Effect of training on resident inter-reader agreement with American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System

BACKGROUND The American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System(ACR TI-RADS)was introduced to standardize the ultrasound characterization of thyroid nodules.Studies have shown that ACR-TIRADS reduces unnecessary biopsies and improves consistency of imaging recommendations.Despite its widespread adoption,there are few studies to date assessing the inter-reader agreement amongst radiology trainees with limited ultrasound experience.We hypothesize that in PGY-4 radiology residents with no prior exposure to ACR TIRADS,a statistically significant improvement in inter-reader reliability can be achieved with a one hour training session.AIM To evaluate the inter-reader agreement of radiology residents in using ACR TIRADS before and after training.METHODS A single center retrospective cohort study evaluating 50 thyroid nodules in 40 patients of varying TI-RADS levels was performed.Reference standard TI-RADS scores were established through a consensus panel of three fellowship-trained staff radiologists with between 1 and 14 years of clinical experience each.Three PGY-4 radiology residents(trainees)were selected as blinded readers for this study.Each trainee had between 4 to 5 mo of designated ultrasound training.No trainee had received specialized TI-RADS training prior to this study.Each of the readers independently reviewed the 50 testing cases and assigned a TI-RADS score to each case before and after TI-RADS training performed 6 wk apart.Fleiss kappa was used to measure the pooled inter-reader agreement.The relative diagnostic performance of readers,pre-and post-training,when compared against the reference standard.RESULTS There were 33 females and 7 males with a mean age of 56.6±13.6 years.The mean nodule size was 19±14 mm(range from 5 to 63 mm).A statistically significant superior inter-reader agreement was found on the post-training assessment compared to the pre-training assessment for the following variables:1.“Shape”(k of 0.09[slight]pre-training vs 0.67[substantial]post-training,P<0.001),2.“Echogenic foci”(k of 0.28[fair]pre-training vs 0.45[moderate]post-training,P=0.004),3.‘TI-RADS level’(k of 0.14[slight]pre-training vs 0.36[fair]post-training,P<0.001)and 4.‘Recommendations’(k of 0.36[fair]pre-training vs 0.50[moderate]post-training,P=0.02).No significant differences between the preand post-training assessments were found for the variables'composition','echogenicity'and'margins'.There was a general trend towards improved pooled sensitivity with TI-RADS levels 1 to 4 for the post-training assessment while the pooled specificity was relatively high(76.6%-96.8%)for all TI-RADS level.CONCLUSION Statistically significant improvement in inter-reader agreement in the assigning TI-RADS level and recommendations after training is observed.Our study supports the use of dedicated ACR TI-RADS training in radiology residents.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound improved performance of breast imaging reporting and data system evaluation of critical breast lesions

AIM: To determine whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) can improve the precision of breast imaging reporting and data system(BI-RADS) categorization. METHODS: A total of 230 patients with 235 solid breast lesions classified as BI-RADS 4 on conventional ultrasound were evaluated. CEUS was performed within one week before core needle biopsy or surgical resection and a revised BI-RADS classification was assigned based on 10 CEUS imaging characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was then conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CEUS-based BI-RADS assignment with pathological examination as reference criteria. RESULTS: The CEUS-based BI-RADS evaluation classified 116/235(49.36%) lesions into category 3, 20(8.51%), 13(5.53%) and 12(5.11%) lesions into categories 4A, 4B and 4C, respectively, and 74(31.49%) into category 5. Selecting CEUS-based BI-RADS category 4A as an appropriate cut-off gave sensitivity and specificity values of 85.4% and 87.8%, respectively, for the diagnosisof malignant disease. The cancer-to-biopsy yield was 73.11% with CEUS-based BI-RADS 4A selected as the biopsy threshold compared with 40.85% otherwise, while the biopsy rate was only 42.13% compared with 100% otherwise. Overall, only 4.68% of invasive cancers were misdiagnosed.CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that evaluation of BI-RADS 4 breast lesions with CEUS results in reduced biopsy rates and increased cancer-to-biopsy yields.

Predictive model for contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the breast: Is it feasible in malignant risk assessment of breast imaging reporting and data system 4 lesions?

