Chest Dynamic MRI as Early Biomarker of Respiratory Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: A Pilot Study.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular progressive disorder characterized by limb and bulbar muscle wasting and weakness. A total of 30% of patients present a bulbar onset, while 70% have a spinal outbreak. Respiratory involvement represents one of the worst prognostic factors, and its early identification is fundamental for the early starting of non-invasive ventilation and for the stratification of patients. Due to the lack of biomarkers of early respiratory impairment, we aimed to evaluate the role of chest dynamic MRI in ALS patients. Methods: We enrolled 15 ALS patients and 11 healthy controls. We assessed the revised ALS functional rating scale, spirometry, and chest dynamic MRI. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test and Cox regression analysis. Results: We observed a statistically significant difference in both respiratory parameters and pulmonary measurements at MRI between ALS patients and healthy controls. Moreover, we found a close relationship between pulmonary measurements at MRI and respiratory parameters, which was statistically significant after multivariate analysis. A sub-group analysis including ALS patients without respiratory symptoms and with normal spirometry values revealed the superiority of chest dynamic MRI measurements in detecting signs of early respiratory impairment. Conclusions: Our data suggest the usefulness of chest dynamic MRI, a fast and economically affordable examination, in the evaluation of early respiratory impairment in ALS patients.

Pulmonary Adverse Events in Cancer Immunotherapy: Case Studies of CT Patterns.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have profoundly changed cancer treatment, improving the prognosis of many oncologic patients. However, despite the good efficacy of these drugs, their mechanism of action, which involves the activation of the immune system, can lead to immune-related adverse events, which may affect almost all organs. Pulmonary adverse events are relatively common, and potentially life-threatening complications may occur. The diagnosis is challenging due to the wide and non-specific spectrum of clinical and radiological manifestations. The role of the radiologist is to recognize and diagnose pulmonary immune-related adverse events, possibly even in the early stages, to estimate their extent and guide patients' management.

The Unveiled Triad: Clinical, Radiological and Pathological Insights into Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DLPD) characterized by complex interstitial lung damage with polymorphic and protean inflammatory aspects affecting lung tissue targets including small airways, the interstitium, alveolar compartments and vascular structures. HP shares clinical and often radiological features with other lung diseases in acute or chronic forms. In its natural temporal evolution, if specific therapy is not initiated promptly, HP leads to progressive fibrotic damage with reduced lung volumes and impaired gas exchange. The prevalence of HP varies considerably worldwide, influenced by factors like imprecise disease classification, diagnostic method limitations for obtaining a confident diagnosis, diagnostic limitations in the correct processing of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) radiological parameters, unreliable medical history, diverse geographical conditions, heterogeneous agricultural and industrial practices and occasionally ineffective individual protections regarding occupational exposures and host risk factors. The aim of this review is to present an accurate and detailed 360-degree analysis of HP considering HRCT patterns and the role of the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL), without neglecting biopsy and anatomopathological aspects and future technological developments that could make the diagnosis of this disease less challenging.

Non-A Non-B Acute Aortic Dissection: Is There Some Confusion in the Radiologist's Mind?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to define and determine the rate of acute non-A-non-B aortic dissections, and to evaluate CT angiography findings and possible complications, as well as to discuss management strategies and currently available therapy. Non-A non-B type of aortic dissection is still a grey area in the radiologist's mind, such that it is not entirely clear what should be reported and completed in terms of this disease. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study including 36 pre-treatment CT angiograms of consecutive patients (mean age: 61 years) between January 2012 and December 2022 with aortic dissection involving the aortic arch with/without the thoracic descending/abdominal aorta (type non-A non-B). RESULTS: According to the dissection anatomy, we identified three modalities of spontaneous acute non-A-non-B anatomical configurations. Configuration 1 (n = 25) with descending-entry tear and retrograde arch extension (DTA entry). Configuration 2 (n = 4) with Arch entry tear and isolated arch involvement (Arch alone). Configuration 3 (n = 7) with Arch entry and anterograde descending (±abdominal) aorta involvement (Arch entry). CT angiogram findings, management, and treatment options are described. CONCLUSIONS: Acute non-A non-B dissection represents an infrequent occurrence of aortic arch dissection (with or without involvement of the descending aorta) that does not extend to the ascending aorta. The complete understanding of its natural progression, distinct CT angiography subtypes, optimal management, and treatment strategies remains incomplete. Within our series, patients frequently exhibit a complex clinical course, often necessitating a more assertive approach to treatment compared to type B dissections.

