This study assesses the image quality of temporal bone ultra-high-resolution (UHR) Computed tomography (CT) scans in adults and children using hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and a novel, vendor-specific deep learning-based reconstruction (DLR) algorithm called AiCE Inner Ear. In a retrospective, single-center study (February 1-July 30, 2023), UHR-CT scans of 57 temporal bones of 35 patients (5 children, 23 male) with at least one anatomical unremarkable temporal bone were included. There is an adult computed tomography dose index volume (CTDIvol 25.6 mGy) and a pediatric protocol (15.3 mGy). Images were reconstructed using HIR at normal resolution (0.5-mm slice thickness, 512² matrix) and UHR (0.25-mm, 1024² and 2048² matrix) as well as with a vendor-specific DLR advanced intelligent clear-IQ engine inner ear (AiCE Inner Ear) at UHR (0.25-mm, 1024² matrix). Three radiologists evaluated 18 anatomic structures using a 5-point Likert scale. Signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured automatically. In the adult protocol subgroup (n=30; median age: 51 [11-89]; 19 men) and the pediatric protocol subgroup (n=5; median age: 2 [1-3]; 4 men), UHR-CT with DLR significantly improved subjective image quality (p<0.024), reduced noise (p<0.001), and increased CNR and SNR (p<0.001). DLR also enhanced visualization of key structures, including the tendon of the stapedius muscle (p<0.001), tympanic membrane (p<0.009), and basal aspect of the osseous spiral lamina (p<0.018). Vendor-specific DLR-enhanced UHR-CT significantly improves temporal bone image quality and diagnostic performance.

Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has improved outcomes for some esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients, but accurate pre-treatment risk stratification remains a critical gap. This study constructed a deep learning (DL) model to predict survival outcomes in ESCC patients receiving immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. A DL model was developed to predict survival outcomes in ESCC patients receiving immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Retrospective data from 482 patients across three institutions were split into training (N=322), internal test (N=79), and external test (N=81) sets. Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) scans were processed to analyze tumor and peritumoral regions. The model evaluated multiple input configurations: original tumor regions of interest (ROIs), ROI subregions, and ROIs expanded by 1 and 3 pixels. Performance was assessed using Harrell's C-index and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A multimodal model combined DL-derived risk scores with five key clinical and laboratory features. The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) method elucidated the contribution of individual features to model predictions. The DL model with 1-pixel peritumoral expansion achieved the best accuracy, yielding a C-index of 0.75 for the internal test set and 0.60 for the external test set. Hazard ratios for high-risk patients were 1.82 (95% CI: 1.19-2.46; P=0.02) in internal test set. The multimodal model achieved C-indices of 0.74 and 0.61 for internal and external test sets, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant survival differences between high- and low-risk groups (P<0.05). SHAP analysis identified tumor response, risk score, and age as critical contributors to predictions. This DL model demonstrates efficacy in stratifying ESCC patients by survival risk, particularly when integrating peritumoral imaging and clinical features. The model could serve as a valuable pre-treatment tool to facilitate the implementation of personalized treatment strategies for ESCC patients undergoing immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

To evaluate the accuracy of ChatGPT-4o in identifying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and diagnosing brain tumors by comparing its performance with that of experienced radiologists. This retrospective study included 46 patients with pathologically confirmed brain tumors who underwent preoperative MRI between January 2021 and October 2024. Two experienced radiologists and ChatGPT 4o independently evaluated the anonymized MRI images. Eight questions focusing on MRI sequences, lesion characteristics, and diagnoses were answered. ChatGPT-4o's responses were compared to those of the radiologists and the pathology outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed, which included accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the McNemar test, with p<0.05 considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. ChatGPT-4o successfully identified 44 of the 46 (95.7%) lesions; it achieved 88.3% accuracy in identifying MRI sequences, 81% in perilesional edema, 79.5% in signal characteristics, and 82.2% in contrast enhancement. However, its accuracy in localizing lesions was 53.6% and that in distinguishing extra-axial from intra-axial lesions was 26.3%. As such, ChatGPT-4o achieved success rates of 56.8% and 29.5% for differential diagnoses and most likely diagnoses when compared to 93.2-90.9% and 70.5-65.9% for radiologists, respectively (p<0.005). ChatGPT-4o demonstrated high accuracy in identifying certain MRI features but underperformed in diagnostic tasks in comparison with the radiologists. Despite its current limitations, future updates and advancements have the potential to enable large language models to facilitate diagnosis and offer a reliable second opinion to radiologists.