AIM: To build and evaluate predictive models for contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) of the breast to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. METHODS: A total of 235 breast imaging reporting and data system(BI-RADS) 4 solid breast lesions were imaged via CEUS before core needle biopsy or surgical resection. CEUS results were analyzed on 10 enhancing patterns to evaluate diagnostic performance of three benign and three malignant CEUS models, with pathological results used as the gold standard. A logistic regression model was developed basing on the CEUS results, and then evaluated with receiver operating curve(ROC). RESULTS: Except in cases of enhanced homogeneity, the rest of the 9 enhancement appearances were statistically significant(P < 0.05). These 9 enhancement patterns were selected in the final step of the logistic regression analysis, with diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 84.4% and 82.7%, respectively, and the area under the ROC curve of 0.911. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the malignant vs benign CEUS models were 84.38%, 87.77%, 86.38% and 86.46%, 81.29% and 83.40%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The breast CEUS models can predict risk of malignant breast lesions more accurately, decrease false-positive biopsy, and provide accurate BIRADS classification.

Magnetic resonance imaging ancillary features used in Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System:An illustrative review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually develops in the setting of chronic liver disease. In the adequate clinical context, both multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging are non-invasive modalities that allow accurate diagnosis and staging of HCC, although the latter demonstrates greater sensitivity and specificity. Imaging criteria for HCC diagnosis rely on hemodynamic features such as hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and washout in the portal or equilibrium phase. However, imaging performance drops considerably for small (< 20 mm) nodules because their tendency to exhibit atypical enhancement patterns. In order to improve accuracy in the diagnosis and staging of HCC, particularly in cases of atypical nodules, ancillary features, i.e., imaging characteristics that modify the likelihood of HCC, have been described and incorporated into clinical reports, especially in Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System. In this paper, ancillary imaging features will be reviewed and illustrated.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System:Lights and shadows in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocellular carcinoma diagnosis

BACKGROUND Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)is considered a secondary examination compared to computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),due to the risk of misdiagnosing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).The introduction of CEUS Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(CEUS LI-RADS)might overcome this limitation.Even though data from the literature seems promising,its reliability in real-life context has not been well-established yet.AIM To test the accuracy of CEUS LI-RADS for correctly diagnosing HCC and ICC in cirrhosis.METHODS CEUS LI-RADS class was retrospectively assigned to 511 nodules identified in 269 patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.The diagnostic standard for all nodules was either biopsy(102 nodules)or CT/MRI(409 nodules).Common diagnostic accuracy indexes such as sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and negative predictive value(NPV)were assessed for the following associations:CEUS LR-5 and HCC;CEUS LR-4 and 5 merged class and HCC;CEUS LR-M and ICC;and CEUS LR-3 and malignancy.The frequency of malignant lesions in CEUS LR-3 subgroups with different CEUS patterns was also determined.Inter-rater agreement for CEUS LI-RADS class assignment and for major CEUS pattern identification was evaluated.RESULTS CEUS LR-5 predicted HCC with a 67.6%sensitivity,97.7%specificity,and 99.3%PPV(P<0.001).The merging of LR-4 and 5 offered an improved 93.9%sensitivity in HCC diagnosis with a 94.3%specificity and 98.8%PPV(P<0.001).CEUS LR-M predicted ICC with a 91.3%sensitivity,96.7%specificity,and 99.6%NPV(P<0.001).CEUS LR-3 predominantly included benign lesions(only 28.8%of malignancies).In this class,the hypo-hypo pattern showed a much higher rate of malignant lesions(73.3%)than the iso-iso pattern(2.6%).Inter-rater agreement between internal raters for CEUS-LR class assignment was almost perfect(n=511,k=0.94,P<0.001),while the agreement among raters from separate centres was substantial(n=50,k=0.67,P<0.001).Agreement was stronger for arterial phase hyperenhancement(internal k=0.86,P<2.7×10-214;external k=0.8,P<0.001)than washout(internal k=0.79,P<1.6×10-202;external k=0.71,P<0.001).CONCLUSION CEUS LI-RADS is effective but can be improved by merging LR-4 and 5 to diagnose HCC and by splitting LR-3 into two subgroups to differentiate iso-iso nodules from other patterns.

