Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging RSS feed

Progress and prospect of advanced MRI techniques and their applications in brain development and brain injury

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The study of brain development and injury is the basis for understanding the maturation pattern and ensuring the healthy development of children. MRI is an important method for assessing brain development and injuries. Recently, the pediatric-suitable MRI techniques have been continuously updated. Importantly, the application of artificial intelligence further improves the applicability of MRI in pediatric. In this work, novel imaging techniques and processing methods, including artificial intelligence accelerated imaging, motion artifact elimination, distortion correction, pediatric-suitable quantitative analysis of brain morphology and function, are reviewed. The application values of these techniques in revealing the law of brain development and the pathophysiological mechanisms of brain injury are briefly discussed. Meanwhile, the problems existing in the application of some of the methods are pointed out. It is expected that this work can inspire new perspectives for further expanding the application of brain imaging techniques in pediatrics, and provide a reference for the selection of early assessment tools for pediatric disorders. It is hoped that more researches can work together to promote the ability of pediatric-appropriate MRI technique development and clinical applications. These will be helpful for improving the ability of diagnosis and treatment of pediatric disorders.

Evaluation of glymphatic system activity and disease state by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index in children with benign Rolandic epilepsy

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index (DTI-ALPS index) on glymphatic system (GS) activity and disease state in children with benign Rolandic epilepsy (RE). Materials and MethodsTwenty patients aged 6-12 years with RE and 20 children matched in gender and age underwent conventional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Quantitative analysis DTI-ALPS index between two groups. Meanwhile, correlation of DTI-ALPS index with seizure duration, epileptic frequency and cognitive development were respectively explored via Pearson^{^,}s coefficient (r). ResultsCompared with control group, DTI-ALPS index was higher in control group than patient group (RE: 1.41±0.20, Control: 1.56±0.16; t=-2.620, P=0.013). DTI-ALPS index positively correlated with age (r_patient=0.483, P=0.002; r_control=0.534, P<0.001), full intelligence quotient (FIQ) and verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) (r_FIQ=0.523, P=0.014; r_VIQ=0.563, P=0.001). However, DTI-ALPS index gradually decreased with seizure duration and epileptic frequency (r_seizure duration=-0.743, P<0.001; r_epileptic frequency=-0.460, P=0.044). There was no significant associations between DTI-ALPS index and practical intelligence quotient (PIQ). ConclusionsDTI-ALPS index can be used to evaluated impairment of the GS in RE, which has a good prospect for exploring the state of RE.

Application of grey matter-based spatial statistical analysis methods in neonatal cerebral cortical development

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo explore developmental changes in microstructural properties of the cerebral cortex during the neonatal period using gray matter-based spatial statistics (GBSS). Materials and MethodsFrom January 2011 to June 2013, 73 neonates who underwent MRI examinations from our hospital were retrospectively recruited. The cortical skeleton was extracted and the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) covariates fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were projected onto the cortical skeleton using grey matter-based spatial statistics. Bilaterally symmetrical cortical regions of interest (ROIs) were selected based on neonatal T1WI atlas of brain regions and the mean values of DTI covariates in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortex as well as the mean values of the corresponding covariates within each ROI were calculated, and the values of DTI covariates in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital cortex as well as within each ROI were further correlated with gestational age, corrected birth weight, crown-heel length and head circumference. The correlations between gestational age and birth indicators and cortical FA and MD parameters were statistically analyzed using a general linear model. ResultsCortical ROI-based analysis revealed that changes in neonatal cortical FA were based on a turning point of 38 weeks of gestational age. Before the turning point, there was no significant correlation between neonatal frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortical FA and gestational age, and after the turning point, only the parietal cortical FA (r=0.424, P=0.009) increased with increasing gestational age. Based on all 48 cortical ROIs and voxel level analyses, FA values of right superior temporal gyrus, insular cortex, middle frontal gyrus, cingular gyrus, bilateral lateral fronto-orbital gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus, and left superior parietal lobule were found to be positively correlated with gestational age, whereas MD values were negatively correlated with gestational age (P<0.05). The highest correlation between FA values and gestational age was found in the right postcentral gyrus (PoCG) (r=0.628, P=0.032), and the highest correlation between MD values and gestational age was found in the left PoCG (r=-0.598, P=0.041). Both voxel and ROI based analyses showed that no significant correlation was found between birthweight, head circumference, crown-heel length and neonatal cortical FA and MD values. ConclusionsThe neonatal cerebral cortex is characterized by regional heterogeneity, with primary sensory and motor cortex maturing earlier than the association cortex. Compared with birth weight, crown-heel length and head circumference, gestational age is the main index affecting the development of neonatal cerebral cortex.

Lateralization of brain volume in term newborns based on MR structural imaging

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo explore the volumetric lateralization characteristics in 87 distinct brain regions of term newborns and the correlation between lateralization and neurobehavior, utilizing T1-weighted MR structural imaging. Materials and MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 healthy full-term newborns who underwent cranial MRI (3D T1WI) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi^{^,}an Jiaotong University from November 2010 to September 2017. The subjects had an average gestational age of (39.46±1.17) weeks, male/female distribution of 43/21, and average postnatal age of (10.94±6.90) days. Employing deep learning segmentation techniques based on the Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP) template within the uAI Research Portal, we acquired volumetric data for 87 neonatal brain regions. Subsequently, the lateralization index (LI) was computed as: LI=100×(V_L-V_R)/(V_L+V_R), (V: volume). Statistical analysis involved t-tests and Pearson^{^,}s partial correlation to explore the volumetric laterality patterns across brain regions and the correlation between LI and neurobehavior. ResultsAnalysis revealed left-sided bias (LI>0) in brain region volumes during the neonatal phase, primarily located in the occipital lobe, thalamus, caudate nucleus, lateral ventricles and cerebellum. Conversely, right-sided bias (LI<0) mainly distributed in the hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, temporal lobe and insula white matter. Among them, there was a correlation between LI and active muscle tone scores in occipital white matter (r=-0.303, P=0.015), occipital gray matter (r=-0.315, P=0.012), hippocampus (r=-0.332, P<0.01) and posterior cingulate white matter (r=-0.263, P=0.035). However, no significant correlation was found between LI and behavioral ability scores in any brain region. ConclusionsThe neonatal period manifests substantial lateralization characteristics in brain region volumes, characterized by a widespread distribution of lateralized brain volumes and a predominantly right-sided bias. Meanwhile, active muscle tone predominantly localizes to the right hemisphere in both gray and white matter of the occipital lobe, the hippocampus, and the posterior white matter of the cingulate gyrus.

