The contrast-enhanced in-phase Dixon sequence demonstrated higher sensitivity and reader confidence for detecting breast biopsy clips on MRI. The sequence also showed a higher contrast-to-noise ratio without affecting positive predictive value.
Researchers evaluated 35 commercial breast biopsy markers for ultrasound color Doppler twinkling, finding that three markers exhibited actionable twinkling for ≥2 transducers. Higher surface roughness was associated with actionable twinkling in C1-6 and 9L transducers.
A large retrospective study found that visceral fat area from fully automated and normalized abdominal CT analysis predicts subsequent myocardial infarction or stroke in Black and White patients. The study suggests that body composition analysis using machine learning could be widely adopted to add prognostic utility to clinical practice.
The study found a significant increase in the use of single-encounter thoracoabdominopelvic CT examinations and minor injuries between 2011-18. In commercially insured patients, rates rose from 3.4 to 9.8 for single-encounter thoracoabdominopelvic CT per 1,000 trauma-related ED encounters.
A proof-of-concept study developed three machine learning models to predict posttreatment recurrence in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The models achieved high accuracy using imaging data alone, while combining clinical data did not significantly improve performance.
A study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that combining deep-learning reconstruction with a subtraction technique yielded optimal diagnostic performance for detecting in-stent restenosis by coronary CT angiography. This approach reduced radiation exposure while maintaining high image quality.
A study found that electronic health record (EHR) order entry-based interventions significantly reduced contrast-enhanced CT utilization within a large health system during the global iodinated contrast media shortage. The number of patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT examinations per day decreased by 12.0%, and the number of orde...
A retrospective study found that patients with multiple architectural distortions on digital breast tomosynthesis were more likely to have high-risk pathology, but not significantly different frequencies of malignancy. Biopsy of all areas may be warranted for these patients.
A retrospective study of molecular breast imaging (MBI) findings suggests that the MBI lexicon's lesion descriptors can inform interpretation and guide the incorporation into the BI-RADS Atlas. The study found high positivity rates for malignancy among mass lesions, those with marked uptake intensity, and certain distribution patterns.
A retrospective study found an AI algorithm for detecting incidental pulmonary embolus (iPE) on contrast-enhanced chest CT examinations had high NPV and moderate PPV, even identifying iPEs missed by radiologists. The tool's diagnostic performance did not show significant variation across study subgroups.
The American Journal of Roentgenology has dramatically increased its impact factor from 3.959 to 6.582 in 2021, according to Journal Citation Reports. The journal's new ranking places it in the 83rd percentile in the Radiology category, reflecting the high quality of work by authors and reviewers.
A multicenter study found that radiologists can accurately diagnose rickets and classic metaphyseal lesions (CMLs) with high interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance. The study highlighted the importance of considering age factors in diagnosis, as CMLs mostly occur in children younger than 6 months.
A 5-tiered CT scoring algorithm, including mass-to-cortex corticomedullary attenuation ratio and heterogeneity score, showed substantial inter-observer agreement and moderate diagnostic accuracy for clear-cell RCC. The algorithm may represent a clinically useful tool for diagnosis in small solid renal masses.
A prospective study compared CEM and MRI for NAT response assessment in patients with breast cancer. CEM yielded comparable assessments of lesion size and RECIST categories as MRI, but with lower sensitivity for pathologic complete response. Delayed CEM acquisition detected residual ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
A prospective randomized study found that an AI support platform reduced chest CT interpretation times by 22.1%, saving approximately one hour per day for radiologists. The platform provided automated analysis of cardiac, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal findings, resulting in shorter interpretation times.
A cross-sectional study found a strong association between ultrasound-derived fat fraction (UDFF) and MRI proton-density fat fraction (PDFF), providing high sensitivity for detecting hepatic steatosis. The study showed that UDFF had an AUC of 0.90 for identifying PDFF ≥5.5%.
A single-center study found lower pneumonia frequency and severity in fully vaccinated patients compared to unvaccinated patients. The study included 467 patients who underwent chest CT during hospitalization for symptomatic COVID-19, with significant reductions in pneumonia frequency and severity observed in those fully vaccinated.
Adding diffusion-weighted MRI to conventional MRI enhances the differentiation of locally recurrent tumor and post-surgical fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection. The study found higher sensitivity with DWI, facilitating earlier detection of recurrences.
A study published in AJR found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination-induced axillary lymphadenopathy resolves after a mean of 97 days. Longer resolution times were observed with Moderna vaccination, receipt of second doses, and thicker cortical thickness at presentation.
The American Journal of Roentgenology has published best practices for managing an iodinated contrast media (ICM) shortage in radiology practices. To mitigate the shortage, practice leaders should prioritize examination findings and reduce overall ICM usage.
The ARRS annual meeting provides an updated primer on imaging ballistic injuries, which helps guide radiologists' interpretation. This includes understanding mechanisms of ballistic trauma and injury patterns to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
The study compared lung perfusion scans during COVID-19 (April 2020 to July 2021) to pre-COVID V/Q scans (December 2018 to March 2020) in a large tertiary care teaching hospital. The results showed a 30% decline in overall lung scans performed during the pandemic.
A recent study presented at the 2022 ARRS Annual Meeting found that COVID-19 infection significantly impacted lung cancer screening in diverse inner-city populations. The research revealed that approximately 9% of participants developed COVID-19 during the pandemic, with mortality rates reaching 6.9%.
Dr. Gary J. Whitman, MD of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been appointed as the 122nd President of the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS). He succeeds Jonathan Kruskal, MD, PhD, and will serve for the next year.
A retrospective study found high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing coronary artery calcium on contrast-enhanced and non-contrast chest CT. The visual ordinal assessment of CAC has prognostic utility, identifying patients at higher risk of cardiovascular events.