Interobserver agreement for contrast-enhanced ultrasound of liver imaging reporting and data system:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver malignancy.From the results of previous studies,Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(LIRADS)on contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)has shown satisfactory diagnostic value.However,a unified conclusion on the interobserver stability of this innovative ultrasound imaging has not been determined.The present metaanalysis examined the interobserver agreement of CEUS LI-RADS to provide some reference for subsequent related research.AIM To evaluate the interobserver agreement of LI-RADS on CEUS and analyze the sources of heterogeneity between studies.METHODS Relevant papers on the subject of interobserver agreement on CEUS LI-RADS published before March 1,2020 in China and other countries were analyzed.The studies were filtered,and the diagnostic criteria were evaluated.The selected references were analyzed using the“meta”and“metafor”packages of R software version 3.6.2.RESULTS Eight studies were ultimately included in the present analysis.Meta-analysis results revealed that the summary Kappa value of included studies was 0.76[95%confidence interval,0.67-0.83],which shows substantial agreement.Higgins I2 statistics also confirmed the substantial heterogeneity(I2=91.30%,95%confidence interval,85.3%-94.9%,P<0.01).Meta-regression identified the variables,including the method of patient enrollment,method of consistency testing,and patient race,which explained the substantial study heterogeneity.CONCLUSION CEUS LI-RADS demonstrated overall substantial interobserver agreement,but heterogeneous results between studies were also obvious.Further clinical investigations should consider a modified recommendation about the experimental design.

Hepatocellular carcinoma Liver Imaging Reporting and Data Systems treatment response assessment: Lessons learned and future directions

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,with rising clinical and economic burden as incidence increases.There are a multitude of evolving treatment options,including locoregional therapies which can be used alone,in combination with each other,or in combination with systemic therapy.These treatment options have shown to be effective in achieving remission,controlling tumor progression,improving disease free and overall survival in patients who cannot undergo resection and providing a bridge to transplant by debulking tumor burden to downstage patients.Following locoregional therapy(LRT),it is crucial to provide treatment response assessment to guide management and liver transplant candidacy.Therefore,Liver Imaging Reporting and Data Systems(LI-RADS)Treatment Response Algorithm(TRA)was created to provide a standardized assessment of HCC following LRT.LIRADS TRA provides a step by step approach to evaluate each lesion independently for accurate tumor assessment.In this review,we provide an overview of different locoregional therapies for HCC,describe the expected post treatment imaging appearance following treatment,and review the LI-RADS TRA with guidance for its application in clinical practice.Unique to other publications,we will also review emerging literature supporting the use of LI-RADS for assessment of HCC treatment response after LRT.

Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System criteria for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in clinical practice: A pictorial minireview

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the sixth most common cancer.The main risk factors associated with HCC development include hepatitis B virus,hepatitis C virus,alcohol consumption,aflatoxin B1,and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.However,hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex multistep process.Various factors lead to hepatocyte malignant transformation and HCC development.Diagnosis and surveillance of HCC can be made with the use of liver ultrasound(US)every 6 mo.However,the sensitivity of this imaging method to detect HCC in a cirrhotic liver is limited,due to the abnormal liver parenchyma.Computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)are considered to be most useful tools for at-risk patients or patients with inadequate US.Liver biopsy is still used for diagnosis and prognosis of HCC in specific nodules that cannot be definitely characterized as HCC by imaging.Recently the American College of Radiology designed the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(LI-RADS),which is a comprehensive system for standardized interpretation of CT and MRI liver examinations that was first proposed in 2011.In 2018,it was integrated into the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases guidance statement for HCC.LI-RADS is designed to ensure high sensitivity,precise categorization,and high positive predictive value for the diagnosis of HCC and is applied to“highrisk populations”according to specific criteria.Most importantly LI-RADS criteria achieved international collaboration and consensus among liver experts around the world on the best practices for caring for patients with or at risk for HCC.

