Tomographic Imaging Method Research Articles

Scission-Enhanced Molecular Imaging (SEMI).

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging methods have advanced our understanding of human biology, while targeted radiotherapeutic drug treatments are now routinely used clinically. The field is expected to grow considerably based on an expanding repertoire of available affinity ligands, radionuclides, conjugation chemistries, and their FDA approvals. With this increasing use, strategies for dose reduction have become of high interest to protect patients from unnecessary and off-target toxicity. Here, we describe a simple and powerful method, scission-enhanced molecular imaging (SEMI). The technique allows for rapid corporeal elimination of radionuclides once imaging or theranostic treatment is completed and relies on "click-to-release" bioorthogonal linkers.

X-ray scattering based scanning tomography for imaging and structural characterization of cellulose in plants.

X-ray and neutron scattering have long been used for structural characterization of cellulose in plants. Due to averaging over the illuminated sample volume, these measurements traditionally overlooked the compositional and morphological heterogeneity within the sample. Here, a scanning tomographic imaging method is described, using contrast derived from the X-ray scattering intensity, for virtually sectioning the sample to reveal its internal structure at a resolution of a few micrometres. This method provides a means for retrieving the local scattering signal that corresponds to any voxel within the virtual section, enabling characterization of the local structure using traditional data-analysis methods. This is accomplished through tomographic reconstruction of the spatial distribution of a handful of mathematical components identified by non-negative matrix factorization from the large dataset of X-ray scattering intensity. Joint analysis of multiple datasets, to find similarity between voxels by clustering of the decomposed data, could help elucidate systematic differences between samples, such as those expected from genetic modifications, chemical treatments or fungal decay. The spatial distribution of the microfibril angle can also be analyzed, based on the tomographically reconstructed scattering intensity as a function of the azimuthal angle.

A novel method of ultrasonic tomographic imaging of defects in the coating layer by image fusion and binarization techniques

A novel method of ultrasonic tomographic imaging of defects in the coating layer by image fusion and binarization techniques

ВИЗУАЛИЗАЦИЯ ПЕРИТОНЕАЛЬНОГО МЕТАСТАЗИРОВАНИЯ: ОБЗОР ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ И СОБСТВЕННЫЙ ОПЫТ

Peritoneal metastasis is typical for malignant neoplasms of the ovary, stomach, intestines and other localizations. Metastases can mimic other pathological changes. Ambiguous conclusions about the effectiveness of certain methods of visualization and differentiation of peritoneal metastasis given in the scientific literature explain the lack of a unified approach in its diagnosis. Imaging of the peritoneum directly impacts tumor burden assessment, prognosis, and treatment planning. Purpose of the study: to analyze the information content of modern methods of visualizing peritoneal metastasis, based on literature data and our own experience. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on the basis of a literature analysis of publications of the electronic search system PubMed. We also conducted our own research on the comparative effectiveness of visualization methods implemented in the conditions of the Republican Clinical Oncologic Dispensary of Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Results: analysis of the literature showed that all visualization methods have certain capabilities and limitations. Diagnosis of metastases located in the small intestine and lesions less than 5 mm in size is significantly difficult. Adhesive processes in the abdominal cavity, difficult to differentiate confluent tumor masses and inflammatory changes also affect the examination results. Our own experience demonstrates the admissibility of using a combination of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal computed tomography for preoperative visualization of peritoneal metastases. Imaging results using instrumental methods were comparable to surgical assessment. In addition to the diagnostic limitations stated in the scientific literature, we identified difficulties in interpreting the results due to the lack of criteria for assessing peritoneal pathology by radiologists. Conclusion. Thus, according to the literature, the standard for diagnosing peritoneal metastases has not been defined. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging methods are relatively accessible methods for visualizing peritoneal metastasis and complement each other, taking into account the diagnostic limitations and capabilities of each. To improve the assessment of the tumor burden at the preoperative stage, it is worth considering the possibility of creating uniform protocols for describing peritoneal metastases by abdominal region by radiologists, which will significantly facilitate the assessment and treatment planning in the future.

