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Objective Reproducibility problems are a known limitation of radiomics. The segmentation of the target lesion plays a critical role in texture analysis variability. This study’s aim was to compare the interobserver reliability of manual 2D vs. 3D lung lesion segmentation with and without pre-definition of the volume using a threshold of − 50 HU. Methods Seventy-five patients with histopathologically proven lung lesions (15 patients each with adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, carcinoid, and organizing pneumonia) who underwent an unenhanced CT scan of the chest were included. Three radiologists independently segmented each lesion manually in 3D and 2D with and without pre-segmentation volume definition by a HU threshold, and shape parameters and original, Laplacian of Gaussian–filtered, and wavelet-based texture features were derived. To assess interobserver reliability and identify the most robust texture features, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for different segmentation settings were calculated. Results Shape parameters had high reliability (64–79% had excellent and good ICCs). Texture features had weak reliability levels, with the highest ICCs (38% excellent or good) found for original features in 3D segmentation without the use of a HU threshold. A small proportion (4.3–11.5%) of texture features had excellent or good ICC values at all segmentation settings. Conclusion Interobserver reliability of texture features from CT scans of a heterogeneous collection of manually segmented lung lesions was low with a small proportion of features demonstrating high reliability independent of the segmentation settings. These results indicate a limited applicability of texture analysis and the need to define robust texture features in patients with lung lesions. Key Points • Our study showed a low reproducibility of texture features when 3 radiologists independently segmented lung lesions in CT images, which highlights a serious limitation of texture analysis. • Interobserver reliability of texture features was low regardless of whether the lesion was segmented in 2D and 3D with or without a HU threshold. • In contrast to texture features, shape parameters showed a high interobserver reliability when lesions were segmented in 2D vs. 3D with and without a HU threshold of − 50.

Purpose To evaluate the utility of non-contrast-enhanced CT texture analysis (CTTA) for predicting the histopathological differentiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) and to compare non-contrast-enhanced CTTA texture features between primary PDAC and hepatic metastases of PDAC. Methods This retrospective study included 120 patients with histopathologically confirmed PDAC. Sixty-five patients underwent CT-guided biopsy of primary PDAC, while 55 patients underwent CT-guided biopsy of hepatic PDAC metastasis. All lesions were segmented in non-contrast-enhanced CT scans for CTTA based on histogram analysis, co-occurrence matrix, and run-length matrix. Statistical analysis was conducted for 372 texture features using Mann–Whitney U test, Bonferroni–Holm correction, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A p value Results Three features were identified that differed significantly between histopathological G2 and G3 primary tumors. Of these, “low gray-level zone emphasis” yielded the largest AUC (0.87 ± 0.04), reaching a sensitivity and specificity of 0.76 and 0.83, respectively, when a cut-off value of 0.482 was applied. Fifty-four features differed significantly between primary and hepatic metastatic PDAC. Conclusion Non-contrast-enhanced CTTA of PDAC identified differences in texture features between primary G2 and G3 tumors that could be used for non-invasive tumor assessment. Extensive differences between the features of primary and metastatic PDAC on CTTA suggest differences in tumor microenvironment. Graphical Abstract

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CT-PA) is frequently used in the diagnostic workup of pulmonary embolism (PE), even in highly radiosensitive patient populations. This study aims to assess CT-PA with reduced z -axis coverage (compared with a standard scan range covering the entire lung) for its sensitivity for detecting PE and its potential to reduce the radiation dose.We retrospectively analyzed 602 consecutive CT-PA scans with definite or possible PE reported. A reduced scan range was defined based on the topogram, where the cranial slice was set at the top of the aortic arch and the caudal slice at the top of the lower hemidiaphragm. Locations of emboli in relation to the reduced scan range were recorded.We included 513 CT-PA scans with definite acute PE in statistical analysis. Patients' median age was 66 (52 to 77) years, 46% were female. Median dose length product was 270.8 (111.3 to 503.9) mGy*cm. Comparing the original and reduced scan ranges, the mean scan length was significantly reduced by 48.0±8.6% (26.8±3.0 vs. 13.9±2.6 cm, P0.001). Single emboli outside the reduced range in addition to emboli within were found in 15 scans (2.9%), while only 1 scan (0.2%) had an embolus outside the reduced range and none within it. The resulting sensitivity of CT-PA with reduced scan range was 99.81% (95% confidence interval: 98.74%-99.99%) for detecting any PE.A reduced scan length in CT-PA, as defined above, would substantially decrease radiation dose while maintaining diagnostic accuracy for detecting PE.

