Radiology Research Articles

Investigating clinical indicators for neuroimaging abnormalities in acute headache cases: insights from a retrospective study.

Headache is common at emergency services and neuroimaging can help in timely diagnosis of life-threatening pathologies. We evaluated clinical indicators associated with abnormal neuroimaging in patients with acute headache, aiming to develop a scoring system with reliable diagnostic performance. This analytical and retrospective study was conducted at a teaching tertiary care hospital in Cali, Colombia, from January 2011 to December 2019. Patients aged 18 years or older with non-traumatic headaches who attended the emergency department and underwent neuroimaging were included. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, including headache associated signs and symptoms, imaging diagnosis and disposition. Statistically significant variables and clinically relevant variables were selected. Data was analyzed using a combination of logistic regression and Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves, leading to the derivation of three models. 626 patients were included, 15.5% with abnormal neuroimaging. The variables with the highest odds ratio (OR) were: age > 40 years (OR 3.2 CI 1.86-5.56), motor deficit (OR 5.4 CI 2.62-11.18), visual deficit (OR 3.2 CI 1.56-6.63) and gait disturbance (OR 2.27 CI 0.87-5.96). Three abnormal neuroimaging prediction logistic regression models have been derived. The better scale is performed with model 1, which is validated internally and a cut-off point of 0.179, the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.757 is obtained with a diagnostic accuracy of 0.79 (0.73-0.85). Our straightforward scale incorporates clinical factors associated with abnormal neuroimaging, with the aim of improving diagnostic performance and predictive capacity to distinguish patients who require neuroimaging.

Is two-dimensional oblique parasagittal ultrasound imaging valid for levator ani muscle assessment?

To evaluate the validity of two-dimensional (2D) oblique parasagittal ultrasound imaging to assess levator ani muscle avulsion. This was a cross-sectional prospective study of women attending a tertiary urogynecological service between February 2021 and August 2022. All women underwent a standardized interview, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) assessment and four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound. 2D oblique parasagittal ultrasound imaging was performed by rotating the transducer 10-20° from the midline to line up the main transducer axis with the fiber direction of the puborectalis muscle, followed by a full parasagittal sweep of the hiatus at rest. Postprocessing of archived ultrasound volume data was performed at a later date, blinded to all other data. Findings were compared with levator ani assessment results obtained previously using three-dimensional tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI). Diagnosis of levator ani avulsion on TUI and oblique parasagittal imaging was analyzed for associations with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The datasets of 484 women were analyzed. Mean age was 58 (range, 16-94) years, mean body mass index was 30 (range, 17-65) kg/m2 and mean parity was 2.6 (range, 0-8). POP symptoms were reported by 278 (57%) women. Clinically and sonographically significant POP was found in 385 (80%) and 350 (72%) women, respectively. Levator ani avulsion was diagnosed in 77 (16%) women on TUI and in 90 (18.6%) women on oblique parasagittal ultrasound imaging, with fair agreement between the two methods (Cohen's kappa of 0.365). There were significant associations between levator ani avulsion on 2D ultrasound imaging and POP diagnosis on clinical examination (odds ratio (OR), 2.88 (95% CI, 1.34-6.18); P = 0.005) and on ultrasound (OR, 2.92 (95% CI, 1.53-5.55); P = 0.001), but these associations were much stronger for TUI (P < 0.001 for both). There was limited agreement between tomographic and oblique parasagittal ultrasound diagnosis of levator ani muscle avulsion. The latter technique has some validity for levator ani assessment but is clearly less valid than TUI. © 2025 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Case report: A case of tibial tuberous osteochondroma complicated with gouty calculus

Osteochondroma (OC) mainly occurs in the metaphysis of long bones in children and adolescents, and it is extremely rare to occur in the tibial tuberosity and usually has no clinical symptoms. Here, we report a rare case of osteochondroma of the tibial tuberosity combined with gouty stones in a 44-year-old male patient who was found to have a mass on the left upper tibia for 20 years that had not been taken seriously or treated, and the patient was admitted to the hospital after the mass developed painful symptoms. In this case, X-ray examination clearly showed a lesion, which manifested as a limited bony protuberance with a wide base attached to the tibial tuberosity, and the imaging diagnosis was osteochondroma of the tibial tuberosity. The patient underwent surgical resection, and the pathologic results suggested that osteochondroma of the tibial tuberosity was combined with gouty stones. The patient’s symptoms improved significantly after the surgery, and no obvious discomfort or dysfunction has been found in the follow-up so far.

