To evaluate the feasibility of combining Compressed SENSE (CS) with a newly developed deep learning-based algorithm (CS-AI) using a Convolutional Neural Network to accelerate balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP)-sequences for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 30 healthy volunteers were examined prospectively with a 3 T MRI scanner. We acquired CINE bSSFP sequences for short axis (SA, multi-breath-hold) and four-chamber (4CH)-view of the heart. For each sequence, four different CS accelerations and CS-AI reconstructions with three different denoising parameters, CS-AI medium, CS-AI strong, and CS-AI complete, were used. Cardiac left ventricular (LV) function (i.e., ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and LV mass) was analyzed using the SA sequences in every CS factor and each AI level. Two readers, blinded to the acceleration and denoising levels, evaluated all sequences regarding image quality and artifacts using a 5-point Likert scale. Friedman and Dunn's multiple comparison tests were used for qualitative evaluation, ANOVA and Tukey Kramer test for quantitative metrics. Scan time could be decreased up to 57 % for the SA-Sequences and up to 56 % for the 4CH-Sequences compared to the clinically established sequences consisting of SA-CS3 and 4CH-CS2,5 (SA-CS3: 112 s vs. SA-CS6: 48 s; 4CH-CS2,5: 9 s vs. 4CH-CS5: 4 s, p < 0.001). LV-functional analysis was not compromised by using accelerated MRI sequences combined with CS-AI reconstructions (all p > 0.05). The image quality loss and artifact increase accompanying increasing acceleration levels could be entirely compensated by CS-AI post-processing, with the best results for image quality using the combination of the highest CS factor with strong AI (SA-CINE: Coef.:1.31, 95 %CI:1.05-1.58; 4CH-CINE: Coef.:1.18, 95 %CI:1.05-1.58; both p < 0.001), and with complete AI regarding the artifact score (SA-CINE: Coef.:1.33, 95 %CI:1.06-1.60; 4CH-CINE: Coef.:1.31, 95 %CI:0.86-1.77; both p < 0.001). Combining CS sequences with AI-based image reconstruction for denoising significantly decreases scan time in cardiac imaging while upholding LV functional analysis accuracy and delivering stable outcomes for image quality and artifact reduction. This integration presents a promising advancement in cardiac MRI, promising improved efficiency without compromising diagnostic quality.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is helpful for diagnosing interstitial lung diseases (ILD), but it largely depends on the experience of physicians. Herein, our study aims to develop a deep-learning-based classification model to differentiate the three common types of ILD, so as to provide a reference to help physicians make the diagnosis and improve the accuracy of ILD diagnosis. Patients were selected from four tertiary Grade A hospitals in Kunming based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. HRCT scans of 130 patients were included. The imaging manifestations were usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and organizing pneumonia (OP). Additionally, 50 chest HRCT cases without imaging abnormalities during the same period were selected.Construct a data set. Conduct the training, validation, and testing of the Parallel Multi-scale Feature Fusion Network (PMFF-Net) deep learning model. Utilize Python software to generate data and charts pertaining to model performance. Assess the model's accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, and juxtapose its diagnostic efficacy against that of physicians across various hospital levels, with differing levels of seniority, and from various departments. The PMFF -Net deep learning model is capable of classifying imaging types such as UIP, NSIP, and OP, as well as normal imaging. In a mere 105 s, it makes the diagnosis for 18 HRCT images with a diagnostic accuracy of 92.84 %, precision of 91.88 %, recall of 91.95 %, and an F1 score of 0.9171. The diagnostic accuracy of senior radiologists (83.33 %) and pulmonologists (77.77 %) from tertiary hospitals is higher than that of internists from secondary hospitals (33.33 %). Meanwhile, the diagnostic accuracy of middle-aged radiologists (61.11 %) and pulmonologists (66.66 %) are higher than junior radiologists (38.88 %) and pulmonologists (44.44 %) in tertiary hospitals, whereas junior and middle-aged internists at secondary hospitals were unable to complete the tests. This study found that the PMFF-Net model can effectively classify UIP, NSIP, OP imaging types, and normal imaging, which can help doctors of different hospital levels and departments make clinical decisions quickly and effectively.