Validation of Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System score for the diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A prospective cross-sectional study

Objective:Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System(VIRADS)score was developed to standardize the reporting and staging of bladder tumors on pre-operative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.It helps in avoiding unnecessary repeat transurethral resection of bladder tumor in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients.This study was done to determine the validity of VIRADS score prospectively for the diagnosis of muscleinvasive bladder cancer.Methods:This study was conducted from March 2019 to March 2020 at Sawai Man Singh Medical College and Hospital,Jaipur,Rajasthan,India.Patients admitted with the provisional diagnosis of bladder tumor were included as participants.All these patients underwent a 3 Tesla mpMRI to obtain a VIRADS score before they underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor and these data were analyzed to evaluate the correlation of pre-operative VIRADS score with mus-cle invasiveness of the tumor in final biopsy report.Results:A cut-off of VIRADS≥4 for prediction of detrusor muscle invasion yielded a sensitivity of 79.4%,specificity of 94.2%,positive predictive value of 90.0%,negative predictive value of 87.5%,and diagnostic accuracy of 86.4%.A cut off of VIRADS≥3 for prediction of detrusor muscle invasion yielded a sensitivity of 91.2%,specificity of 78.8%,positive predictive value of 73.8%,negative predictive value of 93.2%,and accuracy of 83.7%.The receiver operating curve showed the area under the curve to be 0.922(95%confidence interval:0.862e0.983).Conclusion:VIRADS score appears to be an excellent and effective pre-operative radiological tool for the prediction of detrusor muscle invasion in bladder cancer.

BRAF^(V600E) vs. TIRADS in predicting papillary thyroid cancers in Bethesda system Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ nodules

Objective: Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology(BSRTC) categories Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴaccount for a significant proportion of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) diagnoses. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of BRAF^(V600E) mutation and the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System(TIRADS) classification in differentiating papillary thyroid cancers(PTCs) from benign lesions among BSRTC I, III, and V nodules.Methods: A total of 472 patients with 479 nodules were enrolled in this prospective study. Ultrasound, BRAF^(V600E) mutation testing, and FNAC were performed in each nodule, followed by surgery or regular ultrasound examination.Results: In the BSRTC I category, BRAF^(V600E) showed similar sensitivity, higher specificity, and lower accuracy when compared with TIRADS. In the BSRTC III/V category, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of BRAF^(V600E) were similar to those of TIRADS. In comparison to BRAF^(V600E) alone, the combination of the two methods significantly improved sensitivity(BSRTC Ⅰ:93.6% vs. 67.7%, P < 0.01; BSRTC Ⅲ: 93.8% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.01; BSRTC V: 96.0% vs. 85.3%, P < 0.001). When compared with TIRADS alone, the combination improved sensitivity in BSRTC Ⅰ nodules(93.6% vs. 74.2%, P < 0.05), increased sensitivity and decreased accuracy in BSRTC III nodules(93.8% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.01, 91.0% vs. 93.6%, P < 0.01), and improved both sensitivity and accuracy in BSRTC V nodules(96.0% vs. 82.0%, P < 0.001; 94.2% vs. 81.3%, P < 0.001).Conclusions: BRAF^(V600E) exhibited higher specificity and lower accuracy compared with TIRADS in BSRTC Ⅰ nodules, while the two methods showed similar diagnostic value in BSRTC Ⅲ/Ⅴ nodules. The combination of the two methods distinctly improved sensitivity in the diagnosis of PTCs in BSRTC Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ nodules.

Ovarian-adnexal reporting and data system ultrasound evaluation and pathological characteristics of ovarian collision tumor