Unravelling lumbar disc herniation severity beyond MRI : integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses highlight glycerophospholipid metabolism and inform a machine-learning diagnostic model: a pilot study.

While MRI serves as a tool for assessing the severity of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), it has been observed that imaging diagnoses do not always align with clinical symptoms in nearly half of patients. The absence of dependable prognostic biomarkers impedes the early and accurate diagnosis of LDH, which is critical for the development of further treatment approaches. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that determine pain and LDH severity. We conducted a pilot study with 55 patients, employing transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on blood samples to identify potential biomarkers. A gene-metabolite interaction approach helped in identifying the pivotal pathway linked to disease severity. Moreover, a machine-learning model was designed to differentiate between patients based on the intensity of pain. Cholinergic-related glycerophospholipid metabolism emerged as the predominant enriched pathway in the severe symptom group via gene-metabolite interaction network analysis. Among various models, the gradient boosting machines (GBM) model stood out, achieving a commendable area under the curve (AUC) of 0.875 in distinguishing between the severe and mild symptom groups using combined RNA and metabolomics data. Integrated molecular profiling of blood biomarkers has highlighted a novel determining pathway for LDH severity. This machine-learning approach can serve as a valuable predictive tool when MRI findings are inconclusive. Future research will focus on validating these biomarkers and exploring their potential for personalized medicine approaches.

Annotations on Indeterminate Cytology of Thyroid Nodules in Thyroidology: Novi Sub Sole?

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, Indeterminate cytology (IC) remains the most challenging issue for health professionals working in thyroidology, thyroidologists [1-4]. We read a great deal of the article by Ali et al [5]. entitled "Clinicopathological Features of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: A Single-center Cross-sectional Study," published in 3rd volume, Barw Medical Journal. This study addresses a challenging and crucial issue by examining the characteristics and malignancy rates of thyroid nodules with IC, the most controversial category for The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). The authors evaluated the clinicopathological features of the thyroid nodules with Category III, TBSRTC, in a single-center cross-sectional study [5]. One of the strengths of the article is its focus on the challenges in managing IC. Ali and colleagues [5] thoroughly examine comprehensive data, including demographic details, medical history, laboratory tests, preoperative imaging, cytologic evaluation, and histopathological diagnosis. The results indicate a notable malignancy rate in Category III, TBSRTC. Furthermore, the study points out that malignancy tended to be younger, while benign nodules were significantly larger than malignant ones. The study also found a significant association between malignant nodules and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) categories 4 and 5 and benign with TI-RADS 2 and 3, which findings align with some existing literature, providing valuable insights into the clinical assessment of IC. However, several limitations of the study warrant consideration. Firstly, its single-center and retrospective design may limit the generalizability of the findings to diverse populations and settings. As the authors acknowledge, the retrospective data collection might have resulted in missing crucial information. While TI-RADS scoring was provided, more specific ultrasound features of thyroid nodules could have been beneficial. Of note, does including or excluding noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), which has been considered a low-risk entity by the current understanding, affect and/or alter the overall results and the assessment of diagnostic performance and study outcome(s)? [2-4] Furthermore, which caliber of the needle had been utilized throughout the study with or without local and/or topical anesthetic agent(s), and would the utilization of thicker or finer needles in order to obtain cytologic samples with or without any local and/or topical anesthesia alter the outcome(s) of this study? [2] Moreover, which edition of TBSRTC has been used for the work and would stress the up-to-date 3rd edition of TBSRTC [3], considering both the novel and crucial subdivisions of category III might affect the study’s relevant outcome(s)? [3,4] Another point of attention is the relatively short data collection period compared to the publication. Finally, while the discussion section compares the findings with various studies in the literature, a more in-depth exploration of the methodological differences and potential discrepancies in results could have been provided. For instance, the conflicting views in the literature regarding the relationship between nodule size and malignancy risk could have been further contrasted with the study's findings. The authors also acknowledge the small sample size as a limitation. For future research, multi-center and prospective studies with detailed imaging, such as elastography and contrast-enhanced sonography, and investigations into the role of molecular markers in thyroid nodules with Category III could improve diagnostic accuracy and potentially reduce unnecessary surgical interventions. In conclusion, this study significantly contributes to the evaluation of IC in thyroidology despite its limitations. However, considering the noted limitations, further research with more comprehensive and methodologically robust studies in this area is warranted. This issue merits further investigation. Sincerely,

