Application of MRI and CT Energy Spectrum Imaging in Hand and Foot Tendon Lesions

Visual assessment and quantitative analysis of bone marrow edema in young and middle-aged versus elderly patients with vertebral compression fracture by spectral CT

BACKGROUND

For the diagnosis of bone marrow edema (BME), spectral computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a promising technique.

PURPOSE

To study the different performances of spectral CT in the diagnosis of vertebral BME in young and middle-aged versus elderly patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used as the gold standard. To determine the existence of BME, spectral CT color-coded images of the vertebral bodies of 82 patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) were visually inspected. A quantitative analysis of the spectral CT vertebral water concentration in the diagnosis of BME was performed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Patients were divided into two groups for comparison: the young and middle-aged group; and the elderly group.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity for visual assessment were 83.7% and 98.3%, respectively, in the young and middle-aged group and 96.8% and 98.2%, respectively, in the elderly group. The elderly group had a higher sensitivity than the young and middle-aged group (P < 0.05). With a threshold of 1046.2 mg/cm3, the ROC curve for the young and middle-aged group displayed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.870, sensitivity of 86.0%, and specificity of 81.4%. The threshold of 1031.4 mg/cm3 yielded a sensitivity of 95.2% and a specificity of 98.4%, and the AUC of the elderly group was 0.997. The elderly group had a higher level of specificity than the young and middle-aged group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Spectral CT can reliably diagnose BME in VCFs, and it performs better in elderly people than in young and middle-aged people.

Functionalized Au@Cu-Sb-S Nanoparticles for Spectral CT/Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Synergetic Photo-Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) is clinically well-established cancer treatment. However, radioresistance remains a significant issue associated with failure of RT. Phototherapy-induced radiosensitization has recently attracted attention in translational cancer research.

Methods

Cu-Sb-S nanoparticles (NPs) coated with ultra-small Au nanocrystals (Au@Cu-Sb-S) were synthesized and characterized. The biosafety profiles, absorption of near-infrared (NIR) laser and radiation-enhancing effect of the NPs were evaluated. In vitro and in vivo spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging and photoacoustic (PA) imaging were performed in 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice. The synergetic radio-phototherapy was assessed by in vivo tumor inhibition studies.

Results

Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs were prepared by in situ growth of Au NCs on the surface of Cu-Sb-S NPs. The cell viability experiments showed that the combination of Au@Cu-Sb-S+NIR+RT was significantly more cytotoxic to tumor cells than the other treatments at concentrations above 25 ppm Sb. In vitro and in vivo spectral CT imaging demonstrated that the X-ray attenuation ability of Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs was superior to that of the clinically used Iodine, particularly at lower KeV levels. Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs showed a concentration-dependent and remarkable PA signal brightening effect. In vivo tumor inhibition studies showed that the prepared Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs significantly suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice treated with NIR laser irradiation and an intermediate X-ray dose (4 Gy).

Conclusion

These results indicate that Au@Cu-Sb-S integrated with spectral CT, PA imaging, and phototherapy-enhanced radiosensitization is a promising multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform for clinical applications.