Evaluation of spatiotemporal distribution of neonatal punctate white matter lesions based on probabilistic lesion mapping

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo detailed the common location of neonatal punctate white matter lesions (PWML) and further investigate the spatiotemporal distribution based on the probabilistic lesion mapping of T1WI. Materials and MethodsA total of 94 neonates with PWML were retrospectively enrolled, including 60 mild type (preterm/term 24/36) and 34 severe type (preterm/term 20/14). The manually labeled lesions on each neonatal T1WI was registered to the John Hopkins University template and further added to the corresponding atlas. The probabilistic PWML map and values were then generated based on the cumulative number of PWML lesions that occurred in homologous brain regions across participants in the standard atlas. The PWML volume between mild and severe groups and between preterm and term neonates within groups were further compared. ResultsMild PWML were mainly distributed in temporal and occipital lobes (lesion volume was larger in the tempor-parietal lobes than that in the frontal and occipital lobes, P<0.008), especially in the posterior thalamic radiation, angular gyrus and supramarginal gyrus. The injury was extensive in the preterm than the term, and extended to the frontal lobe. Severe injury was extensively involved the fronto-tempor-occipital lobes (lesion volume was larger in the fronto-tempor-occipital lobes than that in the occipital lobe, P<0.008). The distribution range of preterm and term PWML is relatively consistent, and the common involved areas include posterior radiation of thalamus, angular gyrus and superior corona radiata. ConclusionsThe T1WI based lesion probabilistic mapping defined the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of neonatal PWML at brain region level. This provides an anatomical basis for further understanding the pathophysiological mechanism and prognosis evaluation of PWML.

Prenatal MRI quantified the deep gray matter volume of the fetal brain in tetralogy of Fallot

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo quantitatively evaluate the difference of deep gray matter (DGM) volume in fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) compared with normal fetuses by prenatal MRI. Materials and MethodsSixty single pregnant women with gestational age (GA) of 19-33 weeks received prenatal fetal MRI examination, of which 30 fetuses with TOF had an average GA of (25.30±3.65) weeks, including 15 cases GA<26 weeks and 15 cases GA≥26 weeks. The average GA (25.83±3.98) weeks was normal in 30 cases (control group), including 15 cases GA<26 weeks and 15 cases GA≥26 weeks. Fetal MRI was collected using single-shot turbo spin echo (SSTSE) sequence. After image post-processing, the brain was manually divided and the three-dimensional volume of DGM on both sides of the fetal brain was measured. The DGM volume and GA of fetal brain were analyzed by regression, and the difference of DGM volume and the symmetry of left and right DGM volume between the two groups were compared. ResultsThere was no significant difference in DGM volume between the two groups. The fetal DGM volume of GA<26 weeks TOF group was lower than that of normal control group (t=2.90, P=0.007). DGM volume of the TOF group with GA≥26 weeks was also decreased compared with the normal control group (t=2.11, P=0.04), and the differences were statistically significant. ConclusionsFetal DGM volume in the TOF group was different from that of normal fetuses in the first and second trimester of pregnancy, and the difference still existed in the second and third trimester of pregnancy with the rapid growth of fetal brain volume, which could provide reference for quantitative prenatal assessment of fetal brain development abnormalities of TOF.

Value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer^{^,}s disease

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the application value of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer^{^,}s disease (AD). Materials and MethodsA total of 60 subjects were included in this study, including 23 in the AD group, 22 in the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group and 15 in the normal control (NC) group. The standard apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC_st) and IVIM measures IVIM measures of hippocampal head, hippocampus and hippocampal tail among the three groups were compared for statistical significance, and the correlation between clinically relevant cognitive scores and MRI measures was analyzed. ResultsCompared with NC group, ADC_st in hippocampus and hippocampus of MCI group and AD group showed an increased trend, but only the right hippocampal head and bilateral hippocampus of AD group and the left hippocampus of MCI group had statistical differences (P<0.05). The increase of IVIM-D value in MCI group and AD group was more obvious. Compared with NC group, the statistical difference was found in the bilateral hippocampus of MCI group (P<0.05), bilateral hippocampal head of AD group (P≤0.001) and bilateral hippocampus of AD group (P<0.001). The IVIM-D values of both hippocampal head and hippocampus in AD group were higher than those in MCI group, with statistical difference (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the hippocampal tail among the three groups (P>0.05).The ADC_st values of the right hippocampus and the IVIM-D values of the bilateral hippocampal head and hippocampus were moderately correlated with the total score of MMSE (0.4<|r|<0.7), while the ADC_st values of the bilateral hippocampal head and the left hippocampus were weakly correlated with the total score of MMSE (0.2<|r|<0.4). Further use the receiver operating characteristic, ROC curve analysis showed that ADC_st values of bilateral hippocampal head and right hippocampus and IVIM-D values of bilateral hippocampal head and hippocampus had certain diagnostic efficiency in distinguishing AD (AUC=0.664-0.866, P<0.05). The AUC of IVIM-D in the right hippocampus was the largest (P<0.001). By combining the IVIM-D values of bilateral hippocampal head and hippocampus to establish a diagnostic prediction model, the AUC could be further improved to 0.961. The prediction model based on IVIM-D values shows a closer fit to the standard curve in actual observations and demonstrates a higher net yield. ConclusionsIVIM imaging is a promising imaging method to distinguish AD from NC, and the IVIM-ADC of hippocampal head and hippocampus may be effective biomarkers to diagnose MCI and AD.

Correlation of cognitive reserve, neurovascular coupling and cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the neural vascular coupling mechanisms of cognitive reserve (CR) influencing cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using arterial spin labeling (ASL) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) methods. Materials and MethodsThis study prospectively recruited 40 MCI patients and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent ASL and rs-fMRI imaging on a 3.0 T MRI scanner and standardized neuropsychological assessments, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT). Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq) scores were generated based on education level, leisure activities, and work experience ratings for both groups to assess CR. Amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were obtained at the voxel level, and CBF/ALFF and CBF/fALFF values were calculated to assess neural vascular coupling. Regions of interest (ROIs) with significant between-group differences in CBF/ALFF and CBF/fALFF were selected for further correlation analysis with cognitive function and CR scales to elucidate the relationship between cognitive reserve, neural vascular coupling, and cognitive performance. ResultsCRIq scores were significantly lower in the MCI group compared to the HC group (89.23±11.03 vs. 98.70±12.75). In MCI and HC, CRIq scores were positively correlated with MoCA and AVLT scores (r=0.447, P=0.004; r=0.344, P=0.030; r=0.245, P=0.050; r=0.900, P<0.001). Compared to HC, MCI patients showed significantly increased CBF/ALFF ratios in bilateral temporal middle gyrus (bilateral, two-tailed P<0.005, alphsim corrected, cluster size>39), and significantly decreased CBF/ALFF ratios in bilateral orbital inferior frontal gyrus and frontal middle gyrus (bilateral, two-tailed P<0.005, alphsim corrected, cluster size>93). Additionally, CBF/fALFF ratios were increased in bilateral temporal fusiform gyrus (bilateral, two-tailed P<0.005, alphsim corrected, cluster size>53) in MCI. Furthermore, in the MCI group, the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus CBF/ALFF ratio was negatively correlated with CRIq, MoCA, and AVLT scores (r=-0.417, P=0.007; r=-0.336, P=0.034; r=-0.378, P=0.016). ConclusionsIndividuals with higher cognitive reserve (CR) exhibit better cognitive function. Among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), those with higher CR show a lower left orbitofrontal cortex CBF/ALFF ratio, indicating neurovascular uncoupling. This uncoupling is associated with more severe brain pathology, yet these individuals maintain good cognitive function. This suggests that neurovascular coupling and uncoupling might be potential neural mechanisms through which CR influences cognitive function in MCI patients.