Quantification of Bone in the Maxillomandibular Region, using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Background: Maxillary and mandibular bones are the primary bones of the face. Both the mandible and maxilla are subjected to the physiological and pathological changes. The success of dental implant largely depends on pre-operative preparation.Objective: This study aimed to find the quantity of bone using CBCT among genders with different age groups and to generate a novel classification system for the amount/quantity of bone in the maxillo-mandibular region. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 417 subjects (age limit 18-80 years/both genders) visiting the Radiology Department of Sardar Begum Dental College and Khyber College of Dentistry. CBCT was used to generate the new classification system for the quantity of bone in the maxillomandibular region. The frequency/percentages and Mean ± SD for the numerical data were calculated using descriptive statistics. The numerical variables were graded from very high value to very low recordable value. The chi-square test was used for all the categorical variables. The level of significance was (P value≤0.05) for six categories of decade age sub-groups, between both genders. Results: The mean age group was 48.95 with a standard deviation of 17.11 years. In the mandible, 69.78% of candidates had an abundant quantity of bone among which 33.34% (n=139) females and 36.78% (n=152) males showed sufficient dimensions. The inadequate and deficient dimensions were found in 8.63% (n=36) and 7.67% (n=32) females and 8.87% (n=37) and 5.03 % (n=21) males. In contrast, in the maxilla 63.07% (n=263) patients in which 31.18% (n=130) females and 31.89% (133) males, had deficient maxilla in all dimensions. Conclusion: The novel classification system showed, that the mandible was abundant and sufficient in quantity and marked as Division A/ B. In contrast, the posterior maxilla was found to be deficient and insufficient in quantity and marked as division C/D. The quantity of the maxillary and mandibular bones was more deficient in the females than in males. Keywords: Cortical bone, Density, Lingual undercut, Mandible, Maxilla, Quantity, Trabecula.

Patient-Specific Factors to Differentiate Between Branchial Cleft Cysts and CUP Syndrome: A 10 Year Unicenter Study.

Due to its generally-poor prognosis and varied clinical presentation, cervical cancer of unknown primary (CUP) poses particular challenges for clinical and imaging diagnosis. Differential diagnoses of CUP syndrome may also include lateral cervical cysts. When a benign neck cyst is initially suspected, squamous cell carcinoma is often diagnosed after receiving histopathology. Our study investigates the risk factors to differentiate between CUP syndrome and lateral neck cysts (LNC) to possibly improve the prognosis. Between 2013 and 2023, 244 patients with an initial diagnosis of LNC (n = 121) or CUP (n = 123) were recruited from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Heidelberg University Hospital and underwent panendoscopy with lymph node removal. In general, disease- and progression-free survival, prognostic relevant risk factors, and treatment data were recorded and analyzed. The mean age of patients with CUP was significantly higher at 65 ± 13.2 years than that of patients with LNC (41 ± 15.8 years; P = .000). The calculated cutoff value was 50 to 59 years for a 50% chance of CUP syndrome or other malignant neck mass. Alcohol and tobacco consumption were not found to be risk factors. Previous tumor diseases were diagnosed more frequently in patients with CUP than in patients with LNC (P = .045). The 5 year overall survival for patients with CUP was 77.0% and did not differ significantly between the other various tumor entities (P = .423). The consideration of patient-specific factors such as age or synchronous/asynchronous malignancies is crucial in the diagnostic decision-making process. In the age group of 50 to 59 years, there is ~50% probability of diagnosing CUP syndrome with unilateral painless neck swelling. A thorough clinical examination using panendoscopy with at least 1 unilateral tonsillectomy and biopsies from the base of the tongue is essential to detect a possible primarius early and improve the prognosis.

