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Cardiac metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is rare. This report presents a known case of SCC of the tongue in a patient who was admitted with an initial diagnosis of pneumonia and endocarditis and had received wide spectrum antibiotics. Due to the lack of an appropriate response, surgical valve replacement was initially considered, but further evaluation by cardiac MRI revealed multiple cardiac, lung and paravertebral metastases, most probably from the previous SCC and as such the patient was managed conservatively. This case report highlights the importance of cardiac MRI for evaluating head and neck tumors and choosing optimal treatment plans.

Cardiac multimodal image fusion can offer an image with various types of information in a single image. Many coronary stenosis, which are anatomically clear, are not functionally significant. The treatment of such kind of stenosis can cause irreversible effects on the patient. Thus, choosing the best treatment planning depend on anatomical and functional information is very beneficial. An algorithm for the fusion of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as an anatomical and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as a functional modality is presented. CCTA and TTE are temporally registered using manifold learning. A pattern search optimization algorithm, using normalized mutual information, is used to find the best match slice to TTE frame from CCTA volume. By employing a free-form deformation, the heart's non-rigid deformations are modeled. The spatiotemporal registered TTE frame is embedded to achieve the fusion result. The accuracy is evaluated on CCTA and TTE data obtained from 10 patients. In temporal registration, mean absolute error of 1.97 $$\, \pm \, $$ 1.23 is resulted from comparing the output frame numbers from the algorithm and from manual assignment by an expert. In spatial registration, the accuracy of the similarity between the best match slice from CCTA volume and TTE frame is resulted in 1.82 $$\, \pm \, $$ 0.024 mm, 6.74 $$\, \pm \, $$ 0.013 mm, and 0.901 $$\, \pm \, $$ 0.0548 due to mean absolute distance, Hausdorff distance, and Dice similarity coefficient, respectively. Without the use of ECG and Optical tracking systems, a semiautomatic framework of spatiotemporal registration and fusion of CCTA volume and TTE frame is presented. The experimental results showed the effectiveness of our proposed method to create complementary information from TTE and CCTA, which may help in the early diagnosis and effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

To retrospectively assess the correlation between pulmonary arterial obstruction index (PAOI) and right lateral ventricular wall thickness with in-hospital mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. CT angiography (CTA) of 55 consecutive patients (30 males; 25 females; mean age ± SD, 59 ± 11 years) with proven acute pulmonary embolism was investigated. PAOI was determined according to the Qanadli score on CTA. Right ventricular lateral wall thickness was also measured, and patients’ in-hospital mortality was recorded. The correlation between PAOI and mortality, right ventricular lateral wall thickness and mortality, and PAOI and right ventricular lateral wall thickness was evaluated. PAOI was 23.6 and 10.4 in patients with and without in-hospital mortality, respectively (P

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) scan has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19 in Iran. Objectives: To trace the footsteps of COVID-19 in Iran by exploring the trend in using chest CT scans and its economic impact on radiology departments. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the number of imaging examinations from 33 tertiary radiology departments in 9 large cities of Iran was collected from September 23, 2019 to March 20, 2020 (Months 1 to 6) and the corresponding months in 2018–2019. Results: A 50.2% increase was noted in the chest CT scan utilization in 2019–2020 compared to 2018–2019. This increase was +15%, +15%, +27%, +2%, +1% in Months 1–5 of 2019–2020, respectively. In Month 6 of 2019–2020, a 251% increase in the acquisition of chest CT scans was observed compared to the Month 6 of 2018–2019. Following negative balance of revenue from Month 1 to 5 with respect to the inflation rate, the total income in Month 6 was further 1.5% less than the same Month in 2018–19. Conclusion: The observed peak in chest CT utilization in Month 3 prior to the surge in Month 6 could be explained by the seasonal influenza. However, unawareness about an emerging viral disease, i.e. COVID-19, might have underutilized chest CT in Months 4 and 5 before the official announcement in Month 6. The unbalanced increase in the workload of radiology departments in the shortage of cardiothoracic radiologists with the simultaneous decrease in income initiated a vicious cycle that worsened the economic repercussions of the pandemic.

COVID-19 is a newly emerged pandemic with great worldwide challenges. Imaging features are one of the most important aspects of the disease, both for screening, diagnosis, treatment assessment and follow-up. Here we review the imaging aspects of COVID-19 with special focus on Critical Care patients.

