Bone Marrow Biopsies: Is CT, Fluoroscopy, or no Imaging Guidance the Most Cost-Effective Strategy?

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To determine the most cost-effective strategy for pelvic bone marrow biopsies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A decision analytic model from the health care system perspective for patients with high clinical concern for multiple myeloma (MM) was used to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of three bone marrow core biopsy techniques: computed tomography (CT) guided, and fluoroscopy guided, no-imaging (landmark-based). Model input data on utilities, costs, and probabilities were obtained from comprehensive literature review and expert opinion. Costs were estimated in 2023 U.S. dollars. Primary effectiveness outcome was quality adjusted life years (QALY). Willingness to pay threshold was $100,000 per QALY gained.

RESULTS

No-imaging based biopsy was the most cost-effective strategy as it had the highest net monetary benefit ($4218) and lowest overall cost ($92.17). Fluoroscopy guided was excluded secondary to extended dominance. CT guided biopsies were less preferred as it had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ($334,043) greater than the willingness to pay threshold. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis found non-imaging based biopsy to be the most cost-effective in 100% of simulations and at all willingness to pay thresholds up to $200,000.

CONCLUSION

No-imaging based biopsy appears to be the most cost-effective strategy for bone marrow core biopsy in patients suspected of MM.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

No imaging guidance is the preferred strategy, although image-guidance may be required for challenging anatomy. CT image interpretation may be helpful for planning biopsies. Establishing a non-imaging guided biopsy service with greater patient anxiety and pain support may be warranted.

Acquired Uterine Vascular Anomaly: Experience from a tertiary care centre in Pakistan

Objectives

This study aimed to retrospectively review imaging findings and the outcomes of uterine artery embolisation (UAE) in symptomatic uterine vascular anomalies (UVA).

Methods

This study included a total of 15 patients with acquired UVA admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, from 2010 to 2020. These patients were evaluated using ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, either alone or in combination. All patients had a history of dilatation and curettage or uterine instrumentation and underwent angiography and embolisation of the uterine arteries. The primary outcome post embolisation was assessed clinically and/or in combination with ultrasound. Post-procedure pregnancies were also recorded.

Results

Non-invasive imaging was abnormal in all patients; however, this pre-intervention imaging was unable to accurately classify the type of vascular anomaly, except in the case of a pseudoaneurysm. Conventional angiography showed uterine artery hyperaemia in six patients, arteriovenous malformation in seven patients and pseudoaneurysm in two patients. The technical success rate was 100% and no repeat embolisation was needed. The follow-up ultrasound in 12 patients revealed a resolution of the abnormal findings, while the remaining three were found to be normal on clinical follow-up. Seven patients (46.7%) had a normal pregnancy 15.7 months after the procedure (range: 4-28 months).

Conclusions

UAE is a safe and effective management option for intractable severe bleeding in patients with UVA post instrumentation and it was found that the procedure does not impair future pregnancy.

Safety and Feasibility of Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography with a Nanoparticle Contrast Agent for Evaluation of Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Liver Tumors in a Rat Model

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Safety and feasibility of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) with a nanoparticulate contrast agent, ExiTron nano 12000, was evaluated in a rat liver tumor model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study employed eighteen 8-week-old male F344 rats. Six rats given tap water for 8 weeks further divided into two: Control group and Normal Liver with CECT group. Six rats each were given tap water containing diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at 100 ppm for 8 or 14 weeks; Adenoma group and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group, respectively. Biochemical marker values and adverse events were evaluated after CT imaging. ExiTron nano 12000 was evaluated for the hepatic contrast enhancement, and the detection and measurement of liver nodules by CECT after 8- and 14-weeks administration of DEN. Post-mortem liver specimens were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the number and size of liver nodules were measured. The HCC group was evaluated for diagnostic concordance between HE-stained and CECT-detected nodules.

