Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
(1) Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasingly used in equine practice to diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures in the distal limb. However, limited detail in the thick cortical bone of the metacarpus/metatarsus hinders accurate diagnosis. In human medicine, the addition of aluminum filters (AF) enhanced image quality while reducing radiation exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AF on image quality in CBCT scans of equine distal limbs. (2) Methods: Adult equine cadaver limbs were scanned with a mobile CBCT unit using varying tube currents (10–100 mA) and AF (13–25 mm). Two independent experts assessed the image quality using a four-point visual grading scale, focusing on cortical bone detail and artifacts. (3) Results: Higher tube currents generally improved image quality, but no filter was beneficial for the metacarpal/metatarsal regions. For the proximal phalanx, thicker AF (19–25 mm) improved image quality without significantly increasing the required tube current. (4) Conclusions: The optimal balance between image quality and radiation exposure using the O-arm® CBCT system for equine distal limbs was a tube current of 50 or 64 mA without filtration for the metacarpus/metatarsus, while a tube current of 50 mA with a 19–25 mm AF provided the best image quality for the proximal phalanx....
The management of large bulky tumors is very challenging. The current treatment options for effective palliation of symptoms are limited. These tumors often present a large burden at the time of diagnosis, growing along critical bony and neural structures and preventing surgical resection in most of the cases. These tumors are also known to be relatively resistant to chemotherapy, with very low response rates. In addition, conventional photon-based radiotherapy has a limited effect due to their radioresistance, the use of large treatment fields, and the impossibility of delivering high doses because of the higher risk of normal tissue toxicity. Therefore, more effective radiation treatments for palliation are needed to achieve greater local control rates. A recent approach called partial ablative radiotherapy (PART) has been shown to be potentially able to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy. This technique is based on the ability of recent advanced delivery techniques to deliver a high “ablative” dose to the central part of the tumor, maintaining a very low and safe dose profile at the periphery to spare the surrounding organs at risk. Although this technique has been evaluated only in small studies and case reports, it showed notable treatment responses and safety profiles. The present narrative review describes the rationale for PART, the current and forthcoming state of evidence, the existing studies, and the future directions for the development of this approach, including the associated challenges....
This study discusses the challenges encountered in implementing a detailed protocol for upper abdominal imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ranging from patient preparation and sequence selection to clinical applications. MRI is a valuable non-invasive imaging modality employed both in the early detection of diseases and as a complementary tool for the detailed characterization of various pathologies. Nevertheless, performing an abdominal MRI examination can be challenging; therefore, the understanding of sequences is particularly important, as changing the parameters can not only influence the quality of the images but also optimize scanning time improve patient experience during the examination. The methodology illustrates the purpose of each sequence and the critical role of appropriate patient preparation. Results highlighted the significance of these factors in the evaluation of hepatic lesions, showing that the proper choice of sequences and parameters is essential for distinguishing benign from malignant findings and for achieving an accurate diagnosis. It was also shown that MRI plays an important role as a complementary technique in investigation of upper abdominal pathologies in order to avoid overexposure to radiation....
Background: Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign osteogenic tumor that causes severe pain despite its small size. Minimally invasive image-guided thermal ablation has replaced surgery as the treatment of choice. While radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is considered the gold standard, microwave ablation (MWA) offers faster and more homogeneous heating, though comparative evidence remains limited. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 53 patients with OO treated with RFA (n = 27) or MWA (n = 26) between 2014 and 2023. All procedures were CT-guided. Technical success, clinical success, recurrence, complications, and prognostic factors—including the nidus diameter and eccentricity index—were evaluated over a minimum 24-month follow-up period. Results: Technical success was achieved in all cases. Overall clinical success was 94.3% (96.2% MWA vs. 92.6% RFA, p = 1.000). Two recurrences (4%) occurred, unrelated to device type. One major complication (1.9%, third-degree skin burn after MWA) was noted. Median nidus diameter was 7 mm; lesions ≥10 mm were significantly linked to failure (p = 0.009). Logistic regression identified nidus size as the strongest outcome predictor, with the eccentricity index showing a borderline effect. Conclusions: Both RFA and MWA are safe and effective for OO, with comparable outcomes and low recurrence rates. Treatment selection should prioritize lesion-specific factors—particularly nidus size ≥ 10 mm and geometry—rather than device type. Lesion size (≥10 mm) and geometry—not ablation modality—were the principal determinants of treatment success. Individualized modality selection based on these features may optimize outcomes....
Objective: To explore radiomic texture features from multi-phase contrast-enhanced CT as potential predictors of microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: This exploratory single-center study retrospectively analyzed 49 patients (54 HCC lesions) who underwent liver resection between 2018–2022. Radiomic analysis extracted 642 features across arterial, venous, and delayed phases using original and 5 mm-expanded tumor margins. Results: The 20–50 mm lesion subgroup (n = 37) provided the most reliable results, with arterial phase texture homogeneity features achieving AUC 0.772. Features from lesions <20 mm (n = 14, 4 MVI+) showed clear evidence of overfitting and were excluded from primary analyses. Delayed phase features showed preliminary associations (AUC 0.8) in a small LR-3/4 subset (n = 20). Limitations: This hypothesis-generating study has significant limitations including small sample size, singlecenter design, and lack of correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: Multi-phase CT radiomic analysis shows potential for MVI prediction in intermediate-sized HCC lesions, though external validation in larger cohorts is essential before clinical application....
Loading....