The impact of different clinicopathologic factors and salvage therapies on cervical cancer patients with isolated para-aortic lymph node recurrence

BackgroundCervical cancer patients with isolated para-aortic lymph nodes (PALN) recurrence were mainly associated with treatment failure. For these patients, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery ± adjuvant therapy or chemoradiotherapy may be advised, however, no specific therapy has been proposed yet. This study aimed to explore factors influencing the prognosis of cervical cancer cases with isolated PALN recurrence and to find out an effective salvage therapy.MethodsCervical cancer cases with isolated PALN recurrence who received therapies in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between January 2013 and June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsCarcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level > 10 ng/mL and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging method used to detect the recurrence were found to be associated with the local control rate. PALN (positive), squamous-cell carcinoma-antigen (SCC-Ag) level (> 10 ng/mL) upon initial diagnosis, and CEA level (> 10 ng/mL), number of metastatic lymph nodes (several) at recurrence were associated with worse survival. Compared with surgery ± adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy (CT) alone or sequential chemoradiotherapy (SCRT) was associated with worse PFS or OS. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) after PALN recurrence could reduce the risk of the second recurrence. 3-year OS of cases after surgery ± adjuvant therapy was the highest (65%), followed by CCRT (45.7%), SCRT (38.9%), radiotherapy (RT) (33.3%), and CT (20.6%).ConclusionIn cervical cancer patients with isolated PALN recurrence, chemoradiotherapy or surgery ± adjuvant therapy may be preferred as the salvage treatment.

Quantitative 2D reconstruction of temperature and OH concentration in axisymmetric flames based on ultraviolet broadband absorption tomography

Absorption tomography plays a crucial role in quantitatively imaging temperature and absolute concentration in combustion. However, there is scarce research on the tomography of OH radicals, which are significant for combustion diagnostics. This study presented a new tomography method to image OH radicals, termed ultraviolet broadband absorption tomography (UV-BAT). Three strategies were proposed to solve the nonlinear problem in UV-BAT tomography, namely all-spectra fitting, weak-absorption approximation, and multi-temperature approximation. The proposed UV-BAT method was applied for OH imaging in methane/air axisymmetric laminar Bunsen flames with different equivalence ratios (ϕ = 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1). The reconstructed OH distributions showed distinctive structures of Bunsen flames including premixed and diffusion flame areas. The accuracy of the UV-BAT method was validated by comparing tomography results with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the USC-Mech II mechanism, demonstrating good agreement in two-dimensional (2D) temperature and OH concentration distributions. This novel method offers new opportunities for tomographic reconstruction of free radicals such as OH and temperature in small-scale flames.Novelty and significanceThis study demonstrated a novel tomography imaging method using ultraviolet broadband absorption spectroscopy to reconstruct temperature and radical concentration in combustion. This method possesses high sensitivity to free radicals and employs compact and inexpensive equipment, making it one of the most viable methods for realizing free radical absorption tomography. The 2D imaging of OH radicals using this method based on axisymmetric absorption tomography was accomplished for the first time. In conclusion, this study enriched the diagnostic methods of flame radicals based on absorption spectroscopy and provided new ideas for small-scale temperature tomography.

Tracers and Imaging of Fatty Acid and Energy Metabolism of Human Adipose Tissues.

White adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue (WAT and BAT) regulate fatty acid metabolism and control lipid fluxes to other organs. Dysfunction of these key metabolic processes contributes to organ insulin resistance and inflammation leading to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and cardiovascular diseases. Metabolic tracers combined with molecular imaging methods are powerful tools for the investigation of these pathogenic mechanisms. Herein, I review some of the positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging methods combined with stable isotopic metabolic tracers to investigate fatty acid and energy metabolism, focusing on human WAT and BAT metabolism. I will discuss the complementary strengths offered by these methods for human investigations and current gaps in the field.

Characterization of aquifer heterogeneity by tomographic slug test responses considering wellbore effects