RESULTS

The contrast agent enhanced liver and was tolerated after CECT in 15 rats. Biochemical parameter values did not differ significantly between the Control and Normal Liver groups. The numbers of CECT-detected nodules in the Adenoma and HCC groups were 14.8 ± 5.1, and 32.4 ± 8.1, respectively. The HCC group had 3.6 ± 2.7 of pathological HCCs, which were identified by CECT. The size of CECT-detected HCCs correlated significantly with that of pathological HCCs (r = 0.966, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

CECT with ExiTron nano 12000 is a safe and feasible method to measure tumors in a rat liver tumor model.

Radiomics-based Machine-learning Models Can Detect Pancreatic Cancer on Prediagnostic Computed Tomography Scans at a Substantial Lead Time Before Clinical Diagnosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Our purpose was to detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at the prediagnostic stage (3-36 months before clinical diagnosis) using radiomics-based machine-learning (ML) models, and to compare performance against radiologists in a case-control study.

METHODS

Volumetric pancreas segmentation was performed on prediagnostic computed tomography scans (CTs) (median interval between CT and PDAC diagnosis: 398 days) of 155 patients and an age-matched cohort of 265 subjects with normal pancreas. A total of 88 first-order and gray-level radiomic features were extracted and 34 features were selected through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-based feature selection method. The dataset was randomly divided into training (292 CTs: 110 prediagnostic and 182 controls) and test subsets (128 CTs: 45 prediagnostic and 83 controls). Four ML classifiers, k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were evaluated. Specificity of model with highest accuracy was further validated on an independent internal dataset (n = 176) and the public National Institutes of Health dataset (n = 80). Two radiologists (R4 and R5) independently evaluated the pancreas on a 5-point diagnostic scale.

RESULTS

Median (range) time between prediagnostic CTs of the test subset and PDAC diagnosis was 386 (97-1092) days. SVM had the highest sensitivity (mean; 95% confidence interval) (95.5; 85.5-100.0), specificity (90.3; 84.3-91.5), F1-score (89.5; 82.3-91.7), area under the curve (AUC) (0.98; 0.94-0.98), and accuracy (92.2%; 86.7-93.7) for classification of CTs into prediagnostic versus normal. All 3 other ML models, KNN, RF, and XGBoost, had comparable AUCs (0.95, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively). The high specificity of SVM was generalizable to both the independent internal (92.6%) and the National Institutes of Health dataset (96.2%). In contrast, interreader radiologist agreement was only fair (Cohen's kappa 0.3) and their mean AUC (0.66; 0.46-0.86) was lower than each of the 4 ML models (AUCs: 0.95-0.98) (P < .001). Radiologists also recorded false positive indirect findings of PDAC in control subjects (n = 83) (7% R4, 18% R5).

CONCLUSIONS

Radiomics-based ML models can detect PDAC from normal pancreas when it is beyond human interrogation capability at a substantial lead time before clinical diagnosis. Prospective validation and integration of such models with complementary fluid-based biomarkers has the potential for PDAC detection at a stage when surgical cure is a possibility.

COVID-19 Associated Pneumonia: A review of chest radiograph and computed tomography findings

Medical imaging, including chest radiography and computed tomography, plays a major role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia. This review aims to summarise current information on this topic based on the existing literature. A search of the Google Scholar (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, USA) and MEDLINE® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) databases was conducted for articles published until April 2020. A total of 30 articles involving 4,002 patients were identified. The most frequently reported imaging findings were bilateral ground glass and consolidative pulmonary opacities with a predominant lower lobe and peripheral subpleural distribution.

Association of clinical and radiographic findings with the outcomes of 93 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