F-Test and One-Way ANOVA for Medical Images Diagnosis

F-Test and One-Way ANOVA for Medical Images Diagnosis

Understanding Research Motivations and Barriers Among Danish Sonographers in Radiology Departments: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: In Denmark sonographers, undergo profound training and have a notable presence in clinical practice. Understanding the factors behind their limited research engagement is important. This study aimed to examine the factors influencing sonographers' research involvement, focusing on motivational elements and barriers. Our investigation was structured around three key research questions: a) What motivates sonographers to engage in research? b) What obstacles hinder their involvement? c) How can we enhance the participation of sonographers in research in Denmark? Methods: This study had an explorative inductive qualitative approach. The data collection method was a focus group session with sonographers from the National Sonographers Network. The focus group session followed a structured guide and was verbatim transcribed. Thematic analysis by coding and identifying themes was performed individually by three authors. Subsequently, Social Cognitive Theory was incorporated as a framework for further analysis. Results: Regarding motivations for engaging in research, the themes were Impact on Practice and Personal Interest. In terms of obstacles to research involvement, the themes included Challenges in Staffing and Time Management, Low Priority and Interest, Limited Research Experience and Practical Skills, and Insufficient Support. Regarding enhancements for participation, the themes were Management and Communications and Networks. Conclusion: Sonographers in Danish public radiology departments demonstrate a high interest in research, driven by personal and clinical practice impacts. Their intrinsic motivation fosters idea generation and collaboration in research. Key barriers include heavy workloads and limited research skills. Cultivating a supportive, research-friendly environment is important for meaningful participation. Enhancing management and colleague support can bridge existing gaps and encourage active research engagement.

Diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography in evaluating renal fibrosis in children with chronic kidney disease: a comparative study with Tc-99 DMSA renal scan

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue, impacting over 10% of the world’s population, amounting to more than 800 million individuals. However, the true number of people affected by CKD could be much higher due to increasing risk factors like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. CKD is a progressive condition leading to tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis, encompasses a variety of diseases that impair the structure and function of the kidneys.AimTo evaluate the accuracy of shear wave elastography to detect renal parenchymal fibrosis in children with chronic kidney disease in comparison with technetium-99 m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan.MethodsA case–control study. Cases were pediatric patients with CKD who referred for DMSA scan from the pediatric hospital while the controls are recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinics referred for an abdominal ultrasound for reasons other than renal pathology at the radiology department of our institution. Both cases and control group underwent ultrasound examination with shear wave elastography.ResultsThe average elasticity values from 20 controls taken in our study were 11.02(9.58–11.5) kpa. In our study shear wave elastography (SWE) could predict scar on DMSA at a cutoff elasticity value of ≥ 12.065 kpa with a sensitivity of 85.71 and specificity of 92.31. No significant difference in SWE values between controls and cases without scaring.ConclusionsSWE is an affordable, widely available, and noninvasive technique with no radiation risk, making it valuable for monitoring disease progression and follow-up in children with CKD. Its high sensitivity and specificity in detecting renal scarring further enhance its clinical utility.

Dose response of Fricke Gel dosimeters with distinct indicators&lt;i&gt;&lt;/i&gt;

Fricke solution, composed of ferrous ammonium sulfate in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid, is used as a chemical dosimeter for gamma rays, X-rays and high energy electrons. The three-dimensional dosimetry has several applications, such as in radiotherapy procedures, imaging diagnosis techniques and internal dosimetry. In this work, the response of Fricke gel dosimeter with two types of indicator was compared. Sodium thiocyanate, a salt not used in dosimetry, and xylenol orange, a well-established indicator, were analyzed as indicators. The studies were performed in a cobalt-60 source. Dosimetric responses of Fricke gel with distinct indicators differ in their sensitivity, that is, the addition of sodium thiocyanate to the gel shifted the saturation point of the gel to an absorbed dose of approximately 300 Gy, while the Fricke gel with xylenol orange presents a saturation of around 30 Gy.

