1.Application of deep learning models based on super-resolution endorectal ultrasound in predicting perineural invasion in rectal cancer
Yajiao GAN ; Qiping HU ; Xinyi WANG ; Yixi SU ; Qingling SHEN ; Minling ZHUO ; Yi TANG ; Xiaodong LIN ; Yue YU ; Youjia LIN ; Qingfu QIAN ; Zhikui CHEN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(10):848-857
Objective:To develop a deep learning model based on super-resolution endorectal ultrasound(ERUS)images for the preoperative prediction of perineural invasion(PNI)in patients with rectal cancer,thereby providing a reference for risk stratification and individualized treatment planning.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 382 patients with rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between June 2019 and February 2024. Patients were randomly divided into a training set( n=305)and a test set( n=77)at a ratio of 8∶2,and further grouped into PNI-negative group and PNI-positive group subgroups based on pathological results. Super-resolution ultrasound images were generated from original ERUS images using a generative adversarial network(GAN). Deep convolutional neural networks were developed based on features from intratumoral and peritumoral regions to identify the optimal region of interest(ROI). The dSR5_ResNet18 and dSR5_ResNet50 models were constructed using the super-resolution images with a 5-pixel peritumoral extension. Representative clinical features were selected for subgroup analysis based on sample size and intergroup statistical differences between PNI-positive and PNI-negative patients. Forest plots were used to evaluate model applicability and robustness across subgroups. Results:The dSR5_ResNet18 model,built using super-resolution images of the tumor combined with a 5-pixel peritumoral region,achieved the best predictive performance,with an AUC of 0.867(95% CI=0.782 - 0.952)in the test set. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the dSR5_ResNet18 model provided the greatest net clinical benefit. Forest plot analysis indicated strong generalizability of the models across subgroups such as pathological N stage,maximum lesion length,and lymph node enlargement,though relatively weaker performance was observed in the carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)subgroup. Among all models,dSR5_ResNet18 exhibited the most consistent performance across subgroups,with the narrowest confidence intervals and highest robustness. Conclusions:The deep learning model incorporating ERUS-based super-resolution reconstruction demonstrated excellent performance in the preoperative prediction of PNI in rectal cancer. It offers significant advantages in image quality and generalizability,and may serve as a valuable tool to assist clinicians in formulating personalized treatment strategies.
2.Application of deep learning models based on super-resolution endorectal ultrasound in predicting perineural invasion in rectal cancer
Yajiao GAN ; Qiping HU ; Xinyi WANG ; Yixi SU ; Qingling SHEN ; Minling ZHUO ; Yi TANG ; Xiaodong LIN ; Yue YU ; Youjia LIN ; Qingfu QIAN ; Zhikui CHEN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2025;34(10):848-857
Objective:To develop a deep learning model based on super-resolution endorectal ultrasound(ERUS)images for the preoperative prediction of perineural invasion(PNI)in patients with rectal cancer,thereby providing a reference for risk stratification and individualized treatment planning.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 382 patients with rectal cancer who underwent total mesorectal excision at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between June 2019 and February 2024. Patients were randomly divided into a training set( n=305)and a test set( n=77)at a ratio of 8∶2,and further grouped into PNI-negative group and PNI-positive group subgroups based on pathological results. Super-resolution ultrasound images were generated from original ERUS images using a generative adversarial network(GAN). Deep convolutional neural networks were developed based on features from intratumoral and peritumoral regions to identify the optimal region of interest(ROI). The dSR5_ResNet18 and dSR5_ResNet50 models were constructed using the super-resolution images with a 5-pixel peritumoral extension. Representative clinical features were selected for subgroup analysis based on sample size and intergroup statistical differences between PNI-positive and PNI-negative patients. Forest plots were used to evaluate model applicability and robustness across subgroups. Results:The dSR5_ResNet18 model,built using super-resolution images of the tumor combined with a 5-pixel peritumoral region,achieved the best predictive performance,with an AUC of 0.867(95% CI=0.782 - 0.952)in the test set. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the dSR5_ResNet18 model provided the greatest net clinical benefit. Forest plot analysis indicated strong generalizability of the models across subgroups such as pathological N stage,maximum lesion length,and lymph node enlargement,though relatively weaker performance was observed in the carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)subgroup. Among all models,dSR5_ResNet18 exhibited the most consistent performance across subgroups,with the narrowest confidence intervals and highest robustness. Conclusions:The deep learning model incorporating ERUS-based super-resolution reconstruction demonstrated excellent performance in the preoperative prediction of PNI in rectal cancer. It offers significant advantages in image quality and generalizability,and may serve as a valuable tool to assist clinicians in formulating personalized treatment strategies.