Rationale: To retrospectively analyze serial chest CT and clinical features in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for the assessment of temporal changes and to investigate how the changes differ in survivors and nonsurvivors. Methods: The consecutive records of 93 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to Wuhan Union Hospital from January 10, 2020, to February 22, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. A series of chest CT findings and clinical data were collected and analyzed. The serial chest CT scans were scored on a semiquantitative basis according to the extent of pulmonary abnormalities. Chest CT scores in different periods (0 - 5 days, 6 - 10 days, 11 - 15 days, 16 - 20 days, and > 20 days) since symptom onset were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors, and the temporal trend of the radiographic-clinical features was analyzed. Results: The final cohort consisted of 93 patients: 68 survivors and 25 nonsurvivors. Nonsurvivors were significantly older than survivors. For both survivors and nonsurvivors, the chest CT scores were not different in the first period (0 - 5 days) but diverged afterwards. The mortality rate of COVID-19 monotonously increased with chest CT scores, which positively correlated with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil percentage, D-dimer level, lactate dehydrogenase level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, while negatively correlated with the lymphocyte percentage and lymphocyte count. Conclusions: Chest CT scores correlate well with risk factors for mortality over periods, thus they may be used as a prognostic indicator in COVID-19. While higher chest CT scores are associated with a higher mortality rate, CT images taken at least 6 days since symptom onset may contain more prognostic information than images taken at an earlier period.

Can the lower rate of CT- or MRI-related adverse drug reactions to contrast media due to stricter limitations on patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT or MRI?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine whether a decreased occurrence rate of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to contrast media in contrast-enhanced CT and MRI was attributable to appropriate criteria for patients with some diseases. A secondary aim was to elucidate safety profiles for contrast media and factors influencing the occurrence of ADRs.

METHODS

Clinical data of patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT (5576 cases) or MRI (3357 cases) were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate rates of ADRs to contrast media, symptoms of ADRs, treatments for ADRs, and differences in medical history, blood test results, and other factors between patients with and without ADRs in a dental hospital.

RESULTS

The rate of ADRs to contrast media was 0.54% for CT and 0.09% for MRI. The most frequent ADRs in contrast-enhanced CT or MRI were nausea and vomiting as physiologic reactions. Two serious reactions were seen for CT, but none for MRI. Significant differences between patients with and without ADRs were seen in liver function according to blood tests for CT, and in digestive disorders elicited from medical interviews for MRI.

CONCLUSION

The lower occurrence rate of ADRs to contrast media in dental hospitals could be due to the adoption of appropriate criteria for patients with some diseases undergoing enhanced CT or MRI. Complete suppression of ADRs to contrast media for CT or MRI is unrealistic, so attention is warranted for patients with decreased liver function when performing enhanced CT, and for patients with digestive disorders when performing enhanced MRI.

Pulmonary Hyalinising Granuloma: A report of two cases

Pulmonary hyalinising granuloma (PHG) is a rare fibrosclerosing inflammatory lung condition of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules that are usually found incidentally while imaging the chest for other reasons. We report two cases of histologically proven PHG diagnosed at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman. The first case was a 71-year-old male patient who presented in 2010 with a dry cough, weight loss and bilateral pulmonary nodules. The second case was a 58-year-old male patient who presented in 2012 and was found to have incidental bilateral pulmonary nodules on chest X-ray. Both patients were started on prednisolone and on follow-up the PHG nodules remained stable. Although there is no definitive treatment, PHG generally has an excellent prognosis.

Symptomatic Aortic Valve Mass - Cardiac Work-Up Challenges and Role of Computed Tomography Angiography: A Case Report

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma are rare, benign cardiac tumors that may lead to lethal complications from embolization or valvular dysfunction if left untreated. When working up symptomatic tumors with concomitant angina, traditional diagnostic studies such as cardiac catheterization may predispose the patient to embolic complications if the mass is located in the path of the catheter. Newer, non-invasive diagnostic testing, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or dynamic computed tomography angiography, may be considered in lieu of invasive approaches to avoid potentially devastating complications. We herein present a case report of a 77-year-old female with a symptomatic aortic valve tumor and describe our diagnostic strategy and management.

Forensic Identification of Decomposed Human Body through Comparison between Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem CT Images of Frontal Sinuses: Case Report

Objective

The aim of this paper is to report on a case of positive human identification of a decomposed body after the comparison of ante-mortem (AM) and port-mortem (PM) computed tomography images of frontal sinus.