Beyond Visual Interpretation: Quantitative Analysis and Artificial Intelligence in Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis "Expanding Horizons in Radiology".

Diffuse lung disorders (DLDs) and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are pathological conditions affecting the lung parenchyma and interstitial network. There are approximately 200 different entities within this category. Radiologists play an increasingly important role in diagnosing and monitoring ILDs, as they can provide non-invasive, rapid, and repeatable assessments using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). HRCT offers a detailed view of the lung parenchyma, resembling a low-magnification anatomical preparation from a histological perspective. The intrinsic contrast provided by air in HRCT enables the identification of even the subtlest morphological changes in the lung tissue. By interpreting the findings observed on HRCT, radiologists can make a differential diagnosis and provide a pattern diagnosis in collaboration with the clinical and functional data. The use of quantitative software and artificial intelligence (AI) further enhances the analysis of ILDs, providing an objective and comprehensive evaluation. The integration of "meta-data" such as demographics, laboratory, genomic, metabolomic, and proteomic data through AI could lead to a more comprehensive clinical and instrumental profiling beyond the human eye's capabilities.

Multidetector CT Imaging Biomarkers as Predictors of Prognosis in Shock: Updates and Future Directions.

A severe mismatch between the supply and demand of oxygen is the common sequela of all types of shock, which present a mortality of up to 80%. Various organs play a protective role in shock and contribute to whole-body homeostasis. The ever-increasing number of multidetector CT examinations in severely ill and sometimes unstable patients leads to more frequently encountered findings leading to imminent death, together called "hypovolemic shock complex". Features on CT include dense opacification of the right heart and major systemic veins, venous layering of contrast material and blood, densely opacified parenchyma in the right hepatic lobe, decreased enhancement of the abdominal organ, a dense pulmonary artery, contrast pooling in dependent lungs, and contrast stasis in pulmonary veins. These findings are biomarkers and prognostic indicators of paramount importance which stratify risk and improve patient outcomes. In this review, we illustrate the various CT patterns in shock and review the spectrum and prognostic significance of thoraco-abdominal vascular and visceral alarming signs of impending death with the intention of increasing awareness among radiologists and radiographers to prepare for immediate resuscitation when required.

Alert Germ Infections: Chest X-ray and CT Findings in Hospitalized Patients Affected by Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Pneumonia.

Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen intrinsically resistant to many antimicrobials. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the imaging features on chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) scans in hospitalized patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Ab pneumonia. CXR and CT findings were graded on a three-point scale: 1 represents normal attenuation, 2 represents ground-glass attenuation, and 3 represents consolidation. For each lung zone, with a total of six lung zones in each patient, the extent of disease was graded using a five-point scale: 0, no involvement; 1, involving 25% of the zone; 2, 25−50%; 3, 50−75%; and 4, involving >75% of the zone. Points from all zones were added for a final total cumulative score ranging from 0 to 72. Among 94 patients who tested positive for MDR Ab and underwent CXR (males 52.9%, females 47.1%; mean age 64.2 years; range 1−90 years), 68 patients underwent both CXR and chest CT examinations. The percentage of patients with a positive CT score was significantly higher than that obtained on CXR (67.65% > 35.94%, p-value = 0.00258). CT score (21.88 ± 15.77) was significantly (p-value = 0.0014) higher than CXR score (15.06 ± 18.29). CXR and CT revealed prevalent bilateral abnormal findings mainly located in the inferior and middle zones of the lungs. They primarily consisted of peripheral ground-glass opacities and consolidations which predominated on CXR and CT, respectively.