Slug tests provide an efficient way to obtain information about the spatial heterogeneity of an investigated site. Combining with the imaging method of hydraulic tomography, they can present broad application prospects in aquifer reconstruction. However, unlike pumping tests, the water level responses of slug tests may be significantly affected by wellbore effects, especially for underdamped cases. This study proposes a new characterization framework for characterization of aquifer heterogeneity based on water level responses recorded during cross well slug tests with a tomographical arrangement. The peak head of each water level response and its corresponding time, i.e. the hydraulic travel time, are utilized in the inversion process, rather than the whole water level time series. To eliminate the influence of wellbore effects, two correction methods with respect to the hydraulic travel time and peak head amplitude are developed. Based on corrected data, the distributions of hydraulic diffusivity (D) and specific storage (Ss) are obtained through travel time-based and attenuation-based inversions, respectively. The new framework is verified by a series of simulated tomographic slug tests through a synthetic example based on an aquifer outcrop analog, where the hydraulic parameter distribution is known. The verification results indicate that the distributions of D and Ss are well estimated, and their mean values are much improved compared to the old framework. With the same method, a field application is employed at a fractured rock experimental site located in Göttingen, Germany. Three potential transmissive fractures are revealed with hydraulic conductivities varying from 6.9 × 10–5 to 3.4 × 10–4 m/s. The uncertainty of the inversion results is discussed for future studies and related applications.

Report template from the German Society of Urology and the German Radiological Society for standardized, structured reporting of native computed tomography scans in the diagnosis of urinary stones

Standardized structured radiological reporting (SSRB) has been promoted in recent years. The aims of SSRB include that reports be complete, clear, understandable, and stringent. Repetitions or superfluous content should be avoided. In addition, there are advantages in the presentation of chronological sequences, tracking and correlations with structured findings from other disciplines and also the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods. The development of the presented template for SSRB of native computed tomography for urinary stones followed the "process for the creation of quality-assured and consensus-based report templates as well as subsequent continuous quality control and updating" proposed by the German Radiological Society (DRG). This includes several stages of drafts, consensus meetings and further developments. The final version was published on the DRG website ( www.befundung.drg.de ). The template will be checked annually by the steering group and adjusted as necessary. The template contains 6organ domains (e.g., right kidney) for which entries can be made for atotal of 21different items, mostly with selection windows. If "no evidence of stones" is selected for an organ in the first query, the query automatically jumps to the next organ, so that the processing can be processed very quickly despite the potentially high total number of individual queries for all organs. The German, European, and North American Radiological Societies perceive the establishment of astandardized structured diagnosis of tomographic imaging methods not only in oncological radiology as one of the current central tasks. With the present template for the description of computed tomographic findings for urinary stone diagnostics, we are presenting the first version of aurological template. Further templates for urological diseases are to follow.

Three-dimensional morphometric analysis of cranial sutures – A novel approach to quantitative analysis

ObjectiveDifferences in complexity of cranial suture forms on the endocranial (i.e., deep) and ectocranial (i.e., superficial) skull surfaces have been noted in the literature, indicating through thickness three-dimensional (3D) suture variability depending on the chosen section and necessity for considering the complete 3D structure in many cases. This study aims to evaluate the variability of suture morphology through the skull thickness using a rat model, and to provide more robust metrics and methodologies to analyze suture morphology. DesignX-ray micro-computed tomographic (μCT) imaging methods were utilized in order to provide internal structure information. Methods were developed to isolate and analyze sutures widths and linear interdigitation index (LII) values on each adjacent offset transverse plane of the μCT datasets. LII was defined as the curved path length of the suture divided by the linear length between the ends of the region of interest. Scans were obtained on 15 female rats at ages of 16, 20, and 24 weeks (n = 5/age). Samples were imaged at 18 μm resolutions with 90 kV source voltage, 278 μA source amperage, and 0.7° increments. Suture widths and LII values were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Results3D variability in local suture widths within individuals, as well as through thickness variabilities in planar widths and LII was observed. Kruskal-Wallis tests for bulk through thickness averaged suture widths and LII were found to be statistically insignificant, despite clear geometric differences through suture thicknesses. ConclusionAlthough the bulk morphometric variability between age groups was found to be statistically insignificant, the 3D variability within individuals point to the importance of analyzing suture form using 3D metrics when studying suture development, response to functional activity, or morphometry in general.