The effect of methadone maintenance treatment on degree centrality in heroin dependent patients: a resting state fMRI study

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on the degree centrality (DC) of topological characteristics of heroin dependence (HD) and its correlation with psychological behavior. Materials and MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on forty-one HD patients undergoing MMT program were recruited at Methadone Clinic in Baqiao District of Xi^{^,}an City from January 2016 to December 2017. The resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected. Protracted withdrawal symptoms and craving scores were assessed. The patients were followed longitudinally for one year. DC analysis was performed on the image data, and the paired sample t test was used for longitudinal comparison, and the correlation between different brain regions and psychological indicators was analyzed. ResultsThere was significant difference in the scores of protracted withdrawal symptoms of HD patients after MMT for one year (Z=3.004, P=0.003), but there was no significant difference in the scores of cravings (Z=0.872, P=0.383). Compared with baseline, one year after MMT, the DC of the bilateral thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, and left pallidum decreased in HD patients (Gaussian random field correction, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.01, clusters sizes>95). The DC value of the right lingual gyrus and calcarine gyrus increased after the same correction method. The DC value of bilateral caudate nucleus and left pallidum was negatively correlated with withdrawal symptoms (r=-0.417, P=0.030; r=-0.392, P=0.043; r=-0.383, P=0.049), and the change of DC value of bilateral putamen nucleus and left pallidum was positively correlated with the change of craving (r=0.410, P=0.008; r=0.332, P=0.034; r=0.395, P=0.011). ConclusionsMethadone may regulate the protracted withdrawal symptoms and psychological craving of HD patients by reducing the centrality of striatum in addiction reward brain network. It may inhibit impulsiveness and enhance the activity of the visual core brain area. These could provide imaging evidence for the neural mechanism of methadone in the treatment of HD patients.

Relationship between orbital tissues and diplopia in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy based on MRI

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between extraocular muscles, orbital fat, and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) diplopia using MRI technology. Materials and MethodsThe subjects of the study included the TAO diplopia group (79 cases, 157 eyes), the TAO non-diplopia group (36 cases, 72 eyes) and the normal control group (30 cases, 60 eyes). The extraocular muscle thickness, extraocular muscle volume (EMV), extraocular muscle-to-white matter signal intensity ratio (SIR), intraorbital fat volume (FV), and orbital volume (OV) of the study subjects were measured, and clinical and laboratory data were collected, including age, gender, smoking history, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroglobulin (TG), thyroxine receptor antibody (TRAb), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TGAb) and anti-thyroid peroxidase utoantibody (anti-TPOAb). One-way analysis of variance, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and chi-square test were used to compare the baseline data, clinical indicators and imaging parameters of the three groups. Then univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the independent risk factors of TAO diplopia, and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of risk factors. ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in age, superior rectus thickness (SR-T), inferior rectus thickness (IR-T), medial rectus thickness (MR-T), lateral rectus thickness (LR-T), EMV, FV/OV, SIRmean, and SIRmax between TAO diplopia, TAO non-diplopia, and normal control groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of IR-T, MR-T, FV/OV, EMV, and SIRmax between TAO diplopia and TAO non-diplopia (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in SR-T, LR-T, and SIRmean (P>0.05), and there was also a statistically significant difference between TAO diplopia and TAO non-diplopia in TSH and TRAb (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TRAb, FV/OV and EMV were independent risk factors of TAO diplopia, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of individual and combined indicators for TAO diplopia. The ROC analysis showed that the combined index had the best diagnostic efficacy, AUC=0.853 (95% confidence interval: 0.792-0.915) (P<0.001), sensitivity was 82.7%, and specificity was 79.6%, the Yoden index is 0.623. ConclusionsTAO diplopia is not only related to the enlargement of extraocular muscles and SIR values mentioned in previous studies, but also closely related to the volume of intraorbital fat. Comprehensive analysis of extraocular muscles and orbital fat can provide a more comprehensive and objective basis for clinical practice, which is helpful for clinical selection of appropriate treatment options.

Value of cardiac magnetic resonance left atrial strain analysis based on tissue feature tracking in the assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo explore the value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) left atrial strain (LAS) in the diagnosis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and MethodsThe clinical data, echocardiography and CMR parameters of 103 patients with HCM diagnosed in Beijing Fuwai Hospital from February 2021 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the results of echocardiography, the patients were divided into 28 patients with LVDD group (group A) and 75 patients with no obvious LVDD group (group B). Independent sample t test, non-parametric test, Chi-square test and other statistical methods were mainly used to compare clinical baseline data, basic parameters of CMR, left ventricular strain (LVS) and LAS parameters of group A and group B, respectively. Meanwhile, logistic regression analysis was used to screen independent related factors of LVDD. ResultsPatients in group A were older [median age 53.0 (43.2, 66.8) years], had higher rates of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Ⅲ-Ⅳ (60.7%), and higher rates of clinical symptoms such as syncope (32.1%) and sudden cardiac death (32.1%). Compared with group B, left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAD-AP), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (ESVi), left ventricular mass index (LVMi) and the proportion of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) were significantly increased in group A (P<0.05). The passive strain (εe), peak positive strain rate (SRs), early peak negative strain rate (SRe) and late peak negative strain rate (SRa) were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LVOTO [odds ratio (OR)=4.127, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.488-11.450, P=0.006] and SRa (OR=4.672, 95% CI: 1.624-13.441, P=0.004) were independently correlated with LVDD, and SRa had high diagnostic efficacy, the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) that distinguishes LVDD is 0.717. ConclusionsCMR LAS can reflect LVDD in patients with HCM. SRa has a certain diagnostic efficacy for LVDD, which is a potential diagnostic index.

Imaging evaluation of long-term over-drinkers myocardial injury by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking techniques

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the evaluation value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking technology (CMR-FT) in patients with long-term over-drinkers, and analyze the influencing factors of left ventricular myocardial strain parameters in patients. Materials and MethodsA total of 39 long-term over-drinker were recruited (drinking group) and 20 healthy volunteers with no drinking history (control group) were examined cardiac magnetic resonance cine examination. The global left ventricular anisotropic strain parameters of two groups were calculated by CVI42 software, and the parameters of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Multiple linear regression equation was used to analyze the relationship between the degree of left ventricular strain damage and average daily alcohol consumption and drinking time in drinking group. ROC curve was constructed to calculate the overall left ventricular anisotropic strain in the differential diagnosis of the two groups. ResultsThe radial, circumferential and longitudinal strains of the whole left ventricular myocardium in the drinking group were 29.43% (19.60%, 33.97%), -17.14% (-19.38%, -13.57%), -13.75% (-16.37%, -9.89%), respectively, which were lower than those in the control group. The peak strain rates of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic phases in the drinking group were also lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Regression equation analysis showed that daily alcohol consumption and drinking time were the influencing factors of left ventricular strain, and daily alcohol consumption has a greater impact on strain than drinking time. The sensitivity of distinguishing the overall myocardial strain of the left ventricle in both groups is above 70%. ConclusionsCMR-FT technique can quantitatively evaluate left ventricular myocardial strain in over-drinkers. The average daily alcohol consumption and drinking time are important factors influencing the degree of left ventricular myocardial strain injury.