Purpose: Multimodal Cardiac Image (MCI) registration is one of the evolving fields in the diagnostic methods of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). Since the heart has nonlinear and dynamic behavior, Temporal Registration (TR) is the fundamental step for the spatial registration and fusion of MCIs to integrate the heart's anatomical and functional information into a single and more informative display. Therefore, in this study, a TR framework is proposed to align MCIs in the same cardiac phase. Materials and Methods: A manifold learning-based method is proposed for the TR of MCIs. The Euclidean distance among consecutive samples lying on the Locally Linear Embedding (LLE) of MCIs is computed. By considering cardiac volume pattern concepts from distance plots of LLEs, six cardiac phases (end-diastole, rapid-ejection, end-systole, rapid-filling, reduced-filling, and atrial-contraction) are temporally registered. Results: The validation of the proposed method proceeds by collecting the data of Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) and Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) from ten patients in four acquisition views. The Correlation Coefficient (CC) between the frame number resulted from the proposed method and manually selected by an expert is analyzed. Results show that the average CC between two resulted frame numbers is about 0.82±0.08 for six cardiac phases. Moreover, the maximum Mean Absolute Error (MAE) value of two slice extraction methods is about 0.17 for four acquisition views. Conclusion: By extracting the intrinsic parameters of MCIs, and finding the relationship among them in a lower-dimensional space, a fast, fully automatic, and user-independent framework for TR of MCIs is presented. The proposed method is more accurate compared to Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal labeling or time-series processing methods which can be helpful in different MCI fusion methods.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in both developed and developing countries. Therefore, identification of CVD risk factors is one of the most important steps in preventing this disease. Evidence suggests that imaging of the cardiac anatomy can be helpful for risk assessment. Objectives: This study aimed to assess two cardiac anatomy features, namely, the angle between the aortic valve and the left ventricular inflow long axis (AV-LV angle) and the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 74 patients with indications for computed tomography angiography (CTA) according to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines from July 2019 to January 2020 in Iran. The Agatston method was applied to measure the CAC score. Besides, to determine the AV-LV angle, the angle between a line tangent to the aortic valve leaflets and a line through the center of the aorta toward the left ventricular apex was measured. The patients’ baseline characteristics were also documented by conducting interviews. Results: Of 74 patients, 56% were male. The mean age of the patients was 54.41 ± 12.31 years, and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.71 ± 3.89 kg/m2. The frequency of smoking was 28% among the participants. A history of hypertension was reported in 38.7% of the patients, and a history of dyslipidemia was reported in 36%. Besides, the history of myocardial infarction was reported in 4% of the patients, diabetes mellitus in 9.3% of the patients, and angioplasty in 6% of the patients. The CAC score only had significant relationships with hypertension and age (correlation coefficients = 0.51). On the other hand, the AV-LV angle had no significant relationship with the patients’ baseline characteristics. The statistical analysis of the AV-LV angle and CAC score showed no significant relationship between these parameters (P = 0.756). Conclusion: The AV-LV angle and the CAC score were not significantly associated. Further research is recommended to fill the knowledge gap regarding the cardiac anatomy features for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Pseudoaneurysm formation is a rare complication after complex PCI with drug‐eluting stents. Cardiologists and interventionist should be familiar with this rare complication after PCI and its management options.

Introduction: Acute Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an imperative medical condition with a considerable global impact. Inflammation is deemed to take a notable part in the pathophysiology of this potentially fatal disorder. The aim of the current study was to predict acute PTE severity in helical pulmonary CT-angiography using easily accessible hematological complete blood count (CBC) indices.Methods: After exclusion of inflammatory conditions that may affect CBC parameters, a total of 69 consecutive patients with definite diagnosis of acute PTE according to pulmonary helical CT –angiography were recruited. Laboratory tests, including CBC parameters were performed on admission in the emergency unit, before initiation of any therapy. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and RDW to platelet ratio (RPR) were calculated in each case of acute PTE. Ultimately, CT pulmonary arterial obstruction index (PAOI) was assessed subsequent to pulmonary helical CT-angiography for each patient.Results: We found that NLR is positively correlated with acute PTE severity according to CT pulmonary arterial obstruction index (PAOI) (P 0.05).Conclusions: NLR could be an easily calculated and capable index to predict severity of acute PTE in pulmonary CT-angiography. Consequently, NLR might be used in precise risk stratification when suspicious for acute PTE and in accurately triage of patients who would benefit greatly from urgent diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Purpose: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal cardiopulmonary disease; therefore, rapid risk stratification is necessary to make decisions of appropriate management strategies. The aim of this study was to assess various computed tomography (CT) findings in order to find new prognostic factors of adverse outcome and mortality. Material and methods: The study enrolled 104 patients with acute PE. Based on their outcome, patients were categorised into four groups. Comorbidities such as ischaemic heart disease were obtained from their medical records. Patients CT angiography were reviewed for recording variables such as main pulmonary artery diameter and right ventricle (RV)/left ventricle (LV) ratio. Patient deaths up to three months since diagnosis of PE had been registered. Logistic regression analysis was performed to find predictors. Results: Based on multiple logistic regression, RV/LV ratio, LV diameter, and right-sided pulmonary infarction are predictors of mortality in 30 days. An RV/LV ratio of 1.19 could successfully discriminate patients who died within 30 days and those who did not. Conclusions: RV/LV ratio, LV diameter, right-sided pulmonary infarction, assessed with helical CT, can help predict 30-day mortality.