Deep learning‐based high‐dimensional multiple regression estimator for chest x‐ray image classification in rapid cardiomegaly screening

AbstractChest x‐ray (CXR) examination is a common first‐line, non‐invasive, and rapid screening method in clinical examinations. The posteroanterior (PA) and anteroposterior (AP) view modes can both be used to detect related cardiopulmonary diseases, such as pneumonitis, tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lung tumors, and cardiomegaly. Compared with cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging methods, CXR examination has a short scanning duration and costs less, and is suitable for routine and follow‐up health examinations. Cardiomegaly is an asymptomatic disease in the early stage and cannot be detected through electrocardiography measurements. Thus, early cardiomegaly classes detections, such as cardiac hypertrophy and ventricular dilatation, can help make decisions regarding drug treatments and surgeries. In addition, an automatic assistive tool is required to differentiate between normal individuals and those with cardiomegaly to address the problem of manual inspection and labor shortage. Hence, PA view‐based CXR classification is used to develop a deep learning (DL)‐based high‐dimensional multiple regression analysis (MRA) model for CXR image classification in rapid cardiomegaly screening. This multilayer network model uses a two‐channel three‐layer convolution‐normalization‐pooling process with two‐dimensional (2D) multi convolution operations to enhance images and to extract feature patterns; and then a one‐dimensional feature conversion is used to estimate the four coordinate points of the maximal horizontal cardiac diameter (MHCD) and maximal horizontal thoracic diameter (MHTD), which can be used to estimate cardiothoracic ratio and detect cardiomegaly. For experimental tests, the training and testing datasets are collected from the National Institutes of Health CXR Image Database (Clinical Center, USA), and 10‐fold cross‐validation was used for model evaluation in terms of precision (%), recall (%), accuracy (%), and F1 score. These indexes are used to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed MRA estimator. In addition, the performances of the proposed model are compared with those of conventional DL‐based multilayer classifiers.

Measuring Anatomical Distributions of Ventilation and Aerosol Deposition with PET-CT.

In disease, lung function and structure are heterogeneous, and aerosol transport and local deposition vary significantly among parts of the lung. Understanding such heterogeneity is relevant to aerosol medicine and for quantifying mucociliary clearance from different parts of the lung. In this chapter, we describe positron emission tomography (PET) imaging methods to quantitatively assess the deposition of aerosol and ventilation distribution within the lung. The anatomical information from computed tomography (CT) combined with the PET-deposition data allows estimates of airway surface concentration and peripheral tissue dosing in bronchoconstricted asthmatic subjects. A theoretical framework is formulated to quantify the effects of heterogeneous ventilation, uneven aerosol ventilation distribution in bifurcations, and varying escape from individual airways along a path of the airway tree. The framework is applied to imaging data from bronchoconstricted asthmatics to assess the contributions of these factors to the unevenness in lobar deposition. Results from this analysis show that the heterogeneity of ventilation contributes on average to more than one-third of the variability in interlobar deposition. Actual contribution of ventilation in individual lungs was variable and dependent on the breathing rate used by the subject during aerosol inhalation; the highest contribution was in patients breathing slowly. In subjects breathing faster, contribution of ventilation was reduced, with more expanded lobes showing lower deposition per unit ventilation than less expanded ones in these subjects. The lobar change in expansion measured from two static CT scans, which is commonly used as a surrogate for ventilation, did not correlate with aerosol deposition or with PET-measured ventilation. This suggests that dynamic information is needed to provide proper estimates of ventilation for asthmatic subjects. We hope that the enhanced understanding of the causes of heterogeneity in airway and tissue dosing using the tools presented here will help to optimize therapeutic effectiveness of inhalation therapy while minimizing toxicity.

Content-Noise Feature Fusion Neural Network for Image Denoising in Magnetic Particle Imaging∗.

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a tomographic imaging method that quantitatively determines the distribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). However, the performance of MPI is primarily limited by the noise in the receive coil and electronic devices, which causes quantification errors for MPI images. Existing methods cannot efficiently eliminate noise while preserve structural details in MPI images. To address this problem, we propose a Content-Noise Feature Fusion Neural Network equipped with tailored modules of noise learning and content learning. It can simultaneously learn content and noise features of raw MPI images. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art methods on structural details preservation and image noise reduction of different levels.