Case report

An unknown, highly decomposed human body, aged between 30 and 40 years, was found in a forest region in Brazil. The dental autopsy revealed several teeth missing AM and the presence of removable partial prostheses. The search for AM data resulted in a sequence of 20 axial images of the paranasal sinuses obtained by Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT). PM reproduction of the MSCT images was performed in order to enable a comparative identification. After a direct confrontation between AM/PM MSCT, the data were collected for morphological findings, specifically for the lateral expansion of the left lobe, the anteroposterior dimension, and the position of median and accessory septa of the sinuses.

Conclusion

The importance of storing and interpreting radiographic medical data properly is highlighted in this text, thus pointing out the importance of application of forensic radiology in the field of law.

Split-Bolus Single-Pass Multidetector-Row CT Protocol for Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background:

Currently computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has become a widely accepted clinical tool in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Objectives:

To report split-bolus single-pass 64-multidetector-row CT (MDCT) protocol for diagnosis of PE.

Patients and Methods:

MDCT split-bolus results in 40 patients suspicious of PE were analyzed in terms of image quality of target pulmonary vessels (TPVs) and occurrence and severity of flow-related artifact, flow-related artifact, false filling defect of the pulmonary veins and beam hardening streak artifacts. Dose radiation to patients was calculated.

Results:

MDCT split-bolus protocol allowed diagnostic images of high quality in all cases. Diagnosis of PE was obtained in 22 of 40 patients. Mean attenuation for target vessels was higher than 250 HU all cases: 361 ± 98 HU in pulmonary artery trunk (PAT); 339 ± 93 HU in right pulmonary artery (RPA); 334 ± 100 HU in left pulmonary artery (LPA). Adequate enhancement was obtained in the right atrium (RA):292 ± 83 HU; right pulmonary vein (RPV): 302 ± 91 HU, and left pulmonary vein (LPV): 291 ± 83 HU. The flow related artifacts and the beam hardening streak artifacts have been detected respectively in 4 and 25 patients. No false filling defect of the pulmonary veins was revealed.

Conclusion:

MDCT split-bolus technique by simultaneous opacification of pulmonary arteries and veins represents an accurate technique for diagnosis of acute PE, removes the false filling defects of the pulmonary veins, and reduces flow related artifacts.

Relation between systemic inflammatory markers, peripheral muscle mass, and strength in limb muscles in stable COPD patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between systemic inflammatory mediators and peripheral muscle mass and strength in COPD patients. Fifty-five patients (69% male; age: 64±9 years) with mild/very severe COPD (defined as forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] =54%±23%) were evaluated. We evaluated serum concentrations of IL-8, CRP, and TNF-α. Peripheral muscle mass was evaluated by computerized tomography (CT); midthigh cross-sectional muscle area (MTCSA) and midarm cross-sectional muscle area (MACSA) were obtained. Quadriceps, triceps, and biceps strength were assessed through the determination of the one-repetition maximum. The multiple regression results, adjusted for age, sex, and FEV1%, showed positive significant association between MTCSA and leg extension (0.35 [0.16, 0.55]; P=0.001), between MACSA and triceps pulley (0.45 [0.31, 0.58]; P=0.001), and between MACSA and biceps curl (0.34 [0.22, 0.47]; P=0.001). Plasma TNF-α was negatively associated with leg extension (-3.09 [-5.99, -0.18]; P=0.04) and triceps pulley (-1.31 [-2.35, -0.28]; P=0.01), while plasma CRP presented negative association with biceps curl (-0.06 [-0.11, -0.01]; P=0.02). Our results showed negative association between peripheral muscle mass (evaluated by CT) and muscle strength and that systemic inflammation has a negative influence in the strength of specific groups of muscles in individuals with stable COPD. This is the first study showing association between systemic inflammatory markers and strength in upper limb muscles.

