Quantitative MR Image Analysis - a Useful Tool in Differentiating Glioblastoma from Solitary Brain Metastasis

Cilj: Prikaz glioblastoma i metastaza na konvencionalnom MRI je često jako sličan, ali se terapijski pristup i prognoza bitno razlikuju. Čak i primenom naprednih MR tehnika, u nekim slučajevima dijagnoza ostaje nejasna. Glavni cilj disertacije bio je da utvrdi da li fraktalna ili teksturna, ili obe kvantitativne analize MR slike mogu doprineti diferencijaciji glioblastoma od solitarne metastaze mozga. Metod: Studija je sprovedena na ukupno 96 pacijenata sa dokazanim dijagnozama glioblastoma (50 pacijenata), odnosno solitarne metastaze (46 pacijenata). Izdvojene su slike sa najinformativnijim prikazom lezije (jedan isti presek u tri različite sekvence: CET1, T2 i SWI), a zatim je učinjena njihova kompjuterska analiza, primenom fraktalne metode brojanja kvadrata i teksturne metode bazirane na matrici zajedničke pojave istog nivoa sive boje (GLCM). Rezultati: Analizom sive skale celog tumora i binarne slike unutrašnjosti tumora sa T2 sekvence dobijen je najveći broj parametara koji značajno razlikuju dve vrste tumora (drugi ugaoni moment SASM, inverzni moment razlike SIDM, kontrast SCON, korelacija SCOR, diferencijalna fraktalna dimenzija DDIFF, odnosno binarna fraktalna dimenzija unutrašnjosti DBIN2, normirana fraktalna dimenzija DNORM, lakunarnost Ʌ2), dok su se druge dve sekvence (CET1 i SWI) pokazale manje pogodnim za kvantifikaciju. Kombinacijom parametara povećala se tačnost testiranja (AUC 0,838±0,041, senzitivnost 78% i specifičnost 76% za kombinaciju SASM i SIDM sa CET1 i T2 + SASM sa SWI + DBIN2 i DNORM sa T2). Zaključak: Kvantifikacija MR slike može doprineti diferencijalno dijagnostičkoj odluci između glioblastoma i solitarne metastaze mozga i potencijalno može postati deo svakodnevne radiološke prakse.Purpose: Presentation of glioblastomas and metastases on conventional MRI is quite similar, however treatment strategy and prognosis are substantially different. Even with advanced MR techniques, in some cases diagnostic uncertainty remains. The main objective of dissertation was to determine whether fractal, texture, or both quantitative MR image analysis could aid in differentiating glioblastoma from solitary brain metastasis. Method: Study embraced 96 patients with proven diagnosis of glioblastoma (50 patients), respectively solitary metastasis (46 patients). Images with the most representative lesion (one same slice on three different sequences: CET1, T2 and SWI) were selected, and computer analysis was done by fractal box-counting and texture gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) methods. Results: Gray scale analysis of whole tumor and binary image analysis of tumor´s inner structures, both derived on T2 sequence, obtained the most significantly different parameters between two types of tumors (angular second moment SASM, inverse difference moment SIDM, contrast SCON, correlation SCOR, differential box dimension DDIFF, respectively binary box dimension DBIN2, normalized box dimension DNORM, lacunarity Ʌ2), while the other two sequences (CET1 and SWI) showed less suitable for quantification. The combinations of parameters yielded better results (AUC-0.838±0.041, sensitivity 78% and specificity 76% for next combination SASM and SIDM from CET1 and T2 + SASM from SWI + DBIN2 and DNORM from T2). Conclusions: MR image quantification may aid in differentiation between glioblastoma and solitary brain metastasis, and potentially could become a part of daily radiology practice

Quantitative MR Image Analysis - a Useful Tool in Differentiating Glioblastoma from Solitary Brain Metastasis

