First PACS‐integrated artificial intelligence‐based software tool for rapid and fully automatic analysis of body composition from CT in clinical routine

Background: To externally evaluate the first picture archiving communications system (PACS)-integrated artificial intelligence (AI)-based workflow, trained to automatically detect a predefined computed tomography (CT) slice at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) and automatically perform complete image segmentation for analysis of CT body composition and to compare its performance with that of an established semi-automatic segmentation tool regarding speed and accuracy of tissue area calculation. Methods: For fully automatic analysis of body composition with L3 recognition, U-Nets were trained (Visage) and compared with a conventional image segmentation software (TomoVision). Tissue was differentiated into psoas muscle, skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Mid-L3 level images from randomly selected DICOM slice files of 20 CT scans acquired with various imaging protocols were segmented with both methods. Results: Success rate of AI-based L3 recognition was 100%. Compared with semi-automatic, fully automatic AI-based image segmentation yielded relative differences of 0.22% and 0.16% for skeletal muscle, 0.47% and 0.49% for psoas muscle, 0.42% and 0.42% for VAT and 0.18% and 0.18% for SAT. AI-based fully automatic segmentation was significantly faster than semi-automatic segmentation (3 ± 0 s vs. 170 ± 40 s, P < 0.001, for User 1 and 152 ± 40 s, P < 0.001, for User 2). Conclusion: Rapid fully automatic AI-based, PACS-integrated assessment of body composition yields identical results without transfer of critical patient data. Additional metabolic information can be inserted into the patient’s image report and offered to the referring clinicians

Multicentered analysis of percutaneous sclerotherapies in venous malformations of the face

ObjectivesTo evaluate the safety and outcome of image-guided sclerotherapy for treating venous malformations (VMs) of the face.Materials and methodsA multicenter cohort of 68 patients with VMs primarily affecting the face was retrospectively investigated. In total, 142 image-guided sclerotherapies were performed using gelified ethanol and/or polidocanol. Clinical and imaging findings were assessed to evaluate clinical response, lesion size reduction, and complication rates. Sub-analyses of complication rates depending on type and injected volume of the sclerosant as well as of pediatric versus adult patient groups were conducted.ResultsMean number of procedures per patient was 2.1 (±1.7) and mean follow-up consisted of 8.7 months (±6.8 months). Clinical response (n = 58) revealed a partial relief of symptoms in 70.7% (41/58), 13/58 patients (22.4%) presented symptom-free while only 4/58 patients (6.9%) reported no improvement. Post-treatment imaging (n = 52) revealed an overall objective response rate of 86.5% (45/52). The total complication rate was 10.6% (15/142) including 4.2% (7/142) major complications, mostly (14/15, 93.3%) resolved by conservative means. In one case, a mild facial palsy persisted over time. The complication rate in the gelified ethanol subgroup was significantly higher compared to polidocanol and to the combination of both sclerosants (23.5 vs. 6.0 vs. 8.3%, p = 0.01). No significant differences in complications between the pediatric and the adult subgroup were observed (12.1 vs. 9.2%, p = 0.57). Clinical response did not correlate with lesion size reduction on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).ConclusionImage-guided sclerotherapy is effective for treating VMs of the face. Clinical response is not necessarily associated with size reduction on imaging. Despite the complex anatomy of this location, the procedures are safe for both adults and children

CT Fluoroscopy-Guided Percutaneous Gastrostomy in the Palliative Management of Advanced and Relapsed Ovarian Cancer: The Charité Experiences and a Review of the Literature