Guidelines for previous negative biopsy (PNB) cohorts with a suspicion of prostate cancer (PCa) after positive multiparametric (mp) magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) often favour the fusion-guided targeted prostate-biopsy (TB) only approach for Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) ≥3 lesions. However, recommendations lack direct biopsy performance comparison within biopsy naïve (BN) vs. PNB patients and its prognostication of the whole mount pathology report (WMPR), respectively. We suppose, that the combination of TB and concomitant TRUS-systematic biopsy (SB) improves the PCa detection rate of PI-RADS 2, 3, 4 or 5 lesions and the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP)-grade predictability of the WMPR in BN- and PNB patients.Patients with suspicious mpMRI, elevated prostate-specific-antigen and/or abnormal digital rectal examination were included. All PI-RADS reports were intramurally reviewed for biopsy planning. We compared the PI-RADS score substratified TB, SB or combined approach (TB/SB) associated BN- and PNB-PCa detection rate. Furthermore, we assessed the ISUP-grade variability between biopsy cores and the WMPR.According to BN (Despite csPCa is more frequently found in BN patients, the TB/SB method always detected a significantly higher number of csPCa within PI-RADS 3, 4 or 5 reports of our BN and PNB group. The TB/SB strategy predicts the ISUP-grade best in the total and BN cohort and in general shows the lowest upgrading rates, emphasizing its value not only in BN but also PNB patients.

Purpose To assess correlations of lean body weight (LBW) calculated with various formulas, total body weight (TBW), body height (BH), body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA) and fat-free mass (FFM) with vascular and parenchymal enhancement in multiphasic CT of the liver. Method Thirty consecutive patients underwent multiphasic CT of the liver using constant iodine dose and flow rate. Contrast enhancement of aorta, portal vein and liver was calculated by measuring mean vascular and parenchymal attenuation in pre-contrast and post-contrast phases. Correlations of TBW, BH, BMI, BSA, FFM, and LBW (calculated with formulas of Boer, Hume, James and Green&Duffull) with enhancement were tested using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The method of Fieller et al. was used to calculate 95 % confidence intervals. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Aortal enhancement correlated strongly with TBW, BSA, LBWBoer and LBWHume and moderately with BH, BMI, FFM, LBWJames and LBWGreen&Duffull. Liver enhancement in the late arterial phase correlated moderately with TBW, FFM, LBWBoer, LBWHume and LBWGreen&Duffull and weakly with BSA. Liver enhancement in the portal venous phase correlated strongly with TBW, BSA, FFM, LBWBoer, LBWHume and LBWGreen&Duffull, whereby overlap of the 95 % CI graphs demonstrated that the differences in the correlation coefficients were not statistically significant. Liver enhancement in the delayed phase correlated moderately with BH but did not correlate significantly with any other parameter. Conclusion Regardless of the form used for calculation, LBW did not correlate statistically significantly stronger than TBW with vascular or parenchymal enhancement of the liver.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an intractable autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy and organ fibrosis. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) should be considered for the treatment of selected patients with rapid progressive SSc at high risk of organ failure. It, however, remains elusive whether immunosuppressive therapies such as rituximab (RTX) are still necessary for such patients after AHSCT, especially in those with bad outcomes. In the present report, a 43-year-old man with diffuse cutaneous SSc received AHSCT. Despite AHSCT, SSc further progressed with progressive symptomatic heart failure with newly developed concomitant mitral and tricuspid valve insufficiency, thus the patient started on RTX 8 months after AHSCT. Shortly after initiation of RTX, clinical symptoms and organ functions ameliorated subsequently. Heart valve regurgitations were reversible after initiation of RTX treatment. Currently, the patient remains in a stable condition with significant improvement of clinical symptoms and organ functions. Reporting about therapies after AHSCT in SSc is a very important issue, as randomized controlled trials are lacking, and therefore this report adds to evidence that RTX can be considered as a treatment option in patients with SSc that do not respond to AHSCT.