Photon Counting CT (PCCT) offers advanced imaging capabilities with potential for substantial radiation dose reduction; however, achieving this without compromising image quality remains a challenge due to increased noise at lower doses. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a deep learning (DL)-based denoising algorithm in maintaining diagnostic image quality in whole-body PCCT imaging at reduced radiation levels, using real intraindividual cadaveric scans. Twenty-four cadaveric human bodies underwent whole-body CT scans on a PCCT scanner (NAEOTOM Alpha, Siemens Healthineers) at four different dose levels (100%, 50%, 25%, and 10% mAs). Each scan was reconstructed using both QIR level 2 and a DL algorithm (ClariCT.AI, ClariPi Inc.), resulting in 192 datasets. Objective image quality was assessed by measuring CT value stability, image noise, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) across consistent regions of interest (ROIs) in the liver parenchyma. Two radiologists independently evaluated subjective image quality based on overall image clarity, sharpness, and contrast. Inter-rater agreement was determined using Spearman's correlation coefficient, and statistical analysis included mixed-effects modeling to assess objective and subjective image quality. Objective analysis showed that the DL denoising algorithm did not significantly alter CT values (p ≥ 0.9975). Noise levels were consistently lower in denoised datasets compared to the Original (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed between the 25% mAs denoised and the 100% mAs original datasets in terms of noise and CNR (p ≥ 0.7870). Subjective analysis revealed strong inter-rater agreement (r ≥ 0.78), with the 50% mAs denoised datasets rated superior to the 100% mAs original datasets (p < 0.0001) and no significant differences detected between the 25% mAs denoised and 100% mAs original datasets (p ≥ 0.9436). The DL denoising algorithm maintains image quality in PCCT imaging while enabling up to a 75% reduction in radiation dose. This approach offers a promising method for reducing radiation exposure in clinical PCCT without compromising diagnostic quality.

To develop and validate a deep learning radiomics nomogram (DLRN) based on T2-weighted MRI to distinguish between borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) and stage I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) preoperatively. This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 279 patients from three centers, divided into a training set (n = 207) and an external test set (n = 72). The intra- and peritumoral radiomics analysis was employed to develop a combined radiomics model. A deep learning model was constructed based on the largest orthogonal slices of the tumor volume, and a clinical model was constructed using independent clinical predictors. The DLRN was then constructed by integrating deep learning, intra- and peritumoral radiomics, and clinical predictors. For comparison, an original radiomics model based solely on tumor volume (excluding the peritumoral area) was also constructed. All models were validated through 10-fold cross-validation and external testing, and their predictive performance was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The DLRN demonstrated superior performance across the 10-fold cross-validation, with the highest AUC of 0.825±0.082. On the external test set, the DLRN significantly outperformed the clinical model and the original radiomics model (AUC = 0.819 vs. 0.708 and 0.670, P = 0.047 and 0.015, respectively). Furthermore, the combined radiomics model performed significantly better than the original radiomics model (AUC = 0.778 vs. 0.670, P = 0.043). The DLRN exhibited promising performance in distinguishing BOTs from stage I EOC preoperatively, thus potentially assisting clinical decision-making.

The precise prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is crucial for tailoring perioperative treatment in patients diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This retrospective study aims to develop and validate a model that integrates deep learning and sub-regional radiomics from MRI imaging to predict pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with LARC. We retrospectively enrolled 768 eligible participants from three independent hospitals who had received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery. Pretreatment pelvic MRI scans (T2-weighted), were collected for annotation and feature extraction. The K-means approach was used to segment the tumor into sub-regions. Radiomics and deep learning features were extracted by the Pyradiomics and 3D ResNet50, respectively. The predictive models were developed using the radiomics, sub-regional radiomics, and deep learning features with the machine learning algorithm in training cohort, and then validated in the external tests. The models' performance was assessed using various metrics, including the area under the curve (AUC), decision curve analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. We constructed a combined model, named SRADL, which includes deep learning with sub-regional radiomics signatures, enabling precise prediction of pCR in LARC patients. SRADL had satisfactory performance for the prediction of pCR in the training cohort (AUC 0.925 [95% CI 0.894 to 0.948]), and in test 1 (AUC 0.915 [95% CI 0.869 to 0.949]) and in test 2 (AUC 0.902 [95% CI 0.846 to 0.945]). By employing optimal threshold of 0.486, the predicted pCR group had longer survival compared to predicted non-pCR group across three cohorts. SRADL also outperformed other single-modality prediction models. The novel SRADL, which integrates deep learning with sub-regional signatures, showed high accuracy and robustness in predicting pCR to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using pretreatment MRI images, making it a promising tool for the personalized management of LARC.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among men and a leading cause of cancer-related mortalities. Radiomics has shown promising performances in the classification of PCa grade group (GG) in several studies. Here, we aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the performance of radiomics in predicting GG in PCa. Adhering to PRISMA-DTA guidelines, we included studies employing magnetic resonance imaging-derived radiomics for predicting GG, with histopathologic evaluations as the reference standard. Databases searched included Web of Sciences, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) and METhodological RadiomICs Score (METRICS) tools were used for quality assessment. Pooled estimates for sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Cochran's Q and I-squared tests assessed heterogeneity, while meta-regression, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis addressed potential sources. Publication bias was evaluated using Deek's funnel plot, while clinical applicability was assessed with Fagan nomograms and likelihood ratio scattergrams. Data were extracted from 43 studies involving 9983 patients. Radiomics models demonstrated high accuracy in predicting GG. Patient-based analyses yielded AUCs of 0.93 for GG≥2, 0.91 for GG≥3, and 0.93 for GG≥4. Lesion-based analyses showed AUCs of 0.84 for GG≥2 and 0.89 for GG≥3. Significant heterogeneity was observed, and meta-regression identified sources of heterogeneity. Radiomics model showed moderate power to exclude and confirm the GG. Radiomics appears to be an accurate noninvasive tool for predicting PCa GG. It improves the performance of standard diagnostic methods, enhancing clinical decision-making.