Chest CT-based Assessment of 1-year Outcomes after Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pneumonia may lead to pulmonary fibrosis in the long term. Chest CT is useful to evaluate changes in the lung parenchyma over time. PURPOSE: To illustrate the temporal change of lung abnormalities on chest CT scans associated with COVID-19 pneumonia over 1 year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, patients previously hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia who visited the radiology department of a tertiary care center for imaging follow-up were consecutively enrolled between March 2020 and July 2021. Exclusion criteria were acute respiratory distress syndrome, requirement of intubation and/or mechanical ventilation, pulmonary embolism, and any interstitial lung disease. High-resolution volumetric noncontrast chest CT scans were acquired at 3, 6, and 12 months from the first diagnosis and were compared with baseline CT scans. The imaging features analyzed were ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, pleuroparenchymal band, linear atelectasis, bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis, reticulation, traction bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis, and honeycombing. The prevalence distribution of lung abnormalities was recorded at all time points. RESULTS: Eighty-four participants (56 men; mean age, 61 years ± 11 [SD]) were studied. GGOs and consolidations represented the main baseline lung abnormalities, accounting for a median severity score of 9 (IQR, 7-12.7; maximum possible score, 20), which indicates moderate lung involvement. The baseline prevalence of GGOs decreased from 100% to 2% of participants at 1 year, and that of consolidations decreased from 71% to 0% at 6 months. Fibrotic-like abnormalities (pleuroparenchymal bands, linear atelectasis, bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis) were detected at 3 months (50% of participants), 6 months (42% of participants), and 1 year (5% of participants). Among these, pleuroparenchymal bands were the most represented finding. Fibrotic changes (reticulation and traction bronchiectasis and/or bronchiolectasis) were detected at 3-6 months (2%) and remained stable at 1 year, with no evidence of honeycombing. At 1 year, lung abnormalities due to COVID-19 pneumonia were completely resolved in 78 of 84 (93%) participants. CONCLUSION: Residual lung abnormalities in individuals hospitalized with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia were infrequent, with no evidence of fibrosis at 1-year chest CT. © RSNA, 2022.

MDCT Imaging of Non-Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Emergencies and Its Impact on Diagnosis and Management-A Reappraisal.

Non-traumatic thoracic aorta emergencies are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diseases of the intimomedial layers (aortic dissection and variants) have been grouped under the common term of acute aortic syndrome because they are life-threatening conditions clinically indistinguishable on presentation. Patients with aortic dissection may present with a wide variety of symptoms secondary to the pattern of dissection and end organ malperfusion. Other conditions may be seen in patients with acute symptoms, including ruptured and unstable thoracic aortic aneurysm, iatrogenic or infective pseudoaneurysms, aortic fistula, acute aortic thrombus/occlusive disease, and vasculitis. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the patient's management and care. In the emergency room, chest X-ray is the initial imaging test offering a screening evaluation for alternative common differential diagnoses and a preliminary assessment of the mediastinal dimensions. State-of-the-art multidetector computed tomography angiography (CTA) provides a widely available, rapid, replicable, noninvasive diagnostic imaging with sensitivity approaching 100%. It is an impressive tool in decision-making process with a deep impact on treatment including endovascular or open surgical or conservative treatment. Radiologists must be familiar with the spectrum of these entities to help triage patients appropriately and efficiently. Understanding the imaging findings and proper measurement techniques allow the radiologist to suggest the most appropriate next management step.

Intestinal pneumatosis: differential diagnosis.

Intestinal pneumatosis (IP) is an infrequent radiological sign defined as pathological gas infiltration into the bowel wall. It may be associated to different underlying clinical conditions-inflammatory bowel diseases, malignancies, chemotherapy, infections, immune deficiency status, trauma, intestinal ischemia, and necrosis-that are often related to emergency state and require a prompt diagnosis. All the imaging techniques, especially abdominal radiography and Computed Tomography, could detect the presence of IP and discern the forms related to emergency conditions. The differential diagnosis is essential to start an immediate clinical or surgical management and treatment. The aim of this article is to review the radiological features of IP in different illnesses, with particular attention to differential diagnosis.

First Computed Tomography Evidence of Pulmonary Cavitated Lipoma: Diagnosis and Management.

