Adopting transfer learning for neuroimaging: a comparative analysis with a custom 3D convolution neural network model.

BACKGROUND In recent years, neuroimaging with deep learning (DL) algorithms have made remarkable advances in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. However, applying DL in different medical domains is usually challenged by lack of labeled data. To address this challenge, transfer learning (TL) has been applied to use state-of-the-art convolution neural networks pre-trained on natural images. Yet, there are differences in characteristics between medical and natural images, also image classification and targeted medical diagnosis tasks. The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of specialized and TL in the classification of neurodegenerative disorders using 3D volumes of 18F-FDG-PET brain scans. RESULTS Results show that TL models are suboptimal for classification of neurodegenerative disorders, especially when the objective is to separate more than two disorders. Additionally, specialized CNN model provides better interpretations of predicted diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS TL can indeed lead to superior performance on binary classification in timely and data efficient manner, yet for detecting more than a single disorder, TL models do not perform well. Additionally, custom 3D model performs comparably to TL models for binary classification, and interestingly perform better for diagnosis of multiple disorders. The results confirm the superiority of the custom 3D-CNN in providing better explainable model compared to TL adopted ones

Reverberation Reduction Using 3D Wiener Filtering

One of the most common artifacts in ultrasound imaging is reverberations. These are multiple reflection echoes that register as coming from a deeper region than the depth of the interface that are causing them, and result in ghost echoes in the ultrasound image. A method to reduce these unwanted artifacts using a three dimensional (2D + time) Wiener filter has been developed. Two sequences of iq-data, the least processed signal possible to retrieve from the ultrasound system (Vingmed System Five), have been used to test the method: One sequence on a tissue-mimicking agar gel phantom in which bars of glass simulating ribs give rise to reverberations, and one sequence on an open-chest pig with a strong reverberation from a water-filled rubber glove used as a medium between the heart and the transducer. The procedure works as follows: In a graphic interface the operator is shown the image sequence. In one of the frames two areas must be marked out; One area which contains a typical reverberation artifact, and one area which will represent an artifact free signal. After creating the three dimensional Wiener filter post-processing of the sequence is performed. The developed method significantly reduced the magnitude of the reverberation artifact in the tested sequences

In vitro measurement of glucose uptake after radiation and cetuximab treatment in head and neck cancer cell lines using 18F-FDG, gamma spectrometry and PET/CT

The standard treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is radiotherapy, often in combination with chemotherapy or surgery. However, a novel monoclonal antibody, cetuximab (Erbitux (R)), has also been approved for patient therapy. The aim of present study was to develop an in vitro method for the measurement of 18F-fluoro-2deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) to determine if cellular 18F-FDG uptake is associated with response to radiotherapy or cetuximab treatment. In the current study, HNSCC cell lines were treated with radiation or with cetuximab. Next, the uptake of 18F-FDG was measured using a gamma spectrometer (GS). Thereafter, uptake after radiation was measured first with GS and then compared with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) was measured following cetuximab treatment via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. A study protocol was developed to measure the cellular uptake of 18F-FDG via gamma-ray spectrometry and comparable results were obtained with those of clinical PET/CT. The results revealed a decrease in 18F-FDG after radiation and cetuximab treatment. The uptake of 18F-FDG following cetuximab treatment was significantly lower in the cetuximab-sensitive cell line UT-SCC-14 compared with the cetuximab-resistant cell lines UT-SCC-2 and UT-SCC-45. Furthermore, after treatment with cetuximab for 24 and 48 h, a significant increase in GLUT1 expression was detected in the sensitive cell line compared with the two resistant cell lines. In conclusion, a novel yet reliable method for the measurement of intracellular 18F-FDG via GS has been developed, and our results indicate that 18F-FDG uptake is associated with radiation and cetuximab response in HNSCC.Funding Agencies|Swedish Cancer SocietySwedish Cancer Society [2010/545, 2017/301]; ALF Grants; Region Ostergotland; Linkoping University Hospital</p

Shining dead bone-cause for cautious interpretation of [F-18]NaF PET scans

Background and purpose — [18F]Fluoride ([18F]NaF) PET scan is frequently used for estimation of bone healing rate and extent in cases of bone allografting and fracture healing. Some authors claim that [18F]NaF uptake is a measure of osteoblastic activity, calcium metabolism, or bone turnover. Based on the known affinity of fluoride to hydroxyapatite, we challenged this view. Methods — 10 male rats received crushed, frozen allogeneic cortical bone fragments in a pouch in the abdominal wall on the right side, and hydroxyapatite granules on left side. [18F]NaF was injected intravenously after 7 days. 60 minutes later, the rats were killed and [18F]NaF uptake was visualized in a PET/CT scanner. Specimens were retrieved for micro CT and histology. Results — MicroCT and histology showed no signs of new bone at the implant sites. Still, the implants showed a very high [18F]NaF uptake, on a par with the most actively growing and remodeling sites around the knee joint. Interpretation — [18F]NaF binds with high affinity to dead bone and calcium phosphate materials. Hence, an [18F]NaF PET/CT scan does not allow for sound conclusions about new bone ingrowth into bone allograft, healing activity in long bone shaft fractures with necrotic fragments, or remodeling around calcium phosphate coated prosthese