Objectives The aim of this prospective study was to examine whether ultrasound or clinical abnormalities at enthesal sites predict radiographic progression at entheses in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Consecutive PsA patients were included and subjected to clinical and ultrasound assessments at 14 entheses at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Radiographs were performed at 0 and 12 months. By US, we investigated structural (erosions, osteophytes) and inflammatory changes [grey scale (0–32) and power Doppler (0–14, range global ultrasound score 0–140)], and radiographs were evaluated for enthesophytes and erosions (score range 0–56). Multivariate regression models were conducted to identify the possible association of clinical and ultrasound findings with radiographic progression. Results We examined 83 patients at baseline, of whom 43 (51.8%) had complete clinical, ultrasound and X-ray data. Twenty-four of 43 patients (55.8%) developed radiographic progression of entheses. These patients were younger (49.6 vs 59.3, P =0.005), had shorter disease duration (9.7 vs 17.9 years, P=0.015) and lower clinical disease activity at 6-months [disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA) 6.7 vs 17.0, P=0.018] as compared with patients without progression. Non-progressors had higher ultrasound enthesophyte scores at baseline than progressors (20 vs 15, P Conclusion Our data indicate that radiographic progression at entheses is linked with age, disease duration and ultrasound verified enthesophytes at baseline. No other ultrasound parameter predicted radiographic progression at entheses.

Background In clinical trials radiographic damage is frequently quantified by conventional x-ray but neither the thoracic spine nor the posterior parts of the vertebral column including the intervertebral joints, the vertebral arch and the spinous process can be evaluated reliably with this instrument. Bone inflammation and areas of enthesitis can easily be detected by magnetic tomography imaging (MRI) and the introduction of high-resolution 3-tesla MRI allows analysis of bone structures more precisely than with x-ray without radiation exposure [1]. Patients with axial SpA frequently present with reduced spinal mobility and functional impairment, but radiographic signs of ankylosis are missing on plain radiographs. These particular clinical findings are reinforced by data in the literature showing, that the relation between radiographic damage, spinal mobility and function is low. Radiographic damage to the posterior parts of the vertebral column may be responsible for the discrepancy found between clinical and radiographic results as suggested by a Dutch group [2]. Objectives To evaluate the localisation and incidence of new bone formation in the posterior part of the vertebral bodies with MRI. Methods In a cohort of 56 patients with diagnosed axial SpA (mean age 50.29y, mean disease duration 14.4y, 76.4% men, 88.7% HLA-B27 positive) we performed a MRI (3 Tesla scanner Skyra, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany). The whole spine was scanned with T1 weighted and Turbo-Inversion Recovery Magnitude (TIRM) sequences in sagittal planes and each segment of the vertebral column was divided into four areas (ventral and posterior part of the vertebral bodies, intervertebral joints andspinous processes) to assess osseous changes like sclerosis, erosion, syndesmophytes, ankylosis, (partial) fusion of intervertebral joints and fibroostosis of spinous processes. Results Syndesmophytes and ankylosis of the ventral segments were present from C7/Th1 down to L5/S1 with a maximum in Th5/6 (62.5%). In the posterior segments of the vertebral bodies we detected a contrary accumulation inside the cervical and lumbar spine with a max. in C5/6 (55.4%) respectively L2/3 (66.1%). Erosions were mainly found at the ventral edges with an accumulation in middle cervical, lower thoracic and the whole lumbar spine (max. Th9/10 24.5%) Ankylosis of the intervertebral joints was present over the whole spine with a preference of the cervical (max. C5/6 27.7%) and lumbar column (max. L2/3 47.3%). Fibroostosis of the spinous processeswere rarely found in the middle and lower thoracic spine (Th5-11, each 2.7%). In up to 57.10% of the cervical spine (54.78% for lumbar, 32.18% for thoracic spine) with detectable new bone formation of the posterior segments we found no changes of the ventral part. Conclusion With high resolution MRI we were able to detect structural in the dorsal part of the spine, which can hardly be assessed by conventional radiographs. These findings may explain functional disability in patients with non-corresponding findings in x-ray. References [1] Lee CH, et al. (2015) Correlation of structural abnormalities of the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints evaluated by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and conventional radiographs in rheumatoid arthritis. International journal of rheumatic diseases [2] Maas F, et al. (2015) Comparison of radiographic damage of the zygapophyseal joints and the vertebral bodies of the cervical spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis before and after 4 years of TNF-alpha blocking therapy. Annals of the rheumatic diseases Disclosure of Interests Andreas Haidmayer Speakers bureau: Roche, MSD, BMS, Abbvie, Celgene, Gabriel Adelsmayr Speakers bureau: BMS, Rusmir Husic Speakers bureau: BMS, UCB, Celgene, MSD, Franz Quehenberger: None declared, Angelika Lackner: None declared, Joesf Hermann Speakers bureau: Abbvie, MSD, UCB, BMS, Celgene