Lipomas are the most common form of benign soft tissue tumors in humans, occurring infrequently in visceral organs. Pulmonary lipomas are seen rarely and can occur such as an endobronchial (80%) or peripheral parenchymal (20%) lesion. Less than 10 cases of lung peripheral lipoma are described in literature, none cavitated. We report the clinical case of a 51-year-old emphysematous smoker man with a peripheral intrapulmonary middle-lobe cavitating lipoma, revealed during a routine chest X-ray for emphysema, subsequently confirmed by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT. Some hypotheses are made about the origin of cavitation. Biopsy and surgery were not done due to the fully benign nodular features at imaging. The nodule was unchanged till 2 years, last follow-up with low-dose HRCT. It is probably useful to choose a conservative approach with a follow-up, if there is a high suspicion of benignity.

Lesson by SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19): whole-body CT angiography detection of "relevant" and "other/incidental" systemic vascular findings.

OBJECTIVES: Increasing evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to severe and multi-site vascular involvement. Our study aimed at assessing the frequency of vascular and extravascular events' distribution in a retrospective cohort of 42 COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Patients were evaluated by whole-body CT angiography between March 16 and April 30, 2020. Twenty-three out of the 42 patients evaluated were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Vascular and extravascular findings were categorized into "relevant" or "other/incidental," first referring to the need for immediate patient care and management. Student T-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher exact test was used to compare study groups, where appropriate. RESULTS: Relevant vascular events were recorded in 71.4% of cases (n = 30). Pulmonary embolism was the most frequent in both ICU and non-ICU cases (56.5% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.002). Ischemic infarctions at several sites such as the gut, spleen, liver, brain, and kidney were detected (n = 20), with multi-site involvement in some cases. Systemic venous thrombosis occurred in 30.9% of cases compared to 7.1% of systemic arterial events, the first being significantly higher in ICU patients (p = 0.002). Among incidental findings, small-sized splanchnic arterial aneurysms were reported in 21.4% of the study population, with no significant differences in ICU and non-ICU patients. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular involvement is not negligible in COVID-19 and should be carefully investigated as it may significantly affect disease behavior and prognosis. KEY POINTS: • Relevant vascular events were recorded in 71.4% of the study population, with pulmonary embolism being the most frequent event in ICU and non-ICU cases. • Apart from the lung, other organs such as the gut, spleen, liver, brain, and kidneys were involved with episodes of ischemic infarction. Systemic venous and arterial thrombosis occurred in 30.9% and 7.1% of cases, respectively, with venous events being significantly higher in ICU patients (p = 0.002). • Among incidental findings, small-sized splanchnic arterial aneurysms were reported in 21.4% of the whole population.

Hemopericardium in the acute clinical setting: Are we ready for a tailored management approach on the basis of MDCT findings?

The clinical spectrum of pericardial effusions varies from innocuous serous fluid to life-threatening hemopericardium. A misdiagnosis may be made by similar clinical presentation of acute chest pain/hypotension. Echocardiography is the first-line test for diagnosis of pericardial effusion and its etiology, but sometimes there are different drawbacks to the correct cardiovascular ultrasound diagnosis. Radiologists are reporting an increasing amount of thoracic Multidetector CT examinations at the emergency department. Multidetector CT has now become an established and complementary method for cardiac imaging, and diseases of the pericardium can now be quickly identified with increasing certainty. The aim of this review is to discuss the hemopericardium key Multidetector CT features in acute clinical setting which indicate the need to proceed with predominantly medical or surgical treatment, however, being able to identify forms of bleeding pericardial effusion for which only "a watch and wait strategy" and/or deferred treatment is indicated. In the emergency care setting, radiologists must be aware of different findings of hemopericardium in order to address a tailored and timely management approach.

First Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Evidence of Transcatheter Pacing System Migration and Embolization into the Pulmonary Vasculature.

Transcatheter leadless pacemaker dislodgment is a rare and potentially fatal complication of leadless device implantation. We present the first case of multidetector computed tomography images of leadless pacemaker migration and embolization in the pulmonary middle lobe artery. The patient was managed by percutaneous retrieval of the dislodged device and re-implantation in the appropriate position.

