Academic radiology
-
Dynamic positron emission tomographic imaging of the radiotracer 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) is increasingly used to assess metabolic activity of lung inflammatory cells. To analyze the kinetics of (18)F-FDG in brain and tumor tissues, the Sokoloff model has been typically used. In the lungs, however, a high blood-to-parenchymal volume ratio and (18)F-FDG distribution in edematous injured tissue could require a modified model to properly describe (18)F-FDG kinetics. ⋯ The lung-specific model predicted (18)F-FDG kinetics during acute lung injury more accurately than the Sokoloff model and may provide new insights in the pathophysiology of lung injury.
-
Many imaging modalities and methodologies exist for evaluating the pulmonary airways. Individually, each modality provides insight to the state of the airways; however, alone they do not necessarily provide a comprehensive description. The goal of this work is to integrate complementary medical imaging datasets to form a synergistic description of the airways. ⋯ We have demonstrated that merging of three distinct digital datasets to provide a single synergistic description of the airways is possible. This is a pilot project in the field of eidomics, the process of combining digital image datasets and image-based processes together. We anticipate that in the future eidomics will provide a universal and predictive imaging language that will change health care delivery.
-
Although multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) and hyperpolarized gas magnetic resonance imaging (HP MRI) have demonstrated ability to detect structural and ventilation abnormalities in asthma, few studies have sought to exploit or cross-validate the regional information provided by these techniques. The purpose of this work is to assess regional disease in asthma by evaluating the association of sites of ventilation defect on HP MRI with other regional markers of airway disease, including air trapping on MDCT and inflammatory markers on bronchoscopy. ⋯ These results show promise for using image guidance to assess specific regions of ventilation defect or air trapping in heterogeneous obstructive lung diseases such as asthma.