Background: Calcified plaque build-up can increase the risk of subsequent vascular complications in pelvic solid organ transplantation and vascular bypass procedures. Objectives: To assess the atherosclerotic calcification of pelvic vessels by measuring Agatston score and comparing it among abdominal aorta, common iliac artery (CIA), external iliac artery (EIA), and common femoral artery (CFA). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the unenhanced computed tomography scans of 197 patients from August 2016 to March 2018. Using calcium-scoring software, we examined the distribution map of calcified plaques, focusing on four different arterial segments -the abdominal aorta, the common iliac artery (CIA), the external iliac artery (EIA), and the common femoral artery (CFA)- to determine which one showed the least mural calcification. Results: A total of 197 patients (118 men, 79 women) with a mean age of 61.19 ± 10.8 years were included in this study. The right EIA segment had the lowest average calcification score (92.1 ± 18.2), including 180 cases (91.4%) of zero calcification, followed by 178 cases (90.4%) of zero calcification in the left EIA. When adjustments were made for age, gender, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, the odds ratio (OR) of the left EIA for reaching a higher calcium score level was 1.19 (P = 0.44) times greater than the reference group (right EIA). The ratio was markedly higher in the abdominal aorta segment (OR = 146.7.4, P < 0.001), followed by the right CIA (OR = 42.5, P < 0.001), the left CIA (OR = 27.3, P < 0.001), the right CFA (OR = 3.96, P < 0.001), and the left CFA (OR = 3.51, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates a significantly less calcific plaque burden in EIA compared to the adjacent arterial bed.

Background. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the foremost cause of death in the most developed societies. Plaque formation in epicardial coronary arteries and ensuing inflammation are a known pathophysiologic factor of CAD. Objectives. We aimed to separately and simultaneously evaluate the correlation between pericardial fat pad volume and overall peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness with coronary calcium score (CCS) to improve risk stratification of CAD. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent a non-invasive contrast-enhanced coronary multidetector CT (MDCT) angiography. Peri-coronary EAT thickness, pericardial fat pad volume and CCS were obtained by an expert radiologist from the patients coronary multidetector CT (MDCT) angiography. Results. We included 141 symptomatic patients (86 men, 55 women) with an average age of 53.53 ± 12.92. An increment of overall peri-coronary EAT thickness (1/3 × (left anterior descending artery (LAD) + left circumflex artery (LCx) + right coronary artery (RCA)) was associated with a 49% increase in the odds for the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) (P = 0.004). Significant predictability of peri-coronary EAT-average was seen in diagnosing calcified plaque. Pericardial fat pad volume was positively correlated with overall peri-coronary EAT thickness in age and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted linear regression models, (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Our results amplify previous idea that peri-coronary EAT and pericardial fat pad volume might act as useful markers and better indicators of CCS based on Agatston score in comparison with BMI or body weight in order to reveal subsequent CADs.

The initial manifestation of emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) with hiccups is extremely rare. We report a 47-year-old diabetic man with complaint of persistent hiccups as the first manifestation. Class 3B EPN was confirmed based on findings of Contrast-enhanced abdominal multi-slice CT scan. There were no neurologic deficits, Medications that lead to hiccups and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Our patient was treated with antimicrobial therapy and double J stenting. His hiccups completely resolved in one week and had no relapse.