3.Application of shear wave elastography in T restaging for locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
Qingfu QIAN ; Minling ZHUO ; Yi TANG ; Xiaodong LIN ; Ensheng XUE ; Zhikui CHEN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2024;33(1):71-76
Objective:To investigate the application value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the evaluation of T re-staging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer.Methods:Clinical, endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) and SWE data of 271 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent nCRT and total mesorectal excision in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from October 2021 to March 2023 were prospectively collected. The independent predictors for low T staging were analyzed and screened, and the Logistic regression model was constructed. An independent test set was used to validate the prediction performance of the models and compare them with the diagnostic results of sonographers.Results:Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that Emean of the mesentery around the lesion, thickness, and enlarged lymph nodes around the rectum were the independent predictors for low T staging, and the odds ratios were 1.089, 1.214, 0.183, respectively. The Logistic regression model A established by Emean, thickness and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesion and the Logistic regression model B established by Emean around the lesion had high diagnostic efficiencies (area under the ROC curve were 0.931, 0.918, respectively, the accuracy were 0.888 and 0.887, respectively). There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the two models ( P=1.000), and both models were significantly higher than that of sonographers (all P<0.001). Conclusions:SWE can effectively predict whether the tumor is of low T staging after nCRT in locally advanced rectal cancer, and can be used as an important supplement to ERUS in evaluating the T re-staging of rectal cancer after nCRT.
4. The application value of transrectal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of anorectal malignant melanoma
Xiujuan ZHANG ; Zhikui CHEN ; Qingfu QIAN ; Xiubin TANG ; Xiaodong LIN ; Qin YE ; Ensheng XUE ; Liwu LIN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2020;29(1):43-46
Objective:
To investigate the value of transrectal ultrasonography(TRUS) in the preoperative diagnosis and tumor T-staging of anorectal malignant melanoma(ARMM).
Methods:
The clinical and ultrasound data of 19 patients(22 lesions) with ARMM confirmed by pathology from February 2008 to Apirl 2019 in Fujian Medical University Affiliated Union Hospital were collected. TRUS was performed within one week before pathological examination. The sonographic features were summarized, ultrasonic typing was performed according to the lesion size and growth pattern, and the accuracies of preoperative ultrasound diagnosis and tumor staging were analyzed.
Results:
Among the 22 lesions, 63.64%(14/22) were with a distance of ≤3 cm between the anal verge and the lower margin of tumor, 68.18%(15/22) with regular shape, 81.82%(18/22) with clear boundary, and 63.64%(14/22) with Adler blood flow grading from Ⅱ to Ⅲ. The preoperative TRUS diagnostic coincidence rate was 73.68%(14/19), and the tumor T-staging accuracy was 75%(12/16), respectively.
Conclusions
TRUS exhibits certain sonographic characteristics, with high preoperative diagnosis rate and tumor T-staging accuracy in anorectal malignant melanoma, which is of great guiding significance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
5. The ultrasonic appearances of primary testicular lymphoma
Xiubin TANG ; Ensheng XUE ; Liwu LIN ; Qingfu QIAN ; Lihong XIE ; Xiujuan ZHANG ; Zhikui CHEN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2019;28(11):990-993
Objective:
To explore the sonographic features of primary testicular lymphoma(PLT).
Methods:
The sonographic features of 16 PLT patients confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
Sixteen PLT patients were typed into 3 ultrasonic patterns: ①The diffuse homogeneous echo type: 2 cases, the ultrasonic features were homogeneous sieve-like hypoechoic echo, the blood flow signal was rich and radially distributed, with interstisial fibrosis inapparently under-microscope. ②The diffuse uneven homogeneous echo type: 9 cases, the ultrasonic features lobulated or map-like heterogeneous hypoechoic features, the blood flow signal was rich in linear distribution, and interstisial fibrosis proliferated to form fibrous septa under-microscope. ③The focal nodular pattern echo type: 5 cases, the ultrasonic features were homogeneous hypoechoic nodules, the blood flow signal was few, interstisial fibrosis hyperplasia surrounding the tumor under-microscope.
Conclusions
Ultrasonic appearances of primary testicular lymphoma are closely related to its pathologic characteristics, the recognization of their relations contributes to improve the diagnostic value of ultrasound.
