The generation of Synthetic Computed Tomography (sCT) images has become a pivotal methodology in modern clinical practice, particularly in the context of Radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning. The use of sCT enables the calculation of doses, pushing towards Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guided radiotherapy treatments. Moreover, with the introduction of MRI-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) hybrid scanners, the derivation of sCT from MRI can improve the attenuation correction of PET images. Deep learning methods for MRI-to-sCT have shown promising results, but their reliance on single-centre training dataset limits generalisation capabilities to diverse clinical settings. Moreover, creating centralised multi-centre datasets may pose privacy concerns. To address the aforementioned issues, we introduced FedSynthCT-Brain, an approach based on the Federated Learning (FL) paradigm for MRI-to-sCT in brain imaging. This is among the first applications of FL for MRI-to-sCT, employing a cross-silo horizontal FL approach that allows multiple centres to collaboratively train a U-Net-based deep learning model. We validated our method using real multicentre data from four European and American centres, simulating heterogeneous scanner types and acquisition modalities, and tested its performance on an independent dataset from a centre outside the federation. In the case of the unseen centre, the federated model achieved a median Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 102.0 HU across 23 patients, with an interquartile range of 96.7-110.5 HU. The median (interquartile range) for the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) and the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PNSR) were 0.89 (0.86-0.89) and 26.58 (25.52-27.42), respectively. The analysis of the results showed acceptable performances of the federated approach, thus highlighting the potential of FL to enhance MRI-to-sCT to improve generalisability and advancing safe and equitable clinical applications while fostering collaboration and preserving data privacy.

Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are rare disorders characterized by progressive muscle fibre loss, leading to replacement by fibrotic and fatty tissue, muscle weakness and disability. Early diagnosis is critical for therapeutic decisions, care planning and genetic counselling. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a valuable diagnostic tool by identifying characteristic patterns of muscle involvement. However, the increasing complexity of these patterns complicates their interpretation, limiting their clinical utility. Additionally, multi-study data aggregation introduces heterogeneity challenges. This study presents a novel multi-study harmonization pipeline for muscle MRI and an AI-driven diagnostic tool to assist clinicians in identifying disease-specific muscle involvement patterns. We developed a preprocessing pipeline to standardize MRI fat content across datasets, minimizing source bias. An ensemble of XGBoost models was trained to classify patients based on intramuscular fat replacement, age at MRI and sex. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) framework was adapted to analyse model predictions and identify disease-specific muscle involvement patterns. To address class imbalance, training and evaluation were conducted using class-balanced metrics. The model's performance was compared against four expert clinicians using 14 previously unseen MRI scans. Using our harmonization approach, we curated a dataset of 2961 MRI samples from genetically confirmed cases of 20 paediatric and adult NMDs. The model achieved a balanced accuracy of 64.8% ± 3.4%, with a weighted top-3 accuracy of 84.7% ± 1.8% and top-5 accuracy of 90.2% ± 2.4%. It also identified key features relevant for differential diagnosis, aiding clinical decision-making. Compared to four expert clinicians, the model obtained the highest top-3 accuracy (75.0% ± 4.8%). The diagnostic tool has been implemented as a free web platform, providing global access to the medical community. The application of AI in muscle MRI for NMD diagnosis remains underexplored due to data scarcity. This study introduces a framework for dataset harmonization, enabling advanced computational techniques. Our findings demonstrate the potential of AI-based approaches to enhance differential diagnosis by identifying disease-specific muscle involvement patterns. The developed tool surpasses expert performance in diagnostic ranking and is accessible to clinicians worldwide via the Myo-Guide online platform.

The PRECISE framework, defined as Patient-Focused Radiology Reports with Enhanced Clarity and Informative Summaries for Effective Communication, leverages GPT-4 to create patient-friendly summaries of radiology reports at a sixth-grade reading level. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PRECISE framework in improving the readability, reliability, and understandability of radiology reports. We hypothesized that the PRECISE framework improves the readability and patient understanding of radiology reports compared to the original versions. The PRECISE framework was assessed using 500 chest X-ray reports. Readability was evaluated using the Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning Fog Index, and Automated Readability Index. Reliability was gauged by clinical volunteers, while understandability was assessed by non-medical volunteers. Statistical analyses including t-tests, regression analyses, and Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to determine the significance of the differences in readability scores between the original and PRECISE-generated reports. Readability scores significantly improved, with the mean Flesch Reading Ease score increasing from 38.28 to 80.82 (p-value < 0.001), the Gunning Fog Index decreasing from 13.04 to 6.99 (p-value < 0.001), and the ARI score improving from 13.33 to 5.86 (p-value < 0.001). Clinical volunteer assessments found 95 % of the summaries reliable, and non-medical volunteers rated 97 % of the PRECISE-generated summaries as fully understandable. The application of the PRECISE approach demonstrates promise in enhancing patient understanding and communication without adding significant burden to radiologists. With improved reliability and patient-friendly summaries, this approach holds promise for fostering patient engagement and understanding in healthcare decision-making. The PRECISE framework represents a pivotal step towards more inclusive and patient-centric care delivery.

