Objective To explore the functional changes of the glial lymphatic system in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH)by MR diffusion tensor imaging(DTI).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 32 sICH patients(sICH group)and 31 healthy volunteers(control group)were retrospectively collected,and the diffusivity values of DTI in different direc-tions were collected from all the subjects,the diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space(DTI-ALPS)index was calculated,the difference of DTI-ALPS index values between the sICH group and the control group was compared,the changes in the function of the glial lymphatic system in sICH patients were evaluated,and the correlation between DTI-ALPS index and clinical indi-cators in sICH patients was further analyzed.Results The DTI-ALPS index of cerebral hemispheres on the lesions side of sICH group was significantly lower than that on the unaffected side(P＜0.01,t=-5.03),and lower than that on the left side of control group(P＜0.01,t=-9.85)and the right side(P＜0.01,t=-8.80).In addition,vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)tes-ting was performed in 8 of the 32 patients,and the levels[(187.40±19.11)pg/mL]were significantly higher than the normal range(0-142.20 pg/mL).Conclusion Through the quantitative analysis of the DTI-ALPS index,the damage to the function of the glial lymphatic system of sICH can be reflected,and perhaps the mechanism of pathophysiological changes in the brain after sICH can be reflected from a new perspective by using MR DTI technology.

Objective To explore the abnormal changes of resting state functional connectivity of pain networks in patients with cervical discogenic pain(CDP).Methods The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data of 40 patients with CDP and 40 age-and gender-matched healthy controls(HC)were collected.The seed of posterior insula(PI)was used to define the pain network,and seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity analyses were performed to explore the difference of functional connectivity between CDP patients and HC,the associations between functional connectivity and clinical measures were analyzed.Results The functional connectivity between bilateral PI and bilateral thalamus(THA)was increased,and the functional connectivity between left PI and middle cingulate cortex(MCC),left postcentral gyrus(PoCG)and MCC were decreased in CDP patients.Moreover,the func-tional connectivity between right PI and left THA was positively correlated with visual analogue scale(VAS),and the functional connectivity between left PoCG and MCC was negatively correlated with VAS.Conclusion Functional connectivity abnormalities exist in pain network resting state of CDP patients,which may provide an imaging basis for revealing the neuropathological mechanism of pain in CDP patients.

Objective To assess the clinical and cranial CT/MR features of leptomeningeal metastasis(LM)from lung adenocar-cinoma with non-enhanced T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery(T2-FLAIR)hyperintensity on the brainstem surface.Methods Eleven cases with LM from lung adenocarcinoma with non-enhanced T2-FLAIR hyperintensity on the brainstem surface confirmed by cere-brospinal fluid cytology were analyzed retrospectively.The clinical features included the pathological classification of the primary tumor,genetic testing results,and treatment methods.The imaging features included lesion location,MRI(T1 and T2)signals,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)signal,enhancement patterns,CT density characteristics.Results The features of non-enhanced T2-FLAIR hyperintensity on the brainstem surface of 11 cases among 98 patients(11.2％)with LM from lung adenocarcinoma were reviewed.All patients were lung adenocarcinomas with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)gene mutation and were diagnosed with LM after receiving EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors(EGFR-TKIs)targeted therapy.There were 5 cases located in the pons,2 cases in the midbrain and pons,and 4 cases involving the midbrain,pons and medulla oblongata with the symmetrical band-like high signal on non-enhanced T2-FLAIR imaging.On T1WI,1 case showed slightly high signal,10 cases showed equal signal.On DWI,4 cases showed high signal,7 cases showed equal signal,and on enhanced T1WI,1 case showed mild enhancement,and 10 cases showed no enhancement.Additionally,on cranial CT scans,1 case showed calcification on the brainstem.Conclusion Non-enhanced T2-FLAIR hyperintensity on the brainstem surface may be more common among LM patient from lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR gene muta-tions and TKIs treatment,with the most frequent site being the pons.The features may include non-enhanced T2-FLAIR high signal,non-enhancement on enhanced T1 WI,restricted diffusion on DWI,and calcifications on CT imaging.

