Objectives To explore the value of Silenz MRA in the follow-up assessment of intracranial aneurysms embolization. Methods Fifteen patients underwent coiled embolization were prospectively collected. Silenz and time of flight MRA (TOF MRA) were performed on the same day as DSA examination. Two neuro-radiologists scored the structures of peripheral vascular with a 4-score grading system and evaluate embolism status (two-grade montreal scale). The scores of vascular structures were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Weighted Kappa statistics was used to assess the inter-observer agreement on each MRA scoring, the inter-modality agreement between MRA and DSA, the inter-modality agreement between the MRA methods. Results There were 11 cases with complete occlusion, 4 cases with residual aneurysm revealed by DSA. For depiction, Silenz MRA was significantly better than TOF MRA [(3.50 ± 0.62) vs. (3.00 ± 0.63), Z=-3.12, P=0.002]. Inter-modality agreement of Silenz MRA and DSA was excellent (Kappa=0.82), while the agreement of TOF MRA and DSA was moderate(Kappa=0.60). Inter-modality agreement between Silenz MRA and TOF MRA was good (Kappa=0.76). Conclusions Silenz MRA is superior to TOF MRA for depiction of vascular structures and evaluation of embolism status, which is highly related with DSA. It has the value in the postoperative follow-up evaluation.

Objective To explore the value of single source dual energy CT for quantitative measurement of liver fat fraction in the rabbit model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Thirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into five groups.Six rabbits were fed with standard chow as a control group for 3 weeks.TwentyGfour rabbits were divided into four groups and fed with highGfat, highGcholesterol diet to reach different stage of NAFLD model for 1 ,3 ,4 and 8 weeks respectively before dualGenergy CT scanning.1 40 keV polychromatic CT values (QC),70 keV monochromatic CT values (Mono 70 keV),slope,effective atomic number (EffectiveGZ)and fat concentration based on dualGenergy CT fat decomposition (Fat/Water)were measured.Liver samples were obtained to measure the fat fraction and staged according to Burnt staging system.Correlations between different CT indexes and fat fraction were analyzed.ROC was used to evaluate the diagnosis efficacy of different parameters.Results Correlation between fat concentration based on dualGenergy CT fat decomposition and fat fraction (r＝0.936)was better than that between 140 keV polychromatic CT values (r＝－0.838)and 70 keV monochromatic CT values (r＝－0.906),as well as effective atomic number (r＝－0.858)and slope (r＝0.863).In terms of diagnostic performance of material decomposition fat imaging,the values of area under the curve were 0.944 (stage 0 vs.stage 1 or more severe),0.995 (stage 1 or less severe vs.stage 2 or more severe)and 1 (stage 2 or less severe vs.stage 3)with optimal cutoff values of 59.310,99.5 17 and 22 3.02 3 mg/cm3 ,respectively.Conclusion The dualGenergy CT can quantitatively measure liver fat concentration as a noninvasive surrogate bioGmarker in the rabbit model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.DualGenergy CT derived material decomposition fat images can provide more diagnostic information at the early stage of NAFLD.

Objective:To evaluate image quality and diagnostic performance of silent MR angiography (MRA) and discuss the feasibility of silent MRA in diagnosing intracranial aneurysms.Methods:Twenty seven patients suspected with cerebrovascular disorders and 30 intracranial aneurysms in Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, were enrolled prospectively in this study from December 2015 to December 2018. Silent and time of flight (TOF) MRA were performed on the same day prior to CTA examination. The corresponding MRA images were independently and blindly evaluated by two experienced neuroradiologists in the aspects of signal homogeneity, lesion conspicuity, venous signal/artifact and diagnostic confidence (4-point scale). The aneurysms were divided into tiny (≤ 3 mm) and non-tinyaneurysm groups(> 3 mm) according to the measured diameters of aneurysms. The differences in image quality ratings between silent MRA and TOF MRA were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to test the consistency of measurements between MRAs (silent MRA, TOF MRA) and CTA.Results:CTA revealed 32 intracranial aneurysms. For silent MRA and TOF MRA, the scores of signal homogeneity were 3.38±0.49 and 3.00±0.62, andthe scores of venous signal/artifact were 3.77±0.42 and 2.65±0.48.Significant differences were found between the two MRAs in these aspects ( Z=-2.21, P=0.02; Z=-5.69, P=0.01). The scores of lesion conspicuity were 3.19±0.56 and 3.15±0.46, and the scores of diagnostic confidence were 3.27±0.44 and 3.12±0.51.There were no significant differences found in these aspects ( P>0.05).The ICC coefficient was excellentfor silent MRA (0.94, 95%CI 0.82- 0.98)and was good for TOF MRA (0.72, 95%CI 0.30-0.91) in tiny aneurysm group. The ICC coefficient was excellent (silent MRA, 0.98, 95%CI 0.95-0.99; TOF MRA, 0.95, 95%CI 0.87-0.98) for both MRA in non-tiny aneurysm group. Conclusions:Compared with TOF MRA, silent MRA could achieve higher image quality and higher diagnostic confidence, and higher consistency with CTA. Silent MRA can be a promising non-contrast-enhanced alternative MRA technique in clinical setting.

