the disease, and may detect changes in the intracranial structures reflecting severity of the ischemic injury depicted by four Ps: parenchyma (of the brain), pipes (i.e., the cerebral blood vessels), penumbra, and permeability (of the blood brain barrier). In this article, we have reviewed neuroradiological predictors of malignant middle cerebral artery infarction and hemorrhagic transformation in light of the aforementioned four Ps.

Getting the picture: The coming of age of imaging MS

This retrospective on imaging mass spectrometry describes the coming of age of an approach that has matured from an innovative technological development to a broadly applied analytical tool. A look back in time reveals how the breadth of imaging mass spectrometry has expanded from a purely (semiconductor) surface physics field to its recent impact on biomedicine, nanotechnology and culture. The impact of historical milestones in desorption and ionization technologies on the progress in modern multimodal molecular imaging technologies is described and discussed. A concise picture is sketched of the roadmap that contains the key advances in imaging mass spectrometry methods and technologies.

Multimodal imaging protocols and their predictive role in acute stroke functional outcome

Brain imaging plays a central role in the assessment of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Within a few minutes, modern multimodal imaging protocols can provide one with comprehensive information about prognosis, management, and outcome of the disease, and may detect changes in the intracranial structures reflecting severity of the ischemic injury depicted by four Ps: parenchyma (of the brain), pipes (i.e., the cerebral blood vessels), penumbra, and permeability (of the blood brain barrier). In this article, we have reviewed neuroradiological predictors of stroke functional outcome in the light of the aforementioned four Ps.