Academic radiology
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In patients with severe emphysema and poor quality of life, bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) may be considered and guided based on lobar emphysema severity. In particular, x-ray computed tomography (CT) emphysema measurements are used to identify the most diseased and the second-most diseased lobes as BLVR targets. Inhaled gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also provides chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) biomarkers of lobar emphysema and ventilation abnormalities. Our objective was to retrospectively evaluate CT and MRI biomarkers of lobar emphysema and ventilation in patients with COPD eligible for BLVR. We hypothesized that MRI would provide complementary biomarkers of emphysema and ventilation that help determine the most appropriate lung lobar targets for BLVR in patients with COPD. ⋯ In this proof-of-concept retrospective analysis, quantitative MRI ventilation and CT emphysema measurements provided different BLVR targets in over 30% of the patients. The presence of large MRI ventilation defects in lobes next to CT-targeted lobes might also change the decision to proceed or to guide BLVR to a different lobar target.
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The purpose of this study was to compare the interobserver agreements and diagnostic accuracies for IASLC/ITMIG (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/International Thymic Malignancies Interest Group) thymic epithelial tumor staging of co-registered fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (FDG-PET/MRI), MRI, integrated fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT), and conventional imaging examination. ⋯ Whole-body PET/MRI, MRI, and PET/CT have better interobserver agreements and accuracies than conventional imaging examination for the new IASLC/ITMIG thymic epithelial tumor staging.
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Comparative Study
Volumetric MRI Analysis of Plexiform Neurofibromas in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Comparison of Two Methods.
Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are complex, histologically benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors that are challenging to measure by simple line measurements. Computer-aided volumetric segmentation of PN has become the recommended method to assess response in clinical trials directed at PN. Different methods for volumetric analysis of PN have been developed. The goal of this study is to test the level of agreement in volume measurements and in interval changes using two separate methods of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging analysis. ⋯ The volumes, interval changes, and progression status classifications were in good agreement. The comparison of two volumetric analysis methods suggests no systematic differences in tumor assessment. A prospective comparison of the two methods is planned.
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To determine lobar ventilation patterns in asthmatic lungs with hyperpolarized 3He magnetic resonance imaging (HP 3He MRI). ⋯ In asthma, the RML and RUL showed greater ventilation abnormalities, and the RLL and LLL were more highly ventilated with greater local heterogeneity. These findings may facilitate guided bronchoscopic sampling and localized airway treatment in future studies.
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Radiology reports are vital for patient care as referring physicians depend upon them for deciding appropriate patient management. Traditional narrative reports are associated with excessive variability in the language, length, and style, which can minimize report clarity and make it difficult for referring clinicians to identify key information needed for patient care. Structured reporting has been advocated as a potential solution for improving the quality of radiology reports. ⋯ We review the advantages and disadvantages of structured radiology reports and discuss the current prevailing sentiments among radiologists regarding structured reports. We also discuss the obstacles to the use of structured reports and highlight ways to overcome some of those challenges. We also discuss the future directions in radiology reporting in the era of personalized medicine.