BACKGROUND Collision tumor are neoplasms,including two histologically distinct tumors that coexist in the same mass without histological admixture.The incidence of collision tumor is low and is rare clinically.AIM To investigate ultrasound images and application of ovarian-adnexal reporting and data system(O-RADS)to evaluate the risk and pathological characteristics of ovarian collision tumor.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed 17 cases of ovarian collision tumor diagnosed pathologically from January 2020 to December 2023.All clinical features,ultrasound images and histopathological features were collected and analyzed.The O-RADS score was used for classification.The O-RADS score was determined by two senior doctors in the gynecological ultrasound group.Lesions with O-RADS score of 1-3 were classified as benign tumors,and lesions with O-RADS score of 4 or 5 were classified as malignant tumors.RESULTS There were 17 collision tumors detected in 16 of 6274 patients who underwent gynecological surgery.The average age of 17 women with ovarian collision tumor was 36.7 years(range 20-68 years),in whom,one occurred bilaterally and the rest occurred unilaterally.The average tumor diameter was 10 cm,of which three were 2-5 cm,11 were 5-10 cm,and three were>10 cm.Five(29.4%)tumors with O-RADS score 3 were endometriotic cysts with fibroma/serous cystadenoma,and unilocular or multilocular cysts contained a small number of parenchymal components.Eleven(64.7%)tumors had an O-RADS score of 4,including two in category 4A,six in category 4B,and three in category 4C;all of which were multilocular cystic tumors with solid components or multiple papillary components.One(5.9%)tumor had an O-RADS score of 5.This case was a solid mass,and a small amount of pelvic effusion was detected under ultrasound.The pathology was high-grade serous cystic cancer combined with cystic mature teratoma.There were nine(52.9%)tumors with elevated serum carbohydrate antigen(CA)125 and two(11.8%)with elevated serum CA19-9.Histological and pathological results showed that epithelial-cell-derived tumors combined with other tumors were the most common,which was different from previous results.CONCLUSION The ultrasound images of ovarian collision tumor have certain specificity,but diagnosis by preoperative ultrasound is difficult.The combination of epithelial and mesenchymal cell tumors is one of the most common types of ovarian collision tumor.The O-RADS score of ovarian collision tumor is mostly≥4,which can sensitively detect malignant tumors.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: Can LI-RADS v2017 with gadoxetic-acid enhancement magnetic resonance and diffusion-weighted imaging improve diagnostic accuracy?

BACKGROUND The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(LI-RADS), supported by the American College of Radiology(ACR), has been developed for standardizing the acquisition, interpretation, reporting, and data collection of liver imaging examinations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Diffusionweighted imaging(DWI), which is described as an ancillary imaging feature of LI-RADS, can improve the diagnostic efficiency of LI-RADS v2017 with gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) for HCC.AIM To determine whether the use of DWI can improve the diagnostic efficiency of LIRADS v2017 with gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance MRI for HCC.METHODS In this institutional review board-approved study, 245 observations of high risk of HCC were retrospectively acquired from 203 patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI from October 2013 to April 2018. Two readers independently measured the maximum diameter and recorded the presence of each lesion and assigned scores according to LI-RADS v2017. The test was used to determine the agreement between the two readers with or without DWI. In addition, the sensitivity(SE), specificity(SP), accuracy(AC), positive predictive value(PPV), and negative predictive value(NPV) of LI-RADS were calculated.Youden index values were used to compare the diagnostic performance of LIRADS with or without DWI.RESULTS Almost perfect interobserver agreement was obtained for the categorization of observations with LI-RADS(kappa value: 0.813 without DWI and 0.882 with DWI). For LR-5, the diagnostic SE, SP, and AC values were 61.2%, 92.5%, and71.4%, respectively, with or without DWI; for LR-4/5, they were 73.9%, 80%, and75.9% without DWI and 87.9%, 80%, and 85.3% with DWI; for LR-4/5/M, they were 75.8%, 58.8%, and 70.2% without DWI and 87.9%, 58.8%, and 78.4% with DWI; for LR-4/5/TIV, they were 75.8%, 75%, and 75.5% without DWI and 89.7%,75%, and 84.9% with DWI. The Youden index values of the LI-RADS classification without or with DWI were as follows: LR-4/5: 0.539 vs 0.679; LR-4/5/M: 0.346 vs 0.467; and LR-4/5/TIV: 0.508 vs 0.647.CONCLUSION LI-RADS v2017 has been successfully applied with gadoxetate-enhanced MRI for patients at high risk for HCC. The addition of DWI significantly increases the diagnostic efficiency for HCC.

