ObjectivesEarly, accurate diagnosis is crucial for the prognosis of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. To this end, standardization of imaging algorithms, technical requirements, and reporting is... Show moreObjectivesEarly, accurate diagnosis is crucial for the prognosis of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. To this end, standardization of imaging algorithms, technical requirements, and reporting is therefore a prerequisite. Since the first European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) consensus in 2015, technical achievements, further insights into specific entities, and the revised WHO-classification (2020) and AJCC staging system (2017) made an update necessary. The guidelines are intended to support radiologists in their decision-making and contribute to interdisciplinary tumor board discussions.Materials and methodsA validated Delphi method based on peer-reviewed literature was used to derive consensus among a panel of 46 specialized musculoskeletal radiologists from 12 European countries. Statements were scored online by level of agreement (0 to 10) during two iterative rounds. Either “group consensus,” “group agreement,” or “lack of agreement” was achieved.ResultsEight sections were defined that finally contained 145 statements with comments. Overall, group consensus was reached in 95.9%, and group agreement in 4.1%. This communication contains the first part consisting of the imaging algorithm for suspected soft tissue tumors, methods for local imaging, and the role of tumor centers.ConclusionUltrasound represents the initial triage imaging modality for accessible and small tumors. MRI is the modality of choice for the characterization and local staging of most soft tissue tumors. CT is indicated in special situations. In suspicious or likely malignant tumors, a specialist tumor center should be contacted for referral or teleradiologic second opinion. This should be done before performing a biopsy, without exception. Show less
BackgroundThe recently published 4-level Pulmonary Embolism Clinical Probability Score (4PEPS) integrates different aspects from currently available diagnostic strategies to further reduce imaging... Show moreBackgroundThe recently published 4-level Pulmonary Embolism Clinical Probability Score (4PEPS) integrates different aspects from currently available diagnostic strategies to further reduce imaging testing in patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE).AimTo externally validate the performance of 4PEPS in an independent cohort.MethodsIn this post-hoc analysis of the prospective diagnostic management YEARS study, the primary outcome measures were discrimination, calibration, efficiency (proportion of imaging tests potentially avoided), and failure rate (venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis at baseline or follow-up in patients with a negative 4PEPS algorithm). Multiple imputation was used for missing 4PEPS items. Based on 4PEPS, PE was considered ruled out in patients with a very low clinical pre-test probability (CPTP) without D-dimer testing, in patients with a low CPTP and D-dimer <1000 μg/L, and in patients with a moderate CPP and D-dimer below the age-adjusted threshold.ResultsOf the 3465 patients, 474 (14 %) were diagnosed with VTE at baseline or during 3-month follow-up. Discriminatory performance of the 4PEPS items was good (area under ROC-curve, 0.82; 95%CI, 0.80–0.84) as was calibration. Based on 4PEPS, PE could be considered ruled out without imaging in 58 % (95%CI 57–60) of patients (efficiency), for an overall failure rate of 1.3 % (95%CI 0.86–1.9).ConclusionIn this retrospective external validation, 4PEPS appeared to safely rule out PE with a high efficiency. Nevertheless, although not exceeding the failure rate margin by ISTH standards, the observed failure rate in our analysis appeared to be higher than in the original 4PEPS derivation and validation study. This highlights the importance of a prospective outcome study. Show less
BackgroundPulmonary infarction (PI) is relatively common in pulmonary embolism (PE). The association between PI and persistent symptoms or adverse events is largely unknown.AimTo evaluate the... Show moreBackgroundPulmonary infarction (PI) is relatively common in pulmonary embolism (PE). The association between PI and persistent symptoms or adverse events is largely unknown.AimTo evaluate the predictive value of radiological PI signs at acute PE diagnosis on 3-month outcomes.MethodsWe studied a convenience cohort with computed tomographypulmonary angiography (CTPA)-confirmed PE for whom extensive 3-month follow-up data were available. The CTPAs were re-evaluated for signs of suspected PI. Associations with presenting symptoms, adverse events (recurrent thrombosis, PE-related readmission and mortality) and self-reported persistent symptoms (dyspnea, pain and post-PE functional impairment) at 3-month follow-up were investigated using univariate Cox regression analysis.ResultsAt re-evaluation of the CTPAs, 57 of 99 patients (58 %) had suspected PI, comprising a median of 1 % (IQR 1–3) of total lung parenchyma. Patients with suspected PI more often presented with hemoptysis (11 % vs. 0 %) and pleural pain (OR 2.7, 95%CI 1.2–6.2), and with more proximal PE on CTPA (OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.1–2.4) than patients without suspected PI. There was no association with adverse events, persistent dyspnea or pain at 3-month follow-up, but signs of PI predicted more functional impairment (OR 3.03, 95%CI 1.01–9.13). Sensitivity analysis with the largest infarctions (upper tertile of infarction volume) yielded similar results.ConclusionsPE patients radiologically suspected of PI had a different clinical presentation than patients without those signs and reported more functional limitations after 3 months of follow-up, a finding that could guide patient counselling. Show less