Objective To study the correlation between carotid bifurcation geometry and atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability using high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging(HRMR-VWI),and to seek the potential predictor for vulnerable plaque for-mation.Methods The clinical information and imaging data of 104 patients with carotid bifurcation plaque detected by HRMR-VWI were analyzed retrospectively.Carotid bifurcation geometric parameters was measured to determine whether the carotid bifurcation plaque was vulnerable plaque,and they were divided into vulnerable plaque group(69 cases)and stable plaque group(35 cases).The difference of carotid bifurcation geometry of various groups was investigated,and the influence of common traditional risk factors to obtain independent risk factors was adjusted.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn.Results Among 104 carotid artery,vulnerable plaque group had larger bifurcation angle(54.00 vs 48.80,P＜0.001),less luminal expansion(1.76 vs 1.94,P=0.002)and less outflow/inflow area ratio(0.79 vs 0.88,P＜0.001)compared with stable plaque group.After adjusting,binary logistic regres-sion indicated that bifurcation angle[odds ratio(OR)1.132 per 10° increase;95％confidence interval(CI)1.044-1.225],luminal expan-sion(OR 0.084 per 1 increase;95％CI 0.014-0.492)and outflow/inflow area ratio(OR 0.357 per 0.01 increase;95％CI 0.177-0.723)were independent risk factors of vulnerable plaque formation.Bringing them into the final model,the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.878 above the basic model(AUC=0.664).Conclusion Bifur-cation angle,luminal expansion and outflow/inflow area ratio are independently associated with vulnerable plaque formation.Carotid bifurcation geometry have the certain predictive efficiency of vulnerable plaque formation and have the incremental diagnostic value to traditional risk factors,which are expected to be effective imaging makers for the formation of vulnerable plaque.

Objective To analyze the imaging features of pulmonary artery sarcoma(PAS)on CT and MRI.Methods The clini-cal features,CT and MRI findings of 21 patients with pathologically confirmed PAS were analyzed retrospectively.Results All PAS lesions involved the central pulmonary artery,of which 15 cases involved the main pulmonary artery and bilateral pulmonary artery trunks,4 cases involved the main pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery trunk,1 case involved the main pulmonary artery and left pulmonary artery trunk,and 1 case involved the right pulmonary artery trunk.Five cases involved the pulmonary artery valve and right ventricular outflow tract as well.Nineteen cases of PAS showed complete filling defects in the central pulmonary artery,and the other 2 cases presented with nodular or lobulated filling defects attached to the pulmonary artery wall.The proximal margin of 19 PAS lesions was bulging or lobulated,and the distal pulmonary artery of 9 PAS lesions showed aneurysm-like dilatation.On MRI,all 13 cases of PAS were hyperintense on fat-suppressed T2WI,of which 11 cases were hyperintense on diffusion weighted imaging(DWI),and all lesions demonstrated significantly heterogeneous enhancement or delayed enhancement.Conclusion On computed tomography pul-monary angiography(CTPA),filling defects which grow expansively in the central pulmonary artery,and which have proximal bul-ging shape or distal aneurysm-like dilatation are highly suggestive of PAS.On contrast-enhanced MRI,the significantly heterogene-ous enhancement mass in the central pulmonary artery should be highly suspected of PAS.

Objective To investigate the value of the volume percentage of solid component in differential diagnosis of stage Ⅰ lung adenocarcinoma subtypes,and to predict the optimal critical CT value of solid component.Methods A total of 962 nodules with sur-gical pathological findings confirmed as adenocarcinoma in situ(AIS)or pulmonary adenocarcinoma and manifested as subsolid nod-ules on thin-section CT were analyzed retrospectively,and divided the lesions into:(1)AIS(n=350)or pulmonary adenocarcinoma(n=612)groups;and(2)minimally invasive adenocarcinoma(MIA)(n=213)or invasive adenocarcinoma(IAC)(n=399)groups based on pathological findings.The volume percentage of solid components within pulmonary nodules was measured via CT density histogram analysis at different thresholds,the diagnostic efficacy of different thresholds was analyzed and the optimal critical CT val-ues of solid component was found.Results In the AIS versus pulmonary adenocarcinoma groups,age,mass,and volume percentage of solid component were statistically significant(P＜0.001);the CT threshold of-350 HU had the highest diagnostic efficacy[area under the curve(AUC)0.859,accuracy 81.69％,sensitivity 85.60％,and specificity 74.86％,respetively],and the critical value of volume percentage of solid component determined under this threshold was 8.3％.In the MIA versus IAC groups,age(P=0.017),mass(P＜0.001),and volume percentage of solid component(P＜0.001)were statistically significant;the CT threshold of-350 HU had the highest diagnostic efficacy(AUC 0.857,accuracy 78.27％,sensitivity 82.91％,and specificity 69.48％,respectively),and the critical value of volume percentage of solid component determined under this threshold was 16.9％.Conclusion The volume percentage of solid component measured based on CT density histogram analysis may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of early stage lung ade-nocarcinoma subtypes.