6.Evaluation of the protective effects of matrix metalloproteinases inhibitor on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury by contrast-enhanced ultrasound
Qingfu QIAN ; Ensheng XUE ; Zhikui CHEN ; Wenjin LIN ; Wenrong LIN ; Cong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2018;27(3):265-269
Objective To explore novel lipid microbubbles with matrix metalloproteinase-9(TMB-9) targeting in the radiography evaluation of the protective effects of doxycycline on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury by contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS). Methods Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into control groups (group S1 and group S2),ischemia reperfusion groups (group R1 and group R2) and doxy intervention groups (group D1 and group D2).In the control groups,threading without ligation was performed after the exposure of the spermatic cord.The establishment of ischemia-reperfusion model was performed in ischemia reperfusion groups and doxy intervention groups,followed by 1-day feeding for group R1 and D1 as well as 4-day feeding for group R2 and D2.Group D1,group D2 and group S1 were given intraperitoneal injection of doxy 20 mg· kg -1· d-1.Group R1,group R2 and group S2 were given intraperitoneal injection of equivalent normal saline.MB and TMB-9 CEUS were undertook preoperative and postoperative respectively in each group.And the changes of the contrast parameters were analyzed, including PI,TP,Slope,MTT,DT/2 and AUC.The testes were taken for pathological examination after operation.Results TMB-9 contrast parameters of the group D1 including PI and AUC were significantly decreased,MTT and DT/2 decreased( P < 0.05),compared with Group R1.While compared with MB, TMB-9 contrast parameters of group D1 including PI and AUC were increased,MTT and DT/2 prolonged (P<0.05).TMB-9 contrast parameters of Group D2 including PI and AUC were significantly decreased, MTT and DT/2 decreased( P <0.01),compared with Group R2.TMB-9 contrast parameters of Group D2 only PI increased( P <0.01),while compared with MB.Compared with the ischemia reperfusion group,the expression of MMP-9 in the vascular basement membrane of doxy intervention groups was significantly decreased ( P < 0.01).Conclusions TMB-9 can sensitively and objectively evaluate testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury of testicular microvasculature at different reperfusion times before and after doxy intervention.
7.Application of ultrasonography in diagnosing and preoperative TNM staging for neuroendocrine breast cancer
Xiaoshuang CHEN ; Liwu LIN ; Ensheng XUE ; Zhikui CHEN ; Yimi HE
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2015;24(10):894-897
Objective To investigate the value of ultrasonography in diagnosis and preoperative TNM staging for neuroendocrine breast cancer(NEBC).Methods The ultrasonic characteristics of 12 NEBC and 104 invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC) confirmed by pathology,as well as the metastatic lymph nodes were analyzed retrospectively.The TNM-staging for NEBC by preoperative ultrasonography was evaluated according to pathology.And the relation between lesions size and Ki-67 was then analyzad.Results NEBC lesions mainly showed solid and heterogeneous hypoechoic(66.67%),irregular shape(66.67%),clear border (58.33 %),posterior enhancement(58.33 %) and internal blood flow(grade 0-Ⅰ) (66.67 %).The detection rate of unclear border,irregular edge,hyperechoic halos and uneven internal echo was lower than IDC(P < 0.05).Meanwhile,NEBC had a lower detection rate of calcification and internal blood flow(grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ)than IDC (P >0.05).And the detection rate of more round or oval lesions were higher in NEBC than that in IDC (P =0.001).According to pathology,the ultrasonic coincidence rate for T staging of NEBC and pathology was 75%,and for T1-staging was 100%,for T2-staging was 80%.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ultrasonic diagnosis on lymph node metastases was 66.67%,88.89%,66.67% and 88.89%,respectively.There was a positive correlation between focal maximum diameter with Ki-67 (r=0.026,P=0.004).Conclusions It shows certain value of ultrasonography in diagnosis and preoperative TNM staging for NEBC.
8.Comparative study of ultrasound characteristics on microinvasive breast carcinoma,ductal carcinoma in situ and ;invasive ductal carcinoma
Xiaoshuang CHEN ; Weili WEI ; Zhikui CHEN ; Liwu LIN ; Ensheng XUE ; Liyun YU ; Yimi HE
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2015;(8):688-691
Objective To investigate the ultrasound characteristics of microinvasive breast carcinoma (MBC),and to improve its detection rate.Methods Sixty-five MBC,85 breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)and 99 breast invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC)confirmed by pathology were divided into mass type and ductal type according to ultrasonic manifestaions,and the ultrasound characteristics were retrospectively analyzed.Results MBC showed 89.23%(58/65)mass type with 64 lesions and 10.77%(7/65)ductal type. DCIS showed 88.24% (75/85 )mass type with 78 lesions and 1 1 .76% (10/85 )ductal type.IDC group showed all mass type with 102 lesions.In MBC,most mass type lesions were solid and hypoechoic with a mean maximum diameter,which was larger than DCIS,but similar with IDC(P >0.05).More mass type lesions with irregular shape and calcification were found in MBC than in DCIS(P < 0.05 ),while similar with IDC(P >0.05).The detection rate of spiculate margin in mass type lesions of MBC was higher than DCIS(P <0.05),but lower than IDC(P <0.05).Less mass type lesions showed unclear border,high A/T ratio and hyperechoic halos in MBC than in IDC(P <0.05),but similar with DCIS(P >0.05).More ductal type lesions displayed indistinct duct wall in MBC than DCIS(P <0.05 ).Meanwhile,MBC had a higher detection rate of internal blood flow(grade 2-3)than DCIS.Conclusions There are more lesions with large diameter,irregular shape,short spiculate margin and calcification in MBC than DCIS.Compared with IDC, MBC lesions are atypical in spiculate margin,and less lesions show hyperechoic halos and high A/T ratio. To be familiar with ultrasound characteristics of MBC is significant for improving its ultrasound detection rate.