Imaging related to underlying immunological and pathological processes in COVID-19

The introduction of coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)as a global pandemic has contributed to overall morbidity and mortality.With a focus on understanding the immunology and pathophysiology of the disease,these features can be linked with the respective findings of imaging studies.Thus,the constellation between clinical presentation,histological,laboratory,immunological,and imaging results is crucial for the proper management of patients.The purpose of this article is to examine the role of imaging during the particular stages of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection–asymptomatic stage,typical and atypical COVID-19 pneumonia,acute respiratory distress syndrome,multiorgan failure,and thrombosis.The use of imaging methods to assess the severity and duration of changes is crucial in patients with COVID-19.Radiography and computed tomography are among the methods that allow accurate characterization of changes.

Prostate Cancer Detection with Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging： Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 1 versus Version 2

Background：Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System （PI-RADS） is a globally acceptable standardization for multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging （mp-MRI） in prostate cancer （PCa） diagnosis.The American College of Radiology revised the PI-RADS to address the limitations of version 1 in December 2014.This study aimed to determine whether the PI-RADS version 2 （PI-RADS v2） scoring system improves the diagnostic accuracy of mp-MRI of the prostate compared with PI-RADS v1.Methods：This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board.A total of 401 consecutive patients,with clinically suspicious Pca undergoing 3.0 T mp-MRI （T2-weighted imaging ＋ diffusion-weighted imaging ＋ DCE） before transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy between June 2013 and July 2015,were included in the study.All patients were scored using the 5-point PI-RADS scoring system based on either PI-RADS v1 or v2.Receiver operating characteristics were calculated for statistical analysis.Sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic accuracy were compared using McNemar＇s test.Results：Pca was present in 150 of 401 （37.41%） patients.When we pooled data from both peripheral zone （PZ） and transition zone （TZ）,the areas under the curve were 0.889 for PI-RADS v1 and 0.942 for v2 （P =0.0001）.Maximal accuracy was achieved with a score threshold of 4.At this threshold,in the PZ,similar sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy were achieved with v 1 and v2 （all P 〉 0.05）.In the TZ,sensitivity was higher for v2 than for v1 （96.36% vs.76.36%,P =0.003）,specificity was similar for v2 and v1 （90.24% vs.84.15%,P =0.227）,and accuracy was higher for v2 than for v1 （92.70% vs.81.02%,P =0.002）.Conclusions：Both v1 and v2 showed good diagnostic performance for the detection of Pca.However,in the TZ,the performance was better with v2 than with v1.

Using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 （PI-RIDS v2） to detect prostate cancer can prevent unnecessary biopsies and invasive treatment

Prostate cancer （PCa） is one of the most common cancers among men globally. The authors aimed to evaluate the ability of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 （PI-RADS v2） to classify men with PCa, clinically significant PCa （CSPCa）, or no PCa, especially among those with serum total prostate-specific antigen （tPSA） levels in the ＂gray zone＂ （4-10 ng ml-1）. A total of 308 patients （355 lesions） were enrolled in this study. Diagnostic efficiency was determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and decision curve analysis were performed to determine and compare the predictors of PCa and CSPCa. The results suggested that PI-RADS v2, tPSA, and prostate-specific antigen density （PSAD） were independent predictors of PCa and CSPCa. A PI-RADS v2 score L≥4 provided high negative predictive values （91.39% for PCa and 95.69% for CSPCa）. A model of PI-RADS combined with PSA and PSAD helped to define a high-risk group （PI-RADS score = 5 and PSAD L≥0 15 ng ml-1 cm-3, with tPSA in the gray zone, or PI-RADS score L≥4 with high tPSA level） with a detection rate of 96.1% for PCa and 93.0% for CSPCa while a low-risk group with a detection rate of 6.1% for PCa and 2.2% for CSPCa. It was concluded that the PI-RADS v2 could be used as a reliable and independent predictor of PCa and CSPCa. The combination of PI-RADS v2 score with PSA and PSAD could be helpful in the prediction and diagnosis of PCa and CSPCa and, thus, may help in preventing unnecessary invasive procedures.

