Activity

To compare diagnostic performance of British Thyroid Association (BTA), American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR-TIRADS) and Artificial Intelligence TIRADS (AI-TIRADS) for thyroid nodule malignancy. To determine comparative unnecessary fine needle aspiration (FNA) rates.

218 thyroid nodules with definitive histology obtained during 2017 were included. Ultrasound images were reviewed retrospectively in consensus by two subspecialist radiologists, blinded to histopathology, and nodules assigned a BTA, ACR-TIRADS and AI-TIRADS grade. Nodule laterality and size were recorded to allow accurate histopathological correlation and determine which nodules met criteria for FNA.

77 (35.3%) nodules were malignant. Deeming ultrasound Grade 4-5 as test-positive and 1-2 as test-negative, sensitivity and specificity for BTA was 98.28 and 42.55%, for ACR-TIRADS 95.24 and 40.57% and for AI-TIRADS 93.44 and 45.71%. FNA was indicated in 101 (71.6%), 67 (47.5%) and 65 (46.1%) benign nodule with high sensitivity but relatively low specificity for predicting thyroid nodule malignancy in this cohort using histology as gold-standard. DASA-58 nmr Using Grade 1-2 as benign and 4-5 as malignant there were more false negatives with TIRADS but this improved when taking other features into account while BTA had a significantly higher rate of unnecessary FNA.

To explore the feasibility of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in differentiating different types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

36 patients with clear cell RCC (CCRCC, low-grade,

= 20 and high-grade,

= 16), 19 with papillary RCC, 11 with chromophobe RCC, and 9 with collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) were examined with DKI technique. b values of 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm

were adopted. The DKI parameters,

mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), kurtosis anisotropy (KA), radial kurtosis (RK) and signa-to-noise ration (SNR) of DKI images at different b values were used.

The mean SNRs of DKI images at

= 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm

were 32.8, 14.2 and 9.18, respectively. For MD parameter, a significant higher value was shown in CCRCC than those of papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC and CDC (

< 0.05). In addition, both chromophobe RCC and CDC have larger MD values than papillary RCC (

< 0.05), however, there was no significant differences between chromophobe RCC and CDC (

> 0.05). For MK, KA and RK parameters, a significant higher value was shown in papillary RCC than those of CCRCC, chromophobe RCC and CDC (

< 0.05). Moreover, both chromophobe RCC and CDC have significantly larger values of MK, KA and RK than CCRCC (

< 0.05).

Our preliminary study demonstrated significant differences in the DKI parameters between the subtypes of RCCs, given an adequate SNR of DKI images.

1.The MD value is the best parameter to distinguish CCRCC from other RCCs.2.The MK, KA and RK values are the best parameters to distinguish papillary RCC from other RCCs.3.DKI is able to provide images with sufficient SNRs in kidney disease.

1.The MD value is the best parameter to distinguish CCRCC from other RCCs.2.The MK, KA and RK values are the best parameters to distinguish papillary RCC from other RCCs.3.DKI is able to provide images with sufficient SNRs in kidney disease.

To evaluate knowledge, routine use and concerns of trainee cardiologists in the Republic of Ireland regarding radiation use in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

We handed out a Radiation Questionnaire to cardiology trainees in February 2020 at the Irish Cardiac Society “Spring Meeting”. The questionnaire assessed radiation protection use amongst trainees and tested knowledge of X-ray basics.

Many trainees report inadequate access to properly sized lead protection, and infrequent dosimeter usage. Over one-third of trainees report musculoskeletal issues from wearing leads, the majority of whom use correct size lead <60% of the time.33.3% report radiation concerns will affect their decision making regarding subspeciality training, but notably 83.3% of females and only 19% of males surveyed report this, showing this is a bigger issue for females in cardiology. Less than half of trainees feel adequately educated about radiation.

Our assessment show deficiencies in the provision and use of personal protective equipment to trainees, highlights extra radiation concerns of female cardiology trainees, and notes gaps in knowledge in radiation use.

Our assessment highlights deficiencies in the education of cardiology trainees regarding ionizing radiation, and suggests this area needs to be improved upon.

Our assessment highlights deficiencies in the education of cardiology trainees regarding ionizing radiation, and suggests this area needs to be improved upon.Artificial intelligence, including deep learning, is currently revolutionising the field of medical imaging, with far reaching implications for almost every facet of diagnostic imaging, including patient radiation safety. This paper introduces basic concepts in deep learning and provides an overview of its recent history and its application in tomographic reconstruction as well as other applications in medical imaging to reduce patient radiation dose, as well as a brief description of previous tomographic reconstruction techniques. This review also describes the commonly used deep learning techniques as applied to tomographic reconstruction and draws parallels to current reconstruction techniques. Finally, this paper reviews some of the estimated dose reductions in CT and positron emission tomography in the recent literature enabled by deep learning, as well as some of the potential problems that may be encountered such as the obscuration of pathology, and highlights the need for additional clinical reader studies from the imaging community.

Pelvis radiographs are usually acquired supine despite standing imaging reflecting functional anatomy. We compared supine and erect radiographic examinations for anatomical features, radiation dose and image quality.

60 patients underwent pelvis radiography in both supine and erect positions at the same examination appointment. Measures of body mass index and sagittal diameter were obtained. Images were evaluated using visual grading analysis and pelvic tilt was compared. Dose-area product values were recorded and inputted into the CalDose_X software to estimate effective dose (ED). The CalDose_X software allowed comparisons using data from the erect and supine sex-specific phantoms (MAX06 & FAX06).

Patient sagittal diameter was greater on standing with an average 20.6% increase at the iliac crest (median 30.0, interquartile range [26.0 to 34.0] cm), in comparison to the supine position [24.0 (22.3 to 28.0) cm;

< 0.001]. 57 (95%) patients had posterior pelvic tilt on weight-bearing. Erect image quality was significantly decreased with median image quality scores of 78% (69 to 85) compared to 87% for the supine position [81 to 91] (

< 0.