9.Comparative analysis on ultrasonic and mammographic characteristics of breast chronic inlfammation
Min, LIN ; Weili, WEI ; Zhikui, CHEN ; Liwu, LIN ; Ensheng, XUE ; Yimi, HE ; Liyun, YU
Chinese Journal of Medical Ultrasound (Electronic Edition) 2014;(3):50-53
Objective To compare the ultrasonic and mammographic appearances of breast chronic inflammation (BCI). Methods The ultrasonic and mammographic features of 20 pathologically conifrmed BCI cases were analyzed retrospectively. All cases were of single lesion. Fisher deifnite probability method was used to compare the differences between ultrasonic and mammographic appearances as well as the diagnostic coincidence rate. Results Under ultrasonography, the mean longitudinal diameter/transverse diameter (L/T) ratio of 20 lessions was calcultated as 0.47±0.15, 17 lesions were of irregular shape, unclear boundary and inhomogeneous hypoecho, 13 lesions were of posterior echo enhancement, the blood lfow of 10 lesions belonged to 0-Ⅰ, and the other 10 belonged toⅡ-Ⅲ. The lesion shape, boundary and homogeneity detected by mammography were coincident to those by ultrasonography (P=1.00, 1.00, 0.61, respectively). In 5 lesions, dotted high-echoes were detected by ultrasonography, however no calciifcation was found by mammography. Meanwhile, 1 lesion with sporadic calciifcation detected by mammography was missed by ultrasonography. Ultrasonography detected 5 cases with axillary lymphadenopathy, in which only 1 case was found by mammography. The diagnostic coincidence rate of ultrasonography was 40%(8/20), which was obviously higher than 6% (1/16) by mammography (P=0.03). Conclusion BCI possesses certain ultrasonographic characteristics, and ultrasonography combined with mammography will be helpful for the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign diseases.
10.Optimization research on preparation conditions of polymer-shelled microbubble contrast agents
Hongjie HUANG ; Peng LIN ; Rongsen HUANG ; Yikai LIN ; Jie SU ; Wanping CHEN ; Liwu LIN ; Ensheng XUE ; Zhikui CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2014;(30):4857-4862
BACKGROUND:In previous experiments, a polymer-shel ed microbubble contrast agent was successful y prepared using L-polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol methyl-covered liquid fluorocarbon perfluoropentane, which developed wel in vivo and in vitro under a second harmonic contrast-enhanced ultrasound with a low mechanical index OBJECTIVE:To optimize the conditions for preparing polymer-shel ed microbubble contrast agents with high yield and suitable size. METHODS:The polymer-shel ed microbubble contrast agent containing perfluoropentane was prepared by single emulsion method. Three preparation conditions, including polymer mass/perfluoropentane volume ratio (4/1, 2/1, 1/1, 1/2), hemogenate speed (18 000, 26 000, 35 000 r/min) and time (15, 30, 60, 120 seconds), were optimized, and the microbubble yield and size were set as judge standard. The contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of rabbit kidney was performed using the optimized microbubbles, and the arrival time, time to peak, half time of descending and peak intensity were analyzed by TCA software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The preparation conditions were optimized as a polymer mass/perfluoropentane volume ratio of 2/1, homogenate speed of 26 000 r/min and homogenate time of 60 seconds, which presented a high microbubble yield of (1.8±0.4)×109/mL and mean size of (3.7±1.3)μm with uniform distribution. The arrival time, time to peak, half time of descending and peak intensity were detected as (3.1±0.6) seconds, (2.9±0.5) seconds, (4.0±0.7) seconds and (4.7±1.1)×10-5 AU, respectively. The polymeric microbubbles prepared by optimized conditions were of high yield, with suitable size and good contrast-enhanced effect in vivo.

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