Peritoneal carcinomatosis-associated malignant bowel obstruction is a common feature that merits more attention in advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer. Decompressive gastrostomy is one of the most preferred methods to palliate distressing symptoms and maintain patients’ quality of life. We retrospectively identified 31 patients with ovarian cancer-associated MBO, who underwent decompressive CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous gastrostomy (CT-PG) between September 2015 and April 2023 at our institution. A systematic literature review was conducted for CT-guided gastrostomy in ovarian cancer. Prior to CT-PG, 27 (87%) patients underwent unsuccessful attempts at endoscopic gastrostomy or surgery due to bowel obstruction; a total of 55% had received ≥3 lines of chemotherapy. CT-PG could be successfully inserted in 25 of 31 (81%) patients without grade 4–5 complications. CT-PG insertion was feasible in 76% of patients with previous unsuccessful attempts of endoscopic gastrostomy. A total of 80% of patients with a successful insertion had considerable symptom relief and could tolerate fluid intake. Mean survival after the procedure was 44.4 days. Chemotherapy could be administered in 7 of 25 (28%) patients following the CT-PG insertion. CT-guided percutaneous gastrostomy is a safe procedure that effectively manages intractable symptoms of bowel obstruction in ovarian cancer. This minimally invasive technique should be emphasised as a routine instrument within the palliative management of MBO

Interventional Treatment Strategies in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Perspectives for Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma

cHCC-CCA is an uncommon type of liver cancer that exhibits clinical and pathological characteristics of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), which are the two main forms of primary liver cancer. The similarity to HCC and CCA makes therapeutical strategies challenging. The poor prognosis of CCA in general, as well as for cHCC-CCA, is mainly attributable to the fact that diagnosis is often at an advanced stage of disease. During the last decade, locoregional therapies usually performed by interventional radiologists and its established role in HCC treatment have gained an increasing role in CCA treatment as well. These comprise a wide range of options from tumor ablation procedures such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), computed tomography high-dose rate brachytherapy (CT-HDRBT), and cryoablation to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), including the option of intra-arterial administration of radioactive spheres (transarterial radioembolization—TARE), and much attention has focused on the potential of individual concepts in recent years. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current radiologic interventions for CCA (excluding options for eCCA), to review and appraise the existing literature on the topic, and to provide an outlook on whether such interventions may have a role as treatment for cHCC-CCA in the future

Invest in the future: “Hands-on Radiology” summer school

Key points 1. The three-day student program enhanced the visibility of radiology as a specialization. 2. Interest in and knowledge of radiology was increased among participants. 3. Participants’ motivation to consider specialization in radiology increased. 4. Participants favored onsite teaching and teaching by residents instead of consultants. 5. Networking is a major factor during such courses among participants

CT Body Composition of Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity: Predictors of Postoperative Complications and Survival in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Background: To assess the impact of body composition imaging biomarkers in computed tomography (CT) on the perioperative morbidity and survival after surgery of patients with esophageal cancer (EC). Methods: Eighty-five patients who underwent esophagectomy for locally advanced EC after neoadjuvant therapy between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. Pre- and postoperative CT scans were used to assess the body composition imaging biomarkers (visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas, psoas muscle area (PMA) and volume (PMV), total abdominal muscle area (TAMA)). Sarcopenia was defined as lumbar skeletal muscle index (LSMI) = 30 were considered obese. These imaging biomarkers were correlated with major complications, anastomotic leakage, postoperative pneumonia, duration of postoperative hospitalization, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: Preoperatively, sarcopenia was identified in 58 patients (68.2%), and sarcopenic obesity was present in 7 patients (8.2%). Sarcopenic patients were found to have an elevated risk for the occurrence of major complications (OR: 2.587, p = 0.048) and prolonged hospitalization (32 d vs. 19 d, p = 0.040). Patients with sarcopenic obesity had a significantly higher risk for postoperative pneumonia (OR: 6.364 p = 0.018) and a longer postoperative hospital stay (71 d vs. 24 d, p = 0.021). Neither sarcopenia nor sarcopenic obesity was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of anastomotic leakage (p > 0.05). Low preoperative muscle biomarkers (PMA and PMV) and their decrease (Delta PMV and Delta TAMA) during the follow-up period significantly correlated with shorter DFS and OS (p = 0.005 to 0.048). Conclusion: CT body composition imaging biomarkers can identify high-risk patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer undergoing surgery. Sarcopenic patients have a higher risk of major complications, and patients with sarcopenic obesity are more prone to postoperative pneumonia. Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity are both subsequently associated with a prolonged hospitalization. Low preoperative muscle mass and its decrease during the postoperative follow-up are associated with lower DFS and OS