To analyze alterations in left ventricular (LV) myocardial T1 times in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and to investigate their associations with ventricular function, mass, geometry and hemodynamics. Fifty-eight patients with suspected PH underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) and 3T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Ventricular function, geometry and mass were derived from cine real-time short-axis images. Myocardial T1 maps were acquired by a prototype modified Look-Locker inversion-recovery sequence in short-axis orientations. LV global, segmental and ventricular insertion point (VIP) T1 times were evaluated manually and corrected for blood T1. Septal, lateral, global and VIP T1 times were significantly higher in PH than in non-PH subjects (septal, 1249 ± 58 ms vs. 1186 ± 33 ms, p

The ‘renal threshold for glucose’ has never been evaluated in critically ill patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the renal glucose threshold in this patient group using high-sensitivity urine glucose assays. In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, we analysed 100 consecutive critically ill patients from a medical intensive care unit (ICU). Arterial blood glucose and spot urine glucose were simultaneously quantified daily during the first week after ICU admission. Three hundred seventy-three pairs of blood/urine glucose were plotted in five pre-defined categories of blood glucose (

Background: The hypertensive deoxy-corticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-treated pig (hereafter, DOCA pig) was recently introduced as large animal model for early-stage heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) of DOCA pigs and weight-matched control pigs to characterize ventricular, atrial and myocardial structure and function of this phenotype model.Methods: Five anesthetized DOCA and seven control pigs underwent 3 T CMR at rest and during dobutamine stress. Left ventricular/atrial (LV/LA) function and myocardial mass (LVMM), strains and torsion were evaluated from (tagged) cine imaging. 4D phase-contrast measurements were used to assess blood flow and peak velocities, including transmitral early-diastolic (E) and myocardial tissue (E’) velocities and coronary sinus blood flow. Myocardial perfusion reserve was estimated from stress-to-rest time-averaged coronary sinus flow. Global native myocardial T1 times were derived from prototype modified Look-Locker inversion-recovery (MOLLI) short-axis T1 maps. After in-vivo measurements, transmural biopsies were collected for stereological evaluation including the volume fractions of interstitium (VV(int/LV)) and collagen (VV(coll/LV)). Rest, stress, and stress-to-rest differences of cardiac and myocardial parameters in DOCA and control animals were compared by t-test.Results: In DOCA pigs LVMM (p p = 0.003/p = 0.007) were elevated. During stress, increase of LV ejection-fraction and decrease of end-systolic volume accounted for normal contractility reserves in DOCA and control pigs. Rest-to-stress differences of cardiac index (p = 0.040) and end-diastolic volume (p = 0.042) were documented. Maximal (p = 0.042) and minimal (p = 0.012) LA volumes in DOCA pigs were elevated at rest; total LA ejection-fraction decreased during stress (p = 0.006). E’ was lower in DOCA pigs, corresponding to higher E/E’ at rest (p = 0.013) and stress (p = 0.026). Myocardial perfusion reserve was reduced in DOCA pigs (p = 0.031). T1-times and VV(int/LV) did not differ between groups, whereas VV(coll/LV) levels were higher in DOCA pigs (p = 0.044).Conclusions: LA enlargement, E’ and E/E’ were the markers that showed the most pronounced differences between DOCA and control pigs at rest. Inadequate increase of myocardial perfusion reserve during stress might represent a metrics for early-stage HFpEF. Myocardial T1 mapping could not detect elevated levels of myocardial collagen in this model.Trial registration: The study was approved by the local Bioethics Committee of Vienna, Austria (BMWF-66.010/0091-II/3b/2013).