Brain Tumors Detection Using Deep Learning

Abstract - Brain Tumors are one of the most challenging diseases to cure among the different ailments encountered in medical study. Early classification of brain Tumors from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the diagnosis of such diseases. There are many diagnostic imaging methods used to identify Tumors in the brain. MRI is commonly used for such tasks because of its unmatched image quality. The traditional method of identifying Tumors relies on physicians, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, putting the patient’s life in jeopardy. Identifying the classes of brain Tumors is difficult due to the high anatomical and spatial diversity of the brain Tumors’s surrounding region. An automated and precise diagnosis approach is required to treat this severe disease effectively. The relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of deep learning (DL) has revolutionized new methods of automated medical image diagnosis. As a result, good planning can protect a person's life that has a brain TUMORS The proposed project aims to revolutionize the field of brain Tumors detection in Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) by introducing a Graph Convolutional Neural Network (GCNN) architecture. Unlike traditional methods that rely on handcrafted features and conventional machine learning algorithms, which might not effectively capture the intricate spatial relationships present in MRI data, the GCNN leverages the inherent graph structure of brain images. In this innovative approach, each voxel in the MRI represents a node interconnected by spatial relationships, forming a graph representation of the image. The GCNN architecture is specifically tailored to extract hierarchical features from this graph, enabling accurate and efficient Tumors detection. Extensive experimentation and evaluation on benchmark datasets have been conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results indicate superior performance compared to existing approaches, showcasing its potential as a reliable and early diagnostic tool for brain Tumorss in MRI images. Key Words: Image recognition,MRI,GCNN

Endoscopic findings of gallbladder lesions evaluated with image-enhanced endoscopy: A preliminary study using resected gallbladders.

The diagnosis of gallbladder (GB) lesions relies on imaging findings. Transpapillary cholangioscopy can potentially be used to diagnose GB lesions; however, the images obtained remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the endoscopic findings of GB lesions. We examined the endoscopic features of GB lesions in 50 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy. GB specimens were obtained immediately following cholecystectomy, opened on the side opposite the liver bed, and flushed with saline solution. Each lesion was assessed using a high-resolution endoscope equipped with white light and narrow-band imaging magnification. For elevated lesions, both the surface structure (classified as regular, irregular, or absent) and vascular structure (dilation, meandering, caliber change, non-uniformity, and loose vessel areas) were assessed. Twelve of the 50 patients had elevated lesions, including cholesterol polyp (n=4), hyperplastic polyp (n=1), xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (n=1), and GB carcinoma (n=6). Advanced GB carcinoma, as opposed to T1 GB carcinoma, demonstrated a papillary surface with destructive areas and neovascularization on narrow-band imaging magnification. Endoscopic images of each GB lesion were characterized, and the differences between GB carcinomas and benign lesions were identified. This preliminary classification may contribute to innovative imaging diagnosis and targeted biopsy for diagnosing GB lesions under direct vision.

Significance of multi-task deep learning neural networks for diagnosing clinically significant prostate cancer in plain abdominal CT

ObjectiveEarly detection and timely surgical intervention are crucial in reducing mortality rates associated with clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Currently, clinical diagnostics primarily depend on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine, with the potential diagnostic value of abdominal computed tomography (CT) remaining underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of multi-task deep learning neural networks in identifying early-stage prostate cancer using CT scans.MethodsIn this study, we enrolled 539 patients from the Department of Radiology (N=461) and Nuclear Medicine (N=78). We utilized a multi-task deep learning network model (MTDL), based on the 3DUnet architecture, to segment and analyze the collected abdominal plain CT images. The predictive performance of this model was compared with a radiomics model and a single-task deep learning model using ResNet18. A diagnostic nomogram was then developed using the multi-task deep learning approach, incorporating prediction results and PSAD, age. The diagnostic performance of the different models was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC).ResultsThe 461 patients from the Department of Radiology were divided into training and test sets at a ratio of 6:4, while the patients from the Department of Nuclear Medicine formed the validation set. Our MTDL nomogram demonstrated AUCs of 0.941 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.905valceedi 0.912 (95% CI: 0.904valceedi and 0.932 (95% CI: 0.883valceed in the training, test, and validation cohorts, respectively. This study indicates that combining abdominal CT with a multi-task neural network model effectively diagnoses csPCa, offering superior diagnostic performance compared to clinical models. Additionally, the multi-task neural network model outperformed both the single-task neural network model and the radiomics model in diagnostic accuracy.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that the MTDL nomogram can accurately predict the presence of prostate cancer using abdominal CT scans, offering significant value for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Impact of increasing tube potential and additional filtration on image quality and radiation dose for digital chest radiography