Contrast Biases The Autocorrelation Phase Shift Estimation In Doppler Tissue Imaging

Quantitative assessment of regional myocardial function at rest and during stress with Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) plays an important role in daily routine echocardiography. However, reliable visual analysis is largely dependent on image quality and adequate border delineation, which still remains a challenge in a significant number of patients. In this respect, an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) is often used to improve visualization in patients with suboptimal image quality. The knowledge of how DTI measurements will be affected by UCA present in the tissue is therefore of significant importance for an accurate interpretation of local myocardial motion. The aim of this paper was to investigate how signal contribution from UCA and nonlinear wave propagation influence the performance of the autocorrelation phase shift estimator used for DTI applications. Our results are based on model experiments with a clinical 2-D grayscale scanner and computational simulations or the DTI velocity estimator for synthetically-derived pulses, simulated bubble echoes and experimentally-sampled RF data of transmitted pulses and backscattered contrast echoes. The results show that destruction of UCA present in the tissue will give rise to an apparent bidirectional velocity bias of individual velocity estimates, but that spatial averaging of individual velocity measurements within a region-of-interest will result in a negative bias (away from the transducer) of the estimated mean or mean peak velocity. The UCA destruction will also have a significant impact on the measured integrated mean velocity over time, i.e., displacement. To achieve improved visualization with UCA during DTI-examinations, we either recommend that it is performed at low acoustic powers, mechanical index <= 0.3, thereby minimizing the effects from bubble rupture, or that each Doppler pulse package is preceded by a destruction burst similar to "Flash imaging" to clear the target area of contrast microbubbles. (E-mail: [email protected]) (C) 2009 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

(18)Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in relation to fat fraction and R2*in atherosclerotic plaques, using PET/MRI : a pilot study

Inflammation inside Atherosclerotic plaques represents a major pathophysiological process driving plaques towards rupture. Pre-clinical studies suggest a relationship between lipid rich necrotic core, intraplaque hemorrhage and inflammation, not previously explored in patients. Therefore, we designed a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of assessing the relationship between these plaque features in a quantitative manner using PET/MRI. In 12 patients with high-grade carotid stenosis the extent of lipid rich necrotic core and intraplaque hemorrhage was quantified from fat and R2* maps acquired with a previously validated 4-point Dixon MRI sequence in a stand-alone MRI. PET/MRI was used to measure F-18-FDG uptake. T1-weighted images from both scanners were used for registration of the quantitative Dixon data with the PET images. The plaques were heterogenous with respect to their volumes and composition. The mean values for the group were as follows: fat fraction (FF) 0.17% (0.07), R2* 47.6 s(-1) (+/- 10.9) and target-to-blood pool ratio (TBR) 1.49 (+/- 0.48). At group level the correlation between TBR and FFmean was - 0.406, p 0.19 and for TBR and R2*(mean) 0.259, p 0.42. The lack of correlation persisted when analysed on a patient-by-patient basis but the study was not powered to draw definitive conclusions. We show the feasibility of analysing the quantitative relationship between lipid rich necrotic cores, intraplaque haemorrhage and plaque inflammation. The F-18-FDG uptake for most patients was low. This may reflect the biological complexity of the plaques and technical aspects inherent to F-18-FDG measurements. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN30673005. Registered 05 January 2021, retrospectively registered.Funding Agencies|Linkoping University; Henry och Ella Margareta Stahls Stiftelse (Henry and Ella Margareta Stahls Foundation) [LIO-748491]; Swedish HeartLung FoundationSwedish Heart-Lung Foundation [20170492]</p

Shining dead bone—cause for cautious interpretation of [¹⁸F]NaF PET scans

<p><b>Background and purpose — [¹⁸F]Fluoride ([¹⁸F]NaF) PET scan is frequently used for estimation of bone healing rate and extent in cases of bone allografting and fracture healing. Some authors claim that [¹⁸F]NaF uptake is a measure of osteoblastic activity, calcium metabolism, or bone turnover. Based on the known affinity of fluoride to hydroxyapatite, we challenged this view.</b></p> <p><b>Methods — 10 male rats received crushed, frozen allogeneic cortical bone fragments in a pouch in the abdominal wall on the right side, and hydroxyapatite granules on left side. [¹⁸F]NaF was injected intravenously after 7 days. 60 minutes later, the rats were killed and [¹⁸F]NaF uptake was visualized in a PET/CT scanner. Specimens were retrieved for micro CT and histology.</b></p> <p><b>Results — MicroCT and histology showed no signs of new bone at the implant sites. Still, the implants showed a very high [¹⁸F]NaF uptake, on a par with the most actively growing and remodeling sites around the knee joint.</b></p> <p><b>Interpretation — [¹⁸F]NaF binds with high affinity to dead bone and calcium phosphate materials. Hence, an [¹⁸F]NaF PET/CT scan does not allow for sound conclusions about new bone ingrowth into bone allograft, healing activity in long bone shaft fractures with necrotic fragments, or remodeling around calcium phosphate coated prostheses</b></p