Background It is estimated that 20-50% of all radiological examinations are of low value. Many attempts have been made to reduce the use of low-value imaging. However, the comparative effectiveness... Show moreBackground It is estimated that 20-50% of all radiological examinations are of low value. Many attempts have been made to reduce the use of low-value imaging. However, the comparative effectiveness of interventions to reduce low-value imaging is unclear. Thus, the objective of this systematic review was to provide an overview and evaluate the outcomes of interventions aimed at reducing low-value imaging. Methods An electronic database search was completed in Medline - Ovid, Embase-Ovid, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for citations between 2010 and 2020. The search was built from medical subject headings for Diagnostic imaging/Radiology, Health service misuse or medical overuse, and Health planning. Keywords were used for the concept of reduction and avoidance. Reference lists of included articles were also hand-searched for relevant citations. Only articles written in English, German, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, and Swedish were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to appraise the quality of the included articles. A narrative synthesis of the final included articles was completed. Results The search identified 15,659 records. After abstract and full-text screening, 95 studies of varying quality were included in the final analysis, containing 45 studies found through hand-searching techniques. Both controlled and uncontrolled before-and-after studies, time series, chart reviews, and cohort studies were included. Most interventions were aimed at referring physicians. Clinical practice guidelines (n = 28) and education (n = 28) were most commonly evaluated interventions, either alone or in combination with other components. Multi-component interventions were often more effective than single-component interventions showing a reduction in the use of low-value imaging in 94 and 74% of the studies, respectively. The most addressed types of imaging were musculoskeletal (n = 26), neurological (n = 23) and vascular (n = 16) imaging. Seventy-seven studies reported reduced low-value imaging, while 3 studies reported an increase. Conclusions Multi-component interventions that include education were often more effective than single-component interventions. The contextual and cultural factors in the health care systems seem to be vital for successful reduction of low-value imaging. Further research should focus on assessing the impact of the context in interventions reducing low-value imaging and how interventions can be adapted to different contexts. Show less
Pulmonary infarction results from occlusion of the distal pulmonary arteries leading to ischemia, hemorrhage and ultimately necrosis of the lung parenchyma. It is most commonly caused by acute... Show morePulmonary infarction results from occlusion of the distal pulmonary arteries leading to ischemia, hemorrhage and ultimately necrosis of the lung parenchyma. It is most commonly caused by acute pulmonary embolism (PE), with a reported incidence of around 30%. Following an occlusion of the pulmonary artery, the bronchial arteries are recruited as primary source of perfusion of the pulmonary capillaries. The relatively higher blood pressure in the bronchial circulation causes an increase in the capillary blood flow, leading to extravasation of erythrocytes (i.e. alveolar hemorrhage). If this hemorrhage cannot be resorbed, it results in tissue necrosis and infarction. Different definitions of pulmonary infarction are used in literature (clinical, radiological and histological), although the diagnosis is nowadays mostly based on radiological characteristics. Notably, the infarcted area is only replaced by a fibrotic scar over a period of months. Hence and formally, the diagnosis of pulmonary infarction cannot be confirmed upon diagnosis of acute PE. Little is known of the impact and relevance of pulmonary infarction in acute PE, and whether specific management strategies should be applied to prevent and/ or treat complications such as pain, pneumonia or post-PE syndrome. In this review we will summarize current knowledge on the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and prognosis of pulmonary infarction in the setting of acute PE. We highlight the need for dedicated studies to overcome the current knowledge gaps. Show less