Background: Chest radiography is one of the most commonly performed examinations as routine check-ups in radiology departments. Radiographers should be concerned with minimizing patient radiation dose while maintaining high diagnostic image quality. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing tube potential (kV) and adding filtration on image quality and radiation dose for posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography using a digital radiography (DR) system. Materials and methods: Eighty-five kV with no filter was used as the reference exposure technique. Subsequently, the kV was increased to 96, 117, and 133, and additional filtrations of 2 mm Al, 1 mm Al+0.1 mm Cu, and 1 mm Al+0.2 mm Cu were applied. A total of sixteen images were produced. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was measured and evaluated. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrastto-noise ratio (CNR) were accessed for objective image quality. Five independent radiographers assessed a subjective image quality (IQ) score using two alternative forced choices (2AFC). Results: Increasing kV and adding filtration reduced the ESAK while enhancing the SNR and CNR. However, the IQ score declined relative to the reference image when higher kV and additional filtration were applied except 85 kV. The IQ score indicated that an image acquired at 85 kV with 1 mm Al+0.2 mm Cu showed superior quality compared to the reference image. Notably, the SNR for this image was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05). Additionally, this image resulted in a lower radiation dose (13.44 mGy) compared to the reference image (24.97 mGy). Furthermore, the image quality (IQ) score was higher than the reference images.&gt;&lt;0.05). Additionally, this image resulted in a lower radiation dose (13.44 mGy) compared to the reference image (24.97 mGy). Furthermore, the image quality (IQ) score was higher than the reference images. Conclusion: This study’s findings indicate that using an 85 kV with 1 mm Al+0.2 mm Cu additional filtration for digital PA chest radiography can reduce the radiation dose while improving image quality. However, this study used an anthropomorphic chest phantom; further clinical research is recommended.

Vascular ultrasound imaging with flexible wearable array

Abstract Continuous vascular imaging is critical for the early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. Vascular ultrasound imaging is usually performed by an array with a high central frequency due to its better imaging quality. However, conventional ultrasonic arrays are rigid and operator-dependent. Existing flexible and wearable ultrasonic arrays are often manufactured with a relatively low central frequency since the element pitch is still limited by processing difficulties. Moreover, the lack of an acoustic lens, matching layer and backing layer also affects performance. Here, we report a 128-channel flexible wearable ultrasonic array designed with a 10 MHz central frequency, 150 μm pitch, shielding layer, backing layer, piezoelectric layer and matching layer. The array has been tested in several ultrafast vascular ultrasound imaging situations, with multi-angle coherent plane-wave transmission adopted. In vitro phantom experiments illustrate its effectiveness in power Doppler and color Doppler imaging of blood flow. Cross-sectional and longitudinal section imaging of the human carotid artery in vivo can be achieved, and Doppler imaging as well as pulsatility measurements have been performed to obtain hemodynamics. Furthermore, long-term continuous ultrasound monitoring of the human carotid artery has been performed over 9 h using the wearable array. Preliminary in vivo ultrasound localization microscopy results for rabbit brain carried out with the array indicate its potential in microvascular imaging. This wearable ultrasonic array will offer more flexibility for ultrasound vascular imaging detection and diagnosis.

Ultrasonographic and Radiographic Evaluation of Osteoarthritic Changes in the Temporomandibular Joint.