Characterization of large volume subcutaneous injections using computed tomography imaging and simultaneous pressure measurements

Many commercially available biologics, previously delivered only intravenously, are being re-formulated for subcutaneous delivery to improve patient access and compliance. However, due to inherent solubility limitations, large volume injections (more than 2 mL) are typically required. Different strategies are being explored to improve the tolerability of such injections, including the co-formulation with hyaluronidase and/or implementing different needle designs. While there have been separate reports of measuring injection forces and using imaging to track injection delivery and tissue response, there is no current set of methods to simultaneously characterize the injection delivery (bleb) and measure injection pressures. In this study we describe the development of Computed Tomography imaging methods in minipigs to characterize the morphology of the bleb following injection, along with inline pressure measurements to assess subcutaneous pressure during injection using two different injection volumes, 4.5 mL and 9 mL. We show that these parameters change with injection volume, and that inclusion of hyaluronidase in the injection increases bleb dispersion and reduces skin distention while also lowering the injection pressure. This method will likely be a valuable tool for assessing and comparing different injection delivery methods and formulations.

Positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging methods and datasets within the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN).

The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) is an international collaboration studying autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD). ADAD arises from mutations occurring in three genes. Offspring from ADAD families have a 50% chance of inheriting their familial mutation, so non-carrier siblings can be recruited for comparisons in case-control studies. The age of onset in ADAD is highly predictable within families, allowing researchers to estimate an individual's point in the disease trajectory. These characteristics allow candidate AD biomarker measurements to be reliably mapped during the preclinical phase. Although ADAD represents a small proportion of AD cases, understanding neuroimaging-based changes that occur during the preclinical period may provide insight into early disease stages of 'sporadic' AD also. Additionally, this study provides rich data for research in healthy aging through inclusion of the non-carrier controls. Here we introduce the neuroimaging dataset collected and describe how this resource can be used by a range of researchers.

A Tactile Skin System for Touch Sensing with Ultrasound Tomography.

The tomographic imaging method is promising in large-area touch-sensing applications. This paper presents a new type of such touch sensor using ultrasonic tomography (UST) via sound attenuation imaging. UST is gaining popularity as a portable, fast, and inexpensive imaging system for medical and industrial applications. UST can be developed in different operation modes. A transmission mode UST is being investigated as a force- and touch-sensitive skin. A prototype skin sensor was developed in a 200 mm diameter circular UST array containing two sets of 16 transducers, with one operating at a central frequency of 40 kHz and the other at 300 kHz. The extension of the sensor in terms of dimension, up to 400 mm diameter, and number of sensors, up to 32 transducers, is possible where eight points of contact were reconstructed successfully. The medium contains a 20 mm high water region, and a soft silicone membrane covers the liquid region. When touchpoints or forces are applied to the soft skin of the membrane, the sound pathway is disrupted, resulting in an image of the touch position and touch force intensity using a tomographic UST algorithm. Several static and dynamic experiments are conducted to demonstrate this novel application of UST. In addition, a correlation analysis is carried out to establish the force quantification potential for the UST-based tactile skin.

The diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography and two-dimensional imaging methods in the 3D localization and assessment of maxillary impacted canines compared to the gold standard in-vivo readings: A cross-sectional study

Although the widespread cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a diagnosing tool for impacted canines, the surgical exposure-based diagnostic accuracy of this 3D imaging modality has not been established yet. Therefore this study aimed to (1) compare the accuracy of CBCT- and 2D-based interpretations of impacted canine and its relationships with the neighbouring structures with the gold standard (GS) readings, (2) and calculate the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values of the variables assessed using CBCT and 2D methods. Patients with unilateral impacted maxillary canines (IMCs) planned for surgical extraction between 2016-2018 were checked in-depth to include in this cross-sectional study. For each patient, 2D and 3D radiographic records were obtained and assessed by eight postgraduate orthodontic students. These assessments were compared with the GS readings based on surgical exposure and direct vision of the IMCs. To compare 2D- and CBCT-based assessments with the GS values, Cochran's Q tests, Friedman's tests, McNemar's, McNemar-Bowker's, and Wilcoxon tests were applied. A total of 17patients (6 males, 11 females; mean age: 20.52±3.98years) were randomly selected and included in this study. Significant differences were found between the CBCT-based assessments and the GS only concerning shape and bony coverage of the IMC (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). On the contrary, there were significant differences between the 2D-based assessments and the GS regarding all the assessed variables except for the ankylosis and the proximity to the adjacent teeth (P=0.424, and P=0.080, respectively). CBCT-based assessments had remarkably higher values of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity compared to 2D-based ones. The diagnostic accuracy of CBCT outperformed 2D radiography in localizing the IMC (labiopalatal, mesiodistal, and vertical location), detecting root apex development of the IMCs, and the resorption of the adjacent incisors. Although both 2D and 3D techniques showed the same ability in the diagnosis of IMCs ankylosis, the diagnostic accuracy of CBCT was superior. However, both techniques inaccurately determined the shape of the impacted canine and the bony coverage.