Background In patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), duration of vortical blood flow along the main pulmonary artery enables estimation of the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) non-invasively. It remains to date not known, if this method is applicable in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and abnormal aortic-to-pulmonary shunting. Case presentation The present case analyzes the effect of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on pulmonary artery flow patterns in PAH (mPAP from right heart catheterization, 75 mmHg). PH-associated vortical blood flow, which is typically observed rotating in a clockwise direction when viewed in right ventricular outflow tract orientation, was found nested in PDA left-to-right shunting. Even though rotating counter-clockwise, duration of vortical flow translated into correct non-invasive mPAP estimate. Conclusions This case indicates that PH-associated vortex rotation is not restricted to clockwise direction, and that vortex-based estimation of elevated mPAP might also be feasible in patients with PAH and PDA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12880-016-0150-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The 'renal threshold for glucose' has never been evaluated in critically ill patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the renal glucose threshold in this patient group using high-sensitivity urine glucose assays. In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, we analysed 100 consecutive critically ill patients from a medical intensive care unit (ICU). Arterial blood glucose and spot urine glucose were simultaneously quantified daily during the first week after ICU admission. Three hundred seventy-three pairs of blood/urine glucose were plotted in five pre-defined categories of blood glucose (80, 80-109, 110-139, 140-179 and ≥180 mg/dL). Urine glucose values of the five categories were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test to assess the relation with blood glucose. Urine glucose was detected in virtually all of the urine samples. Urine glucose showed a positive nonlinear correlation with blood glucose and was significantly elevated at blood glucose levels of 140-179 and ≥180 mg/dL compared with lower blood glucose ranges. Basal glucosuria is ubiquitous in critically ill patients. A 'soft' renal threshold for glucose is present at blood glucose levels in the range of 140-179 mg/dL.

Although blood lactate and glucose both represent important markers in the intensive care setting, they have been considered quite independently. Especially, the ideal glucose target range has been the topic of recent studies with conflicting results [1,2]. Blood lactate is an acknowledged predictor of outcome in critically ill patients [3]. The aim of this study was to establish a possible correlation between elevated blood glucose and lactate levels in intensive care patients.

Results. EuroSCORE significantly increased over the years: 6 (2-12) in 2000 vs. 12 (6-18) in 2008 (P 0.026)], indicating that gradually sicker recipients were accepted for htx. Consequently ECMO support was required in 5.6% of patients in 2000 vs. 20% in 2008 (P 0.043). The incidence of sepsis and septic shock showed a tendency to increase over the years (16.7% in 2000 vs. 20% in 2008; (P 0.058)). The administration of a combination (two or more) of broad spectrum antibiotics rose significantly from 2000 (27.8% of patients, n 15/54) to 2008 (85% of patients, n 34/40) (P 0.001). In 2000 5 patients (9.3%) required concomitant antimycotic therapy compared with 20 patients (50%) in 2008 (P 0.001). Despite acceptance of more severely compromised recipients and increasing need for perioperative circulatory support with ECMO, ICU-mortality decreased over the years (ICU-mortality was 14.6% in 2000 vs. 2.5% in 2008). In 2008 none of our heart recipients died within the first 30 days after htx.