First MDCT evidence of ruptured aberrant left subclavian artery aneurysm in right aortic arch, Kommerell's diverticulum and extrapleural hematoma treated by emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Spontaneous ruptured aneurysm involving an aberrant subclavian artery with a right-sided aortic arch and Kommerell's diverticulumis a rare life-threatening condition that can be treated successfully if promptly identified. Multidetector Computed Tomography angiography is the first line imaging modality of thoracic vascular anomalies diagnosis. We report the case of a 74-year-old man suffering from this emergency ondition with mediastinal hematoma mostly extending to the left-side extrapleural cavity. The patient underwent successful emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair and an Amplatzer vascular plug was placed into the first segment of the ALSA. Post-procedural imaging showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm. Emergency endovascular repair can be effective in such cases.

First Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Evidence of Transcatheter Pacing System Migration and Embolization into the Pulmonary Vasculature.

Transcatheter leadless pacemaker dislodgment is a rare and potentially fatal complication of leadless device implantation. We present the first case of multidetector computed tomography images of leadless pacemaker migration and embolization in the pulmonary middle lobe artery. The patient was managed by percutaneous retrieval of the dislodged device and re-implantation in the appropriate position.

Left pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to post-operative lung abscess.

A prompt diagnosis is mandatory to avoid fatal complications in case of pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.

MDCT prior to median re-sternotomy in cardiovascular surgery: our experiences, infrequent findings and the crucial role of radiological report.

Resternotomy (RS) is a common occurrence in cardiac surgical practice. It is associated with an increased risk of injury to old conduits, cardiac structures, catastrophic hemorrhage and subsequent high morbidity and mortality rate in the operating room or during the recovery period. To mitigate this risk, we evaluated the role of multidetector CT (MDCT) in planning repeat cardiac surgery. We evaluated sternal compartment abnormalities, sternal/ascending aorta distance, pre-reoperative assessment of the aorta (wall, diameters, lumen, valve), sternal/right ventricle distance, diaphragm insertion, pericardium and cardiac chambers, sternal/innominate vein distance, connection of the grafts to the predicted median sternotomy cut, graft patency and anatomic course, possible aortic cannulation and cross-clamping sites and additional non-cardiovascular significant findings. Based on the MDCT findings, surgeons employed tailored operative strategies, including no-touch technique, clamping strategy and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) via peripheral cannulation assisted resternotomy. Our experience suggests that MDCT provides information which contributes to the safety of re-operative heart surgery reducing operative mortality and adverse outcomes. The radiologist must be aware of potential surgical options, including in the report any findings relevant to possible resternotomy complications.

Acquired peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysms: morphological spectrum of disease and multidetector computed tomography angiography findings-cases series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Acquired peripheral or intraparenchymal pulmonary artery aneurysms (PPAA) are rare entities but are important to recognize because of the associated morbidity. Hemoptysis is their principal complication and is a potentially fatal condition. PURPOSE: To illustrate the causes, multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) findings and differential diagnosis of acquired PPAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review boards approved this study. We conducted a retrospective review of the demographic data and the results of clinical and laboratory examinations, and imaging studies of patients managed between January 2012 and January 2017 in two institutions. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients had acquired PPAA that were detected at MDCTA, 9 patients with normal pulmonary artery pressures and 10 with pulmonary hypertension. Nine patients developed PPAA-related acute symptoms. MDCTA features of PPAA include: a lobulated vascular mass, an indistinct irregular arterial wall, aneurysmal thrombosis or wall calcification, findings of impending rupture including perianeurysmal edema, gas or a soft tissue mass. CONCLUSION: PPAA are rare. In our series, endocarditis and pulmonary hypertension are the PPAA leading causes. The treatment modality preferred is embolization, especially as surgery poses a very high risk for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension. Further clarification of the natural history of these rare arterial aneurysms is needed.

Aortopulmonary Fistula Presenting without an Endoleak after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Herein, we report the case of a 60-year-old man, a smoker with a history of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. After computed tomography (CT) for an episode of hemoptysis, the patient underwent elective thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) because of a degenerative aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. The area of perianeurysmal pulmonary atelectasis reported on the CT scan was not considered. Three months later, he developed an aortopulmonary fistula without endoleaks. Although TEVAR is a relatively safe procedure, no detail should be overlooked in the preoperative evaluation in order to avoid life-threatening complications. Further, the effectiveness and modality of prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis and/or preoperative respiratory physiotherapy should be assessed in such cases.