Accurate segmentation of vascular networks from sparse CT scan slices remains a significant challenge in medical imaging, particularly due to the thin, branching nature of vessels and the inherent sparsity between imaging planes. Existing deep learning approaches, based on binary voxel classification, often struggle with structural continuity and geometric fidelity. To address this challenge, we present VesselSDF, a novel framework that leverages signed distance fields (SDFs) for robust vessel reconstruction. Our method reformulates vessel segmentation as a continuous SDF regression problem, where each point in the volume is represented by its signed distance to the nearest vessel surface. This continuous representation inherently captures the smooth, tubular geometry of blood vessels and their branching patterns. We obtain accurate vessel reconstructions while eliminating common SDF artifacts such as floating segments, thanks to our adaptive Gaussian regularizer which ensures smoothness in regions far from vessel surfaces while producing precise geometry near the surface boundaries. Our experimental results demonstrate that VesselSDF significantly outperforms existing methods and preserves vessel geometry and connectivity, enabling more reliable vascular analysis in clinical settings.

The high computational demands of Vision Transformers (ViTs), in processing a huge number of tokens, often constrain their practical application in analyzing medical images. This research proposes an adaptive prompt-guided pruning method to selectively reduce the processing of irrelevant tokens in the segmentation pipeline. The prompt-based spatial prior helps to rank the tokens according to their relevance. Tokens with low-relevance scores are down-weighted, ensuring that only the relevant ones are propagated for processing across subsequent stages. This data-driven pruning strategy facilitates end-to-end training, maintains gradient flow, and improves segmentation accuracy by focusing computational resources on essential regions. The proposed framework is integrated with several state-of-the-art models to facilitate the elimination of irrelevant tokens; thereby, enhancing computational efficiency while preserving segmentation accuracy. The experimental results show a reduction of $\sim$ 35-55\% tokens; thus reducing the computational costs relative to the baselines. Cost-effective medical image processing, using our framework, facilitates real-time diagnosis by expanding its applicability in resource-constrained environments.

As the frontline data for cancer diagnosis, microscopic pathology images are fundamental for providing patients with rapid and accurate treatment. However, despite their practical value, the deep learning community has largely overlooked their usage. This paper proposes a novel approach to classifying microscopy images as time series data, addressing the unique challenges posed by their manual acquisition and weakly labeled nature. The proposed method fits image sequences of varying lengths to a fixed-length target by leveraging Dynamic Time-series Warping (DTW). Attention-based pooling is employed to predict the class of the case simultaneously. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by comparing performance with various baselines and showcasing the benefits of using various inference strategies in achieving stable and reliable results. Ablation studies further validate the contribution of each component. Our approach contributes to medical image analysis by not only embracing microscopic images but also lifting them to a trustworthy level of performance.

Being born small carries significant health risks, including increased neonatal mortality and a higher likelihood of future cardiac diseases. Accurate estimation of gestational age is critical for monitoring fetal growth, but traditional methods, such as estimation based on the last menstrual period, are in some situations difficult to obtain. While ultrasound-based approaches offer greater reliability, they rely on manual measurements that introduce variability. This study presents an interpretable deep learning-based method for automated gestational age calculation, leveraging a novel segmentation architecture and distance maps to overcome dataset limitations and the scarcity of segmentation masks. Our approach achieves performance comparable to state-of-the-art models while reducing complexity, making it particularly suitable for resource-constrained settings and with limited annotated data. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the use of distance maps is particularly suitable for estimating femur endpoints.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial stabilizer of the knee joint, and its injury risk and surgical outcomes are closely linked to femoral and tibial anatomy. This review focuses on current evidence on how skeletal parameters, such as femoral intercondylar notch morphology, tibial slope, and insertion site variations-influence ACL biomechanics. A narrowed or concave femoral notch raises the risk of impingement, while a higher posterior tibial slope makes anterior tibial translation worse, which increases ACL strain. Gender disparities exist, with females exhibiting smaller notch dimensions, and hormonal fluctuations may contribute to ligament laxity. Anatomical changes that come with getting older make clinical management even harder. Adolescent patients have problems with epiphyseal growth, and older patients have to deal with degenerative notch narrowing and lower bone density. Preoperative imaging (MRI, CT, and 3D reconstruction) enables precise assessment of anatomical variations, guiding individualized surgical strategies. Optimal femoral and tibial tunnel placement during reconstruction is vital to replicate native ACL biomechanics and avoid graft failure. Emerging technologies, including AI-driven segmentation and deep learning models, enhance risk prediction and intraoperative precision. Furthermore, synergistic factors, such as meniscal integrity and posterior oblique ligament anatomy, need to be integrated into comprehensive evaluations. Future directions emphasize personalized approaches, combining advanced imaging, neuromuscular training, and artificial intelligence to optimize prevention, diagnosis, and rehabilitation. Addressing age-specific challenges, such as growth plate preservation in pediatric cases and osteoarthritis management in the elderly, will improve long-term outcomes. Ultimately, a nuanced understanding of skeletal anatomy and technological integration holds promise for reducing ACL reinjury rates and enhancing patient recovery.

