COVID-19-related cardiomyopathy:Can dual-energy computed tomography be a diagnostic tool?

BACKGROUND No study on dual energy computed tomography(DECT)has been found in the literature to evaluate possibly fatal cardiac/myocardial problems in corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients.Myocardial perfusion deficits can be found in COVID-19 patients even without any significant coronary artery occlusion,and these deficits can be shown via DECT with a perfect interrater agreement.AIM To assess lung perfusion alterations in COVID-19 patients.To our knowledge,no study using DECT has been performed to evaluate possibly fatal cardiac/myocardial problems in COVID-19 patients.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of DECT in the detection of COVID-19-related cardiac diseases.METHODS Two blinded independent examiners evaluated CT images using the 17-segment model according to the American Heart Association’s classification of the segmentation of the left ventricular myocardium.Additionally,intraluminal diseases and abnormalities in the main coronary arteries and branches were investigated.Following segment-by-segment analysis,perfusion deficiencies identified on the iodine map pictures on DECT were identified.RESULTS The study enrolled a total of 87 patients.Forty-two of these individuals were classified as COVID-19 positive,and 45 were classified as controls.Perfusion deficits were identified in 66.6%(n=30)of the cases.All control patients had a normal iodine distribution map.Perfusion deficits were found on DECT iodine map images with subepicardial(n=12,40%),intramyocardial(n=8,26.6%),or transmural(n=10,33.3%)anatomical locations within the left ventricular wall.There was no subendocardial involvement in any of the patients.CONCLUSION Myocardial perfusion deficits can be found in COVID-19 patients even without any significant coronary artery occlusion.These deficits can be shown via DECT with a perfect interrater agreement.Additionally,the presence of perfusion deficit is positively correlated with D-dimer levels.

Complementary comments on diagnosis,severity and prognosis prediction of acute pancreatitis

The radiological differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis includes diffuse pancreatic lymphoma,diffuse autoimmune pancreatitis and groove located mass lesions that may mimic groove pancreatitis.Dual energy computed tomography and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging are useful in the early diagnosis of acute pancreatitis,and dual energy computed tomography is also useful in severity assessment and prognosis prediction.Walled off necrosis is an important complication in terms of prognosis,and it is important to know its radiological findings and distinguish it from pseudocyst.

Utility of cardiac bioenzymes in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in SARS-CoV-2

The relationship between coronavirus disease-19(COVID-19)and cardiovascular diseases has been an important issue.Therefore,cardiac biomarkers and cardiac imaging have an important place in the diagnostic phase.It is important to know the relationship of biomarkers in COVID-19 so that we can understand the diagnosis of the disease,the predicted course and results after diagnosis.

Advances in the imaging of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors that differ in their pathogenesis,hormonal syndromes produced,biological behavior and consequently,in their requirement for and/or response to specific chemotherapeutic agents and molecular targeted therapies.Various imaging techniques are available for functional and morphological evaluation of these neoplasms and the selection of investigations performed in each patient should be customized to the clinical question.Also,with the increased availability of cross sectional imaging,these neoplasms are increasingly being detected incidentally in routine radiology practice.This article is a review of the various imaging modalities currently used in the evaluation of neuroendocrine neoplasms,along with a discussion of the role of advanced imaging techniques and a glimpse into the newer imaging horizons,mostly in the research stage.