Preliminary study on the assessment of left atrial myocardial deformation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using CMR technology

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo explore the application value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) technology in the assessment of left atrium (LA) myocardial deformation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Materials and MethodsThe clinical data of 45 HCM patients who were treated in our hospital from January 2020 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients underwent echocardiography and were divided into categories according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). There were 31 cases in the normal group (55%≤LVEF<70%) and 14 cases in the abnormal group (LVEF<55%). A total of 45 healthy subjects who underwent cardiac examinations in our hospital were selected as the control group. Three groups of general information and the imaging data of the CMR examination were compared between the three groups of cardiac function indicators and LA myocardial deformation indicators. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between cardiac function indicators and LA myocardial deformation indicators, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used. Curve analysis of the diagnostic value of myocardial deformation indicators for HCM. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and cardiac index among the three groups (P>0.05). The LA maximum volume (LA maximum volume, LAVmax) and LA were the smallest in the normal group and the abnormal group. The volume (LA minimum volume, LAVmin) was higher than that of the control group, the left atrial total ejection fraction (LATEF), cardiac output and LVEF were lower than those of the control group, and the LAVmax and LAVmin of the abnormal group were higher than those of the normal group. The stroke volume was lower than that in the normal group and control group (P<0.05). The storage strain and pump strain in the normal group and the abnormal group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The storage strain and pump strain of the myocardial deformation indexes were negatively correlated with LAVmax and LAVmin (r=-0.605–-0.573, P<0.05). There was a positive correlation with LATEF, cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac index and LVEF (r=0.521–0.669, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis found that the AUC of storage strain and pump strain in diagnosing HCM were 0.714 and 0.699 respectively, and the AUC of their combined diagnosis was 0.820. The sensitivity and specificity were 74.2% and 78.6% respectively (P<0.05). ConclusionsCMR technology has high evaluation value in LA myocardial deformation in HCM patients. By evaluating LA myocardial deformation, it can assist in the diagnosis of HCM and also evaluate their cardiac function.

Correlation of full-volume IVIM quantitative parameters with neurovascular invasion, MSI status, and Ki-67 index in rectal adenocarcinoma

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) whole-tumor volume parameter with perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), microsatellite instability (MSI) status and Ki-67 index in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma. Materials and MethodsImaging and clinical data of 136 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed, and the true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D^*), and perfusion fraction (f) of the full volume parameter of IVIM of the lesion were measured. The patients were grouped according to pathological reports of PNI status, LVI status, MSI and Ki-67 index, and the relationship between each quantitative parameter and the pathological characteristics of the tumors was analyzed by using independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. ResultsThe D value in the PNI-negative group of rectal adenocarcinoma [(1.174±0.164) ×10^-3 mm²/s] was significantly lower than that in the positive group [(1.270±0.206) ×10^-3 mm²/s] (t=-3.033, P=0.003), the f value in the LVI-negative group 0.172 (0.158, 0.193) was significantly lower than that in the positive group 0.188 (0.168, 0.237) (Z =-2.435, P=0.015), and the f-value of the Ki-67 low expression group (0.175±0.035) was significantly lower than that of the high expression group (0.188±0.038) (t=-2.097, P=0.038). The difference in D, D^*, and f values between the high microsatellite instability group and the low microsatellite instability group was not statistically significant (P>0.05). ConclusionsThe full volume quantitative parameters of IVIM can reflect the pathological characteristics of rectal adenocarcinoma to a certain extent, and can be used as an important imaging index for preoperative assessment of the biological behavior of rectal adenocarcinoma.

Application of high b-value DWI generated based on diffusion model to assess local recurrence after radical treatment of prostate cancer

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of generating high b-value diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) based on diffusion model for the assessment of local recurrence after radical treatment of prostate cancer. Materials and MethodsRetrospective analysis of the clinical and imaging data of 63 patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical radiotherapy (RT) or radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer, including 21 patients in the RT group and 42 patients in the RP group. DWI images calculated using the patient^{^,}s initial apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were input into the prostate DWI generated model to obtain the generated high b-value (b=2000 s/mm²) DWI maps. The image quality of the calculated DWI and the generated DWI was evaluated by 3 readers, and the risk of recurrence was scored in all cases according to the Prostate Imaging for Recurrence Reporting (PI-RR) system score. Multi-reader multi-case receiver operating characteristic (MRMC-ROC) curve were used to compare the differences in diagnostic efficacy between different readers. Grade score agreement was tested using intragroup correlation coefficients. ResultsAll three readers rated the image quality of the generated DWI group better than that of the calculated DWI group (P=0.002, 0.003, 0.002). The difference in the total PI-RR scores between the generated DWI and calculated DWI groups of the RT group by the three readers was statistically significant (P=0.031, 0.049, 0.041). The difference in PI-RR total score between the generated DWI and calculated DWI groups was statistically significant (P=0.034, 0.049, 0.036). The range of area under the curve (AUC) values for PI-RR total score prediction of the occurrence of localized recurrence in the RT and RP groups by the three readers using the generated DWI was categorized as 0.884-0.924 and 0.926-0.947; the range of AUC value for PI- RR total score prediction of the occurrence of local recurrence in the RT and RP groups by the three readers using the calculated DWI was categorized as 0.783-0.792 and 0.843-0.893. After combining the cases in RT and RP groups, the PI-RR total score was used to predict the status of local recurrence in all the patients, and the range of AUC values for the generated DWI group and the calculated DWI group were 0.912-0.930 and 0.797-0.858. ConclusionsHigh b-value DWI generated based on the diffusion model can significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy of local recurrence after radical treatment of prostate cancer.

The predictive value of DCE-MRI and DWI for Ki-67 expression and Gleason score in prostate cancer

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic contrast enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) combined with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting Ki-67 expression and Gleason score in prostate cancer (PCa) Ki-67 expression and Gleason score. Materials and MethodsA retrospective analysis of MRI data from 66 PCa patients treated at the Zigong Fourth People^{^,}s Hospital from January 2019 to October 2023 was conducted. Combining T2WI, DWI sequences and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) automatically calculated by DWI, the regions of interest (ROI) of the tumor was manually outlined on the DCE-MRI images, calculate ROI pharmacokinetic parameters, including volumetric transport constants (K^trans), rate constant (K_ep), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (V_e), and measure apparent diffusion coefficient values (ADC). According to the targeted puncture pathology diagnosis Gleason score and Ki-67 expression level were categorized into Ki-67 high expression group (Ki-67>10%) and low expression group (Ki-67≤10%), and Gleason score low grade (GG 1-2) and high grade (GG 3-5) groups. Differences between groups were compared using two independent samples t-test or non-parametric test, Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of DCE-MRI parameters and ADC values with Ki-67 and Gleason scores, and logistic regression model was established to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy. ResultsADC values in PCa were negatively correlated with Ki-67 expression and Gleason score (P<0.001), while K^trans, K_ep and V_ewere positively correlated with Ki-67 expression (P<0.001). K^trans and K_ep were also positively correlated with Gleason score (P<0.001). Statistically significant differences were found in K^trans, K_ep, V_e and ADC values between high and low Ki-67 expression groups (P<0.01), as well as between high and low Gleason score groups (P<0.01). ROC curve analysis for Ki-67 expression showed that the combined model of K^trans+K_ep+V_e+ADC had the best diagnostic performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.940. ROC curve analysis for Gleason score grading showed that the combined model of K^trans+K_ep+ADC had the best diagnostic performance, with an AUC of 0.861. ConclusionsThe quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI combined with ADC values show high diagnostic efficacy in predicting Ki-67 expression and Gleason score in PCa. These findings suggest that the combined use of quantitative DCE-MRI parameters with ADC values improves the accuracy of predicting pathological grading and biological aggressiveness of PCa.