Evaluation of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Patients with Prostate-specific Antigen 〈20 ng/ml

Background： The European Society of Urogenital Radiology has built the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System （PI-RADS） for standardizing the diagnosis of prostate cancer （PCa）. This study evaluated the PI-RADS diagnosis method in patients with prostate-specific antigen （PSA） 〈20 ng/ml. Methods： A total of 133 patients with PSA 〈20 ng/ml were prospectively recruited. T2-weighted （T2WI） and diffusion-weighted （DWI） magnetic resonance images of the prostate were acquired before a 12-core transrectal prostate biopsy. Each patient＇s peripheral zone was divided into six regions on the images; each region corresponded to two of the 12 biopsy cores. T2WI, DWI, and T2W1 ＋ DWI scores were computed according to PI-RADS. The diagnostic accuracy of the PI-RADS score was evaluated using histopathology of prostate biopsies as the reference standard. Results： PCa was histologically diagnosed in 169 （21.2%） regions. Increased PI-RADS score correlated positively with increased cancer detection rate. The cancer detection rate for scores 1 to 5 was 2.8%, 15.0%, 34.6%, 52.6%, and 88.9%, respectively, using T2W1 and 12.0%, 20.2%, 48.0%, 85.7%, and 93.3%, respectively, using DWI. For T2WI ＋ DWI, the cancer detection rate was 1.5% （score 2）, 13.5% （scores 3-4）, 41.3% （scores 5-6）, 75.9% （scores 7-8）, and 92.3% （scores 9-10）. The area under the curve for cancer detection was 0.700 （T2WI）, 0.735 （DWI） and 0.749 （T2WI ＋ DWI）. The sensitivity and specificity were 53.8% and 89.2%, respectively, when The summed score ofT2Wl ＋ DWI

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in association with serum biomarkers for differentiating combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma(CHC)is a rare type of primary liver cancer.Due to its complex histopathological characteristics,the imaging features of CHC can overlap with those of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).AIM To investigate the possibility and efficacy of differentiating CHC from HCC and ICC by using contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(LI-RADS)and tumor biomarkers.METHODS Between January 2016 and December 2019,patients with histologically confirmed CHC,ICC and HCC with chronic liver disease were enrolled.The diagnostic formula for CHC was as follows:(1)LR-5 or LR-M with elevated alphafetoprotein(AFP)and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9);(2)LR-M with elevated AFP and normal CA19-9;or(3)LR-5 with elevated CA19-9 and normal AFP.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated to determine the diagnostic value of the criteria.RESULTS After propensity score matching,134 patients(mean age of 51.4±9.4 years,108 men)were enrolled,including 35 CHC,29 ICC and 70 HCC patients.Based on CEUS LI-RADS classification,74.3%(26/35)and 25.7%(9/35)of CHC lesions were assessed as LR-M and LR-5,respectively.The rates of elevated AFP and CA19-9 in CHC patients were 51.4%and 11.4%,respectively,and simultaneous elevations of AFP and CA19-9 were found in 8.6%(3/35)of CHC patients.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the aforementioned diagnostic criteria for discriminating CHC from HCC and ICC were 40.0%,89.9%,58.3%,80.9%,76.9%and 0.649,respectively.When considering the reported prevalence of CHC(0.4%-14.2%),the positive predictive value and NPV were revised to 1.6%-39.6%and 90.1%-99.7%,respectively.CONCLUSION CHCs are more likely to be classified as LR-M than LR-5 by CEUS LI-RADS.The combination of the CEUS LI-RADS classification with serum tumor markers shows high specificity but low sensitivity for the diagnosis of CHC.Moreover,CHC could be confidently excluded with high NPV.

Electronic Synoptic Reporting of Thyroid Nodules: Potential for Reduction in Number of Patients Undergoing Thyroid Nodule Biopsies