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Different sized calcified masses called pulp stones are often detected in dental pulp and can impact dental procedures. The current research was conducted with the aim of measuring the ability of artificial intelligence algorithms to accurately diagnose pulp and pulp stone calcifications on panoramic radiographs. <b>Methods</b>: We used 713 panoramic radiographs, on which a minimum of one pulp stone was detected, identified retrospectively, and included in the study-4675 pulp stones and 5085 pulps were marked on these radiographs using CVAT v1.7.0 labeling software. <b>Results</b>: In the test dataset, the AI model segmented 462 panoramic radiographs for pulp stone and 220 panoramic radiographs for pulp. The dice coefficient and Intersection over Union (IoU) recorded for the Pulp Segmentation model were 0.84 and 0.758, respectively. Precision and recall were computed to be 0.858 and 0.827, respectively. The Pulp Stone Segmentation model achieved a dice coefficient of 0.759 and an IoU of 0.686, with precision and recall of 0.792 and 0.773, respectively. <b>Conclusions</b>: Pulp and pulp stones can successfully be identified using artificial intelligence algorithms. This study provides evidence that artificial intelligence software using deep learning algorithms can be valuable adjunct tools in aiding clinicians in radiographic diagnosis. Further research in which larger datasets are examined are needed to enhance the capability of artificial intelligence models to make accurate diagnoses.

This study aimed to compare three publicly available deep learning models (TotalSegmentator, TotalVibeSegmentator, and PanSegNet) for automated pancreatic segmentation on magnetic resonance images and to evaluate their performance against human annotations in terms of segmentation accuracy, volumetric measurement, and intrapancreatic fat fraction (IPFF) assessment. Twenty upper abdominal T1-weighted magnetic resonance series acquired using the two-point Dixon method were randomly selected. Three radiologists manually segmented the pancreas, and a ground-truth mask was constructed through a majority vote per voxel. Pancreatic segmentation was also performed using the three artificial intelligence models. Performance was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 95th-percentile Hausdorff distance, average symmetric surface distance, positive predictive value, sensitivity, Bland-Altman plots, and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) for pancreatic volume and IPFF. PanSegNet achieved the highest DSC (mean ± standard deviation, 0.883 ± 0.095) and showed no statistically significant difference from the human interobserver DSC (0.896 ± 0.068; p = 0.24). In contrast, TotalVibeSegmentator (0.731 ± 0.105) and TotalSegmentator (0.707 ± 0.142) had significantly lower DSC values compared with the human interobserver average (p < 0.001). For pancreatic volume and IPFF, PanSegNet demonstrated the best agreement with the ground truth (CCC values of 0.958 and 0.993, respectively), followed by TotalSegmentator (0.834 and 0.980) and TotalVibeSegmentator (0.720 and 0.672). PanSegNet demonstrated the highest segmentation accuracy and the best agreement with human measurements for both pancreatic volume and IPFF on T1-weighted Dixon images. This model appears to be the most suitable for large-scale studies requiring automated pancreatic segmentation and intrapancreatic fat evaluation.