Study of ADC minimum in combination with clinical and imaging features for prediction of HIFU efficacy in treatment of uterine fibroids

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveConstruct a model to predict the clinical efficacy of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in treating uterine fibroids based on the apparent diffusion coefficient minimum (ADC_min) and clinical and imaging features. Materials and MethodsClinical and imaging data of 153 patients who underwent HIFU treatment for uterine fibroids from September 2021 to December 2023 and met the criteria for inclusion were retrospectively collected, and a total of 153 fibroids were included in the study (choosing the largest in cases with multiple). Ultrasound assessed the fibroids^{^,} volume reduction rate three months after HIFU treatment, categorizing them into a significantly effective group (≥50% volume reduction, n=62) and a non-effective group (<50% volume reduction, n=91). Measurements were taken for the uterine fibroids^{^,} ADC_min and apparent diffusion coefficient mean (ADC_mean). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed on clinical and imaging data, identifying factors to establish a clinical imaging feature model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves compared the predictive performance of uterine fibroids^{^,} ADC_min and ADC_mean. A combined model was constructed by integrating the quantifiable indicator with high predictive efficiency, ADC_min, and the clinical imaging feature model. ROC evaluation and DeLong test compared the area under the curve (AUC) differences between ADC_min, the clinical imaging feature model, and the combined model. ResultsHemoglobin, body mass index (BMI), and T1WI enhancement signal intensity were identified as factors to establish a clinical imaging feature model. The ROC curve demonstrates that the AUC values for ADC_min and ADC_mean were 0.753 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.677-0.828] and 0.658 (95% CI: 0.570-0.746), respectively. The DeLong test results show that ADC_min demonstrates higher predictive performance than ADC_mean (P<0.05). The AUC values for the clinical imaging feature model and the combined ADC_min and clinical imaging feature model were 0.711 (95% CI: 0.627-0.796) and 0.816 (95% CI: 0.748-0.884), respectively. DeLong test indicates that the difference in AUC between ADC_min and the clinical imaging model is not statistically significant (P>0.05). The predictive efficacy of the combined model of ADC_min and clinical imaging features surpasses that of ADC_min alone (P<0.05) and the clinical imaging feature model (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe combined model constructed by ADC_minand clinical and imaging features can effectively predict the clinical efficacy of HIFU in the treatment of uterine fibroids, and can offer valuable insights for formulating clinical treatment strategies.

The value of machine-learning-based radiomics models for predicting disease-free survival and immune levels in endometrial cancer patients

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of machine learning-based radiomics model for disease-free survival (DFS) in endometrial cancer patients. Matirials and MethodsData from 212 endometrial cancer patients who had undergone radical surgery in a dual-center were retrospectively analyzed. Radiomics features of tumor and peri-tumor 5 mm region in T2WI sequences were extracted for all patients. Five machine learning methods (gradient boosting machines, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, random survival forest, support vector machine, and extreme gradient boosting) were used to construct the radiomics model and calculate the best radiomics score (Radscore). The incremental value of Radscore to existing clinical predictors was analysed and a combined model was constructed. Finally, bioinformatics analysis was used to reveal the biological mechanisms of the radiomics models. ResultsThe combined radiomics model based on gradient boosting machines showed the best predictive efficacy, with AUC of 0.977, 0.986, 0.995 and 0.745, 0.764, 0.802 for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS in the training and validation sets, respectively. Multifactorial Cox regression analyses showed that clinical stage, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and Radscore were the independent predictors of DFS. The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined model in the training and validation sets were 0.926, 0.894, 0.864 and 0.828, 0.839, 0.873 for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS. Meanwhile, bioinformatics analysis suggested that Radscore was significantly correlated with the immune level of endometrial cancer patients. ConclusionsMachine learning-based radiomics model is helpful for the prediction of DFS and immune levels in endometrial cancer patients. The combination of radiomics and clinical indicators can further improve the accuracy of prediction and provide a reference basis for prognostic prediction and individualized treatment of endometrial cancer patients.

MRI features and clinical correlation analysis of thigh muscle in children with spinal muscular atrophy

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo analyze the imaging features and clinical application value of MRI of thigh muscles in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Material and Methods: A total of 37 children with SMA (5 patients with type Ⅰ, 21 patients with type Ⅱ, 11 patients with type Ⅲ) who were genetically diagnosed and underwent MRI examination in Wuhan Children^{^,}s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2022 to August 2022 were selected as the study objects. The MRI manifestations and clinical data of thigh muscles in children with different clinical types of SMA were retrospectively analyzed. The degree of muscle fat infiltration in the right thigh was evaluated semi-quantitatively by modified Mercuri grading and Spearman correlation analysis. Total fat infiltration score was compared with Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) score, disease duration and survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene copy number correlation analysis. ResultsThe children with SMA showed the morphological changes of bilateral thigh muscles, and there were dots, strips and (or) flaky fat signal shadows in and around the muscles, resulting in "network" and (or) "island" shape of muscles. Type Ⅰ SMA is mainly associated with muscle atrophy, type Ⅱ SMA is associated with muscle hypertrophy, and type Ⅲ SMA is mainly associated with fat infiltration. Mercuri fat infiltration score showed that quadriceps femoris (musculus rectus, musculus lateralis, musculus intermedius and musculus medius), sartorius, adductor magnus and musculus gracilis were more heavily involved, among which sartorius had the highest Mercuri score, while the adductor longus, musculus biceps femoris longus, musculus semitendinosus and musculus semimemmembranus were less involved. The Mercuri score of the adductor longus was the lowest, and significantly lower than that of other muscles. The degree of muscle fat infiltration in children with type Ⅲ SMA was negatively correlated with the motor function score of HFMSE (r=-0.917, P<0.001), and the degree of muscle fat infiltration was positively correlated with the course of disease in all children with SMA (r=0.772, P<0.001). ConclusionsThe conventional MRI findings of children with SMA are mainly muscle atrophy and fat infiltration, and the fat infiltration is progressive, and the muscle involvement pattern and severity of children with SMA are different in different clinical phenotypes. In addition, SMA muscle involvement is selective, with relative muscle retention patterns. MRI can visually assess muscle involvement in children with SMA and has a good correlation with clinical indicators, which is a potential biomarker.

