US-Guided Interventional Procedures for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

In patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA) with recurrent pain, symptoms may be caused by several conditions involving not just the joint, but also the surrounding soft tissues including tendons, muscles, bursae, and peripheral nerves. US and US-guided interventional procedures are important tools in the diagnostic work-up of patients with painful THA given that it is possible to reach a prompt diagnosis both directly identifying the pathological changes of periprosthetic structures and indirectly evaluating the response and pain relief to local injection of anesthetics under US monitoring. Then, US guidance can be used for the aspiration of fluid from the joint or periarticular collections, or alternatively to follow the biopsy needle to collect samples for culture analysis in the suspicion of prosthetic joint infection. Furthermore, US-guided percutaneous interventions may be used to treat several conditions with well-established minimally invasive procedures that involve injections of corticosteroid, local anesthetics, and platelet-rich plasma or other autologous products. In this review, we will discuss the clinical and technical applications of US-guided percutaneous interventional procedures in painful THA that can be used in routine daily practice for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Artificial intelligence in interventional radiology: state of the art.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated great potential in a wide variety of applications in interventional radiology (IR). Support for decision-making and outcome prediction, new functions and improvements in fluoroscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, specifically in the field of IR, have all been investigated. Furthermore, AI represents a significant boost for fusion imaging and simulated reality, robotics, touchless software interactions, and virtual biopsy. The procedural nature, heterogeneity, and lack of standardisation slow down the process of adoption of AI in IR. Research in AI is in its early stages as current literature is based on pilot or proof of concept studies. The full range of possibilities is yet to be explored.Relevance statement Exploring AI's transformative potential, this article assesses its current applications and challenges in IR, offering insights into decision support and outcome prediction, imaging enhancements, robotics, and touchless interactions, shaping the future of patient care.Key points• AI adoption in IR is more complex compared to diagnostic radiology.• Current literature about AI in IR is in its early stages.• AI has the potential to revolutionise every aspect of IR.

Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry: Radiographer'S Role in Assessing Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) Questionnaire Variables.

BACKGROUND: The FRAX® algorithm is a tool used to calculate the 10-year probability of fracture in patients with osteoporosis and is based the assessment of several risk factors. We assessed the performance and accuracy of the completion of the FRAX® anamnestic questionnaire by the radiographer without impact on the clinical workflow. METHODOLOGY: We evaluated the accuracy of fracture risk calculation by the radiographer using the FRAX® algorithm before and after specific training. A total of 100 women were enrolled in the study. The radiographer preliminarily administered the FRAX® questionnaire to all subjects before the execution of the DXA examination. After the end of the examination, a radiologist administered the questionnaire to the patient. Women were divided into two groups: group A (pre-training) and group B (post-training). The radiographer in group A completed the FRAX® questionnaire for the patients before training. For group B, the same radiographer completed the FRAX® questionnaire after training. The results of the FRAX® questionnaire completed by radiographer were compared with that completed by the referring physician. RESULTS: Before training, radiographer's accuracy ranged from 92% (question 7, alcohol consumption) to 36% (question 6, secondary osteoporosis). After training, accuracy values improved substantially, ranging from 100% to 92%. Analysis of the absolute values of FRAX® showed that in the pre-training group data tended to be overestimated by the radiographer, with both major and fractures probabilities being significantly higher when assessed by the radiographer (12% and 5.8%, respectively). After the training, there was a marked decrease in the variation between the FRAX® data calculated by the radiographer and the radiologist. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of fracture risk calculation by the radiographer using the FRAX® algorithm is significantly improved after a specific training period. This study demonstrates the importance of dedicated training radiographers on the FRAX® algorithm.

Clinical-radiological correlations in COVID-19-related venous thromboembolism: Preliminary results from a multidisciplinary study.

INTRODUCTION: Among the multiple complex pathophysiological mechanisms underlying COVID-19 pneumonia, immunothrombosis has been shown to play a key role. One of the most dangerous consequences of the prothrombotic imbalance is the increased incidence of micro- and macrothrombotic phenomena, especially deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: We investigated the correlation between radiological and clinical-biochemical characteristics in a cohort of hospitalised COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: PE was confirmed in 14/61 (23%) patients, five (35.7%) had DVT. The radiographic findings, quantified by Qanadli score calculated on CT angiography, correlated with the clinical score and biochemical markers. The ratio between the right and left ventricle diameter measured at CT angiography correlated with the length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: In our cohort radiological parameters showed a significant correlation with clinical prognostic indices and scores, thus suggesting that a multidisciplinary approach is advisable in the evaluation of PE in COVID-19 patients.