Background MRI protocols typically involve many imaging sequences and often require too much time. Purpose To simulate artificial intelligence (AI)-directed stratified scanning for screening breast MRI with various triage thresholds and evaluate its diagnostic performance against that of the full breast MRI protocol. Materials and Methods This retrospective reader study included consecutive contrast-enhanced screening breast MRI examinations performed between January 2013 and January 2019 at three regional cancer sites. In this simulation study, an in-house AI tool generated a suspicion score for subtraction maximum intensity projection images during a given MRI examination, and the score was used to determine whether to proceed with the full MRI protocol or end the examination early (abbreviated breast MRI [AB-MRI] protocol). Examinations with suspicion scores under the 50th percentile were read using both the AB-MRI protocol (ie, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scans only) and the full MRI protocol. Diagnostic performance metrics for screening with various AI triage thresholds were compared with those for screening without AI triage. Results Of 863 women (mean age, 52 years ± 10 [SD]; 1423 MRI examinations), 51 received a cancer diagnosis within 12 months of screening. The diagnostic performance metrics for AI-directed stratified scanning that triaged 50% of examinations to AB-MRI versus full MRI protocol scanning were as follows: sensitivity, 88.2% (45 of 51; 95% CI: 79.4, 97.1) versus 86.3% (44 of 51; 95% CI: 76.8, 95.7); specificity, 80.8% (1108 of 1372; 95% CI: 78.7, 82.8) versus 81.4% (1117 of 1372; 95% CI: 79.4, 83.5); positive predictive value 3 (ie, percent of biopsies yielding cancer), 23.6% (43 of 182; 95% CI: 17.5, 29.8) versus 24.7% (42 of 170; 95% CI: 18.2, 31.2); cancer detection rate (per 1000 examinations), 31.6 (95% CI: 22.5, 40.7) versus 30.9 (95% CI: 21.9, 39.9); and interval cancer rate (per 1000 examinations), 4.2 (95% CI: 0.9, 7.6) versus 4.9 (95% CI: 1.3, 8.6). Specificity decreased by no more than 2.7 percentage points with AI triage. There were no AI-triaged examinations for which conducting the full MRI protocol would have resulted in additional cancer detection. Conclusion AI-directed stratified MRI decreased simulated scan times while maintaining diagnostic performance. © RSNA, 2025 <i>Supplemental material is available for this article.</i> See also the editorial by Strand in this issue.

The aim of this study was to develop and externally validate a machine-learning model that retrospectively identifies patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS]) using electronic health record (EHR) data. In this retrospective cohort study, ARDS was identified via physician-adjudication in three cohorts of patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure (training, internal validation, and external validation). Machine-learning models were trained to classify ARDS using vital signs, respiratory support, laboratory data, medications, chest radiology reports, and clinical notes. The best-performing models were assessed and internally and externally validated using the area under receiver-operating curve (AUROC), area under precision-recall curve, integrated calibration index (ICI), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and ARDS timing. Patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure undergoing mechanical ventilation within two distinct health systems. None. There were 1,845 patients in the training cohort, 556 in the internal validation cohort, and 199 in the external validation cohort. ARDS prevalence was 19%, 17%, and 31%, respectively. Regularized logistic regression models analyzing structured data (EHR model) and structured data and radiology reports (EHR-radiology model) had the best performance. During internal and external validation, the EHR-radiology model had AUROC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88-0.93) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.87-0.93), respectively. Externally, the ICI was 0.13 (95% CI, 0.08-0.18). At a specified model threshold, sensitivity and specificity were 80% (95% CI, 75%-98%), PPV was 64% (95% CI, 58%-71%), and the model identified patients with a median of 2.2 hours (interquartile range 0.2-18.6) after meeting Berlin ARDS criteria. Machine-learning models analyzing EHR data can retrospectively identify patients with ARDS across different institutions.

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) has become the major cause of death across the world in recent years. The accurate segmentation of coronary artery is important in clinical diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) such as stenosis detection and plaque analysis. Deep learning techniques have been shown to assist medical experts in diagnosing diseases using biomedical imaging. There are many methods which employ 2D DL models for medical image segmentation. The 2D Pyramid Scene Parsing Neural Network (PSPNet) has potential in this domain but not explored for the segmentation of coronary arteries from 3D Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) images. The contribution of present research work is to propose the modification of 2D PSPNet into 3D PSPNet for segmenting the coronary arteries from 3D CCTA images. The innovative factor is to evaluate the network performance by employing Global processing and Patch based processing methods. The experimental results achieved a Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.76 for Global process method and 0.73 for Patch based method using a subset of 200 images from the ImageCAS dataset.