Objective:To investigate the stability and feasibility of improved silent MRA technique based on hybrid-arterial spin labeling(ASL) for imaging intracranial arterial stenosis.Methods:From September 2019 to May 2020, totally 35 patients with suspected intracranial vascular stenosis in Department of Neurology of Northern Jiangsu People′s Hospital were enrolled in this study. Silent MRA and improved silent MRA based on hybrid-ASL technique were performed respectively. The acquisition noise (noise measurement and subjective score) of two kinds of MRA examination were evaluated respectively. Two neuroradiologists performed image quality scoring and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurement of intracranial arteries (including internal carotid artery, vertebrobasilar artery, anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery) in the two kinds of MRA images using a double-blind, completely randomized method. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the image quality and SNR of two kinds of MRA images in each segment. Two experts assessed the degree of stenosis at the site of confirmed intracranial artery stenosis. Kappa test was used to assess interobserver and intermodel agreement. Results:There was no significant difference in acquisition noise between improved silent MRA and silent MRA ( P>0.05). In all five segments measured, the image quality scores of internal carotid artery [(4.40±0.49)scores], anterior cerebral artery[(4.30±0.33)scores] and middle cerebral artery [(4.46±0.34)scores] in improved silent MRA were higher than those in silent MRA images [(4.02±0.43)scores, (4.02±0.31)scores, (4.02±0.31)scores; t=2.825, 2.877, 1.683, all P<0.05)]. The SNR of internal carotid artery (9.11±1.23) and middle cerebral artery (8.77±1.87) in improved silent MRA images was higher than that in silent MRA images (7.83±1.33, 8.06±2.67, respectively; t=11.154, 3.268, both P<0.05). A total of 24 patients (38 lesions) with intracranial vascular stenosis were diagnosed by CTA. Improved silent MRA (Kappa=0.89, 95%CI 0.82-0.95) and silent MRA (Kappa=0.85, 95%CI 0.77-0.92) were highly consistent among observers in evaluating the degree of cerebrovascular stenosis.The results of improved silent MRA were highly consistent with those of CTA (Kappa=0.92, 95%CI 0.87-0.98), and those of silent MRA were highly consistent with those of CTA (Kappa=0.85, 95%CI 0.77-0.92). Conclusions:The improved silent MRA is feasible to improve the imaging quality and signal uniformity through efficient marking based on keeping the low noise features. In the diagnosis of intracranial stenosis and occlusive disease, the stability of improved silent MRA imaging improves the diagnostic efficiency of stenosis to a certain extent.

Objective To discuss the clinical value of systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)in predicting the prognosis of patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ECCA)treated with biliary stenting combined with 125I seeds implantation.Methods A total of 128 patients with unresectable ECCA,who received biliary stenting combined with 125I seeds implantation at the Interventional Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University of China between August 2018 and August 2021,were enrolled in this study.The peripheral blood routine testing was performed within 3 days before operation,based on which the SII was calculated.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to determine the optimal cut-off value of SII,based on which the patients were divided into high-SII group and low-SII group.Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent factors affecting patient prognosis.The Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted to analyze the one-year survival.Results The optimal cut-off value of SII was 1 050,the sensitivity was 66.0％,the specificity was 69.3％,and the area under ROC curve of SII was 0.676.The one-year survival rate of patients with ECCA in the high-SII group was significantly lower than that in the low-SII group(P＜0.05).Univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that vascular invasion,T stage,adjuvant chemotherapy,CA19-9,and preoperative SII were the important factors affecting the prognosis of patients with ECCA.Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that T stage,CA19-9,and preoperative SII were the independent risk factors for patient prognosis,while adjuvant chemotherapy was a protective factor.The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the one-year survival rate in high-SII group was remarkably lower than that in the low-SII group.Conclusion Preoperative SII has an important value in evaluating the prognosis of patients with ECCA who are treated with biliary stenting combined with 125I seed implantation.(J Intervent Radiol,2023,32:1221-1225)