Objective To study the application value of multi-parameter imaging of Revolution energy spectrum CT in identifying the tumor-lung interface between central lung cancer and accompanying atelectasis.Methods The spectral CT imaging data of 73 patients with central lung cancer and accompanying atelectasis confirmed by pathology were collected.The polychromatic image,the best monochromatic image,the best monochromatic image combined with iodine concentration map and the effective atomic number(Eff-Z)of the tumor-lung interface in the arterial,venous and delayed phases were compared,and the CT value,iodine concentration(IC)value,Eff-Z and the slope of energy spectrum curve(λHU)of tumors and atelectasis in the venous phase were also compared.Results(1)On tri-phase CT,the subjective score of the tumor-lung interface in the venous phase was the highest.(2)There were differences among the subjective scores of tumor-lung interface on polychromatic image,best monochromatic image,best monochromatic image com-bined with iodine concentration map and Eff-Z on tri-phasic enhanced CT.The subjective score of the best monochromatic image combined with iodine concentration map was the highest,followed by the best monochromatic image.(3)There were significant differences in CT values,IC values,Eff-Z and λHU between tumors and atelectasis in venous phase,with the highest difference of IC value.Conclusion Revolution energy spectrum CT can identify the tumor-lung interface between central lung cancer and accompanying ate-lectasis through multi-parameter imaging,which may provide helpful information for the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of the disease.

Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical and imaging features of pulmonary nodular lymphoid hyperplasia(PNLH)and its pathological features.Methods The clinical and imaging features of PNLH in 9 patients were analyzed retrospec-tively.Results Of the 9 patients with PNLH,5 were found incidentally while other 4 presented with chest symptoms.Laboratory tests showed no specificity,and the lesions were located under the pleura with adjacent pleural indentation.Most lesions were solid with spiculation sign or spiculate protuberance.Hypodense area and vocule were visible within some lesions.Enhanced scan showed the lesion with marked enhancement,however most did not had lymph node enlargement and pleural effusion.Conclusion The clin-ical manifestations of PNLH are non-specific,and the imaging characteristics overlap with those of malignant lung tumors.Thus the diagnosis of PNLH relies on the pathological examination.

Objective To investigate the correlation between plaque characteristics and perivascular fat attenuation index(FAI)in patients with coronary heart disease by coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)based on artificial intelligence.Methods The clinical and CCTA imaging data of 154 patients suspected to be coronary heart disease were retrospectively collected.The rela-tionship between FAI and multiple factors affecting plaque was analyzed to identify the independent risk factors affecting FAI measure-ments.Results The FAI values in calcified plaque(CP),non-calcified plaque(NCP)and mixed plaque of left anterior descending artery(LAD)were statistically significant(P＜0.05).There were significantly different of FAI values among NCP and mixed plaque in different coronary arteries(P＜0.05),while the FAI values of CP in different coronary arteries had no statistical significance(P＞0.05).The FAI values proximal coronary artery plaques were independently correlated with low density plaque and plaque location.Conclusion The location of the coronary artery plaque and the low density plaque are FAI independent factors.The analysis based on plaque around FAI helps to identify low density plaque of high-risk coronary artery plaque,which may be monitor plaque inflammation more accu-rate around the change.

Objective To investigate the correlation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and coronary artery plaque and perivascular adipose tissue(PVAT)parameters.Methods A total of 119 patients who underwent liver ultrasound and coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)examination were selected and divided into NAFLD group(50 cases)and non-NAFLD group(69 cases).The types of coronary artery plaque,plaque vulnerability,plaque involvement length,plaque load,vascular remode-ling,degree of vessel stenosis,and parameters of pericoronary fat[pericoronary fat attenuation index(pFAI),pericoronary fat total volume of voxels(pFV),perivascular water attenuation index(PVWI)]were evaluated.The data were analyzed statistically.Results The incidence of vulnerable plaque in NAFLD group was higher than that in non-NAFLD group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.001).The incidence of positive vascular remodeling in NAFLD group was higher than that in non-NAFLD group,the incidence of no remodeling was the opposite,and the differences were statistically significant(P=0.001).The incidence of non-calcified plaque in NAFLD group was higher than that in non-NAFLD group,and the incidence of calcified plaque was the opposite(P=0.011).The incidence of severe stenosis in NAFLD group was higher than that in non-NAFLD group,and the incidence of moderate stenosis was the opposite,with statistical significance(P=0.004).The pFAI and plaque load in NAFLD group was higher than that in non-NAFLD group,and the pFV value was lower than that in non-NAFLD group,with statistical significance(P＜0.001,P=0.029,P=0.002).Conclusion The incidences of vulnerable plaque,positive remodeling,non-calcified plaque,vascular severe stenosis,and plaque load are significantly higher in NAFLD group than those in non-NAFLD group.In addition,pFAI increases and pFV decreases in NAFLD group.