Comparison of the value of CS-SEMAC, HBW, and dixon techniques for postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of spinal metal implants

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of compressed sensing combined with compressed sensing-slice-encoding metal artifact correction (CS-SEMAC) technique for postoperative MRI of spinal metal implants. Materials and MethodsThe 3.0 T sagittal MRI CS-SEMAC sequence, high bandwidth (HBW) sequence, and water-fat separation (Dixon) sequence were compared in terms of metal implant artifact area, vertebral signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), image quality, image clarity, fat suppression effect, and visibility of anatomical structures around the implant in 35 postoperative spinal metal implant patients with inclusion criteria. ResultsThe metal artifact areas of CS-SEMAC on T1 and T2 were (15.45±6.84) and (22.23±9.76) cm², respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the other two sequences, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001); Two-by-two comparison of signal-to-noise ratios of the three sequences on the T2 lipid-suppressed sagittal images showed that: the vertebral snr of the HBW sequence was significantly higher than those of the two other sequences, Dixon sequence SNR was significantly lower than the other two sequences, and CS-SEMAC sequence SNR was lower than the HBW sequence and higher than the Dixon sequence, and the differences were all statistically significant (P<0.001); In terms of image clarity, the score of the T2WI-tirm-CS-SEMAC sequence was lower than that of the other two sequences, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). The T2WI-tirm-CS-SEMAC sequence scored significantly better than the other two sequences regarding the image quality and fat suppression effect (P<0.001); The T2WI-tirm-CS-SEMAC sequence could clearly display the vertebral body, pedicle, intervertebral foramen and nerve roots around the implant (P<0.001); meanwhile. The T2WI-Dixon lipoinhibition sequence could also clearly display the nerve roots in the intervertebral foramen, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). ConclusionsCompared with HBW and Dixon sequences, CS-SEMAC sequence can effectively reduce the metal artifacts around the implant, and significantly improve the image quality and fat inhibition effect of T2 lipid suppression sequence. Although the SNR of the adjacent vertebral body of the metal implant on T2 lipid suppression is decreased compared with that of HBW sequence, the image is slightly blurred than that of HBW and Dixon images. However, the visibility of key anatomical structures around the vertebral body is significantly improved, which has certain advantages for the display of spinal anatomy after spinal surgery.

Research progress on the hyperarousal of insomnia treated by acupuncture based on the default mode network

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The hyperarousal model is one of the important theories explaining the occurrence and maintenance of insomnia disorder (ID), yet few studies have explored the neuroimaging mechanisms of hyperarousal in ID. Research has found that ID patients often exhibit symptoms of emotional abnormalities and memory impairment, which are closely related to the functional abnormalities of the default mode network (DMN). Therefore, damage to the DMN may be one of the mechanisms of ID pathogenesis. Acupuncture may regulate the activity and functional connectivity changes of the DMN, suppress the state of cerebral hyperarousal, and thus improve ID symptoms. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms of hyperarousal in ID from molecular genetics, neuroendocrinology, heart rate variability, polysomnography, and neuroimaging perspectives. It explores the relationship between hyperarousal and the DMN, synthesizes the neuroimaging evidence of acupuncture regulation of hyperarousal in ID patients, and analyzes the connection between hyperarousal and the DMN. The aim is to provide neuroimaging evidence for the study of acupuncture intervention mechanisms in ID and to offer insights for future research directions, such as exploring from the levels of brain network connections and neuronal cells, increasing sample sizes, employing multimodal imaging techniques, and combining emerging analytical methods to more comprehensively reveal the brain effect mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for ID.

Research progress on structural and functional changes of the amygdala in patients with insomnia using magnetic resonance imaging

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Insomnia disorder (ID) constitutes a social public health concern and represents the second most prevalent type of mental illness globally. Furthermore, other mental disorders and physical ailments interact causally and mutually reinforce each other. The amygdala serves as a crucial emotional hub, not only regulating behavioral cognition and emotions but also functioning as a significant sleep regulator. With the progress of neuroimaging and MRI technology, it becomes feasible to illuminate the neuropathological mechanism of ID by analyzing the variations in the structure, function, fiber tracts and blood flow of the amygdala among ID patients. In this paper, the alterations in the amygdala of ID patients were summarized via MRI multimodal technology, with the aim of offering novel perspectives for the study of the pathological mechanism of ID and a fresh direction for treatment.

Research progress on brain structure and functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with knee osteoarthritis pain

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a very common and disabling joint disease. Pain is the main clinical symptom and the pathological mechanism is complex. With the application and development of neuroimaging technology in KOA pain research, the central nervous system is considered to play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of KOA pain. MRI is a cutting-edge technology to study the central nervous system. It is widely used in the study of brain central remodeling of pain, and can more intuitively show the changes of brain structure and function in patients with KOA pain. This article reviews the research on the KOA pain using structural MRI (sMRI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). It mainly including changes in gray matter volume and cortical thickness in patients with KOA pain, abnormalities in white matter microstructure integrity, and rs-fMRI studies on brain low-frequency amplitude (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), functional connectivity (FC), and brain network changes in KOA pain patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between neuroimaging markers and KOA pain, and to enrich the understanding of the changes of brain sMRI and rs-fMRI in patients with KOA pain.

Research progresses of MRI double inversion recovery sequence in central nervous system diseases

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Double inversion recovery (DIR) is an imaging sequence that suppresses two different tissue signals by applying two inversion pulses. Although the imaging time of DIR sequence is relatively longer than that of other conventional sequences, DIR imaging shows better white-gray contrast, lesion sensitivity and specificity in the detection of central nervous system diseases, especially the detection of cortical and juxtacortical lesions. In recent years, DIR technology has made continuous progress, which has improved the spatial resolution, acquisition speed, signal-to- noise ratio and reduced image artifacts. DIR imaging has wide promising applications in a variety of central nervous system diseases. This article reviews the imaging principle, technological development of DIR sequence and its value in central nervous system diseases, aiming to provide a new way for the diagnosis and prognosis of central nervous system diseases in the future.

Advancements in the application of 7 T-MRI in cerebral small vessel disease

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cerebral small vessel disease has a high incidence rate among the elderly, significantly increasing the risk of stroke and dementia. To date, there are no effective clinical or fluid biomarkers for the disease, and its diagnosis heavily relies on MRI. However, due to the limited spatial resolution of clinical imaging, it^{^,}s challenging to directly assess small vessel damage. Thus, researchers primarily use imaging biomarkers reflecting cerebral parenchymal damage to evaluate small vessel injury. In recent years, with the continuous maturation of ultra-high-field (7 T) MRI technology, its application in the field of cerebral small vessel disease has become increasingly extensive. 7 T-MRI can directly assess the structure and function of small cerebral vessels and significantly enhance the detection sensitivity of minor cerebral parenchymal lesions, providing important tools for the mechanism research and precise diagnosis of cerebral small vessel disease. This article will review the recent research on cerebral small vessel disease based on 7 T-MRI and discuss potential issues and future research directions, offering references for researchers in the field.