Purpose. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially fatal form of venous thromboembolism. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the pulmonary arterial obstruction index and atrial size in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Basic Procedure. The study consisted of 86 patients with clinical symptoms of PE. Out of 86 individuals, 50 patients were diagnosed with PE and considered as the patient group. The others were considered as the control group. All patients were scanned by a multidetector CT scanner. Using the radiology workstation, an expert radiologist calculated the left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) areas from planimetric measurements obtained from free-hand delineation of the atrial boarders using an electronic pen. Quantitative volumetric measurements of LA and RA were obtained from original axial images. Main Findings. There were 25 males and 25 females with PE, who had a mean age of 58 years. There was not a significant difference in the positive history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, ischemic heart disease, and smoking between patients and control group. There was a significant negative correlation between almost all LA measurements and the PAOI. RA area and volume had the highest area under the curves for recognizing larger clot burden. Principal Conclusions. A higher clot load is associated with a smaller LA size and increased RA/LA ratios, measured with CTPA. Atrial measurements are correlated with POAI, and they could be used as sensitive parameters in predicting heart failure in patients with PE.

Contrast induced angioedema is a rapidly progressive state involving a number of organ systems including the upper airway tract; which is usually a type I anaphylactic reaction also known as immediate hypersensitivity reaction. Prompt preservation of the respiratory tract is the cornerstone of this situation. The use of fiberoptic bronchoscope for tracheal intubation though very helpful, has some special considerations due to the anatomic distortions created by edema.This manuscript describes a patient with contrast induced angioedema managed successfully. Serum levels of IgE were highly increased during the first hours after the event; while serum levels of complement were normal. However, rapid airway management and prophylactic intubation saved the patient and prevented the possible aftermath of airway obstruction.Keywords: airway management; type I anaphylactic reaction, angioedema; fiberoptic bronchoscope.Conflict of interest: none of the authors has any conflict of interest.

Background: Adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) improves the prognosis of breast cancer (BC); nevertheless, causes post-RT complications. One of the most life-threatening complications of RT in BC patients is atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared with old two-dimensional RT (2D-RT), newer three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) protects normal tissues including the heart from irradiation. Early detection of plaques using coronary artery calcium score (CACS) could improve the post-RT BC survivors’ outcomes. Objectives: This study assessed CACS in BC patients who underwent 3D-CRT to find whether there is any significant difference between their CACS and those of non-BC patients. Patients and Methods: CACS of fifty BC patients with different intervals from RT - case - and fifty women with no history of BC or RT - control - using 64-slice ECG-gated CT scan were assessed as Agatston score (AS). The risk factors of CAD, the Framingham’s 10-year risk score, and the age-matched CACS percentiles were evaluated. Results: No AS difference between the case and control was found. No correlation between AS and RT-to-follow-up time interval, laterality of BC, Framingham’s 10-year risk score or traditional CAD risk factors were detected. Increase in CACS related to the senile atherosclerotic process was shown (P < 0.001). Conclusion: No significant difference in CACS was found in BC patients treated by 3D-CRT in comparison with those of non-BC individuals or BC patients who treated by 2D-RT. This finding may be the result of either the non-calcified nature of radiation-induced CAD plaques or reduced cardiac radiation in 3D-CRT, leading to myocardial microvascular disease rather than senile calcified atherosclerotic plaques. CACS may not be an appropriate screening test to detect early CAD in these patients.

Background. It is now suggested an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the occurrence of coronary artery disease even in non-diabetic patients. We will determine the rate of NAFLD and its main determinants in non-diabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods. This cross-sectional study was accomplished on 264 patients who were candidates for coronary angiography during the year 2016. Coronary angiography has been done to depict the presence or absence of coronary involvement, and the severity of coronary artery disease by determining the number of vessels involved and also the SYNTAX score. During 48 hours after coronary angiography, the patients underwent abdominal ultrasonography for detection of NAFLD. Results. The overall prevalence of NAFLD in the patients was 72.3%. The prevalence of NAFLD in those with and without coronary involvement was 71.9% and 73.1% respectively, with no notable difference (p = 0.837). The mean SYNTAX score in the patients with and without NAFLD was 22.32 ± 11.10 and 21.75 ± 10.71 respectively with no difference (p = 0.702). According to the multivariable regression models, the presence of NAFLD could not predict the likelihood of coronary artery disease (OR = 0.879, p = 0.669) or its severity assessed by the SYNTAX score (beta = 0.046, p = 0.456). NAFLD grade was also not a determinant for coronary artery disease (OR = 1.139, p = 0.178) or its severity (beta = 0.058, p = 0.165). Conclusion. It seems that the presence and grade of NAFLD may not be correlated with atherosclerotic involvement of coronary arteries and its severity in non-diabetic patients. Future large studies and trials could elucidate the independent role of fatty liver in nondiabetic non-alcoholic patients.