Researchers found that video radiology reports improved patients' understanding of their results by using lay language and annotated images. The reports were also well-received by patients, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
A retrospective study found that higher coronary artery calcium score, higher pulmonary artery-to-aorta ratio, and lower thoracic skeletal muscle index independently predicted worse overall survival. The PA-to-aorta ratio was the most important predictor of overall survival.
A multicenter study found that only 42% of patients with a visualization score C on surveillance exams maintain the same score on follow-up exams. The study suggests that alternative surveillance strategies may be necessary for patients at risk for HCC, particularly those with severe steatosis and advanced cirrhosis.
A prospective study found that the 3-T Dixon gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequence performed better than the current standard of 1.5-T SSFP for unenhanced coronary MRA, particularly in distal and branch segments. The technique demonstrated higher image quality, visible segments, sensitivity, and specificity for significant stenoses.
A retrospective case-control study found no significant difference in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage frequency between adult patients on antithrombotic therapy and those not on the therapy. However, hematoma expansion occurred more frequently in patients on antithrombotic therapy.
A retrospective study found that positive oral CT contrast material improves detection of malignant deposits, particularly with adequate bowel filling. The NPV for detection was 65.8% for positive oral contrast material with adequate bowel filling.
A multicenter study found relatively high interobserver agreement for chronic pancreatitis findings in children using both CT and MRI. However, subjective findings like atrophy showed moderate agreement, emphasizing the need for standardized criteria.
A multicenter study validates the accuracy and reliability of NS-RADS for classifying and grading peripheral neuropathies, with high interrater agreement across different reader experience levels. The study shows promising results for routine practice, suggesting NS-RADS as a standardized guideline for reporting peripheral neuropathies.
A retrospective study found that online patient experience ratings improved radiologists' performance, with scores increasing over time. The results showed that radiologists' performance was comparable to that of non-radiologist physicians, suggesting the value of implementing patient experience surveys in radiology.
A study published in American Journal of Roentgenology found that digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) spot compression views increased both intrareader and interreader agreement, as well as diagnostic accuracy, for equivocal findings. This improvement was primarily due to increased specificity.
The American Roentgen Ray Society recognizes Drs. Nguyen, Beheshtian, Harfouch, and Hashiba for their outstanding research and education contributions to the field of radiology. The awards honor the candidates' scientific merit and potential impact on imaging and allied sciences research.
The American Roentgen Ray Society has awarded two 2022 ARRS Scholarships to Sean Woolen and Bradley Allen, providing a total of $180,000 in funding for their radiological research projects. The scholarships aim to advance emerging scholars and prepare them for leadership positions.
A retrospective study found that the upgrade rate of architectural distortion on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to malignancy was 10.2% for radial scars without atypia and 28.2% for those with atypia. Imaging surveillance is considered an alternative to surgery for these cases.
Dr. Edward Y. Lee, MD, MPH, receives the highest distinction from North America's first radiological society for his contributions to pediatric thoracic imaging and education. The ARRS Gold Medal honors his tireless efforts to advance radiology globally.
Samuel Galgano and Pankaj Gupta have been named the 2022 Melvin M. Figley Fellow in Radiology Journalism and the 2022 Lee F. Rogers International Fellow in Radiology Journalism, respectively. They will attend the 2022 ARRS Annual Meeting and participate in the Editor’s Forum.
A retrospective study found that dual-energy CT examinations performed in 2019 had a significantly lower frequency of equivocal interpretations compared to those in 2013. Joint aspirations were also less likely to be performed after negative DECT interpretations in 2019.
A prospective observational study found that preoperative shear wave elastography (SWE) can predict successful rotator cuff repair. SWE-derived elasticity was higher in patients with insufficient repair, and the elasticity ratio independently predicted insufficient repair.
A retrospective study found that whole-spine MRI commonly demonstrates isolated thoracolumbar injuries in children with suspected abusive head trauma. The study included 256 children who underwent whole-spine MRI as part of their evaluation, revealing that 23% of examinations showed injuries localized to the thoracolumbar spine.
Dr. Mark S. Parker, MD, FACR, has been recognized as the 2022 ARRS Distinguished Educator for his outstanding contributions to radiological education. He will be formally recognized at the ARRS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA on May 1, 2022.
Automated brain volumetry in memory-impaired patients shows significant differences and systematic biases between conventional and ultrafast 3D T1-weighted MRI sequences. Most regions demonstrated substantial agreement but also significantly different mean values and consistent biases.
A prospective study found that ultrasound alone adequately completed the diagnostic evaluation of 71.2% of noncalcified lesions, diagnosed 92.1% of cancers, and yielded a sensitivity of 94.9%. Radiologists should consider performing ultrasound first for digital breast tomosynthesis-recalled noncalcified masses.
A prospective study found that MRI outperformed conventional tests and FDG PET/CT for various staging endpoints in SCLC. Whole-body MRI and FDG PET/MRI were more accurate than FDG PET/CT for assessing local invasion extent.
A study found that racial disparities in mammography screening worsened after COVID-19 closures, with non-white patients facing reduced access to facilities. Early interventions aimed at expanding access to these facilities helped to recover late recovery volumes for patients of races other than white.
Convolutional neural networks trained to identify abnormalities on upper extremity radiographs are susceptible to a ubiquitous confounding image feature: radiograph labels. Covering these labels increases accuracy, while using them alone leads to decreased performance.
A retrospective study found that Lung-RADS performed well in assessing lung cancer risk on follow-up CT scans, with a weighted cancer risk of 5% for new nodules. Strict application of Lung-RADS criteria downgraded some malignant nodules, highlighting the need for category 4X for suspicious features.