Purpose: The objective of the study was to design and implement an electronic synoptic report for thyroid sonography that incorporates the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) and assess potential for reducing unnecessary fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of thyroid nodules. Methods: The electronic synoptic report was developed using a relational database based on elements from TIRADS and a multidisciplinary consensus statement for thyroid reporting. A retrospective analysis of 138 patients with previously reported thyroid sonographic exams was evaluated for the presence of these elements. The electronic synoptic report calculates the TIRADS score and generates a formal report. Using the TIRADS score the potential decrease in unnecessary FNAB was estimated. Results: Key TIRADS elements were variously reported ranging from 43% for the thyroid nodule’s architecture as solid or cystic. Thyroid nodule echogenicity and calcification was commented in 27% and 23%, respectively. Other features of the TIRADS score were commented in 0% to 8% of the official reports. Estimated reduction for potentially reduced need for FNAB was 34.5%. Conclusions: This study is the first implementation of synoptic reporting using a relational database for sonography of thyroid nodules. Implementation of an electronic standardized synoptic reporting system may facilitate more accurate, and more comprehensive reporting for thyroid ultrasound scanning of thyroid nodules. The use of TIRADS was estimated to be able to potentially reduce the need for FNAB which was significant.

Differentiating malignant and benign focal liver lesions in children using CEUS LI-RADS combined with serum alpha-fetoprotein

BACKGROUND Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)can be used to diagnose focal liver lesions(FLLs)in children.The America College of Radiology developed the CEUS liver imaging reporting and data system(LI-RADS)for standardizing CEUS diagnosis of FLLs in adult patients.Until now,no similar consensus or guidelines have existed for pediatric patients to improve imaging interpretation as adults.AIM To evaluate the performance of CEUS LI-RADS combined with alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)in differentiating benign and malignant FLLs in pediatric patients.METHODS Between January 2011 and January 2021,patients≤18 years old who underwent CEUS for FLLs were retrospectively evaluated.The following criteria for diagnosing malignancy were proposed:Criterion I considered LR-4,LR-5,or LRM lesions as malignancies;criterion II regarded LR-4,LR-5 or LR-M lesions with simultaneously elevated AFP(≥20 ng/mL)as malignancies;criterion III took LR-4 Lesions with elevated AFP or LR-5 or LR-M lesions as malignancies.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)were calculated to determine the diagnostic value of the aforementioned criteria.RESULTS The study included 63 nodules in 60 patients(mean age,11.0±5.2 years;26 male).There were no statistically significant differences between the specificity,accuracy,or AUC of criterion II and criterion III(95.1%vs 80.5%,84.1%vs 87.3%,and 0.794 vs 0.902;all P>0.017).Notably,criterion III showed a higher diagnostic sensitivity than criterion II(100%vs 63.6%;P<0.017).However,both the specificity and accuracy of criterion I was inferior to those of criterion II and criterion III(all P<0.017).For pediatric patients more than 5 years old,the performance of the three criteria was overall similar when patients were subcategorized by age when compared to all patients in aggregate.CONCLUSION CEUS LI-RADS combined with AFP may be a powerful diagnostic tool in pediatric patients.LR-4 with elevated AFP,LR-5 or LR-M lesions is highly suggestive of malignant tumors.

Systematic Training of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Magnetic Resonance Imaging v2018 can Improve the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Different Radiologists

Background and Aims:Liver imaging reporting and data system(LI-RADS)provides standardized lexicon and categorization for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,there is limited knowledge about the effect of LI-RADS training.We prospectively explored whether the systematic training of LI-RADS v2018 on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)can effectively improve the diagnostic performances of different radiologists for HCC.Methods:A total of 20 visiting radiologists and the multiparametric MRI of 70 hepatic observations in 61 patients with high risk of HCC were included in this study.The LI-RADS v2018 training procedure included three times of thematic lectures(each lasting for 2.5 h)given by a professor specialized in imaging diagnosis of liver,with an interval of a month.After each seminar,the radiologists had a month to adopt the algorithm into their daily work.The diagnostic performances and interobserver agreements of these radiologists adopting the algorithm for HCC diagnosis before and after training were compared.Results:A total of 20 radiologists(male/female,12/8;with an average age of 36.75±4.99 years)were enrolled.After training,the interobserver agreements for the LI-RADS category for all radiologists(p=0.005)were increased.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and coincidence rate of all radiologists for HCC diagnosis before and after training were 43%vs.54%,86%vs.88%,74%vs.81%,62%vs.67%,and 65%vs.71%,respectively.The diagnostic performances of all radiologists(p<0.001)showed improvement after training.Conclusions:The systematic training of LI-RADS can effectively improve the diagnostic performances of radiologists with different experiences for HCC.