There is evidence of association between aging and increase in the normal upper limit of the common bile duct (CBD) diameter. As aging is a documented risk factor for atherosclerosis, and the possible effect that atherosclerosis can have on the CBD diameter via affecting its smooth muscle contractility and blood flow, we decided to determine the association between CBD diameter and atherosclerosis in the abdominal aorta (AA). A total of 99 asymptomatic patients (53 males and 46 females; age range of 18–88 years) without history of cholecystectomy who underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan were included. The CBD diameter was measured. The atherosclerosis of AA was quantified by Agatston score. Mean (± SD) CBD diameter was 6.14 (± 1.95) mm; range = 2.4–12.7 mm. Agatston score was 0 in 59 patients. In the remaining 40 patients, median (interquartile range, IQR) Agatston score was 497.5 (2026.3). Mean (± SD) CBD diameter in patients with Agatston score > 0 was 7.39 (± 2.07) mm compared to 5.29 (± 1.32) mm in patients without calcification plaque (P

Background: Breast cancer (BC) mortality rate has significantly decreased during the past decades by introducing adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (RT) in addition to surgery. However, as an emerging phenomenon, the corresponding therapeutic side effects caused non-malignant morbidity and mortality. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading non-malignant cause of death in BC patients. It is established that chest RT has a role in atherosclerotic plaque formation in the coronary arteries. Newer techniques of RT like three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) use technical methods in which less radiation doses are given to the non-cancerous tissues. Non-invasive technique of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) can detect atherosclerotic plaques long before the plaques become symptomatic, helping to treat them in early stages, so improve BC patients’ outcome. The aim of this study is to assess and compare CACS in BC patients with a history of 3D-RT and non-BC women in the same age range with no history of RT. Methods: CACS of fifty BC patients (age range: 34 - 70 years) with different time intervals from RT (range: 3-9 years) and CACS of fifty age-matched control group of non-BC women with no history of chest RT, using 64-slice ECG-gated CT scan were calculated and presented as the quantitative value of Agatston score (AS). The risk factors contributing to CAD (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking), and the Framingham’s 10-year risk score, as well as the age-matched CACS percentiles, were evaluated. Results: No correlation between AS and history of RT, RT-to-follow-up time interval, laterality of BC, Framingham’s 10-year risk score or traditional CAD risk factors were detected. Increase in CACS related to the senile atherosclerotic process was shown (P < 0.001). Conclusions: No difference between CACS was noted between BC patients with a history of 3D-CRT and the non-BC women without a history of RT. Although cardiac radiation dose reduction in 3D-CRT technique can justify the findings, as multiple studies have shown increase of CAD in BC patients with history of old RT techniques, but some studies show no difference in CACS between new and old RT techniques, other reason would be non-calcified atherosclerotic plaques after RT or myocardial microvascular disease due to reduced cardiac doses after 3D-CRT rather than calcified atherosclerotic plaques seen naturally by aging.

Background: Given the side effects of formocresol as a common substance in dental pulpotomy, its substitution with a safe substance seems mandatory. Aim: To compare the clinical and radiographic success of Allium sativum oil and formocresol in the pulpotomy of the primary molars. Materials and Methods: A randomized, split-mouth, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted on children with at least two asymptomatic primary molars requiring pulpotomy. A total of 90 teeth were examined in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: the A. sativum (ALL) group (n = 45) and the formocresol (FC) group (n = 45). After pulpotomy, A. sativum oil was applied to the radicular pulp in the ALL groups and formocresol in the FC group. The pulp chamber was then filled with reinforced Zinc oxide Eugenol and finally restored by a stainless steel crown. Three and six months after the intervention, the teeth were evaluated by a colleague based on a modified criteria system. The results were analyzed using Wilcoxon’s test. Results: The clinical success rate was 100% in both groups after 3 and 6 months. The radiographic success rate in the ALL group and the FC group after 3 and 6 months was 82.2% and 80% and 88.9% and 84.4%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.46). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, A. sativum oil can be used in the pulpotomy of the primary molars.