3D tracking of particles in a dusty plasma by laser sheet tomography

The collective behavior of levitated particles in a weakly ionized plasma (dusty plasma) has raised significant scientific interest. This is due to the complex array of forces acting on the particles and their potential to act as in situ diagnostics of the plasma environment. Ideally, the three-dimensional (3D) motion of many particles should be tracked for long periods of time. Typically, stereoscopic imaging using multiple cameras combined with particle image velocimetry is used to obtain a velocity field of many particles, yet this method is limited by its sample volume and short time scales. Here, we demonstrate a different, high-speed tomographic imaging method capable of tracking individual particles. We use a scanning laser sheet coupled to a single high-speed camera. We are able to identify and track tens of individual particles over centimeter length scales for several minutes, corresponding to more than 10 000 frames.

Оцінка імунологічних показників у дітей з порушеннями поведінки внаслідок перинатальних цереброваскулярних уражень

Purpose - a comprehensive study of the immune system of patients with deviant behavior due to perinatal pathology. Materials and methods. The sample consisted of 43 boys aged 7 to 15 years with a history of perinatal hemorrhagic and hypoxic-ischemic cerebrovascular injuries, which later provoked various forms of non-psychotic deviant behavior. To check the results, a control group consisting of 43 mentally and physically healthy children and adolescents was selected. The main group, which showed persistent deviant behavior, was prescribed a drug whose active substance is dalargin, a peptide compound whose structure includes 6 amino acid residues. Clinical-amnestic, clinical-psychopathological, neurosonography was used to diagnose perinatal cerebrovascular injuries in newborns (in history) with subsequent use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, statistical data processing was carried out using «SPSS 16.0» and «Excel» programs from the «Microsoft Office 2003» package. Results. The study of T- and so-called T-active lymphocytes of the peripheral blood showed that before treatment, a significant decrease in the content of these cells was observed in children (to 4.26±0.80% and 22.42±0.69% against 65.81±1.66% 44.42±1.25% in the control group, p&gt;0.05). Proliferative activity changes significantly in response to T- and B-mitogens. Proliferative activity recovered completely (25.56±3.26% and 59.72±2.19% vs. 57.23±1.51% in the control group). Conclusions. Children and adolescents with pronounced deviant behavior of residual organic genesis, resistant to traditional therapy, are characterized by significant changes in the immune status caused by dysimmunoglobulinemia, imbalance of the lymphocyte subpopulation, suppression of the functional activity of these populations on mitogens, which indicates secondary immunodeficiency. The therapeutic effectiveness of the dalargin-peptide compound is determined by its function as an immunocorrector in treatment-resistant behavioral disorders. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Importance of paravertebral muscle quality in the etiology of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

Objectives: Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) is the leading cause of pain, disability, and loss of independence in older adults. In this study, the relationship between DLSS and paravertebral muscle thickness and density was investigated using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. Thus, the importance of muscles has been examined to take precautions in the name of preventive medicine. Methods: This study was planned as a cross-sectional study. The patient group (n = 77) who had surgery for DLSS and the control group (n = 77) were examined. A total of 154 participants (55 females and 22 males in each group) were evaluated retrospectively in terms of cross-sectional area (CSA) and density in the psoas, erector spina and multifidus muscles. In both groups age, gender and body mass index values equalized. Measurements was averaged from the mid-lumbar 3 level from both sides and multi-points. Results: There was no significant difference between muscle thicknesses (p &amp;gt; 0.05). When evaluated in terms of muscle densities, a significant difference was found between the patient and the control group in terms of psoas muscle (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Likewise, there is the same relationship between erector spinae muscle density and multifidus muscle density (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Roughly no difference was found between the patient and control groups in terms of CSA of the psoas, erector spinae and multifidus muscles, but it was observed that the muscle density, especially in the multifidus, decreased significantly in the patients. Our results suggest that paravertebral muscle density assessment is an important criterion in disease prediction and can inform preventive treatment.