Vascular Anomalies in Children Misdiagnosed with Asthma: Case series

In most asthmatic children, inhaled steroids can relieve and control the symptoms of asthma. Persistent wheezing and respiratory symptoms in young children despite appropriate treatment may indicate other diagnostic considerations. Delays in this diagnosis can result in unnecessary investigations, inappropriate treatment and further complications. We report three patients who presented to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in the period between September 2010 and May 2012 with persistent wheezing due to compression of the trachea caused by vascular anomalies. All patients had double aortic arches putting pressure on the trachea, leading to respiratory manifestations and feeding problems. Following surgery, all cases showed improvement and no longer required medication. Without clinical suspicion and appropriate imaging, congenital vascular anomalies may remain undetected for years. Infants and children with chronic wheezing should be evaluated for vascular anomalies as soon as possible. General practitioners should refer all such patients to a tertiary-level hospital for further investigations and management.

A case of an undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver mimicking a liver abscess

An undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver is a rare malignant tumour. We highlight the diagnostic dilemma and differential diagnosis of a case involving a large cystic liver lesion in a young adult. A 20-year-old man presented with a large liver lesion to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2012. The initial clinico-radiological presentations were suggestive of a liver abscess. A total tumour resection was performed and the final histopathological results of the resected specimen indicated an undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver. The ultrasound and computed tomographic images of the tumour were reviewed and found to be contradictory in appearance, as the tumour seemed predominantly solid in the ultrasound image and predominantly cystic in the computed tomographic image. Familiarisation with the imaging appearance of this tumour and a high index of suspicion is therefore crucial in making a successful diagnosis.

Positioning Standardized Acupuncture Points on the Whole Body Based on X-Ray Computed Tomography Images

Objective: The goal of this research was to position all the standardized 361 acupuncture points on the entire human body based on a 3-dimensional (3D) virtual body. Materials and Methods: Digital data from a healthy Korean male with a normal body shape were obtained in the form of cross-sectional images generated by X-ray computed tomography (CT), and the 3D models for the bones and the skin's surface were created through the image-processing steps. Results: The reference points or the landmarks were positioned based on the standard descriptions of the acupoints, and the formulae for the proportionalities between the acupoints and the reference points were presented. About 37% of the 361 standardized acupoints were automatically linked with the reference points, the reference points accounted for 11% of the 361 acupoints, and the remaining acupoints (52%) were positioned point-by-point by using the OpenGL 3D graphics libraries. Based on the projective 2D descriptions of the standard acupuncture points, the volumetric 3D acupoint model was developed; it was extracted from the X-ray CT images. Conclusions: This modality for positioning acupoints may modernize acupuncture research and enable acupuncture treatments to be more personalized.

The Medical Case for a Positron Emission Tomography and X-ray Computed Tomography Combined Service in Oman

The value of a positron emission tomography and X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) combined service in terms of diagnostic accuracy, cost-effectiveness and impact on clinical decision-making is well-documented in the literature. Its role in the management of patients presenting with cancer is shifting from early staging and restaging to the early assessment of the treatment response. Currently, the application of PET/CT has extended to non-oncological specialties-mainly neurology, cardiology and rheumatology. A further emerging application for PET/CT is the imaging of infection/inflammation. This article illustrates some of the PET/CT applications in both oncological and non-oncological disorders. In view of the absence of this modality in Oman, this article aims to increase the awareness of the importance of these imaging modalities and their significant impact on diagnosis and management in both oncological and non-oncological specialties for patients of all age groups as well as the decision-makers.

Correction of maxillofacial deformities in a patient with unilateral coronal craniosynostosis (plagiocephaly): a case report and a review of literatures

Plagiocephaly (oblique skull) is premature fusion of one of the coronal sutures. Frontal plagiocephaly is a rare congenital deformity in the skull that is the most complicated form of craniosynostosis to treat. Examination of all sutures is necessary for diagnosis of craniosynostosis In this article, a 10-month-old, healthy girl with deformity of the right forehead and orbit that is caused by frontal plagiocephaly and coronal unilateral synostosis is presented. This abnormality was corrected by frontal craniotomy and fronto-orbital complex advancement under general anesthesia. An exact clinical and radiographic (Multislice CT scan with 3-dimensional three dimensional reconstruction) examination with the suitable time of surgery is necessary for diagnosis of skull abnormality and prevention of treatment delay. Furthermore, 3D stereo-photo-grammetry is a radiation-free, non invasive method for evaluating the growth pattern of children in long term.