Objectives To compare lesion features extracted from F-18-FDG PET/CT images acquired on analog and digital scanners, on consecutive imaging data from the same subjects. Methods Whole-body F-18-FDG... Show moreObjectives To compare lesion features extracted from F-18-FDG PET/CT images acquired on analog and digital scanners, on consecutive imaging data from the same subjects. Methods Whole-body F-18-FDG PET/CT images from 55 oncological patients were acquired twice after a single F-18-FDG injection, with a digital and an analog PET/CT scanner, alternately. Twenty-nine subjects were examined first on the digital, and 26 first on the analog equipment. Image reconstruction was performed using manufacturer standard clinical protocols and protocols that fulfilled EARL1 specifications. Twenty-five features based on lesion standardized uptake value (SUV) and geometry were assessed. To compare these features, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), relative difference (RD), absolute value of RD (|RD|), and repeatability coefficient (RC) were used. Results In total, 323 F-18-FDG avid lesions were identified. High agreement (ICC > 0.75) was obtained for most of the lesion features pulled out from both scanners' imaging data, especially when reconstruction protocols fulfilled EARL1 specifications. For EARL1 reconstruction images, the features frequently used in clinics, SUVmax, SUVpeak, SUVmean, metabolic tumor volume, and total lesion glycolysis, reached an ICC of 0.92, 0.95, 0.87, 0.98, and 0.98, and a median RD (digital-analog) of 3%, 5%, 4%, - 3% and 1%, respectively. Using standard reconstruction protocols, the ICC were 0.84, 0.93, 0.80, 0.98, and 0.98, and the RD were 20%, 11%, 13%, - 7%, and 7%, respectively. Conclusion Under controlled acquisition and reconstruction parameters, most of the features studied can be used for research and clinical work. This is especially important for multicenter studies and patient follow-ups. Show less
Noortman, W.A.; Vriens, D.; Grootjans, W.; Tao, Q.; Geus-Oei, L.F. de; Velden, F.H. van 2020
In recent years, radiomics, defined as the extraction of large amounts of quantitative features from medical images, has gained emerging interest. Radiomics consists of the extraction of... Show moreIn recent years, radiomics, defined as the extraction of large amounts of quantitative features from medical images, has gained emerging interest. Radiomics consists of the extraction of handcrafted features combined with sophisticated statistical methods or machine learning algorithms for modelling, or deep learning algorithms that both learn features from raw data and perform modelling. These features have the potential to serve as non-invasive biomarkers for tumor characterization, prognostic stratification and response prediction. thereby contributing to precision medicine. However, especially in nuclear medicine, variable results are obtained when using radiomics for these purposes. Individual studies show promising results, but due to small numbers of patients per study and little standardization, it is difficult to compare and validate results on other datasets. This review describes the radiomic pipeline, its applications and the increasing role of artificial intelligence within the field. Furthermore, the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve clinical translation are discussed, so that, eventually, radiomics, combined with clinical data and other biomarkers, can contribute to precision medicine, by providing the right treatment to the right patient, with the right dose. at the right time. Show less
Grivas, N.; Bergh, R.C.N. van den; Brouwer, O.R.; Kleinjan, G.H.; Ramirez-Backhaus, M.; Wilthagen, E.A.; Poel, H.G. van der 2020
Purpose To systematically review the relevant literature that evaluates the LN topographical distribution and propose a uniform template. Methods A bibliographic search of PubMed/Medline, Embase... Show morePurpose To systematically review the relevant literature that evaluates the LN topographical distribution and propose a uniform template. Methods A bibliographic search of PubMed/Medline, Embase and SCOPUS was performed for studies reporting data of LN imaging and/or nodal resection. Results 101 and 26 articles met the inclusion criteria for PCa and BCa, respectively. In PCa, the most common locations of positive LNs for surgical and imaging studies were external iliac (both 38 studies), followed by obturator (38 and 37, respectively). Similarly, in BCa, the most common location of positive nodes for surgical and imaging studies were external iliac (19 and 4, respectively), followed by obturator (15 and 3 studies, respectively). In PCa, median percentages of positive external iliac nodes/patient were 12.2% and 11.6% for surgical and imaging studies, respectively while corresponding rates for BCa were 3.9% and 17.6%. There were high risks of bias across studies as well as high heterogeneity in the definition of the anatomic boundaries of lymphadenectomy templates. ConclusionsThis review highlights the lack of detailed information on exact LN templates and metastases location, which in turn hinders generation of high-quality evidence on optimal lymphadenectomy templates. Our proposed template is applicable for both imaging and surgical description and could facilitate the translation of anatomical location from imaging to surgical resection. Show less
Willemsen, A.E.C.A.B.; Vlenterie, M.; Herpen, C.M.L. van; Erp, N.P. van; Graaf, W.T.A. van der; Geus-Oei, L.F. de; Oyen, W.J.G. 2016
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