To evaluate the feasibility of generative pre-trained transformer-4 (GPT-4) in generating structured reports (SRs) from mixed-language (English and Korean) narrative-style CT reports for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and to assess its accuracy in categorizing PDCA resectability. This retrospective study included consecutive free-text reports of pancreas-protocol CT for staging PDAC, from two institutions, written in English or Korean from January 2021 to December 2023. Both the GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o models were provided prompts along with the free-text reports via an application programming interface and tasked with generating SRs and categorizing tumor resectability according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines version 2.2024. Prompts were optimized using the GPT-4 Turbo model and 50 reports from Institution B. The performances of the GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o models in the two tasks were evaluated using 115 reports from Institution A. Results were compared with a reference standard that was manually derived by an abdominal radiologist. Each report was consecutively processed three times, with the most frequent response selected as the final output. Error analysis was guided by the decision rationale provided by the models. Of the 115 narrative reports tested, 96 (83.5%) contained both English and Korean. For SR generation, GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o demonstrated comparable accuracies (92.3% [1592/1725] and 92.2% [1590/1725], respectively; <i>P</i> = 0.923). In the resectability categorization, GPT-4 Turbo showed higher accuracy than GPT-4o (81.7% [94/115] vs. 67.0% [77/115], respectively; <i>P</i> = 0.002). In the error analysis of GPT-4 Turbo, the SR generation error rate was 7.7% (133/1725 items), which was primarily attributed to inaccurate data extraction (54.1% [72/133]). The resectability categorization error rate was 18.3% (21/115), with the main cause being violation of the resectability criteria (61.9% [13/21]). Both GPT-4 Turbo and GPT-4o demonstrated acceptable accuracy in generating NCCN-based SRs on PDACs from mixed-language narrative reports. However, oversight by human radiologists is essential for determining resectability based on CT findings.

To assess the feasibility of using GPT-4 to simplify radiology reports into B1-level Dutch for enhanced patient comprehension. This study utilised GPT-4, optimised through prompt engineering in Microsoft Azure. The researchers iteratively refined prompts to ensure accurate and comprehensive translations of radiology reports. Two radiologists assessed the simplified outputs for accuracy, completeness, and patient suitability. A third radiologist independently validated the final versions. Twelve colorectal cancer patients were recruited from two hospitals in the Netherlands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to evaluate patients' comprehension and satisfaction with AI-generated reports. The optimised GPT-4 tool produced simplified reports with high accuracy (mean score 3.33/4). Patient comprehension improved significantly from 2.00 (original reports) to 3.28 (simplified reports) and 3.50 (summaries). Correct classification of report outcomes increased from 63.9% to 83.3%. Patient satisfaction was high (mean 8.30/10), with most preferring the long simplified report. RADiANT successfully enhances patient understanding and satisfaction through automated AI-driven report simplification, offering a scalable solution for patient-centred communication in clinical practice. This tool reduces clinician workload and supports informed patient decision-making, demonstrating the potential of LLMs beyond English-based healthcare contexts.

Osteoporosis, a prevalent skeletal disorder, necessitates accurate and accessible diagnostic tools for effective disease management and fracture prevention. While dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) remains the clinical standard for bone mineral density (BMD) assessment, its limitations, including ionizing radiation exposure and susceptibility to artifacts, underscore the need for alternative technologies. Ultrasound-based methods have emerged as promising radiation-free alternatives, with radiofrequency echographic multi-spectrometry (REMS) representing a significant advancement in axial skeleton assessment, specifically at the lumbar spine and proximal femur. REMS analyzes unfiltered radiofrequency ultrasound signals, providing not only BMD estimates but also a novel fragility score (FS), which reflects bone quality and microarchitectural integrity. This review critically evaluates the underlying principles, diagnostic performance, and clinical applications of REMS. It compares REMS with DXA, quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and trabecular bone score (TBS), highlighting REMS's potential advantages in artifact-prone scenarios and specific populations, including children and patients with secondary osteoporosis. The clinical utility of REMS in fracture risk prediction and therapy monitoring is explored alongside its operational precision, cost-effectiveness, and portability. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within REMS software has enhanced its capacity for artifact exclusion and automated spectral interpretation, improving usability and reproducibility. Current limitations, such as the need for broader validation and guideline inclusion, are identified, and future research directions are proposed. These include multicenter validation studies, development of pediatric and secondary osteoporosis reference models, and deeper evaluation of AI-driven enhancements. REMS offers a compelling, non-ionizing alternative for axial bone health assessment and may significantly advance the diagnostic landscape for osteoporosis care.