Advances of 7 T ultra-high field magnetic resonance intracranial vessel wall imaging in the etiology classification of ischemic stroke

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The etiological classification of ischemic stroke is of great value for clinical treatment decision-making and prognosis. In recent years, with the increasing application of high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR-VW-MRI) in clinical research and practice of stroke, 7 T MRI with higher signal-to-noise ratio and better image quality can detect early and subtle pathological changes of cerebrovascular diseases, which provides new ideas for understanding the pathological mechanism of various cerebrovascular diseases. However, the ultra-high field strength also has technical challenges such as B1 field inhomogeneity and long scanning time. This article reviews the etiological classification and clinical application of 7 T HR-VW-MRI in ischemic stroke, and analyzes the potential value of 7 T HR-VW-MRI in improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and guiding clinical treatment, so as to provide reference for clinical practice and scientific research exploration.

Research progress of artificial intelligence in pituitary tumor magnetic resonance imaging

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Pituitary tumor is one of the common tumors of the nervous system, and MRI can accurately show the size, shape, location, and invasiveness of the tumor. With the rapid development of technology, imagingomics and deep learning have become hot topics for artificial intelligence in the medical field, and research on pituitary tumor MRI is increasing. Artificial intelligence plays an important role in the selection of treatment options and prognosis prediction for pituitary tumor MRI, providing strong clinical evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary tumors. This review summarizes the research progress of artificial intelligence in pituitary tumor MRI. This review will provide assistance in the selection of treatment options and prediction of prognosis for patients with pituitary tumors.

Study progress of MRI on vulnerable plaques in carotid arteries

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Vulnerable carotid artery plaque is an important risk factor for acute ischemic stroke, which is closely related to the occurrence, development and recurrence of acute ischemic stroke. Accurate assessment of carotid vulnerable plaque is important for improving risk stratification, guiding clinical treatment and improving prognosis of AIS. High-resolution vessel wall imaging, MRI radiomics and 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging can be used to assess vulnerable carotid plaque in different ways. This article reviews the progress of common techniques and values of MRI in evaluating vulnerable carotid artery plaques, so as to provide imaging guidance for the selection of targeted measures to prevent the occurrence, progression and recurrence of stroke.

Advances in magnetic resonance imaging research on cardiotoxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cardiotoxicity is a potential complication of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the treatment of malignant tumors. Although the incidence of ICIs-related cardiotoxicity is low, it can threaten the lives of patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) imaging has the advantages of better soft tissue resolution and multi-functional, multi-parameter imaging. Techniques such as cine sequences, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T1 mapping, T2 mapping, and feature tracking (FT) play a crucial role in the comprehensive assessment and early diagnosis of ICIs-related cardiotoxicity. This article summarizes the quantitative and qualitative analysis of ICIs-related cardiotoxicity through these techniques, and provides new methods and ideas for early clinical diagnosis of ICIs-related cardiotoxicity, so as to ensure the safety of patients during treatment, thereby improving the quality of life of patients, and is expected to provide reference direction for future research.

Progress in diagnosis and prognosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy with multimodal cardiac magnetic resonance

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) is a genetically diverse condition that has seen a rise in prevalence in recent times, yet its diagnosis and prognosis evaluation pose significant clinical hurdles. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can provide comprehensive information about myocardial structure, function, viability, and tissue quantification, offering unique advantages. This review focused on NCCM-related CMR techniques, and summarized the application progress of conventional CMR techniques and new CMR techniques in the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of NCCM. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pathogenesis of NCCM and improve the early detection rate, so as to effectively guide clinical treatment and improve the prognosis of patients. At the same time, it is hoped that by summarizing the previous research work, it can provide reference for the research of new technology in the disease.

Research progress of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging techniques in axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Breast cancer has become the world^{^,}s leading female cancer mortality rate. The clinical treatment methods for breast cancer patients are mainly surgical treatment and targeted treatment. The preoperative axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer is an important factor affecting the treatment and prognosis of breast cancer patients. With the rapid development of magnetic resonance imaging technology, researchers not only evaluate axillary lymph node metastasis based on conventional imaging features such as size, edge morphology, and cortical thickness, but also use functional imaging methods to understand the microstructure information of lymph nodes and quantitatively evaluate lymph node heterogeneity. In addition, emerging imaging omics, imaging combined with artificial intelligence can obtain more parameters and have achieved more in-depth research results in the study of axillary lymph nodes. This article reviews the research progress of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, aiming to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each imaging sequence in the application of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, and provide a new direction for subsequent imaging science research.

Application of radiomics based on different magnetic resonance imaging techniques in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumour in women and ranks first in the incidence of female tumours in China. At present, breast magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used in breast examination, and has significant advantages over other imaging examinations. Radiomics has been a hot topic of research in the past decade, which can extract imaging features that cannot be recognized by the naked eye and provide qualitative diagnosis for breast lesions. MRI-based radiomics is of significant value in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions. This review focuses on the application of radiomics based on different MRI techniques in breast lesions in detail, reviewing the research progress of radiomics based on different MRI techniques in recent years, as well as the value of these techniques in the diagnosis and identification of breast lesions. This review can provide effective information for the diagnosis and differentiation of breast lesions, etc., and provide an important reference for the personalised treatment plan of breast lesions, so as to achieve the purpose of precision medicine as early as possible.

Research progresses of non-Gaussian of diffusion weighted imaging models in hepatocellular carcinoma

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) has been widely applied in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Due to the traditional DWI technology is difficult to accurately reflect the diffusion information of water molecules deviating from a Gaussian distribution. In recent years, several studies have been investigated the role of non-Gaussian DWI models in HCC. This imaging technology application has expanded from the nervous system to the body and it has been partially applied to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis, pathological classification and grading, evaluation of treatment response, and prognostic evaluation in HCC. Based on this, this paper summarized the current state of research and the technical principles of non-Gaussian distribution DWI models in HCC, aiming to further analyze the challenges of advanced diffusion technology in HCC, promote the further application and development of non-Gaussian distribution imaging models in HCC. In addition, the future research directions will also be discussed.

Progress in MRI evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease. NAFLD is divided into two main subtypes, non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a progressive form of NAFLD that can further promote liver fibrosis and increase the risk of developing cirrhosis, so accurately distinguishing between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and NASH and assessing the extent of liver inflammation and fibrosis is critical to prevent progression and adverse outcomes of the disease. MRI is a non-invasive method of liver evaluation, which can provide anatomical, functional and metabolic information of the liver, and is of great value in the diagnosis and staging of NAFLD. This review introduces the technical principles of magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and longitudinal relaxation time quantitative imaging (T1 mapping), and summarizes the research status of these quantitative imaging techniques in the evaluation of NAFLD. This review aims to discuss the advantages and challenges of MR quantitative imaging in the assessment of NAFLD, and provide new research ideas for quantifying the pathological changes of NAFLD.

