Radiogenomics in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Machine Learning-Based High-Dimensional Quantitative CT Texture Analysis in Predicting PBRM1 Mutation Status

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential value of machine learning (ML)-based high-dimensional quantitative CT texture analysis in predicting the mutation status of the gene encoding the protein polybromo-1 (PBRM1) in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

Brachial Artery Wall Stiffness Assessment by Shear Wave Elastography: A Promising New Diagnostic Tool for Endothelial Dysfunction Detection

ObjectivesThis study was designed to measure the changes in brachial artery wall stiffness by shear wave elastography (SWE) and evaluate the accuracy of SWE changes for detection of endothelial dysfunction

Shear Wave Elastography of the Lumbar Multifidus Muscle in Patients With Unilateral Lumbar Disk Herniation

Objectives To assess lumbar multifidus muscle stiffness in patients with unilateral lumbar disk herniation (LDH) causing nerve root compression using shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods Thirty-three patients with unilateral subarticular LDH (L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1) causing nerve root compression, diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were bilateral or multilevel LDH confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging, bilateral leg symptoms, and patients with a history of any spinal operation, malignancy, trauma, infection, spondylolisthesis, severe lateral recess stenosis, spinal canal stenosis, and substantial comorbidities. Two observers separately evaluated the multifidus muscle using SWE. Shear wave elastographic examinations of the muscle were performed slightly below the herniation using the spinous process of the vertebra as a landmark. The stiffness of the muscle between affected and normal sides was compared. Moreover, the correlation between the stiffness and duration of the symptoms and the correlation between the stiffness and severity of the nerve compression were also calculated. Results The mean stiffness values of the multifidus muscle on the affected side (mean +/- SD: observer 1, 14.08 +/- 3.57 kPa; observer 2, 13.70 +/- 4.05 kPa) were significantly lower compared to the contralateral side (observer 1, 18.81 +/- 3.95 kPa; observer 2, 18.28 +/- 4.12 kPa; P < .001). The muscle stiffness had a moderate negative correlation with the duration of the symptoms and the severity of the nerve compression (observer 1, r = -0.535; observer 2, r = -0.458; P < .001). Conclusions The multifidus muscle on the ipsilateral side of the LDH showed reduced stiffness values, and stiffness values were negatively correlated with the disease duration and severity of the nerve compression. Further studies might reveal the potential role of SWE of the multifidus muscle in determining clinical outcomes and assessing effectiveness treatment in patients with LDH

Increased vein wall thickness in Behcet disease

Objective: Lower extremity (LE) deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is the main feature of vascular involvement in Behcet disease (BD). We thought that vein wall thickness (VWT) could be a surrogate marker for venous inflammation and hence predict future vascular involvement. We assessed VWT in proximal LE veins in BD patients without DVT, BD patients with DVT, and healthy controls in a formal, masked protocol

Assessment of the common carotid artery wall stiffness by Shear Wave Elastography in Behcet's disease

Aim: To evaluate endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in Behcet's disease (BD) by measuring the common carotid artery (CCA) wall stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Materials and methods: We prospectively evaluated CIMT and the CCA wall stillness of 34 BD patients and 28 age/sex-matched controls. CIMT measurements were performed from the posterior wall of the carotid artery approximately 10 mm proximal to the initiation of the carotid bulb using B-mode ultrasound. The stillness of the CCA was measured from the superficial wall of the CCA using shear wave elastography (SWE). SWE measurements were recorded as shear wave velocity (SWV) using m/s as a unit. Results: The mean right (0.5 +/- 0.11 mm) and left (05 +/- 0.14 nun) CIMT of the patients were significantly higher compared to the mean right (0.41 +/- 0.07 nun) and left (0.41 +/- 0.11 mm) CIMT of the healthy controls (p=0.001 and p= 0.003 respectively). The mean right (3.72 +/- 0.94 m/s) and left (3.5 +/- 0.72 m/s) CCA wall stillness of the patients were significantly higher compared to the mean right (2.42 +/- 0.49 m/s) and left (2.56 +/- 0.49 m/s) CCA wall stiffness of the controls (p<0.001 for both). Conclusions: SWE seems to be a promising modality to evaluate endothelial dysfunction in BD by interpreting the arterial stillness, and SWE might be an important adjunct to clinical and laboratory findings, and imaging modalities to assess cardiovascular risk in BD. Moreover, SWE evaluation of the arterial stillness might assist us to understand pathophysiological aspects of BD

Primary hypophysitis: Experience of a Single Tertiary Center

Purpose The authors review the clinical outcomes of patients with primary hypophysitis (PH)

Quantitative Assessment of Thyroid, Submandibular, and Parotid Glands Elasticity With Shear-Wave Elastography in Children

Tissue elasticity is becoming a more commonly used parameter in evaluation of parenchyma in inflammatory diseases. Considering the changes in the thyroid and salivary glands with adolescence, determination of mean elasticity ranges with a function of age is necessary to apply ultrasound elastography more widely in the pediatric population. The thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands of 127 healthy volunteers (66 males, 61 females; mean age = 10.3 3.9 years; range = 3-17 years) were evaluated with shear-wave elastography. The mean elasticity values for the thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands were 14.6 +/- 3.3, 11.8 +/- 2.2, and 11.8 +/- 2.6 kPa, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between age and elasticity of the thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands. There was a significant correlation between age and elasticity value of the thyroid gland adjusted for weight and height. This study provided the baseline quantitative elasticity measures of thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands, which would be a reference for upcoming studies. In addition, an increase in elasticity value in thyroid gland as a function of age independent of change in weight and height was demonstrated

Quantitative Assessment of Thyroid, Submandibular, and Parotid Glands Elasticity With Shear-Wave Elastography in Children

Tissue elasticity is becoming a more commonly used parameter in evaluation of parenchyma in inflammatory diseases. Considering the changes in the thyroid and salivary glands with adolescence, determination of mean elasticity ranges with a function of age is necessary to apply ultrasound elastography more widely in the pediatric population. The thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands of 127 healthy volunteers (66 males, 61 females; mean age = 10.3 3.9 years; range = 3-17 years) were evaluated with shear-wave elastography. The mean elasticity values for the thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands were 14.6 +/- 3.3, 11.8 +/- 2.2, and 11.8 +/- 2.6 kPa, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between age and elasticity of the thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands. There was a significant correlation between age and elasticity value of the thyroid gland adjusted for weight and height. This study provided the baseline quantitative elasticity measures of thyroid, submandibular, and parotid glands, which would be a reference for upcoming studies. In addition, an increase in elasticity value in thyroid gland as a function of age independent of change in weight and height was demonstrated