Objective: While recent advances in text-conditioned generative models have enabled the synthesis of realistic medical images, progress has been largely confined to 2D modalities such as chest X-rays. Extending text-to-image generation to volumetric Computed Tomography (CT) remains a significant challenge, due to its high dimensionality, anatomical complexity, and the absence of robust frameworks that align vision-language data in 3D medical imaging. Methods: We introduce a novel architecture for Text-to-CT generation that combines a latent diffusion model with a 3D contrastive vision-language pretraining scheme. Our approach leverages a dual-encoder CLIP-style model trained on paired CT volumes and radiology reports to establish a shared embedding space, which serves as the conditioning input for generation. CT volumes are compressed into a low-dimensional latent space via a pretrained volumetric VAE, enabling efficient 3D denoising diffusion without requiring external super-resolution stages. Results: We evaluate our method on the CT-RATE dataset and conduct a comprehensive assessment of image fidelity, clinical relevance, and semantic alignment. Our model achieves competitive performance across all tasks, significantly outperforming prior baselines for text-to-CT generation. Moreover, we demonstrate that CT scans synthesized by our framework can effectively augment real data, improving downstream diagnostic performance. Conclusion: Our results show that modality-specific vision-language alignment is a key component for high-quality 3D medical image generation. By integrating contrastive pretraining and volumetric diffusion, our method offers a scalable and controllable solution for synthesizing clinically meaningful CT volumes from text, paving the way for new applications in data augmentation, medical education, and automated clinical simulation.

With the advancement of modern medicine and the development of technologies such as MRI, CT, and cellular analysis, it has become increasingly critical for clinicians to accurately interpret various diagnostic images. However, modern medical education often faces challenges due to limited access to high-quality teaching materials, stemming from privacy concerns and a shortage of educational resources (Balogh et al., 2015). In this context, image data generated by machine learning models, particularly generative models, presents a promising solution. These models can create diverse and comparable imaging datasets without compromising patient privacy, thereby supporting modern medical education. In this study, we explore the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and CycleGAN (Zhu et al., 2017) for generating synthetic medical images. The source code is available at https://github.com/mliuby/COMP4211-Project.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate below 20 %. Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based therapies, has become an important approach for CRC treatment. However, only specific patient subsets demonstrate significant clinical benefits. Although the TIDE algorithm can predict immunotherapy responses, the reliance on transcriptome sequencing data limits its clinical applicability. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and computational pathology provide new avenues for medical image analysis.In this study, we classified TCGA-CRC samples into immunotherapy responder and non-responder groups using the TIDE algorithm. Further, a pathomics model based on convolutional neural networks was constructed to directly predict immunotherapy responses from histopathological images. Single-cell analysis revealed that fibroblasts may induce immunotherapy resistance in CRC through collagen-CD44 and ITGA1 + ITGB1 signaling axes. The developed pathomics model demonstrated excellent classification performance in the test set, with an AUC of 0.88 at the patch level and 0.85 at the patient level. Moreover, key pathomics features were identified through SHAP analysis. This innovative predictive tool provides a novel method for clinical decision-making in CRC immunotherapy, with potential to optimize treatment strategies and advance precision medicine.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a key investigation in clinical cardiovascular medicine and has been used extensively in population research. However, extracting clinically important measurements such as ejection fraction for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases remains time-consuming and subjective. We developed CineMA, a foundation AI model automating these tasks with limited labels. CineMA is a self-supervised autoencoder model trained on 74,916 cine CMR studies to reconstruct images from masked inputs. After fine-tuning, it was evaluated across eight datasets on 23 tasks from four categories: ventricle and myocardium segmentation, left and right ventricle ejection fraction calculation, disease detection and classification, and landmark localisation. CineMA is the first foundation model for cine CMR to match or outperform convolutional neural networks (CNNs). CineMA demonstrated greater label efficiency than CNNs, achieving comparable or better performance with fewer annotations. This reduces the burden of clinician labelling and supports replacing task-specific training with fine-tuning foundation models in future cardiac imaging applications. Models and code for pre-training and fine-tuning are available at https://github.com/mathpluscode/CineMA, democratising access to high-performance models that otherwise require substantial computational resources, promoting reproducibility and accelerating clinical translation.