Background/Objectives: This study aims to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value by comparing ultrasonography and panoramic radiography with the gold standard cone beam computed tomography in the diagnosis of osteoarthritic changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to determine the distribution of these degenerations in terms of age and gender. Methods: In the study, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), panoramic radiography, and ultrasonography (USG) images of 143 patients who applied to the Dentomaxillofacial Radiology Department of the Faculty of Dentistry of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University with complaints of TMJ were retrospectively examined. Results: As a result of the analysis, the average age of the patients included in the study was found to be 50.3 ± 14.4. The incidence of degenerative changes was higher in females than in males. The most common degenerative change in both genders was found to be flattening. Of the 143 patients' degenerative changes detected on CBCT, 135 (94.4%) were detected on panoramic radiography and 124 (86.7%) were detected on USG. Conclusions: The sensitivity rates of ultrasound and panoramic radiography were found to be lower than those of CBCT in detecting degenerative changes.

Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) variants rs 738408 and rs 738409 single nucleotide polymorphism as predictor of metabolic associated fatty liver disease and its progression

Objective: To identify the PNPLA3 genetic variants as the potential predictors for metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and its progression among Pakistani population. Method: A cross sectional study comprising of 158 participants. They were included in this study with non-probability purposive sampling technique from Radiology Department of Aziz Fatimah Teaching Hospital and Aziz Fatimah Medical and Dental College, Pakistan. The duration of study was December 5, 2021 to April 4, 2024. Blood samples (10mL) were drawn for liver enzymes, gene analysis and ultimately PCR products were sent for Sanger sequencing. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 with p-Values ≤0.05 considered significant. Results: From 158 studied participants, 43.7% were male, and 56.3% were female. Of total population 51.3% were MAFLD positive while 48.7% were control subjects. Present results showed that CT and TT genotypes of rs738408 were frequently found in MAFLD group (p=0.039 and 0.060, respectively) and significant predictor for developing MAFLD (OR=2.484, p=0.019 and OR=5.167, p&lt;0.001, respectively). Concerning progression of the disease CT genotype showed that subject with this genotype progress to moderate grade of fatty liver disease (OR=2.832, p=0.013). Whereas Odd ratio for TT genotype was significant for severe grade fatty liver diseases (OR=15.50, p=0.007). GG genotype of rs738409 was frequently found in MAFLD group (p=0.032). Odds ratio for GG genotype of rs738409 was significant for developing MAFLD (OR=4.565, p=0.025) and responsible to progress to moderate grade of fatty liver disease (OR= 5.083, p=0.022). Conclusion: CT and TT genotypes of 738408 and GG genotype of 738409 are associated with MAFLD and are at more risk for disease progression. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.5.11532 How to cite this: Altaf B, Jawed S, Ghazali WSW, Aziz AAA, Salam RMT, Rasheed A, et al. Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) variants rs 738408 and rs 738409 single nucleotide polymorphism as predictor of metabolic associated fatty liver disease and its progression. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(5):1322-1330. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.5.11532 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Prediction of Occult Lymph Node Metastasis in cN0 Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Contrast-Enhanced CT.

To explore the value of contrast-enhanced CT radiomics in predicting occult lymph node metastasis (OLNM) in patients with clinical N0 (cN0) stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) prior to surgery. Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, from January 2023 to November 2024. A total of 290 NSCLC patients from two hospitals were divided into training and validation sets. Radiomics features were extracted from the tumour volume of interest, and optimal features were selected in the training set to develop a radiomic signature. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified clinical characteristics associated with OLNM, leading to the creation of a clinical model. A combined model was developed by integrating the radiomics signature with clinical features. Model performance was assessed using the area under the ROC curve (AUC), with validation conducted in the independent validation set. Results: Three radiomics features and two clinical characteristics associated with OLNM were identified (p <0.05). The AUCs of the clinical model, radiomic signature, and combined model in the training and validation sets were 0.746, 0.809, 0.838, 0.708, 0.802, and 0.823, respectively, with the combined model showing the highest AUC in both sets. The combined model, integrating preoperative CT radiomics features and clinical characteristics, effectively predicts OLNM in cN0 stage NSCLC patients, aiding personalised clinical decision-making and improving prognosis. Non-small cell lung cancer, Occult lymph node metastasis, Radiomics.

A survey of Swedish radiographer's need for knowledge at advanced level.

A survey of Swedish radiographer's need for knowledge at advanced level.