Cilj: Prikaz glioblastoma i metastaza na konvencionalnom MRI je često jako sličan, ali se terapijski pristup i prognoza bitno razlikuju. Čak i primenom naprednih MR tehnika, u nekim slučajevima dijagnoza ostaje nejasna. Glavni cilj disertacije bio je da utvrdi da li fraktalna ili teksturna, ili obe kvantitativne analize MR slike mogu doprineti diferencijaciji glioblastoma od solitarne metastaze mozga. Metod: Studija je sprovedena na ukupno 96 pacijenata sa dokazanim dijagnozama glioblastoma (50 pacijenata), odnosno solitarne metastaze (46 pacijenata). Izdvojene su slike sa najinformativnijim prikazom lezije (jedan isti presek u tri različite sekvence: CET1, T2 i SWI), a zatim je učinjena njihova kompjuterska analiza, primenom fraktalne metode brojanja kvadrata i teksturne metode bazirane na matrici zajedničke pojave istog nivoa sive boje (GLCM). Rezultati: Analizom sive skale celog tumora i binarne slike unutrašnjosti tumora sa T2 sekvence dobijen je najveći broj parametara koji značajno razlikuju dve vrste tumora (drugi ugaoni moment SASM, inverzni moment razlike SIDM, kontrast SCON, korelacija SCOR, diferencijalna fraktalna dimenzija DDIFF, odnosno binarna fraktalna dimenzija unutrašnjosti DBIN2, normirana fraktalna dimenzija DNORM, lakunarnost Ʌ2), dok su se druge dve sekvence (CET1 i SWI) pokazale manje pogodnim za kvantifikaciju. Kombinacijom parametara povećala se tačnost testiranja (AUC 0,838±0,041, senzitivnost 78% i specifičnost 76% za kombinaciju SASM i SIDM sa CET1 i T2 + SASM sa SWI + DBIN2 i DNORM sa T2). Zaključak: Kvantifikacija MR slike može doprineti diferencijalno dijagnostičkoj odluci između glioblastoma i solitarne metastaze mozga i potencijalno može postati deo svakodnevne radiološke prakse.Purpose: Presentation of glioblastomas and metastases on conventional MRI is quite similar, however treatment strategy and prognosis are substantially different. Even with advanced MR techniques, in some cases diagnostic uncertainty remains. The main objective of dissertation was to determine whether fractal, texture, or both quantitative MR image analysis could aid in differentiating glioblastoma from solitary brain metastasis. Method: Study embraced 96 patients with proven diagnosis of glioblastoma (50 patients), respectively solitary metastasis (46 patients). Images with the most representative lesion (one same slice on three different sequences: CET1, T2 and SWI) were selected, and computer analysis was done by fractal box-counting and texture gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) methods. Results: Gray scale analysis of whole tumor and binary image analysis of tumor´s inner structures, both derived on T2 sequence, obtained the most significantly different parameters between two types of tumors (angular second moment SASM, inverse difference moment SIDM, contrast SCON, correlation SCOR, differential box dimension DDIFF, respectively binary box dimension DBIN2, normalized box dimension DNORM, lacunarity Ʌ2), while the other two sequences (CET1 and SWI) showed less suitable for quantification. The combinations of parameters yielded better results (AUC-0.838±0.041, sensitivity 78% and specificity 76% for next combination SASM and SIDM from CET1 and T2 + SASM from SWI + DBIN2 and DNORM from T2). Conclusions: MR image quantification may aid in differentiation between glioblastoma and solitary brain metastasis, and potentially could become a part of daily radiology practice

Transabdominal and transrectal ultrasonography of fetuses in Wurttemberg ewes: Correlation with gestational age

It is useful to determine the gestational age in sheep to provide essential information for effective flock management practices. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and practical aspects for using two ultrasound techniques, transabdominal and transrectal, in determining the gestational age in Wurttemberg ewes. Monitoring of embryo and fetus developmental stages during the ewes gestation was carried out with real time ultrasound using a transabdominal convex probe, frequency 3.5 MHz, and a transrectal linear probe, frequency 7.5 MHz. The size of the embryonic vesicle during the period from the 23rd to the 38th day of gestation can be used as a confirmational indicator of gestational age when the transrectal probe is used. The occipital nasal diameter correlated with the gestational age with both transabdominal (P < 0.05) and transrectal probes (P < 0.01) from the 46th to the 63rd day of gestation. The biparietal diameter of the fetal head measured by transabdominal probe during the period from the 46th to the 63rd day of gestation correlates with gestation age (P < 0.05). The diameter of the fetal eye orbit monitored by transrectal probe from the 46th to the 63rd day of gestation also correlated well with gestational age (P < 0.05)

Paleopathological and radiological examination of the Auar period horse bones from central Balkans (Serbia)

During archaeological excavations in September 2009, on the late antiquity necropolis near Obrenovac (Serbia) a horsemans grave, with horse included, was discovered and assigned to the Avar period (the 8th century AD). Horse bones were subjected to pathomorphological and radiological investigations. In order to obtain information concerning equine pathology during Avar domination, 29 bones with changes observed, i.e. in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, metacarpal and metatarsal bones and proximal and distal phalanges limbs have been evaluated. Pathomorphology revealed chronic deformative spondyloarthropathy of the spine and ossification of the interosseous ligament both in the metacarpus and in metatarsus, while chronic periostitis was observed in the proximal phalanges, as well as ungular cartilage ossification in all distal phalanges. Based on the pathological findings on the horses bones, it was concluded that the animal was intensively used for riding and/or as a draught animal during its lifetime, even prior to the completion of its full growth. The pathology revealed on the limb bones indicated long-lasting exposure to the trauma, suggesting that the horse had been probably ridden for long distances on hard, rocky and uneven terrain. It was also concluded that there had been a strong possibility that the mentioned Avar horse had shown symptoms of locomotor disorders due to back pain