Advances in the radiogenomics of hepatocellular carcinoma

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high incidence and lethality, and its early diagnosis, precision treatment and prognosis evaluation have always been the focus of medical research. The prognosis of HCC diagnosis and treatment is closely related to the mutation status of the tumor gene, but the traditional detection of HCC gene mutation status is mainly based on invasive methods. In recent years, radiogenomics has developed rapidly, which can associate the gene mutation status with the imaging characteristics of tumor tissue, bringing hope for the non-invasive prediction of HCC gene mutation status. At present, there have been many radiogenomics studies on HCC related gene mutations, but still lacking systematic combing and summary of the research methods and results. This paper reviews the current research status of radiogenomics using machine learning and big data technology for non-invasive evaluation of HCC, discusses the existing challenges, and explores future directions to provide a reference for advancing research in this field, as well as for enhancing clinical decision-making and precision treatment for HCC patients.

Current status and prospects of radiomics in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Radiomics can identify lesions that traditional imaging fails to detect by extracting a vast amount of information invisible to the human eye, and also provide further insights into the biological behavior of tumors. This assists physicians in more accurately determining the clinical staging of tumors and in guiding treatment plan selections. This study evaluates the role of radiomics in aiding the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, with a specific focus on pathological diagnosis and staging. The aim of this study was to offer new research directions for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Progress of MRI in the preoperative diagnosis of uterine sarcoma

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Uterine sarcomas (US) are highly malignant mesenchymal tumors of the female reproductive system with low incidence and poor prognosis. With the development of minimally invasive and noninvasive treatments and precision medicine, accurate preoperative identification of US will be helpful for the clinical development of personalized treatment plans. In this paper, we will review the research progress of MRI conventional sequences, functional imaging techniques, and MRI-based artificial intelligence analysis in US diagnosis. It aims to help clinicians and imaging physicians to understand the current research status related to US diagnostic imaging and lay the foundation for realizing precision medicine.

Advances in the application of MRI in the diagnosis and evaluation of discogenic low back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Lower back pain is a prevalent health issue that imposes a significant burden on individuals and society, and discogenic lower back pain caused by disc degeneration is one of the most common etiologic factors. MR techniques are widely used for the routine diagnosis of disc degeneration and its complications. In recent years, with the advancement of artificial intelligence and quantitative techniques, T2WI-based texture analysis as well as various quantitative MR techniques have gradually become important tools for the early diagnosis of discogenic low back pain, the identification of painful discs, and the decision-making of treatment plans, as well as the evaluation of the efficacy of disc regenerative medicine. Multimodal image fusion and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis are expected to play an irreplaceable role in the diagnosis and treatment of discogenic low back pain and in the development of new disc therapies, and the application of highly specific disc identification sequences such as CEST and MRS, as well as research on the association between discogenic low back pain and brain function, will also lead to the optimization of clinical treatment plans. In this paper, the current applications and developmental trends of MRI technologies such as T2WI and quantitative MRI in discogenic low back pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc degenerative are reviewed, with the aim of providing more potential MRI technical support for its early diagnosis and the evaluation of the efficacy of disc regenerative medicine.

Recent advances in radiomics for multiple myeloma diagnosis and prognosis

Fri,20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell neoplasm, and medical imaging plays a crucial role in its diagnosis and management. However, traditional imaging modalities struggle to provide in-depth analysis of intratumoral heterogeneity. Radiomics, an emerging field that employs high-throughput extraction and analysis of quantitative imaging features, offers a novel approach to unraveling the complexities within the tumor microenvironment. Driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and ongoing clinical research, radiomics holds immense promise as a valuable tool for precision diagnosis and treatment of MM, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in radiomics research for MM. We delve into its applications in diagnosis and differential diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment response monitoring, highlighting key findings and potential clinical implications. Furthermore, we critically analyze the current challenges and future directions of radiomics in MM, aiming to guide its clinical translation and research endeavors. This review serves as a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers alike, offering insights into the evolving landscape of radiomics in MM management and its potential to enhance patient care.

Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging RSS feed

Progress and prospect of advanced MRI techniques and their applications in brain development and brain injury

Evaluation of glymphatic system activity and disease state by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space index in children with benign Rolandic epilepsy

Application of grey matter-based spatial statistical analysis methods in neonatal cerebral cortical development

Lateralization of brain volume in term newborns based on MR structural imaging

Evaluation of spatiotemporal distribution of neonatal punctate white matter lesions based on probabilistic lesion mapping

Prenatal MRI quantified the deep gray matter volume of the fetal brain in tetralogy of Fallot

Value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer,s disease

Correlation of cognitive reserve, neurovascular coupling and cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment

The effect of methadone maintenance treatment on degree centrality in heroin dependent patients: a resting state fMRI study

Relationship between orbital tissues and diplopia in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy based on MRI

Value of cardiac magnetic resonance left atrial strain analysis based on tissue feature tracking in the assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Imaging evaluation of long-term over-drinkers myocardial injury by cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking techniques

Preliminary study on the assessment of left atrial myocardial deformation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using CMR technology

Correlation of full-volume IVIM quantitative parameters with neurovascular invasion, MSI status, and Ki-67 index in rectal adenocarcinoma

Application of high b-value DWI generated based on diffusion model to assess local recurrence after radical treatment of prostate cancer

The predictive value of DCE-MRI and DWI for Ki-67 expression and Gleason score in prostate cancer

Study of ADC minimum in combination with clinical and imaging features for prediction of HIFU efficacy in treatment of uterine fibroids

The value of machine-learning-based radiomics models for predicting disease-free survival and immune levels in endometrial cancer patients

MRI features and clinical correlation analysis of thigh muscle in children with spinal muscular atrophy

Comparison of the value of CS-SEMAC, HBW, and dixon techniques for postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of spinal metal implants

Research progress on the hyperarousal of insomnia treated by acupuncture based on the default mode network

Research progress on structural and functional changes of the amygdala in patients with insomnia using magnetic resonance imaging

Research progress on brain structure and functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with knee osteoarthritis pain

Research progresses of MRI double inversion recovery sequence in central nervous system diseases

Advancements in the application of 7 T-MRI in cerebral small vessel disease

Advances of 7 T ultra-high field magnetic resonance intracranial vessel wall imaging in the etiology classification of ischemic stroke

Research progress of artificial intelligence in pituitary tumor magnetic resonance imaging

Study progress of MRI on vulnerable plaques in carotid arteries

Advances in magnetic resonance imaging research on cardiotoxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Progress in diagnosis and prognosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy with multimodal cardiac magnetic resonance

Research progress of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging techniques in axillary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer

Application of radiomics based on different magnetic resonance imaging techniques in the differential diagnosis of breast lesions

Research progresses of non-Gaussian of diffusion weighted imaging models in hepatocellular carcinoma

Progress in MRI evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Advances in the radiogenomics of hepatocellular carcinoma

Current status and prospects of radiomics in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Progress of MRI in the preoperative diagnosis of uterine sarcoma

Advances in the application of MRI in the diagnosis and evaluation of discogenic low back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration

Recent advances in radiomics for multiple myeloma diagnosis and prognosis

Value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer^{^,}s disease